Is Gamestop Evil? The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

[CRTGAMER]

At least they don't cut out the UPCs the places that did that drove me freaking crazy . That and re sellers who put sticker on disc .

One thing that kind of bugs me is recently I've noticed alot more used imported games slipping into their inventory mostly in the PS3 section. Sure those games are playable on a US PS3 since there is no region locking but you still run into issues with DLC and multiplayer.

You reminded me of my treasured find of PAL Alien Hominid years ago; has exclusive extra levels and mini game. Proof that Gamestop does not "refurbish" games, a lucky break for me.

There is one category of game purchases that I use Gamestop for at this point:

Current generation used games. They CAN have some decent prices on those.

I don't mean a game that game out a month ago and someone traded it in. Those prices usually suck. But a game that came out 1-2 years ago, their prices are pretty good compared to my local Craigslist where people seem to think that their used games are worth $2 less than they payed for them brand new...

THIS. Just amazing some would sell a game back to Gamestop so cheap. Their loss, our gain!

[marlowe221]

At least they don't cut out the UPCs the places that did that drove me freaking crazy . That and re sellers who put sticker on disc .

One thing that kind of bugs me is recently I've noticed alot more used imported games slipping into their inventory mostly in the PS3 section. Sure those games are playable on a US PS3 since there is no region locking but you still run into issues with DLC and multiplayer.

You reminded me of my treasured find of PAL Alien Hominid years ago; has exclusive extra levels and mini game. Proof that Gamestop does not "refurbish" games, a lucky break for me.

I always assumed that "refurbished" meant the same procedure that we used on NES carts that were on the fritz - we blew on it until it worked.

[isiolia]

Does anyone, though?

Presumably some of the independent shops...that probably price things more than we want to pay. If there even are any around.

I think a lot of it comes down to the individual employees anyway. While I'm not in them all that much, I've got folks that recognize me at a couple of the three local stores. I've known one of the managers for 15+ years at this point (he moved up to manager from being the assistant at the store I worked at). So, for me, the people are generally nice. Certainly significantly moreso than going to Target/Walmart/Best Buy.

Generally though, I just go there looking for cheap used stuff or the like. New stuff I mostly buy from Amazon.

[Sarge]

Yeah, for years, my local store had awesome, knowledgeable folks. They've moved on, but it's still not too bad.

It could be that since we're a college town, we get more credible employees and managers.

[Exhuminator]

GameSlop could be handing out free Vitas and I still wouldn't step foot in the place. I boycott them out of principle. They don't give a damn about video games or the people who buy them.

Does anyone, though?

Locally owned gaming stores usually do, enough not to throw away cases and manuals or plaster stickers all over their used games. If you don't have one of those around, at least Amazon won't harass you when you buy a video game from them.

[Sarge]

I've got a few, but I'm not sure they care that much, either.

I understand why GameStop does it, though. Throwing away cases, that is. With limited retail space, they're making way for new product. I wasn't happy about it, of course, but I get it. I just wish I'd known when they were going to do it, so I could go dumpster diving for all of it.

[darsparx]

heck, they could do a psa to the local community and let them know. I wish I was on better contact with the few I'm semi-friends with to maybe see if they'd give me a leg up on that end....

[Exhuminator]

I just wish I'd known when they were going to do it, so I could go dumpster diving for all of it.

LOCAL MAN CAUGHT STEALING GARBAGE FROM GAMESTOP
Thief says: "I was only trying to save all the Wii cases!"

[Stark]

I always find it interesting that could be called stealing. Can you really steal garbage? I mean by definition you're relinquishing ownership of it by throwing it away, aren't you?

[ElkinFencer10]

I always find it interesting that could be called stealing. Can you really steal garbage? I mean by definition you're relinquishing ownership of it by throwing it away, aren't you?

Technically you're transferring ownership from yourself to the state. At least I think that's how it works given that you have to pay to get stuff from the dump.