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Originally Posted by House
This store must be deep in the hood. There probably is not much hope for many straight A students coming by here, unless they are commuting from another neighborhood.
“They know when they come in here, they do not curse, they do not use the N-word, pull your clothes up,” Brandon Scott, the GameStop manager, said in a recent article by WFAA-TV. “I’m probably going to get in trouble for this, but to me it’s worth it, because the kids understand that somebody cares.” Yes, South Dallas is basically the hood/ghetto/barrio... |
Originally Posted by Groucho
People still shop at Gamestop? How quaint.
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Unfortunately he gets to choose the games he buys them. One used copy of Big Mother Truckers for every straight A student!
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I'm transcribing this from a CNN interview with Erica Hill:
Erica Hill: You're in business to make money, why do you care how these kids are doing in school? Brandon Scott: Cause they're our future Erica. The kids we sell to are our future and regardless, like it or love it, one of those children we may never know who they are may come up with a cure to cancer they may come up with a cure for aids or they may solve the problem for world hunger and I want them to let them know somebody cares about them and their grades other than their parents and their teachers and not in a disgustingly way but somebody that actually cares for them and what they do for themselves because after the dust settles and they stop playing video games if they either outgrow them or they just don't have the time it's about what's in their mind that matters. Erica Hill: What about you know on the surface on I have to say to you it sounds like a great program why not? But I'm sure there's more than one parent out there who says 'you know what Brandan I appreciate what you're doing, but it's my kid back off.' Brandon Scott: You're right you know and they are right it is their kid and if they want to raise their kid the way they want to raise there kid it's all fine blow(?) and dandy let them do that I'm not trying to knock anything about with what they're doing I'm just trying to do my part as the villiage that needs to have a villiage to raise a child I'm just trying to do my part. Erica Hill: You could lose a little money here in fact GameStop the company that you have a franchise from we contacted them earlier today they have not gotten back to us at this point. What if you end up losing your franchise over this, or even a certain amount of business, is it worth it? Brandon Scott: I, well you know to me I don't think they would lose anything because alot of the people who I turned away came back and they were like 'hey you know what the grades are a little bit better.' And, when they come in I ask them how their grades are doing. I ask them to teach me something 'what did you learn today?' and teach me and they're excited about the chance to teach somebody and they tell me and you see the look in their eye and their face that somebody cares you know I've never been asked that question and if that happens you know I kinda think that money will come back to gamestop over this because it's a positive thing, it's not a negative thing. Erica Hill: It's not just about grades either we should mention, at least the way I understand it, I mean yes if you come in with an A that's good incentive but you're also look at kids who are trying right? Brandon Scott: Exactly, if you are trying and you come to me with you know a B, and you're like 'man you know I missed this' or 'I tried to do that.' Hey you know you still get something. You know I'll still give you a pat on the back. Or, if you come back with something that tops that I'll get it for you myself. You know it's the point that you're trying, and it's the point that you get it done, and it's the point that you bring home the good grades. Sorry if the transcription isn't perfect, I also tried to punctuate where needed, but some of those sentences just kept going and going and going... |
He didn't say he would buy the straight A students a game of their choice....
Manager Scott: "Congrats on your good grade. Here is your copy of Oregon Trail. Enjoy!" |
Ahh, your Oregon Trail reference opens the door for me to post this:
http://www.achewood.com/?date=05132003 |
He's just giving them the free game to level the playing field. See if you can get straight A's with Halo 3 around, punk! Hopefully this helps the other gaming children get their grades up to an acceptable level to purchase new games.
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But what if their grades fell after they pre-ordered? I mean you have to pre-order in order to get a game there right?
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He's going to pick which game to buy for the A student? Madden 99 for the N64?
Is Gamestop one of the stores that won't sell big name titles on release week to anyone who didn't preorder it (it happened to be at EB games once, so I went across the street to Best Buy where they had a billion copies of that title)? This would be one way to cripple them even more? |
Normally I'd sack him if I was Gamestop corporate. But that would create bad publicity in this case. So instead, I'd make some big announcement how he's moving to head office to work on updating Gamestops policies to be more caring, and then quietly sweep him under the carpet.
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^ Yep. He is the anti-GS manager. Outright firing him would bring some terrible press. The guy is providing a great service to the community and apparently it is appreciated. Something will be done quitely and out of the public eye.
If he owns a franchise, can't he set his own policies to an extent? I mean he isn't rewriting their handbook or anything just doing something out of the norm. This is the good kind of press this god-awful company needs. |
The funny thing is, I bet his store does better business than the average Game Stop. He provides intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for customers to return to his store, which will assuredly drive customer loyalty.
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Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
If he owns a franchise, can't he set his own policies to an extent? I mean he isn't rewriting their handbook or anything just doing something out of the norm. This is the good kind of press this god-awful company needs.
However, his policy is anti-consumer and I think he's an absolute idiot that needs to be fired or have his franchise removed. This is someone who obviously hasn't been in the business that long, or is so rich he can afford to take a stand against young consumers that will just walk 100 feet down to the other end of the mall to buy games. Or, this will stop real quick when some "enterprising" young person decides to go in, be refused service and hires a lawyer for the discrimation suit.
Originally Posted by Eric D.
Sounds like a cool guy.
But, as a businessperson, he's an idiot or just in the wrong line of work. |
I have issues with him judging the worth of my kid(s) (which are in the future admittedly, right now I have none :-) ) based on getting straight As. It's pretty much a fact that not every kid is capable of getting A's regardless of how hard they study or how well they apply themselves. This hardly makes them less worthy than the jerkoff who can get straight A's without even opening a textbook. There are other things in life as important as numerical academic achievement, and just because someone doesn't have the best number doesn't mean they won't have a great future.
I guess, just having taught kids for the last 18 months I'm faintly offended by his attitude. |
Originally Posted by mkdevo
this guy is a hero.
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^ Didn't get straight A's.
;) It doesn't say you can't buy anything if you don't get straight A's. Just that you are doing well in school. The straight A kids get a free game. I just don't see the negative of this. If anything he should also be applauded for making the parents come in so they are aware of what their kid is buying. So it seems obvious he is enforcing the ESRB as well. Another plus in my book. |
Yeah but thats saying that the straight A kid is more worthy of a free game and a therefore a better person than the straight B kid (for example). I just think it's a negative reinforcement of an old stereotype.
I don't necessarily disagree with the principle of involving parents more in purchases, but maybe you could make the game award program more of a 'why my kid is so great' competition. Eg. my son is the best because he always gives up his seat on the bus, he helps out at the old folks home on saturdays, he participates in the annual clean up the river day... etc. I think the focus on grades only is not a good thing. |
Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
^ Didn't get straight A's.
;) It doesn't say you can't buy anything if you don't get straight A's. Just that you are doing well in school. The straight A kids get a free game. I just don't see the negative of this. If anything he should also be applauded for making the parents come in so they are aware of what their kid is buying. So it seems obvious he is enforcing the ESRB as well. Another plus in my book. He doesn't say. So, if a student wants to purchase games in his store without a parent present they have to carry their report card around? Ridiculous. Enforcing the ESRB? So what if a kid is 16 and wants to purchase a "T" game? Better check the grades first! Besides, enforcing the ESRB is likely a corporate policy that he has to do anyway. I have been in game stores where the clerk has asked the parent if it was okay for their teenage son to purchase a "M" rated game and have seen parents just go balistic on the clerk for asking that simple question which is store policy. It's only a matter of time for a parent to give this "hero" an absolute earful for his absurd (and likely illegal), policy. Which brings me to another point about the legality of this. Wouldn't there have to be a sign on the store front or at least at the counter saying that the store refuses to sell without a parent or report card vouching for the student??? |
Originally Posted by Chris_D
I think the focus on grades only is not a good thing. Also, since we do not shop there, who are we to judge anyway? It seems the kids and parents all go along with it and appreciate the way he does business and treats & helps the kids, so :shrug:. Appears as though he is providing a valid service to the community. Like I said above, if I lived near there, I'd definitely shop there over every other GS in the nation(assuming I'd ever desire to shop at GS to begin with). Personally it would be interesting to see how the naysayers in this thread performed in school vs. the supporters. |
Well I'd say I was one of those jerk offs who got straight As without a lot of effort, and certainly didn't really do much for others or the community during my school days. Looking back, I wish I'd done a lot more of a variety of activities back then than just academia (and video games heh) but time to make up for it now. I sure as hell don't think I deserved a free game more than the average random guy in my class.
Btw, it's getting off the topic a bit, but having some volunteer activities, work experience, or even a solid work history at somewhere like McDonalds can do wonders for your resume in just about any type of job application and really push it to the top of the pile. People in school and college should definitely keep this in mind, when thinking about their future careers. |
I just wonder if he holds his employees to the same standards. Imaging being the kid that gets fired from his PT job because he got a D in math!
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Originally Posted by boogieman03
Yes, South Dallas is basically the hood/ghetto/barrio...
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Originally Posted by Rockmjd23
Well I'm sure he's a great guy, but let's not put him in the same category as Michael Righi or Brett Darrow...be realistic.
rotfl |
Originally Posted by Chris_D
Well I'd say I was one of those jerk offs who got straight As without a lot of effort, and certainly didn't really do much for others or the community during my school days. Looking back, I wish I'd done a lot more of a variety of activities back then than just academia (and video games heh) but time to make up for it now. I sure as hell don't think I deserved a free game more than the average random guy in my class.
Btw, it's getting off the topic a bit, but having some volunteer activities, work experience, or even a solid work history at somewhere like McDonalds can do wonders for your resume in just about any type of job application and really push it to the top of the pile. People in school and college should definitely keep this in mind, when thinking about their future careers. My grammar sucks, I got Bs and Cs in school, and I'm not much to look at, but by not worrying about those things, and working my tail off, I've put myself in a position where I'm helping change lives for the better every day, and making wonderful money doing it......point being, I applaud this guy's initiative, but I don't agree with rewarding kids for good grades. I'm sure it'd be against labor laws, but I'd rather the manager have the kids scrub toilets and take out the garbage for a week, then give them that game. ;) |
I would actually buy something from this gamestop.
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