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GAME in Trouble Again?
- Thread starter Waveset
- Start date
Eurogamer sort-of confirms the accidental order story (in that this thread sparked their report but they do, in turn, claim to have spoken to a source of their own afterwards)
YianGaruga
Banned
How is it possible that someone orders all gift cards and creates a shortage?
Oh right it's GAME
Oh right it's GAME
Halph n Halph
Member
They consistently charge £10 more for a game than Asda. Why anyone would shop there is beyond me.
toythatkills
Member
Yeah I'm just going to pop down to Asda and pick up Disgaea 5.
Agent Gibbs
Member
I thought the actual physical gift cars were redundant and they printed the gift voucher codes on a receipt? or if you have a GAME card added the credit to the account?
Game have improved somewhat, they have more sales like they used to do, where prices can be a little bit cheaper than RRP - however they often claim 10%20%30% off but in reality they've charged £10 more than RRP so the percent off is not as advertised compared to RRP, still have that scum practice
Game have improved somewhat, they have more sales like they used to do, where prices can be a little bit cheaper than RRP - however they often claim 10%20%30% off but in reality they've charged £10 more than RRP so the percent off is not as advertised compared to RRP, still have that scum practice
No it really doesn't. Do you know how many people would lose their jobs? And how the retail landscape would get that little bit more dire, especially for gamers? These kinds of places give people jobs that help pay their University fee's and living, and provide an outlet for gamers to still congregate and have a more hands on gaming shopping experience. I really dislike the idea of a retail landscape where there are fewer gaming related stores, and instead it's just more fashion and lifestyle stores, and more cafe's and restaurants.
I would agree that GAME really need to get their asses in to gear with consistency of pricing, which would diminish the issue of them having exclusives, but they still have some killer deals from time to time. Hell I got my Xbox One and PS4 from them (on deals that were better at the time than any other outlet), as well as numerous games that have been on offer.
This is true for toys, electrical items, kitchen goods, garden equipment... Almost everything is cheaper at Asda/Online etc than the British high Street. But some people still like shopping on the high street and that's who game are after, not the informed or bargain hunting shopper.
YianGaruga
Banned
Does the UK have nothing like Best Buy or Media Markt?
Like a bigger electronics chain that also sells all video games for normal prices and doesn't feel shady?
Like a bigger electronics chain that also sells all video games for normal prices and doesn't feel shady?
Breakfast at Noon
Member
Ever since GAME pulled out of Ireland as shamelessly as they did, and went on to change very little at all, I'm still anticipating the day when they shutter for good. I know they employ a lot of good people, but arguing to keep such a terrible business going for their sake is like arguing in benefit of cigarette manufacturers. Both profit from spreading cancer in their own way.
I wish I was able to ignore them, but I need Gwent cards dammit.
I wish I was able to ignore them, but I need Gwent cards dammit.
Terbinator
Member
Dixons group of companies used to do games but their prices were often worse.
John Caboose
Member
They already shut down the Swedish division last year.
dealer-
Member
You can buy games from the majority of supermarkets here, they have better prices than GAME too.
kraspkibble
Permabanned.
GAME needs to disappear.
YianGaruga
Banned
No I'm talking about big stores that also sell all kinds of electronics. Gamestation and Game primarily sell games afaik.
So where do you go in the UK to buy a TV a camera or a laptop? Those stores don't sell games?
Not really. The supermarkets and larger electronics stores we do have that sell video game related stuff, tend to have really limited and feeble amount of choice and space dedicated to it all. Really only GAME and HMV still have decent gaming related retail presence in stores, maybe some smaller chains like Planet Games etc too, but they're not very common.
probably somewhere like argos. but again. game prices are worse then elsewhere. you're best shopping online no matter what you're after though. high street retail is becoming less and less relevant.
YianGaruga
Banned
That sounds awful. I do buy 90% of my stuff online, but at least in Germany you have pretty good options to buy games in retail stores.
On occasion Game can have competitive prices but I've only ever seen it on their online store. As always though, its best to shop around.
Halo 5 for example the other day was £39.99 from Game online (and they had a £5 off voucher you could apply to make it £34.99) and was £40 from Amazon at the time. In store, chatting to the manager he was saying it would be £49.99 on launch day and he isn't allowed to match the online price.
Here in Aberdeen, for retail we're out of luck for buying games from anything but Game other than the out of town supermarkets - and they're don't feel as competitive now. (HMV exists but they're often more expensive and have a dreadful selection).
Halo 5 for example the other day was £39.99 from Game online (and they had a £5 off voucher you could apply to make it £34.99) and was £40 from Amazon at the time. In store, chatting to the manager he was saying it would be £49.99 on launch day and he isn't allowed to match the online price.
Here in Aberdeen, for retail we're out of luck for buying games from anything but Game other than the out of town supermarkets - and they're don't feel as competitive now. (HMV exists but they're often more expensive and have a dreadful selection).
There's Currys and PC World for consumer electronics (which are both owned by DIxons, if I remember right). There was also a place called Comet, but I haven't see one of those in years.
In my experience, they had a very limited selection of games (as in, I'm not sure you could guarantee picking up a AAA release on launch day) and the prices were so bad it wasn't even worth browsing.
hydrophilic attack
Member
how is Game still alive
Currys/Pc World is the direct equivalent, but they have the same issues with pricing versus supermarket and online competition. They sell much much less gaming than they used to. Larger department stores like John Lewis are good for cameras/pc/TV but have removed all gaming pretty much. Don't even sell consoles in store any more never mind software.
GeordieMark
Member
I'm not surprised if this is true. What has changed since the last time they nearly went under? They are still too expensive, and can't compete with online retailers. Their own website is a mess, and their stores are mostly dedicated to pushing preowned games. Aside from convenience, I don't know why anyone would use them.
Gravy Boat
Member
You don't need to pay £120 towards a pre-order to secure that. You can just pay for it on release day.
I hope Game doesn't ever shut down properly. I still like it being there, do shop from time to time when I don't wanna wait for a day or two for a game or wanna just grab something on a whim. I generally prefer buying my consoles and stuff in person too, plus trade-ins and that.
Daffy Duck
Member
As much as I despise their price gouging in stores it would be a very sad state of affairs if we had no dedicated gaming stores on our high street.
Supermarkets are OK for cheap(ish) games {nowhere as cheap as they were though) but their ranges tend to be rubbish and they don't stock many accessories or other gaming related things you may want to impusle buy when you pop in to the store.
Supermarkets are OK for cheap(ish) games {nowhere as cheap as they were though) but their ranges tend to be rubbish and they don't stock many accessories or other gaming related things you may want to impusle buy when you pop in to the store.
Stereogatari
Banned
DO GAME need to charge the prices they do? Could they still get by if they attempted to compete with online stores? I wonder what the margins are...
GAME are shit for that as well though. I wish there was a proper gaming store that had an actual library of games like a book store.
Mr. Luchador
Member
This is actually very believable.
HazySaiyan
Banned
I honestly don't get how GAME stays in business; terrible prices, shitty trade in values and annoying sales practices, it's just an awful place to shop and I don't understand how it can still compete.
When I bought my copy of MGSV, the guy at the till was being a right pain in the arse trying to get me to insure my disc. After asking me twice and me saying 'no I'm good', he comes out with 'you sure? You'll regret it'. What the hell's that about?
Not to mention how pushy they are with pre-orders. So fucking irritating.
When I bought my copy of MGSV, the guy at the till was being a right pain in the arse trying to get me to insure my disc. After asking me twice and me saying 'no I'm good', he comes out with 'you sure? You'll regret it'. What the hell's that about?
Not to mention how pushy they are with pre-orders. So fucking irritating.
If it's standard edition or a non-AAA game, you don't pay. But for games like U4, FIFA 16, etc you are required to pay a minimum of £5 for a deposit. However, £120? Seems strange.
Englebert3rd
Unconfirmed Member
I don't think they are going down based off that, but I wish they did. At least they would have a crap load of clearance offers!
That does makes sense. Sucks for people gifting in the Halloween season!
That does makes sense. Sucks for people gifting in the Halloween season!
dreamcastmaster
Banned
Literally? You're a mentalist. Every shopping centre has one, didnt think they would be on Gaf.
GeordieMark
Member
smashballTaz
Member
I've not worked there for a couple of years but damn their stock ordering, tills and office systems need a massive update. They are so outdated! Website too but that's basically a separate company. I mean sure as long as its kind-of running OK I guess no-one wants to be the one spending thousands updating their system to a modern one but jeez. The fact that someone ordered ALL THE GIFT CARDS and no-one from HO, the warehouse, or someone along the line thought 'ey up, that's a bit strange, better double check the order' is kinda hilarious and sad.
Pretty damn funny.
Daffy Duck
Member
They are better than supermarkets though.
Holy shit, that's even better, and just goes to show how incompetent the management/staff at GAME are.
ASDA up the Maybird do good deals from time to time. Saw Destiny for £20 brand new t'other day.
Starwolf_UK
Member
Best Buy did try to come over to the UK but they folded the business pretty quickly.
The thing about it is online retailers got really competitive in conjunction with the supermarkets and games are basically sold for wholesale price. A traditional retailer who cares about profiting from games is stuck with an unattractive price (the normal RRP ends up looking scummy in comparison*) as a result so many of them gave up.
Likewise Gamestop gave up in the UK. They closed both their UK stores a few years ago. There is a gamestop.co.uk but everything they is delivered from Ireland (they are essentially gamestop.ie but in £ instead of ).
I think online can work well in the UK. The country is pretty small which helps with logistics.
*-Of course there are actual scummy things like amiibo where GAME charge £15 instead of the £10.99 RRP (a lot of online retailers also don't charge £10.99 here) and GAME have been known raise the price of something before Christmas then put it on "sale" at RRP and be like "look £30 off".
Argos is like an electronic store without many of the display models...I'll let wikipedia explain quite why that is:
Argos do occasionally stumble upon treasure troves of old stock. Earlier this year they had brand new copies of Pokemon White 2 for £7 and last year they found several hundred copies of the Xenoblade Classic Controller bundle (which was GAME exclusive) but made a horrible mistake of selling these for £15 each.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argos_(retailer) said:
Zabant
Member
GAME are more interested in upselling you on over-priced cheaply made tacky chibi Game of Thrones figures these days.
Fuck that organisation. I used to work at CeX and despite having nearly nothing to do with the gaming space other than simply reselling physical copies, the staff there always seemed to know more about actual games than GAME itself.
Fuck that organisation. I used to work at CeX and despite having nearly nothing to do with the gaming space other than simply reselling physical copies, the staff there always seemed to know more about actual games than GAME itself.
smashballTaz
Member
Goddamn it! I totally missed that Xenoblade deal. I'm already annoyed with myself from when I passed on getting the Xenoblade + Classic Controller set for £10 when it was at clearance at Game.
TedBundysNips
Member
My local Game ( Teesside Park stockton on tees ) is staffed by the most arrogant and clueless people I've ever come across. The sooner it shuts down the better.
MilkyJoe
Member
You can buy games in pretty much every supermarket in the UK and they are 9/10 cheaper than game, sometimes much cheaper. But if you really want it cheap then just get it on amazon or something.
blame space
Banned
this rules