EBGames/GameStop Charging $3.00 for REFURB SERVICE on TRADE INS???

[DreamTR]

Anyone had this happen to them? I've never traded anything in to GameStop in TN, only CA and FL. The guy took my games, which did NOT have scratches on them, and my accessories, and then charged a $3.00 Refurb fee, which is on my receipt, says it always has been implemented, and he is just going to send the stuff I gave him to corporate. He also would not take multiple copies of ANY accessory or game. So if I am trading in 2 PS2 controllers from the same company, he can't take them????? This is bizarre. Anyone else have this "refurb" fee happen? I'm pretty pissed about this whole ordeal today.

[swlovinist]

Does not sound right at all. I would ask around or go to another Gamestop. Definately get his Manager and give that person a call. If not, take it up with the district manager. It could be a TN thing, but I have not heard of any Gamestop doing that here. Sorry that happened.

[Anthony1]

Did you not realize that it was happening while you were there? I mean....you only realized this later after looking at the receipt? I would have taken my games and accessories elsewhere.

[studvicious]

They tried to do that to me when I was trading in a couple of games. He was like "yeah, this one's scratched up pretty bad, look.." Then he showed it to me and I replied, "that doesn't look bad at all and besides I BOUGHT IT HERE!!". It was definitely one of those games that I never even played, let alone scratched.

So I just took all of my stuff and left.

[joshnickerson]

I think I've heard of this before, but I've never traded anything into Gamestop before. So not only do they pay you $1 for something they're gonna turn around and sell for $10, they tack on a $3 fee? Screw that.

[heybtbm]

They tried to do that to me when I was trading in a couple of games. So I just took all of my stuff and left.

Good for you. I would've done the same thing.

Gamestop/EB never fails to surprise me with the new ways they come up with to screw their customers. This is the exact reason why corporate mergers are so insidious. The essentially have a nationwide used game buying/selling monopoly and can make up any rules they want to. Worst of all, they know they can get away with it.

On the rare occasions where I want to get rid of an old game, I always sell it on ebay. GS/EB can go to hell.

[DreamTR]

anthony1: I got most of that crap for free, I can't resell it on eBay, and the nearest GameStop/resale place is always 10 or so miles away, so it's kind of a lose/lose situation out here, but yes, I asked him when I saw it on the credit card monitor, and that is when he told me that they have always done that.

[Wolfrider31]

Wow that's crazy. This is why I prefer to shop at Wal-Mart over EB.

[Poofta!]

they only do that if hte disk is scratched. shouldve protested. you can always sell stuff here =]

[Oobgarm]

Refurb fees have been around at GameStop for ages.

Generally, they're reserved for games that are unsellable due to scratches. If he's just charging you that so he can 'send them to corporate', and they're in good shape to begin with, he's lying to you. The only things ever traded in and sent off were the aforementioned unsellable games.

As far as multiple items, I've noticed that GS is getting more strict on their guidelines. Some places might let you get away with selling a few copies of a title, while others won't. I recently tried to trade in some games I'd bought and never opened, and was turned away. They weren't even NEW games, either-basically games I'd sat on for a few years and never played.

Lose/lose situation indeed.

[chrisbid]

lesson

find a mom n pop store that doesnt try to rip you off

[DreamTR]

chrisbid: Mom and Pop stores here are worse on trade ins believe it or not. Good luck with that.

[heybtbm]

chrisbid: Mom and Pop stores here are worse on trade ins believe it or not. Good luck with that.

That's been my experience too. At least with a mom n' pop store, the money stays local...rip off or not.

[mailman187666]

I've never had to pay any refurb fees or anything like that, and I've traded in some not so hot looking games. I too only like to sell on Ebay, or trade stuff in at this place Game Universe that I like to visit out here in MA. They actually give you good trade credit, first place I've ever seen do that. They pretty much give you a buck per atari game reguardless of what it is.

[64Bits]

I love the Gamestop/Eb flaming that goes on without any of you knowing any facts whatsoever.

My friend works there, and I asked him about this a while ago. It goes anywhere from something like 75 cents to 3 dollars for the refurbishment fee, all depending on how much the value is set at for the trade-in. If you are all getting so damn "screwed", stop going there. Isn't that simple?

I also forgot to mention, that apparently the multiple accessory/game thing is store to store. Some that are much more prone to theft in the area might not be as compelled to allow you to trade in multiple things. It all depends on who's working, and the store you go to in general.

[studvicious]

stop going there. Isn't that simple?

I have, and yes it was :)

[Kitsune Sniper]

anthony1: I got most of that crap for free, I can't resell it on eBay, and the nearest GameStop/resale place is always 10 or so miles away, so it's kind of a lose/lose situation out here, but yes, I asked him when I saw it on the credit card monitor, and that is when he told me that they have always done that.

You could always post those items for sale here, ya know. :)

[FantasiaWHT]

This seems like more of a dig against the specific sales associate, not the chain's policy. I'm sure, if pressed, even the most ardent GS/EB hater would admit that paying less for a game that's so badly scratched that it's unplayable (the extra money going to refurbishment) is better than not buying the game at all.

[GrayFox]

Go back to the store. Talk to the manager. Refurb fees are understandable, but they must warn you if they are going to apply them. They can't apply them without telling you.

[diskoboy]

Anyone had this happen to them? I've never traded anything in to GameStop in TN, only CA and FL. The guy took my games, which did NOT have scratches on them, and my accessories, and then charged a $3.00 Refurb fee, which is on my receipt, says it always has been implemented, and he is just going to send the stuff I gave him to corporate. He also would not take multiple copies of ANY accessory or game. So if I am trading in 2 PS2 controllers from the same company, he can't take them????? This is bizarre. Anyone else have this "refurb" fee happen? I'm pretty pissed about this whole ordeal today.

Which store did you go to? I can be sure to stear clear of that one in the future.

Was it the EB Games in Hickory Hollow? They're notorious for ripping people off. And the one in Brentwood is chock full of 'tards who don't have a clue about gaming.

[Overbite]

I was at gamestop and a little kid infront of me was trading in a couple games. the clerk said that he'd have to charge a fee because the discs were in bad shape. The kid traded them in anyway and after the kid left the clerk showed me the discs

They were totally scratched up and had this weird goop on the bottom of them. He said he was just going to throw them out instead of sending them to get refurbished. it was gross

also i never have problems at gamestop near me (gilford, NH). I go in there a lot and they don't hassle me for preorders or trade ins. they ask if I wanna pre order things because they have to, but when i say no they dont bug me about it. It could also be because I regularly preorder things and they know that if I had something in mind to preorder then I'll ask them about it.

[DreamTR]

kitsunesniper: I couldn't sell those things here. Anyone want to bu ya Battery Charger Pack for 360 by Pelican, raise your hand? *silence*

64bit: When you have nothing in the area that accepts proper trade ins, you really don't have much of a choice. Considering the small amount of stuff I need to buy these days, GameStop actually gets in things I need sometimes (like the Wii Blaster) so I traded the crap in, simple as that.

diskoboy: It was the Hickory Hollow EB Games. Unfortunately that is the closest GameStop to me, and it's a good 10 miles away.

It's not worth it for me to go back and bitch about $3 when it's 20 miles to and from the place. I just won't be shopping there, simple as that.

I would ship at the Game Crazy more in Smyrna, but when their trade-in policy does not accept XBOX 360 peripherals no in there computer no matter how popular thee are, kind of defeats the purpose for me; it's why I headed over to GameStop in the first place.