Retailer Reaps Souls from Online Customers

Apparently, 7,500 customers of the UK gaming retailer GameStation sold their souls online.  As part of an April Fool’s joke, GameStation decided to slip a clause into the terms and conditions of its purchase contracts that gave the company the rights to their customers’ immortal souls.  Its that bit of legalese that we skip when we’re buying software online or another iTunes download, we always seem to click “ok” or “agree” without reading all that stuff.

The clause reads: “By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non-transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamesation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions.”

They followed that up with an addendum to the soul-selling contract: “We reserve the right to serve such notice in 6 (six) foot high letters of fire, however we can accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by such an act. If you a) do not believe you have an immortal soul, b) have already given it to another party, or c) do not wish to grant Us such a license, please click the link below to nullify this sub-clause and proceed with your transaction.”

GameStation did offer the customers a chance to get the souls back.  They but a simple box to check in order to opt out of the soul sale. It even offered an incentive of a voucher worth five British pounds for merely paying attention to their legalese. But GameStation estimated that almost 90% of those offered this redemption did not bother, leaving their souls ultimately at the mercy of the company.  Look for the souls in the 3 for 1 bargain bin along with copies of Leisure Suit Larry and Avatar The Game.