After shopping at GameStop (Electronics Boutique, Functions, EBGames) for over 30+ years, I have now boycott them myself.
Two weeks ago after spending 90 minutes on a Sunday morning to buy a Switch at Toys R Us, I then traded some games into a local GameStop that I normally gave my business to for years.
Using the trades I bought BOTW and a $50 eShop card. I noticed that the manager who rang me up initially had some problems beeping in the card but it seemed to go through so I didn't think too much about it. Later that evening I scratched off and tried to redeem the card through my Switch. '$50 will be added to your account' and I clicked ADD and it returned an error to restart the eShop and try again.
After five attempts I tried via the eShop website to a similar result. I called Nintendo who as usual had amazing CS that picked up right away and explained my problem. They told me that the card was purchased but not activated properly and to return to GameStop and ask them to please do it again for me.
At this point the store was almost closed so I went over the next day to GameStop. After explaining everything to them, showing them the receipt and even being a powerup rewards member they spent 15 minutes contacting a manager with the idea they could exchange the card for me. Manager finally calls back and denies it. They tell me "Can't return eShop cards...:::shrugs:::".
So at this point I am furious...They took my money and I have nothing to show for it. I told them they lost a customer and left. There was no apology, no trying to take some extra steps to help nor even giving me, a long time customer, any benefit of the doubt.
I then went home and explained what happened to Nintendo. I spoke to an amazing dude named Jake for 45 minutes who told me to not buy my eShop cards via GameStop anymore and if I could take pics of the receipt and card itself and email them that they would do their best to help me. He was genuinely upset for me which was really nice.
I emailed the information to Nintendo and then called up GameStop corporate to complain about the awful service....Was told the regional manager would contact me within 24 hours (they didn't) and while on hold with these losers lo and behold an email from Nintendo arrives saying that $50 has been added to my Nintendo account.
Thanks for the opportunity to vent. I'm glad this company is on its way down the tubes.