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

[mjmjr25]

Even repo knows:

Finally got a pair of jeans today. Since getting to all my jeans in storage is insanely difficult, I've decided to try my hand at finding some jeans at the nearby thrift store, and today was their BOGO day where clothes are buy one (article of clothing), get the second one (here the "second one" is the one that's of equal or lesser value than the first) free. I could only find one pair of jeans and it's pretty snug but not enough to where I run the risk of ripping them, but I managed to find a Green Goblin t-shirt (apparently from Old Navy, unless the logo on the inside of the shirt denotes who made the shirt itself). Those two things (with the BOGO the shirt was free) and a used paperback copy of "Was" only cost the better part of $4.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Took advantage of the B2G1 today. Got Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, Ape Escape: On the Loose, and Space Invaders Extreme for practically nothin'.

[isiolia]

Well of course the lowest price game will be free, that is not I was meaning. The concern is that third free game will be just anything grabbed off the shelf just to get a freebie and not appreciated by the bundle buyer. It could be an obscure uncommonly stocked game that someone else might have been looking for.

I have found uncommon inexpensive games over the years at only one or two Gamestop locations, the same game selling online at a much higher price. Sales such as this is good for Gamestop but not the collector. A Feeding Frenzy to beat the casual buyer in finding obscure games.

Isn't that kind of an elitist way of looking at it though?

It's 90% business as usual. Inventory flows through game retailers, some of it is more obscure, and people can score deals by being at the right place at the right time. That's true whether or not there's a promotion going on.

Someone who happens to grab a rare game as a "free" third pick is likely still drawn to it for some reason. Maybe enough to have bought it another day. Maybe the sale inspires them to give a game they were on the fence about a chance, and they wind up loving it. Plenty of potential motivations and outcomes.

That being said, aren't the non-collector types generally the ones supplying Gamestop with copies of obscure games in the first place? Getting them in the store might be a good thing, especially if they bring a stack of stuff to trade. If they do wind up grabbing some rare title, well, it's a lot more likely that they'll trade it back in later.

[oxymoron]

I went to GS today to return a game that was defective. The manager refused to give me refund saying that since it was day 7 they couldn't give me a refund. From my understanding the policy say you can get a exchange or refund within 7 days and this was the 7th day. Can any of you people with a retail history tell me if he or I was in the wrong? I have returned things before on the date of expiration with out a problem so this kind of confuses me. He was kind of cool about it and basically said to exchange it for another game, come back another day and get a refund. On another note, they marked the return as "other" so I guess some unlucky customer down the road is going to buy this defective copy.

[darsparx]

Definitely a bad manager....7 days is 7 days if you're coming in on the 7th day you get a refund. I'd call the corporate next time and question it because that makes no sense but this is gamestop and they're like any retail store. There are some pretty great stores in the chain but a few bad nuts with either bad managers or bad employees(exactly why I didn't go to a certain gamestop I lived near when me and my dad when out for quite awhile).....

[Fragems]

Anyone else noticed the quality of their used discs going down over the past few years? Seems like I am getting discs with bad scratches or scratches to the art work more and more often. Doesn't seem like they are being as selective as they used to when buying games but then again it might just be lazy clerks who don't bother checking them .

On another note last time I was in game stop I actually had a clerk recommend to another customer that they should try completing games then returning games within the return period for a refund/exchange . Nothing like telling customers to abuse the return policy at the business you are employed in .

[noiseredux]

As is the case with most birthdays and holidays, I've found myself w/ a windfall of Gamestop rupies. I'm slightly at a loss for what I might do with it though. The obvious thing is to go in when I've got an hour to kill and dig thru the used stacks. There's some PS3 fighties I'm missing for example.

But, I got to thinking - what could I get thru Gamestop that's a bit more interesting or cool that I'm not thinking of than just "stack of used games"?

For instance, one thought that occurred to me is that they sell Android tablets. Some of the used ones are hovering around $99, which would mean I'd have to pay very little out of pocket on top of the gift card. I don't really know much about tablets, or even why I'd want one (I don't play Android games...) but was just trying to think outside the box.

Anyone got any suggestions?

[dsheinem]

As is the case with most birthdays and holidays, I've found myself w/ a windfall of Gamestop rupies. I'm slightly at a loss for what I might do with it though. The obvious thing is to go in when I've got an hour to kill and dig thru the used stacks. There's some PS3 fighties I'm missing for example.

But, I got to thinking - what could I get thru Gamestop that's a bit more interesting or cool that I'm not thinking of than just "stack of used games"?

For instance, one thought that occurred to me is that they sell Android tablets. Some of the used ones are hovering around $99, which would mean I'd have to pay very little out of pocket on top of the gift card. I don't really know much about tablets, or even why I'd want one (I don't play Android games...) but was just trying to think outside the box.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Fight Stick? Gaming or music headphones? PS+ or Steam cards?

[noiseredux]

Fight Stick?

considered this... though my Hori fake-RAP works well on PS3, 360, PC, etc and I've got 3 Agetecs for my DC, so I'm just not really "in need" of another.

Gaming or music headphones?

Got a nice gaming set for Christmas, and a nice music set the year before.

PS+ or Steam cards?

Yeah. Considered this too... really, the past year or so every time I've gotten GS cards I've either (A) turned them into Steam cards or (B) traded them to someone on the forum for stuff on their trade list. Just trying to get extra creative.

[CRTGAMER]

The Good
I ordered another game after going online and doing the zip code search to bring a list of stores ready to call. Once again went to my local ship CIB games in connection (got Cubivore this way) on Wednesday morning for the store to store manager phone verification. The Manager at the other store must have shipped out right away, the game showed up the very next morning!

The Good 30% Off
I had printed up a Birthday Promotion 20% off coupon and brought it in. On top of that the Manager gave me another 10% off discount for the Rewards Card after he verified he could slip that in. very nice, thought it would only be 20% off! So here is the braekdown on the game:

$49.99 - $10.00 birtday coupon - $4.00 Power Reward Coupon

I sent a letter direct to the Gamestop site:

Direct Gamestop Feedback - http://mfisurvey.marketforce.com/GameStop/IndexCC.aspx

**** is a unique one of a kind very professional caring educated employee. When I walked in the store, as usual he was conversing with another customer on the intricacies of a game. Not only knowing the title, but how a game plays on a given level, how to climb a given ledge or making the right move. **** really has a keen interest and always conveys a positive outlook with his customers. He ordered a game for me, logging my contact information in the reserve book; the game came in from another store the very next day! I think he also researches new games, always knows the features of games that are not even out yet! Does Gamestop do formal training of upcoming titles; he really knows his stuff!

One thing I do not like is when a sales clerk holds up the line of purchasers at the register talking about all the Gamestop offers. That stated, when **** spills out the required offers, he does it so positively, it is actually a pleasure to hear of all the offers! The customer in front of me was told about an add on sale of a battery and charger for his newly acquired Xbox One, **** pointed out a 3rd party unit that included an extra battery at the same cost. He shows value for the customer while also making sales of products at Gamestop. Promote this guy so that he can influence other workers to attempt to get up to his high level of courtesy and knowledge. The only downfall is when he does get promoted and moves up the ladder, I will lose an outstanding customer service rep to buy my games from.

Thank you Gamestop for true professionals such as ****.

I love taking care of great employees! Sending in the feedback also helps in future store transfers, there is a certain obscure racing game that he will be calling in to compliment my Wii Logitech Steering Wheel!

$35.99 for CIB Kirby Return To Dreamland!
Not an outstanding deal, but not bad for a game getting hard to find at a reasonable price which originally sold in the stores for $49.99. This game never got the under twenty dollar selects cut; released too late in the Wii console's life. Crisp in new condition very happy to get this before the price goes absolutely nuts.

Its Kirby Return Dreamland - Epic Yarn - 20th Anniversary marathon night!