GameStop 101: Your Questions Answered!

[Opa Opa]

If a store does not carry a used item that you want, what's the best strategy to get an item shipped from another store? Any tips/suggestions to make this easy?

Ask a clerk behind the counter. That's what I do.

[Veriz]

Even though thats not why they push used titles your statement is not false. If a certain new game is not selling well at one store but another can't keep it in stock they will have the slower stores send their copies to the busier store before they return them back to the vendor. I can only recall a few times where they ever requested we send games back to home office to be returned to the vendor but I am sure it happens. By taking reservations for games a store is not usually over stocked on a game since it gives the company an idea of how many games to order for the store to make sure they don't sit on overstock.

It's also because used games account for over 50% of their sales in volume (not in dollars). Getting rid of inventory of used games also opens up space for new games, which have a higher profit margin.

My question would be: It's my understanding that new sales reps/cashiers are expected to get 20% of their customers to pre-order, or subscribe to Game Informer. What type of training do these kids get to make this possible? And how harshly are they judged on this percentage?

Yes it is correct that employees have a certain percentage to meet but it varies based on the time of year. During the holiday season they are more worried about UPT (Units Per Transaction) since that is the busy season. The problem with the percentages you have to meet is they are always on the up and up. Just as an example, they will start you at a 5% goal for Game Informer subscriptions at first then when you have met that goal instead of it being a constant they will increase to 6%, then 7% etc. etc. Its almost like a lose/lose situation because as soon as you are on track making your goals they increase them. Reservatations are even worse as the percentages needed are higher. You would probably start around 10% goal for a new employee then of coarse it goes up and up depending on when the higher ups change it on you.

Now, as far as training goes. If you do not have a good store manager who has taken the time to train each of his/her employees already then you are in a world of hurt. There is no training videos or books provided for training, its all done by the store manager. A good store manager will use tips and provide feedback to employees to help them learn their limits when asking customers about these services. I myself hate being pressured into buying things so that was never the way I trained my people and we recieved a good response from it. Again, I do feel bad for most stores though because the payroll that you are given to train your employees is laughable. My store for example would get about 80 hours to give out weekly. So after I gave 38-40 hours to my ASM and about 16-20 hours to the 3rd key manager that leaves almost nothing to divide across another 2-3 employees depending on the time of year. Store managers are paid on salary so with so few hours given you end up working 50+ hours a week to cover the stores needs, wich causes the store managers to be stressed and in the end makes them not even care about their jobs and the customers hurt because of it.

If a store does not carry a used item that you want, what's the best strategy to get an item shipped from another store? Any tips/suggestions to make this easy?

Ask a clerk behind the counter. That's what I do.

I would advise to try and get the used item on the web site before asking to have another store transfer it over. But if it is a rare item ask the clerk behind the counter like Opa said. Yes, they are capable of doing store to store transfers upon request. It is very easy to get another store in your district to transfer you a game as you know each other pretty well. However it is harder to get things from stores in other states and districts unless you can get that store manager on the phone.

[Hobie-wan]

I would advise to try and get the used item on the web site before asking to have another store transfer it over.

The problem there is you're not guaranteed to get anything but the game. You might be a complete copy or you might get a disc that has someone's name written on it in a cheap replacement case.

[noiseredux]

I would advise to try and get the used item on the web site before asking to have another store transfer it over.

The problem there is you're not guaranteed to get anything but the game. You might be a complete copy or you might get a disc that has someone's name written on it in a cheap replacement case.

I almost feel like ordering from the website GUARANTEES that you WILL NOT get anything but a disc. I learned this the hard way a few years ago.

[Veriz]

I would advise to try and get the used item on the web site before asking to have another store transfer it over.

The problem there is you're not guaranteed to get anything but the game. You might be a complete copy or you might get a disc that has someone's name written on it in a cheap replacement case.

I almost feel like ordering from the website GUARANTEES that you WILL NOT get anything but a disc. I learned this the hard way a few years ago.

Yes, if you are a collector then that is not the way to go. I definatly want the game, case and book with my purchase as well lol. Since I don't go to GameStop too often anymore I forgot they stopped taking cases for GameCube, PS2 and DS among others since we still kept them together if possible when I worked there. I wish they would just stop taking the games altogether so they won't be torn apart. To me it looks trashy just having the games in sleeves in a bin. If I still worked there I am sure I would be losing my mind in theft reports too lol.

[sbk]

I've never asked nor really looked into why but I have to know now. Why do they open new games? I understand for one to have a display box but there is no need to open all of them. It has never been a worry to me since I have never bought a new game from there but I recently Preordered the new 3DS resident Evil game because the preorder bonus is awesome. I really don't want to get there and they have already opened my game.

[noiseredux]

I've never asked nor really looked into why but I have to know now. Why do they open new games? I understand for one to have a display box but there is no need to open all of them. It has never been a worry to me since I have never bought a new game from there but I recently Preordered the new 3DS resident Evil game because the preorder bonus is awesome. I really don't want to get there and they have already opened my game.

I don't THINK They open preorders. I can't see any reason to do so since it's going to be held aside, and not on the sales floor. When I pre-ordered Catherine it wasn't opened when I picked it up.

[Veriz]

I've never asked nor really looked into why but I have to know now. Why do they open new games? I understand for one to have a display box but there is no need to open all of them. It has never been a worry to me since I have never bought a new game from there but I recently Preordered the new 3DS resident Evil game because the preorder bonus is awesome. I really don't want to get there and they have already opened my game.

I don't THINK They open preorders. I can't see any reason to do so since it's going to be held aside, and not on the sales floor. When I pre-ordered Catherine it wasn't opened when I picked it up.

Correct if you pre order the game it will not be opened, they set all pre orders aside so they can be picked up for at least 48 hours from release. The only reason new games are opened is to prevent theft. At my store I would try and use the "pre order" boxes they sent us and place price stickers on those to go on the wall to prevent having to open as many new games as possible as it drove me crazy. I went to GameStop over the weekend and noticed another store was doing the same thing and using demo boxes instead of new opened copies in thier new release section. Unfortunately older games you have new copies for there are no demo boxes to use. As a side note, if in fact you just happen to buy a new game at GameStop that is hard to find and it happens to be the last copy if it is damaged ask for a discount on the game, otherwise if its common and you want that sealed goodness like I do go ahead and nab it at another store.

[jay_red]

As a side note, if in fact you just happen to buy a new game at GameStop that is hard to find and it happens to be the last copy if it is damaged ask for a discount on the game, otherwise if its common and you want that sealed goodness like I do go ahead and nab it at another store.

I, like a lot of other people do not consider opened or damaged games "New" and the fact they try to pass these off as new for the same cost is a big issue people have with gamestop.

On another note, about replacing damaged used games, I had the same situation as the person who posted earlier, but they swapped my games with no problem, he didnt even need to look at my receipt or anything.

[ZenErik]

I don't see why they need to open and gut a copy of any game. And if they do, it should never be sold as new. I know that employees also basically rent out gutted copies. Employees have told me all about it.

They could have a promo case on display or even just a piece of cardboard with the cover art on one side and info on the back. Seems much more efficient to me.