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

[TSTR]

i hope gamestop isn't evil and calls me for an interview

[dsheinem]

i hope gamestop isn't evil and calls me for an interview

if you have posted in this thread and at all QUESTIONED THE GREAT CORPORATE OVERLORDS AND THEIR BENEVOLENCE you can pretty much rule out an interview.

I still think the original name for this thread should be revived: http://racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 50#p419350

[flojocabron]

i hope gamestop isn't evil and calls me for an interview

Do it! Tell us how it is working for the empire!



Credit cards can be a good or a bad thing.

Gamestop wants in on their demographic.

Can you imagine how proud you can be with your first credit card from your favorite store?

Dad can keep his best buy card. Mom can have her JC penny card. I have my own gamestop credit card.

I'm defying trends by saying gamestops credit card will have some success. There's lots of dumb folk out there who cant get any credit and gamestop card will be their first card.

Whats definitely going to be evil with them is that Gamestop is going to shove their credit card offers down our necks and there's nothing we can do about it.

I work for a major retail and during a morning store meeting, credit and signing people up is a major part of the store's goals.

So lets just remember that it's not the employees fault that they are being more annoying than usual with them pushing credit. They're being forced to by their higher ups.

Gotta maintain those numbers.

[Luke]

GameStop has a store charge card now.

It seems to work just like most other store cards (like Best Buy, etc). Spend $500 or more and get 6 months no interest. You need GameStop Power Up Rewards. Pro Members get 15k points and Basic Members get 5k points for signing up. It's offered through Comenity Capital Bank, I've never heard of them.

Comenity is HUGE.

This is a no-brainer for Game Stop.

Plus a 27% apr for people who sign up and don't spend $500? Ouch.

[TSTR]

I'm pretty sure I've only spoken good things of the Great Overlord in this thread, so I ahould be good.

[Ziggy]

Plus a 27% apr for people who sign up and don't spend $500? Ouch.

All of these types of cards have interest rates that high though.

[Luke]

Plus a 27% apr for people who sign up and don't spend $500? Ouch.

All of these types of cards have interest rates that high though.

Wow. That's insane, borderline scary. I can't even see a revolver accepting those rates. One missed payment and holy toledo.

I mean, I understand how one with money would sign up for zero interest on a whim to waste money and spoil themselves with the latest full priced console and games, pay it back and not pay a percentage on top, but that is not the average credit card user.

Sheesh, at 27% you're basically enabling usury.

[Ziggy]

Gotta maintain those numbers.

Ugh. I completely understand it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I don't mind getting asked "Would you like to sign up for a credit card, you'll get this and that and this and that and it's the most amazing thing ever" when I'm getting rung up. Really, I don't mind at all. But as soon as some one says no, they should stop the pitch.

The worst place around here for that is Kohls. When you're getting rung up they'll relentlessly ask you to sign up for a card, and they keep pitching it to you even after you say no. The last time I shopped in a Kohls I had to tell the cashier no several times before she stopped pitching it to me. And even after that, after ringing all my items, I was told how much I WOULD save on my purchase if I sign up for the card. Thanks, I can usually estimate what 20% of something is. And didn't I already make myself perfectly clear? You shouldn't have to be badgered at a register. What if I'm in a hurry and I just want to pay and go? You shouldn't be pressured into signing up for a credit card. In fact, isn't there some law against doing this? There should be. You shouldn't have to explain yourself to a cashier, a complete stranger, why you don't want to sign up for a credit card. They should just take no for an answer. And don't be surprised when repeat customers start the transaction off by saying "I DON'T WANT TO SIGN UP FOR THE CREDIT CARD, PLEASE DON'T EVEN ASK, I'M ALREADY AWARE OF IT, I JUST WANT TO PAY FOR MY THINGS AND LEAVE."

GameStop isn't nearly as bad, but borderline IMO. Depending on my mood, they're sometimes annoying. EVERY business should answer the phone with the location (if there's multiple), then name of the business, then a "How can I help you?" Maybe insert a "My name is ___" before the "How can I help you?" The essential info is there, and it doesn't waste any ones time. Why does GameStop feel the need to insert a sales pitch about pre-ordering a game? I'm just calling for the business hours, I didn't want to chat.

GameStop isn't too annoying at the register though. They'll tell you about the rewards card if you don't have one, or ask you to renew the Pro membership if it expired. Then they usually ask if you'd like to pre-order any games. But they always stop asking as soon as I say no. Will the credit card offer now be tacked onto this?

[Ziggy]

Plus a 27% apr for people who sign up and don't spend $500? Ouch.

All of these types of cards have interest rates that high though.

I mean, I understand how one with money would sign up for zero interest on a whim to waste money and spoil themselves with the latest full priced console and games, pay it back and not pay a percentage on top, but that is not the average credit card user.

Sheesh, at 27% you're basically enabling usury.

Special financing offers on these high interest rate cards are the only way I've been able to afford certain things. You just gotta make sure you pay off the balance before the promotional period ends so you don't get slammed with the deferred interest. The TV is $1200 and you have 12 months to pay it off. Can you afford $100/month for the next 12 months? No? Then don't do it. If you know you can't and you do it anyway, then you were likely to get in trouble with credit cards anyway. Even a "normal" credit card.

[Luke]

Special financing offers on these high interest rate cards are the only way I've been able to afford certain things. You just gotta make sure you pay off the balance before the promotional period ends so you don't get slammed with the deferred interest. The TV is $1200 and you have 12 months to pay it off. Can you afford $100/month for the next 12 months? No? Then don't do it. If you know you can't and you do it anyway, then you were likely to get in trouble with credit cards anyway. Even a "normal" credit card.

But is that what the majority of people do? Of course not.

A house aside, my philosophy has always been "If you don't have the cash in hand, you can't afford it". For example, I recently purchased a new washer and dryer. Got a Lowe's Card to save 20%, paid the first balance in full, cancelled the card.

I can't predict the future (not trying to be snarky) so I have no clue what my finances will be like in the next twelve months. Wife could get pregnant, I could have to visit the hospital, and my car is long in the tooth so i have to prepare for that.

What it boils down to for me is that there would be a possibility of having to pay nearly a 30 apr (not including possible compounding). To me that's putting yourself in a corner. A corner that can't wait to rape your wallet.

And I'm in the minority on this line of thought but if I can't afford it on spot, I don't buy it. Expendable goods are luxuries, not necessities. If I had to take out a loan for a heart surgery or for higher education, sure. But a loan for video games or a pair of khakis? That's just silly.

And I'm not equating debt with responsibility. I know plenty of people who are responsible with plenty of debt. But me...can't stand any amount of debt at all.