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

[Ziggy]

but the games I'm buying aren't destroyed. I care about collecting games. I'm saving those ones from being destroyed. I also care about my own wallet. Sorry if that's not self-righteous enough for you. But some of us actually do have responsibilities, and have to take care of others so we can't turn our hobbies into some idealistic fairytale either.

This is exactly why I suggested a petition in which the contributors can make comments on how they feel and what they're doing personally. "I completely disagree with GameStop's practice of throwing away cases and manuals. While I might still shop in GameStop stores, I refuse to buy disc only games." Or "I may not be totally against the destruction of cases and manuals, but I do not wish to flip through the disc-only bins. It is very annoying." Or "I am appalled by GameStop's actions and I refuse to shop GameStop until these policies are changed."

[Opa Opa]

I've read through most of this and I don't see what the big deal is.

Yes. I don't like the cases and manuals being thrown away.
Yes. I prefer to have the entire packaging.

But if throwing away the contents of the older games is what they have to do... just let them. I'm sure that space is needed for other newer systems that will more than likely be what most of their income will be derived from now. It isn't like the consumers are clawing through the doors at gamestop to get to those ps2 games. What good would a petition do now? Now I can see if they are doing it now they'll probably end up throwing away wii/ps3/360 cases and manuals in the future. So it may save those games... that is if they choose to pay attention to a petition.

I've purchased 8 disc-only games at gamestop. Why? They were dirt cheap and all except for one I don't care about having an original case. Any other game I wanted complete I just asked the clerks there to call another store to see if it could be shipped to my local store. And they did! No conflicts and they were incredibly polite.

It isn't a big deal to me. And now that we're in this "world-wide web" age I don't have to shop there if I want something complete. There's ebay, there's amazon, and heck you can even shop here! Gamestop isn't the be-all end-all of the game world.

The petition sounds like a good idea though. While I am very skeptical that it'd do anything immediate it would let them know what some of their consumers think of some of their business practices. I say go ahead and write it up!

[CRTGAMER]

I shop at Gamestop
I think everyone here does care, no need of hostilities between everyone's different point of view. Maybe a focus on ways to communicate our concerns to Gamestop?

BACK ON TOPIC <Please!>
I myself still shop at Gamestop but only to buy a complete game. Still the best deal locally, unless a chance find at a Swap Meet or Thrift Store. In fact just today, I finally got around to picking up Gamecube Paper Mario for $14.99. I held off on this game, but because of the case disposal threat, I have been hitting various Gamestops for older games. Luckily the proprietary Gamecube cases have not been touched, even the $1.99 ones.

Communication and Customer Service
Had a nice talk with the manager at this Gamestop about the disposal situation, he agreed about the case, cover and manual disposal problem. Hands tied by corporate and the genuine lack of space. Even keeping the cases in the back presents problems due to lack of room. The large empty box promo displays are mandated by corporate adding to shelf space issues.

Gamestop Floor Ad.jpg (251.91 KiB) Viewed 1264 times

I asked about Gamecube games which were not displayed at all due to no room. He printed me up a "store receipt" listing of all the current Gamecube games in the drawers. Two other employees also talked to me, one mentioning good games for the PS2. Both of my favorite PS2 games Shadow Colossus and Ico are mentioned with zeal. What amazed me was all this energy, knowledge and genuine interest in the older games. Perhaps just to make a sell, but their heart in the right place.

Another for the collection
The manager let me keep the list, I went to lunch to look it over. I came right back, ended up buying that Gamecube Paper Mario game after seeing the current price of $14.99 on the printout. Amazon currently at $29.99, a lot more at EBay. Of course complete, even has the safety precaution and the Paper Mario themed Nintendo Power subscription offer. A lot of Gamecube games come with a custom themed subscription offer.

Back on Topic <Sorry>
There are a lot of great employees at Gamestop, don't let the bad ones put you off. Its the main office at the corporate level dictating the cover and manual toss out on older games. Let corporate know through the Sales Receipt survey and ziggy 's petition. This will happen to current generation games, as newer games and systems arrive.

Maybe a printout is a partial solution, at least when the selection is now small such as the Gamecube.

At least this Gamestop made better use out of the unfriendly AFrame rack, it is better then the large open bin of dog piled envelopes. BUT NO CASES OR MANUALS!

[Ziggy]

At least that rack wouldn't be too difficult to flip through. My local GameStop just has cardboard boxes on a flat table that's about waist height. Flipping through those discs is a feat of its own!

[swiftzx]

At least that rack wouldn't be too difficult to flip through. My local GameStop just has cardboard boxes on a flat table that's about waist height. Flipping through those discs is a feat of its own!

Yeah that's how my Gamestop is as well. Also, Game cases for even the DS have been removed so it doesn't only apply to last generation games.

[Michi]

I'm just glad my Gamestop doesn't seem to have run out of room like some of the others. Maybe it's part of being in a small area, I don't know. They have started selling disk-only PS2 games, but it doesn't look like the little cardboard box they place on the counter is ever half full. And I've never seen disk-only Gamecube games. But I probably need to go and do some shopping, just in case.

[Xeros]

Developers make no money off of the trade ins that we are buying from gamestop/EB. So we get devs who are forced to take little to no chances on funding new or innovative ideas because only well established brands will make them guaranteed money... I Worked at a independent game store, we made more cash from used games by far than anything else. The problem is that gamestop/EB now dictates the pace of how new/used games are cycled. Which dictates the way games are made inherently.

[Bradtemple87]

At least that rack wouldn't be too difficult to flip through. My local GameStop just has cardboard boxes on a flat table that's about waist height. Flipping through those discs is a feat of its own!

Yeah that's how my Gamestop is as well. Also, Game cases for even the DS have been removed so it doesn't only apply to last generation games.

I have noticed this as well and it bothers me even more than the ps2 cases.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

Time for me to drop my 2 cents worth in. I have been reading comments about boycotting GameStop and about how horrible it is that they are throwing out the cases and manuals of lower cost/value games. If this is so important to you, then spend more money there buying complete games. That will show them that the complete titles are more desired than the loose ones.

JY

[Ziggy]

Again, unless you let GameStop know what you're doing, then it wont have any effect. Boycotting them, or simply not buying disc only games, they're not gonna know unless you tell them.