When you pre-order at a retail location (that hasn't given away the pre-order boxes to people that didn't pre-order), you should get a slim CD case containing a card with a pre-order key. The box says you pay $5 for the box and it's a $5 coupon toward your pre-ordered copy of the game within 7 days after release. If you never buy the full game, you're just out $5 but get all the pre-order benefits, including beta access.