Most stores received their allocation numbers a day or two before preorders went up, but had no clue at all about the actual preorder date.
The email from corporate went out on Monday evening - around 6:00PM. If the stores had a call list, they had to FIRST read the email from corporate that identified the preorders starting the next day, then they had to stop helping customers in the store so they could call people. Not likely to happen. In fact, many stores didn't actually read the email until the following morning when they went in to open up or after the store had closed that evening - typically to late to respectfully call someone at home.
EB/GS laid out very specific rules by which preorders were supposed to take place as well. The store could hold two, and only two, units for 'employee' purchase. The store must give preorders on a walk-in, first come, first served basis. No holding units for friends, family, call-ins, etc. There are a number of stores that violated this rule, and I imagine a number of people will be fired for actively going against that rule.
Anyone that showed up at 8:00AM and the store was locked up, then was allowed in at 10:00 and was told they had no preorders available should call EB corporate and complain. Make sure to know the store number/address/etc. But, EB/GS is much better prepared for this release.
As for 'call lists'. Those were instituted by some stores and were not sanctioned by corporate. So, nobody on any lists had any right to preferential treatment over anyone else.
I think it was handled very well. I know I was on a call list (#4) for a store, and did not get a call, but I was paying close attention online - especially at AVS where Oct. 10th was strongly rumored as the date for at least the past week.
Of course, now I have the keep/sell question running through my head. I really want to keep it, but I have a kid coming in mid-November, so I may not get to touch the system for 6 months anyway.
