Musings/questions about gamestop and supply & demand

[Terzo]

I'll start out with an observation about gamestop. Their reputation, at least amongst the more hardcore crowd, seems lacking. I've noticed (and agree with) a dissatisfaction with their business model; buying used games for next to nothing and then selling them at practically the same price as a new game. The claims that employees will open games, play them, then reseal them to be sold as new doesn't help either. Nor does the "gutting." Granted I'm not quite sure what that is, but I have a pretty good idea.
Apparently they still offer good deals, based on my purchasing pattern. Of the five games for the ps3 I have bought, 4 of them are from gamestop and all are new. This is because when I bought those games they were the lowest price that I could find (even cheaper than what used copies I could find). Even though most of those prices were due to the ongoing gamesday sale, I still find it amusing that most of my purchases have been new and from gamestop.
However, I also find that their brick & mortar stores are disappointing. Ordering online you are almost guaranteed to be able to find a usable coupon, and some of their "First x customers" offerings are pretty damn sweet. Adding in the free shipping for orders over 25 bucks, the online experience is often cheaper and more convenient than going to a physical location. The only reason I could think of going to the store is to find titles that are rarer and not available for online purchase.
This leads to my question; how has the online gamestop not driven it's brick & mortar stores out of business? My best guess is either not that many people use it or the physical locations are easy places for trading in games.

My other question is more general. It seems to me that there is a larger supply of 360 games (compared to ps3). Not exclusives, but multiplatform games. I've noticed this in both the new and used markets; the ps3 sections on store shelves (target, gamestop, microcenter) seems much smaller than that for the 360. Similarly, used games seem more plentiful for the 360 whereas the same title might only have one ore two copies available for the ps3.
Is it just me or is there a larger supply of 360 games? And if so, does that mean the 360 is more widespread than the ps3? It sounds like that was the case a few years ago, but I'm not sure about now.

 

[dguy6789]

Stores in general(not just Gamestop) have more 360 games than PS3 games because a lot more people have 360s than PS3s.

 

[BoberFett]

I purchase new from them sometimes, depends on the price or the incentive for a pre-order. I bought Just Cause 2 from them since it came with a couple exclusive items and picked it up at the local store on launch day. They just had a big online sale and picked up Pure, Prototype, COD:WaW and ACII for 360 new at good prices. I've purchased some used games from them from time to time as well, and it's nice to be able to browse what's on the shelf and take it home rather than wait for delivery. My experience with them has generally been positive.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

This leads to my question; how has the online gamestop not driven it's brick & mortar stores out of business? My best guess is either not that many people use it or the physical locations are easy places for trading in games.

Physical stores are convenient, and the Gamestop business model caters to impulse buying, which is why everything caters to quick turnaround in buying games, then playing it for a week and trading it in for credit on the next new game before the trade-in value drops.

A secondary (but probably not really significant) factor is that buying used games from a brick and mortar store allows you to verify the quality of the item you're purchasing (case, art, instruction booklet, etc.). If I buy anything used from Gamestop, I do it in person, and ignore the website, even if the deals are marginally better.

Is it just me or is there a larger supply of 360 games? And if so, does that mean the 360 is more widespread than the ps3? It sounds like that was the case a few years ago, but I'm not sure about now.

As people have noted, the XBox has a larger install base than the PS3, but, as the first to market of the current generation of consoles, its game library is (likely) larger and somewhat older, which means there are more people willing to part with those games that have been sitting around unplayed for years rather than merely months.

 

[Beev]

Gamestops are actually working on their whole "gutting" system. Stickering as well. All Gamestops nationwide are switching to just ONE facing of a game, unless it's in the new release section, and that's it. That should lead to a lot more factory sealed copies of games. Less important, but still noteworthy, they are changing all of their stickers to white. You won't see yellow stickers on used games anymore, once everything is changed over of course.

The problem with Gamestops is that they are very blatantly a corporation. They clearly aren't very useful to a real gamer, because all they are trying to do is turn a profit. Gamestops are extremely useful for parents, though. Most of them don't know much about games, so a Gamestop is a fantastic place for them to go.

 

[mugs]

Gamestops are actually working on their whole "gutting" system. Stickering as well. All Gamestops nationwide are switching to just ONE facing of a game, unless it's in the new release section, and that's it. That should lead to a lot more factory sealed copies of games. Less important, but still noteworthy, they are changing all of their stickers to white. You won't see yellow stickers on used games anymore, once everything is changed over of course.

I noticed that and I don't really like it.

I buy used games at Gamestop when they have buy 2 get 1 free sales or some good coupon. 10% EDGE card discount stacks with other discounts.

 

[Beev]

Yeah, the Edge discount stacks with ALL promotions. If you would have gotten the discount before promotion, you'll get it with it too. That's why when they were doing the 50% bonus trade in value it was an amazing deal. You could sell Mass Effect 2 back for $56 and buy it used for $50 :awe:

 

[BoberFett]

The problem with Gamestops is that they are very blatantly a corporation. They clearly aren't very useful to a real gamer, because all they are trying to do is turn a profit.

/facepalm

 

[Beev]

/facepalm

Elaborate and contribute, or go away. Hardcore gamers have no reason to not like Gamestop except that they open product and sell it as new, and they push subscriptions down your throat (like almost EVERY retailer). I consider myself a "hardcore" gamer and almost exclusively shop at Gamestop. They're convenient, almost always have what I want, and the price is the same as anywhere else.

People bitch about Gamestop ALL the time, and very few have a leg to stand on. So tell me, denizens of AT, why do you hate Gamestop? Not trying to hijack the thread, but I'm curious to hear why the company seems so evil.

 

[purbeast0]

Beev your logic makes absolutely no sense when you say 'they arent useful to a real gamer becaus all they want to do is turn profit.'

that is one of the dumbest logics i've ever seen and makes no sense.

i'm a real gamer and i find gamestop extremely useful. as soon as a game is announced as coming out i can go there and pay in full for a game so that i can just stop by and pick it up when it is released. i also have about 4 within a 1 mile radius of where i live, so it's very convenient.

'the nfl isn't very useful to real football fans because all they are trying to do is turn a profit...'

 

[Beev]

Beev your logic makes absolutely no sense when you say 'they arent useful to a real gamer becaus all they want to do is turn profit.'

that is one of the dumbest logics i've ever seen and makes no sense.

i'm a real gamer and i find gamestop extremely useful. as soon as a game is announced as coming out i can go there and pay in full for a game so that i can just stop by and pick it up when it is released. i also have about 4 within a 1 mile radius of where i live, so it's very convenient.

'the nfl isn't very useful to real football fans because all they are trying to do is turn a profit...'

Perhaps I worded it poorly, my apologies. What I meant is, they push "shady" practices because it's profitable, which turns off gamers. Things like Edge cards, or gameplay guarantees, etc. I'm with you, I use them all the time.

 

[gorcorps]

Despite the growing popularity of e-shopping, the 'common joe' still doesn't use or trust it all that much. Plus a large part of gamestop's business is early-mid teens, which won't be able to buy online (no CC) so the store is the only option.

 

[BoberFett]

Elaborate and contribute, or go away. Hardcore gamers have no reason to not like Gamestop except that they open product and sell it as new, and they push subscriptions down your throat (like almost EVERY retailer). I consider myself a "hardcore" gamer and almost exclusively shop at Gamestop. They're convenient, almost always have what I want, and the price is the same as anywhere else.

People bitch about Gamestop ALL the time, and very few have a leg to stand on. So tell me, denizens of AT, why do you hate Gamestop? Not trying to hijack the thread, but I'm curious to hear why the company seems so evil.

I'm confused. First you said that Gamestop was NOT useful to a real gamer because they make a profit, clearly unlike all those game publishers and developers who all to it for free out of the goodness of their hearts. Then you turn around and say that you shop there exclusively. Which is it?

 

[Terzo]

It sounds like my latter question has been answered; the 360 has been out longer and is more popular, so it has a larger user base.

People bitch about Gamestop ALL the time, and very few have a leg to stand on. So tell me, denizens of AT, why do you hate Gamestop? Not trying to hijack the thread, but I'm curious to hear why the company seems so evil.

From what I've gathered it just has happened over time. Someone may have bought a new game only to find out it had been played and resealed, then complains about it on a forum. Other people who have had the same thing happen chime in. A recent example I've noticed is that some people are unable to combine preorder credit with certain deals. This is frustrating to them and pushes them away. People who haven't experienced these issues see that it does happen and grow wary of gamestop. It's just little things like that. There is a large amount of animosity towards gamestop online and people "absorb" it.
Personally, I go with what the best deal is. That being said I would give preference to amazon over gamestop if prices are equal. Amazon is a pretty good competitor if you pre-order. Bad Company 2 is a great example; ~$57 pre-order price with a $20 video game credit. You effectively pay $37 for a game that still retails around 50 a month after release. Granted, that $20 credit is tied up in amazon, but the same thing happens when you trade in a game at gamestop (unless you ask for cash, but as far as I understand those values are even worse than the credit).

 

[gorcorps]

It sounds like my latter question has been answered; the 360 has been out longer and is more popular, so it has a larger user base.


From what I've gathered it just has happened over time. Someone may have bought a new game only to find out it had been played and resealed, then complains about it on a forum. Other people who have had the same thing happen chime in. A recent example I've noticed is that some people are unable to combine preorder credit with certain deals. This is frustrating to them and pushes them away. People who haven't experienced these issues see that it does happen and grow wary of gamestop. It's just little things like that. There is a large amount of animosity towards gamestop online and people "absorb" it.
Personally, I go with what the best deal is. That being said I would give preference to amazon over gamestop if prices are equal. Amazon is a pretty good competitor if you pre-order. Bad Company 2 is a great example; ~$57 pre-order price with a $20 video game credit. You effectively pay $37 for a game that still retails around 50 a month after release. Granted, that $20 credit is tied up in amazon, but the same thing happens when you trade in a game at gamestop (unless you ask for cash, but as far as I understand those values are even worse than the credit).

It's not that we 'happen to find out' our new game wasn't really new. It's just that they keep discs behind the desk with just the empty cases on the shelf. I've never heard of them resealing a game and selling it like that. You know right when you bought it that they opened it to keep the disc behind the counter. For new and popular games they'll still have plenty of sealed copies too if you ask for them, but not for long and not for very many games.

 

[Beev]

I'm confused. First you said that Gamestop was NOT useful to a real gamer because they make a profit, clearly unlike all those game publishers and developers who all to it for free out of the goodness of their hearts. Then you turn around and say that you shop there exclusively. Which is it?

/sigh

I was commenting on how the general consensus among gamers is that Gamestop sucks. I do not share this mentality.

 

[pathos]

I use gamestop most of the time. But, I've found a method of using them (new games) that actually works for me. Web reservation.

Simply put, I order it online, but get it shipped to the closest gamestop instead of my house. The game comes in at the same time the store gets their shipments. I don't have to pay anything until I pick the game up. I don't have to be home to sign for the package. I don't pay shipping. And, best of all, they don't open my game. Stays factory sealed.

I've always wondered why more people don't do that.

 

[blurredvision]

My only problem with Gamestop is the aforementioned practice of "gutting" games to put the box on the shelf. To me, if I'm going to pay the new price for a game, I want it still in the shrink wrap. I completely understand that these games are digital and them being opened in no way compromises the integrity of the product (unless the disc is scratched), but to me, buying something new should mean it's 100% new.

If I ever buy a new game at Gamestop (which isn't often anymore), I require it to be shrink-wrapped, even if it's a $20 greatest hits title. I've walked out of Gamestop a couple of times in the past because of this and they lost my money.

With that said, I have absolutely no problem with their practice of buying and selling in the used game market. Many people complain that they purchase low and sell high. I see nothing wrong with this, it's just smart business. They aren't forcing anybody to sell their games, they are simply giving an option. If you don't like it, then don't partake and certainly don't complain.

 

[purbeast0]

My only problem with Gamestop is the aforementioned practice of "gutting" games to put the box on the shelf. To me, if I'm going to pay the new price for a game, I want it still in the shrink wrap. I completely understand that these games are digital and them being opened in no way compromises the integrity of the product (unless the disc is scratched), but to me, buying something new should mean it's 100% new.

i don't really see why people have issues with this, they dont use any trickery to get you to buy a 'new' game that is already open.

i've shopped at quite a few gamestops, and i've ran into this issue 3 times. every time though they TOLD me that the only copy they had left was the display one and that it wasn't sealed. it wasnt like they tricked me into buying it already open and i didn't find out till after the fact.

i simply did not buy the game because it wasn't sealed and went to another store to get it.

 

[RedRooster]

With that said, I have absolutely no problem with their practice of buying and selling in the used game market. Many people complain that they purchase low and sell high. I see nothing wrong with this, it's just smart business. They aren't forcing anybody to sell their games, they are simply giving an option. If you don't like it, then don't partake and certainly don't complain.

It would sure endear them to their customers to be a little more flexible with used game prices though. If they're making 5-10 dollars on a used game instead of 20-30, there would be a TON more impluse buys of their used games and they wouldn't be sitting on a stockpile of 40 copies of Crackdown or an entire shelf of Little Big Planet. I guess a gamer can dare to dream. 😀

 

[blurredvision]

i don't really see why people have issues with this, they dont use any trickery to get you to buy a 'new' game that is already open.

i've shopped at quite a few gamestops, and i've ran into this issue 3 times. every time though they TOLD me that the only copy they had left was the display one and that it wasn't sealed. it wasnt like they tricked me into buying it already open and i didn't find out till after the fact.

i simply did not buy the game because it wasn't sealed and went to another store to get it.

I never said they used any kind of trickery to get you to buy it, it's just something that I'm aware of and, like you, will not buy it if it's been opened. Sometimes you want to buy a game and the only new copy(s) they have left are gutted, which sucks. Like you, I turn around and walk out. Doesn't mean I can't still disagree with it.

It should be quite obvious to anyone with even a minuscule amount of observation skills that they are paying new for an opened game, and if they don't care, then all is well. When I worked at Gamestop part-time about 3 years ago, I honestly can't recall more than one or two times where somebody actually refused to buy a game because I was giving them the opened shelf box because no more sealed copies were in stock.

 

[purbeast0]

yea i definitely don't like the practice but it doesn't bother me cause it is easily avoidable.

and i also don't trust that all those copies are 'new' either. i know a few people who worked at gamestop/babbages/eb during my late teens and those 'new' games were always at their house, usually before the release date of the game.

 

[blurredvision]

and i also don't trust that all those copies are 'new' either. i know a few people who worked at gamestop/babbages/eb during my late teens and those 'new' games were always at their house, usually before the release date of the game.

Yeah, I've told my story on this forum before about that when I worked there. I played Madden 08 for about a week, then brought it back on launch night and it was sold to somebody at some point. The manager and I also played Guitar Hero 80's for a couple of nights before launch, then stuck the gutted box on the wall on launch morning.

Kinda weird that I'm against the practice unless I'm the one involved. It wouldn't be any different if I worked at Gamestop now. 😛

 

[xboxist]

Gamestop left a really sour taste in my mouth one day when I tried to buy a new game from them. The clerk proceeded to walk over to the display rack, pick up the game's case, take it back to the counter, thumb through a giant drawer of discs in plastic bags labeled "NEW," pull out the game I want and put it into the case he just pulled from the front of the store.

He didn't even make an attempt to shrinkwrap it to at least give the appearance of newness. Which would have helped at least a little because I was buying the game as a gift for someone.

To put it mildly, I was dumbfounded that they tried to sell me a game that was clearly not new. "New" being: unopened with zero chance for tampering. I don't care if it has never actually been played. If it's a security measure - F them. They can install better measures in their stores if that's the case. Don't gut your product and just leave empty cases on the walls.

I did not buy the game and I'm not certain... but I don't think I've been back since. It just all really annoyed me.

 

[Beev]

If it's a security measure - F them. They can install better measures in their stores if that's the case.

I was waiting for this comment.

Pray tell, what should they do in order to have security so good they can keep live product on the walls? Keep it all behind glass so customers can't read the cases?