Everyday starts a new page and the last one gets re-written

On release, I bought Sonic:Secret of the Rings. I thought I lost all hope with Sonic in his 3-D realm, but the Wii version looked like it had potential. I played the game for the next couple days and thought it was a decent game. Then I got to levels that required me to jump backward and plant dino eggs into holes.

Ok, so I gave it a chance. The controls totally ruined this game. I was passed that the game was on a circular track and the gimmicky saving dinos and crap, but when it comes to where I can’t even accomplish my silly goals, I get frustrated. I loved the graphics and I kept coming back to play, rediscovering my hatred for this unplayable game. So I had the receipt, but this is now around 2 months from when I bought the game. Super Paper Mario just came out, so I wanted to find a way to even exchange Sonic for the much more successful Mario.

It took a few attempts, but with the right attitude and luck, this will work. It took me 4 visits to Gamestops all over my area, but there is one about every 6 blocks in my neighborhood, so this wasn’t an issue. My goal was to get a new, unopened copy of Sonic with a receipt with a new date on it so I can trade it in for Super Paper Mario.

I first tried to get an employee to feel my Sonic pain of how bad it was and trade. No go. He offered me 22 bucks for it.

I then tried another location and told him my mother bought it for my family for Easter and when we opened it, the game didn’t work on either of our Wiis. It was late at night and his friends were hanging out in the store waiting for him to get off. I assume he didn’t want to look like a Gamestop ass and he did it for me. The only problem is that he opened in for me. He said it was policy so that I couldn’t return in for a different game. Ok, so that ruined my plan. The receipt was new and did have a new date on it. It also said “reason returned:defective.”

Next day, I went to a new GS and took advantage of their receipt. I told him this was the second time I had to return a defective Sonic game and I wanted to give up on this one and try for Paper Mario. He sounded like he was willing to help and asked his manager who was smoking outside. He came back saying “no go” and that I could get another copy of Sonic, opening by him of course. I told him no and walked out pissed off.

I thought I lost all hope when I remember a story about some guy getting a used 360 w/XBOX Live data on it despite buying a “new” one. Then it dawned on me! I decided to write in the back of the book in crayon random info about the game. Usually gaming manuals have note sections that nobody uses, but Sonic didn’t, but I made my own up. Then I wrote where there were hidden stuff and which level “blah blah, etc.” was in.

Next day, I go to a new Gamestop and it was crowded. I told him so everyone could hear, “I opened this new copy of Sonic and for some odd reason there is writing on it. I also read multiple stories of your company repackaging used games and selling for new.” I also mentioned the XBOX story. They knew EXACTLY what I was talking about, but played dumb. “I don’t know how that could have happened!” They were in my hands now.

I told him I didn’t want this game and that I wanted Super Paper Mario. He said no problem, rung it up and handed it over. Muhaha. The day was mine.

So I got my way, but I really did have a repacking issue the X-Mas that Metal Gear Solid 2 for PS2 came out. I opened my
“new” game and found crusty instructions. My dad took it back and they apologized and game us a $20 gift card.

So if GS and EB are trying to eff us over, then use this to eff their policies over. Every employee will know how it happened and give up whatever you want within reason.

So today I am playing Super Paper Mario, happy as can be. There is a mansion in Chapter 2-3 that makes repay 1,000,000 rubees for breaking a vase by doing chores. Well in one of the rooms, there is a gerbil treadmill. If you hold right or left, you run in the treadmill and make electricity to get paid. Well I don’t want to stand there and hold it for a long time because after 20 min I only got 18,000 rubees. I placed a dumbbell perfectly on the right button on the D-Pad to keep it going FOREVER! The Wiimote will time out after a while to save batteries, but you can press any button without moving the dumbbell to revive it. You do not need to get all 1,000,000 because there are more to get rubees, but I won’t spoil it for you. Pic below.