OK, guess I need to vent. I went into a local Gamestop with my 3-year old daughter to exchange 3 DVDs that I have since (or soon will) upgrade to anamorphic SE versions. I wanted to get in on the Incredibles offer before it expired (Tues). All the DVDs I had were unopened (I have A LOT of unopened DVDs). So I ask the only guy working there about the deal, he says fine. Then when I show him the DVDs, he says "We can't take unopened DVDs". I say fine, I'll open them now for you. He insists that even if I go outside open them and bring them in, I can't exchange them. I ask him why. "Corperate policy" he says. I say to him, he must be wrong. I understand they want the discs inspected and can't accept unopened merchandise, but that I can't open them and exchange them makes no sense. "That's corperate policy" he says again. I ask for a manager. He says he is the manager(!) I read the ad, it has no such exclusion. I ask him to show me where this rule is written (I had driven almost 10 miles to go here). He tells me "Shut Up!". This is IN FRONT of my little girl. I explode and tell him to "F" off. I've never used that word in front of my little girl before and hope to never again, but that was so uncalled for. He tells me to "Get out" which I happily do. My daughter asks why he's acking like that, to which I tell her he's a very mean man and sick in the head.
I'm so furious now. I have the number of the regional director and have left her a message. I tell you what, I don't think I'll stop pressing this one til this guy is fired. I don't think I'm at all out of line, am I? Anyone else with a similar expierence at a Gamestop?

To be fair to Game Stop policy, they don't accept unopened merchandise for trade-in because of the likelihood that it was stolen. They are liable as pawnbrokers for accepting stolen goods, and accepting unopened goods unnecessarily tweaks the odds against them (at least in their estimation). So, while him telling you to "shut up" was out of line, I hope you can at least understand why he would not take your DVD's.

This means absolutely nothing. They don't state that they don't take unopened merchandise, at least the last time I saw their policy. They are still liable for accepting stolen merchandise whether opened or not. What they need to do is start requiring the person selling the merchandise fill out a form and include such information as name, address, phone number and driver's license number. Require that anyone under 18 have to have an adult their to even do a trade in.
Some Gamestops locally here in MI are doing just that. (too many kids bringing in stolen DVD's)

OP good luck to you in getting that manager reprimanded. If I was in the store at the time I would have given him a piece of my mind as well.

I'm with ya too Decker...never had an experience like that luckily though. Whether that is the policy or not, i still think this guy could have expressed the policy and himself better. A manager should have something more to say than simply "corporate policy."
And saying "shut up" to a customer is totally inexcusable. I hope you have some success in getting the guy reprimanded, since somebody like that obviously shouldn't be dealing with people from a management position.

Thanks for the support. I assumed that the alleged policy was to avoid stolen merchandise, but he didn't say that. Furthermore, I have in the past brought in unopened DVDs for trade ins and had no problem opening them up for them. I also have always had to provide my signature and driver's license with trade ins. There's gotta be a better way to fence stolen goods than to trade three in for a kid's movie.
Anyway, I'll post what the regional manager has to say tomorrow.

You'd probably get more money for unopened DVDs by selling them on eBay. That's what I've done in the past. And no one's rude to you.

So what did the Regional Manager end up saying?

Can you believe this : I've left two messages (one Sunday after it happened and another yesterday afternoon) and she still hasn't called me back. I don't want to nag and leave lots of messages or she'll think I'm a nut, but c'mon why not call back yet? I'm a busy doc and I call everyone back the same day; I'm pretty sure she can as well. Maybe she's on vacation or something?

Then I'd say go over her head and call the corporate office. Let them know the store "manager" was extremely rude and the regional manager is unresponsive.

^ what they said. I had shitty customer service at a Toys R Us once, emailed TRU corporate, got a message on my phone within 24 hours from their Customer Service department and later from that store's manager, who "cheerfully" wanted to help me with whatever problem I had. Went to the store, got what I wanted.

So, if the ad dosn't state "We don't take DVD's that have been crapped on", then of COURSE you can trade in DVD's that you crapped on? C'mon. Use some common sense. I know it sucks, but I doubt the manager would'nt tell you to 'shut up' if you wern't making a scene (Like ive witnessed many times managing game stores). Simply go back another day, or goto a different GameStop since there are usually 2-3 in a decent sized town.

Alot of the time even if you go above the District/Regional managers head, Corporate will simply tell you that you need to speak to them first, before actually making a complaint at a corporate-type level.

There's a difference between assuming new DVDs (which are obviously better than any used) will be accepted and assuming DVDs "which have been crapped on" will be accepted. Maybe it's just me.

Gizmo, I wasn't making a scene. I was simply pressing him for some sort of A) proof or B) logic about that rule. I mean if you refuse to accect sealed DVDs, that's ok, but how can you refuse DVDs that USED to be sealed? He was just an asshole.
I don't think that a sealed DVD and one covered in feces is a fair comparison, do you? "Common sense" dictates that if one brings in a DVD that is new and unopened, he would either be able to trade it in as either 1) a new DVD or 2) a used dvd in either a state of being wrapped or unwrapped, but not that 3) the DVD is redflagged and may not be brought back into the store and has no value.
And I can't go back another day since it was only valid until the release date, which was last Tuesday. It's not like I can't afford a new $15 DVD, but that expierence really pissed me off and I'll continue to pursue it. I'll call the regional manager again tomorrow.

I don't care how much he did or didn't make a scene, the employee should not have told him to shut up. The employee could have politely asked him to leave, or threatened to call the police, etc.

Many places do not accept unopened games or dvd's, because the chance those are stolen are much higher. How many people do you know that have unopened dvd's or games that they're trying to unload? The average person opens and watches the game or dvd they bought (at least once) and don't just let them sit on a shelf in the original package. Keep in mind that most people on these boards are not your average consumer and do have dvd's that are still new in their collection (myself included). Previously being in law enforcement, I have seen that most people who have stolen product don't open it, but the opposite. Product that is unopened is worth more and more easily unloaded. There's also no law saying that a store must have it in writing that they don't accept certain merchandise in a certain condition. Any place has the right to refuse service to anyone, that includes not wanting to accept merchandise that doesn't qualify under their guidelines. This might not make any sense to you, but the bottom line is that it doesn't have to. Anyway, just my two cents.

Why would liability be on any store for stolen merchandise traded in? If they are following local laws, wouldn't they more than likely require signed affidavits on file from the traders that the customer would be responsible for the stolen merchandise?

weird....I just got a Beauty and the Beast there used...that was un-opened...

That guy was really out of line to tell you to shut up. I suppose this isn't what you were asking about but a bigger issue than the DVDs is you were out of line as well swearing at that guy in front of your child. You will be very embarrased if your 3 year-old daughter repeats that word to someone. (Kids repeat what they see and hear their parents do.) You should work on controlling your temper, especially around your daughter. If that guy had told me to shut up I would have looked at him like he was crazy, gotten his name and reported him to his boss. You can't let people like that get to you.

I work at a game stop in Fayetteville NC. I know from experience that after signing the release form I can take unopened Games and DVD's. I actually have a razor blade beside the register for that purpose (opening up games)and cutting up bad customers. I dont feel you were out of line at all I would have slapped the jerk in the face myself. Any way after working at Game Stop for a while I find that a lot of bad employees will just make some excuses to not take "Trade-ins." Although "trade-ins" are a regular occurance and a big bread earner for any game store, they do require an extra amount of work at the time of Check out and at the end of the day when we have to stock everything. However that is no excuse for an employee (especially a manager) to act in such a manner. As far as you get this issue taken care of I unfortunatley doubt that anything will be resolved. My suggestion is to keep trying though and if you do get some justice we can chalk another one up for the little man.

Peace,
Longharedhippy

Pawn broker laws in most states place the responsibility squarely upon the shoulders of the broker (ie Game Stop) for dealing in stolen goods.

damn that sucks, if an sob like that told me to shut up i would've kicked (or tryed) to kick his ass,, nice job a good ol' "F" word is good in my book!