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

[BurningDoom]

I agree that GameStop is a monopoly. I don't know about other areas, but in California it most definetly is. There's 4 GameStops in my area, and not 1 other gaming store chain, not 1. There's a local a used music shop, and a local used movie store that both happen to sell used games. But they can't compete with GameStop on their level and they're locally owned and operated.

The only other chain I've even heard of that is specifically gaming and still operates is Play-N-Trade, which I have none of which in my area (but would LOVE to have one). All the GameCrazys over here shut down. All the EB Games were bought-out by GameStop, as were all the FuncoLands both years ago.

just because they're the only game store in your area, doesn't change the definition of "monopoly."

Like has been said before. department stores and other such stores still sell video games but they aren't the same as GameStop. I fully agree, that in the U.S. at least, GameStop has a monopoly when it comes to specialty game stores. I was just using my area as an example, since I live in California, one of the most populated areas in the U.S.

[lisalover1]

Well, hopefully, I will get a reply to my message, and it will be quoted in the text.

[noiseredux]

Like has been said before. department stores and other such stores still sell video games but they aren't the same as GameStop. I fully agree, that in the U.S. at least, GameStop has a monopoly when it comes to specialty game stores. I was just using my area as an example, since I live in California, one of the most populated areas in the U.S.

but that's not what monop-- nevermind.

[Hobie-wan]

Like has been said before. department stores and other such stores still sell video games but they aren't the same as GameStop. I fully agree, that in the U.S. at least, GameStop has a monopoly when it comes to specialty game stores. I was just using my area as an example, since I live in California, one of the most populated areas in the U.S.

People keep using that word, It does not mean what they think it means.

Monopoly means there is only one provider for some 'thing'. Full stop. If there is one place that provides something that is good and one or more that kinda suck, there is not a monopoly. Gamestop has a large portion of the market share and is more convenient as far as brick and mortar goes, but it is not a monopoly. If you don't want to go online, you can walk/drive/ride a horse to a store a hundred miles away or scour every store that sells games in a 50 mile radius to purchase from a competitor.

The Bell phone system was broken up and other companies came about to provide phone service because it was an important modern service and at the time you either used them or you had nothing. That was a monopoly.

[MrPopo]

Like has been said before. department stores and other such stores still sell video games but they aren't the same as GameStop. I fully agree, that in the U.S. at least, GameStop has a monopoly when it comes to specialty game stores. I was just using my area as an example, since I live in California, one of the most populated areas in the U.S.

People keep using that word, It does not mean what they think it means.

Inconceivable!

[Bradtemple87]

Like has been said before. department stores and other such stores still sell video games but they aren't the same as GameStop. I fully agree, that in the U.S. at least, GameStop has a monopoly when it comes to specialty game stores. I was just using my area as an example, since I live in California, one of the most populated areas in the U.S.

People keep using that word, It does not mean what they think it means.

Inconceivable!

Anybody want a peanut?

[CRTGAMER]

Well, hopefully, I will get a reply to my message, and it will be quoted in the text.

Did you send it to the direct Gamestop link I provided? It bypasses the lengthy survey and gets closely scrutinized. If you checked that box for the "District Manager Contact Me", and left your name and number, you will get a call within 24 hours.

I think your message is gone and buried at the Gamestop site, I too am curious what you wrote about. From your PM quote on the previous page? I would definitely copy paste that and submit to the Gamestop complaint Link. It shows the true pain of what we are going thru.

[BurningDoom]

Like has been said before. department stores and other such stores still sell video games but they aren't the same as GameStop. I fully agree, that in the U.S. at least, GameStop has a monopoly when it comes to specialty game stores. I was just using my area as an example, since I live in California, one of the most populated areas in the U.S.

People keep using that word, It does not mean what they think it means.

Monopoly means there is only one provider for some 'thing'. Full stop. If there is one place that provides something that is good and one or more that kinda suck, there is not a monopoly. Gamestop has a large portion of the market share and is more convenient as far as brick and mortar goes, but it is not a monopoly. If you don't want to go online, you can walk/drive/ride a horse to a store a hundred miles away or scour every store that sells games in a 50 mile radius to purchase from a competitor.

The Bell phone system was broken up and other companies came about to provide phone service because it was an important modern service and at the time you either used them or you had nothing. That was a monopoly.

Are we really going to argue semantics and definitions here? The point still stands. Gamestop is without a doubt dominating the specialty gaming store chains. What we're saying is that there are no other options to go to and that sucks. We used to have few different chains in the 80s and 90s.

[MrPopo]

Are we really going to argue semantics and definitions here? The point still stands. Gamestop is without a doubt dominating the specialty gaming store chains. What we're saying is that there are no other options to go to and that sucks. We used to have few different chains in the 80s and 90s.

Dominating? Sure. But there are other options. And you need to stop limiting yourself to specialty stores and start including larger stores like Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon.

[final fight cd]

i saw the picture that lisalover posted (i think it was lisalover). it's an awful sight, but not everybody is a "collector." people actually like to buy games just for the sake of playing...and that's it.

i have no clue how many of these loose games they actually sell, however. i would assume they are selling decently well since it seems a lot of stores are doing it.