GameStop Opens PC Games Too?

[dgdgagdae]

I know we've had plenty of bitch sessions about GameStop opening new games and selling them as new. But I was surprised today.

They had the Gradius Collection for PSP. Two copies, both opened. I don't know what the point of opening both was, and I passed. Figured I'd just get the copy of SimCity 4 that I picked up.

He went in the back and came back. "This one's open too, you know".

How is that even legal? Isn't that a violation of the EULA?

[Skelix]

They used to do it all the time back in the days, back when EB Games was just PC.

[Soviet Conscript]

They used to do it all the time back in the days, back when EB Games was just PC.

oh...i remember those days. the walls lined with PC games of all types.....like a totally diffrent era now.....

[Dangerboy]

Easy answers:

They had the Gradius Collection for PSP. Two copies, both opened. I don't know what the point of opening both was, and I passed.

Usually when a new release comes out, you gut two copies, at least. You know, make it have an impact to the buyer's eye as they skim the wall. More than likely they took the 2nd copy and simply didn't re-shrink it; they just tossed the game back in the case and back into the backstock.

And before anyone goes "But the game isn't a new release!" keep in mind I finally sold the launch day new display copy of Amped 3 on 360 last week. Some games just sit there a while.

How is that even legal? Isn't that a violation of the EULA?
The EULA doesn't come before theft / shrink issues. We gut PC games at my store due to theft issues. Besides, the small sticker that is used to seal a display copy acts as the original seal. So long as that isn't broken, you can bring it back as if it were the original seal.

Granted, this is if the store is properly sealing the display copies with the seal sticker.

[Poofta!]

Easy answers:

They had the Gradius Collection for PSP. Two copies, both opened. I don't know what the point of opening both was, and I passed.

Usually when a new release comes out, you gut two copies, at least. You know, make it have an impact to the buyer's eye as they skim the wall. More than likely they took the 2nd copy and simply didn't re-shrink it; they just tossed the game back in the case and back into the backstock.

And before anyone goes "But the game isn't a new release!" keep in mind I finally sold the launch day new display copy of Amped 3 on 360 last week. Some games just sit there a while.

How is that even legal? Isn't that a violation of the EULA?
The EULA doesn't come before theft / shrink issues. We gut PC games at my store due to theft issues. Besides, the small sticker that is used to seal a display copy acts as the original seal. So long as that isn't broken, you can bring it back as if it were the original seal.

Granted, this is if the store is properly sealing the display copies with the seal sticker.

i know a gamestop here in brooklyn ny that opens ALL COPIES of ALL NEW games for ps2 and pretty much everything that stays in the store past the reserves!

[ProgrammingAce]

it all comes down to inventory law. As long as the item isn't "sold", you can open it up and take a belt sander to it and still call it new. The shrinkwrap is just there to make it look nice, there's no legal requirement that new items are still shrinked.

As for the EULA, it stands for End User License Agreement. Since the store isn't the end user, it doesn't apply to them.

[Kitsune Sniper]

They really shouldn't have any open PC games. I mean, the display copy is fine, but they shouldn't open PC games because many of them have install codes that will only work once; what happens if you buy a game and the code has already been used?

How Gamestop hasn't been hit with a class action lawsuit yet is beyond me.

[calthaer]

You can't exactly sue - it's not like you're experiencing damages. Just don't buy from 'em. It's easy to do, especially with the internet these days. I buy exclusively from Amazon.com (and occasionally other online retailers) for this very reason.

[kainemaxwell]

Local GS now puts PC games in large chucks.

[dgdgagdae]

They really shouldn't have any open PC games. I mean, the display copy is fine, but they shouldn't open PC games because many of them have install codes that will only work once; what happens if you buy a game and the code has already been used?

How Gamestop hasn't been hit with a class action lawsuit yet is beyond me.

He told me "the keys are clean". Ok...

[zektor]

I personally think that these jerks should just LEAVE the games sealed and put them on the wall. I mean, if they are thinking about shrink/theft, my god, the store (at least all I have been in) are the size of my freakin' kitchen....just have one of those employees on the floor eyeing the customers....instead of three of them playing Guitar Hero behind the counter while the customers shop.

It is wrong to open a game, stick the disc in a freakin' mead envelope, and then sell it at full new retail. You wouldn't expect to pay new on the majority of things you purchase if they were opened, why is it ok for video games? And before anyone says "Just don't shop there"...well, I don't. Just aggravated that people that still do just deal with this...

Ok, rant over :)

[Kitsune Sniper]

I personally think that these jerks should just LEAVE the games sealed and put them on the wall. I mean, if they are thinking about shrink/theft, my god, the store (at least all I have been in) are the size of my freakin' kitchen....just have one of those employees on the floor eyeing the customers....instead of three of them playing Guitar Hero behind the counter while the customers shop.

It is wrong to open a game, stick the disc in a freakin' mead envelope, and then sell it at full new retail. You wouldn't expect to pay new on the majority of things you purchase if they were opened, why is it ok for video games? And before anyone says "Just don't shop there"...well, I don't. Just aggravated that people that still do just deal with this...

Ok, rant over :)

If I buy something new at Gamestop, I don't buy it unless it's shrinkwrapped. If they try to push an open copy on me I demand a new item; but even if it's shrinkwrapped there's no guarantee it's actually factory sealed. I've been told by several employees that stores keep a shrinkwrapping machine in the back room for those picky customers who want their games sealed no matter what.

Hell, an employee almost shrinkwrapped a game for me that way before I told him "No, I'm not going to buy it like that."

[thetoxicone]

I personally think that these jerks should just LEAVE the games sealed and put them on the wall. I mean, if they are thinking about shrink/theft, my god, the store (at least all I have been in) are the size of my freakin' kitchen....just have one of those employees on the floor eyeing the customers....instead of three of them playing Guitar Hero behind the counter while the customers shop.

This pretty much somes up my opinion on the matter. I didn't mind the local cd shop that did this since it was a small operation and there was only one person working at any given time, but Gamestop is a big enough company that they can afford having someone to keep an eye on things.

Overall I really only shop there when there is a buy 2 get one or another used sale going on (or maybe I see something valuable on their website that it says a local one has).

[scooterb23]

Another ZOMG GAMESTOP OPEN TEH GAMEZZZZ thread? Really? If you don't know they do this by now, you really need to start paying attention. Or is it that the last one fell off the front page? I don't get it.

For my 2 cents, I don't care. I'm going to open the game 5 minutes after I buy it anyway, as I see it, they are saving me a step. I double check the disc, make sure I have a manual, and am out the door happy. I have a local Gamestop finally, it's clean, run by an old high school pal, and it's wonderful.

/me says "meh" continues browsing porn

[Oobgarm]

Local GS now puts PC games in large chucks.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/A_classic_Black_pair_of_Converse_All_Stars_resting _on_the_Black_%26_White_Ed._Shoebox_%281998-2002%29.JPG/450px-A_classic_Black_pair_of_Converse_All_Stars_resting _on_the_Black_%26_White_Ed._Shoebox_%281998-2002%29.JPG

I don't think I'd buy games that were put in shoes.

[scooterb23]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/A_classic_Black_pair_of_Converse_All_Stars_resting _on_the_Black_%26_White_Ed._Shoebox_%281998-2002%29.JPG/450px-A_classic_Black_pair_of_Converse_All_Stars_resting _on_the_Black_%26_White_Ed._Shoebox_%281998-2002%29.JPG

I don't think I'd buy games that were put in shoes.

Dude, I dunno...get a limited edition pair of Chucks with next year's NBA game would be freaking sweet.

[Rob2600]

I don't care. I'm going to open the game 5 minutes after I buy it anyway, as I see it, they are saving me a step. I double check the disc, make sure I have a manual, and am out the door happy.

I agree, but then again, I'm not a serious video game collector.

Also, I think some people are concerned that GameStop employees might take opened computer games home, install them, play them, bring the discs back back to the store a few days later, and sell them. I'm guessing that means the CD keys or activation codes might not work in some cases. I don't play computer games, so someone else can verify if this is really a concern.

Gutting computer games is probably pointless though. I worked at EB in the late 1990s and early 2000s and we never gutted computer games. We left them all on the shelves live and even displayed new releases at the front of the store. We never, ever had a problem with computer game theft. Why? Because I always greeted customers, asked them questions, and paid attention to them instead of playing Game Boy games or having nerdy arguments with coworkers behind the counter.

[Garry Silljo]

You wouldn't expect to pay new on the majority of things you purchase if they were opened, why is it ok for video games?

That's true, not long ago I was looking for a new coffee maker for my Grandma. They only had the open store display for the one she wanted, so they lowered 10% off the price. Maybe if the gutted copies were slightly discounted there would be less bitching.

[Rob2600]

Maybe if the gutted copies were slightly discounted there would be less bitching.

Good point. Then again, people read books and magazines at Barnes and Noble and those are still sold at full price, even though technically most of them are "used." Nobody complains about that.

[Dangerboy]

Good point. Then again, people read books and magazines at Barnes and Noble and those are still sold at full price, even though technically most of them are "used." Nobody complains about that.

Not to mention vegetables, fruits, cars (yep, pay $13,000 for something at least 3 people tried out, but is still 'new'), clothes, and on an on.

It's amazing how when it's a small plastic disc it's suddenly illegal and sue-able. 9_9

[jupitersj]

Food is a consumable necessity and car prices can be haggled; cars also aren't originally sold in cellophane.

I don't know what else it is but I just don't want to pay full price for a game with stickers on the case and artwork that I can potentially damage while trying to remove that may also have a grimy scratched case and game.

Especially since those are the qualities that accommodate many used games hence their lower price(yes I know it's possible to find mint used games too).

[Kitsune Sniper]

Also, I think some people are concerned that GameStop employees might take opened computer games home, install them, play them, bring the discs back back to the store a few days later, and sell them. I'm guessing that means the CD keys or activation codes might not work in some cases. I don't play computer games, so someone else can verify if this is really a concern.

EXACTLY. Imagine spending $50 on World of Warcraft only to get an open box, and when you try to install it, the code doesn't work because it's already been used. Games like Bioshock, anything in Steam, MMORPGs... those shouldn't even be opened at all.

[unwinddesign]

I think the kicker is that the display games are not new. Those copies of GH3, etc. they play behind the counter -- those are usually the display copies. The display copies are usually scratched, covered in fingerprints, have bent manuals, etc. Why? Because they've already been used. A lot.

I've bought them before, but I don't really bother any more. It's not worth the aggravation, and plus, Gamestop's prices suck anyways in comparison to what I can get online and other stores. To the average consumer, it doesn't matter at all, so I don't see them stopping this practice any time soon.

[EricRyan34]

Gamestop sucks.

[dgdgagdae]

Also, I think some people are concerned that GameStop employees might take opened computer games home, install them, play them, bring the discs back back to the store a few days later, and sell them. I'm guessing that means the CD keys or activation codes might not work in some cases. I don't play computer games, so someone else can verify if this is really a concern.

That's one reason I brought it up. Like I said, we've all bitched about it before. While I don't buy new console games from them like that, I knew they did it. The opened PC games surprised me, though.