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

[BurningDoom]

I didn't even remember that secret shopper crap, lol.

No, big brother isn't watching you, but your manager is. There was always a manager working on shift with you, and usually it was just you and him/her unless it was a weekend night. So they can hear everything you say to the customer. Pretty hard to fake that.

[winds]

Wow, just had the worst experience i've ever had at the Gamestop here in Canada. I never really understood the complaints about gamestop besides a few things here and there but now I fully understand. I will never shop at this particular gamestop/eb and in fact made an official complaint about the employee that I dealt with at customer service.
We are having some sales at gamestop this month, nothing spectacular but a few games caught my eye because of their prices. They were selling X-Men Origins Wolverine a few days ago for $5 new. Probably a horrible game but for 5 bucks, what's the harm!
So I bought it when it was on sale at another gamestop near me (an awesome one). Unfortunately they only had a gutted "new" copy left so I took it, stupidly, with the thought that I could exchange it for a new one later on if they get more stock in. Well this morning I went back in hopes they had more stock, and also to pick up todays deals, unfortunately they didn't. So, this other location was only a minute or two away so I went there thinking maybe they had a legit new copy in that I could exchange with. I got there and the manager (only guy working there at the time) told me they had 1 sealed copy still left, so here's how our conversation went from there:

Me: I bought a new copy a few days ago from another gamestop, but it's a gutted version, can I exchange it?
Manager: Sorry i'm not allowed to do that because we don't allow it
Me: Howcome? I still have the receipt and I haven't opened it yet
Manager: Yeah but we still don't allow that, sorry.
Me: Well I did that before, actually from this store I bought a gutted copy and later exchanged it at the gamestop down the road.
Manager: Well they shouldn't have done that
Me: Alright then...so there's no way you can do it?
Manager: Nope, sorry man.

At this point I started looking around the store to see if they had any other good deals but didn't see anything but then I had a thought! I figured i'd just buy that new copy he had, then go to another gamestop and exchange my gutted "new" copy and get my money back from the one I just bought! Brilliant!

Me: Can I buy that sealed copy then?
Manager: *Thinks a moment...apparently staring off into space* "Sorry but no"
Me: What? Why?
Manager: Because you're going to buy it and return your gutted copy at another gamestop with this receipt
Me: So what? What's the difference what I do with my copy, it's perfectly allowed by your stores policies
Manager: Because you're trying to scam my company and return a perfectly good gutted copy for a new copy
Me: Because of your companies stupid business practices you sold me a gutted copy as "new"...now when I want to get a "new" copy that I legitimately paid for, you're refusing me? Why'd you sell me this game as new if you're saying it's not the same?
Manager: Because it's not the same thing, different stores are trying to get rid of their stock
Me: If it's not the same thing then why did you guys sell this as a new copy?
Manager: ...I can't do it man i'm sorry
Me: So you're refusing my business?
Manager: Yes
Me: Can I have your name? And the number for customer service?
Manager: Fine...my name's Mark (which I also confirmed from his nametag), i'm the manager here

and then he wrote down the number for customer service. I came home pretty upset and called customer service and made an official complaint about him. They took down all the information and a destrict manager is apparently going to call me back about the experience.

What a horrible experience. I mean i'm not too upset about not actually getting a real legit new copy of the game, but the fact that he wouldn't sell me a game in exchange for money is downright insulting. Who cares what i'm going to do with the game afterwards? It's none of his fucking business and I wasn't doing anything that wasn't "allowed" by their store policies. I can return anything within 30 days of purchase as long as it's not opened, end of discussion. What a horrible experience. I've never ever had a bad experience at a gamestop/EB games before and never fully understood all the heat this company gets by upset customers, well now I know. I won't be shopping at this location ever again, but will continue to shop at the other one down the road from me, their employees are awesome and i'm getting to know them quite well.

Anyways, I just thought i'd share my experience. I know there's a seperate thread for all about how gamestop is evil but upon looking at it, it seemed to be more about their business practices and not individual experiences so I decided to post mine here. Sorry!

[noiseredux]

wow please update. I've literally never heard of a store saying "no I refuse to sell you these goods in exchange for your money".

[dsheinem]

They were selling X-Men Origins Wolverine a few days ago for $5 new. Probably a horrible game but for 5 bucks, what's the harm!

This game is awesome and well worth $5. I think I paid closer to $30 for it and did not regret the purchase in the least. Hands down the best and most fun X-Men related game I have played.

[brunoafh]

I had a nearly identical experience about a month ago. Gamestop sold me a "new" gutted copy of a game, and I got home and found that the disc was (quite noticeably) scratched. It probably would have played fine, but fuck that, I paid retail price for a new copy. The disc should have been spotless and nothing less.

The guy pulled the exact same stunt that he pulled on you winds, "Sorry, can't do that, etc". I started acting like a total jackass and wouldn't leave, and eventually he caved and exchanged it for a sealed copy.

With Gamestop it really just depends on the employees and the manager though. I've been to Gamestops with a great atmosphere and really friendly employees, but unfortunately all my local Gamestops are the stereotype corporate douche ones.

edit: As for refusing to sell you the other copy, that's just crazy. That's beyond a problem with Gamestop, that's just an employee being a jerk. You did right to report him, hopefully the proper action is taken.

This game is awesome and well worth $5. I think I paid closer to $30 for it and did not regret the purchase in the least.

Agreed all the way. It's not the best X-Men game I've ever played, but it's definitely awesome. Well worth $5 indeed.

[winds]

wow please update. I've literally never heard of a store saying "no I refuse to sell you these goods in exchange for your money".

Will definitely do! I've never done this before so i'm not sure how long it takes for the district manager to follow up with me, but as soon as they do i'll post about it here. Kind of insane but i'm thinking about writing this to the local papers too. Gamestop shouldn't get away with selling gutted copies as new, I can't think of any other huge corporation that does this. That would be like best buy selling floor model TV's as new. But to go one step even further and refuse money from me for no other apparent reason other than his own stubbornness in not letting me have a new copy is very insulting. How he got that manager position when he refuses legal tender is beyond me.

And thanks for letting me know this game is good, guys! I haven't opened my gutted "new" copy yet (they put that stupid seal sticker on it) in hopes that another gamestop might let me exchange it. If 30 days runs out and I haven't found a legit new copy by then i'll suck it up and open this one.

[Jamisonia]

He most likely broke the law. Its usually illegal to refuse to sell somebody something that is for sale for the general public.

You should have gotten his name and the number and called corporate when you were in the store, and told them he was refusing to sell you a game. I don't know very much about Gamestop's policies, but I would hope, and believe this manager will be fired.

My experience with Gamestop's corporate is pending. I recently was looking for GCN component cables at store that was said to have them in Tennessee. The employee confirmed their database said they had them, but he refused to look for them outside of glancing around. The next day the cables were no longer listed as being in stock at that store. I suspected foul play, so I contacted Gamestop. The DM said he would look into it. He never commented whether or not the employee bought them himself, however; when replied he was very apologetic and said he was having GCN component cables shipped from Kentucky to a store near me. I say my experience is pending because they're were supposed to arrive before the weekend, and they haven't yet.

This manager's behavior was atrocious. You will probably get the employee discount on one game or accessory. I'd think about buying a used system to really make it worth while.

[CRTGAMER]

I haven't opened my gutted "new" copy yet (they put that stupid seal sticker on it) in hopes that another gamestop might let me exchange it. If 30 days runs out and I haven't found a legit new copy by then i'll suck it up and open this one.

Is it really New or Used
I hate that sticker, a real pain to clean the glue. I don't even understand the point of it. If the seal is not broke does it allow a refund or just an even exchange? Don't open new games offer even exchange if defective? Maybe you have to break that stupid Gamestop seal on the gutted game and exchange for another unopened game on the grounds that the game is "defective". Rightfully so since you paid for a NEW game which since open should not have been sold that way. Yeah I know Gamestop won a court ruling on this, still its not right.

I even see New games with generic Gamestop covers, figure that one out.

There are other stores
Why would anyone buy a NEW game that was already opened and maybe missing something inside like an attached flyer, or club points and download code that might have already been "tested" by an employee?

[Opa Opa]

I have a perfectly legitimate question.

Instead of gutting a new copy; why not just use a generic case with a printed box art, price tag, and esrb ratings on the shelf?

I realize that would take more time but you see what I just described sitting on the shelves and they say "pre-order now". Why not just continue to use that same box with printout?

[sevin0seven]

Manager: Fine...my name's Mark (which I also confirmed from his nametag), i'm the manager here

damn you Mark! you bring disgraced to our names.