Planning to work at Gamestop

[GamerC++]

Hi,

For those who work at Gamestop I have a few questions. I'm considering working at one of the locations in the area this summer and likely beyond.

First what are you paid at the one you work at? Just trying to get an idea what they pay their employees.

What are the different positions?

What is the discount on Games, consoles, etc?

And what are the most common questions asked by customers?

I consider myself a technical guy. I'm Advanced with anything computer related, always buy the latest gaming magazines, and plan to pursue a gaming degree at the college level.

Thanks!

[Eternal Tune]

You need to be able to sell gasoline to a man of fire. If you can do that, then you will have no problems selling subscriptions and reserves and be loved by the DM in your area.

Also, do not write "yes" to the questions about system owned, pc knowledge and/or that odd "game" question.

Lets see....I don't remember much about my interview besides talking about Lunar SSSC and Suikoden. I miss our old SM.....*sniff*

Pay sucks, discount is being lowered, no discount on new systems, and you need to have an answer handy for the question: "What would you get for a six year old boy who chronically wets his bed?"

[kainemaxwell]

LOL, nice one. When I had my Gamestop interview the girl and I talked about alot of old NES and SNES games ourselves.

[Brisco]

Don't listen to her. too much. But be aware that the retail gig is not a money making machine. You either want to work there to work with games, or you want to make money. You asked a couple of questions regarding the job. Positions? Unless your a keyholder, it's PT job. What are the most commonly asked questions by customers. Answer: How much is this with tax?, This is used, how much is it new? and how much cash can I get for my stuff?

The Tune misses me. awww. Oob? MechaFreak745?

[Jasoco]

You need to be able to sell gasoline to a man of fire. If you can do that, then you will have no problems selling subscriptions and reserves and be loved by the DM in your area.
We also used to have a guy who constantly pushed us to sell "Smart Plans" on everything. Even games. $2.99 for a plan to cover a game that either works or doesn't. Now, some people would take them, some won't. Well, he left and no one ever asks anymore. I haven't asked in months. No one cares. It's Commission, but not worth it unless I know the person might want it. Once in a while we'll ask, like for a TV. But not for a stupid little device. $3 to cover a game. :o


Also, do not write "yes" to the questions about system owned, pc knowledge and/or that odd "game" question.
What questions be these? Sounds intriguing.


Pay sucks, discount is being lowered, no discount on new systems, and you need to have an answer handy for the question: "What would you get for a six year old boy who chronically wets his bed?"
That sucks about the discount. At least I could still get my 10% at Kmart. Even on a new one. (Hell, I got 20% off my GBA SP.) My previous job had a 20% off everything, 10% off games and 0% off systems. So this is slightly better, but not really. I miss that 20%. Even if it wasn't on games.

I also get questions like that all the time. Not that specific one, but ones like it.

I just ask them what the kid's into. If they don't know, they usually give up and either grab the cell phone to call the kid or parents and ask, or they say they'll come back after finding out what the kid wants. If they know, it's easier to get them to pick. Though, I had one the other day who knew the kid watched "Spongebob" but did not like the name "Bikini Bottom". Even though it's the name of the place he lives in. So she didn't get the game. :roll:

Sometimes I wish I worked at a place like that to be around just games. Especially since Kmart does not and never will get every new game to come out. Especially every new Sega or Activision game.

[Eternal Tune]

Don't listen to her. too much. But be aware that the retail gig is not a money making machine. You either want to work there to work with games, or you want to make money. You asked a couple of questions regarding the job. Positions? Unless your a keyholder, it's PT job. What are the most commonly asked questions by customers. Answer: How much is this with tax?, This is used, how much is it new? and how much cash can I get for my stuff?

The Tune misses me. awww. Oob? MechaFreak745?

LIES! You tell nothing but lies, say I!!!!

Anyways, my favorite questions are:

Q- Is this game any good?
A- I just work here....now leave me alone so I can hold the counter up....

Q- How much are the GBA games?
A- They are priced on the back, but for the most part the prices are assrapings, now bend over.

Q- How much can I get for my Playstation? It has a screensaver, unlike my boyfriend's?
A- *blank stare*

Q- Halo 2 is the greatest game evAr!!!11 My best friend has an advanced copy and we play it all the time!! Its so cool!!! Do you like Halo?
A- There is no Easter Bunny.

Q- Recommend me a good PS2 game?
A- Suikoden III is as close to God as you will ever get....

Q- What's Suikoden?
A- RPG.... Which ends up with the customer saying "I don't like them reading games...got any GTA 4s?"

Q- You have Dragon Ball Z: Final Bout?
A- Har har, good luck....

Q- I heard Halo 2 was cancelled at the last minute, is that true?
A- Yes. Damn shame isn't it...now are you going to buy something or just stand around for another hour annoying me?

Q- Are there any guys working?
A- Don't you know? Guys don't play video games.....shesh...

Q- Where's the AM?
A- Taking a massive shit in the backroom.

Q- Do you have Zelda on Playstation?
A- Kill me...and then buy Alundra.

...and my favorite....which is usually from another employee....and sadly he isn't joking and has been working there for over a year

Q- How do I scan this game?
A- Excuse me, I need to go hang myself in the backroom with an Xbox controller....

[Brisco]

All of the previous statements are true. except for that lies thing.

[Achika]

Let me add:

Q: Do you have GTA: Vice City Orlando?
A: No, there is no Vice City Orlando, there's Vice City and then San Andreas coming out in October
Q: No, it's called GTA: Vice City Orlando!
A: No, it's not, they never use proper city names to name the cities.
Idiot caller: Whatever, you don't know sh*t.

AND! No commision, ever, never, not anymore.

[Daria]

Anyway... job pays like shit. But nothing's more exciting then when some poor kid comes in to trade in his collection of older game systems for a PS2. Especially when you don't accept any of the games and your manager doesn't care if you offer the customers cash.

Also while Eternal Tune's satire may be right on the mark I don't believe in patronizing the customers. No not every customer knows what their talking about, but then hey gaming's our hobby. Not theirs. Polietly coorect them and if they don't look interested offer them some of the stupid looking candy on the counter. No need to act hostile or rude. Plus you probably won't keep your job long with that attitude anyway.

That said the prank callers or constant legitimate callers who never quite calling are fair game.
________
DIGITAL VAPORIZER (http://vaporizers.net)

[Eternal Tune]

Anyway... job pays like shit. But nothing's more exciting then when some poor kid comes in to trade in his collection of older game systems for a PS2. Especially when you don't accept any of the games and your manager doesn't care if you offer the customers cash.

Also while Eternal Tune's satire may be right on the mark I don't believe in patronizing the customers. No not every customer knows what their talking about, but then hey gaming's our hobby. Not theirs. Polietly coorect them and if they don't look interested offer them some of the stupid looking candy on the counter. No need to act hostile or rude. Plus you probably won't keep your job long with that attitude anyway.

Shit, I must have forgotten the sarcasm tags again.

Though sadly, every single one of those questions, I have been asked....times ten. Answers are all in good fun, except the guy who insists that Halo 2 was cancelled...and comes in the store for hours at a time and has yet to buy anything....so yeah I give him attitude, but I got permission to punt him out on his rear end.

[Daria]

Also while Eternal Tune's satire may be right on the mark...

Shit, I must have forgotten the sarcasm tags again.

Your sarcasm was noted.
________
Mercedes-benz zetros specifications (http://www.mercedes-wiki.com/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_Zetros)

[Oobgarm]

Time for me to interject my knowledge, as well as express my feelings. First, the facts:

--Gamestop utilizes three/four different designations for employees at the store level. Here they are, from low to high:

Game Advisor
Senior Game Advisor/Third Keyholder
Ass. Manager
Manager

--Pay isn't all that great. Remember that there are a lot of people who would love to have the position. However, the discount (which applies to everything except new systems) makes up for the lack of pay. Yes, it's being reduced from the current 20% to 15%, but a discount's a discount. You can also add in the fact that you are working around something you enjoy, which is tough to put a price on. Sure, the pay might not be the greatest, but if you're passionate about gaming and you won't require the job to support yourself, it's a tough thing to pass up. This is assuming you're going to be a part time Game Advisor or a Third Key/SGA. The only positions that can actually support a game buying habit AND provide living expenses is the Ass. Mgr. or Manager. And trust me, if you're gonna be working there, and since you've inquired about the discount, you'll develop a buying habit. Resistance is futile. :D

--Depending on your clientele, questions asked by customers range anywhere from basic:

"What new games are coming out?", "How much is that with tax?", "What games are good?", "When does P3 (Playstation 3) come out?", etc.

to ludicrous (all real questions asked at my store):

"Do you have Zelda for Playstation, or was that only on Sega?", "Do you sell knives?", "Do you know where I can get a set of crutches?"

Just be prepared to help parents pick out games for their kids, and you'll have to accustom yourself into knowing what games are good based on age range. I always retort with the "what are their interests" line, as it helps narrow the field of choices.

It’s also a good thing to familiarize yourself with all systems and genres so you don’t have to turn to someone else to check on something. You’ll feel more confident and it will show when talking to the customer.

One final comment here, DON'T BE AN ELITIST. Don't talk down to the customer like you know everything and they know nothing. Trust me.

OK, now my personal thoughts:

I've been a Gamestop employee for 2 years now, and a Funcoland employee for 4 years prior to that. There were some breaks in employment throughout that time, but hey, I'm still here. I love working around games. And it helps if you do as well. If you have a genuine passion for gaming, and let it show to your customers, they'll appreciate you more, and you'll enjoy your work. I've always treated customers the way I'd personally expect to be treated at such a place of business. Doesn't always happen, but I try. ;) My approach might not be the most successful sales volume-wise, but I build a rapport with the customer and keep them coming back. I want them to enjoy coming to our store and make it a first choice since our service and customer relations are better than the competition.

And to provide a rather blunt counterpoint to that, but you honestly don't have to know a damn thing about games to work there and succeed, provided that you can SELL SELL SELL. Pitching subscriptions to Game Informer and offering reservations to every single customer is a requirement. Non negotiable. If you can do this without fail and without thought of how the customer views you, you’ll do well in sales, but teeter precariously along the line of becoming a ‘drone’, caring strictly about sales, nothing else. Doing so might turn off some folks, as constant harassment about Game Informer subscriptions and reservations wears on the nerves quickly.

If you can mesh the two together, I applaud you, as I have yet to see a person do it proficiently. :roll:

@ Brisco: You honestly think you’ll see Brad posting here? He’s playing FFXI, duh! LOL

[chadtower]

--Gamestop utilizes three/four different designations for employees at the store level. Here they are, from low to high:

Game Advisor
Senior Game Advisor/Third Keyholder
Ass. Manager
Manager

I want to be an Ass Manager. Do you have any openings?

O_O

[Jasoco]

Game Advisor
Senior Game Advisor/Third Keyholder
Ass. Manager
ManagerI am the Key Master. Are you the Gate Keeper? (Avoiding the other obvious joke that chad couldn't.)

I get the Zelda question all the time. Not the Sega part, but the same question. As well as the Tax one. I have to start using my calculator in my head.

I also start with the "What is the kid into??" question. Once you get that, it's a bit easier. Not always, especially since unlike GS, my store doesn't have every single game made* for the system. But usually, it's pretty easy.

*You know what I mean. GS has 10 times more than Kmart.

[Oobgarm]

--Gamestop utilizes three/four different designations for employees at the store level. Here they are, from low to high:

Game Advisor
Senior Game Advisor/Third Keyholder
Ass. Manager
Manager

I want to be an Ass Manager. Do you have any openings?

O_O

LOL

I was hoping someone would comment on that. I loved putting that on my nametag when I held that postition. :D