Retro game store Up-pricing right in front of a customer, opinions?

[ifkz]

First, a little background. I am a long-time Sega CD collector and own all of the hardware variations. I have been collecting Sega CD games for more than ten years now, mostly keeping things local and helping support local shops and thrift stores. I've bought them when no one else wanted them, and I bought copies that should have been left alone just as placeholders. Here is what happened to me today:

I go into a local retro game store, their prices are overall high, but some good deals can be had if I look hard enough. Behind the counter are two games that I've searched for, ten years of searching: Popful Mail ($50) and Snatcher ($100). Just as I express interest in them, the sales lady starts marking them up after an e-bay search. They're now $100 and $200, respectively. I'm not happy, I tell them I would gladly pay them the original $150 for both. Sorry, no luck for me. "Well I've crushed one person's dreams, I'm done for the day" says the sales lady. I get out of the store at that point and go on my way (and continue my decade long quest to find a reasonably priced copy of both games). Sigh.

I'm going to boycott them, period.

Thoughts from the DP crew? All are welcome. Should I be so mad, or perhaps the store was just acting in their best interests?

[Trebuken]

I have had this happen. They look up the ebay price while you are standing there. They should have been priced the higher prices from the get go. It is often tough to find rare games locally because these game stores sell the more valuable games online. I think game stores that also have ebay-stores should be very open about it so that you can use both.

They probably could not have afforded the loss on these games at the original prices (who knows what they paid for them?). They should have known the value of the games from the get go, it's what they do.

Just sounds like a poorly run place...unfortunately it's not unusual in the retro-game store business.

[Damaniel]

There's a store in my area that I avoided for years due to this behavior. Anything even slightly rare didn't have a price tag - they'd go look it up on eBay and sell it to you for whatever it was currently going for. It was a huge shame, too - they had *by far* the best selection of rare stuff of any of my local stores. Hell, they even did this at our local retro gaming convention -- they'd bring a laptop and do price lookups right on the show floor.

Recently, they've moderated this behavior somewhat - I stopped in a few months ago and everything seems to have a price now, and most of those prices are even reasonable. I actually managed to pick up a complete copy of E.V.O. for $70. However, I've chosen to boycott them again for an unrelated reason (knowingly selling a counterfeit Pokemon cartridge to my girlfriend).

In short, I'd refuse to do business with a store that won't tell you what something costs up front. Even if the prices are on the high side, I expect to know what I'm going to have to pay *before* I get up to the counter.

[ifkz]

Thanks for the kind replies. I even sent a 'bad customer service' e-mail to their web presence detailing things. For all I know this was either the store owner or an owner of the chain. I don't expect it to go anywhere, but I do feel better (and requested to be dropped from their e-mail distribution list).

[Ryudo]

Thanks for the kind replies. I even sent a 'bad customer service' e-mail to their web presence detailing things. For all I know this was either the store owner or an owner of the chain. I don't expect it to go anywhere, but I do feel better (and requested to be dropped from their e-mail distribution list).

http://www.bbb.org/

[wiggyx]

The BBB is a relic of yestercentury. Also, odds are that a local mom and pop shop isn't even registered with the BBB, not that it matters either way.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

While I understand re-pricing merchandise in-line with current market value, I'd never EVER consider doing it if the game is on the shelf, with a marked price and a customer is there asking to buy it.

I mean, if an item was marked with a price that was connected to the wrong inventory/item UPC code and the sales clerk caught it right before the sale, that would be understandable.

What you described, including the comment from the salesperson - that's an exceptionally tactless move.

I'd ask if there is some type of law that protects consumers from a practice like this, but even if there is, I'm sure it's one of those things that is broadly interpreted, isn't really actionable and never actually works in the favor of the consumer.

[InsaneDavid]

I'd ask if there is some type of law that protects consumers from a practice like this, but even if there is, I'm sure it's one of those things that is broadly interpreted, isn't really actionable and never actually works in the favor of the consumer.

I don't know how the state regulations for the OP go but the Board of Weights & Measures should have some kind of protection in place that you are entitled to the marked price on an item.

EDIT now that I've read the entire thread: I wonder if the owner knows this.

[Duke.Togo]

The only reason I visit stores is due to good customer service, and it sounds like this place hasn't got that figured out.

I would tell them that if they want eBay prices, they should sell on eBay; and if I want to pay eBay prices, I'll do so at home in my pajamas and won't waste the time and gas on the drive to their store.

[Sparkster]

It was a long time ago, but that practice was (maybe still is?) illegal here in Canada. The sticker price is the sticker price.

That's absolute garbage that they would change it on you... especially double when you're standing right in front of them.

[wiggyx]

Wait, she re-priced them right in front of you?! I would have made a huge scene and an ass of myself as a result. That's an absolutely TERRIBLE way to run a business. What's the name of the shop? You should post it so everyone can make sure to avoid it like the plague.

[ifkz]

I may do that, post the name of the place and website, but I want to give the e-mail a chance to get some results or get thrown away. Everyone, thanks for the responses!