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[Safe Bet]

Oh no they are the cancer and it is spreading.

No the cancer is over charging for a product.

There's a reason the free to play model is taking off.

There is pent up demand for interactive entertainment due to price barriers.

 

[DJ Lushious]

Google it. Here are a couple of results:

http://justoutofhome.com/category/etc/

http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/...n-the-biggest-video-game-retailer-in-the-wor/

Neither of these prove Gamestop beats Wal-Mart in terms of new video game sales. The latter is all about the wording. "Biggest Video Game Retailer" is stated so, because Gamestop only sells video games. "Biggest Retailer in the World" speaks a little more loudly, eh? And we all know Gamestop isn't this.

Plus, it's much easier simply to challenge the claim, then to Google it.

EDIT - This discussion will end in a stalemate. Wal-Mart doesn't share its data with the NPD. :\

 

[Version 3.0]

Yeah, that won't happen until consumers start demanding it. With gamers, that means never.

All it takes is one case making it through the legal system. If no one else will do it, maybe someday I will. But you're right: I'd feel a whole lot more inclined to do so if I didn't think it'd make me a villian to the entire uneducated publisher fanboy population of the gaming community.

 

[jvm]

Neither of these prove Gamestop beats Wal-Mart in terms of new video game sales. The latter is all about the wording. "Biggest Video Game Retailer" is stated so, because Gamestop only sells video games. "Biggest Retailer in the World" speaks a little more loudly, eh? And we all know Gamestop isn't this.

Plus, it's much easier simply to challenge the claim, then to Google it.

This still won't be a proof, but I believe that last year's report from Wedbush estimated marketshare for GameStop and Wal-mart to be approximately even. I don't believe that report takes used game sales into account, so the used game figure won't be an issue there.

So in terms of dollar sales, I'd say that GameStop and Wal-mart were approximately the same. However, I think there is an argument to be made that GameStop sells more of the core (for lack of a better term) gamer software than does Wal-mart. This means that some software (licensed cash-ins, kid games in general, etc. etc.) gets sold by the truckload through Wal-mart while shooters, core racing games, etc. get sold by the truckload through GameStop.

This means that the marketshare effect of each outlet will be seen differently by different publishers, at the very least.

 

[Version 3.0]

Neither of these prove Gamestop beats Wal-Mart in terms of new video game sales. The latter is all about the wording. "Biggest Video Game Retailer" is stated so, because Gamestop only sells video games. "Biggest Retailer in the World" speaks a little more loudly, eh? And we all know Gamestop isn't this.

Plus, it's much easier simply to challenge the claim, then to Google it.

Search a little further and you'll find more concrete details like sales volume. Unless something's changed since they merged with EB, they have the highest unit and dollar volume in new game sales. And considering their growth in that period, I doubt it.

But hey, I could be wrong. Even if they're #2 or 3, though, my point stands: they do the volume they do in new game sales because of the used game sales. They're not two separate markets, they're two segments of a whole.

 

[NoRéN]

Wait so NeoGafs BST Thread is more justifiable than Gamestop's business? Either way the money isn't going to the developer so what are you getting at?

I never buy used games but who is anyone to tell someone how to spend their money? If they want to save money or spend more money fucking let them.

WTF, you sure are good at pulling questions out of nothing. I'll let you ramble on because I don't know what the hell you're talking about.

 

[DJ Lushious]

However, I think there is an argument to be made that GameStop sells more of the core (for lack of a better term) gamer software than does Wal-mart. This means that some software (licensed cash-ins, kid games in general, etc. etc.) gets sold by the truckload through Wal-mart while shooters, core racing games, etc. get sold by the truckload through GameStop.

Well, this becomes more a discussion about marketing. And, in my opinion, Gamestop has to market a lot harder than Wal-Mart. People go to Gamestop for games. However, people go to Wal-Mart for games, diapers, medicine, anything that is consumable... :lol

Search a little further and you'll find more concrete details like sales volume. Unless something's changed since they merged with EB, they have the highest unit and dollar volume in new game sales. And considering their growth in that period, I doubt it.

But hey, I could be wrong. Even if they're #2 or 3, though, my point stands: they do the volume they do in new game sales because of the used game sales. They're not two separate markets, they're two segments of a whole.

I threw in an edit into my original post. After doing some further research on my own, Wal-Mart does not share their sales data. Which, I guess makes sense, if you don't want the general population to truly understand your assimilation plans.

Gamestop is definitely becoming a huge presence. I won't deny that. And your original point is a valid one. Though, as stated in this thread earlier, America is very much a "lowest price wins" culture. A used title, $5 cheaper than its shrink-wrapped alternative, may still win the hearts of consumers, especially if they're working with Gamestop credits.

 

[Square Triangle]

WTF, you sure are good at pulling questions out of nothing. I'll let you ramble on because I don't know what the hell you're talking about.

You're telling him where to shop and spend his money.

 

[Tellaerin]

The publisher (well, pub/dev combo) provides a good of (usually) recognizable value, Gamestop provides a service of extremely questionable value. How bad or good (or at least not-bad) you view GS ultimately depends heavily on how you weight certain costs, be they personal, social, or environmental.

The value Gamestop provides isn't questionable to me in the least. They provide me with a convenient way to get something back on the games I no longer want, and put that credit toward the purchase of games I haven't played yet. I'm not a collector; I don't take pleasure in holding onto something I'm not going to play again just so I can say I have it. There are a handful of games I love enough to want to hold onto and replay; for the rest, one playthrough's enough. And $60 per game is just too steep a price for what's essentially disposable entertainment, unless there's a mechanism in place (like Gamestop) that lets me recoup part of that investment later.

As for the people saying that we should use Amazon, buy/sell threads, or whatever because they're a better value, I know in my case that it's a question of convenience. I don't like waiting for packages in the mail or buying merchandise sight unseen. As far as mailing things out to other people, I live about an hour from the nearest post office, so it's damn inconvenient to mail packages. By comparison, the closest Gamestop is about ten minutes' walk from where I live, in a shopping center with the supermarket where I do my grocery shopping.

If publishers cut their prices, I'd buy a lot more games new. $20's probably the magic number for me. For $20, I'll gladly buy stuff that I know I can't trade in later (like DD games, or preowned games that I might as well hold onto because I'll only get $1-$2 for them at most if I trade them back in), because I don't feel stung over the price. I'll also buy new at $20 rather than saving a couple of dollars buying preowned because at that price, the idea of spending a little extra for that 'new game smell' seems worth it. For stuff in the $40-60+ price range, though, I'll do everything in my power to cut the cost, whether it's buying used/on sale/on clearance, applying trade-in credit from other games, or whatever.

 

[Dogenzaka]

Damn GameStop for running GameCrazy into the ground. My favorite GC store is now closed. Fuuu

Mine too.

GC itself was a pretty cool store but mine had asshat management so I can't honestly say I'll miss it anymore.

But it's always bad to see competition go away :l

 

[donny2112]

This still won't be a proof, but I believe that last year's report from Wedbush estimated marketshare for GameStop and Wal-mart to be approximately even. I don't believe that report takes used game sales into account, so the used game figure won't be an issue there.

So in terms of dollar sales, I'd say that GameStop and Wal-mart were approximately the same. However, I think there is an argument to be made that GameStop sells more of the core (for lack of a better term) gamer software than does Wal-mart. This means that some software (licensed cash-ins, kid games in general, etc. etc.) gets sold by the truckload through Wal-mart while shooters, core racing games, etc. get sold by the truckload through GameStop.

This means that the marketshare effect of each outlet will be seen differently by different publishers, at the very least.

NPD: 60-65% of the market
WM ~= GS ~= 30%
=> ~Half of NPD's "market" coverage is GameStop
=> Types of games heavier at GameStop will have a tendency to be higher in NPD than actual sales, so NPD would have to work hard to remove that inherent skew.
=> Types of games lighter at GameStop will have a tendency to be lower in NPD than actual sales, so NPD would have to work hard to remove that inherent skew.

Edit:
Add to that the effect of a recession possibly pushing more people from specialty stores to an "invisible" Wal-Mart marketshare, and if NPD doesn't have some kind of truth to go by, it could be very easy for them to "miss" a significant % of the market and not realize it.

 

[Owzers]

With Gamestop's current 25OFF coupon for 25% off all orders above $100......it's hard to hate them right now.

 

[Zachack]

All it takes is one case making it through the legal system. If no one else will do it, maybe someday I will. But you're right: I'd feel a whole lot more inclined to do so if I didn't think it'd make me a villian to the entire uneducated publisher fanboy population of the gaming community.

You'd have a better chance if you didn't keep harping on a questionable right like the ability to resell a license and if you realized that your model would be fairly catastrophic due to convenience issues within a completely virtual used marketplace. A single copy of a "real" game probably has about 2-3 owners on average (at most) before it's priced out of viability for used retailers and most people without access to a trading website, heavily due to availability and logistics. A virtual copy will not have any of these impediments and could be traded far more times with no impact to the final product (like stickers all over a box or scratched discs) creating a time-based loss of value.\

Almost every single product you can imagine that has a used market also has obvious depreciation attached to it as the forces of nature and children take their toll. Digital products do not have this problem.

The real solution, instead of what you proposed, is for publishers to setup a sort of reverse-eBay, where the price of a copy lowers over time, with modifiers for demand if needed. Anyone who wants a copy on day 1 will pay full price. By day 10 maybe the price will have come down $10. By day 60 it's $20 off. Eventually it's bargain binned. People who don't have the funds to pay full price simply wait for a lower price.

The value Gamestop provides isn't questionable to me in the least. They provide me with a convenient way to get something back on the games I no longer want, and put that credit toward the purchase of games I haven't played yet.

I'd suspect your post office situation is unique, although it's not really hard to buy postage online. That said, there are a variety of hidden costs associated with what ultimately acts as an advanced flea market, like environmental and social costs.

 

[jordan0386]

Dear Gamestop, leave me alone about GeOW 3 pre-orders. The game ships a year from now.

 

[Version 3.0]

You'd have a better chance if you didn't keep harping on a questionable right like the ability to resell a license and if you realized that your model would be fairly catastrophic due to convenience issues within a completely virtual used marketplace. A single copy of a "real" game probably has about 2-3 owners on average (at most) before it's priced out of viability for used retailers and most people without access to a trading website, heavily due to availability and logistics. A virtual copy will not have any of these impediments and could be traded far more times with no impact to the final product (like stickers all over a box or scratched discs) creating a time-based loss of value.\

Almost every single product you can imagine that has a used market also has obvious depreciation attached to it as the forces of nature and children take their toll. Digital products do not have this problem.

The real solution, instead of what you proposed, is for publishers to setup a sort of reverse-eBay, where the price of a copy lowers over time, with modifiers for demand if needed. Anyone who wants a copy on day 1 will pay full price. By day 10 maybe the price will have come down $10. By day 60 it's $20 off. Eventually it's bargain binned. People who don't have the funds to pay full price simply wait for a lower price.

Thanks for going into the detail that I didn't have time to--your proposed solutions are exactly what I meant when I said "additional controls". A DD used market would be 100% controlled by the seller, so there ARE no problems. Anything they don't like, they can fix, and no matter what, they get a cut. I've thought this through in detail. Like I said, it's a win-win situation.

 

[Zen]

Seriously!

It’s the Publisher’s fault that we don’t (want to) keep the games they sell to us. Not GameStop’s! Every single time Publishers want to change the current situation it happened to be a huge disadvantage for the customer.

If you don’t want me to pirate a game make sure that I don’t get the superior product every single time. If you don’t want me to trade in my game give me a little figurine (for example)… something that makes me want to keep your product (make every game a collector's edition). Do not put content on the disc and sell it to me after I’ve already given you my money. Treat every customer the same and get rid of In-Game pre-order bonuses. Fix your games before they ship and don’t just assume that that I’ll be able to download a Patch on the first day. Do not sell me stuff on the first day. Don’t act like assholes all the time and I might want to support what you do.

If you don’t like GameStop, just don’t buy anything there and don’t sell them your games. I usually don’t go there either.

Are you saying that you pirate games?!

Your second paragraph isn't addressing Gamestop's practice of selling games used. Even if publishers did everything you've said, Gamestop would still sell games used, and still be selling a lot; except there wouldn't be any windmills to tilt at. Used games sales were a problem far before DLC (which actually helps consumer retention, Day 1 DLC or not).

This post reads less like a summation of actual problems in the marketplace and more like a list of personal pet peeves.Even if every game became a CE, that would only, over time, shift the user perception of what the baseline is, and the effect of added value would decrease. It probably wouldn't be wholly ineffective, but it certainly isn't the answer to Gamestop ripping off the shrink wrap and selling it used.

 

[liquidlogan]

Are you saying that you pirate games?!

:lol :lol :lol What the hell? I don't even understand how you reached that conclusion about him. I think your interpretation could have only been overblown if you called him a Nazi, and even then not by much. :lol

 

[Zen]

:lol :lol :lol What the hell? I don't even understand how you reached that conclusion about him. I think your interpretation could have only been overblown if you called him a Nazi, and even then not by much. :lol

"If you don’t want me to pirate a game make sure that I don’t get the superior product every single time" I know he's using I as a method of creating an example, but it's still a valid question. The 'each and every time' bit seems a bit personal. :lol

 

[liquidlogan]

"If you don’t want me to pirate a game make sure that I don’t get the superior product every single time"

I, for one, assumed a hypothetical situation. But I'll retract my statement and let him defend himself. Carry on.

 

[Zen]

As to what he said though, we are seeing developers move in this direction where used/pirated copies have their online component locked out, or you need a special key to get DLC (like ME2). I do like the idea of added value, but none of this is a realistic answer to curbing used game sales (except developers building in a method to lock out content of used copies somehow).

 

[-PXG-]

GameStop should have/ will be getting a notice from the Department of Labor. Store managers will get over-time pay. This is retroactive too, up to a maximum of two years. Sure, GameStop will appeal, doubt it will work though. They've been getting slack for this for a long time.

 

[Y2Kev]

I like my gamestop. They are clean and have nice help that says hello when I walk in.

 

[liquidlogan]

As to what he said though, we are seeing developers move in this direction where used/pirated copies have their online component locked out, or you need a special key to get DLC (like ME2). I do like the idea of added value, but none of this is a realistic answer to curbing used game sales (except developers building in a method to lock out content of used copies somehow).

I will say this: I enjoy the option of buying used games. In fact, when given the opportunity, I will almost always buy used (I don't care if somebody else played it, and will only push for sealed games if I want it for collector's purpose). That being said, what EA did for the Cerberus Network was brilliant. It made the purchase of a new game a value added decision because it improved the game after its release. I'm not going to given into the "Titties DLC" of The Saboteur, but damn, the promise of genuine DLC included in the purchase is a fantastic deal for both consumers and publishers.

 

[yankeeforever2]

I like my gamestop. They are clean and have nice help that says hello when I walk in.

Well my main problem is like I went in yesterday to look around, found dead rising for 15 bucks used. Go to check it out and they ask me about pre-ordering dead rising 2. So, if I am buying dead rising 1 I would have no idea if I will like it at all since I haven't played it! Can you just save both our time by not asking me to pre-order 10 different games!

Spoiler

cheap used games + edge card make me go back

 

[-PXG-]

Dear Gamestop, leave me alone about GeOW 3 pre-orders. The game ships a year from now.

Yeah, I saw it got added to the system. I will seriously laugh if anyone bothers asking a customer to pre-order. I mean really. The game is a fucking year away. :lol

I wish GAF could come to my store. We're chill and don't do the shit that you guys complain about. Customers come to us because we're nice, knowledgeable and have their best interests in mind. Sure, we do the shit corporate tells us to do, but we also compromise and do what helps our customers. That way, everyone wins and no one can complain.

 

[snap0212]

Are you saying that you pirate games?!

No, I don’t. If I want to have a product, I'll gladly pay for it.

Your second paragraph isn't addressing Gamestop's practice of selling games used.

Because the only ones who are having a problem with GameStop selling used games are companies that try to rip-off us all the time. I don’t care.

Even if publishers did everything you've said, Gamestop would still sell games used, and still be selling a lot; except there wouldn't be any windmills to tilt at. Used games sales were a problem far before DLC (which actually helps consumer retention, Day 1 DLC or not).

Used sales may be a problem. But not the consumer’s!

I can buy a DVD and sell it. Everyone can buy a used DVD. I can buy a book and sell it. Everyone can buy a used book. Why should game be treated any different?

"If you don’t want me to pirate a game make sure that I don’t get the superior product every single time" I know he's using I as a method of creating an example, but it's still a valid question. The 'each and every time' bit seems a bit personal. :lol

Yeah, but it’s northing personal. I usually don’t even play PC Games (except Plants vs. Zombies). I just wanted to point out how the current situation is: Those who buy the games get the superior product pretty much every single time. ;-) A lot of PC Gamers just buy the games and download them afterwards. They want to have the best version available and you can't blame them for that.

As to what he said though, we are seeing developers move in this direction where used/pirated copies have their online component locked out, or you need a special key to get DLC (like ME2). I do like the idea of added value, but none of this is a realistic answer to curbing used game sales (except developers building in a method to lock out content of used copies somehow).

What they did with Mass Effect 2 was bullshit. I bought the game new (haven’t played it yet) and don’t have my 360 connected to the internet. Impossible for me to play the content I paid for. We’re talking about a single player game where my experience should not be depending on whether I have my console connected to the internet.

 

[McBradders]

I can buy a DVD and sell it. Everyone can buy a used DVD. I can buy a book and sell it. Everyone can buy a used book. Why should game be treated any different?

Are you walking in to Best Buy or Barnes and Noble to pick up your used books and DVD's?

That's what the issue is. Competing with used sales in the same fucking store.

As a developer I'm pro-consumer but the way games retailers use this business model is questionable, at best, and forcing DRM-age further down the rabbit hole at worst, be it genuine DRM or ridiculous incentives to buy new.

 

[fernoca]

as a former employee of 6 years i can say this

Being greedy and shoving things down customers throats pays off. Oh and treating employees like dogshit and replacing them with hobos they find off the streets to.

Live every retail job out there.

Are you saying that you pirate games?!

Your second paragraph isn't addressing Gamestop's practice of selling games used. Even if publishers did everything you've said, Gamestop would still sell games used, and still be selling a lot; except there wouldn't be any windmills to tilt at. Used games sales were a problem far before DLC (which actually helps consumer retention, Day 1 DLC or not).

This post reads less like a summation of actual problems in the marketplace and more like a list of personal pet peeves.Even if every game became a CE, that would only, over time, shift the user perception of what the baseline is, and the effect of added value would decrease. It probably wouldn't be wholly ineffective, but it certainly isn't the answer to Gamestop ripping off the shrink wrap and selling it used.

I think he/she was talking just in general...even Nintendo recognized that problem and admitted that developers need to add more incentive to the actual games, either multiplayer, longer singleplayer modes, extra episodes as downloadable content..and so on..

People like to blame Gamestop for used videogame sales..
When Gamestop is not forcing people to sell videogames.

Goosex...eBay..Amazon..
All 3 are heavily praised around for their deals and also for either their way of trading games or selling games.

"Don't trade at Gamestop, go to Goosex it's better and you can get any game you want"..

People only complain about Gamestop, because they don't get what they want..if Gamestop gave them $58.99 of the $59.99 they just paid for a new game, they'll sure be there trading every game....every time.

Then, go to eBay to sell their "mint" games....oh, but "Gamestop sucks because of used game sales"..

 

[snap0212]

Are you walking in to Best Buy or Barnes and Noble to pick up your used books and DVD's?

That's what the issue is. Competing with used sales in the same fucking store..

So the Publishers are cool with the idea of selling your games and buying used copies on eBay?

 

[Vinci]

Pubs didn't really get bent out of shape about rental and used copies until after budgets for games went soaring through the roof. At least that's how it appears, 'cause I don't remember this massive amount of bitching in the past regarding either of these alternative methods of consumption till this gen.

 

[LevityNYC]

Amazon.com is basically destroying Gamestop on new games. They are offering 10-20 dollar gift cards for pretty much any new game purchase.

 

[Square Triangle]

Amazon.com is basically destroying Gamestop on new games. They are offering 10-20 dollar gift cards for pretty much any new game purchase.

Mhm and Gamestop has nothing to combat it other than the easier B&M trade in offer.

 

[liquidlogan]

Are you walking in to Best Buy or Barnes and Noble to pick up your used books and DVD's?

That's what the issue is. Competing with used sales in the same fucking store.

As a developer I'm pro-consumer but the way games retailers use this business model is questionable, at best, and forcing DRM-age further down the rabbit hole at worst, be it genuine DRM or ridiculous incentives to buy new.

Oh no! It's in the same store! Seriously? :lol

How can you say you are pro-consumer and be against the retailer offering a choice of used games for the customer? The onus is on developers/publishers to make a new sale more attractive, not on Gamestop to stop offering consumers a cheaper, used alternative--yes, even in the same store (god forbid!).

And, FYI, Best Buy sells used games in Canada (not sure about the US). So, yes, I am walking into Best Buy to purchase used games.

 

[Balb]

I don't shop at GameStop much but I have to admit they've been running some pretty good deals lately. The recent 50% extra trade in credit deal was decent, and I was able to take advantage of a weekly deal they had where they gave $40 for Madden 10 trade-ins. Gamestop.com has also improved, in that all the current gen games come with boxes and manuals now, and they have some good deals occasionally.

I'm not a shill for GameStop or anything, in fact I hate their "full sales pitch" with the pre-order/edge card/"game insurance" bs, but I'll give them credit when they deserve it.

 

[Jeels]

Mine too.

GC itself was a pretty cool store but mine had asshat management so I can't honestly say I'll miss it anymore.

But it's always bad to see competition go away :l

Ya, kind of annoying. A new game store opened at my mall (First Colony) and I was surprised how much unique stuff they had compared to a Gamestop in the same mall.

It really sucks that there aren't that many mom and pop game stores anymore.

 

[Conrad Link]

Gotta pay that '1 hot (or even just close to hot) chick' working there somehow!

I swear its like an EB store requirement or something, right under must have those security/fire alarms, in the manual it says must have a girl working there to make the nerds buy more games like we're all old geek movie cliche characters. :lol

My time working there was unfavorable, the manager was a prick and I didn't like pushing shit down people's throats all the time. That side of it just made it not the job for me aye.

 

[Kintaro]

Yeah, I saw it got added to the system. I will seriously laugh if anyone bothers asking a customer to pre-order. I mean really. The game is a fucking year away. :lol

I've had ten customers come to me and put Gears of War 3 on pre-order the day they saw the trailer. I've had many pre-orders for Halo Reach since it's been put up. I have many, many pre-orders for Cataclysm. They come to me. I don't even bother asking. :lol

One thing I will add to the conversation though. If developers/publishers started adding a money back guarantee on their new games, you might actually make a dent in your used game "problem." For the vast majority of people, this is the most liked feature about GameStop's used games. You get seven days to try it. Don't like it? Bring it back and refund is yours. That's worry free gaming. It protects them against your game sucking ass and them wasting money. Try doing this with a new game anywhere and you will get nowhere.

That shit is important to people. The vast majority of people buying games aren't this forum. They aren't collectors and never will be. They want to buy a game, like it and know if they don't, they have immediate options to get their money back.

Are you walking in to Best Buy or Barnes and Noble to pick up your used books and DVD's?

That's what the issue is. Competing with used sales in the same fucking store.

As a developer I'm pro-consumer but the way games retailers use this business model is questionable, at best, and forcing DRM-age further down the rabbit hole at worst, be it genuine DRM or ridiculous incentives to buy new.

Best Buy sells used games. Amazon sells used products. Same stores even. Crazy. You're not pro-consumer.

 

[Urban Scholar]

They want to buy a game, like it and know if they don't, they have immediate options to get their money back.

This is indeed the conclusion I've come to understand/accept with the subject matter with at said business.

 

[sinseers]

as a former employee of 6 years i can say this

Being greedy and shoving things down customers throats pays off. Oh and treating employees like dogshit and replacing them with hobos they find off the streets to.

What you said is numero uno why I rarely buy from GS anymore. How can a company so openly post revenue gains and not even properly compensate the people on the frontlines who directly impact their wealth? Heck, even Madoff was paying his fontliners proper wages.

 

[Version 3.0]

I feel obligated to explain this again: the used game market is quite likely an advantage to publishers, because it spurs new game sales.

People who aren't inclined to keep games once they've finished them are going to get rid of them one way or another. They're going to give them away, trade them, sell them, or throw them away. Gamestop is providing a way for them to do so that encourages them to buy a new game. They push pre-orders on every single trade-in customer that walks in.

It's really the best possible scenario for publishers, outside of a world where people don't have the right to sell (or otherwise dispose of) what they buy. I know plenty of gamers are so irrational and devoted to their favorite game companies that they'd love to move to that world, but it isn't where we live.

 

[-PXG-]

What you said is numero uno why I rarely buy from GS anymore. How can a company so openly post revenue gains and not even properly compensate the people on the frontlines who directly impact their wealth? Heck, even Madoff was paying his fontliners proper wages.

Because they don't give a shit. Plain and simple

 

[Version 3.0]

What you said is numero uno why I rarely buy from GS anymore. How can a company so openly post revenue gains and not even properly compensate the people on the frontlines who directly impact their wealth? Heck, even Madoff was paying his fontliners proper wages.

This is a much better reason to hate Gamestop, which I do. And yet I'm always defending them from people who are dying to give up my consumer rights.

 

[Foxix Von]

This is indeed the conclusion I've come to understand/accept with the subject matter with at said business.

Yup, I quit not too long ago due to that. After I quit they hired an additional SGA at a higher pay rate than the one currently employed for 4 or so years. So now he too is calling it quits, along with 2 employees who are looking for another job.

Within the next 2 months literally everyone at my local gamestop will have quit with the exception of the manager. :lol

EDIT: I feel as if I should also mention that the new guy they hired tried to convince me that the slim PS3's had non upgradeable hard drives. :lol :lol :lol

 

[Vinci]

It's really the best possible scenario for publishers, outside of a world where people don't have the right to sell (or otherwise dispose of) what they buy. I know plenty of gamers are so irrational and devoted to their favorite game companies that they'd love to move to that world, but it isn't where we live.

Never understood this either. It's like, "Publishers aren't happy! Take away my rights, pubs! Anything to make you happy, you wonderful charities for humanity!"

 

[MoxManiac]

Why would you NOT shop at Gamestop? I like spending less money as opposed to more money, so I usually buy used games.

If I do buy new I usually buy it from Best Buy.

www.amazon.com

 

[Mr. B Natural]

Best Buy sells used games. Amazon sells used products. Same stores even. Crazy. You're not pro-consumer.

Except that those other stores don't put the used items right beside the new. I went to buy bioshock new because I played the demo and thought it was fantastic. So, I go to gamestop and ask for the new copy of bioshock. Do you want to know how many times the cashier mentioned that I can get it used for 55 dollars?

6 times. I said NO six freggin times. And for what? 5 measily bucks? Are you serious? It wasn't about saving me 5 dollars was it?

Never again. And now I buy my shit through amazon for 40 bucks (if you want to include the 20 dollar credit) brand new. Whens the last time gamestop sold a brand new game at a discount? When's the last time gamestop sold anything new at a discount?

 

[liquidlogan]

Except that those other stores don't put the used items right beside the new. I went to buy bioshock new because I played the demo and thought it was fantastic. So, I go to gamestop and ask for the new copy of bioshock. Do you want to know how many times the cashier mentioned that I can get it used for 55 dollars?

6 times. I said NO six freggin times. And for what? 5 measily bucks? Are you serious? It wasn't about saving me 5 dollars was it?

Never again. And now I buy my shit through amazon for 40 bucks (if you want to include the 20 dollar credit) brand new. Whens the last time gamestop sold a brand new game at a discount? When's the last time gamestop sold anything new at a discount?

You're being irrational. So would you prefer they put the used products in a dark dingy corner of the store with an exposed swinging light bulb, or, you know, logically where all the other games are?

Also, way to go. You are comfortable with spending an extra 5 dollars. Not everyone is in your situation and you shouldn't presume that they are. If you save money, you have more money to spend at Gamestop. It's win-win, really. So is it about saving you money? Yes, because it benefits Gamestop as well if you do.

And Gamestop always discounts new products, either through including extra items (buy PS3 get these two games) or through their sales in which games are marked down. Mass Effect, Assassins Creed 2, Dante's Inferno could all have been purchased within the past two months, brand new, for less than $20 off regular price. They also dropped the used price accordingly. So what's your point?

Listen, I'm not trying to be a shill here, but stop making generalizations about the company and its customers that you can't back up.

 

[Gummy Panda]

Except that those other stores don't put the used items right beside the new. I went to buy bioshock new because I played the demo and thought it was fantastic. So, I go to gamestop and ask for the new copy of bioshock. Do you want to know how many times the cashier mentioned that I can get it used for 55 dollars?

6 times. I said NO six freggin times. And for what? 5 measily bucks? Are you serious? It wasn't about saving me 5 dollars was it?

Never again. And now I buy my shit through amazon for 40 bucks (if you want to include the 20 dollar credit) brand new. Whens the last time gamestop sold a brand new game at a discount? When's the last time gamestop sold anything new at a discount?

They're the same in Ireland now.

Go up to counter with case for new PS3 game and the sales assistant informs me there is a used copy. I told him I'm not interested in used. Guy keeps going on about saving €5 and that blurays are dual layer/scratch proof. I had to keep telling him I don't care and that I want new. Funny thing is, he was trying to sell me disc insurance not so long ago by saying PS3 games can get easily scratched :lol

I think I'll stick to Amazon and wait for delivery in future.

 

[Chemo]

Generalizations ftw! What to you do for a living? I bet I can find a bunch of idiots in your occupational group as well...

It'd be hilarious if he ended up being a molecular biologist or something like that.

 

[Vinci]

You're being irrational. So would you prefer they put the used products in a dark dingy corner of the store with an exposed swinging light bulb, or, you know, logically where all the other games are?

They should have a separate store for used games. GameStop for Poor Folks could be the name. They'd park it right next-door to their regular outlet.