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

[darsparx]

Well i've just learned to keep an eye on that 9.99 and under bin. Yeah I would love to have the cases, but I don't want to miss out on some of these games. I know I won't get a deal on mario, zelda, or other first parties but ehh :-\

[CRTGAMER]

The Bad
I visited a Gamestop store to buy a game after I had verified online as in stock at just two locations. Employee told me it was not in stock and stated that the count is off, an inventory issue. He proceeded to look up for another store and found one. I told him I knew of the other store and was planning to drive there next. The employee really insisted on checking called the store up.

The Ugly
After calling the store, employee found out the game at the other location was on hold. The other store mentioned an employee had placed it on hold for a self purchase! As Hank Hill would say "Now that is just not right." After the employee got off the phone he sheepishly mentioned he found the game at this store and it is also on hold for an employee! Aha! The bum knew this all along.

He mentioned employees just like customers are allowed to hold merchandise for themselves. He also took my phone number and told me he will call me tomorrow if the other employee has not picked it up by then. I left the store, drove a couple blocks thinking about the game that slipped by me and wondered about the date on the price label. Went back to the store ready to rip a face off, but maintained my composure. Now how to see the date without the employee knowing what I was up to?

CRTGAMER: "Hello again. I know the game is reserved for another employee, but I am willing to drive all the way to L.A. to buy a copy. However, I want to make sure it is worth the drive, may I see the case to read the description on the back?"

Employee was hesitant, then open cabinet door and removed game disc. I noticed that the entire game was hiding in the cabinet including that game disc ready for somebody. Employee handed me the empty game case which had a new sticker and three printed up used labels slipped inside the front cover.

CRTGAMER: "Wait a minute, this has a "New Game" sticker on the cover and three "Used Game" stickers inside."

Employee: "Oh, we are allowed to do that, the game came to us shipped in that way."

Yeah right. Actually I have seen other games retagged from new to used, evidently the employee was getting ready to place the used tag, noticed the price and stashed the game to buy later on. It is a XSeed game, other games made by Xseed have shot up in price. But oooh the date on the used price labels not placed yet won my poker hand!

CRTGAMER: "The date on this sticker is 04-05-2014. Yet the date today is April 11th."

Employee: "The employee was waiting until payday to buy it. I think he is coming in later today to pick it up."

I did not say anything, but I also noticed the date on the "new game" sticker listed as 01-07-11. This game has been in the store since January 2011 buried in the drawer!

CRTGAMER: (In loud voice) "I know Gamestop does not hold games overnight for a customer, so an employee certainly cannot do that either. I am a paying customer and am ready to buy the game TODAY. I'll call Corporate if I am denied a game in your store."

Employee: "The store does not want an angry customer, let me call my Manager."

Employee goes to the back room and I can hear him talk to someone on the phone. Strange that a minute later I can hear a buzz buzz buzz on a speaker phone. Really, does this store have two work phones or did the employee actually dial anyone or just had the handset "off the hook"?

The Good
The "phone off hook" buzzing (now turned off) must have alerted the employee. He immediately went to the cabinet, pulled the game and asked for my phone number again to enter the Power Rewards discount.

I hated being hard on that employee, but for what I can see he obviously was stashing the game for himself and LIED. After he discovered the only other copy in the county was also being held by an employee is when he blabbered. There are other limited run games that have shot up in price, this game really looks like one that also will hit the high mark.

I gained a sweet game which also has both stickers for this story. Proof (which many here already know) that Gamestop does in fact sometimes retag brand new games as used.

Right now the game can still be bought for under thirty bucks shipped or locally at Gamestop for $17.99, so get it while you can.

Take a guess which game before clicking the Spoiler.

Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon
The three used price labels tucked inside the jacket were to be placed on the front and back of the case and the 3rd on a yellow envelope stored with the removed game disc. Note the company logo. As in Atlus, an Xseed game can potentially shoot way up in price after the limited production run is sold thru. I could care less of resale I just want to play the damn game.

This game is brand new. The manual is crisp as if never touch, the shiny pristine disc also never been in a gamestop envelope. My bet is it was hiding in the drawer since JANUARY 11 2011, and just discovered by that sly price changing employee just over a week ago!

Right Click for a larger view
PROOF THAT GAMESTOP DOES TAG NEW GAMES AS USED!

Gamestop New Used Price Tag Swap - Wii Fragile Dreams.jpg (237.86 KiB) Viewed 1180 times

[darsparx]

Ha ha, I keep hearing about that game I might need to look it up and try to buy it next time i get the chance.

[isiolia]

They often swap games to a used SKU when the new SKU gets taken out of the system. If anything, I'd take it as an indication that the game is out of print, or at least unavailable for them to order more of.

Regardless, as already mentioned in the Wii games thread, you can get that on Amazon new for $19.99, with Prime shipping. Been that for a while (I bought it back in September, same price).

[CRTGAMER]

They often swap games to a used SKU when the new SKU gets taken out of the system. If anything, I'd take it as an indication that the game is out of print, or at least unavailable for them to order more of.

Regardless, as already mentioned in the Wii games thread, you can get that on Amazon new for $19.99, with Prime shipping. Been that for a while (I bought it back in September, same price).

Costs more with shipping or whatever fee you have to pay to be a Prime Member thru an addtional minimum purchase or whatnot.

Still, a great price online or at Gamestop so get it now while you can.

[dsheinem]

They often swap games to a used SKU when the new SKU gets taken out of the system. If anything, I'd take it as an indication that the game is out of print, or at least unavailable for them to order more of.

Regardless, as already mentioned in the Wii games thread, you can get that on Amazon new for $19.99, with Prime shipping. Been that for a while (I bought it back in September, same price).

Costs more with shipping or whatever fee you have to pay to be a Prime Member. Still, a great price so get it now while you can.

There are new copies on Amazon for about $23 shipped. I imagine you paid what - $20 with tax?

How much time, driving around, and pain-in-the-ass BS did you deal with just to save at most $3-$4 (minus whatever gas costs might have been)? Sure you came out ahead at all?

[MrPopo]

They often swap games to a used SKU when the new SKU gets taken out of the system. If anything, I'd take it as an indication that the game is out of print, or at least unavailable for them to order more of.

Regardless, as already mentioned in the Wii games thread, you can get that on Amazon new for $19.99, with Prime shipping. Been that for a while (I bought it back in September, same price).

Costs more with shipping or whatever fee you have to pay to be a Prime Member. Still, a great price so get it now while you can.

There are new copies on Amazon for about $23 shipped. I imagine you paid what - $20 with tax?

How much time, driving around, and pain-in-the-ass BS did you deal with just to save at most $3-$4 (minus whatever gas costs might have been)? Sure you came out ahead at all?

Not to mention the mental anguish.

[Jmustang1968]

Or even better, get it off the Xseed online store: http://www.xseedgames.com/store.php
for $20 free shipping. If you buy a few games, they usually bundle some extra artbooks/osts/calendars etc...

So yeah, all that for nothing...

[Fragems]

Or even better, get it off the Xseed online store: http://www.xseedgames.com/store.php
for $20 free shipping. If you buy a few games, they usually bundle some extra artbooks/osts/calendars etc...

So yeah, all that for nothing...

Didn't know they had an official store awesome.

[CRTGAMER]

The Good or Bad?
Gamestop once again is having a buy 2 get one free on under $20 used games. This is a good thing in adding to the library. However, for me it is not often I buy three games at once, perhaps others are the same? The free third game will always be the least expensive, an extra game impulse thrown in just to get anything free? Loss of that uncommon game from someone else that really is looking for it.