GTA IV genuinely sold out in the UK by 11.00am
I deliberately didn't pre-order a copy of GTA IV, as there's nothing more exciting than the thrill of the chase come launch day!
Here's how my morning of shopping for an Xbox 360 copy of GTA IV panned out.
10.35am First stop this morning was Sainsbury's - the 20 or so copies they had out yesterday were all gone from the shelves. I asked the confused lady at the cigarettes counter if they had any copies of GTA IV in stock - she said they didn't. Frankly, I don't think she really knew what I was talking about and was just lying. But there's no time for an argument.
10.41am Woolworths. Always a good bet. Woolies has two GTA IV displays - one in the game section, and a second by the door. The one in the game section is already plastered with "Out of Stock" stickers - but I take an empty box to the counter on the off chance. But no. Properly sold out. Who buys their games from Woolworths before 11 in the morning? Madness.
10.50am Blockbusters. You never know. I asked the man if they had any GTA IVs in. He temporarily lifted my hopes by saying "For which system?". When I replied "360" he said no. So perhaps they did have PS3 copies in? Perhaps. Don't care about those, though.
11.01am A futile walk to GAME. GAME's obviously going to be sold out. Don't know why I'm even bothering. And yes, it's sold out. It's now raining and I'm fondly yet sadly remembering when I very nearly pre-ordered it on Amazon two whole months ago.
11.05am Computer Exchange. Sold out. Obviously. I felt embarrassed even asking.
11.15am Back home. Trying the Argos stock checker and online reservation form. YES! It says there's a copy of GTA IV at my local store! But, incredibly, in the time it takes me to enter my email address and click "OK" the game has gone out of stock. The three nearest branches are also out of stock. Whoops.
11.20am Checking other game web sites. GAME, oddly enough, has stock for immediate dispatch - but only if you want GTA IV and a controller or, for some reason, GTA IV and a copy of Devil May Cry 4. No thanks - I'm not propping up your share price by buying your evil bundles.
So there. Failure to buy GTA IV. It really has sold out everywhere, unless you want some insane bundle. But it was a fun morning. Got me out of the house. If I get a chance I'll pop out to ASDA this afternoon. That's BOUND to have it, right?
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Comments
Got my copy from Woolworths just before 9 this morning. There were only two people in the queue, only problem is that I have to wait until tonight to play it.
Good luck in your search, asda seems to be the cheapest retailer anyway.
Have you tried whsmith? That might be worth a shot don't think many people would think of looking there.
Posted by: Shell | April 29, 2008 12:04 PM
Hmm, I like the WHSmith angle. Only problem is it's getting a bit late now (12.10pm) so the lunchtime crowd will be out hoovering up any spares left about the place very soon.
Still, I'll give it a go and report back.
Posted by: Gary | April 29, 2008 12:13 PM
Well I managed to get the last copy from Tesco's at 7:09 this morning on the way to work. There wasn't any on the shelves but the hidden slide out Drawers underneath the shelves contained 1 copy which I quickly swiped (probably going to be a dissapointed member of Tesco staff who had secretly stashed it away).
So success 1 copy of GTA IV for the PS3 for the price of £44.71 (a rip off? Probably, but who cars xD)
Posted by: Mog | April 29, 2008 12:54 PM
try calling argos. i work there and we have been told to cancel all reservations because sneeky people sell the reservation codes on ebay for a few quid a time. although some argos stores didnt get many copies. our store was one of the unlucky ones to get 1 (and only one) copy for each console. which then got snapped up by staff straight away.
good luck on your search though
Posted by: Anonymous | April 29, 2008 1:17 PM
Got mine from the Oxford St GAME at 9.30 this morning, decent sized queue, and only 8 left when I finally got to the counter.
Interestingly there were tons of PS3 copies left - maybe 360 owners get out of bed earlier...
Posted by: Rob | April 29, 2008 1:21 PM
All the places i've been in, i've noticed that there were far less xbox copies (in morrisons none at all) than ps3 left. This included Morrisons, Gamestation and Woolworths.
Posted by: Shell | April 29, 2008 1:53 PM
I got mine from Tesco at 8:05 this morning. It was already the last 360 copy.
There were three PS3 copies left.
I also got to feel really grown up by pushing past a bunch of school kids and triumphantly picking it up. There were gasps I tell you!
Posted by: Anthony | April 29, 2008 2:47 PM
Yeah, £44.71 is a bit of a rip-off - I was amazed that Currys was doing the Xbox 360 one for a mere £39.99. Surely they could've stuck on an extra fiver, at least on launch day? A bargain on the high street, whatever next?
Posted by: Gary | April 29, 2008 4:06 PM
"GTA IV genuinely sold out in the UK by 11.00am?"
I thought I'd pick up my copy on the way to college this morning and by 8:30am, there was long queue stretching the pavements outside a couple of stores. I somehow figured the bustle was unnesesarry and I'd buy it during my break at 10:30am; big mistake!
Woolworths, WHSmith, Argos,Game ,Gamestation, Currys, Tesco, Sainsburys, Dixons, Blockbuster,HMV and Asda where all sold out! So yeah, I'd agree GTA IV was nowhere to be found by 11:00am! If your playing tonight, consider yourself lucky!:O(
PS. How long do you reckon we will have to wait before there is a decent amount of stock, couldn't this go on for weeks?
Posted by: Ash | April 29, 2008 6:00 PM
I stupidly left my pre-ordering till last thursday by which time Tesco had already sold out all of their pre-orders, I ordered anyway hoping there might be a faint glimmer of hope as they only couldn't guarantee release date, it wasn't definite. Come tuesday the game isn't here and I receive an email telling me it won't be dispatched till the weekend and I won't get it till next week. I started to panic and rang round a few stores but by this time it was around 4:30, yes I know I'm dumb.
So..I gave in and ordered one of those crazy bundles you were talking about, should be here by wednesday. I'm going to sell the other game on ebay. WHY didn't I pre-order like 2 months ago. I'll know better next time round ;s
Posted by: Steve | April 29, 2008 10:57 PM
Game in Preston had loads left yesterday morning at 8am when i got my copy
Posted by: discuit | April 30, 2008 9:54 AM
Does anyone have any idea when the shops will receive more stock??
can't believe I didn't pre-order!
Posted by: Roo | April 30, 2008 10:02 AM
icame from school yesterdaii hoping my dad will get it but i find out he was still at home i checked currys comet argos asda whsmith tesco pc world game hmv dixon sainsbury's and all were out of stock please tell me wer to get a ps3 gta iv
Posted by: callum | April 30, 2008 10:15 AM
What a rubbish article. I picked up a copy of GTA4 from Game 3 days after it was released. Writer obviously didn't look very hard.
Posted by: Jon | May 2, 2008 5:52 PM
I got mine the day after the launch! This is due to Game sellin mine :S what shits! So i went to Gamestation at 12am. Because the pre-orders which havent been picked up go back on general sale and there we have it 8 GTA iv's which some people had nicely not picked up :) very happy as you can imagin. And as you can guess im never shoppin in GAME again :P
Posted by: Thomas Oldaker | May 2, 2008 6:40 PM
I no its kinds dumb but anyways i've been saving up money to buy an X box 360 premium only to ind out that grand theft auto IV was out of stock i got very angry and ended up breaking a music cd but as later through that day i manged to calm down only to go school today and ask my friends if they had played it and most of them said i've got it, i felt a bit jealus but never mind that i asked a few friends if they no were i can get it from but only 1 turned out to tell me you can get loads in Peckham but i don't wanna travel there alone so ill try with my dad. those who are playing it for there rest of there lives congratulations but as the reviewer says CURRS has some behind the counter ill try to negotiate with them to hand one over thanks a lot guys you've really got my hopes up again wish me luck
if you no where to get Grand theft auto IV in London email me please only emails it will really help a lot.down only to go school today and ask my friends if they had played it and most of them said i've got it, i felt a bit jealus but never mind that i asked a few friends if they no were i can get it from but only 1 turned out to tell me you can get loads in Peckham but i don't wanna travel there alone so ill try with my dad. those who are playing it for there rest of there lives congratulations but as the reviewer says Curry's has some behind the counter ill try to negotiate with them to hand one over thanks a lot guys you've really got my hopes up.
Posted by: fabio | May 6, 2008 10:53 PM
My m8 Kels queued up at ASDA for GTAIV only to find that they were giving out tickets and they had run out. He then swiftly jumped into his car and went to another ASDA where he took his chances and joined the back of the queue. This was around midnight on the monday obviously. He eventually got a copy but not after an old man shopping at ASDA told the entire queue that they were "all sad for doing this for a game" at which point they pointed out to him that he was buying apples at midnight? Kels didn't get chance to play that night but scoffed at work at how he'd got his copy now and that our "pre-orders" were still "possibly" on their way. Until we got home from work we would never know. However when Kels got home and put on GTAIV his 360 Red ringed on the boot screen.......He is quoted as saying "there is no GOD!" lol. his 360 is still in Frankfurt being repaired.
Posted by: pez | May 7, 2008 11:40 AM
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