While I don't think this problem is anything major, the solution is extremely trivial.

Gog just needs to choose to newsletterize games that are not and aren't expected to get on sale for a few days, e.g. promote some RTS while the current sales include shooters and adventures, or even other RTSs.

This way Gog gets just as much promotion as they currently do and their customers have no reason to complain about this anymore.

Sorry, I'm don't get your point. I was just trying to ask OP if anyone who was offered a newsletter discount right after a GOG site sale could claim they were penalized.

That is why I only complete the purchases of games near the ends of sales. GOG keeps adding more games to already running sales all the time and you never know when a newsletter discount might be sent out.

Penalize: To impose a handicap on; place at a disadvantage (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)

But GOG also often removes games from sales before the expiration of those sales. I've posted threads on that as well.

Ultimately the difference in discount from what I received isn't that big of a deal. The major point is:

Most times companies that engage in what I'd consider unclear pricing schemes are either failing or greedy (beyond that of usual business). Yet that reluctance for clear and concise pricing drives customer distrust and lower sales over time. Happy customers IMHO begin -- even before low prices -- with clear pricing.

GOG may be suffering from staffing issues and this situation (like others in the recent past) may have simply been an oversight. Those things do happen (and somewhat often at GOG), but if not...

(I understand many do not see the issue I am making... or even care about it as I do. That's fine. But I've been around long enough to see warning signs in retail business practices... and I hate seeing those warning signs at GOG. Makes me think twice about some of the things brought up in GOG's recent customer survey)

I understand the main issue here is the confusion and annoyance caused by such an occurrence and I agree that it does indicate poor planning at the very least. Wouldn't a functional solution to the end issue be to just refund the previous purchase and buy again with the discount code?

Problem is that if you have purchased the game already, you cannot use the newsletter discount for same game.

One could refund the game from the original purchase, but with the state of GOG support ATM, the refund would not be granted before the newsletter discount expires (2 - 3 days)... and again the refund would have to happen before the newsletter discount allows use.

It's just a mess. ha.

At this point I'm not very worried about the newsletter discount (although I'd like to get it). I'm much more worried about pricing schemes and GOG's pricing being clear and straightforward.

I didn't read that thread, but the recent Quake discount ($3.49) did not seem to be the highest discount ($2.49). On the other hand, the game's name had changed from "Quake: The Offering" to "Quake" when they added the Enhanced edition and its mission packs. So maybe the system treated it as a new product (also from that point the regular sale price was a bit higher). There may not be trickery, but obscure reasons.

(in case anyone was following along...)

Spoke with Customer Support and...

... they offered to exchange my purchase for GOG Wallet Funds which could then be used to buy the game with GOG newsletter discount.

I did not choose this option, but it was offered by GOG.

I also asked that GOG refrain from running newsletter discounts (greater discounts) for games concurrently alongside on-site sales discounts for same games.