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

[xan_racketBOY_fan]

So it's been a few years since I've ever traded anything in, but with Akai Katana out and a couple of games I had lying around, I figured I'd make the most out of the tiered trade-in they have going on. With the help of this accurate trade-in list, I was able to determine exactly how much I would be getting (which happened to cover the cost of Akai Katana). The thing that irked me at the counter was this new (to me anyway) Refurb Fee they have in place: for any games you trade-in incomplete, they knock off some of that trade-in value. When did they start doing that? How are they going to reduce a trade-in value for an incomplete game and they sell the same game without its original case, sleeve and manual at no discount? Whatever the case, I don't see myself trading anything in in the near future - I'm just happy with getting Akai Katana.

[CRTGAMER]

So it's been a few years since I've ever traded anything in, but with Akai Katana out and a couple of games I had lying around, I figured I'd make the most out of the tiered trade-in they have going on. With the help of this accurate trade-in list, I was able to determine exactly how much I would be getting (which happened to cover the cost of Akai Katana). The thing that irked me at the counter was this new (to me anyway) Refurb Fee they have in place: for any games you trade-in incomplete, they knock off the some of that trade-in value. When did they start doing that? How are they going to reduce a trade-in value for an incomplete game and they sell the same game without its original case, sleeve and manual? Whatever the case, I don't see myself trading anything in in the near future - overall, I'm happy with getting Akai Katana.

I think its a good move, encourages CIB tradeins, but still allows flexibility of taking in all games. I prefer CIB but glad that a rare incomplete game is still accepted for me to discover. It does not seem right about the double standard but maybe that is taken into account by the used prices of games for sale. Since some games will be incomplete, Gamestop has to make the pie sweet to buy used over new.

A complete separate SKU for non CIB games would mean a revamp of their inventory, it might raise the price of used games. The way I see it I get the lower price and get rewarded with a CIB by taking the time to look at multiple stores. I would NEVER Tradein any game, too low a return from the initial cost.

[pepharytheworm]

They have always had the refurb fee, used to accept games in that are too scratched to sell, not if its incomplete. Its just that some stores are lazy and would rather send disc only games back to corporate than print covers.

[xan_racketBOY_fan]

You're probably right about the used game pricing, CRT - hopefully folks trading in will have their games complete (or at a cost, at minimum, lose out on $2 for a disc-only trade in). As for trading in your games, I agree you lose a lot in your initial investment but in my case with the games I had, it worked out pretty good: got the asking price of one game I was trying to sell off on craigslist (thanks to the tiered trade-in), the other one I bought brand new for only $5 Best Buy, I got double as a trade; and the third game I traded in I acquired free.

They have always had the refurb fee, used to accept games in that are too scratched to sell, not if its incomplete. Its just that some stores are lazy and would rather send disc only games back to corporate than print covers.

Really? Maybe I never noticed on the receipt before or maybe because it's been so long.

[Luke]

Anyone else purchase games to find that there are pinholes in the shrink wrap?

[Pichu]

Anyone else purchase games to find that there are pinholes in the shrink wrap?

...

No, and now because you said it, I will be checking every new game I buy there.

[Hobie-wan]

Anyone else purchase games to find that there are pinholes in the shrink wrap?

That is on purpose, that way he shrink doesn't trap air and become a balloon as it heats up a shrinks down. Sometimes it will be really obvious and you can see a line of holes running down neatly.

[BurningDoom]

Anyone else purchase games to find that there are pinholes in the shrink wrap?

I don't see that being a big deal, though, unless you plan on re-selling it still sealed.

[BoringSupreez]

Anyone else purchase games to find that there are pinholes in the shrink wrap?

I think all N64 games were sealed that way.

[Hobie-wan]

So I convinced myself I didn't need either of the super special Borderlands 2 versions. As cool as the loot chest and Marcus bobblehead are, they'll just collect dust for a while, then be packed away. Even though I wish it wasn't just GS that had the preorder in game extras, I decided to go ahead and bite the bullet. So I went after work and was going to line myself up... and they tell me that you can't preorder the PC version in store.

WTF?

So they lock up exclusive bonus stuff to the store and screw players and because I want to play it on PC I get fucked again by having to pay shipping.

I noticed the store had been redone and the glass cabinets behind the desk were totally gone. Come to think of it I didn't see any PC games at all there either.