What stores that sell games piss you off? What bad experiences?

[pontifex]

oh, and EB was exactly the same as Gamestop, even before the merger, at least in pricing of new and used games and stock.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
Uh, I've never NOT had Best Buy/Wal Mart have a game available on the launch date.

For my response, read past your first bolded part:

Originally posted by: peritusONE
First, Gamestop is the one place that you KNOW will have a game on or the day after the ship date/release date. Granted, they may sell out before you can get to the store, but at least you have an option if you don't trust the same-day delivery online options. Many other stores are finally getting better with this, but for the big name titles, you know exactly who will have it, and you have options to ensure you have it at the very first moment possible.

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
Do you still work for GameStop? You sound like a press statement...

No I do not. I worked there part-time for 3 months mainly because I had started a 2nd shift job, and I got bored as hell sitting at the house doing nothing in the morning. So I found another job to make a little extra cash.

While the perks were great for a gamer (free "rentals" of any game in the store, 15% discount on anything), the job itself sucked, especially when the cool manager went to another store and this douchebag replaced her. I still shop at that particular store, and the manager has tried to get me to come back, but there's no way I'd ever do it, because of him and because of Gamestop's policies for employees. It's not worth the minimum wage.

However, when people post in a thread like this and complaining, I just picture them going into a Gamestop, looking at a recently released game that is used for $55, then getting all pissed and stomping out. There's no sense in that, like purbeast said earlier, nobody is forcing you to buy or trade in used games.

I've been buying my new games on release day from Best Buy, Wal Mart, Circuit City (when it existed) for years (at least a decade). They're not "finally getting better". They've always been fine. It's just been a marketing gimmick by GameStop to say that they'll have your game on launch day (when in fact they probably won't, in reality being worse than the aforementioned stores)!

I don't buy games from GameStop. I don't trade in games at GameStop. I see it for the rip-off it is, and the kind of shoddy service they provide, and I avoid that store like the plague. I'm not one of those you claimed go into the store and "getting all pissed and stomping out". Heck, I don't even buy used games, because it's not worth saving a measly $5 to get a game/case/booklet that could be in who-knows-what-kind-of-shape.

And yes, I could imagine working for GameStop would suck. I've heard horror stories...

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: erwos
GameStop's number one advantage, in my mind, is that I can actually go online to see what the hell they've got in stock at a particular store with reasonable accuracy. Their prices tend to be reasonable on some older RPGs, too.

When GameStop fails, I usually turn to Goozex or eBay. Both are time-consuming and expensive, but they do mostly guarantee I'll get what I want in the condition I want it in.

When I buy on eBay, I usually save at least 25% off the price that GameStop/a retail store would charge, even if you count shipping costs from the seller.

Do you look at the price, or do you just buy the first one on the list? I am seriously confused by your statement. One of the main reasons I shop at Amazon and sometimes eBay are the serious savings I can find over MSRP.

And time-consuming? I search up my product, I find the best deal, I click buy, I pay. Takes like five minutes. It would take me longer to physically drive to a retail store than it takes me to buy online.



The shipping times are kind of a bummer, but I am willing to be patient to save lots of money. With eBay, I usually get my item within a week (I only buy from reputable sellers). With Amazon, the money I save by not shopping at GameStop, I could put towards Amazon Prime (free two-day shipping) and still come out way ahead.

Just lots of about people's claims about online shopping...it's easy and saves you a boatload of money for minimal effort. I spend less time shopping online than it would take me to drive to a brick and mortar store, find the game, stand in line to pay, and drive home.

 

[mmntech]

I have a love/hate relationship with EB Games ever since they refused to exchange a game I had bought that was damaged. I refuse to shop at that specific location. It also irritates me that they actually require a drivers license/ID check if you sell your used games to them. Even the car rental place I work at only requires an ID check if your license is out of province. I only did that once, never again. However, I do like them because they do have a large stock and variety of used titles given that new copies are usually way too expensive here.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: pontifex
oh, and EB was exactly the same as Gamestop, even before the merger, at least in pricing of new and used games and stock.

EB was, but they were awesome when they still went by "Electronics Boutique".

Wow, I feel really old now...

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
I've been buying my new games on release day from Best Buy, Wal Mart, Circuit City (when it existed) for years (at least a decade). They're not "finally getting better". They've always been fine. It's just been a marketing gimmick by GameStop to say that they'll have your game on launch day (when in fact they probably won't, in reality being worse than the aforementioned stores)!

You must live in a high-volume market, because I think most everyone else will highly disagree that you could buy games on release day a decade ago. As recent as a couple of years ago, Best Buy and Circuit City would often have little notes in their ad papers that would say "Game on store shelves Thursday at noon" when places like Gamestop would have it on Tuesday.

I guess we'll just have to chalk it up to different experiences, because in my market, it's still kinda difficult to find anything but the triple-A titles at places like Best Buy (although it's MUCH better than just 2 years ago, like I was saying).

 

[erwos]

They're time consuming and expensive _compared to GameStop_. It's been my experience that sellers really take you for a ride on eBay and Amazon.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: mmntech
It also irritates me that they actually require a drivers license/ID check if you sell your used games to them. Even the car rental place I work at only requires an ID check if your license is out of province.

When I worked at Gamestop, it was explained to me that in my particular state, Gamestop was considered on the same level as a pawn shop, since they bought used items. So it was state law that we took some form of photo ID. May be the same in your state. So even if Gamestop didn't want to, they don't have a choice in the matter if they want to stay in business.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: mmntech
It also irritates me that they actually require a drivers license/ID check if you sell your used games to them. Even the car rental place I work at only requires an ID check if your license is out of province.

When I worked at Gamestop, it was explained to me that in my particular state, Gamestop was considered on the same level as a pawn shop, since they bought used items. So it was state law that we took some form of photo ID. May be the same in your state. So even if Gamestop didn't want to, they don't have a choice in the matter if they want to stay in business.

Yes, that is the explanation I got as well. Some places actually take fingerprints if you try and sell used games! :Q

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
I've been buying my new games on release day from Best Buy, Wal Mart, Circuit City (when it existed) for years (at least a decade). They're not "finally getting better". They've always been fine. It's just been a marketing gimmick by GameStop to say that they'll have your game on launch day (when in fact they probably won't, in reality being worse than the aforementioned stores)!

You must live in a high-volume market, because I think most everyone else will highly disagree that you could buy games on release day a decade ago. As recent as a couple of years ago, Best Buy and Circuit City would often have little notes in their ad papers that would say "Game on store shelves Thursday at noon" when places like Gamestop would have it on Tuesday.

I guess we'll just have to chalk it up to different experiences, because in my market, it's still kinda difficult to find anything but the triple-A titles at places like Best Buy (although it's MUCH better than just 2 years ago, like I was saying).

A decade ago, I lived in the rural part of a city of about 50,000. Not big or a "high-volume" market by any stretch of the imagination, and they always had games available at CC/BB on release date.

Even now, I live kind out of in the boonies, and our rural Wal Mart has stacks of the latest games available on launch date. The local Best Buy, which is more in town, is the same as well.

I'm not saying my experience should apply to everyone, but neither should you claim that "most everyone else will highly disagree with you".

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw
Gamestop is largely evil, but their powers are occasionally used for good, such as the frequent buy 2 used, get 1 free sales.

Yes, combine this with your Gamercard for an extra 10% off, and it is FTW!


Gamestop is also a good place to get out-of-print games you might want to revisit. Although (except for PS2 games IMO) the selection is normally pretty lacking. I just grabbed Conan for PS3 there yesterday. It was $16.35 after my 10% off discount, which was cheaper than the lowest seller on Amazon.com, and price competitive with eBay, with the benefit of instant gratification.

 

[swaytech]

I have to say that I prefer to use local shops over gamestop etc. I enjoy their stores so I support them and Most of the time I prefer not to deal with some of the hassles that come with selling online.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer

Originally posted by: pontifex
oh, and EB was exactly the same as Gamestop, even before the merger, at least in pricing of new and used games and stock.

EB was, but they were awesome when they still went by "Electronics Boutique".

Wow, I feel really old now...

Even electronics boutique, same thing. same prices for new and used games. i remember selling a SNES game to them for like $5 and then seeing it on the shelf for 30 not too long after.

 

[pontifex]

speaking of the buy 2 used, get one free deal, is there a price limit on the free one? for instance, could i buy 2 games for $20 and then get my free one that costs $50?

 

[pontifex]

speaking of the buy 2 used, get one free deal, is there a price limit on the free one? for instance, could i buy 2 games for $20 and then get my free one that costs $50?

 

[DaveSimmons]

What I hate about GameStop is that they have enough market power to get exclusive content for even the regular editions of games.

I have some store credit at Amazon but will probably pre-order Dragon Age from GS for the extra in-game item. :|

 

[darkeneddays]

Originally posted by: pontifex
speaking of the buy 2 used, get one free deal, is there a price limit on the free one? for instance, could i buy 2 games for $20 and then get my free one that costs $50?

No. The free one must be equal to or less than the lowest price one you bought. In your example, your free one would have to be $20 or less.

 

[sonambulo]

Gamestop is shit-tacular. This is known. We all agree on this.

However, I have used their deals many times to flip and fold into bigger and better deals at other sites. The Amazon trade-in thing with B2G1 was a godsend for me.

 

[Saulbadguy]

I get annoyed with the local Gamestop but it doesn't stop me from going there and checking out the used games deals, and I generally pre-order my games there for whatever reason.

One incident stands out in my mind that really pissed me off. I pre-ordered Civilization 4 Collectors Edition. They "ran out" before I could get mine. It reminded me of the episode of Seinfeld when Jerry reserved the car, but they did not keep the car for him..."You know how to take the reservation, you just don't know how to KEEP the reservation."

I was tempted to just go buy the game at Bestbuy but they did not have the collectors edition, which I was looking forward to. It took gamestop about a week and a half to get my pre-ordered copy in.

To be fair, the same thing happened at Bestbuy with Unreal Tournament 2004 special edition, but they never got anymore copies in.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw
Gamestop is largely evil, but their powers are occasionally used for good, such as the frequent buy 2 used, get 1 free sales.

This is the only time I step foot in GS and I don't regret it.

 

[pontifex]

bought 4 used games at gamestop today

 

[Baked]

I refuse to buy games @ GS, even when they're on sale. I buy all my stuff @ amazon or target when they're on sale, clearance, or price cut.