Question for EBGames and Gamestop Employees and Managers

[dukenkm44]

i was considering applying for a job at one of these stores, and i was curious what wages you guys pay.

[dukenkm44]

ok 31 of you views this and no one has an answer? jeeze i just wanna know.

[Jibbajaba]

Dude don't bump your own topic after 3 hours. Jesus. Maybe you have 31 views because people are curious what the question is. If you want to know, why don't you call your local game store and ASK.

:roll:

Chris

[walrusmonger]

Depends on the position, your previous work history, etc. Usually worker bitch drones start off @ minimum wage or very slightly higher.

[dukenkm44]

well thing is...the manager likes me cuz im currently attending the school he graduated from

[Neil Koch]

It doesn't really matter if the manager likes you... it's a retail job at a corporate chain... you're gonna be making what every other person makes.

It depends a bit on the area (city) that you're working in and what position you'll get, but if you're just gonna be a clerk ("customer service represenative") you're probably looking at $7-8/hour if you're lucky.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

Dont work there.

Seriously. Dont.

[kainemaxwell]

I would think it'd be $6-7 or a little higher.

[pragmatic insanester]

dealing with bratty kids and ignorant adults > dancing with the possibilities of herpes from cleaning toliets (my current legal money method).

besides, even if the job is shit, you get first dibs on incoming products.

[Diatribal Deity]

Don't think of what you'll be making monetary wise, think of all the freebies and give-aways you'll have access to.

Starting pay varies on where you live and believe it or not it can vary. In my experience part-timers can make between minimum wage and 10.00/hr depending on experience and whether the manager can pass through the higher wage or not with senior sales associates coming in at the higher end of that scale (also demoted management).

Assistant managers and managers make generally between 11.00-20.00/hr or salary 25,000 - 42,000 plus managers have an outside chance of making bonus (ha! but the companies accounting departments have ways of making sure this does not happen and pride themselves on it).

If your interested in the job you better be a people person or at least be able to fake it! But do it because you like the products and the industry in general and you'll minimize the suffering.

[Flack]

well thing is...the manager likes me cuz im currently attending the school he graduated from

Then I'd ask him -- he's the one person who would really know.

[Jumpman Jr.]

Dont work there.

Seriously. Dont.

Yeah, from what I hear, its the not the very best place to work. I guess if you knew the manager, it might be little different, but you never know.

[Captain Wrong]

Dude don't bump your own topic after 3 hours. Jesus. Maybe you have 31 views because people are curious what the question is. If you want to know, why don't you call your local game store and ASK.

:roll:

Chris

Seriously man. Right on on both counts.

And I'm moving this to "on topic" so everyone can bitch about EB over there.

<boot>

[Darren870]

Sales Associate :
EB : 7.25
Gamestop : 7.00

Key holder
EB: 8.00
Gamestop: 8.00 (i think)

ASM: (from first day usually)

EB: 11.25
Gamestop : 11.00

Could be slight increase ... dont expect much...if you are first coming in the MAX they can give you is 16 cents more from 7.25 at EB and 25 cents more from 7.00 at Gamestop.
Most managers wont do it unless you have previous retail experience. And don't expect it...its a hassle and trust me, in there eyes YOU ARE REPLACEABLE!

Eb is a ten times better company to work for however. You can make money on sales, gamestop you can't.

Though like everyone else said...don't do it. You think you get freebies a lot? HA! Depends on your store and deffinitly your manager.

Have fun..it sucks...almost on my 4th year

[swlovinist]

Being an ex employee, I can let you in on a little advice, but beware...I worked there a year and half and although my experience was fine, I was just working it and going to school. I have current friends that work there now, and I can tell you that they all have voiced their opinion. The bottom advice is mostly for someone trying to LIVE off the job, not part time.

The job pays jack squat as just a sales person

The perks of getting the occasional video game or discount arent enough

The new rules on taking any promo items that are not being used by the store ensure that nothing cool can be taken home

In management, the pay is not worth it, becuase they will run you into the ground with work, sales goals, and meak sales hours for the store(your help)

Obviously, the company does not care about job satisfaction, and frankly, there are hundreds of other jobs that can be found with better pay, better perks, and better respect.

THE JOB IS NOT ABOUT JUST TALKING ABOUT GAMES!

[bizbiz]

Don't think of what you'll be making monetary wise, think of all the freebies and give-aways you'll have access to.

Starting pay varies on where you live and believe it or not it can vary. In my experience part-timers can make between minimum wage and 10.00/hr depending on experience and whether the manager can pass through the higher wage or not with senior sales associates coming in at the higher end of that scale (also demoted management).

Assistant managers and managers make generally between 11.00-20.00/hr or salary 25,000 - 42,000 plus managers have an outside chance of making bonus (ha! but the companies accounting departments have ways of making sure this does not happen and pride themselves on it).

If your interested in the job you better be a people person or at least be able to fake it! But do it because you like the products and the industry in general and you'll minimize the suffering.

There is no way an assistant manager, let alone a manager, makes up to $20.00 per hour or 42,000 per year.. Every store I have been in, of either brand, is run by 18-22 year olds who have no knowledge in the customer service field and do not treat the customers as if they are working a $42,000 retail job. What I'm saying is, in retail, one who makes that much money would have to be extremely knowledgeable and know customer service is the #1 priority and the reason they even have the job. So when I see rude and ignorant store managers, I doubt they make $20.00 per hour to be rude and ignorant.

I am not judging all managers on a national level, but the ones I have seen and dealt with in my local area. And to pay them $42,000 a year to be brats and try and nag customers to buy a $20.00 a year magazine subscription? Why pay someone $20.00 an hour to sell $20.00 magazine subscriptions.. no way, sorry I don't buy that.

[Darren870]

The ONLY way an ASM is making $20.00 is if he has been there for god knows how long and gettting his yearly rage.

The benefits to being a manager ARE greater. But its less then 40,000 thats for sure.

My friend (ASM) makes 11.50 now after a few years at gamestop. He was offered his own store...same distance commute but would have to deal with traffic in the morning.

he declined because the raise in pay wouldnt be worth dealing with traffic.

But they do get better benefits...

Still...

[dukenkm44]

the manager i know is 25, very nice and knowledgable, in fact, he even recommended some games to a 68 year old woman the other day..it was a puzzle game for psp i think...she was liking it.

[WiseSalesman]

I reccomend GameCrazy if you're looking to work in a game store. From what I hear from my roomate (who was an ASM) they seem to top EB and Gamestop in wages, and they DEFINITELY top them in free promo stuff.

[dukenkm44]

also for the record, id be part time there...and the manager has given me lots of free stuff and i dont even work there...mainly shirts and store displays.

[Darren870]

Well have fun, it sucks after about 3 months. People get annoying, you got to make your numbers, and the promo stuff hardly seems worth it.

[Eternal Tune]

Dont work there.

Seriously. Dont.

I second, third, fourth and so on that statement.

And...if you are lucky you'll make about 6.50 an hour.

[InsaneDavid]

I reccomend GameCrazy if you're looking to work in a game store. From what I hear from my roomate (who was an ASM) they seem to top EB and Gamestop in wages, and they DEFINITELY top them in free promo stuff.

No no no no no no no, GameCrazy stole my soul and reaffirmed my vision that indie game stores still have a fighting chance. Yeah, they top EB and GameStop in wages but VERY SLIGHTLY, other than that it's all propaganda. The inherant problem with GameCrazy is the poor upper echelon of management, Hollywood Entertainment was a terrible company. And now that they've been bought out guess who was hired to come on board to supervise the Hollywood Video / GameCrazy division? The former head of Hollywood Entertainment = right back in the same boat. I was a shift leader and ASM at GameCrazy and both the manager and district lead, while decent people, had no business being in the positions they were. It's pretty sad when someone like me (22 years old at the time with no formal schooling past high school) could smoke them any day of the week.


the manager i know is 25, very nice and knowledgable, in fact, he even recommended some games to a 68 year old woman the other day..it was a puzzle game for psp i think...she was liking it.

Yeah, but how nice and knowledable he is about video games doesn't mean two damns when he's your boss and can't write proper schedules, provide at the very least adequate training, take inventory properly, fix clerical problems such as your name being misspelled in the system so your checks are printed wrong for three months no matter how many times your bring it up, and so on... Then let's not forget the nice little class action lawsuit with the Hollywood Video / GameCrazy employees of California that was settled out of court for $5 million.

You should ask your manager friend if he picked up any commisions from that 68 year old lady, or if there was a used game sales contest going on at the time.


What I'm saying is, in retail, one who makes that much money would have to be extremely knowledgeable and know customer service is the #1 priority and the reason they even have the job. So when I see rude and ignorant store managers, I doubt they make $20.00 per hour to be rude and ignorant.

You'd be surprised. Granted you don't make big money with a game sales company until you've been there for quite awhile but for everyone else it comes to sales and being a good drone. (as it is in most places) The problem is at MOST game stores the managers are rude and ignorant because they think they're above everyone else - even their customers. Like they think they're so great because they're managing in a game store. Look, you're only great if you're working in a game store if you inspire others to enjoy the industry - most average people would rather go to a big chain discount store to buy games instead of deal with a pompus ass in a game store. Customer service and instocks SHOULD be the number 1 and 2 priority in ANY retail atmosphere but sadly that's not the case at GameCrazy, GameStop, or EB. (because you can have the nicest store in the world with the best customer service but if you don't have that one item on the shelf someone wants then you can't make a sale, and you can have the best instocks in the world but if you don't have excellent customer service to drive the product you're not going to make a sale either)

Honestly I was making more and had higher job satisfaction right up until my last two months with Target Corporation (note I say Target Corporation and not Target Stores).

....damn, writing this makes me realize how much I miss all of this and that I need to get a real job again. LOL

[Muscelli]

My friend works there and he doesn't really like it that much.. He says its way too stuffy, and theres like 6 feet of walking space.. for real.. He doesnt get any promo stuff either, and when he does.. It usually sucks or something.. Being this a gamestop in a mall, but still.. I wouldnt do it..

I aint stopping him, though.. I get a 50% discount whenever I buy from that gamestop ;)

Be a golf caddy... now thats some real money right there!

[Darren870]

I get a 50% discount whenever I buy from that gamestop

Gamestop is 15% last time I checked..

But seriously...if you are looking for money its not the place. I do it because I can get a job at almost any EB store with a phonecall or two. So I do it on the side at school so I can spoil myself as usual. Once summer hits I leave and then go back in the fall. This will be my 4th year of doing it . Egh...I really got to take a break.

[Diatribal Deity]

My last year working for one these companies I made just over 42,300 as a manager. I was not the highest paid manager either as I know of at least two other's who made more than I did. These were mostly stores doing over $2 million a year. I worked for the company for many years but was low balled when I was originally hired but was able to get significant raises over the years. One of the other managers was there for a bit longer than I and the other was real young and eager to please if you know what I mean ;) and worked there for only a few years (I'll have to admit was an extremely hard worker too).

I'm being a little vague I know...

Bottom line is yes you can make more if you've been there a while but most people make more money using leverage like taking over and turning around a poorly managed store and in isolated cases sleeping with the boss...err...developing close relationships with your boss. And yes the other two were female.

[Muscelli]

I get a 50% discount whenever I buy from that gamestop

Gamestop is 15% last time I checked..



Oh, I guess you never heard of the "best friends" discount ;) It rings up as 49.99 but they only ask for 20 :evil:

[starchildskiss78]

I get a 50% discount whenever I buy from that gamestop

Gamestop is 15% last time I checked..



Oh, I guess you never heard of the "best friends" discount ;) It rings up as 49.99 but they only ask for 20 :evil:

Hope your friend likes the "get fired and sent to jail possibly for defrauding a major corporation" discount....

[MegaDrive20XX]

Being an ex employee, I can let you in on a little advice, but beware...I worked there a year and half and although my experience was fine, I was just working it and going to school. I have current friends that work there now, and I can tell you that they all have voiced their opinion. The bottom advice is mostly for someone trying to LIVE off the job, not part time.

The job pays jack squat as just a sales person

The perks of getting the occasional video game or discount arent enough

The new rules on taking any promo items that are not being used by the store ensure that nothing cool can be taken home

In management, the pay is not worth it, becuase they will run you into the ground with work, sales goals, and meak sales hours for the store(your help)

Obviously, the company does not care about job satisfaction, and frankly, there are hundreds of other jobs that can be found with better pay, better perks, and better respect.

THE JOB IS NOT ABOUT JUST TALKING ABOUT GAMES!

I agree with this statement 100%

And after hearing this from the rest of you guys, I'm seriously considering quitting my job at GameCrazy and finding something alot better. Because just like EB Games and GameStop, they don't care about you.

All they want are pre-orders, used sales, MVP Cards, and Warranties.

We have one employee who lies so much, that it just piles up like the piece of shit he is, plus he's always late to work (by 1 to 3 hours even) Yet they never fired him, because he was good at making MVP sales...

Here I am, never late for work, I arrive 15-20 mins early. They cut back my hours because I can't sell those fucking MVP cards. I can read customers as they purchase. If the parent has to roll out a check book to pay for a $5 game...or a kid pulls out coins...do you think I wanna pressure them for a $20 Subscription to this MVP shit? No and alot of people come in there, wanna buy a game and get out. No bullshit hassle.

People don't like to be bothered! Everyone is busy and trying to get somewhere...I don't like wasting people's time.

I was an ex-employee of GameStop and they did the same thing to me again. I used to get 27 hours a week

Last week, I only got 11 hours...this week...I got 14 hours...

Hourly pay for me, $6 an hour. (Note it varies per city and state they say) Yet I've seen others in some parts of Texas get more or way less

Btw, I got more crap that companies like this will do to you. Just check out my blog, because I've been fighting for nearly 2 months to get my money for the time I worked at another store back in June and early July

[InsaneDavid]

All they want are pre-orders, used sales, MVP Cards, and Warranties.

We have one employee who lies so much, that it just piles up like the piece of shit he is, plus he's always late to work (by 1 to 3 hours even) Yet they never fired him, because he was good at making MVP sales...

Preach it brother! LOL I don't expect these companies to be the greatest corporations to work for in the world but a little common sense and maybe just a shread of respect would be nice. Wait, they don't even do that for their customers. :roll: (corporate side that is)

[MegaDrive20XX]

and that's the beauty of it. Corporate never knows what it's like! They can preach on and on about sales. Yet they wouldn't know jack SQUAT if they sat behind this counter for 7 to 8 hours straight.

I caught one of those jerks, talking bad about the employees, saying "They have no life, that's why we hire them with the most knowledge!". Like we're some goddamn puppets that spew nothing but our game knowledge, we're people for godakes, we work hard and deliver the goods, so your corporate ass can sit pretty in your nice car! :angry: Cawkmunchers!

[DTJAAAAMJSLM]

I started at minimum wage. After several months, I received a 25 cent raise... :embarrassed:

[Diatribal Deity]

I told my boss on my last day "If I wanted to be a car salesman I'd go sell cars!"

The angst of the job outweighed the enjoyment. When this happens you know it is time to leave.

Getting back to point of this thread...if your a natural salesman or want to be and don't feel uncomfortable selling the kitchen sink go for it. Otherwise go sell cars be miserable and make a ton more money.

[junglehunter]

I agree with this statement 100%

And after hearing this from the rest of you guys, I'm seriously considering quitting my job at GameCrazy and finding something alot better. Because just like EB Games and GameStop, they don't care about you.

All they want are pre-orders, used sales, MVP Cards, and Warranties.

We have one employee who lies so much, that it just piles up like the piece of shit he is, plus he's always late to work (by 1 to 3 hours even) Yet they never fired him, because he was good at making MVP sales...

Here I am, never late for work, I arrive 15-20 mins early. They cut back my hours because I can't sell those fucking MVP cards. I can read customers as they purchase. If the parent has to roll out a check book to pay for a $5 game...or a kid pulls out coins...do you think I wanna pressure them for a $20 Subscription to this MVP shit? No and alot of people come in there, wanna buy a game and get out. No bullshit hassle.

People don't like to be bothered! Everyone is busy and trying to get somewhere...I don't like wasting people's time.

I was an ex-employee of GameStop and they did the same thing to me again. I used to get 27 hours a week

Last week, I only got 11 hours...this week...I got 14 hours...

Hourly pay for me, $6 an hour. (Note it varies per city and state they say) Yet I've seen others in some parts of Texas get more or way less

Btw, I got more crap that companies like this will do to you. Just check out my blog, because I've been fighting for nearly 2 months to get my money for the time I worked at another store back in June and early July
Man, coming from what you're saying you need to get the fuck out of there ASAP. The only way I'd put up with that much bullshit is if I could not find ANYTHING else.

Now I don't work at a videogame store, but I do work the night shift at a 7-11 (it's still retail, unfortunately).

The boss' strive for sales has pretty much gotten to the point where I'm fed up with the company. I'd much rather consider everyone as people (and respect them for that) than think of them as mindless sheep who come in to spend money. l find one customer who spends small increments over a long time is much better than a single customer who comes in once to buy maybe 1-2 big tickets items, etc. It's like the boss is mostly plus sale this, plus sale that to increase profits. And you know what? Fuck them ALL. I, like you can generally read a person what with the tempers and what not. Most of my store's customers are all regulars save for the odd few strangers who come in. It's as simple (IMO) as if someone is going to buy a product or promotion, then they're going to do it. If not, then don't fucking shove it down their throats just to please a higher up. In most cases the smaller paid workers are better than them. The odd time I'll mention a promo is when it saves the customer money and when I know they could benefit from that if they come in all the time.

My boss didn't want me to quit (which is happening in a few short weeks) and said I could move up in the chain since I'm doing great at a young age. But fuck all that. It doesn't pay nearly enough for all of the bullshit associated with it. Not my cup of tea but maybe someone down the line will enjoy it.

I've been thinking about going to work at EB or a similar place but this thread is quickly changing my mind since:

A) It's the dreaded Retail.
B) It's true that they want a salesperson rather than a true gamer who appreciates the hobby and can actually also sell.

Sorry for the rant :embarrassed:

Thanks everyone who chimed in for opening my eyes that much more! ;)

[InsaneDavid]

A) It's the dreaded Retail.
B) It's true that they want a salesperson rather than a true gamer who appreciates the hobby and can actually also sell.

The problem with game retail is neither of those things.

Yeah, it's retail - so you should want to talk to people and enjoy communicating with them to find out what they need - not be a silent checker, that is NOT what any business like this wants. You don't make good sales and provide good customer service in a game store (pretty much any branch of retail in fact) by doing nothing but grabbing an item someone asks for and ringing it up. You sell a lot more games (especially retrogames) by asking your customers questions before they sidetrack themselves into a purchase they'll probably not be satisfied with.

Second, OF COURSE they want a salesman! That's the whole point of the job. If you want to stand around and spout out game knowledge all day then you should be a maintenance stooge at an arcade. (wait, I did that too) Too bad such doesn't really exist anymore. No matter how much you enjoy selling video games, it's still a job first. Having excellent customer service + product knowledge is what they're looking for and what is required to do well. Sounds great right? Well what I (and pretty much everyone else in the thread) commented about was when one or two people don't seem to be pulling for everyone based on OVERALL performance, just not sales statistics, so....

The problem with game retail is how the corporate end rewards people in management that DO NOT BELONG THERE. When you're in management your job is to manage people more than it is to make sales. That means getting the right people assembled to drive the product and keeping an eye on all aspects of the business - which very much includes how satisfied your employees are with their jobs.

The problem usually comes from the management in most of these stores feeling WAY above their sales associates. In turn they usually let the CSR's babysit the store and then come in later and play "I have to clean up the mess and keep the store running and merchandise and this and that - because my CSR's are too stupid to do it themselves. So when my store does well it's all MY doing, and when it does bad it must be those moronic CSR's - I'll just fire them and hire more!" In every GameCrazy store I've ever been in this has been the case with the ASM, SM, or district manager.

Management is NONE of those things. Management is creating a strong underlying backbone for the rest of your sales team and store to build itself against. In other words making sure no one seems lost or drifting away from the purpose of their work, but not by simply telling them that. Through proper training, making sure your hours spread is even and makes sense, not overworking your employees, and lots of other stuff I don't want to get into (and I'm sure no one wants to hear it all), each person in the sales team will pull their own weight because they will be able to see for themselves that everyone is pulling the same - working the same, and that their boss is right in the thick with them.

As Ghouls N Ghosts mentioned about his store not cutting employees that aren't pulling their weight and imposing upon the productivity and moral of others - that's BS and that's a management problem. Same thing with the person from corporate talking about CSR's like they're worker drones. That person doesn't belong in that position because they obviously don't know what they're talking about. The big problem is most game stores have WAY too many of these unqualified people. Eventually they ARE weeded out as the turnover rate goes up and sales come down. However that's not really an answer.

About the MVP's, it never hurts to ASK pretty much everyone (I understand what you're saying about the kid paying with coins or having to cut a check for a $10 purchase and in those situations I'd hold back too) if they want one. Things go sour when there are those people that flat out hound their patrons to get one. (or like one of my bosses during my climb at GameCrazy used to do - pull out a freaking calculator) Same thing on the retail side of my time at Target Corporation concerning instant credit applications. Doesn't hurt to ASK but if they say no then JUST DROP IT. Sadly most district managers don't seem to understand that since they're pompus asses and all. ;)

Sorry if I sound like I'm lecturing but how about I use some statistics to back me up? I was promoted to Electronics 3 within SIX MONTHS with Target Corporation and for two years lead Region 200 (Target is really four companies, R200 is like CA, NV, AZ, OR, WA) in electronics sales, instocks, and customer satisfaction - wish I had those damn plaques that are hanging in that store. And everytime our department would win one of those district or region awards I would have my C/S team come in and be there because as I always told them and everyone else, it was way more their doing than it was mine. Because while I may train them and take care of the business end of things, it was the four of them who took the torch and ran with it. (FYI I want those plaques because each of them deserve one to take to job interviews with them) After three years Target Corporation and myself had a parting of the ways after they pulled a promotion stunt when my Entertainment 2 lead left to another store, bringing in the most unqualified ass to fill his position. (he was in training for THREE MONTHS and still couldn't do the job) BTW - Entertainment 2 = hardest job in the whole damn store, don't ever take it, they don't pay you what you're worth if you do well.

Then there was the run through GameCrazy which I can't really discuss passed what I posted here. Just let me say if you want to shut a GC down: go in, buy ALL the used stock in the store (especially retrogames) and walk out - it will take no less than six months for them to get a stock replenishment to the level they had before. And the sale they made off you will be no where near how much sales they will lose waiting with empty cases for the restock. (the distro centers they use are flawed, the bulk orders will take forever to resupply)

Done lots of other stuff related and if one good thing did come out of it, it was a lot of experence. Target Corp was a blast up until that last four months - I'm probably the most laid back guy you can work for as long as your job gets done. Aside from that it's showed me that indie game stores can still get by and if run right thrive - since large chain game stores look at customer and employee as garbage, and large chain discount stores have no freaking idea what they're doing on the electronics end at all.

Sorry for railroading this thread. :embarrassed:

[dukenkm44]

well, i know you are probably right, but i did put in an application and if i get hired ill see how it goes...just so i can have personal experience for this collection.

[Muscelli]

I get a 50% discount whenever I buy from that gamestop

Gamestop is 15% last time I checked..



Oh, I guess you never heard of the "best friends" discount ;) It rings up as 49.99 but they only ask for 20 :evil:

Hope your friend likes the "get fired and sent to jail possibly for defrauding a major corporation" discount....

That I am sure he will be caught for... But hey, I am not complaining on underpriced games