yea, i mean, if you look at their used section, its not unusual to get a generic box that actually looks worse than that

if its used, as long as the game works, I really dont give a shit

Maybe it is the Limited Edition Excite Truck that no one knows about.

Well I never shop there so I didn't know they have ghetto boxes like that in their "used" section..

I HIGHLY doubt it was a mistake, however. Them jackasses most likely will try to sell it as new until they get called on it.

I'm not saying I do it all the time, but when they are relentless or common sense doesn't win out(i.e. asking if I have games to trade, when it is abundantly clear I am carrying nothing) they are fair game. No mercy for the stupid.

Another classic example:
"Do you need help finding anything?"
"No thanks, just looking."

5 minutes go by:
"Sure you don't need some help?"
.
.
.
"Sure, do you have the Darkness for Xbox 360?"
"It's not out yet but I can check on the release date for you."
..gives date... "wanna preorder and guarantee a copy on release day?"
"No thanks. I never have a problem finding a copy at Best Buy(Target,CC, insert any store here) on release day."

It is the 'stupid' that gets to me mostly, along with the snarky "you can only get this game at our store" attitude.

I'm not going to defend them, and I don't generally shop there (or trade in games), but they generally have empty display boxes on the rack, and the games in a case behind the counter.

I expect they probably put that out because some moron shoplifted their display box and they did not have another one.

Of course, that doesn't mean that taking a picture of it is not a funny way to comment on their practice of selling opened games as "new."

well, its really hard to convince someone a game is brand new when you don't even get the factory box for it.

As far as the pricing errors go, in the example I mentioned, it didn't matter one bit that the manager didn't think it was an error. After he scanned the bar code, it came up the correct price regardless.

But yea, apparently you wouldn't know

I went to one of my GS Monday to get on the sale. Unfortunately they had not changed the price of Lego Star Wars to reflect the platinum hits price. So I had the manager check the price.

"No its still $44.99”
-Oh, well it’s a PH now, like Saints Row, which you have changed the price on
“Oh, I haven’t heard about any of these”
-Do you know when the price will change?
“No, they never tell us”
Ok, I don’t want the game then.
“But do you have our discount card?”

Oh my god. Like a 10% discount is going to be better than a $20 price cut.

I sold clothes at Structure for a summer in college, and they had the staff do this there, too.

About half of the job there was just looking good, so, accordingly, doing this was partially about being good-looking and flattering the customers by paying attention to them.

It also let potential shoplifters know that we were paying attention to them. Apparently, people go to the mall to steal shit.

Didn't anyone notice that there's a copy of Excite Truck right next to the handdrawn coverart? It's probably just an employee's way of joking around. Maybe they wanted to see who would pick up that one instead of the regular box?

i understand that they try to "sell" you on shit while you're in the store, but they honestly suck at selling me on anything. I'm not sure if its because I've worked on sales and commission before, so I'm able to see through the bullshit, or what.

But yea, I know for a fact a bunch of employees there get pissed when you say you take your business elsewhere instead of preordering, or selling games on ebay instead of trading games into them.

I don't know. I think some people look to get offended or upset. I'd say that 99% of my experience at 99% of the places I go are good. I think I just have low expectations/demands/needs. I rarely have bad service at a restaraunt, probably because all I need is them to take my order within 10 mins of me sitting there and refill my drink at least once. If they do more than that, then I consider it great service.

When I go to EB Games/Gamestop, I'm pretty self-sufficient. Most information I've already gathered from the internet. I generally don't need anything from them except to ring up my purchase. It's pretty easy for me to say no to the 2 questions they ask me. The only thing I dread at a EB Games is a bunch of incosiderate kids who think they own the aisles.

I've just totally quit shopping there.

Not worth the hassle. Haven't set foot in one since December.

The problem is you can't be self-sufficient. Everything is behind the counter, so you have to engage the salesperson and there's always upsell banter.

I'm through with Gamestop after going by there and seeing a bunch of Wii boxes in the window and a big sign reading "IN STOCK!". I went in and asked about it, and the guy laughed at me like I was an idiot: "Of course we don't have any Wiis!"

Yep.

That's why I buy pretty much everything at Best Buy or Circuit City. Can just grab it and take it to the register and at the worst have to say no to a magazine offer (and they're never pushy if they even mention it).

I generally don't buy games at Target or Wal-Mart either as they are in glass cases and it can take forever to get someone to get a game out for you.

I find the customer service desk at my local best buy deplorable. I can always convince the EB manager to let me return anything, regardless of how long I've had the game

How different are EB Games/Gamestop? I go to EB Games, because those are the stores that are close to me. I've never had a problem at my stores. I bought SPM at EB Games on launch day. I went to the counter and asked if he had any in stock. He counted the ones he had to make sure he could fulfill his preorders and told me he did have one. I bought it and he asked me (I believe) 2 questions: Are there any upcoming Wii games you would like to preorder? I said no. Would you like to subscribe to our magazine and save money? I said no. These questions were asked while my credit card was processing anyway. I was in and out in a few minutes.

This weekend I bought Mario Kart DS from EB (had a gift card). I picked up the case from the shelf and brought it to the counter. The guy said, "Let me get you a new copy from the back" -- obviously because the ones on the shelf are displays... He brought it back, I paid with my gift card and he didn't ask me a single question. Not counting my browsing, it took me a couple minutes.

I've never had a bad experience at EB Games because of the employees. Any bad experience has just been over-crowding (mall EBs tend to be small) or inconsiderate kids hogging the aisles.

its too much energy to hate something as trivial as a store. I browse there and buy something when theres a game I want. Usually I buy there when they have a game on release day--it beats having to wait half a week for Best Buy to get it.

Why does Wal-mart and Target even keep games in a case? It can't be because they are afraid of thieves since they keep music cds out in the open. My local Target is especially annoying because every time I go there it seems like there is never an employee anywhere near the electronics section.

$50 game > $12 CD

hmmm... theft of a $10 cd vs. theft of a $60 game. I can see how they are the same.

I understand the reasoning behind the glass cases, but the bottom line is that I don't want to be treated like a thief when I buy a product.

Do you feel the same at a jewelry store?

I don't expect to be able to return anything unless it is defective, so not an issue for me.

Stores aren't rental services.

I can't stand the employees or the clientele. Makes me ashamed to be a gamer and have something in common with most of that lot.

I'll get back to you when video games go for $10,000 a pop.