GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
07-03-08, 04:31 PM
#101
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by db27
good point, opening one would be enough!!!
And if it's just to keep the shelves full and avoid thievery, just keep all the games on display in a glass case. Your customers see what's in stock and it also lessens the chances of people stealing the merchandise.
07-03-08, 05:09 PM
#102
Originally Posted by Groucho
What I don't understand is this: what are people doing with these? I keep my games in the case, and I've never lost a manual or a cover. For example, I've still got my Zelda Toot gold cartridge in pristine condition, including manual and box.
07-03-08, 06:38 PM
#103
DVD Talk Hero
That doesn't surprise me, and it really shouldn't surprise Gamestop either, as they're basically a glorified pawn shop. They make exponentially more money off of the 2nd-hand market than they do off of regular retail.
Funny detail - a while back, the local Gamestop here in Irvine had to stop selling used consoles, as it's against city ordinances to operate a pawn shop, and used consoles are classified as pawn shop items. Used games, however, fall out of that jurisdiction.
Funny detail - a while back, the local Gamestop here in Irvine had to stop selling used consoles, as it's against city ordinances to operate a pawn shop, and used consoles are classified as pawn shop items. Used games, however, fall out of that jurisdiction.
07-06-08, 07:17 PM
#104
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I was in there yesterday browsing their DVD section and came across a Hellboy Preview DVD that they were selling for $9.99. It says Hellboy on the cover and has the titular character. The disc itself only has a couple of trailers. I remember Best Buy was giving it away for free a few years ago when the original Hellboy movie was coming out.
So either someone duped Gamestop into buying the promo disc thinking it had the actual movie, or Gamestop is knowingly trying to ripp off their patrons.
Either way, yipes.
So either someone duped Gamestop into buying the promo disc thinking it had the actual movie, or Gamestop is knowingly trying to ripp off their patrons.
Either way, yipes.
07-07-08, 02:36 AM
#105
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This story doesn't really fit in with the main point of this thread (shitty policies and practices of the Gamestop corp.), but anyways. I work weekends at Barnes & Noble and for those of you who don't know Barnes & Noble used to own Babbage's and Software Etc and through some crazy corporate stuff they separated, but we all still share the employee discounts for each store.
Anyways, there's an employee at the Gamestop a few stores down that is kinda notoriously annoying. He falls somewhere between the personality of a theatre kid, the comic book store guy from the simpsons, and a cast member of a Kevin Smith movie. He's annoying but harmless. About a week ago he comes to the Cafe the women working there are two people that don't normally work in the mornings; one is a grad student that usually works evenings and the other has only been there about a week. He orders a frappucino, and the new girl tells him the total and he tells her that he gets a discount. and the new girl looks over to the the grad student who asks if he as a pay stub (which everyone needs to get their discount). His reaction without any hesitation: slams his hand on the counter "WHAT THE FUCK! THIS IS BULLSHIT! SINCE WHEN HAVE I EVER NEEDED A FUCKING PAYSTUB! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR TWO DAYS TO GO OFF ON SOMEONE LIKE THIS! FUCK THIS SHIT! I'M SO SICK OF THIS BULLSHIT" he turns around and walks towards the door. The grad student goes "if you want to can talk to the manager" and as we walks out he goes "YEAH I'LL COME BACK AND TALK TO YOUR FUCKING MANAGER!" Myself and a couple of co-workers heard him screaming from the other side of the store and by the time we got there he was out the door.
Our manager called the general manager of his store and told him what happened and banned him from coming into our store. Two days later a guy from the cafe walked up to me and asked if something happened with gamestop because he went into buy something and whomever rang him up goes "we need your paystub." he goes into his wallet and the gamestop employee goes "cause your store makes such a big deal out of it."
The day after it happened the manager of the Panda express that's between us called my manager and said that dude did went into their place and did the same thing.
The funny thing about it we always give those guys the discount without pay stubs all the time...we just have to ask.
Not that great of a story, but I thought i'd share.
Anyways, there's an employee at the Gamestop a few stores down that is kinda notoriously annoying. He falls somewhere between the personality of a theatre kid, the comic book store guy from the simpsons, and a cast member of a Kevin Smith movie. He's annoying but harmless. About a week ago he comes to the Cafe the women working there are two people that don't normally work in the mornings; one is a grad student that usually works evenings and the other has only been there about a week. He orders a frappucino, and the new girl tells him the total and he tells her that he gets a discount. and the new girl looks over to the the grad student who asks if he as a pay stub (which everyone needs to get their discount). His reaction without any hesitation: slams his hand on the counter "WHAT THE FUCK! THIS IS BULLSHIT! SINCE WHEN HAVE I EVER NEEDED A FUCKING PAYSTUB! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR TWO DAYS TO GO OFF ON SOMEONE LIKE THIS! FUCK THIS SHIT! I'M SO SICK OF THIS BULLSHIT" he turns around and walks towards the door. The grad student goes "if you want to can talk to the manager" and as we walks out he goes "YEAH I'LL COME BACK AND TALK TO YOUR FUCKING MANAGER!" Myself and a couple of co-workers heard him screaming from the other side of the store and by the time we got there he was out the door.
Our manager called the general manager of his store and told him what happened and banned him from coming into our store. Two days later a guy from the cafe walked up to me and asked if something happened with gamestop because he went into buy something and whomever rang him up goes "we need your paystub." he goes into his wallet and the gamestop employee goes "cause your store makes such a big deal out of it."
The day after it happened the manager of the Panda express that's between us called my manager and said that dude did went into their place and did the same thing.
The funny thing about it we always give those guys the discount without pay stubs all the time...we just have to ask.
Not that great of a story, but I thought i'd share.
07-20-08, 10:56 AM
#107
DVD Talk Legend
Has GS changed their return policy on used games, or have I just noticed it for the first time? Last week I bought a lot of games with the PS3 coupon, as well as some PS2 games.
I returned some PS2 games, and bought 1 PS3 game. a few days later I returned said PS3 game to get something else, and was told I could only do the return one time.
I showed that yes there was some previous returns, but the PS3 game was only purchased once, and therefore should be allowed to be returned.
The girl working said that its their policy to only do one return per transaction, but since she knew me, shed let it slide.
On Thursday a friend of mine bought 2 PS2 Sing stars, but decided to return them later that night when we realized a lot of the songs are already on the PS3 version. GS manager wanted a full explanation why he was returning the games so soon.
I returned some PS2 games, and bought 1 PS3 game. a few days later I returned said PS3 game to get something else, and was told I could only do the return one time.
I showed that yes there was some previous returns, but the PS3 game was only purchased once, and therefore should be allowed to be returned.
The girl working said that its their policy to only do one return per transaction, but since she knew me, shed let it slide.
On Thursday a friend of mine bought 2 PS2 Sing stars, but decided to return them later that night when we realized a lot of the songs are already on the PS3 version. GS manager wanted a full explanation why he was returning the games so soon.
07-20-08, 12:06 PM
#108
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Wow...i can see one return per ITEM, but not per Transaction. In fact I did a return one time, and on the return receipt it said "Previous item returned--this sale is final" or something. Of course this is back when they took returns on New/Opened items as well
If the item is new and unopened I can see the manager asking the reason for the return, but not denying the return, especially for a good reason (I want the more expensive version with more stuff).
It might not seem to make sense why they gut every (or many) copies; however, some stores are very small, and they don't have room to store 1000 unopened copies of a game in a secure but easily accessible place, but they can store the disks alone. I don't like it, and would prefer the glass case thing, but to some extent I can understand it.
If the item is new and unopened I can see the manager asking the reason for the return, but not denying the return, especially for a good reason (I want the more expensive version with more stuff).
It might not seem to make sense why they gut every (or many) copies; however, some stores are very small, and they don't have room to store 1000 unopened copies of a game in a secure but easily accessible place, but they can store the disks alone. I don't like it, and would prefer the glass case thing, but to some extent I can understand it.
07-20-08, 12:28 PM
#109
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Originally Posted by dtcarson
It might not seem to make sense why they gut every (or many) copies; however, some stores are very small, and they don't have room to store 1000 unopened copies of a game in a secure but easily accessible place, but they can store the disks alone. I don't like it, and would prefer the glass case thing, but to some extent I can understand it.
07-20-08, 12:51 PM
#110
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
I don't disagree, I like the paper thing, or the glass case thing. In these smaller store, you might not even need the paper (Can I buy that game on the shelf there *points* Except that the paper can work as "out of stock" notice too.) But some of the stores, especially the ones in strip malls (not in actual malls), have very small "warehouse" areas, usually in the back. I can't see having to go back there every time someone wants a game, and most of the EBGSs I've been to do not have the room to store all the complete games in the front. They could probably make it work if they quit using the glass cases on their side of the counter for ad space and used it instead for storage space, and they wouldn't need all copies of every item in there.
The "opened = used" thing is interesting. I'm not sure where I am on this. My "new" car had 100 miles on it when I got it--was it "new" or "used"? The shoes I bought yesterday most likely had someone else's feet in them, new or used? Someone probably read the entire magazine I bought at the newsstand - new or used? The produce aisle, they're still charging 50c/lb for bananas even though they've all been touched (though not "used" of course). Games are actually probably the things that can be called "new" most safely, since with proper handling a game doesn't necessarily show any wear or tear, whereas a car has visible wear (mileage), shoes/shirts, possibly (and someone's germs from trying them on.) Does "new" mean "pristine and untouched" or does "new" mean "in the same condition as straight off the factory line"?
The "opened = used" thing is interesting. I'm not sure where I am on this. My "new" car had 100 miles on it when I got it--was it "new" or "used"? The shoes I bought yesterday most likely had someone else's feet in them, new or used? Someone probably read the entire magazine I bought at the newsstand - new or used? The produce aisle, they're still charging 50c/lb for bananas even though they've all been touched (though not "used" of course). Games are actually probably the things that can be called "new" most safely, since with proper handling a game doesn't necessarily show any wear or tear, whereas a car has visible wear (mileage), shoes/shirts, possibly (and someone's germs from trying them on.) Does "new" mean "pristine and untouched" or does "new" mean "in the same condition as straight off the factory line"?
07-20-08, 02:42 PM
#111
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I absolutely deplore when things are held behind a case. I totally understand why it's done, but it makes me avoid shopping in places that do it. Having to find someone at Wal-Mart to open the case for every dvd you want to look at is a PAIN IN THE ASS! Not only that, but it makes browsing pretty impossible (if you like to read the back of boxes). I remember I tried to buy a DS from a Wal-Mart, and I waited 20 minutes before just giving up and leaving the store.
07-20-08, 03:47 PM
#114
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
They could have the shrinkwrapped games behind the counter secure, and have either one gutted copy (better than gutting them all) or one promo package (like the Coming Soon) things on the shelf to look at.
My walmart has DVDs out on the floor on shelves (some of the DVDs have the sensor on them, you can still look at them but you couldn't steal them), and most of the games, including all the new ones and the consoles, in a locked case. The Greatest hits and older, 20-30$ games are in a regular accessible rack.
My walmart has DVDs out on the floor on shelves (some of the DVDs have the sensor on them, you can still look at them but you couldn't steal them), and most of the games, including all the new ones and the consoles, in a locked case. The Greatest hits and older, 20-30$ games are in a regular accessible rack.
07-20-08, 07:15 PM
#115
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
I have always hated the whole "It's still new" argument they use to justify their silly practice.
But, I though about for a bit. They say they are trying to combat shoplifting, but what happens is someone comes in to rob (or breaks in one night) the store. Well, they sure do make it easy for criminals to make off with an entire store of games in a couple of duffle bags.
I wonder if they've taken that into consideration??
Anyone remember Toys R Us (way back in the day) having the plastic two sided cards (with full box art front and back) with slips you took up to the register??
Now that made sense. You can't shoplift what's not there, and all games are kept in a secure room in their new condition.
But, I though about for a bit. They say they are trying to combat shoplifting, but what happens is someone comes in to rob (or breaks in one night) the store. Well, they sure do make it easy for criminals to make off with an entire store of games in a couple of duffle bags.
I wonder if they've taken that into consideration??
Anyone remember Toys R Us (way back in the day) having the plastic two sided cards (with full box art front and back) with slips you took up to the register??
Now that made sense. You can't shoplift what's not there, and all games are kept in a secure room in their new condition.
07-20-08, 11:26 PM
#116
DVD Talk Limited Edition
The only difference with keeping display cases on the floor and all the sealed games safe in the backroom is having to walk back and forth from the cashwrap to the backroom every single time a new sale is sold during a transaction.
GameStop's are usually run on single coverage shifts unless it's a weekend. Theives would have easy access to shoplifting controllers, or any other live product off the floor, as they can simply wait for the store to empty with customers, and send the cashier off in the back to grab 2-3 games. That's plenty of time to make off like a bandit.
GameStop's are usually run on single coverage shifts unless it's a weekend. Theives would have easy access to shoplifting controllers, or any other live product off the floor, as they can simply wait for the store to empty with customers, and send the cashier off in the back to grab 2-3 games. That's plenty of time to make off like a bandit.
07-21-08, 05:28 PM
#117
DVD Talk Hero
New as in pristine, unused condition... however, how the heck do I know that the game is new? How do I know that they didn't just take a used game and sell it to me as new? If I take a sealed game home, open it but don't play it at all, and return it the same day will they refund me my money? If not, then there is a difference, right?
Does a single shift mean that they only have one person working there? If so, in the time it takes them to turn around and look through that pile of games for the right one, a thief can make off with other things as well. Also, there are many times when they have to go in the back to get the game anyway. I don't think Gamestops gut all their games, I thought they only do it to the display/last copy, which is why I thought it was odd that they would gut all the computer games like that.
Does a single shift mean that they only have one person working there? If so, in the time it takes them to turn around and look through that pile of games for the right one, a thief can make off with other things as well. Also, there are many times when they have to go in the back to get the game anyway. I don't think Gamestops gut all their games, I thought they only do it to the display/last copy, which is why I thought it was odd that they would gut all the computer games like that.
07-21-08, 06:22 PM
#118
DVD Talk Legend
You know, I think I could deal with them calling opened merchandise new if I could also return any opened game as new as long as it had the instructions and no scratches on the disc. Seems fair.
However, the opened shit they sell me is new and the opened mint game I bring back is used. This is my problem with the policy. If the only new copy they have is opened I just go somewhere else.
However, the opened shit they sell me is new and the opened mint game I bring back is used. This is my problem with the policy. If the only new copy they have is opened I just go somewhere else.
07-21-08, 06:49 PM
#119
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally Posted by darkside
You know, I think I could deal with them calling opened merchandise new if I could also return any opened game as new as long as it had the instructions and no scratches on the disc. Seems fair.
However, the opened shit they sell me is new and the opened mint game I bring back is used. This is my problem with the policy. If the only new copy they have is opened I just go somewhere else.
However, the opened shit they sell me is new and the opened mint game I bring back is used. This is my problem with the policy. If the only new copy they have is opened I just go somewhere else.
07-21-08, 10:29 PM
#120
DVD Talk Legend
BTW, I would add a story I told here years ago which really pushed my limits with the opened is new policy. I preordered Tales of Symphonia for GameCube way back when it came out. I came in to get my copy the day after it came out and found out the only copy they had was opened. I couldn't believe they would open my preordered copy.
Apparently the store manager was in the habit of letting employees take home used and sometimes "new" games to play. According to the employee they didn't get enough copies of the game in so he opened mine and took it home to play it the night before. They didn't understand why it would bother me since it was still "new".
I walked out of the store and contacted the district manager directly. They offered to find a sealed copy for me, but as far as I know didn't really see anything wrong with it being opened though the DM said employees should not be taking games home for private use.
I eventually bought the game on Amazon, but to this day I avoid their opened new games. I also try to never preorder from them, but occasionally they do have a free item I really want and I will preorder. The Apollo Justice keychain comes to mind.
I could even tell another story of EB employees taking all the preorder freebies (I lost out on the Lunar 2 Punching Puppet over this), but everyone gets the point that these stores have their share of bad policies and bad employees.
Apparently the store manager was in the habit of letting employees take home used and sometimes "new" games to play. According to the employee they didn't get enough copies of the game in so he opened mine and took it home to play it the night before. They didn't understand why it would bother me since it was still "new".
I walked out of the store and contacted the district manager directly. They offered to find a sealed copy for me, but as far as I know didn't really see anything wrong with it being opened though the DM said employees should not be taking games home for private use.
I eventually bought the game on Amazon, but to this day I avoid their opened new games. I also try to never preorder from them, but occasionally they do have a free item I really want and I will preorder. The Apollo Justice keychain comes to mind.
I could even tell another story of EB employees taking all the preorder freebies (I lost out on the Lunar 2 Punching Puppet over this), but everyone gets the point that these stores have their share of bad policies and bad employees.
07-22-08, 12:04 AM
#121
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I've heard about employees taking the new games home too. Actually I think its a common thing at some of the local Gamestops. I've bought one opened game there before (a DS game), but I try to avoid it if possible. Its not "new" in my opinion, and they put them in little paper sleeves. I'm sure a lot of them are already scratched up from being in that cabinet/paper sleeve behind the register.
I don't know if this is supposed to happen, but when I was in there last picking up Mario Kart I noticed some of the new games were in the same cabinets as the used ones. It made me wonder what was really new or used at that store.
I don't know if this is supposed to happen, but when I was in there last picking up Mario Kart I noticed some of the new games were in the same cabinets as the used ones. It made me wonder what was really new or used at that store.
07-29-08, 06:44 PM
#122
DVD Talk Limited Edition
bump
Went into Gamestop today, had a $15 credit, wanted to use towards Soul Calibur IV. The clerk gets me a copy of out of a sleeve and goes to get the empty case off the shelf.
I'm thinking irritated to myself, "not this shit". I ask him to look at the disc since it is open. He says, "it's new, the game just got pulled out and put in the sleeve". You know, because tossing a disc into a paper sleeve is the best way to keep it unscratched. Sure enough, there's some small scratching on it. "Yup, it's scratched", I say.
He tries to rub off the scratches with a soft cloth to no avail. "Do you still want it," he asks. "Do you have any sealed copies?" I ask. "No, this is the last copy", he replies. "No thanks, I guess I'll go across the street to Best Buy". And off I go.
*sigh*
I don't know why I even tried. I had a feeling I'd end up with that opened-game crap again.
Went into Gamestop today, had a $15 credit, wanted to use towards Soul Calibur IV. The clerk gets me a copy of out of a sleeve and goes to get the empty case off the shelf.
I'm thinking irritated to myself, "not this shit". I ask him to look at the disc since it is open. He says, "it's new, the game just got pulled out and put in the sleeve". You know, because tossing a disc into a paper sleeve is the best way to keep it unscratched. Sure enough, there's some small scratching on it. "Yup, it's scratched", I say.
He tries to rub off the scratches with a soft cloth to no avail. "Do you still want it," he asks. "Do you have any sealed copies?" I ask. "No, this is the last copy", he replies. "No thanks, I guess I'll go across the street to Best Buy". And off I go.
*sigh*
I don't know why I even tried. I had a feeling I'd end up with that opened-game crap again.
07-29-08, 11:42 PM
#123
DVD Talk Hero
I went to Gamestop today to pick up my copy of MLB Power Pros 2008 for the Wii. Keep in mind I pre-ordered it last week because I knew I was getting it anyway. I got the call last night that it'd be in today.
I get there and they have zero copies. They never got any Wii versions in and don't have any on order. He offered me the PS2 version instead
I got my deposit back and walked out. Sad when a pre-order isn't in stock.
I get there and they have zero copies. They never got any Wii versions in and don't have any on order. He offered me the PS2 version instead
I got my deposit back and walked out. Sad when a pre-order isn't in stock.
07-30-08, 12:48 AM
#124
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Originally Posted by GreenMonkey
bump
Went into Gamestop today, had a $15 credit, wanted to use towards Soul Calibur IV. The clerk gets me a copy of out of a sleeve and goes to get the empty case off the shelf.
I'm thinking irritated to myself, "not this shit". I ask him to look at the disc since it is open. He says, "it's new, the game just got pulled out and put in the sleeve". You know, because tossing a disc into a paper sleeve is the best way to keep it unscratched. Sure enough, there's some small scratching on it. "Yup, it's scratched", I say.
He tries to rub off the scratches with a soft cloth to no avail. "Do you still want it," he asks. "Do you have any sealed copies?" I ask. "No, this is the last copy", he replies. "No thanks, I guess I'll go across the street to Best Buy". And off I go.
*sigh*
I don't know why I even tried. I had a feeling I'd end up with that opened-game crap again.
Went into Gamestop today, had a $15 credit, wanted to use towards Soul Calibur IV. The clerk gets me a copy of out of a sleeve and goes to get the empty case off the shelf.
I'm thinking irritated to myself, "not this shit". I ask him to look at the disc since it is open. He says, "it's new, the game just got pulled out and put in the sleeve". You know, because tossing a disc into a paper sleeve is the best way to keep it unscratched. Sure enough, there's some small scratching on it. "Yup, it's scratched", I say.
He tries to rub off the scratches with a soft cloth to no avail. "Do you still want it," he asks. "Do you have any sealed copies?" I ask. "No, this is the last copy", he replies. "No thanks, I guess I'll go across the street to Best Buy". And off I go.
*sigh*
I don't know why I even tried. I had a feeling I'd end up with that opened-game crap again.
If you would have reserved the game, it would have been sealed. This Gamestop bitching is annoying sometimes...
07-30-08, 01:33 AM
#125
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by discostu1337
If you would have reserved the game, it would have been sealed. This Gamestop bitching is annoying sometimes...
Any way you cut it, GS is the annoying party here.