Stupid PnT!!

[philinchio]

So my local Play n Trade has some boxed systems on display in the store. Model 2 Sega CD, 32X, N64, Genesis Activator, and a few others. I'm interested in a few of the systems and since I got a $50 gift card I figured I'd get a nice complete boxed Sega CD.

I ask about the system, they say it's $30. Not bad for a boxed copy, but then they tell me that the box is not for sale. Wait...what?! Why?!

So this is what they tell me. They don't sell the boxes because they are much more expensive and instead put them on display.

Now, what I'd like to tell them but I probably won't because they'll likely kick me out is, What kind of retarded logic is that?!!

So what will they do when the system is gone and all they have left is an empty box? Obviously they can't sell it for more than the system which means it either goes to the manager, an employee, or gets thrown out. It also takes up potential shelf space that could be used for other products. What if multiple boxed systems get traded in? Will those be kept as well? And so what if they don't make as much money? They probably paid $5 to the person that turned it in anyways, so it's still profit. I just don't understand the logic behind this policy!!

I don't think I've ever heard of any other PnTs having this "we don't sell CIB systems" policy. I've read dozens of posts where people have bought boxed consoles from their PnTs, so either this is completely new or the manager of my local store is a douche.

I think I'll point out this failed logic to them the next time I buy a valuable CIB game for an extremely cheap price of the cart-only value. Has anyone else had to deal with this from PnT?

End rant.

[Bloodreign]

I've had a few boxed games come into my possession from PnT, but the guys I deal with are pretty good sports about letting me take the box with the games (that and they are sometimes clueless on the rare pricey game that falls into their hands), if you're paying good money for the system, the least they could do is let you take the box that comes with it.

[skaar]

There's nothing wrong with them wanting to keep the boxes for display. It's a business, you want to attract people. Hence, display. It got you in the door.

Make a friend and have them call you when stuff's getting tossed and offer some cash for them as incentive.

We used to keep fancy boxes in computer sales all the time for expensive motherboards/CPUs/Video Cards. It's a cheap way to "fill up" a store. And yes, they probably pitch the extras.

Then they burn them.

[Steve W]

I've never had that kind of experience at a Play N Trade, but I have at a local chain called Console Game Exchange. When you walk into one of their stores, up on the wall near the ceiling are usually system boxes and frequently consoles and accessories nailed/glued to the wall. And they aren't for sale. They just use them as an attraction to pull people in. And they're the kind of game stores that won't give you the case for a game unless it's disc-based. Even import games that they'll never get another loose copy of to replace the one they've just sold.

[jb143]

The only negative Play N Trade experience I've had was when the guy made fun of me and my wife for buying a Sega Master System game. I'm pretty sure he was just bitter because he was just dancing around outside in a Luigi costume.

[Tupin]

The only negative Play N Trade experience I've had was when the guy made fun of me and my wife for buying a Sega Master System game. I'm pretty sure he was just bitter because he was just dancing around outside in a Luigi costume.
Isn't there only on Play N Trade in the STL area? I think it's pretty cool, good but small selection.

[jb143]

Isn't there only on Play N Trade in the STL area? I think it's pretty cool, good but small selection.

In Edwardsville, IL. I'm not sure if there's any others in the area. It was just the dumb kid behind the counter. I asked how much the Atari games were and he said he didn't know because I was the first person that's ever asked about them. When my wife wanted Penguin Land for SMS he just had this stupid attitide like "Why do you want that?". Like I said...just a dumb kid.

[emceelokey]

Aren't Play & Trades completely franchise based so basically stores can differe in how they operate even if it two stores down the block from each other?

When I worked at a Gamestop, this idiot of a store manager had that same idea for the game because she didn't like haveing the generic cases on the wall. I remember some kid wanting to buy a game and he brought it up and I was about to ring him up but before I did she told me not to give him the case because we still had more copies of the game. Of course I was like WTF but she said to the kid that we can sell it to him but we have to keep the case... Guess what, no sale. She didn't last too long. She was actually fired from a Game Crazy right before she went to Gamestop and she probably spent a little over a year at GS with only 4 months of that with her being a store manager. In the end, don't shop there. If they want to charge a bit more for the boxed system then I can understand that but if they're playing games like that to get people in, then don't waste you time there anymore.

[emceelokey]

Aren't Play & Trades completely franchise based so basically stores can differe in how they operate even if it two stores down the block from each other?

When I worked at a Gamestop, this idiot of a store manager had that same idea for the game because she didn't like haveing the generic cases on the wall. I remember some kid wanting to buy a game and he brought it up and I was about to ring him up but before I did she told me not to give him the case because we still had more copies of the game. Of course I was like WTF but she said to the kid that we can sell it to him but we have to keep the case... Guess what, no sale. She didn't last too long. She was actually fired from a Game Crazy right before she went to Gamestop and she probably spent a little over a year at GS with only 4 months of that with her being a store manager. In the end, don't shop there. If they want to charge a bit more for the boxed system then I can understand that but if they're playing games like that to get people in, then don't waste you time there anymore.

[Deadman]

I've never had that kind of experience at a Play N Trade, but I have at a local chain called Console Game Exchange. When you walk into one of their stores, up on the wall near the ceiling are usually system boxes and frequently consoles and accessories nailed/glued to the wall. And they aren't for sale. They just use them as an attraction to pull people in. And they're the kind of game stores that won't give you the case for a game unless it's disc-based. Even import games that they'll never get another loose copy of to replace the one they've just sold.

I was in the CGX in Stonebriar Mall a while back and noticed their Virtual Boy complete with box on display up with all the boxes. I asked how much they wanted for it and they said it wasn't for sale - that it was worth more as an interesting display piece than to sell it once. Are you kidding?? This is a RETAIL store, not a museum!!

I haven't bought many Genesis/SNES games there so I don't remember if they sold me a box or not but I do know that the other confusing local store "FX Game Exchange" displays their game boxes but when you buy the game, you don't get the box. Again, the boxes are worth more to them than the game.

As a person who researched opening a store a couple of years ago, I would say that they should put two prices on the games to be fair to the shopper - a loose price and a boxed price. That way when I'm shopping, I have the choice of buying the loose game for $3 or the boxed one for $8.

[MachineGex]

Some stores tend to keep a box for every item. When the item sells, they put the box in the back. When an item comes in without the box, they go in the back and dig out the display box. Simple as that. It is a way for stores to display what the have in stock, I dont see anything wrong with it.

What I dont like is when they leave a box out for display even when they dont have the item for sale. I have taken game boxes up to the cashier to buy and they have told me those items are not in stock. I asked how I was suppose to know what games they actually had, they said I would just have to bring the boxes up and they would check. To me, that seems like a lot of BS for nothing. When I asked them why they didnt just stick the boxes in the back for the games they dont have for sale, the guy said; "then we wouldnt have anything on the shelf". Hmmm, "look at all the games we dont have for sale!"

[Deadman]

What I dont like is when they leave a box out for display even when they dont have the item for sale.

Wow, that could be the most insane thing I've ever heard of. If I took the time to gather up 4-5 games, took the boxes to the register then was told "you know you don't get the boxes with these games" and that was followed up with "I checked the back and we don't have any of these to sell you" I would never ever return to that store again. Insane - and a terrible waste of my time!

[Steve W]

Wow, that could be the most insane thing I've ever heard of. If I took the time to gather up 4-5 games, took the boxes to the register then was told "you know you don't get the boxes with these games" and that was followed up with "I checked the back and we don't have any of these to sell you" I would never ever return to that store again. Insane - and a terrible waste of my time!

GameStop used to have Alien Front for the Nokia N-Gage on their shelves, but the game had never been released. I'd try to buy it, they couldn't find it, they'd put it back on the shelf. I tried that twice. They eventually liquidated all their N-Gage stuff and I talked them into giving me the box for free, since they would have eventually thrown it away anyhow.

[Smashed Brother]

There's a store in Appleton that I occasionally go to, Video GameStar, that operates with these tactics. They'll have the boxes on the shelf, but when you take the box up to the register, they'll put it behind the counter and just sell you the bare-bones game. The thing that really gets me though is that they charge around CIB prices for games that are definitely not complete. Oh and yes, this store loves to display old systems (even a complete R.O.B.) that are definitely not for sale....systems that have been sitting behind glass cases unplayed for at least 10 years :shameful:

I used to buy only PS1 games back then (wasn't much into retro at the time), and since you generally store a CD-based game in the case, it was always given to me as such, so I wasn't aware of the cart-only policy. Sometime later I stopped by the store when I was in town and I found a CIB copy of the GBA Tactics Ogre for $26. I took the box up front thinking that I was getting the whole deal, but instead dude throws the little GBA cart on the table, takes away the box and expects me to pay full price! I politely declined the sale, of course.

So they'll give you CIB CD-based games, and CIB Genesis games too, but it's just basically the Nintendo stuff where they'll only sell you the cartridge. This store also has very large windows all around the building which lets sun in from every perceivable angle. A lot of their games happen to be stashed near the windows, and have been for many years, and they're bleached to the point of being unrecognizable. So I guess even if you could get the box, you really wouldn't want it.

[FoxNtd]

Aren't Play & Trades completely franchise based so basically stores can [differ] in how they operate even if it two stores down the block from each other?

Yep, this right here. Didn't notice anyone else pointing this out. The complaint the OP has about the store is something I've never heard of before. In the ones I've went to, any game that is CIB that you want to buy, you get CIB. Consoles included.

[Ponyponypony]

I've never had that kind of experience at a Play N Trade, but I have at a local chain called Console Game Exchange.


Stay away from CGX. They're ridiculously overpriced. One of the guys at the Irving location tried selling me a loose Lynx for $120. The Movie Trading Co. in Ft Worth by TCU is amazing, and the one in S. Arlington by the Parks mall.

My biggest complaint is with FX Games in Plano. They have a "gaming museum" - they've got a decent collection of video game systems on display, including an odyssey2 that I continuously ask about, but won't sell them until they get another one.

[Sabz5150]

Ummm... wat?

I've *never* had this happen at a Play N Trade. If I see a boxed example of a game I want, I point to it and buy it. Box and all. Usually the conversation goes like this:

Me: Holy sh*t, you have $GAME/$SYSTEM in box?!

PnT: Yeah, hard to find in that condition.

Me: Gimme. (Hands PnT a wad of cash)

Just about all the PnT stores around here know me and they know the whole keep-the-box schpeel would fly like a cubic meter of neutronium with me... something like that would make me question providing that particular store with my business in the future.

[Steve W]

Stay away from CGX. They're ridiculously overpriced. One of the guys at the Irving location tried selling me a loose Lynx for $120. The Movie Trading Co. in Ft Worth by TCU is amazing, and the one in S. Arlington by the Parks mall.

My biggest complaint is with FX Games in Plano. They have a "gaming museum" - they've got a decent collection of video game systems on display, including an odyssey2 that I continuously ask about, but won't sell them until they get another one.

I haven't ever found much at the Irving CGX. The Frisco store has most of the good stuff now, since the manager of the chain works out of there. Apparently they're going to close the Valley View Mall and Collin Creek Mall locations soon, too. At least the Frisco store lowered prices on some stuff that wasn't moving, like Genesis games.

I like that FX Games store in Plano. I've always had good conversations with the guy there. That store is more or less an extension of their location up in McKinney (which is next to a Subway sub shop, and always reeks of crappy sandwiches). That store is also part of a small chain, with locations in Waco (huge store, I've always found good stuff there), Temple (bought a few good things there too on my one visit, they had a couple of those boxed Odyssey 2 Master series board/video games), and I believe Bryan/College Station.

I've seen the occasional Odyssey 2 console in a Movie Trading Company here and there, but they tend to get sold quick. As far as games for it goes, the MTC store in Duncanville had a few last time I checked. I actually find more Odyssey 2 games than I do Colecovision games, sadly. Now that I think about it, the Duncanville location might have the console, stacked on shelves behind the glass counters in those generic 'used game console' boxes a lot of stores use. I know they've got a couple TurboGrafx-16 units there.

If the Duncanville MTC doesn't have one, your best bet is to go out to Trader's Village for an Odyssey 2. At the far north end of the place, the last row of stalls, there's a shop called Crops Collectibles. I've been buying stuff from him for some time, and there's a pretty good chance he'll have a console in stock. A few games too, but pretty much all commons.

[Deadman]

I like that FX Games store in Plano. I've always had good conversations with the guy there. That store is more or less an extension of their location up in McKinney (which is next to a Subway sub shop, and always reeks of crappy sandwiches).

I don't mind the "museum" and again, as a collector I respect their desire to show off videogaming history. But while the same guys own both the McKinney and Plano stores, the Plano store puts their Genesis/Atari/SNES era games on display using reprinted labels stuck to old DVD cases. In no way is that store trying to make you think you are getting a box with your purchase. I guess they're keeping all the nice display boxes in McKinney.

Thats a tough store to judge because the guys are really nice guys, the prices are definitely average-to-lower than other resellers and they are just a couple of collectors who took a chance on owning a franchise game shop. So I stop in there once a week, try to support them as I see that shop as an extension of my "dream job" that never came to fruition. It's always good to support the little guy.

[Ponyponypony]

But while the same guys own both the McKinney and Plano stores, the Plano store puts their Genesis/Atari/SNES era games on display using reprinted labels stuck to old DVD cases. In no way is that store trying to make you think you are getting a box with your purchase. I guess they're keeping all the nice display boxes in McKinney.



Personally, I LIKE that they put the reprinted labels out - And there have been several times when the guys have come out with boxed games. IIRC, I think I even got a box with an Atari game. But yeah, I like being able to browse the games like a normal human being instead of looking like some crazy person flipping through stacks upon stacks of NES/SNES/Genny carts.
And while I can respect the gaming museum thing.......I already have almost everything they have on display. :D

[josekortez]

The last time I did any sort of transaction at Play N Trade was when I traded in a copy of Folklore for PS3 towards a copy of R-Type Delta for PS1. When I got home, I discovered that Delta had been Disc Doctored. I said, "Never again."

[frayedNsanity]

I was in the CGX in Stonebriar Mall a while back and noticed their Virtual Boy complete with box on display up with all the boxes. I asked how much they wanted for it and they said it wasn't for sale - that it was worth more as an interesting display piece than to sell it once. Are you kidding?? This is a RETAIL store, not a museum!!

I haven't bought many Genesis/SNES games there so I don't remember if they sold me a box or not but I do know that the other confusing local store "FX Game Exchange" displays their game boxes but when you buy the game, you don't get the box. Again, the boxes are worth more to them than the game.

As a person who researched opening a store a couple of years ago, I would say that they should put two prices on the games to be fair to the shopper - a loose price and a boxed price. That way when I'm shopping, I have the choice of buying the loose game for $3 or the boxed one for $8.
I own both of the FX Game Exchange Stores in the DFW area, and I don't even use old boxes for display. I use DVD cases with artwork for the game that I print myself, on all old cart games. And I for sure do not charge extra for the box if I have it. Every time someone buys an old cart game I make sure to check and see if I have the box and let the customer have it at no extra charge. Maybe you were thinking of another store.

[frayedNsanity]

Personally, I LIKE that they put the reprinted labels out - And there have been several times when the guys have come out with boxed games. IIRC, I think I even got a box with an Atari game. But yeah, I like being able to browse the games like a normal human being instead of looking like some crazy person flipping through stacks upon stacks of NES/SNES/Genny carts.
And while I can respect the gaming museum thing.......I already have almost everything they have on display. :D
actually I do not display the "good boxes" because of lost prevention issues and I also do not have enough to go around. And McKinney doesn't have any boxes. They are all at Plano :)

[frayedNsanity]

I don't mind the "museum" and again, as a collector I respect their desire to show off videogaming history. But while the same guys own both the McKinney and Plano stores, the Plano store puts their Genesis/Atari/SNES era games on display using reprinted labels stuck to old DVD cases. In no way is that store trying to make you think you are getting a box with your purchase. I guess they're keeping all the nice display boxes in McKinney.

Thats a tough store to judge because the guys are really nice guys, the prices are definitely average-to-lower than other resellers and they are just a couple of collectors who took a chance on owning a franchise game shop. So I stop in there once a week, try to support them as I see that shop as an extension of my "dream job" that never came to fruition. It's always good to support the little guy.
We appreciate that a lot and we are working on the subway thing ;)

[retroman]

wow..wtf..that does suck..i would have bitched em out

[Steve W]

Maybe you were thinking of another store.

He must have been thinking of Console Game Exchange. I've gone through the same thing with them before, even phoning the manager won't get me the box with the game, even though there's no chance they'll ever get in another loose copy of this Japanese MD game again. And not particularly good staff at the Collin Creek Mall location (which is about to close anyway) compounding things. FX Game Exchange is fantastic in comparison, my only problem was a lack of early '80s era games. That's my chosen era, and usually game stores only have commons. I loved the printed DVD cases of the games on your store shelves, too bad some of the images don't scale up that well.

[cracked8ball]

FX Game Exchange is a great chain of stores. I've found some great deals on several things there like several Master System games for dirt cheap, as well as super rare and uncommon NES titles). You guys should think of expanding to the cities surrounding the Arlington/Ft Worth area one day.

I'm honestly surprised that CGX hasn't closed by now. I'm still wondering why the Game Xchange in Irving closed down when it had amazing deals and a better selection, yet the overpriced CGX still lives. The prices are horrific. Ive seen Mario 3 and Final Fantasy loose for $30 each there. Dragon Warrior games for $60-100. Only good thing I can say is that they do tend to have some of the rarer NES games in stock and they are mostly priced at $5 each. They had an ROB at both Frisco and Irving locations on display. One was not for sale and the other was $100. Didn't even have its parts and was labeled "Doesnt work". D:<

[Ponyponypony]

actually I do not display the "good boxes" because of lost prevention issues and I also do not have enough to go around. And McKinney doesn't have any boxes. They are all at Plano :)

I just liked that you guys offered your membership for cutting up my gamestop card :P that won points. I'm still jaded over the odyssey2 thing, though :roll:
last time we were in the mckinney location y'all were talking about doing some sort of game night or something -- is that still going to happen?

Also, plz open a store closer to fort worth. :D

[frayedNsanity]

if you ever find any sites with some good images let me know. i'm not opposed to redoing some artwork.

[frayedNsanity]

I just liked that you guys offered your membership for cutting up my gamestop card :P that won points. I'm still jaded over the odyssey2 thing, though :roll:
last time we were in the mckinney location y'all were talking about doing some sort of game night or something -- is that still going to happen?

Also, plz open a store closer to fort worth. :D
actually i think some kind of game night would be a great idea, except i would probably do it in the plano store since it is a lot bigger space. we actually tried staying open until midnight on friday's for a month with really no response. if you can find enough people who want to come out and play whatever y'all have or i have, you just let me know and we can work it out. during store hours preferably. but if we need to extend the hours for that night, that works too. just getting enough people in the door to make it worthwhile and fun for y'all is all that matters to me. any suggestions, or y'all want to plan the whole thing just let me know. as far as fort worth goes, hopefully one day. it is a franchise you know:)

[98PaceCar]

actually i think some kind of game night would be a great idea, except i would probably do it in the plano store since it is a lot bigger space. we actually tried staying open until midnight on friday's for a month with really no response. if you can find enough people who want to come out and play whatever y'all have or i have, you just let me know and we can work it out. during store hours preferably. but if we need to extend the hours for that night, that works too. just getting enough people in the door to make it worthwhile and fun for y'all is all that matters to me. any suggestions, or y'all want to plan the whole thing just let me know. as far as fort worth goes, hopefully one day. it is a franchise you know:)

I'll swing by early next week to talk about some of the ideas I've had about this. I'm sure we can get something good going on!

Darren

[Steve W]

I'm still wondering why the Game Xchange in Irving closed down when it had amazing deals and a better selection, yet the overpriced CGX still lives.
I think that had something to do with the other Game Xchange in Flower Mound. That one was bought out by another company, so that manager moved to the Irving store. And apparently he lived up in Flower Mound and had to commute. Maybe driving that distance got to him, especially if the Irving store wasn't doing very good business. I never saw that many people in the place. And the Irving Mall area has three GameStop stores within hand grenade-throwing distance from each other, not to mention a Movie Trading Company store and a CGX too. It's a shame they couldn't stick it out longer, I really liked that place although I don't think I ever bought more than ten bucks worth of stuff there. Not as much retro stuff as I'd like.


I'll swing by early next week to talk about some of the ideas I've had about this. I'm sure we can get something good going on!

Darren

Keep us updated on a game night. Plano's a good distance away from me, but if you get something good going I'll pop up there some time.