Independant gaming stores 'gutting' games like GameStop...why?

[Emperor Megas]

Is this a common practice? I don't have any specialty stores near me, but an hour (or two, depending on the location) away there are quite a few, and one of them, a small chain called Rock30 games, in North Dakota, discards the clam shells and manuals of it's Genesis and Master System (when it carried Master System) games.

Maybe I'm a dinosaurs, but I think half of the appeal of Genesis titles are how awesome the clam shells are. The fact that the packaging is so maintainable is probably one of the main reasons Genesis games don't demand as much in the resale market. They're so easy to find complete after all, but that's a huge win, IMO. You get the games cheap, and usually complete and in good shape. Anyway, in what I imagine is an effort to conserve space, these stores only sell Genesis and Master System games 'cartridge only'. I've noticed they they sell off (or try to sell off) lots of the orphaned cases on their eBay store, but it just seems strange to me to remove the cases and instructions of the games that they get in.

One of the reasons I like independent stores is BECAUSE they don't do shit like that. I understand that Genesis clam shells take up space, but I don't think the Rock30 stores sells many Genesis games (I always see the same ones), and one of the reasons is probably because they're cartridge only. I never buy cartridge only Genesis games simple because it's too easy to hold out for complete ones. I honestly don't get it. If I have enough shelf room for all of the Genesis and Master System cases in my tiny game room, it seems weird that these huge stores don't have the room for them on their walls and in their storeroom in the back (I think they do, BTW).

I'm singling out Genesis and Master Systems games, but for all I know, they might gut boxed Nintendo game as well, which seems a shame to me as a collector. Do many specialty stores to this with vintage games? I mean, is the practice common?

[wingzrow]

I bought a Sealed copy of KOTOR for xbox at a flea market this weekend for $20 and the guy offered to open the sealed game with a knife to prove the game was in there.

Some people just don't get it.

[xelement5x]

I know a lot of smaller independent stores like you said just don't have the shelf space for them. It's really a shame too and I bemoan loosing all those nice clamshells as well. I can always find a use for an extra clamshell!

There's a place near me that also throws out gameboy/gba boxes but will still throw the cart and all the docs into a DVD case and sell them like that, it just makes me so sad because I'd love to have the extra boxes.

[Emperor Megas]

Wow; it's WAY stupider to do it to cardboard boxes. They're rare, AND you can break them down and flatten them without even damaging them at all, and bundle it with the cart. It doesn't take up any more space at all; just get a file cabinet alphabetize your flattened boxes. I don't get how someone can pick an industry like vintage games, and understand so little about how the hobby works. I mean of all of the business models, why pick this one if it's not something you're passionate about? Vintage gaming isn't exactly a sure fire money maker. There are so many better things to invest in and try your hand at if you're going to run a brick and mortar venture.

[Gameguy]

I know a lot of smaller independent stores like you said just don't have the shelf space for them.
That's probably because they don't sell enough of their games due to stupidly high pricing. Most of these independent stores are run by people who shouldn't be running a business, and that's why most seem to be failing or just barely surviving.

[BlastProcessing402]

IMO, if you don't have room to store/display the items you're selling without mutilating them, then you shouldn't sell those items. If they come in cart only, that's one thing, but this is ridiculous.

It's like if a comic store ripped off all the covers so they could fit another 10 comics in a long box.

[Bojay1997]

I bought a Sealed copy of KOTOR for xbox at a flea market this weekend for $20 and the guy offered to open the sealed game with a knife to prove the game was in there.

Some people just don't get it.

Well, if he did "get it", he would have charged you more than $20 for the game. I don't think it's unreasonable for a seller to offer to open a sealed game in front of you at a flea market, particularly with how prevalent game theft is at big retailers. I personally haven't had an issue, but I have had friends who have opened "factory sealed" games from Target, Toys R Us and Best Buy upon getting home only to find either nothing or an AOL disc or a generic CDR disc inside. People frequently steal the disc either at the store or at home and then return the "sealed" game. Since retailers rarely check what's inside of returns other than that a disc is there, it's a low risk theft. It makes me sad and frustrated that people are stealing games, but I do get why retailers are now gutting to prevent it.

[Emperor Megas]

IMO, if you don't have room to store/display the items you're selling without mutilating them, then you shouldn't sell those items. If they come in cart only, that's one thing, but this is ridiculous.I couldn't agree more. They can't be doing it right if they're more or less 'destroying' their stock. The place has the wall space for the cases too, and I KNOW that they have the room in the back for them based on the amount of Genesis cartridges the place has on the shelves (between 100-130). I have more Genesis games on my shelf at home, and my game room isn't nearly as spaces as they're showroom.

[Segata_Sanshiro]

I was thinking about this today actually. Rock30 is one of the better game shops I've been to in North America - they've treated me fairly when I've dealt with them. As a collector I share your confusion over the destruction or disassembly of any game packaging. When I had asked them about it I was told that they actively seperated the packaging and included contents from the cartridge and that those pieces were used for promotional purposes on their eBay store. This policy extends to all of their cartridge-based games. I haven't seen them selling the boxes or manuals through their eBay store - and I'm honestly not sure what is meant by "promotional purposes". So it doesn't seem to have anything to do with creating more space.

Another mind-boggling policy that they seem to have is that none of their games are tested before sale. I've bought a faulty disc there before, so now I make sure to ask them to load up the game first before I buy anything.

[Enmity]

I had a store next to me that did that. I simply asked them to keep my number on file and whenever they had a box for cases for the trash to call me for recycling. They were more then happy to give them to me. They at least understood that they were still useful to people.

I ended up making a trip to the store at least once or twice a week to pick them up. Until they changed owners and policies.

I recommend everyone at least ask for this option. It will save a lot of cases from the trash.

[Emperor Megas]

I was thinking about this today actually. Rock30 is one of the better game shops I've been to in North America - they've treated me fairly when I've dealt with them. As a collector I share your confusion over the destruction or disassembly of any game packaging. When I had asked them about it I was told that they actively seperated the packaging and included contents from the cartridge and that those pieces were used for promotional purposes on their eBay store. This policy extends to all of their cartridge-based games. I haven't seen them selling the boxes or manuals through their eBay store - and I'm honestly not sure what is meant by "promotional purposes". So it doesn't seem to have anything to do with creating more space.I've actually seen them list the clam shells in their eBay store. Granted, the last time I looked was about 3-4 years ago, but they definitely did at one point. They were listed in odd lots, which is what made it really strange to me.

I really like Rock30 despite this. I bought my complete copy of Snatcher on my first visit to their Grand Forks store back when it was in Washington Ave.. The 'gutting' process is one of the only problems I have with them. Well, that, and the fact that I was told that they don't sell SEGA CD or Master System games out of their stores anymore (even though they take them). That's what I was told in Fargo 2 years ago, anyway. And they stopped buying/selling guides, too. I remember a guy came into their Grand Forks store with a stack of guides and they told him they don't take them anymore. I should have asked the guy what he had, and offered him a few bucks, but I feel weird conducting business in someone's business, and I'm almost sure that the guy would have haggled with me when he said he was just going to toss them anyway. People are weird that way.

[Greg2600]

Those game stores which discard boxes and manuals don't deserve to be in business. I could see if you get in a game and manual without a box, and just sell the game, but if it came in a box in decent condition, you should resell like that. If you have no shelf space, then you don't know how to run a business.

[kedawa]

A&C Games in Toronto has gutted games for me when they only had a boxed copy of the game I wanted.
I don't like keeping cardboard boxes around, so I don't mind saving a few bucks by buying loose carts.

[shogungb90]

I had a store next to me that did that. I simply asked them to keep my number on file and whenever they had a box for cases for the trash to call me for recycling. They were more then happy to give them to me. They at least understood that they were still useful to people.

I ended up making a trip to the store at least once or twice a week to pick them up. Until they changed owners and policies.

I recommend everyone at least ask for this option. It will save a lot of cases from the trash.

I actually did this before too I asked Gamestop and they gave me a bunch of cases granted this was like a decade ago but they were cool about it.

[M.Buster2184]

That's depressing. Not sure about you guys, but I have issues with collecting a Genesis game without a case.

[Schiggidyd]

Gutting Sega games would bother me a lot, they should sell it as it arrives. Shelf space? Come on, there are other ways to organize these, they could keep them in the back room and just use a file system to see which games are available.
I must have at least the boxes for my genesis games, and I try to complete cart only ones too.

[Clownzilla]

A game store near me had several long-box Playstation games for sale. Some of these games were pretty valuable and in high demand to collectors (I noticed Return Fire right away). They didn't want the long boxes to take up space so they threw the boxes away and put them in generic jewel cases. The real kicker was that they actually took the time to cut the manuals in half to fit them in the jewel cases. Needless to say, I was speechless.

[Emperor Megas]

A game store near me had several long-box Playstation games for sale. Some of these games were pretty valuable and in high demand to collectors (I noticed Return Fire right away). They didn't want the long boxes to take up space so they threw the boxes away and put them in generic jewel cases. The real kicker was that they actually took the time to cut the manuals in half to fit them in the jewel cases. Needless to say, I was speechless.OMGWTFBBQ?! I've seen this shit, too! INSANITY!

[The 1 2 P]

I don't even have any indepedent game stores around here anymore. And luckily the thrift stores and flea markets keep them sealed. This is also the reason why I hardly ever buy anything at Gamestop, because I hate opened "new" games.

[Esquire Fox]

Most Gamestops are now gutting all DS games they receive and throwing away the case and manual. It is frustrating because it increases the number of loose copies I find at flea markets and the like.
However, one thing that I can't understand is when I see 'NEW' copies of DS games being sold in generic cases at Gamestop. Did someone walk away with the real case? How can they still try to sell them as NEW?
Luckily, some of my local Gamestops are setting their DS cases aside for me now. I have boxes full of cases and manuals, just waiting to be reunited with their games.

[Gameguy]

Most Gamestops are now gutting all DS games they receive and throwing away the case and manual. It is frustrating because it increases the number of loose copies I find at flea markets and the like.
However, one thing that I can't understand is when I see 'NEW' copies of DS games being sold in generic cases at Gamestop. Did someone walk away with the real case? How can they still try to sell them as NEW?
Luckily, some of my local Gamestops are setting their DS cases aside for me now. I have boxes full of cases and manuals, just waiting to be reunited with their games.
US Gamestops are weird, none of the Gamestops here gut games. Even horrible PS2 sports games keep the cases. The selling used games as new is still done here though.

[Enmity]

Most Gamestops are now gutting all DS games they receive and throwing away the case and manual. It is frustrating because it increases the number of loose copies I find at flea markets and the like.
However, one thing that I can't understand is when I see 'NEW' copies of DS games being sold in generic cases at Gamestop. Did someone walk away with the real case? How can they still try to sell them as NEW?
Luckily, some of my local Gamestops are setting their DS cases aside for me now. I have boxes full of cases and manuals, just waiting to be reunited with their games.

I haven't seen a single gamestop here in Florida gut DS games and throw the cases away. They did get rid of all their PS2 and Xbox cases, and some stores even trashed all their 360, and PS3 game cases that were under a certain price. Those stores are the super high volume tourist stores out next to Disney and Universal though. They have so much foot traffic there they have two stores in one mall.

[Shicky256]

Once, I bought a "new" game at games top for my Wii. When I arrived home, I found that the disc was scratched, the Club Nintendo code was used, and the manual smelled funny, like someone had read it on the toilet. I think the Games top employees take the games home and play them.

[shogungb90]

Once, I bought a "new" game at games top for my Wii. When I arrived home, I found that the disc was scratched, the Club Nintendo code was used, and the manual smelled funny, like someone had read it on the toilet. I think the Games top employees take the games home and play them.

That's awful ....I have a friend who works there and they do in tact take the games home.

[The 1 2 P]

They have so much foot traffic there they have two stores in one mall.

Thats a common practice for Gamestop. There were two malls over here that had two Gamestop stores in each one. But after operating for years both malls have recently closed one of their two stores, so now each mall only has one Gamestop.


Once, I bought a "new" game at games top for my Wii. When I arrived home, I found that the disc was scratched, the Club Nintendo code was used, and the manual smelled funny, like someone had read it on the toilet. I think the Games top employees take the games home and play them.

This is a well known practice that Gamestop does and has been doing for years, allowing their employees to take games home and play them. However, the controversy comes from the fact that they will still sell those now-used games as brand new in the store once the employees bring them back. But on the bright side, now that most current gen games are getting rid of paper manuals you might not have to deal with that smell again....unless they take their game cases in the bathroom too.

[Enmity]

Thats a common practice for Gamestop. There were two malls over here that had two Gamestop stores in each one. But after operating for years both malls have recently closed one of their two stores, so now each mall only has one Gamestop.



This is a well known practice that Gamestop does and has been doing for years, allowing their employees to take games home and play them. However, the controversy comes from the fact that they will still sell those now-used games as brand new in the store once the employees bring them back. But on the bright side, now that most current gen games are getting rid of paper manuals you might not have to deal with that smell again....unless they take their game cases in the bathroom too.


It was common for a while because they were buying out all the other companies and converting them. Almost every mall had an EB and a Gamestop and eventually converted the EB. Most of the second stores here have shut down. The common practice I'm seeing now is having a store inside a mall then one within a mile outside the mall.

[SparTonberry]

This is a well known practice that Gamestop does and has been doing for years, allowing their employees to take games home and play them. However, the controversy comes from the fact that they will still sell those now-used games as brand new in the store once the employees bring them back. But on the bright side, now that most current gen games are getting rid of paper manuals you might not have to deal with that smell again....unless they take their game cases in the bathroom too.

GameStop's defense is that the employees are violating the policy. They say that employees are only permitted to check out spare already-used copies.

[Enmity]

GameStop's defense is that the employees are violating the policy. They say that employees are only permitted to check out spare already-used copies.

I worked for Gamestop for three years. We were never told once that we weren't allow to check out new games, only that we weren't allowed to check out new releases until a week after release.

I don't like buying opened new game just as much as everyone else.

[Flashback2012]

I worked for Gamestop for three years. We were never told once that we weren't allow to check out new games, only that we weren't allowed to check out new releases until a week after release.

I don't like buying opened new game just as much as everyone else.

In my experience, the policy wavered from manager to manager. I put in 10 years there and saw my fair share of managers come and go. Every last one of them had a different take on what the policy was. Some were okay with checking out new and bringing it back like nothing was the matter. Others were staunchly opposed to it. I've never cared for the practice of gutting new games to use for display so I never allowed myself to check out new titles even if the manager at the time was okay with doing it. Honestly, I never really took advantage of the checkout policy anyway because I didn't want to be held accountable for store property that I didn't pay for and I had a general disdain for renting overall. I never liked messing with late fees from places like Blockbuster and always felt that if I wanted to play something bad enough, then I should own it outright.

As for the original topic, I am grateful that none of the indy stores around here do that sort of thing (at least as far as I'm aware). I imagine it couldn't hurt to ask but every independent store around here usually has a section for cart only Genesis and another section for ones with cases/clamshells. I'd have to agree with what someone else already posted in that if places are scrapping things like cases, inserts, and instructions then they probably don't have any business selling those items in the first place.

[M.Buster2184]

It was common for a while because they were buying out all the other companies and converting them. Almost every mall had an EB and a Gamestop and eventually converted the EB. Most of the second stores here have shut down. The common practice I'm seeing now is having a store inside a mall then one within a mile outside the mall.

Yeah that's usually the case. I remember the mall near me had an EB and a Gamestop, then the EB became a Gamestop. There is also another Gamestop about 4 miles down the road from the mall. Also, does it seem to you guys that the Gamestops not in malls are nicer than the ones in malls?