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UK Retailer GAME is dead | Brera's Lament
- Thread starter CrunchinJelly
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EvilRedEye
Member
The bit about not ordering from GAME again didn't have much to do with the rest of the post, probably shouldn't have included it TBH.
Afternoon on the day before release is very late to be dispatching a pre-order and I don't really like not knowing what's going on with my order. If it wasn't for GAME-exclusive stuff I could have cancelled my order and had it dispatched by Shopto within five minutes.
radioheadrule83
Banned
I had an order despached from Amazon late yesterday that arrived today (Res Evil Revelations) - I wouldn't worry too much, sometimes its just the lag between them scanning your package and it showing on the tracker. If they actually miss an order, I think its fair enough, but I'm glad you didn't cancel your order based on the online hysteria around this story... you'd have missed out on the exclusive stuff if nothing else.
Aren't they technically breaking street date by dispatching it before the day of release? I could imagine some publishers being petty about that.
EarsOfASnake
Member
That's exactly what it would be but then I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.
EvilRedEye
Member
Oh there was no chance of doing that, I've been looking forward to my limited edition tat for months. TBH I was never mega-panicked about this latest news in particular, it's just that this is the only mega-rare collector's edition I've ever really been interested in and as time went on I was getting increasingly worried that something would go wrong, maybe they'd fucked up with the stock or something. And now there's no more Crystal Editions or pre-order bonuses available to order.
Years ago I pre-ordered FFXII from hmv.co.uk, again months in advance. On release day I checked my account to find they'd run out of stock and my order hadn't even been sent. Didn't want that to happen again!
Shotgun Kiss
Member
My store seems less interested in helping people, and forcing as much crap down their throats as possible, which only drives them away.
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
How is your stock room looking compared to this time last year?
iNvid02
Member
have £150 on my trade in card, was gonna pony up the rest and get a vita but then i thought nah i dont want one
but now, its probably best to just spend what credit i have left with them on some hardware which isn't as overpriced as games, £229 vs amazon's £219
looks like im getting a vita after all, that should cut all ties i have with them apart from my PS3's extended warranty which i think expires this october,
but its through allianz so that should be alright.
but now, its probably best to just spend what credit i have left with them on some hardware which isn't as overpriced as games, £229 vs amazon's £219
looks like im getting a vita after all, that should cut all ties i have with them apart from my PS3's extended warranty which i think expires this october,
but its through allianz so that should be alright.
Not much we can do, apart from hope they stay afloat until March 9th. Because they decided to be asses and get the CE GAME group exclusive. :/
Will they accept a pre-order? It's still up on their site.
Shotgun Kiss
Member
A lot emptier, due to various reasons:
1) Fewer people trading stuff in.
2) Fewer "massive" items (ie. Rock Band, Wii Fits, consoles, etc).
3) Less stock in deliveries, as we simply aren't performing as well as last year.
4) We no longer accept retro stuff.
Why do you ask?
I popped into Game today, I was going to buy InFamous 2, do my bit for the rotting apple such as it is, and they had practically nothing, certainly not the game I wanted, either new or used. I imagined it'd take awhile for it to really impact a normal store. I did get to play a PSV though, so not all bad. As bad as the store was, it was nothing compared to the shit show Gamestation was, that was pitiful.
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
From the outside looking in, it seems they shifted a ton of stock during their Christmas sale. Their sale was very, very aggressive compared to previous sales and even compared to some online stores. It seems like must have been selling stuff at a loss just to get some cash in.
I guess they were trying to get some cash in to cover stocks going forward so it's meant stores are now running dry on titles more than a few weeks old.
Psychotext
Member
Yeah... you might want to spend that fairly soon.
I just wouldn't buy warranty from them. Sony will support the hardware directly with the consumer where the retail can no longer do so.
Does anyone know know if SCEE sells extended warranty on their hardware? If so, I'd take it out with them rather than buy into anything GAME would try to sell. At this point, you're just giving them free money for something that probably won't last the agreed period.
I'm just talking about the first year guarantee. Better to shop anywhere else.
PumpkinPie
Banned
That's of of the main reasons I stopped shopping there. "you know, you can trade this game in when you've finished it!!!!"... well I haven't actually paid for it yet so at least let me buy it before giving me the spiel.
Throwaway123456789
Member
Here in Norway you get five years warranty on all electronic equipment you buy by law. If GAME goes bust you'd be fucked on the warranty here.
It's because we're specifically 'reviewed' on certain things in store - we have to mention several things during transactions just to pass while our managers are in store (which is all the time) - it's a completely artificial way to conduct conversation (and I fail it all the time because I'd rather talk to people.)
I get what you're saying, but if GAME goes bust, the onus on honouring any first year warranty would fall to Sony. The reason why it's normally retail's responsibility by law is because that makes it easier for the customer. It's my understanding that retail basically exchanges or refunds you directly, and then returns the faulty product to the manufacturer on your behalf.
However, I've always dealt with the manufacturer, even with first year warranty things, and they've never had any issues provided I can give proof of purchase (otherwise they cover warranty by manufacture date). I've had to return my PS2 four times (DRE), and my Xbox 360 more times than I care to remember, and both Sony and MS respectively have done it gratis when it's under a year old, or was within 1 year of its last repair, or special circumstances (RROD/E74).
I don't know how it is in Norway, but we have 1 year mandatory on all electronic equipment, and see above. Sony would take on responsibility if retail could not. Is it not the same in Norway?
Throwaway123456789
Member
It's the retailer's responsibility to honor the warranty. With no retailer it's entirely up to the local PlayStation branch (Vita is handeled by a company called Navigator) if they want to do it or not. I'm fearing the worst.
Ravensmash
Member
So I popped in to my local GAME store:
Maybe I didn't notice before, but the ratio of new to preowned is fairly ridiculous at points - coupled with signs everywhere telling me to buy preowned.
I have nothing against the used game market myself, but a leading retailer shouldn't place that much emphasis on it.
Coincidentally saw a few games with "Out of Stock, order online" hastily written on a blank case next to them.
Maybe I didn't notice before, but the ratio of new to preowned is fairly ridiculous at points - coupled with signs everywhere telling me to buy preowned.
I have nothing against the used game market myself, but a leading retailer shouldn't place that much emphasis on it.
Coincidentally saw a few games with "Out of Stock, order online" hastily written on a blank case next to them.
Throwaway123456789
Member
The GAME stores here in Norway are much better at this. I think most of their stores outside of the UK are of a much higher standard than the ones in the UK.
They make a shit ton more money on a used sale than on a mint one.
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
Any NeverDead? MGS HD?
Ravensmash
Member
Saw no sign of MGS HD being advertised in my brief look round - FFXIII-2 was everywhere though.
They have to at the moment as there is so little new stock. Might as well advertise what you have.
As for new stuff, Friday's releases are due in a pre-10AM delivery, with enough for pre-orders and free sale (although FFXIII-2 stock is tight and may run out over the weekend). According to the Stock Update report on the computer system, most new titles that have been out of stock for a while are all due in next week too.
Both due in pre-10AM tomorrow morning.
CaptainRizla
Member
Saved. Lenders throw life support.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/lender-support-throws-game-a-lifeline/090627
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/lender-support-throws-game-a-lifeline/090627
At least jobs are safe for now - I'd very much like to see what this "updated strategic plan" will be.
APZonerunner
Member
Someone in the know - what's the path from here? Under what circumstances to they survive and what circumstances will they die? What happens if performance continues as-is even after the lender support?
checkeredknight
Member
StuBurns said:
Can you elaborate a bit on this for me? Where is your local store? I'd be happy to hear GAF customer feedback to take it on board for our store. Obviously I can't alter prices or give away things for free, but I'd like to hear as much constructive feedback as possible.
It varies, really. Mostly between 16 hours to 24 hours a week (at the moment, anyway.) If I were working 6 days a week like that though, I'd probably feel a lot less motivated.
The shop has had a new manager take over during the last year and he's pretty awesome. We have a positive atmosphere and, while we still push attach / pre-orders / ADC and such, we know when to stop. It's more important to talk to the customer and listen to them, IMO.
We had about 7 or 8 on PS3 alone. Even that still feels a bit lacking.
Starwolf_UK
Member
With CeX and new? I'm not too sure and they don't say but I hear basically NOE threatened them with cutting supply if they stocked imports (why NOE only did this from 2003 I don't know) and probably the fact that the need to import was dropping and the stores expansion into mobile phones etc meant it was easier to do all used.
I remember about 2004 on eBay seeing huge job lots of games and systems on their site. As in 20+ N64s of various regions.
Those copies don't exist. The game was out of stock at £9.99 then went to £0.98 for some reason (could an employee enlighten us), probably for an employee in the one store with a copy left to sell on eBay along with the £0.98 copy of Metroid Prime Trilogy.
Platform split or 3 per system?
Azure Phoenix
Member
Exactly. The manager has a big role in this, if they are supportive and laid back the store will perform well without any aggressive tactics - and without pressure to hit targets the staff are able to be a lot more natural which results in happier customers and better sales. Our store has a lot of very knowledgeable staff that combined can cover virtually any subject you throw at us, and we pride ourselves on offering the best service possible.
I get really sick of hearing people bashing every single employee based on a bad experience at a particular store.
Same. Every time I go to a new town or city I pop into the GAME or Gamestation there just to wander around and get a feel for the place, and it amazes me just how many are so badly run. We try to have fun whilst we work and, although you do have to do the whole push everything spiel it's pretty easy to tell when it's not worth it.
Hopefully the company may move away from the T.A.G. system as they will be moving away from Mystery Shops and on to a new grading system that doesn't involve it.
Pretty much this really. Although it was a cracking deal at £9.99 already
Nah, they haven't withheld any wages, nor have they even suggested or implied that any will be in the future. It was speculation by an unspecified source in one article.
Ravensmash
Member
Shall pick up MGS HD from GAME tomorrow then hopefully.
Make sure you go in after 10AM - most stores won't have their stock of it till then due to the late delivery to the stock houses.
Can we swap managers? We've got more pre-order cases for REvelations and FF XIII-2 than we will get for the games themselves. Stock levels are seriously low - and our Gamestation had a HUGE stock recall the other day as well.
checkeredknight
Member
Me too, but from Game Station. Can't wait.
Though, don't be too offended if there aren't many in stock (unless you have pre-ordered.) The more pre-orders a game gets, the more stock that store has shipped to it. Keep in mind most of these pre-orders are free as well. The HD collection in our store hasn't had a great deal of pre-orders, so we're not expecting boxes and boxes of it.Couldn't agree more.
Moobabe said:
Well, we had the same problem with Revelations. We have a whole stack of pre-order boxes and had two titles sent in. I don't blame the manager for this... we only had one pre-order for Revelations so I assumed that's why we only had two sent in. That is unless, the managers order the stock themselves? I'm not entirely sure how the higher up stuff works (I'm just a lackey.)
Azure Phoenix
Member
Actually they probably did, all of the standalone UDraw Wii games dropped to 98p new in the sale and we were specifically sent a couple of copies of each in a delivery. The 98p was probably just to clear the last handful still on the system.
Well, we had the same problem with Revelations. We have a whole stock of pre-order boxes and had two titles sent in. I don't blame the manager for this... we only had one pre-order for Revelations so I assumed that's why we only had two sent in. That is unless, the managers order the stock themselves? I'm not entirely sure how the higher up stuff works (I'm just a lackey.)
I meant about how they approach deposits, pre orders etc - we get watched like hawks to make sure we're hitting those KPIs in almost every interaction.
They did exist - I bought one. It depends on stock levels - but prices are set by head office, not per store.
Well, we had the same problem with Revelations. We have a whole stack of pre-order boxes and had two titles sent in. I don't blame the manager for this... we only had one pre-order for Revelations so I assumed that's why we only had two sent in. That is unless, the managers order the stock themselves? I'm not entirely sure how the higher up stuff works (I'm just a lackey.)
Nah, we have as much control over what comes into store as Sales Assistants. It's pretty much entirely up to the company on what they send us. Obviously, if it's a new release, they base it on previous similar titles along with number of pre-orders. So for example we got just a single pre-order of Metal Gear Solid HD, and no pre-orders at all of Neverdead, so I would be extremely suprised if we got more than 5 copies of each title.
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