GameStop Selling Games Played By Employees As New

[rainking187]

It only accounts for the 10 or so copies they gut to make a shelf display, a store will usually have plenty more sealed ones behind the counter. Once the sealed ones are gone, they start selling the displays. If you preorder something you will NOT get an opened copy.

Not true, I stopped preordering games in the store because they kept gutting my preorders. Why they need to open and display a copy of a game that's already sold I'll never understand.

[gepeto]

Well I bought a 360 re5 bundle from best buy. it was sealed. The packin game was sealed and had the coa sticker on it. I open it up and the manual looked used and had a big crease on it. I was surpprised by that one.

Gamestops charging full price when parts are missing gets me to. Hear is what I don't understand. They say some games are opened for display but why at times when I buy certian games all of them are gutted. I noticed this with fatal frame 3. 6 new unwrapped games.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

[url]http://kotaku.com/5206952/law-of-the-game-gamestop-practice-appears-deceptive[/url

I singled out a specific relevant paragragh:


"From a legal standpoint, ignoring any pragmatic analysis, it certainly seems that way from the letter of the law. Certainly, it's something the FTC could investigate, but more practically, it may be a matter for state deceptive trade practices law. In Texas, for example, it is a deceptive trade practice if you are "representing that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or secondhand."

The last part in particular pretty much sums it up, and GameStop - As well as various other stores like GAME and GameStation - Are more than guilty of "representing that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or secondhand", which in most cases they are more than two of the above

[FantasiaWHT]

It's funny that the guy with fecal matter all over his video games doesn't also get fecal matter all over the pair of clothes he tries on.

Here's a thought that's likely far from related, but it just struck me as interesting. Somebody mentioned "If I bought a game on ebay listed as 'opened and played by a GS employee', I wouldn't have to pay full price for it." That's probably very true, but maybe this is the karma balance for the god-awful anti-competitive practice of the console manufacturers forcing GS (and every other retail establishment) to sell their systems at the exact same price, even if the systems are going for FIVE TIMES AS MUCH on ebay.

[bangtango]

This sort of reminds me of music stores that have opened copies of 15-20 different cd's spread around the store at listening stations for customers to sample before buying. They take brand new copies of popular releases, crack them open and leave them for sampling.

Sometimes they would be listened to by a bunch of people and other times only one or two people might try them out, depending on how much interest there is in that particular band or album.

Occasionally those cd's would have the booklets written on in sharpie or the booklet might be missing.

However, music stores always had the common sense to sell these albums at a cost more indicative of a used cd.

[incubus421]

I'd like to point out that it is easy as hell to get a sealed copy of a game from GameStop. JUST ASK. And if that particular store doesn't have a copy ask to see if another store does, employees have no problem doing that. The drive is usually not too bad if you have to go to another store to get one. I have 3 GS's within 4-5 miles of where I live, and the city I live is not large by anyones standards. Before I worked at GS this is all I had to do to get my hands on a sealed copy.

That, or you could simply put down $5 on a game you know you're going to buy as reserve copies are always seperated from the rest and put aside. Not to mention you almost always get some kind of pre-order bonus item for reserving, which most of the time is worth the $4-5 you save buying new from amazon, etc. Honestly, most pre-order items go for $10-15 and I've seen some items for upwards of $40-50 (search Valkyria Chronicles art book) online.

People are so hypocritical, I read through a lot of the comments on Kotaku and honestly found posts that went something like this: "Yea I used to work at GameStop and used the checkout program but I always hated it, [insert flame]". I also hear about so many people that take this approach:
"They open new games...I hate them."
" I can go there and ask for pennied guides...I love them."
"They put stickers on my games...I hate them."
"I can go there and ask for free swag they have left over...I love them."

In short, everyone is happy as long as they're reaping the benfits.

I'd also like to touch base on this here:

That reminds me. During the Games Days sale, I brought an assortment of their "new", gutted games up to the counter for purchase. I asked for sealed copies but they didn't have any (big surprise! :roll:). As the clerk was getting the disc, I see her place large clear stickers on the opening ends and politely asked not to do that. But her manager said it was part of their policy. WTF?! It's bad enough you gut them like fish and drop a load of stickers on them. Now you want to add MORE stickers. Who are they trying to fool? That they were "sealed" all along and it was all in our imagination? Glad I was able to get them off before they settled in.

Gamestop does this so people don't abuse the return poloicy. Since GameStop does gut new copies of games this is the their way to show that a game was bought "new"....and when a customer brings a newly opened game item to ANY RETAIL STORE they get rejected (unless it's defective in which case you get the same item). So this is really to prevent the jackasses from returning games that they're most likely trying to return for the simple fact they didn't like it.

No I don't agree with everything GameStop does but I can atleast understand why things are this way. I didn't touch on the checkout policy here as I agree with most of you and don't use the checkout policy where I work. I believe if they want to have a checkout program it needs to be on used games only.

[Diosoth]

I'd like to point out that it is easy as hell to get a sealed copy of a game from GameStop. JUST ASK. And if that particular store doesn't have a copy ask to see if another store does, employees have no problem doing that. The drive is usually not too bad if you have to go to another store to get one. I have 3 GS's within 4-5 miles of where I live, and the city I live is not large buy anyones standards. Before I worked at GS this is all I had to do to get my hands on a sealed copy.

That, or you could simply put down $5 on a game you know you're going to buy as reserve copies are always seperated from the rest and put aside. Not to mention you almost always get some kind of pre-order bonus item for reserving, which most of the time is worth the $4-5 you save buying new from amazon, etc. Honestly, most pre-order items go for $10-15 and I've seen some items for upwards of $40-50 (search Valkyria Chronicles art book) online.

This.

If they try to give you the opened copy as new, refuse it and demand a sealed copy. SEALED should have the security stickers intact along the sides as well. Gamestops have shrink wrap machines in the back now.

If they can't give you a factory sealed copy, refuse it. You are under NO obligation to hand them any money unless they provide what you want.

[incubus421]

I'd also like to say not all GameStop stores have shrink wrap machines....mine does not.

[Diosoth]

I'd also like to say not all GameStop stores have shrink wrap machines....mine does not.

They probably cost too much for corporate to provide them to every store. Just a select number of them get it depending on budget.

I liked EB Games when they were still separate. They'd put a seal sticker on every used game when you bought it, so that you could return it as "sealed" within 7 days. Gamestop tried to one-up them with the "bring it back anyway" policy, but it's not one that sits with me. I don't like the idea of someone being able to return anything just because they didn't like it. Turns the store into a library and gives more opportunity for the discs to pass hands and get more scratches.

I've seen the condition of DVDs and CDs from my local library, too... a fre borrow gives no obligation for someone to take care of something.

[eugenek]

I'd like to point out that it is easy as hell to get a sealed copy of a game from GameStop. JUST ASK. And if that particular store doesn't have a copy ask to see if another store does, employees have no problem doing that.

I can't speak for all GS employees, but in my experience it has not been "easy as hell." Many times I have asked, especially when I could see sealed copies in the display behind the counter, and the associate has argued with me about how the gutted game really is "new." We pretty much rehash this whole thread, verbally. One of them even tried to sell me A GAME WITH NO CASE as "new," saying that most people don't even care about the case, and that "some people even ask for the game without the case." (?)

I'm sure that's not the case at all Gamestops, but the ones near me are pretty miserable.

[incubus421]

For a GameStop employee to give you the gutted copy as opposed to the sealed one behind the counter is just plain ridiculous. It makes more work for that employee...since they're selling you the actual displayed, gutted copy. They have to gut another one to takes it place on the floor. Unless the sealed ones are reserve copies that havent been put away yet this makes absolutely no sense.
The new games with missing/stolen cases being sold is new is wrong and I agree with you. We usually atleast do a shopworn 10% discount but it's still not right.

[Flashback2012]

This.

If they try to give you the opened copy as new, refuse it and demand a sealed copy. SEALED should have the security stickers intact along the sides as well. Gamestops have shrink wrap machines in the back now.

If they can't give you a factory sealed copy, refuse it. You are under NO obligation to hand them any money unless they provide what you want.

The second sentence of your post is partially untrue. Only XB360 games have a security sticker on the side of the case. Some companies, like EA, will put additional stickers on the cases at the factory saying "Security Device Enclosed". PS2 and PS3 games aside from EA releases have no security stickers that I've seen and the same holds true for Wii, DS, and PSP.

As for the actual plastic shrink wrap itself....A lot of companies use the standard cellophane wrap thats all crinkly and has the nice folds on top and bottom. A fair number of PS2/PSP/DS/Wii titles though use generic shrink wrap that looks like Saran wrap similar to the stuff that's on my shrink wrap machine in my back room.

We prefer to have as many shrink wrapped copies of games at my store as possible. Each section has a "New Release" area and at most we gut 2 copies of a game so it can be displayed there unless a DM edict says to gut more. It's rare to have a customer raise a fuss over the clear seal stickers we use on gutted copies. Most of the time the games are gifts and when offered to have the game re-shrink wrapped, most customers are delighted. If a customer is insistent on a sealed copy, no problem. I've got 2 stores less than a mile away from me and several more within 5 miles of me. Unless it's a really rare or obscure title, the chances are I'll find a store with a shrink wrapped copy available.

As for the return policy, it's been my experience quite often that explaining the policy to customers and even showing them on the receipt what our policies are doesn't mean jack sh*t. I had a LCD 'neck kid come into my store 2 days ago. He wanted a XB360 vision cam. I pointed out the camera by itself was $40 but he could get a camera with the game "You're in the Movies" for half that price. I painstakingly went over the return policy with the kid before he bought it. I told him quite clearly...you open this and it's yours. If you don't like it, the only thing we can do is trade in credit. If it's defective, we can exchange for the same thing (I had 2 on hand). The kid's mom was at the counter and was within earshot of my entire explanation. Kid nods and buys the item, takes his receipt and purchase and leaves.

Yesterday he calls up and I answer. He says he bought the game and tells me he didn't like it. I mention to him that I explained to him the day prior what we could do. He says OK and hangs up. About 30 minutes later I get another call, this time for the kids 'neck father. The dad is belligerent with me even though I'm talking back in a calm tone (I "love" when customers feel empowered like this :moon:). I try to explain to the father that I told his boy exactly what our return policy was BEFORE he bought the damn thing as well as telling the father the return policy is CLEARLY stated on receipt (which he denied). I also told the father the son called earlier saying he didn't like the game and now the father was calling in saying it was defective (:bullshit:). I said I'd be MORE than happy to exchange for the same item as per our policy but no matter what I said the 'neck dad became increasingly more belligerent. He continues to cuss at me, saying what we're doing is illegal, that the kid was a minor and we shouldn't be doing that (ummm wtf....what does the kid's age have to do with ANYTHING?).

After about 10 minutes of going around in circles with this loser I finally said F it and told him to bring the game up and I'll refund it. I'd already wasted too much time on the phone with this inbred and my store was already stupidly busy to boot. The F'ed up thing was I knew if the 'neck escalated the issue to my boss' boss, the DM would tow the line of the customer even though he CLEARLY was violating policy all over the place. Customer experience my ass. :frustrated: Kid came up later in the evening and one of my part-timers did the refund for him. I checked the items, everything was still in perfect shape. It irritated me that I had to do the return as defective when I knew damn well there was NOTHING wrong with either the software or the camera.

Instances such as that are why I wish Gamestop would implement a restocking fee practice. Bought a new game and didn't like it...bring it back but understand there's a 25% restocking fee. If the customer agrees then it can be returned and will still be considered new, but 10% off will be given to the next buyer as it's an opened/returned item. I'd hazard to bet that a great many people would accept this kind of return policy.

[IceDrake]

That, or you could simply put down $5 on a game you know you're going to buy as reserve copies are always seperated from the rest and put aside. Not to mention you almost always get some kind of pre-order bonus item for reserving, which most of the time is worth the $4-5 you save buying new from amazon, etc.

That is not true. Especially now with a lot of Collector/Special editions of games.

And even if they do have some giveaway, you're not guaranteed one.

In August last year, I reserved it to get a code for download the original on XBLA. When the release date comes, I couldn't pick it up because I was at school. My mom went the next day and got no code for the original. I called when I got home that Friday. The employee was very rude to me and said "We have no more. Bye." I found out the store only got 10 which is absolutely ridiculous; especially since I was probably the first person to reserve it there.

[Diosoth]

It's rare anymore that a game will be SO limited upon release as to even justify a pre-order. Maybe some of the PS2 Atlus stuff now but otherwise, most games are common and you don't need to pre-order them to get one.

As for new... if it's still in the condition it was when it left the factory. Opened by the store, played by an employee, whatever, then I don't consider it to be new anymore. No one should. You wouldn't call an action figure "new" if Walmart let one of their employees open it.

Though Walmart will often take opened return items, tape them up and slap them back on the shelf at full price, so I guess THEY would...

On the other hand I only return something to a store if it absolutely doesn't work, and even then if the cost is above a certain amount. No point spending $10 on gasoline to return a $5 item. These days, I ask to inspect any disc before I buy it. Too many scratches and I refuse it.

But store return policies are meaningless. The manager overrides them half the time. Credit card companies offer "complete satisfaction" clauses... I buy anything and am not happy, and the store won't refund it, I can just call my credit card company and they'll reverse the charge. I suspect this is one reason managers are so lax... easier to just toss policy out and refund than it would be to face a chargeback and the fes to go with it.

I bought a 5-disc CD stereo system at Best Buy as "new", only to get it home and it's a boxed up floor display model that's been abused and broken. Selling that as "new" was dishonest at minimum. Damn right I got my money back on that.

[Kyle15]

I've had problems with only one pre-order bonus before: the Crisis Core UMD case.
The manager of the store LOVES Final Fantasy 7. So much so, NOTHING is better according to him.
Well, on release day, he wouldn't let me have one. When I asked why, he got all angry with me and said I didn't reserve in time. So, because I didn't "reserve in time" 3 months earlier, I couldn't get the UMD case?
I know very well what was going on: he was hoarding them for himself and his friends that worked at the shop. How do I know this? I asked him for one a week later and he finally broke down and let me have one. VERY angrily, I might add.
Every other game I bought from there has been hassle free when it comes to bonuses. He was practically HANDING them out. This even went for limited bonuses like the Persona 4 artbook. This particular location only got around 8.

I can't wait until another FF7 spin-off comes out. Those pre-order bonuses will certainly be limited at this location. ;)

Now, I know it can go this way at any retail establishment, but it has only happened to me at GameStop.

[NayusDante]

When the release date comes, I couldn't pick it up because I was at school.

I've brought up this problem when placing preorders before. Judging by the response I get, the GameStop employees around here come from Bizarro-World, where nobody has school or work, and can teleport to GameStop at any time.

If I KNOW that I'm not going to be out of town or something on a release day, and I WANT the game on Day One, I'll put in a preorder. However, my last experience doing that revealed the utter incompetence at my local GameStop. I called several times after they opened, but no answer. I stopped by after my morning classes, and find out that their computers just went "down" and they can't do any sales. When I ask if the game is in, the guy walks back inside and asks someone. When he comes back, he responds with "I don't know." When I asked if he might be able to GO CHECK, he gives me crap about not being able to sell anything anyway. Still without an answer to my question, I ask when I should come back. He gave me something like "uh, an hour?" and walked back inside. I waited until the evening shift, called, and came by to pick it up. They JUST THEN opened the shipment, and sliced the spine of the cases while doing it. I also had to specifically ask for the bonus CD.

Also, PS2 games have seals across the top, with the SLUS numbers, etc, so Xbox 360 isn't alone.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Also, PS2 games have seals across the top, with the SLUS numbers, etc, so Xbox 360 isn't alone.

No they don't. Not anymore. They stopped doing this years ago.

[incubus421]

That is not true. Especially now with a lot of Collector/Special editions of games.

And even if they do have some giveaway, you're not guaranteed one.

In August last year, I reserved it to get a code for download the original on XBLA. When the release date comes, I couldn't pick it up because I was at school. My mom went the next day and got no code for the original. I called when I got home that Friday. The employee was very rude to me and said "We have no more. Bye." I found out the store only got 10 which is absolutely ridiculous; especially since I was probably the first person to reserve it there.

It is true that reserve bonuses come with most games, even games like Robotacolypse, Moon, and Muchroom Men had reserve bonuses. You're correct in saying that they're not gauranteed though. But you'll still get a sealed copy which was the main point to begin with.
Special edition versions of a game have nothing to do with added pre-order bonuses. RE5 had a CE and had all sorts of reserve incentives. Fallout 3, SF4, GoW2, Fable 2, Halo Wars, etc. all had CE and reserve bonuses.
Yes pre-order bonuses get handed out on a first come first serve basis once the game is released (most of the time) which everyone should know ahead of time. If you realize something is in limited supply don't dily daly. I realize you're situation was a bit different but it's something GameStop has no control over.
I'd also like to point out that with some reserve bonuses GameStop stops gauranteeing them after a certain date. This happened recently with GH Metallica the extra drum pedal was not gauranteed after a certain date and only the people who reserved before this date got one.

[IceDrake]

Yes pre-order bonuses get handed out on a first come first serve basis once the game is released (most of the time) which everyone should know ahead of time. If you realize something is in limited supply don't dily daly. I realize you're situation was a bit different but it's something GameStop has no control over.

I was more ticked off that they received only 10. If I knew their supplies were going to be that limited, I would have ordered from Toys R Us or Amazon.

[Press_Start]

Gamestop does this so people don't abuse the return poloicy. Since GameStop does gut new copies of games this is the their way to show that a game was bought "new"....and when a customer brings a newly opened game item to ANY RETAIL STORE they get rejected (unless it's defective in which case you get the same item). So this is really to prevent the jackasses from returning games that they're most likely trying to return for the simple fact they didn't like it.


Here's the (assumed) step-by-step procedure when selling gutted games:

-UNWRAP
-GUT
-STORE
-STICKER
~~~PURCHASE
-FIND GAME
-TAKE OUT
-STICKER


Step-by-step for taking an empty case with a display (suggest by many of here):


-TAKE EMPTY CASE
-PUT DISPLAY SLIP IN
-STICKER
~~~PURCHASE
-FIND SEALED COPY
-TAKE OUT
-RETURN TO DISPLAY


The empty case route may take 1 step less than the gutted method but the steps before the purchase is done once per title. As the other method, you have to repeat the entire process everytime. It's time-consuming, unnecessary work for a service in providing "new" games that really don't look new. It not only boggles the mind from a gamer's standpoint but from a logical one as well.

I understand what you're saying incubus but I don't buy it. Why not just have a policy where the returned opened games are treated as a trade-in and pay for its respective price? Or any number of better ideas where everybody can come out of this as a winner?

[TurboGenesis]

Oh where to start...

Reading some of the replies so far, I get the strong indication that none of you have ever worked at a car dealership or in new car sales. I could be wrong, but the vibe and responses I'm reading are NOT indicative to the reality I experienced in my time as a new car salesman.

The job of the car salesman is to sell what's ON THE LOT. Special orders from the plant or dealer trades used to drive my sales manager batsh*t crazy. I'd be a rich man if I had a nickel for every time I or another salesperson caught the ire of the sales manager for not pushing a unit on the lot and the customer wanting something we didn't have in stock and had to special order. It's important to note that every car on our lot had some miles on them, whether it was a small amount like 2-5mi or a few hundred (these were almost always dealer trade units that were driven in).

I've sold quite a few cars that were test driven more than once. They were sold as new, with the pricing information coming directly off the Monroney sticker and treated as if it were a brand spanking new car right off the assembly line. I never once had an issue with a customer having a problem with there being mileage on the vehicle nor had I heard of any instances as such. If the car was a dealer trade, it was understood that the car was either driven back to our dealership and the warranty adjusted for those miles or the buyer paid to have it shipped to the dealership on a flatbed (at an obnoxious charge to the buyer).

If a vehicle was discounted for whatever reason it was because the sales manager was trying to shave a bit off to guarantee the sale or the customer was somehow a friend of a friend of a friend of the owner and got special pricing. Again, I never had to discount a vehicle based on what the mileage read on the odometer. When that customer came in to pick up their new vehicle, it had the new car smell, it was clean and shiny, no scratches on the body, full tank of gas, and NO ONE said jack sh*t about the mileage as they drove it off the lot. That's funny in a way since once the customer agreed to buy, it was driven around the lot to be cleaned and prepped, then off the lot for the tank to be filled and back to the lot and staged for when the customer came to pick up.


I have been involved in the automotive dealership business as well as some friends… Here are the practices. I have had affiliations with Jack Demmer Ford (in Wayne)and Bruce Campbell Dodge (in Redford/Detroit)

Almost all cars are seldom sold at the price on the window. There are many people who have question miles when they exceeded 100+ which has been the case when a customer would want a specific color or option in a vehicle which is not on the lot and the car is transported from a dealer from afar… as far as Milwaukee at one time… and in regard for test models, Demmer has specific cars allocated for test drive. Sometimes different than what a customer wants to buy. Should you want a Mustang GT, the demo model on hand for test drive is a base model. Want to test drive a manual transmission? Sorry, only the automatic is on hand for test drive. The used lot is different. The car you inquire about is the one you test drive. At Bruce Campbell, the Viper was not available to anyone to test drive… I only rode in one when there was one brought in for service… still never have a chance to drive though.

There are people who questioned their new car when there were even 40 miles on the odometer. It has to be explained that the car is handled many times before the dealership take delivery. At the plant, vehicles are driven off the line and into the yard, then driven into the railcar and then they will be driven off the rail car onto the convoy. Sometimes at the plant, a vehicle may be moved several times and even to an overflow lot which can be on the west side of Detroit…

But at the two dealerships I have been involved with, cars that were test driven were NOT sold as new… usually floor models had discount up to $5000 depending on the model.

[incubus421]

I worked at a dealership as a salesman for awhile myself in up state NY...any new car whether it had 10 miles or 500 miles it was sold as the new price listed on the report inside the window. Never heard of discounts on new cars with a bit of mileage on them.
The only new cars that actually got discounted were the ones that were DEMO cars that employees were loaned and allowed to drive as if it were their own.

[rainking187]

I'd like to point out that it is easy as hell to get a sealed copy of a game from GameStop. JUST ASK. And if that particular store doesn't have a copy ask to see if another store does, employees have no problem doing that. The drive is usually not too bad if you have to go to another store to get one. I have 3 GS's within 4-5 miles of where I live, and the city I live is not large by anyones standards. Before I worked at GS this is all I had to do to get my hands on a sealed copy.

That, or you could simply put down $5 on a game you know you're going to buy as reserve copies are always seperated from the rest and put aside. Not to mention you almost always get some kind of pre-order bonus item for reserving, which most of the time is worth the $4-5 you save buying new from amazon, etc. Honestly, most pre-order items go for $10-15 and I've seen some items for upwards of $40-50 (search Valkyria Chronicles art book) online.


I've never once gotten a sealed copy of a game I didn't preorder that was more than a week old from a GameStop. Either they really gut every copy within a matter of days, or they just don't want to take the time to look for one for me. Either way there isn't anything I can do but refuse to buy the gutted one. Again, I personally have had my preorder copies gutted a few times (including a special edition). And the odds of actually getting a preorder bonus from a b&m GameStop are practically nil in my experience. The employees look at you like they've never heard the words "preorder" and "bonus" strung together like that before. I once asked for a preorder bonus that I could see on the back counter while I was preordering the game and was told I couldn't have it because it was the last one and it was for display. Apparently showing people what they couldn't get if they preordered. The last bonus I got was the Kratos Little Big Planet code and they didn't really want to hand that one over either. Another big factor contributing to my switch to only preordering games with bonuses from GameStop.com. (Although I've been screwed over by the website a few times as well.)

[Rob2600]

I personally have had my preorder copies gutted a few times (including a special edition). And the odds of actually getting a preorder bonus from a b&m GameStop are practically nil in my experience.

I once asked for a preorder bonus that I could see on the back counter while I was preordering the game and was told I couldn't have it because it was the last one and it was for display.

I've been screwed over by the website a few times as well.

And yet, you continue to give GameStop your money.

How many times do you need to be screwed over before you buy your games somewhere else? 10 times? 20 times? Or will you continue to support the very behavior you're complaining about?


In psychology, you're what's referred to as an enabler. GameStop has no reason to change it practices as long as you keep spending your money there.

[rainking187]

And yet, you continue to give GameStop your money.

How many times do you need to be screwed over before you buy your games somewhere else? 10 times? 20 times? Or will you continue to support the very behavior you're complaining about?


In psychology, you're what's referred to as an enabler. GameStop has no reason to change it practices as long as you keep spending your money there.


I don't shop at GameStop b&ms anymore. And I only order games from the website when they have either GameStop exclusive limited editions or exclusive preorder bonuses. I don't like their practices, but I'd rather get it from GameStop.com then paying more for it on eBay a few months later.

[Rob2600]

I don't shop at GameStop b&ms anymore.

Good!


I don't like their practices, but I'd rather get it from GameStop.com then paying more for it on eBay a few months later.

Why not order/pre-order from Amazon instead?

[norkusa]

Why not order/pre-order from Amazon instead?

No kidding. No sales tax + free shipping are two good reasons to preorder at Amazon instead of Gamestop. And unlike Gamestop, you don't have to worry about not receiving your preorder schwag.

I started buying all my games from Amazon 4 years ago after receiving 3 "display copies" in a row from Gamestop. Haven't shopped there since.

[rainking187]

Good!



Why not order/pre-order from Amazon instead?


You seem to be glossing over the "GameStop exclusive" part of my post. If I can get the same thing from Amazon I will, but if GameStop is giving away an artbook and Amazon isn't giving away anything I have to go with GameStop.

[Rob2600]

You seem to be glossing over the "GameStop exclusive" part of my post. If I can get the same thing from Amazon I will, but if GameStop is giving away an artbook and Amazon isn't giving away anything I have to go with GameStop.

Well, my point is: is an artbook worth supporting a company that continually screws you over?

[rainking187]

Well, my point is: is an artbook worth supporting a company that continually screws you over?



Yes. My indignation does not extend to paying eBay prices for this stuff just to avoid GameStop. Especially stuff like the Valkyria Chronicles artbook or Mirrors Edge bag which sell for quite a bit on eBay, but which I got for free.

[Rob2600]

is an artbook worth supporting a company that continually screws you over?


Yes.

Then I guess we have different priorities and/or principles.

[incubus421]

That, or you could simply put down $5 on a game you know you're going to buy as reserve copies are always seperated from the rest and put aside. Not to mention you almost always get some kind of pre-order bonus item for reserving, which most of the time is worth the $4-5 you save buying new from amazon, etc. Honestly, most pre-order items go for $10-15 and I've seen some items for upwards of $40-50 (search Valkyria Chronicles art book) online.

People are so hypocritical, I read through a lot of the comments on Kotaku and honestly found posts that went something like this: "Yea I used to work at GameStop and used the checkout program but I always hated it, [insert flame]". I also hear about so many people that take this approach:
"They open new games...I hate them."
" I can go there and ask for pennied guides...I love them."
"They put stickers on my games...I hate them."
"I can go there and ask for free swag they have left over...I love them."

In short, everyone is happy as long as they're reaping the benfits.

and...


Yes. My indignation does not extend to paying eBay prices for this stuff just to avoid GameStop. Especially stuff like the Valkyria Chronicles artbook or Mirrors Edge bag which sell for quite a bit on eBay, but which I got for free.

...point proven. And I don't blame you one bit.

[scooterb23]

That sounds suspiciously like "Yeah, he beats the shit out of me...but I still love him"

[kupomogli]

I hate Gamestop because they killed my mother and father. True story.

[josekortez]

I haven't done a pre-order since the Persona 4 incident where I believe one of the Gamestop employees took my pre-order bonus art book home. I came in the day after I got an automated call from Gamestop. First, they tried to convince me I had come in three days too late and then one of the employees went into the back room for ten minutes, pretended to look for the art book and then came out and copped an attitude when I asked for my refund on the pre-order.

I go through Amazon now if I want to get a pre-order bonus. On Amazon, there are no employees asking me repeatedly if I need help when I'm just browsing. No employees trying to make small talk and exhibiting their ignorance about general gaming topics. No employees trying to convince me to pre-order games that will be abundant for months to come once they are released.

I love Amazon.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Too bad Amazon charges for several items that should be preorder bonuses.

$80 for a fucking glove? :P

[NayusDante]

Ugh, I just had to deal with this...

I finally remembered to pick up Retro Game Challenge, and found a new copy at one of the two GameStops in my local mall. They had a gutted copy upstairs, and the cover insert had a big fold in it. Downstairs, they're apparently stupid, because they said "oh, it's $10 used, it's under R," after seeing "Retro Atari Collection" in the inventory. Back upstairs, I ask if they can give a shelf wear discount, and she starts blabbing about how her supervisor/district manager would throw a fit. I bought it anyway, knowing that any other copies I find will likely be gutted. I will, however, FINALLY bother to do the online survey.

Yes, I could have ordered it online. Yes, I could have driven somewhere else. Yes, I even brought up the rumored legislation. In a nutshell, she defended the game as "NEVER PLAYED!!1111" and gave me no sympathy when I explained that as a collector, the packaging matters. In the end, I paid for a "new" opened game because I just wanted to play it before it goes out of print and gets hard to find.

Now I have to figure out this damn survey. WHY is there a SEPARATE SURVEY for those with negative feedback and/or no wish to do the survey?

[eugenek]

I have now changed my stance on this issue and prefer gutted games. I saw this eBay listing and the scales fell from my eyes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Valkyria-Chronicles-Gamestop-NEW-SEALED-RARE-PS3_W0QQitemZ260397123500QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVideo_ Games_Games?hash=item260397123500&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:1|39:1|240:1

[lazyhoboguy]

I have now changed my stance on this issue and prefer gutted games. I saw this eBay listing and the scales fell from my eyes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Valkyria-Chronicles-Gamestop-NEW-SEALED-RARE-PS3_W0QQitemZ260397123500QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVideo_ Games_Games?hash=item260397123500&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:1|39:1|240:1

LMAO thats pretty good

[kupomogli]

I had to go to a different Gamestop to get a non gutted Valkyria Chronicles. The gutted copy had a scratch on it.

[NayusDante]

Wow, got a call from the GameStop district manager. For my troubles, I get a $10 gift card, just have to pick it up at the same store I was at last night.

The guy was really nice and professional about the whole thing, as courteous as you could expect when strict corporate policy is involved. He said that their reason for gutting games is "shrink," in order to keep the store small and prevent theft. When I mentioned the promotional inserts that they get, he said that GameStop doesn't pay for those, but rather, the game publishers, GameStop just pays to get their branding printed on them.

It all makes sense from a business perspective, I just wish that they could give in a little and change their policies for the better. If you guys that buy gutted games still have receipts, it might be worthwhile to express your concern on their online feedback site as I did.

[NayusDante]

...and I finally went in to pick up my gift card.

Of course, they were skeptical when I asked about it. Then the one guy caught on and asked if I meant the survey on the receipts. His response made me smile, "whoa, so there's actually something to be had from that?"

Long story short, I didn't get a GameStop gift card for $10, like the district manager said. Instead, I got this:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2322/3544689956_69661271a8.jpg

Up to $10 in "E-Movie Cash," whatever that is. I didn't argue with the guy behind the counter, in fact, we both kinda laughed about it. He said that was what his manager said to do, after she called the district manager. Then we talked about what good movies are out.

The promotion isn't even well planned, from the looks (http://games.ign.com/articles/981/981714p1.html) of it. One of the qualifying games comes out the day the promotion ends.

However, I'm 99% sure that the manager he called was the girl that ran the checkout that night. Might explain something. Then again, it's the upstairs GameStop in that mall. The cool people always worked at the downstairs one, or quit to work at Play N Trade.

Guess I'm seeing Star Trek again.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

I have now changed my stance on this issue and prefer gutted games. I saw this eBay listing and the scales fell from my eyes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Valkyria-Chronicles-Gamestop-NEW-SEALED-RARE-PS3_W0QQitemZ260397123500QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVideo_ Games_Games?hash=item260397123500&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:1|39:1|240:1

That is both funny but also sadly, entirely the truth, and GameStop deserve to be ridiculed in this manner for this unholy desecration of what should otherwise be a virginal product...

I particularly like this sentence:

"I was going to include a "Gamestop NEW" Chrono Trigger DS game but thought better as that probably entertained an employee when they were in the loo"

Which I think is perhaps a lot closer to the truth than we all could ever imagine...

[Sonicwolf]

I hate Gamestop because they killed my mother and father. True story.

What? Did the lame stickers they put on everything that leave mountainous residue all over the packaging fly off the games and get stuck in their throats? LOL

[garagesaleking!!]

i just discovered this thread, i bought rockband 2 almost a year ago now at gamestop and it was not sealed when i bought it but they said it was new. They just had the sticker holding the case shut. I thought it was weird but said nothing.

[acem77]

Its like complaining that the "new" car with 200 km on it from previous test drivers is not new anymore.

I have bought display copies before, and as long as they are in mint condition (no scratches on the disc), why does it matter?

Because the jerks wont pay me back the new price for a mint return.

If its opened its used it plain and simple.