Associate lying to keep a game for himself(?)
tl;dr: Associate took a rare game home with him while considering buying it for himself and has been "forgetting" to bring it back to the store to fulfill my order. Need advice while I wait to talk to a manager.
A few days ago, I found a listing online for a rare game I have been wanting for a while at a local GameStop so I called to ask and make sure it was in the shop before driving over. On the phone an associate informed me that they were getting the game but it was still being shipped over to their store and should take around 2 days before available for purchase, so the associate wrote down my phone number and said they would give me a call once it arrived.
After 3 days, I did not receive a call, but I figured this happens all the time with retail especially if the associate who helped originally is not working that specific day. So I called in asking about it again and was told that they did have the game now, but this person I was on the phone with now (Associate A) was considering buying it but I would take priority as a customer (unknown if this was the associate from the first call). However, Associate A stated that he had actually took the game home to test it and would need to grab it during his break so I could purchase it. Said I was fine with that and agreed on a time that I would show up to the store.
Two hours later, I arrived at the store and met with Associate A whom I spoke with on the phone and he told me that he forgot to grab it during his break. Associate A ran over to another GameStop employee, seemingly a manager, and I assume asked if he could run out and grab it, but was told he was needed in the store. Associate A then came to me and said if I come in the next day before close then he would definitely have it for me.
At this point I was getting suspicious, so I decided to just place the order online in the parking lot so that I could have it reserved via my wallet. The order was "pending" the entire day up until an hour and 10 minutes before close when it changed to "ordered" where it sat for most of today up until I received an email telling me that the order was "cancelled".
I immediately called the GameStop and reached a new associate (Associate B) who I explained the situation to and described Associate A as I didn't get his name (stupid idea). Associate B helped me confirm who I have been talking to and who has the copy of the game that I have been trying to buy, but he said Associate A "forgot" it again and if I come in tomorrow then he would have it this time.
Fed up, I asked why associates are allowed to bring store inventory, that is listed on the company website, home with them and how I can place my order again so that Associate A doesn't manipulate the system to try and keep this game for himself since he has already expressed interest in getting it himself. Associate B agreed with me that inventory shouldn't be leaving the store, but informed me that he couldn't do much since he wasn't a manager, told me that Associate A is likely the one who cancelled the order, proceeded to give me when the manager would be in, and gave me everyone's names.
The game is now stated to be out of stock on the website so I can't place another order for it and, to my knowledge, all I can do is wait until tomorrow morning when the manager will be in. I don't want a refund and to move on, I want the game. It's rare enough as it is. If anyone has any advice on further actions I can take in the meantime or things I should do after talking to the manager tomorrow please let me know.