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

[Fragems]

Happened to be in the Ashland, KY mall with the family and decided to pop in and pick up a few PS4 games. While getting ready to check out I checked the PC section on a whim since things seem to sit there forever and sometimes you can find really heavily discounted items there. Anyways I saw an interesting little box with a Yoda bobble head extra for $4 so I decided to buy it on a whim. On the way back we stopped for gas and I decided to check everything out well all was as it should be until.... I open the Star Wars Adventures game and it's empty just the yoda bobble head in the front. Needless to say I'm pretty peeved, but it isn't worth driving back for.

I don't know why i bothered going in that location I've never had a positive experience in there . As usual the floor layout was cramped and confusing, the staff were slow/inexperienced, and while they didn't pull a case switch on me like they have before they did manage to sell me a "new" game without the actual game in it .

Since what it's missing is a voucher/game time card and not a game I doubt any of the stores locally would believe me if I tried to return/exchange it and I was really only grabbing it for the Yoda figure anyways, but it still ticks me off. Will be giving Katie a nice review tonight .

[CRTGAMER]

I'm sure this has happened to everyone in some capacity but:

Went to Gamestop looking for Trauma Team per some conversation about it on the Nintendo board. I played it extensively before but didn't beat it and then traded it in (as I am wont to do with games I want to play a year later), so I figured I'd look for it again.

My Gamestop didn't have it but could send out for it from a store about an hour away and they'd have it for me in a couple days. I said fine. So I show up to pick it up per their phone call, the kid takes the game from under the counter and starts ringing it up, and it's in a GameStop case. Not the original.

Now one time when the store was busy I decided I wanted SFIV again on a whim knowing it'd be cheap. They had one and I swear after I was already being rung up the kid found it: It was disc only. For whatever reason I bought it anyways, but this time I just wasn't having it. I wasn't too big of a douche but I sighed and said "Ya know I really wish they'd mention whether or not it had the artwork" and the kid replied "Yeah sometimes.....I guess they just forget to mention it."

I told him I didn't even know if I wanted it anymore and, in a rare case, he was pretty cool about it. In a nice way he just said "It's up to you man" and I declined the purchase. He said no problem and he'd keep it under the register for me if I changed my mind.

I don't know why but it just brought my piss to a boil that, yet again, they seemed to think it was no big deal if a game doesn't have the packaging. They don't even bring it up if you don't first. It's like someone at Best Buy telling you they have discounts on refurbished iPods and they hand you one in a plastic bag. It's a joke, and I know damn well they don't discount copies that don't have everything.

Reply Quoted here when I saw this from the Random Game Thoughts Thread.

Not a good idea trading in any game for just a dollar or two versus just leaving the game on your own shelf to collect dust. Best to keep all the games just in case you want to play it again a year or three later.

The Bad
I have seen that too, the Gamestop Employees are oblivious to CIB or Generic Case. I think it is due to they go thru so many games a day and the store has already set the tone allowing tradeins of disc only. Throw in the fact that corporate allows tossing out older game cases and manuals when they are under a certain dollar amount.

The Ugly
All three last generation games of 360, PS3 and Wii games will eventually be on the chopping block of disc only at different month set price level intervals. First it will be under five dollar, followed by under ten until ALL last gen games will be disc only.

The Good
I am surprised and glad to still see 0.89ȼ CIB Wii games on the shelf. With the seven day refund "If you do not like the game" policy, a good idea to buy any CIB used game even if on the fence if you might like it or not.

[FerretGamer]

I've done my part saving many PS2, GC, Wii, PSP, and DS games from the garbage can.

[CRTGAMER]

The Bad
I found out the game Wii Play has a tank level similar to the 2600 Combat (the tank levels) game. Every Gamestop I have been to has a generic case only on the shelf!

Found it CIB at local Goodwill for $4.99 $4.50 (Military discount) but was all scratched up. Took a chance and bought it in hopes of polishing out the scratches. No luck, some pretty deep gouges causing a workout of the Wii laser eye and sometimes not booting.

Relented to spend a couple more dollars to buy the Gamestop generic case game at under two bucks replace my dead disc. After all, the Goodwill copy has a decent used manual and okay condition Wii case. At this stage, an online order with shipping might have been cheaper.

The Good
Took the generic case to the Gamestop counter. Employee recognizing me and mentioned "I think I might have a complete copy". He opens the drawer and there are FIVE CIBs that are not even price marked! The games are all pristine brand new with crisp "closed new" game manuals, proof of another game title at Gamestop where all the new copies are now sold as used!

I have seen this before, a generic case on the shelf with pristine CIB cases forgotten behind the counter. Always good to ask for a check of CIB buried in the drawers. I need to renew my search again thru the stores, ask the employee to open ALL the Wii drawers! You just might find a CIB rare game versus the generic case displayed on the shelf!




Goodwill Refund
Goodwill normally does not refund any of their merchandise, it is a Thrift store. Since the cash register line was long and knowing the policy, I looked for another game (Xbox Area 51) of the same price from the shelves. Asked for trading the defective game. Manager was called and since no sales transaction, allowed the exchange. I also saw an original Xbox Elder Scrolls 3 that was scratched up, but it did include the game manual and map poster. Not big on RPGs, but maybe I should have bought it anyways?

Saved a few bucks on the refund but probably spent more in gas, but hey I was in the area anyways looking at other games at Bookoff! Ooh a very nice set of surprises of what I found there (a post back in the Finds after the photo shoot to follow); BookOff is my absolute favorite retro game, media and book store including Imports on the cheap!

[mas]

Went to a local GameStop while wife was buying shoes. Had a 20% off coupon so I picked up kof12 for the 360. I seen a marvel ultimate alliance special edition case at the wall for 40.00. Now i have the platinum edition of the game but no case so I asked if I can get the case and he was cool at first but then he told me if I want the case I gotta buy the game. Fine no big deal.
After paying for the game, I noticed the tag on it says gold and not platinum or anything else. So now I'm afraid when I return the game at another GameStop there going to ask for the gold edition of the game and won't let me return it. Well this might suck tomorrow.

[01toubib]

Well... the sad day is occurring in my part of town. Two Gamestop stores have been axed near me. Permanently closed, not relocating. It was very out of the blue too, no warning, or even store closing sales. Just one week ago it was there, I come back 7 days later and a for sale/lease sign is up. I knew this would be eventually coming as Gamestop is facing bigger competition from big chains like best buy and walmart. But still... if Gamestop is going lean to stay profitable... I'm worried about my second hand gaming prospects (store wise).

[Fragems]

Well... the sad day is occurring in my part of town. Two Gamestop stores have been axed near me. Permanently closed, not relocating. It was very out of the blue too, no warning, or even store closing sales. Just one week ago it was there, I come back 7 days later and a for sale/lease sign is up. I knew this would be eventually coming as Gamestop is facing bigger competition from big chains like best buy and walmart. But still... if Gamestop is going lean to stay profitable... I'm worried about my second hand gaming prospects (store wise).

Hell if they go that just means more supply for local pawns if you have any around. I find pawns more interesting anyways since your chances of getting a deal on the pricier stuff is higher unless they check eBay . How many are left around you? We lost a gamestop about a year or two ago, but it was located in the mall that had two in the mall and another at a shopping center literally less then 2 miles away . In my area right now we have 4 within 15 miles and another 2-3 within 30 miles.

[girlracer]

Well... the sad day is occurring in my part of town. Two Gamestop stores have been axed near me. Permanently closed, not relocating. It was very out of the blue too, no warning, or even store closing sales. Just one week ago it was there, I come back 7 days later and a for sale/lease sign is up. I knew this would be eventually coming as Gamestop is facing bigger competition from big chains like best buy and walmart. But still... if Gamestop is going lean to stay profitable... I'm worried about my second hand gaming prospects (store wise).

Hell if they go that just means more supply for local pawns if you have any around. I find pawns more interesting anyways since your chances of getting a deal on the pricier stuff is higher unless they check eBay . How many are left around you? We lost a gamestop about a year or two ago, but it was located in the mall that had two in the mall and another at a shopping center literally less then 2 miles away . In my area right now we have 4 within 15 miles and another 2-3 within 30 miles.

love pawns. I'm surprised by a gamestop closing only because I read that they bought some Radio Shacks buildings for their mobile stuff.

for me the hard part about gamestop is going in there having to hear people have no clue what they are talking about.

[Ziggy]

for me the hard part about gamestop anywhere is going in there having to hear people have no clue what they are talking about.

FTFY

[Fragems]

for me the hard part about gamestop anywhere is going in there having to hear people have no clue what they are talking about.

FTFY

I don't mind people who don't know much about games what I do mind though is the small percentage of GS employees who being "uber gamers" have to assert their "dominant" knowledge at check out . Less bitching about my choice in games and more doing your job please .

Other then that the only thing that bothers me is parents who cave and let their kid buy anything just to shut them up. Then they get to the counter and act all surprised when they are told GTA V has sex, extreme violence, and drugs in it. The rating system isn't that hard to figure out people Mature does not mean ages 5+ .