more news of gamestop messing with customers

[Benstamania]

When I worked there we talked about seeing GS one day eventually being a used game only store based on two things.

1.) How much more they prefer used sales.

2.) How much devs hate the used game market.

May not happen for a while... May not happen ever... But I can see devs pulling their games out of GS if they continue to take stands against it. Only takes one dev (EA...) To get the ball rolling.

Not that far fetched, IMHO.

 

[GhostPoet]

No they're not. Games there are the same price that Walmart, Target, Best Buy and others offer.

For used games they are.
I get games off Amazon for $20 less than the typical retail price. Sometimes more.

 

[GhostPoet]

Well I hope they die while we foul PC users are still downloading stuff off of Steam.

I heart you Steam....

 

[Havok83]

When I worked there we talked about seeing GS one day eventually being a used game only store based on two things.

1.) How much more they prefer used sales.

2.) How much devs hate the used game market.

May not happen for a while... May not happen ever... But I can see devs pulling their games out of GS if they continue to take stands against it. Only takes one dev (EA...) To get the ball rolling.

Not that far fetched, IMHO.

I dont think GS will ever be used only bc I would say many if not most of their used games come from people trading old games in for new ones. Without the new ones there, GS loses the primary incentive to get the used ones in the store to sell

 

[Benstamania]

Eh, from first hand experience it was often in my case "used for used." More so when we had the "extra 50% on trades" and "buy 2 used get one free" going on.

You're probably right though, I, in a way don't really think they would ever go "used only" but they already showcase their used more than the new. New titles get a tiny wall space and used are spread over the biggest parts of the store.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

May not happen for a while... May not happen ever... But I can see devs pulling their games out of GS if they continue to take stands against it. Only takes one dev (EA...) To get the ball rolling.

Not that far fetched, IMHO.

But it is. The publishers may hate the used game market, but would much rather deal with Gamestop due to the fact that store is the best place for the publisher to have their marketing. If you were to go to a publisher and tell them they had to choose ONE outlet for their games to be in, they would choose Gamestop EVERY time. Walmart, Target, Best Buy would all be secondary due to their big box nature. Publishers know they have a better chance of selling their product at GS than any where else.

The ONLY thing that will stop Gamestop is digital distribution. Once DD gets to the point where almost everyone can do it, then, and only then will GS evaporate. EVERY publisher would love to go directly to DD, it would cut down on a lot of cost for them, but the market is too small at this point.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Eh, from first hand experience it was often in my case "used for used." More so when we had the "extra 50% on trades" and "buy 2 used get one free" going on.

You're probably right though, I, in a way don't really think they would ever go "used only" but they already showcase their used more than the new. New titles get a tiny wall space and used are spread over the biggest parts of the store.

It makes perfect sense though. A used game sale is a 100% profit for GS. They make like a buck and some change off a new game sale.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

For used games they are.
I get games off Amazon for $20 less than the typical retail price. Sometimes more.

The trade off with Amazon vs Brick & Mortar is speed. If you want a new game RIGHT now, an online retailer is not an option. Now to some a 10-20 dollar difference is no reason to not wait, but for others, they want the game when they want it, or they just don't trust online shopping. If that wasn't the case, GS(as well as a TON of others) couldn't compete with Amazon, their prices are just too damn good.

 

[Benstamania]

But it is. The publishers may hate the used game market, but would much rather deal with Gamestop due to the fact that store is the best place for the publisher to have their marketing. If you were to go to a publisher and tell them they had to choose ONE outlet for their games to be in, they would choose Gamestop EVERY time. Walmart, Target, Best Buy would all be secondary due to their big box nature. Publishers know they have a better chance of selling their product at GS than any where else.

The ONLY thing that will stop Gamestop is digital distribution. Once DD gets to the point where almost everyone can do it, then, and only then will GS evaporate. EVERY publisher would love to go directly to DD, it would cut down on a lot of cost for them, but the market is too small at this point.

I honestly think if Wal-Mart got into the used game market and did it WELL... They could hurt GameStop. If they decided to adopt the tactic EB and GS used to use against each other... Say, go to GS get a trade in price and Wal-Mart will give you a few bucks more.

It's no lie that other companies want to do it. They just seem afraid to really jump into it.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I honestly think if Wal-Mart got into the used game market and did it WELL... They could hurt GameStop. If they decided to adopt the tactic EB and GS used to use against each other... Say, go to GS get a trade in price and Wal-Mart will give you a few bucks more.

It's no lie that other companies want to do it. They just seem afraid to really jump into it.

When it comes to trades, theres a fine line, GameCrazy didn't know that line and it helped put them out of business. I called it LONG before it happened because when id go in there to trade games in and id get FAR more than i would at GS, which from a customers view is great, but being that I'm a business major, i understood there was no way that was going to work long term. I was right.

I do agree with you though. I think Wal-Mart, out all of them could afford to top GS's trade business. They can afford to take a much larger hit than a Game Crazy or even Best Buy.

 

[Benstamania]

Yeah, Wal-Mart can afford it... and maybe they would make GameStop a better place in the procsess.

GameStop could help themselves by getting rid of the corporate dbags (like my manager was. She'd throw you under a buss at the drop of a hat) and treat the customer more like a customer and less like a dinner. Then again, you have to get rid of corporate that LOVES to be ass kissed before that...

 

[Havok83]

Game Crazy was never a huge chain anyway. Ive only ever seen one in my life and it was pretty far out of my way

 

[Alchemyst]

I kinda miss Game Crazy, I liked the fact that they would at least let you try the game out before you purchased it. Nowadays, I rely solely on the reviews, I only take a gamble on the game if I feel that IGN or any other gaming website is being just a bit too harsh, hence the purchase of Captain America: Supersoldier

 

[Benstamania]

Cap is like 30 bucks on Amazon... That's really tempting.

 

[Alchemyst]

Cap is like 30 bucks on Amazon... That's really tempting.

It's pretty fun, not quite as long as Arkham Asylum IMO, but still pretty enjoyable. If anything, it'll hold you over until Arkham City releases

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I kinda miss Game Crazy, I liked the fact that they would at least let you try the game out before you purchased it. Nowadays, I rely solely on the reviews, I only take a gamble on the game if I feel that IGN or any other gaming website is being just a bit too harsh, hence the purchase of Captain America: Supersoldier

Game Crazy was doomed from the start. Gamestops upper management are just complete *****e bags, but Game Crazy's mgmt were just incompetent.

GameStop could help themselves by getting rid of the corporate dbags (like my manager was. She'd throw you under a buss at the drop of a hat) and treat the customer more like a customer and less like a dinner. Then again, you have to get rid of corporate that LOVES to be ass kissed before that...

IMO thats their biggest problem. Somehow and i have yet to figure out how, Gamestop has come to the conclusion that high turnover doesn't create enough of a dip in profits to actually hire good store managers/district managers and pay them well. One of the biggest problems any company can have is high turnover, yet Gamestop seems to either not care, or are just completely unaware of it. Turnover tends to be high in retail as it is, but I'm willing to go to bat and say that Gamestops turnover is abnormally high. Gamestop doesn't put a lot of stock in its employees. They view them ALL as expendable which should of killed that store by now(which leads be to believe their profits are through the roof). I think most managers at Gamestop make around 30K per year. You can't get good, qualified personal on that kind of salary. Thats laughable to an individual with a good degree.

 

[Alchemyst]

Aww come on Pat, Gamecrazy's management wasn't incompetent, they just took simple things and approached them as if they had a steep learning curve, at least that's what my manager did when I use to work there back in the day. She was beyond an idiot

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Amazon > Gamestop

I haven't bought a game from gamestop in almost 2 years because of Amazon.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Amazon > Gamestop

I haven't bought a game from gamestop in almost 2 years because of Amazon.

Amazon > just about anywhere.

But still, it's an online only outlet. That's not a). viable for some and b). you sacrifice speed of service.

I love amazon though, I was able to get the complete Seinfeld collection for 80 bux from there. That's a deal that u can find anywhere else. But I'm one of those uber impatient bastards and when I want a game, I want it now. Not in a few days.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Amazon > just about anywhere.

But still, it's an online only outlet. That's not a). viable for some and b). you sacrifice speed of service.

I love amazon though, I was able to get the complete Seinfeld collection for 80 bux from there. That's a deal that u can find anywhere else. But I'm one of those uber impatient bastards and when I want a game, I want it now. Not in a few days.

Not when you have free Amazon Prime.

Free release day shipping ftw!

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Not when you have free Amazon Prime.

Free release day shipping ftw!

True, but even then, I can run out to the store and get the game faster than you if you ordered it from Amazon, even with release day shipping. If i could get games cheaper, id use Amazon a lot more. However with my discount, i tend to fare better going with Gamestop. Once i leave though, Amazon and Best Buy will be my primary sources for games.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Well I hope they die while we foul PC users are still downloading stuff off of Steam.

Gamestop bought impulse so between this and Origin, expect dickery in the digtal space.

http://www.impulsedriven.com/

Looking at Origin and impulse now, the prices are the same price as console games (Pc games are £10 cheaper here) and that's taking into account it's actually cheaper than physical with more money being taken in per a unit sold.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

IMO thats their biggest problem. Somehow and i have yet to figure out how, Gamestop has come to the conclusion that high turnover doesn't create enough of a dip in profits to actually hire good store managers/district managers and pay them well. One of the biggest problems any company can have is high turnover, yet Gamestop seems to either not care, or are just completely unaware of it. Turnover tends to be high in retail as it is, but I'm willing to go to bat and say that Gamestops turnover is abnormally high. Gamestop doesn't put a lot of stock in its employees. They view them ALL as expendable which should of killed that store by now(which leads be to believe their profits are through the roof). I think most managers at Gamestop make around 30K per year. You can't get good, qualified personal on that kind of salary. Thats laughable to an individual with a good degree.

Well retail stores don't care about high turnover because there's no training involved. Almost every other job requires training, retail doesn't. Plus you can pay the new employee the base salary instead of tacking on the raises the long term employee should've been getting. Do you really think any Gamestop manager has a college degree? Why would they work retail with a degree, you go to college to get out of those crappy retail jobs.

As for my opinion, I almost never go to Gamestop, they usually have a pretty good sale in the early summer and I'll get something then, but otherwise I shop completely at Best Buy. I've got the rewards card there so I have an incentive to purchase there, plus if I want any other electronics at the time, I can get those too. I don't know why people complain so much about Gamestop, there's plenty of other places that will sell you games, go there instead.

I liked the company when it was Babbages and Funcoland, Funcoland was great actually, gave pretty good prices when you sold a game and the used prices were good too, none of this only $5 off crap. Also having more than the current gen systems helped. Once they changed to Gamestop though, I did notice the change in prices on both ends of the spectrum and starting selling games on eBay.

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

Do you really think any Gamestop manager has a college degree? Why would they work retail with a degree, you go to college to get out of those crappy retail jobs.
.

nice way to stereotype everyone who works in retail

 

[amazingfantasy15]

nice way to stereotype everyone who works in retail

Why would you pay college tuition for 4-5 years to work in retail. I'm sure with times being tough these days people with college degrees are working retail to make ends meet. However, I highly doubt it was their first choice of a job.