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[Docpan]

This is something that I had been wondering in the past, but it was just recently brought to my attention again the other day when I was walking through the mall.

They had just opened a brand new Gamestop. It looked a LOT bigger than the old one, and a lot cleaner as well. So I walk in, and the first thing that catches my eye, on the right wall, is a huge PSP dispay. That's great. I own a PSP, I like PSP, they've got PSP stuff. Good. They had a fairly large section dedicated to PSP games, then another section dedicated to used PSP games, then a section for UMD movies. The rest of the wall was PS2. Now, the left side was all 360/Xbox stuff.

"Hmm," I wondered. "Where the hell is the DS stuff?" Located in the very back of the store, right next to the storage room, was a small section dedicated to Gamecube, and an even smaller section for DS. Now first off, I can understand the size of the Gamecube rack, because that system is pretty much dead, but this teeny little DS display is absolute bullsh*t! Three, count them, THREE sections dedicated to PSP, yet only half a one for the DS? What the shit? The section was so small that the used and new games had to be mixed together, and stacked behind one another. They're basically saying "F.uck DS" by doing that.

Now first off, this is just completely backwards to me. It would be understandable if the DS sucked nuts, like the Ngage, but IMO it is completely wiping the floor with every other system out there right now, home consoles included. There are sooo many good games, yet I can't find them because they're stacked behind 5 used copies of Madden DS. Now like I said before, I've got a PSP and enjoy it, but to be perfectly honest it doesn't get nearly as much playtime as the DS... There simply aren't as many good games for it. So why does it get three big spaces to itself again? In the very front of the store? ... Can you say bias?

I just think it's bullshit because if you look at the sales numbers, the DS is clearly ahead of PSP, yet it gets shafted at every game store I go to. PSP in very front, ahead of even the PS2, and DS in the very ****ing back, next to the old cracked-case ps1 games and the storage room. Yeah, that's fair.

**** gamestop.

 

[BMAN]

Yeah thats how it is at my local EB too.

 

[underfooter]

Same with any gamespot or EB I go to. It seemed to always be the same with GBA too.

It doesn't really bother me so much.

 

[Deleted member 8095]

Probably because it nets the least ammount of money per hardware and software sale. Yeah, it may sell a lot of systems and SOME of the games sell well, but since they are priced less they make the store less money and that is most likely why they get less space.

 

[Tornado Condor]

same here at my Gamestop. a wall almost full of ****ing PSP stuff and a shittty space for the DS section

 

[Smiles and Cries]

those mofos never liked Nintendo and they never will

 

[CajoleJuice]

They know the DS people are the most hardcore, they don't need the shelf space. They just buy games like Phoenix Wright off of eBay for $50 a pop.

 

[GhostSeed]

Sony may have some type of agreement with EB/GS where they get extra floor space in exchange for better wholesale prices/promotions or they may just pay for the extra room.

 

[White Man]

The two Gameplops nearest to me have recently moved the DS from islands to more prominent wallspace. This has taken place over the past, oh, month or so.

 

[Baker]

You should see my Walmart. They had a whole nicely set up DS section next to the Microsoft stuff. I head back there one day and they've moved every single DS game into the junk space underneath the GC games. So there's just four stacks of DS games haphazzardly pushed behind Jungle Beat.

Our Kmart is like that too. Every handheld game is just thrown in the bottom rack of a case with no care to what system they're for. It's just a random pile of gba/ds/psp games.

 

[McBacon]

In the UK for GAME and GameStation its mostly even all round bar Gamecube with its meager 1 metre wide stand in my local GAME.

 

[the year 20XX]

It's definitely a huge conspiracy.

 

[threeball]

The Gamestop I go to has DS and GBA combined in one small section in the corner of the store. Meanwhile, the PSP takes up half of a wall which spans about 3 or 4 sections, and the PS2 takes up the rest of that wall with the other 3/4 sections.

GCN and Xbox360 get the same though.

 

[Teh Messenjah]

It's sort of the opposite at my EB. The DS has a nice space while the PSP and its games are shoved into the corner of the store. Then, of course, there's the massive PS2 and Xbox section.

 

[elostyle]

Same reason the DS is last in the list of just about any navigation bar of major gaming websites. No reason besides a lack of interest and faith by those dealing with it (not the customers though).

 

[Jeff-DSA]

Probably because it nets the least ammount of money per hardware and software sale. Yeah, it may sell a lot of systems and SOME of the games sell well, but since they are priced less they make the store less money and that is most likely why they get less space.

No, it's because Sony pays for that shelf space. It's the same way with books, certain publishers pay extra for more space, prominent placement, and that their titles are displayed with the cover showing instead of the spine.

Sony is just being aggressive, and stores like EB and Gamestop don't have a problem taking the money in exchange for a bit of preferential treatment.

 

[TiVo]

Sony may have some type of agreement with EB/GS where they get extra floor space in exchange for better wholesale prices/promotions or they may just pay for the extra room.

Yes, like when you call an EB and they answer the phone "This is EB, home of the 360". Or when you walk in they ask you if you pre-orderded a certain game/console. Either they are paid to push a certain game/console or they are just trying to push the games/consoles that they have many of but are not moving off the shelves.

 

[B'z-chan]

Sony may have some type of agreement with EB/GS where they get extra floor space in exchange for better wholesale prices/promotions or they may just pay for the extra room.

There is an agreement from my understanding with coporate with sony. Dont know what it is but i wouldnt be too shocked if this was the case.

Also as someone else noted already they dont make much off the ds and games for some reason. Not that they dont sell, its just that they pay out the ass for them from my understanding.

 

[darscot]

You should see my Walmart. They had a whole nicely set up DS section next to the Microsoft stuff. I head back there one day and they've moved every single DS game into the junk space underneath the GC games. So there's just four stacks of DS games haphazzardly pushed behind Jungle Beat.

Our Kmart is like that too. Every handheld game is just thrown in the bottom rack of a case with no care to what system they're for. It's just a random pile of gba/ds/psp games.

The Walmarts near me give Nintendo the prime real estate. I'm near Vancouver BC.

 

[IPGlider]

In Spain the clerks of shops called 'Game' get an extra for each PSP selled, at least when it was launched. Also the space for PSP and PSP games is A LOT bigger than the dedicated for DS and DS games, and beside that, DS sells more than PSP.

 

[thetrin]

When I used to work in a game store, my manager and I really wanted to increase the size of the DS section, so we constantly bugged our district manager to give us the okay. The douche bags basically said "PSP isn't selling well enough, so we need to increase exposure."

 

[typhonsentra]

DS just sells better at certain chains then at others. It's like that at my local specialty stores too.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

to be fair at my mall all DS games are in the class case behind the check-out counter any way

 

[AdmiralViscen]

DS' lineup is certainly awesome, but it's definitely fixated on a small number of awesome games. PSP has large amounts of good games, and so needs more shelf space.

Also, GS/EB makes more money on PSP stuff.

 

[siege]

PSP has large amounts of good games, and so needs more shelf space.

What?

 

[IPGlider]

PSP has large amounts of good games, and so needs more shelf space.

What?! :lol

 

[AdmiralViscen]

What?

What?

 

[Slayven]

On a side note I was just in the local Gamestop the other day and saw they downgraded the PC section to a single 4 sided rack, when it use to be half a wall. Now the wall is the used xbox section

 

[daemonic]

The EB at Toronto Eaton Centre also has a pitiful display for the DS. It consists mainly of games like Spongebob Squarepants and other child oriented titles. NSMB wasn't even on display when I went a couple days ago. I looked behind the cashiers only to see 5 copies of NSMB, Animal Crossing and M&LiT. Maybe they were about to restock, but I seldom see high ranked DS games promoted there. Pretty disappointing to say the least.

 

[Baron Doggystyle von Woof]

**** gamestop.

 

[VALIS]

This is because EB/Gamestop has a secret anti-Nintendo agenda and are paid off by Sony and/or Microsoft to keep Nintendo down.






Actually, in the real world the answer is:

Your Gamestop != The 1000+ EB/Gamestops around the country

The several Gamestops around here have plenty of DS wall space. OMG FREEDOM FIGHTERS!

 

[Andokuky]

My local stores all give the DS plenty of space, especially Gamestop and WalMart, makes me angry.

 

[theREBELins]

Maybe if the DS sold a little better it would deserve more shelf space.

 

[DemDereNads]

Sales by units might be close, but sales by revenue is night and day difference.

This of course doesn't necessarily explain it as who knows what they are actually making profit wise, but a good possibility why PSP retail space always seems greater than DS retail space.

 

[qirex]

Uh, shelf space is for sale there. Just like at the grocery store, Best Buy, Target WalMart and almost every other retailer. Back when the Xbox launched Microsoft made a big deal out of getting as much space as Sony.

Basically Nintendo's not kicking down the dollars.

 

[Juice]

It's no secret that Microsoft and Sony give EB incentives to improve their shelf space. It's a practice Nintendo (to my knowledge) has never been willing to partake in (outside of an occassional vendor of the month rental).

That's why.

/thread

 

[jdforge]

Well if the shelf space allocation in the UK is any indication as to what is current in the US, then I feel you are in for a change.

The DS had practically zero shelf space in any retailers in the UK. Since the launch of the DS Lite, most stores have now dedicated space for the DS, much more than PSP, and it's right at the front of the shop on the RHS (which of course is the most natural course for a person to turn when they enter a shop).

If a system is selling the retailers will push it. GAME have also gone seemingly nuts about Nintendo Wii. There are place holders at the checkout, POS throughout the store and all their mouse mats at the checkout are branded Nintendo Wii.

Even HMV and Virgin stores are pushing the DS, so much more than they used to. It may be temporary as the DSLite is the current hot item, but if the retailers see a return for their endevours, then I guess it could stay that way.

 

[gofreak]

My local GAME has DS right at the front of the store.

But AFAIK, store placement is bid for. At least that was what I was told some moons ago.

 

[slaughterking]

The same thing is happening here in Germany. The DS is doing pretty good (at least the software charts get me to this coclusion), but - for no logical reason - the PSP is getting more space. Even the UMD MOVIES are better placed in some electronic markets.

 

[FortNinety]

Can anyone explain any multitudes of their idiotic decisions?

Exactly.

 

[A Link to the Past]

It is in their best interest to sell the PSP more than the DS.

But the recent surge in sales doesn't warrant tiny racks smaller than a GameCube's.

 

[keeblerdrow]

As someone said above, all shelf space in Gamestop and EB stores is for sale. If Nintendo wanted more space on the racks for their DS games and hardware, they'd have to buy the extra space at a premium above what Sony and MS are buying it for. This is also the reason PC games are shat on in these stores, no unified representative company to bargain for shelf space.

 

[PantherLotus]

Do any of you guys actually buy things at these overpriced boutiques anyway?

Between the rampant fanboyism (anti nitendo, anti sony, etc), the $10 overcharge for virtually everything in the store, and practices as described in this thread, I'll go in there to check out games and that's about it.

Walmart/Target/BestBuy/Online ftw.

 

[MoxManiac]

Do any of you guys actually buy things at these overpriced boutiques anyway?

Between the rampant fanboyism (anti nitendo, anti sony, etc), the $10 overcharge for virtually everything in the store, and practices as described in this thread, I'll go in there to check out games and that's about it.

Walmart/Target/BestBuy/Online ftw.

Only when getting games at release date since places like best buy/wal mart etc get em late. Sometimes they discount bad selling games too. But yeah, otherwise I try to avoid em.

 

[Kevtones]

Inept company.

 

[PantherLotus]

I'd rather wait an extra day than pay/support any of that crap. That being said, the BestBuy near me has been remarkarbly reliable on getting releases out on time if not early. So much so that I have vowed to never reserve anything ever again, unless it nets me an extra (anything).

 

[ZeoVGM]

the $10 overcharge for virtually everything in the store.

uh, what? that doesn't happen, sorry. really now, name some examples. the ONLY game i can think of is gradius collection.

what exactly does GS overcharge on? its mostly MSRPs

ah yes that one

uh guys, don't companies like Sony.. BUY the really good shelf space? i've read that many times before.

even if they dont, lets try to put away the gamestop hate for a SECOND, and think logically.

if you run a company like this and you see PSP vs. DS, especially in 2005, who do you think they SHOULD give better shelf space too? DS, because you like it more? or PSP, who most people thought would have crushed DS?

 

[Community Forum]

Shelf space is reserved for games, not non-games.

Spoiler

obvious joke ftw

 

[AdmiralViscen]

EB overcharged for Tetris DS.

 

[ZeoVGM]

EB overcharged for Tetris DS.

uh how much was it supposed to be? i bought it for 30