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[Hitta93]

The worst comment I got was like on my 11th or 12th birthday and I had a long ass wishlist of just Xbox games I wanted. Back to back to back, the top 3 games I wanted were sold out and I finally got at least one off the list: Ultimate Spider Man. He kind of rudely asked me "Are you just buying games to buy them?"

Older me would have stood up for myself, but at that time, I just said "I like the game".

Bought it and went about my day, but honestly a horrible shopping experience from GS.

 

[iamtheb]

When I was seven or eight (around 1995 or so) I went to our mall's Software Etc. I asked the clerk, who had been chatting with some of his buddies, if they had any used copies of any of the NES Mega Man games. The guy looks at me with a grin and spouts off "Hey buddy, why don't you try a thrift store?" They all laughed and I left bummed. Still makes me mad thinking about it. Never did get any of them until I was older.

 

[PtM]

I should've hit on her.

No.

 

[Stevey]

Last retail game I bought was Dead Space 3 on PC.

"Are you sure you can run it? You need a really good PC"
"I'm good"

 

[Lupin the Third]

Worked in game retail for 10 years, I don't want to talk to customers to be honest, I don't want to share my opinion, we're not your friends, I create a nice environment don't get me wrong, but I don't want to be a deciding factor on what you purchase

I'm happy to discuss something you've played
But I'm not gonna tell you to buy/not buy something because everyone's different

To the guys saying guys in retail haven't got a clue, there's two sides to the situation, myself and my other co worker are incredibly informed and have a great knowledge of games we have to deal with customers who are so misinformed, stupid beyond belief

Try not to stereotype gaf.

Same time table here, but what I'd say is I don't mind talking games with customers (I guess I just like hearing my own voice). I like helping people find something they might like. It's satisfying, especially when they come back and report a game resonated with them.

That said, sometimes people are impossible to help, refuse to respect our time, or ask us questions only to leave and likely go buy the same product(s) online.

Every day is an adventure!

Yeah. No matter what the shop this shit pisses me off. I hate being bothered when I'm shopping. I know why they have to do it, but it doesn't make it any less annoying. If I need help, I'll ask. Leave me the fuck alone.

This is surprisingly not true of a lot of people.

I get customers coming in, combing over a specific section, not necessarily "browsing" (usually walking in, checking a section briefly, then leaving just as abruptly without a word). We politely offer help, asking if there's something they're looking for. We don't hard-sell jack (we don't have a rewards card or anything to push) but people will either say "just looking" (no you're not, we're not stupid) or ignore us altogether.

Sometimes we have recent trade-ins that haven't been processed, or didn't come in with a keepcase and aren't represented. Like, you might not be as self-sufficient as you think, and it's not like we bite, you know?

Are there a lot of people like this on GAF? If so, why do you feel this way?

 

[-shadow-]

I bought call of duty for Wii u at Target one day. The dude looked at me, and asked (with a straight face) is it easier on the Wii u? 😂😂😂

Had a similar experience when I bought BLOPS II. Not exactly those word, but it came down to the game being more casual than it is on other consoles so it sucks. My response: "Yeah and no 12 year olds who fucked your mom last night either."
Didn't even mean to say it, it kind of just flew out before I had processed what I actually wanted to say. Needless to say the conversation was one and done...

 

[TsunamiOfSwagger]

When I was seven or eight (around 1995 or so) I went to our mall's Software Etc. I asked the clerk, who had been chatting with some of his buddies, if they had any used copies of any of the NES Mega Man games. The guy looks at me with a grin and spouts off "Hey buddy, why don't you try a thrift store?" They all laughed and I left bummed. Still makes me mad thinking about it. Never did get any of them until I was older.

Sounds like the beginning of an 80s movie just before you had a dance-off to determine who could hang out at the game store.

 

[biteren]

picking up a preorder of Ninja Gaiden Sigma with a free shirt

"damn it! that was the last shirt!"

 

[J_ToSaveTheDay]

Are there a lot of people like this on GAF? If so, why do you feel this way?

I'm opposite. I used to work in game retail and I agree with you that most people come in with an expectation to be helped. I do absolutely understand that some people feel knowledgeable enough and just want to take a look, though, but the data definitely suggests that there's a stronger expectation to be assisted. The actual crowd that shops at game retailers is actually not forum enthusiast knowledgeable, even if some of them actually have more time to put into games than the enthusiast crowd. It's the same exact thing as with car owners -- the vast majority are not gearheads.

I am an enthusiast myself and I at least expect as a consumer that help will be readily available. I'll gladly shop at Best Buy over GameStop for the GCU discount and I don't usually need assistance, but every damn time I actually need help at a Best Buy, it's ridiculously hard to find.

 

[Mexen]

You bought MGS4 (came out in 2008) new and they told you to get FIFA 13?

How did they even have a new copy of MGS4 still around?

Yes. Some of us live in 3rd world countries where stuff takes a while to get here, unless you order online.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

This is surprisingly not true of a lot of people.

I get customers coming in, combing over a specific section, not necessarily "browsing" (usually walking in, checking a section briefly, then leaving just as abruptly without a word). We politely offer help, asking if there's something they're looking for. We don't hard-sell jack (we don't have a rewards card or anything to push) but people will either say "just looking" (no you're not, we're not stupid) or ignore us altogether.

I can't speak for anyone else, but when I tell a shop assistant that I'm "just browsing/looking", I'm actually telling them to fuck off and get out my personal space. I'm just polite enough to not say that outloud to someone who is just doing their job.


As I said before, I understand why you do it, and I don't discount there are many who are greatful for attentive people trying to sell them shit.

However, if anything, it makes me want to leave your store and if I'm approached before ive even started looking around, often I will.

If I've not even made eye contact with someone and look in no way confused or lost, I feel they are divding my attention from shopping to unnecessary social interaction. Often that is unwelcome and irritating.


I think it boils down to the fact that I would never walk into a shop without a concrete idea what I want and if I am dawdling around, it means trying to " discover" something along that tbeme.

An example is yesterday, decided I wanted a pair of red and black sneakers. I don't need a shop assistant to find me red and black sneakers, I can see for myself what colours are on display. If I see a pair I like, I may then ask if they sell them in red and black, but a assistant standing at the door trying to talk to me is distracting me from scanning the store, which in a typical sneaker chain can take less than 30 seconds.

Talking to people is holding me up and isn't productive in most chains anyway. It's very rare a shop had something "in the back" that isn't displayed in store.

 

[Krejlooc]

I was apparently the only person to pre-order Metroid Zero mission. I was also the only person to pre-order Ys: Ark of Napistim and Katamari Damacy, with the clerk claiming they literally ordered their only copy of Katamari Damacy because I had a pre-order.

 

[Impotaku]

Last time i bought any game in a store was when i picked up chainsaw lollypop from GAME for the 360. Had it preordered so i went up to the counter to get it and was commended on my game choice by the girl behind the counter who then proceeded to pull out the biggest cardboard box for lollypops i had seen. Apparently everyone who bought a copy that day got to raid the lollypop box, there were only a few left as it looks like a lot of people that day had picked it up.

That's as exciting as it gets as i rarely buy uk domestic games now, nowdays i buy online from Amazon Japan so i get zero interaction unless you count the nice email from Amazon Japan saying i have saved "insert yen" from their lowest price gurantee.

 

[clemmy]

"Hah, why do you want 'We Love Katamari?' Game is lame, all you do is roll up snowballs. Should get a real game, like Medal of Honor. Have fun rolling up snowballs."

 

[Jawmuncher]

When I bought devils third, the clerk actually called it Devils turd.

 

[Protome]

When I traded in a bunch of PS3 games to get a Wii U I ended up having a conversation with the guy serving me about Rage (because I was trading it in, after buying the PC version) and how we both thought it was pretty great despite its issues.

Same guy also suggested I pick up a preowned copy of ZombiU with my Wii U, because it was like 50p and he enjoyed it.

 

[Quonny]

The only one that sticks out for me was when I was picking up the original Disgaea.

"How the heck do you pronounce this?"

 

[TheChocolateWar]

Was in the store picking up my copy of TMSFE when it came out. Told the store manager I was gonna trade my Xbox One in just for casual conversation. He said, "Why?". Told him I have a good gaming PC and with all the games being released on the PC, why bother? Straight up told me "Xbox One still has like 9 exclusives that won't be on PC." Not sure which press conference he watched.

 

[offshore]

I was on holiday when Driv3r was released, and with no proper mobile access to the internet at the time, I had no idea that the game was a disaster.

Anyway, I wander into HMV near the end of my holiday to buy it, and the guy gave me a funny kind of "enjoy!" when I bought it. I didn't really think anything of it, lol, until I got home when I realised what he meant. He bloody could have told me at the time. Git.

 

[Scipio]

When I bought Dragon Age: Origins

"It's a fantastic game".

Usually they say nothing like that.

They were absolutely right.

 

[Deft Beck]

When I bought devils third, the clerk actually called it Devils turd.

Did he have an accent? Otherwise, lol

 

[Guileless]

I bought a King of Fighters game back in the PS2 days from Gamestop, and the clerk told me "we get some real weirdos in here who buy KoF games." I assumed she wasn't talking about me.

 

[AnkhWeasel]

When I was much younger and less employed, one of the stores here had a promo where you could get a DS in exchange for (I don't remember, around) 6 DS games. Naturally, I bought some cheap pre-owned games from a different shop to get a super cheap handheld.

One of them was Feel the Magic. Except here, it goes by the title Project Rub:

Spoiler

This earned me a "...What is this?" from the cute girl at the counter, to which I had no explanation.

Still, cheap DS.

 

[L95]

I was apparently the only person to pre-order Metroid Zero mission. I was also the only person to pre-order Ys: Ark of Napistim and Katamari Damacy, with the clerk claiming they literally ordered their only copy of Katamari Damacy because I had a pre-order.

I always ask how many copies of something they get when I preorder, I felt bad when I asked her how many Fates SEs they got, she said they had more preorders than copies available. (though more would come in the mail apparently)

 

[Chao]

"Why are you buying a GameCube game? GameCube is shit, I have a PS2 it is so much better!"

Not surprisingly they went out of business a few years later.

Edit: it was a "PC city" store

 

[GametimeUK]

Me "argh, Mario Maker was much cheaper on your website, I'm a few £ short".

Them "sorry about that, hey, you work on this retail park too".

...

Them "we'll give you 10% discount, don't worry about it".

I had just enough money to buy Mario Maker day one.

 

[Tesser]

Pretty much every [rare] transaction I make in a GAME store here in the UK.

"Do you have a loyalty card with us?"
"No"
"Do you want to sign up for one?"
"No"
"Do you want to get [insert buzzy marketing spiel here] disc protection-"
"No"
"-it's only a few pound-"
"No"
"-it lasts all year; keeps your game disc protected-"
"No"
"Would you be interested in the official guide?"
"No"
"It's the last one"
"No"

-

It's so much worse when you're standing next to a kid maybe 8/9/10 years old also getting served and he/she's getting bombarded with these same questions and more. And their parent/guardian is completely clueless on the situation and likely caves in out of fear/protection for their child's 'super-duper expensive' purchase.

 

[GamingOblivion]

Yeah. No matter what the shop this shit pisses me off. I hate being bothered when I'm shopping. I know why they have to do it, but it doesn't make it any less annoying. If I need help, I'll ask. Leave me the fuck alone.

and then they get reprimanded for not talking to you