I bought the game "new" from Gamestop, or so I thought.... The code to download the dlc was absent from the package and it had clearly been used before. Now Gamestop is refusing to accept the trade-in because of the fact that I opened it. They totally screwed me out of my money, and I really loved the game a bunch, so if any Giantbomb user has an extra Alan Wake DLC code lying around, I would really appreciate a PM with the code! Thanks a bunch everyone and have a better holiday season than Gamestop apparently thinks I should have. 
 
 I leave this thread alone for a few hours and come back to see 45 replies. Thanks to everyone who has chimed in, so allow me to clarify my situation exactly. 
 
1. This was a shrink-wrapped "new" copy of Alan Wake. 
2. Upon opening the package once I got home it was quite clear that the game was used. (The disk was slightly scratched and the manual was crinkled.) 
3. I know not to buy from Gamestop, I was just using up a giftcard that was about to expire. 
4. I'm not just saying "OY GIMME FREE DLC!" I'm just asking that, if someone didn't like the game and has an extra card floating around, I've got my hand held high with some hope of actually playing the DLC, as I thoroughly enjoyed my run through of Alan Wake. 
5. Though the suggestions of "nut-up and argue your way to victory" are fun, they aren't exactly likely as my attempts to talk with the managers have, thus-far, been less than fruitful.  
 
Thanks again to everyone that replied, and I'll be sure to let everyone know how this fight against a massive conglomerate over a 3 cent piece of cardboard goes.    

Selling used games as new is not uncommon for Gamestop.
 
Don't buy at Gamestop. Every single one of their customers gets screwed in some way, even if it's just the ridiculous price for a game.

  Sorry to hear that man. That is pretty awful! I would argue my point to no end. You can't sell something that has something missing from the box.

Hmmm.
 
You know, I don't doubt that your situation was as tragic as you lay it out to be. But for the punchline to be, "So who wants to give me free DLC?" makes it a bit harder to empathize.

" Don't buy at Gamestop. Every single one of their customers gets screwed in some way. "

Gamestop sucks, avoid asking for free stuff on the internet, you can happily pretend that the DLC does not exist because the ending is perfectly good on its own.
 
Boom, thread closed.

Actually I think that DLC code was only a limited time thing, to try to boost launch time sales. Perhaps you should have done research.
 
Plus you can always tell if the game has been opened. Honestly how do you not notice the shrink wrap is missing? You've bought a used copy, its your fault.
 
I've been buying games and consoles from GameStop for awhile now and never had any problem. I really think the biggest problem is that a big portion of their customer base is just plain dumb.

" @CptBedlam said:

" Don't buy at Gamestop. Every single one of their customers gets screwed in some way. "

I buy my games there and i have never had a problem, It's obviously OP's fault he knew the game had been opened but he still bought the game. "

" Hmmm.  You know, I don't doubt that your situation was as tragic as you lay it out to be. But for the punchline to be, "So who wants to give me free DLC?" makes it a bit harder to empathize. "

lol

" Actually I think that DLC code was only a limited time thing, to try to boost launch time sales.  Plus you can always tell if the game has been opened. Honestly how do you not notice the shrink wrap is missing? You've bought a used copy, its your fault. "

Call the district manager with your issue. As an ex-employee I can confirm you'll get whatever you want that way.

" @CptBedlam: Weird because I've bought about 6 games from them this year, all of them shrink wrapped, sealed, with all contents in the package. All at the same price I could have got them anywhere else. "

Is it possible that you missed somewhere on the package where it said it was used? If not, and you used a credit card to buy the game at the "new" price, then I would dispute the charge and try to have it canceled. You should call Gamestop first to let them know, because maybe they'll back out and give you the proper game and also because the credit card companies want you to do everything possible on your end before canceling it. If the product they gave you was not the one they charged you for, then you're under no obligation to pay for it!

Well actually the Alan Wake free DLC code was a limited time offer. It was to last through the end of June I believe. 
 
Go and look it up. S'why I bought it before I June.

This happened to me with Dragon Age. I went in and talked to the manager. He apologized and upgraded me to the CE as a way of saying sorry.

I've had a few issues with gamestop recently. 
 
I bought my niece a PS2 to replace her broken one about 2 months ago. When she got it home she found out that there was no power cord in it. She took it to her local gamestop and they told her it would have to be brought back to the place where it was originally purchased to get the cord, which is just silly. What if she lived across the country? I also got her a copy of Rachet and Clank: UYA and she found when she got home, the box was empty. The clerks never put it in the box. 
 
It just reinforced the fact that I really have no need to buy from gamestop anymore.

I've never had any of these issues everyone else seems to have with Gamestop, guess it depends on where you live.

Learn how to be a man and don't take bullshit like this without a fight. Take it up with the manager, complain, make noise, or you aren't going to get anything but screwed again in the future.

" @CptBedlam: The cases on display are solely for display purposes, they will then change it for a shrink wrapped version from behind the desk. Are you sure you just didn't buy a second hand version? "

Yea, I really don't like how they don't have shrink wrapped copies, and beyond that, put stickers on all their game cases. But beyond that, I've never really had a problem with their service.  
 
For the DLC code, either ask them if they have extras (as you are entitled to one, and they can't deny you it). Or if they don't, just call the company and you should be able to get one pretty easily. Same thing happened with my BC2 limited edition code (but in that case they were honest and said they really didn't have any leftover).

Just go to a general electronics store like Best Buy, instead of that shithole Gamestop. They're pure evil.

" I bought the game "new" from Gamestop, or so I thought.... The code to download the dlc was absent from the package and it had clearly been used before. Now Gamestop is refusing to accept the trade-in because of the fact that I opened it. They totally screwed me out of my money, and I really loved the game a bunch, so if any Giantbomb user has an extra Alan Wake DLC code lying around, I would really appreciate a PM with the code! Thanks a bunch everyone and have a better holiday season than Gamestop apparently thinks I should have. "

I've never had a problem with stuff missing, but I do hate how they open the new games. It makes the whole situation at home a little less exciting. 

My buddy had the same problem with the Forza ultimate edition, no Top gear codes in the box and he ended up stuck with it even though that was the only thing in the box he actually wanted, I hate how the employees can take the games home at Gamestop.

Still having trouble figuring out why people still buy games at Gamestop instead of Amazon or eBay which have lower prices and better service. 

Moral of the story here is dont buy anything at gamestop.

" @Burns098356GX said:

" @CptBedlam: Weird because I've bought about 6 games from them this year, all of them shrink wrapped, sealed, with all contents in the package. All at the same price I could have got them anywhere else. "

Indeed weird. Regional differences maybe.  Well, they have a few games behind the counter - usually the new releases - that are still wrapped. But everything the customers themselves can grab in the store is just empty cases. Also the games that are advertised as new.   And as for the prices: Around here all the Gamestops are usually 10€s more expensive when it comes to new games.  The used-game price are an even bigger joke. "

I love how everyone are bashing GameStop, ignoring the fact that:
 
A) We have no way to know that the OP is telling the truth (sorry OP, but asking for someone else's code is...weird).
B) The code didn't work for some at all, and you had to contact Microsoft to get a new one. Exactly what happened to me.
 
But I won't derail the thread with logic, please continue your good fight against evil videogame stores.

Yeah as a general rule, if you're buying a new game you never buy it at gamestop because fuck that place.

If it was a Used game in a new box then it would have already of been opened, so I don't get why they couldn't take it back for it being opened. I'm a pc gamer and I got screwed out of an entire game because the cd key was blank on the manual and they don't take pc games back opened. I had to call the company but the process was such a hassle to get resolved that it was just easier to "find another way of getting a cd key".

 If my gamestop only sold open games, I wouldn't buy from there.  But if I ever did, I would have the brains to open the box to make sure the disk was new and that the dlc card was there.

sometimes the code in on the receipt 

" @CptBedlam: The cases on display are solely for display purposes, they will then change it for a shrink wrapped version from behind the desk. Are you sure you just didn't buy a second hand version? "

" Actually I think that DLC code was only a limited time thing, to try to boost launch time sales. Perhaps you should have done research. Plus you can always tell if the game has been opened. Honestly how do you not notice the shrink wrap is missing? You've bought a used copy, its your fault.  I've been buying games and consoles from GameStop for awhile now and never had any problem. I really think the biggest problem is that a big portion of their customer base is just plain dumb. "

I think it might be cheaper in terms of time and disposition to buy the DLC at 400 points.  
 
Also the DLC is nothing mindblowing. In truth you are losing nothing for not playing it. The story goes nowhere. 

I usually don't buy "new games" from Gamestop unless it is the day it is coming. It is hard for me to believe the game is new when you went into your lil drawer behind the counter and pulled the "new game" from a sleeve and place it into my games box. If these games are new what are they not doing in the games box with stickers around the edges and wrapped in plastic?

I leave this thread alone for a few hours and come back to see 45 replies. Thanks to everyone who has chimed in, so allow me to clarify my situation exactly. 
 
1. This was a shrink-wrapped "new" copy of Alan Wake. 
2. Upon opening the package once I got home it was quite clear that the game was used. (The disk was slightly scratched and the manual was crinkled.) 
3. I know not to buy from Gamestop, I was just using up a giftcard that was about to expire. 
4. I'm not just saying "OY GIMME FREE DLC!" I'm just asking that, if someone didn't like the game and has an extra card floating around, I've got my hand held high with some hope of actually playing the DLC, as I thoroughly enjoyed my run through of Alan Wake. 
5. Though the suggestions of "nut-up and argue your way to victory" are fun, they aren't exactly likely as my attempts to talk with the managers have, thus-far, been less than fruitful.  
 
Thanks again to everyone that replied, and I'll be sure to let everyone know how this fight against a massive conglomerate over a 3 cent piece of cardboard goes.

" @AlexW00d said:

" @CptBedlam: The cases on display are solely for display purposes, they will then change it for a shrink wrapped version from behind the desk. Are you sure you just didn't buy a second hand version? "

yeah. any new copy you get is shrink wrapped. only used copies are opened awaiting them to put a disc in. i guess the moral of the story is not to go into gamestop while under the influence or otherwise in a daze. "

" 1. This was a shrink-wrapped "new" copy of Alan Wake. 2. Upon opening the package once I got home it was quite clear that the game was used. (The disk was slightly scratched and the manual was crinkled.)