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

[CRTGAMER]

Went in to Gamestop the other day. Was thrilled to find a really cheap used copy of La Pucelle: Tactics. Take case to the counter, clerk takes out game disc, SCRATCHED AS SHIT. Still bought it, as the music store in the next town can buff that shit for next to nothing and I'm taking some music CDs in there Monday.

But my question is, why the balls does Gamestop accept games in such shitty ass shape? I've refused/returned so many games because of this. Wouldn't this be hurting their business or do they just not give a shit? Do most "regular" consumers (casual gamers and kids) just not care?

Those scratched discs should not have been sold if really scratched up badly. Gamestop has their own refurbish program, the discs are sent out.

Look for the R stamp.

[BoringSupreez]

Went in to Gamestop the other day. Was thrilled to find a really cheap used copy of La Pucelle: Tactics. Take case to the counter, clerk takes out game disc, SCRATCHED AS SHIT. Still bought it, as the music store in the next town can buff that shit for next to nothing and I'm taking some music CDs in there Monday.

But my question is, why the balls does Gamestop accept games in such shitty ass shape? I've refused/returned so many games because of this. Wouldn't this be hurting their business or do they just not give a shit? Do most "regular" consumers (casual gamers and kids) just not care?

Those scratched discs should not have been sold if really scratched up badly. Gamestop has their own refurbish program, the discs are sent out.

Look for the R stamp.

There also used to be a BC stamp for 360-compatible oXbox games, although 99% of Gamestops no longer have any oXbox games.

[BlackDS]

Woohoo page 100 in the gamestop hate thread...almost

[Opa Opa]

Woohoo page 100 in the gamestop hate thread...almost

So much hate in this world.

[MrPopo]

But not unfounded.

[AdamGomez1987]

GameStop is not an evil company, I kind of wonder sometimes about the people they hire as they don't look like they're interested in games at all from the ones I shopped at. Between Game Stop and little 3rd party stores here like Media Replay and Game on, I wouldn't think twice about stopping at the other two because going to Game Stop and seeing a rack full of old PlayStation 2 games in ugly black blockbuster boxes makes me sad

[BoringSupreez]

But my question is, why the balls does Gamestop accept games in such shitty ass shape? I've refused/returned so many games because of this. Wouldn't this be hurting their business or do they just not give a shit? Do most "regular" consumers (casual gamers and kids) just not care?

I have a younger brother who had to go through 3 copies of Ratchet and Clank Up Your Arsenal before he got a working one from GS. They have the lowest standards, seriously. A random game from Goodwill is more likely to work than what GS offers.

Woohoo page 100 in the gamestop hate thread...almost

So much hate in this world.

But not unfounded.

This is why we've gone on this long.

[CRTGAMER]

GameStop is not an evil company, I kind of wonder sometimes about the people they hire as they don't look like they're interested in games at all from the ones I shopped at. Between Game Stop and little 3rd party stores here like Media Replay and Game on, I wouldn't think twice about stopping at the other two because going to Game Stop and seeing a rack full of old PlayStation 2 games in ugly black blockbuster boxes makes me sad

At least they have a case, think of the original cases and manuals Gamestop themselves destroyed. PS2 games in Yellow Envelopes make me puke.

[YoshiEgg25]

At least they have a case, think of the original cases and manuals Gamestop themselves destroyed. PS2 games in Yellow Envelopes make me puke.

Man, your doctors must think you have an eating disorder then or something.

[CRTGAMER]

One hundred pages of posts about Gamestop

I look back on all the rants about Gamestop with gummy stickers, customer service positive and negative, preorder issues, removing competitors online tickets and clearance shovelware. One policy I think is detested by most is the purposeful destroying of PS2 game cases and Manuals to make room in the store. First the under five dollar PS2 games, then under ten dollar games. Then after destroying all the cases, corporate came out with space robbing generic top seller cases.



Back on Page 37 Ziggy came up with a petition idea to get action out of every ones concerns. Really made me think considering that Gamestop is the largest nation wide supplier of used video games. Inspired me to pursue a campaign against the case toss out.

My concerns were and still is not only the PS2 games but other console used games that might meet the same fate.

Here is the complaint letter I posted earlier to the online "Tell Gamestop" customer suggestion site. Anyone is welcome to copy and paste any part to your own customer survey from you sales receipt or even better the direct "Tell Gamestop" Customer Suggestion link at the bottom of this Reply.

The local Gamestop is tossing out PS2 manuals, cases and covers and then merchandising only the game discs in yellow envelopes in a cardboard display. Not just under five dollar games either, what a waste of gaming history. All games should be sold complete when possible, part of gaming experience, even the rare five dollar games.

PLEASE STOP DOING THIS! SELL GAMES WITH ALL ORIGINAL COVERS, ORIGINAL CASES (WHICH HAVE A MEMORY CARD HOLDER) AND ESPECIALLY GAME MANUALS! A TRAY FULL OF DISC ONLY ENVELOPES, WHO WOULD WASTE THEIR TIME LOOKING THRU THAT?

I understand trying to make space by throwing out cases for under ten dollar PS2 games. I don't understand putting PS2 generic "Best Seller" cases in their place, there is still no game manual inside. The generic display case even states the game might not be in stock. The irony is the generic "Best Sellers" cases are displayed with PS2 game discs inside yellow envelopes that no longer have cases and manuals. A real pain not only in tracking down a given title, but why even bother with no instruction manual or original case?

A SOLUTION TO HELP FREE UP SPACE
THROW OUT GENERIC CASES ONLY, KEEP ANY THAT ARE ORIGINAL. READING THE GAME MANUAL IS PART OF THE GAMING EXPERIENCE. AT LEAST KEEP THE GAME MANUAL AND COVER INSERT WITH THE GAME DISC IN THE YELLOW ENVELOPE IF THE CASES HAVE TO BE TOSSED.

The Ugly
Already mentioned the PS2 case toss, I don't think anything can be worse then that. Oh wait is there a new Nintendo coming out next year. We'll see if all the complaints will keep the Gamecube and Wii used games whole.

It has been over a year now and so far other console disc based games are still intact, Maybe the members who helped to voice concerns to Gamestop helped to keep the other games intact? The most amazing part is how much room all the used Wii games are taking and so far no cases or manuals have been tossed out.

District Managers get audited on customer complaints. The truth of the matter is that if you complain to corporate and not at the store level, the DM has to somehow placate the customer. Don't believe me ask CRT who was given a giftcard and a few kind words.

All in the results
The direct complaint response does work! Corporate does require the District Manager to call the customer if the "Call Customer" box is checked off. Maybe the case toss policy won't change, but at least in my local store they are now saving the cases on trade ins. If enough complaints go in maybe the policy will change for your store too. If anything, other systems won't meet the same fate as the next wave of New consoles come out.

The direct complaint not the Survey gets scrutinized a lot closer
I didn't really care about the twenty dollar gift card, but it was nice to get. The real gratitude is at least my local store will keep the cases and I now have direct phone and EMail to my local District Managers with a great rapport. I also use the direct complaint box for POSITIVE Feedback as well. There are some great employees taking good care of me, so happy to return the favor and hopefully they gain in an increased paycheck.

If anyone sees any other console used games suffer the same fate as the used PS2 games, please post here and let Gamestop know!

Here is the direct Gamestop link that bypasses the survey post any Good, Bad and Ugly: http://mfisurvey.marketforce.com/GameStop/IndexCC.aspx