Gamestop Opening Games & Still Selling Them As New

Post by **racketboy** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:21 pm

I kinda knew this already since I've bought some like that (it was a really good deal), but just saw this on Digg
http://www.aeropause.com/archives/2007/ ... top_st.php

Post by **metaleggman** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:50 pm

The only time anything like this has ever happened to me was when I bought Sonic Adventure 2: Battle for GCN from EBGames. It was the last copy and it's case was being used for display but they said it was new. They also included a sticker tho that says "if this sticker is not broken, you may return in 15 days for refund" or something like that. Funny this is I just moved the sticker over just in case I wanted to return it after playing it!

Post by **Jamestheswift** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:04 am

I bought Metroid Prime Hunters "new" from Gamestop, I opened it up and there was save data on it.....Last time I ever EVER buy from that corporation...

Post by **Saraph** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 11:52 pm

Jamestheswift wrote:I bought Metroid Prime Hunters "new" from Gamestop, I opened it up and there was save data on it.....Last time I ever EVER buy from that corporation...

Wow... just, wow. I wonder if you can get your money back for that?

Post by **ImportBoy** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:44 am

Never had this happen to me, but at my local Gamestop when you ask for a game more then not they assume you want to buy a used version. I'm guessing this is because they made 90% profit on used ones or so.

First time this happened to me was when I bought Jade Empire for Xbox - the price was $45. I assumed there had been a price drop; didn't realize till I got home I bought a used copy. Now I make sure to say NEW everytime I go.

I bought Metroid Prime Hunters "new" from Gamestop, I opened it up and there was save data on it.....Last time I ever EVER buy from that corporation...

Was the box sealed with plastic? (Are they sealed with plastic? *doesn't own a DS*). A refund would certainly be in order.

Post by **lordofduct** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:23 am

I see the people complaining about it, I read the people defending the policy.

And then I see the people with the logical answer:

Open, display copies, should be sold at a discounted price.

It is merely for the sake of the matter that just as they can not trust us, we can not trust their open material. Open is open... sleaved is sleaved... this is not brand new. A disk can be damaged in a sleave... it can be damaged in all these handlings. Returning a 'new game' that was damaged in a sleeve or God forbid when borrowed by an employee is not worth it. I paid new price, I shouldn't have these hazards between me and playing it. Factory damage is unnavoidable, this is why the publisher has warranties... their warranty does not cover non-factory/package/shipping caused damage. NOT including damage caused by the store. I have no problem with them opening copies, they just should not be selling them as brand new along side sealed copies. And most importantly re-sealing isn't bad in quality... it is bad in image and reputation. Having a shrink-wrap machine gives the image that you are scamming and shouldn't be done 'ethically'.

again... sold at discounted price... just like all other stores do.

Oh and I saw people on that page talking about cost. COST. GameStop makes the majority of their profit off of the resaling of used games which contain at minimum a 100% markup and sometimes upwards to a 10X markup. Don't tell me they are 'struggling for cash'... NO, the local store is struggling for QUOTA!

To continue I had this happen to me as well. What was even more annoying was the scenario it happend in. It was when I bought Grandia 3 and Katamari Damacy. FIRST the guy fought with me trying to get me to buy it used to save 10 bucks in total... after 10 minutes of him trying to convince and my not conceding to his ploy. He says fine... turns and grabs the case off the wall and pulls out a sleeve and starts to put my game together.

I stare bug eyed. WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? I screamed... he said "you wanted a new copy... this is our new copy." Ahem? What? I don't think so... personally I could of saw that as him trying to sell me a used game as new only because I asked for new. No thank you... I said NO. Give me NEW! It took him some digging... but I got my sealed copies. Yeah I don't shop there anymore.

Post by **grittykitty** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:30 pm

if i remember correctly, those "new" copies are called "guts". when i worked at gamestop we'd get a shipment of new games on monday or tuesday, and one of us grunts had to go into the back, open all sealed games, take out the disc to be used so people can try the game out (with the exception of m-rated games), and then re-shrink wrap the box. i always thought it was criminal we would sell these at full price, the manager didn't care as he was "just following orders" from the fuhrer

Post by **retrogamer** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 2:05 pm

Last time I bought something from Gamestop was when WarioWare Touched came out for the Nintendo DS. I always knew the crap they pulled reselling used games as new so I figured I would be safe since I bought the game on launch day. WRONG. Not only did they charge me $5.00 more than what is was elsewhere but the kid at the register tacked on another $5.00 for the extended warranty without me even asking for it. I made him reverse the charge. Then I get home, open the shrinkwrap and find the game inserted in the holder upside down with a save file on it. That is one company I wish would go out of business. Instead of giving out t-shirts when you preorder a game maybe they should give out containers of Vaseline instead.

Post by **metaleggman** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:08 pm

grittykitty wrote:i always thought it was criminal we would sell these at full price, the manager didn't care as he was "just following orders" from the fuhrer

roflmao!

retrogamer wrote:Then I get home, open the shrinkwrap and find the game inserted in the holder upside down with a save file on it.

Y'know, I got Castlevania Portrait of ruin for xmas, and just recently opened the game pak to find it upside down as well, tho this was at target or bestbuy so I doubt it is the same policy....

Post by **scrotumwound** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:44 pm

companies like gamestop are only helping to turn consumers away from video games altogether. i remember when i owned a PS2 i bought a brand new game from them and it absolutely sucked so i went to trade it in for another. i got back less than i would have from a pawn shop even though i only bought it one and a half hours prior from the same person. after that i quickly came to realize gamestop only hired assholes because they are a true reflection of their company.

btw they probably put that game back on the shelf as new.