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

[lisalover1]

I only buy new games from them, and I only buy them through their website. I refuse to go in to any Gamestop store now after begin accused of stealing and begin followed around by store clerks/managers whilst shopping on more than one occasion in multiple stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virgina.

I don't know if I "look" like a thief or the fact that I can browse around for a half hour before buying something means I'm probably stealing but it was enough to turn me off ever shopping there again.

I ended up getting kicked out of one of their stores after getting in to an argument with one of the managers who refused to let me leave unless I emptied my pockets. I pretty much told him that it wasn't going to happen and if he had a problem with it we'd step outside. Instead he called the law and I didn't wait around for them to show up as I had been hassled enough for one day. I was told not to come back and I assured him that I never would.

I was accused of stealing at a game store once, too. Looooonng story [unrelated to Gamestop, though]. It all started about a year and a half back, when I found a new game store in my town. I learned that they did console repairs, so I brought them in my Master System to repair the cartridge slot. In the end, it took them 2 months and $50. I was absolutely astonished when they told me how much it would cost [AFTER fixing it, by the way]. During the 2 months, I came in every now and then to ask them about the status of the console, and each time, they promptly replied, "I dunno". So, there was an argument, but nothing initially serious. About a week later, I bought an original Xbox from them, which they offered to mod for me. I was a bit shocked that a store would do that, but I agreed to let them. It didn't cost me anything, either. About a week later, I brought in my 360, and asked them to mod that, too. They were hesitant at first, but they eventually said yes. I asked them if it would cost anything, since the Original Xbox mod didn't, and they said it would be free. I was happy that they would take the job, so I brought in my DS, as well, to have it's broken screen fixed. So, after much of their own bumbling with the console, they finished the mod after 3 months [it should have taken about half an hour, tops]. When I came to pick up my 360, I got some very bad news. The shop changed it's mind. They decided that they did, indeed want to charge for a 360 mod. How much, you ask? $150. I was furious! I simply didn't pay them. So, the next time I went to the store, they told me that they took my DS as collateral. The DS I was going to get my Mom for her Christmas present. The next time I went to the store [which turned out to be my last time], they accused me of stealing something from the shop [although I admit I probably did look suspicious looking at that ActRaiser SNES cart for 10 minutes]. But still, that was the last straw. I never went back to that awful shop, and I'm glad I didn't.

[Bodmin]

one time i went to my local gamestop, it was around the same time the DS Lite was comming out and I had bought a used DS from them a year earlier, I went to go exchange it in and asked me if I had stolen it, I laughed at the guy, noticing he wasen't laughing back I asked if he was serious, he told me that the sticker on the back where they keep the model number or whatever he was looking for, the sticker had been removed, I told the guy that of crouse I had not stolen it and had bought it from this store, tells me that Gamestops policy wouldn't even have taken this if the sticker was missing, I had assured him that I did buy it at this store the guy wanted to see the reciet, of crouse I didn't have it senice I bought it from them over a year ago, then the fucker has the nerve to tell me, "Sorry we take in stolen items." After that I just walked out, wasen't worth causing a secne over some arrogant cocksucker.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

one time i went to my local gamestop, it was around the same time the DS Lite was comming out and I had bought a used DS from them a year earlier, I went to go exchange it in and asked me if I had stolen it, I laughed at the guy, noticing he wasen't laughing back I asked if he was serious, he told me that the sticker on the back where they keep the model number or whatever he was looking for, the sticker had been removed, I told the guy that of crouse I had not stolen it and had bought it from this store, tells me that Gamestops policy wouldn't even have taken this if the sticker was missing, I had assured him that I did buy it at this store the guy wanted to see the reciet, of crouse I didn't have it senice I bought it from them over a year ago, then the fucker has the nerve to tell me, "Sorry we take in stolen items." After that I just walked out, wasen't worth causing a secne over some arrogant cocksucker.

The average idiot at most stores that does that makes me want to break their neck.

All he should have said was "I'm sorry, but if it doesn't have the Serial Number then we can't take it, it's company policy." instead of hounding you over it.

[Bodmin]

exactly, if they couldn't take it thats fine with me, but accusing me of stealing thats pretty low

[the7k]

Yeah, my DS has had the SN wear off. It happens when you put it in your pocket and take it out several hundred times a month. Anyone who can't understand that needs to have their head looked at.

Which, interestingly enough, why the hell doesn't Nintendo (or Sony, since they have the PSP) do something to preserve the serial number? It's not really necessary for consoles, but every hand-held system I've ever owned has had the SN wear off over time, usually within a couple of months.

[Hobie-wan]

Yeah, my DS has had the SN wear off. It happens when you put it in your pocket and take it out several hundred times a month. Anyone who can't understand that needs to have their head looked at.

Which, interestingly enough, why the hell doesn't Nintendo (or Sony, since they have the PSP) do something to preserve the serial number? It's not really necessary for consoles, but every hand-held system I've ever owned has had the SN wear off over time, usually within a couple of months.

Pfft. Then they can conveniently tell you your warranty is void because they won't be able to tell when it was made.

[gtmtnbiker]

I wonder if Gamestop has any plans to close some of their stores? I was in the Nashua, NH area last night and there were 3 Gamestops within a 1/4 mile of each other. Two were located in the same mall which isn't that large (maybe a medium sized one?). The other one was across the street from the mall.

I went to all 3 since I was looking for a couple of GBA carts. In all 3 cases, the staff were very friendly and helpful. That's usually is the case for me in my area. I wonder if some people got mistreated because they're much younger?

Near my workplace, there are 3 in the town of Burlington, MA which is not that big of a town. There's one at the mall. Another across from the mall. The last one is about 1/2 mile from the other two.

These two areas seem ripe for some cost-saving consolidation. I do appreciate having a wealth of shopping choices close by.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

All those multi-store towns are the result of GS's repeated corporate buyouts which have come to bite them in the ass as they've begun to report losses thanks to oversaturation of the market.

[chupon]

*Not Gamestop is evil related

Oh yeah man love Nashua. I grew up 10 minutes away in Londonderry NH. I love the DW highway. Been to every GS you listed. Too bad I'm not living in New England any more though.

[AppleQueso]

One of the things I really hate about most gamestops, aside from the many complaints addressed in this thread, is how utterly tiny and cramped they all seem to be. Try entering the place at a busy hour, I dare you.