When you walk into a game store, what do you witness?

[Jasoco]

I hear ya man.

Funny thing. I actually like mot of our customers. It's only a small percentage that really suck.

Once I had one compliment me on my veins. She was a nurse. She said if I ever needed a blood transfusion or whatever, they wouldn't have any trouble. Weirdest compliment I ever had.

Another complimented me on my smile. She said "Every time I'm here, you're so happy. I've never seen you not smiling."

It really only takes a couple customers to cheer me up. I could come into work not wanting to work at all and (As long as I'm not sick. I can never be really happy if I don't feel good.) after a few customers, I'm drumming on the counters while waiting for the receipt to pop out, or dancing around. I don't know why, but I actually like people. A couple other cow-orkers do too, but I'm the one who really gets into it. Don't know why.

Of course, I still get the assholes too.

One day, I had finished working. Took off my uniform. But a customer recognized me and being the helpful person I am, I helped her. (The other clerk was new so she wouldn't have known anyway.) While I'm helping her, the other clerk goes to the bathroom and another customer comes from nowhere demanding me to help him. He needs something out of a case. Seemed in a hurry. (Mind you, I am off the clock. Helping a sweet old lady with something out of the goodness of my heart. And even if I was on the clock, I'm not going to push her aside just to help you unless she wants me to. She was first. You are next.) I said I'd have to get the keys. (Now, remember. Off clock. No keys.) He, being in such a hurry, gets pissed off, says "Forget it. I'll go somewhere else." and storms off. You know. In a hurry, can't wait for one store to help, so I'll go to another store and be in a hurry there. So, well, I accuidentally let it slip out.. I said (What I thought was under my breath.) "Fine, go to another store. See if I care." HE HEARD ME. So of course, I denied it. I denied it to him. I denied it to the manager on duty. Even the woman customer thought he was being an asshole. So I had a witness.

Got the call from the Manager on Duty. Nice guy. Asks if I said what I said. "Nope." Denied it. Also mentioned I was off the clock, helping someone whle not being paid for it and said I told the guy I had to get the key. He bought it. And it's never been mentioned again. The guy was a dick plain and simple. And who cares if he didn't get his whatever it was at Kmart. Let him be a dick at another store seeing as he would have just continued to be a dick at Kmart. I just saved us all the trouble of having to put up with him.

Of course, I still have a lingering fear that maybe one day he may come back, recognize me and give me the evil eye. Of course, he'd then see hoe nice I was being to everyone else and would wonder if I really said what I said..

Here's to you, Dickhead! Let's hope Wal-Mart enjoys your company. They deserve you over there.

That was the first and hopefully last time I let my feelings slip out. At least until the customer is out of earshot. LOL

If you're in a hurry, do NOT go into a Retail store. Plain and simple. You will NOT get a royal treatment. There is NO "In a hurry" line. At least not when you are there. The store will ONLY be busy when you are in a hurry. Once you leave, everything WILL calm down. This is the law of Retail.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

I always see some clueless nut trying to sell his Saturn / Mega Cd and a bunch of games, but they want stupid money for them (Ie, half of what they originally paid for them!!!)

I also witness People quoting eBay prices all the time:


"...But this game is only £25 on eBay, and you want £39.99 for it"

[PDorr3]

thank god goodwill doesnt use ebay to price electronics @_@

[Push Upstairs]

I always see some clueless nut trying to sell his Saturn / Mega Cd and a bunch of games, but they want stupid money for them (Ie, half of what they originally paid for them!!!)

I also witness People quoting eBay prices all the time:


"...But this game is only £25 on eBay, and you want £39.99 for it"


The best way to get around the "Ebay" comment is to ask the people why they didn't buy it off Ebay.

9 times out of 10 you will get some lame ass excuse as to why they didnt.

Most of the time its just some customer trying to get something off the price of the game.

Which brings up another point: Customers who bitch about the price.

Look, i'm not paid to sit and listen to how such and such store has it for less or how you can get a much better deal on Ebay. I get paid to assist people who are interested in buying something, not listen to about how you dont care for the prices.

[fergojisan]

I stopped in EB yesterday, and I went towards the GBA section. I had a bag in my hands, and the guy near the section looked at it, then smiled at me and said hi. So that was good.
I worked in my dad's bakery up till I was 21. Sometimes I worked the register. It wasn't bad because I knew everything about the products and I knew most of the customers as well. Then I went to KayBee, and everything changed. We had some extremely ridiculous customers (mostly with returns), but we had a cool manager. She would step in if she saw a customer was giving us trouble, and send us to the back to calm down. This was actually very effective, and there weren't too many complaints about us workers being rude etc.
The thing I hate most now is people who know more than you, as if they have worked there longer than you. I work in another bakery now, and every once in awhile someone will come in and say,"Oh, do you have so-and-so bread, I got some here last week." I say, "No, we don't make so-and-so bread here." The customer is getting angry now. "But I just bought a loaf last time I was here, it was right in this case!" And I want to scream "I have never made so-and-so bread in my life, you foul filth foul person!", beacuse I haven't. I'm sure this has happened to you.
I try to stay in the back away from the customers, but I try to be extremely nice when I do have to deal with them, because I would want that.

[PDorr3]

do you halfto be atleast 18 to work in an EB or gamestop?

[cracked8ball]

I worked at Gamestop a few years ago and enjoyed it. Never had dickheaded customers, and all NES games that came in where promptly put in the hold drawer for myself :D

I can sympathize with the retail workers and all the shit they have to put up with on a daily basis by fuckheaded customers. I used to work at a sporting goods store and we had many dumbasses pass through, either with arrogant attitudes, dumb questions (the infamous "do you work here" or "are you open" when I'm standing at a register), or being nitpicky in general. So if the employees seem bitter about these types of people, they have a full right to be.

As for the subject at hand. I pretty much see the same shit everyone else does in game stores. Running kids, idiot parents, people who cant tell the difference between an NES and Genesis, pseudo know-it-alls, etc. I just ignore them and go for what I come for.

[Wavelflack]

Thumbs up to wavelflack. Yes they are unknowledgable, that is why they are asking questions. Quit complaining about people who arent as smart as you and just be thankful you know so much. Some people are lacking in comprehension and memory skills, you aren't, drop it.

Obviously you two people don't deal with the general public. Think about it.

On average you maybe work about 5 hours a day. In that time over 200 people will go in and out. Outa that 200 people 150 transactions will go flawlessly (i.e. they come in, maybe ask a few questions, need help finding something, ect. but nothing bad happens.)

But with the other 50 people it's usually.

A. The pompus jackass: The one who thinks he's better then you cause he works 9-5 behind a desk and has a flip phone an a custom ringer.

B. The soccer mom: Thinks shes always right and everyone should govvern her kids. Remember nothing is her fault... it's societies!

C. The ghetto/punk/tries too hard kid: The one who comes in OMFG DEWDS CH3K DAT SHIT OUT!!!!111!1!!!93

D. The hopless grandparent: "My grand son says he wants GBA: mice kitty?"

Now think about it. The hopless grandparent isn't as bad of an offender as the rest. I mean yeah you try to steer them the right way. But what about the other 3 main types. The ones who come in loud and screaming and think there funny. Any idea how much that gets on your nerves?

Imagine if every single can of pop you drank 1/4 had a bitter after taste. Would you still drink that pop? Well you can just try a different kind of pop. Well what if that pop was the only stuff you had and you needed that pop to live? Then what?

Seriously, try working with the general public for about 3 and a half years like I have been forced to do. You will understand what we have to deal with every day we work.

Also don't forget. We are also humans. We can't be expected to be in a good mood every time. I mean yeah, that doesn't mean we can treat customers like crap. But, maybe we won't smile big enough for you (true story I got reamed out by a customer cause i wasnt smiling... gee its kind of hard to smile when your girlfriends in the frickin hospital). Maybe we will talk to our colleauges at work because we're stuck there, trying to make the best of the job we have.

Hell, I can't even begin to count the times I've gotten yelled at by customers cause I didn't ask them if they needed help. Really just say "Excuse me" or "Hey". If there a good employee they will end up there conversation fast to help you or maybe say "One moment" if it's something important.

Just my 7 cent post for the month.

Fun time!!

A: "Obviously you two people don't deal with the general public. Think about it."

Obviously. I sold cars for five years, also worked at Sears, and as a telemarketer at one point. I even delivered pizzas back "in the day". Hmm. I don't remember lecturing my customers on the proper attitude and demeanor to maintain in my presence.

B: "On average you maybe work about 5 hours a day."

That's really amazing! I've actually heard of some people working almost eight hours a day! I don't believe it (how could anyone work for more than five hours?!), but that's what I've heard.

C: "In that time over 200 people will go in and out. Outa that 200 people 150 transactions will go flawlessly (i.e. they come in, maybe ask a few questions, need help finding something, ect. but nothing bad happens.)

But with the other 50 people it's usually.

A. The pompus jackass: The one who thinks he's better then you cause he works 9-5 behind a desk and has a flip phone an a custom ringer.

B. The soccer mom: Thinks shes always right and everyone should govvern her kids. Remember nothing is her fault... it's societies!

C. The ghetto/punk/tries too hard kid: The one who comes in OMFG DEWDS CH3K DAT SHIT OUT!!!!111!1!!!93

D. The hopless grandparent: "My grand son says he wants GBA: mice kitty?"

Thank you for successfully validating my previous contentions about elitism in game store clerks. Please refer to page 3 for a full accounting of yourself.

D: "The hopless grandparent isn't as bad of an offender as the rest. I mean yeah you try to steer them the right way. But what about the other 3 main types. The ones who come in loud and screaming and think there funny. Any idea how much that gets on your nerves?"

To my knowledge, there are no Stepford communities for retail clerks. This means you may just have to actually work and deal with "irritants" in your job. Be a professional.

E: "Imagine if every single can of pop you drank 1/4 had a bitter after taste. Would you still drink that pop? Well you can just try a different kind of pop. Well what if that pop was the only stuff you had and you needed that pop to live? Then what?"

I take this analogy to equate the pop with the job. Are you saying that this game store job is the only job available to you? And that you need it to live (even though it's not even a consistent 5 hours a day, presumably for minimum wage)?
I think this is the best example of melodramatic hyperbole in the whole post. Yay!
Talk about setting your sights low...
"A game store job is the only job I can get!"
Try looking for a real job, since your current one is so "bitter". Expand your horizons.

F. "Seriously, try working with the general public for about 3 and a half years like I have been forced to do. You will understand what we have to deal with every day we work."

I've worked with the general public for about 3X that length of time. I was never a crybaby about it, and I don't understand people that are. It's your JOB. You have chosen to seek gainful employment at wherever it is that you work. You were not "forced" to work there, and yet you do not quit and look for something better. If you are miserable in your work environment, then you only have yourself to blame. Find other work. Stop trying to make the fantasy job out of a non-fantasy job. The only way that can happen is if you shirk your duties (as many of you do) by being intolerant or snobbish towards "soccer mom" or "grandpa". You were not hired to pretend that you are cool, nor to jerk off over the latest action figures and strategy guides You were not hired because the company had a shortage of people willing to ignore customers and chat with friends. You were hired to help those people who need some assistance in navigating the gaming world. Those who don't need help (such as myself) go to Wal Mart, Target, or TRU.


ZZzz: "Also don't forget. We are also humans. We can't be expected to be in a good mood every time."

You are being paid for your time. You are not volunteering. Ask your manager if employees are expected to be friendly in the retail work you do. If he says "No.", then don't worry about it. But you are being paid to perform a service, and if the answer is "Yes" and you defy it, you are effectively stealing from and/or defrauding your employer.

Growing up is hard to do! :)

[drewbrim]

People trying to trade a bunch of stuff in who them act all surprised that their Greatest Hits copy of GT3 is only worth like $1 to Gamestop. Then they respond with "but I bought it for $20!", as if they expect Gamestop to care.

My personal Favorite :D

[SoulBlazer]

I can understand people being pissed. I saw a woman with a kid in a EB just last week. The kid wanted to trade in a game to see how much he could get off a new (totally unrelated) game. I KNOW he paid at LEAST $20 for it and I KNOW that game only came out six months ago. All he was offered was $2. The mother would'nt let him do it, and I don't blame him.

I learned a long time ago -- NEVER TRADE A GAME INTO A GAME STORE! They RAPE you so BAD on the game it's not even funny. I sell all my stuff on Amazon and get about 75-90 percent of the value of what I paid for it.

[PDorr3]

sorry to get off topic but exactly how does gamestop price its retro games ? (nes, genesis, snes, ect)

[Iron Draggon]

Hey, I used to have it worse than any of you other peeps working in retail here! I used to work in a liquor store. Now let me tell you, that has got to be the absolute worst experience in retail that you can possibly have. But I really didn't mind it so much, until after about 3 years of it, and then I had finally had enough of it. But we got all those types and then some. Hey, just imagine the fun of having to deal with all those main types of people when they're either A: already drunk or B: in a hurry to get drunk !!! Yeah, sounds like a real blast, doesn't it? Especially on holidays, when you're working a full 12 hour shift of putting up with all these types of people pouring into the store in a constant stream from the minute you finally open the doors that they've been banging on for at least a half hour until you finally close the doors that they'll be banging on for at least a half hour. Yep, you can open just for them, it's IMPORTANT. Nevermind the law, it's VERY IMPORTANT. You get the idea. Yes, literally banging on the doors, INSISTING that you open early or stay open late, JUST FOR THEM, because they MUST get their alcohol fix! So just imagine what the guy in a hurry is like during business hours at the liquor store. Oh man, you thought that silly video game was important to him? You ain't seen nothin' till you've seen him in a big hurry to pay for his six pack or his forty or his fifth or his pint or whatever the hell he wants to drink! Trust me, if you hate working retail at a game store, you'd absolutely loathe it at a liquor store! But if you've ever done it, working retail at any other type of store would be a cakewalk by comparison, no doubt!

P.S.: I always hated the ones that insisted that I smile too. They were never smiling, so why the hell was it so important to them that I should be smiling?

[NintendoMan]

People trying to trade a bunch of stuff in who them act all surprised that their Greatest Hits copy of GT3 is only worth like $1 to Gamestop. Then they respond with "but I bought it for $20!", as if they expect Gamestop to care.

I'm usually lost in the used PSX section digging for stuff on my treasure list.

This is what I expect to see. People trading in their crap, and are surprised when they only get $20 for a lot of 10-15 games. It's funny actually when they walk out pissed.

[Richter Belmount]

When I go to one I usually seen fat women and kids looking for the damn yugioh deck they sell on the side. Or people that try to trade stuff only discover they can just only get store credit, thats worse than not getting money.

[captain nintendo]

There is usually 1 person that looks like a wierdo and smells funny. :hmm:

This one seems to happen to me alot. Theres like always some person that smells like BO. Maybe its becouse I live in sunny Arizona. I don't know. One things for shure it's not me.

You lie ! Hellvin said you smelled really bad. :P

[racecar]

@ ebgame
lot's of clueless parent's trying to buy game for their kid's
lot's of people just browsing
there's alway's a little line up..on the SAMPLE GAMING STATION :roll:
..geek's talking really loud..how this is ..awsome or that game suck's..even thought the damn game is on the coming soon section :roll:
and short clerk's trying to reach pre played game's on the wall(7-10feet's high) displayed for the parent's LOL LOL
other mindless gamer's trading in rare(snes/psx) title in for $1-$5 :angry: