Support NeoGAF

[Tarazet]

That would be nice but GS is a corporation and would get sued in a second. All those cover arts are copyrighted and the ones that are on display are for promiting upcoming games and were paid for by the game publishers themselves. Hell if there were no lawyers to worry about there would be a terminal in every store to print out covers. Like I said before customers make their game buying decisions based on the pretty pictures on the box. GS is not a mom and pop operation there are reps coming in officially and unofficially to make sure that publishers are getting the floor space they buy and that their games are being displayed properly.

All of the Best Buys near me make photocopies of cover arts to display. Every single one. They don't do it for every game, but they do it for every major release.

 

[mattiewheels]

so .. just order some additional covers.

yeah adent, make it happen. together we can conquer this bullshit argument.

 

[WrathOfOtaibah]

I haven't shopped at EB or GameStop in months now and this gutted/new hustle is a major reason why.

My issue with gutted games is that you may not know if they're new or not. Plastering "New!" stickers on a box is only going to make me more suspicious, not less. I'd have no problem with getting gutted games for $5. GS is so gung-ho about saving space, we should save money too.

It doesn't surprise me that GameStop has been sued for this. Game stores have become little more than the panhandlers of the gaming retail world. Anything to make a quick buck. I imagine they're hoping that the majority of the customers are casual gamers who are too dumb to notice and only shop there 2-3 times a year at most. I know due to their asshattery, they've lost usually at least $1000 in business from me. Not a huge amount, I know, but still, a thousand here and a thousand there; soon we're talking real money.

Amazon.com, eBay, Play-Asia, and Half.com are my source for games. Sorry EB and GS, you ****ed me over one too many times.

 

[john tv]

Actually, all GBA games will have lines on the cart because they pop them into units to test them before they go out.

That said, I've been ****ed over one too many times with "new" games that look like they were used as small, inconvenient Frisbees to get fooled again.

Whoops. Now I feel bad for forcing that Japanese clerk to give me a new copy of Mother 2 because the first one was obviously used (because of those marks).

Then again, the second copy didn't have the marks, so I dunno. Maybe it depends on the tester who does the popping.

 

[Bloodwake]

Maybe he works there.

hey, I work there, and I'm overly negative...

 

[Adent]

Are you sure those didn't come in their marketing materials. Fake cover art is fine as long as it's provided by the publishers for marketing purposes.

 

[Vyer]

All of the Best Buys near me make photocopies of cover arts to display. Every single one. They don't do it for every game, but they do it for every major release.

In a sense, that's kinda the point. And I'd imagine the dedicated gamestores of decent size have a much larger stock of various titles than, say, the game section of a best buy.

Now that I think about it, with Best Buy, what games they do have...isn't every single one in a plastic case?

 

[cakefoo]

Funny I can hold and look at boxes in Best Buy, Costco, etc.

Maybe EBGames is just easier to steal from. But they definitely shouldn't try to get full price from selling the open display case with the disc they removed from it months before. It's not like it would bankrupt them to take a $5 hit and sell it as used.

The way I see it, there's 3 conditions a game can be in:

New
Used
Opened, but unplayed*

*No proof to back the "unplayed" claim. Shouldn't try to get full price for a "sketchy" item.

 

[cvxfreak]

On the word of someone trading in a brand new game, GS and EB call their used games "pre-owned" so your new game is subject to the same buyback prices.

 

[Tarazet]

In a sense, that's kinda the point. And I'd imagine the dedicated gamestores of decent size have a much larger stock of various titles than, say, the game section of a best buy.

Now that I think about it, with Best Buy, what games they do have...isn't every single one in a plastic case?

Yes, even the bin of Greatest Hits titles they keep in the rack have their own cases. Hell, even the used games are all in plastic bins. It's amusing to see a Zoo Keeper DS card bouncing around in one of those with a price tag on it. And Fry's, which has a much larger selection, puts everything on the floor in similar plastic security cases, and a lot of the older games they don't give a shit about get taken out of them. They just get put on the shelf naked.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Blockbuster doesn't seem to have a problem getting movie studios to let them use copyrights for the little placecards they have on their shelves in place of DVDs for newer releases.

 

[MrDaravon]

You can order extra display cases from various companies (I don't know if all game publishers offer it or not), I fail to see how this is a legal issue. As far as I know photcopying cases for display is not a legal issue, or at least it never came up when I worked at EB, and my local Gamestop does it.

 

[Adent]

Blockbuster doesn't seem to have a problem getting movie studios to let them use copyrights for the little placecards they have on their shelves in place of DVDs for newer releases.

Once or twice a year I get a big box with cover arts for every system. Along with the cover arts comes the following paraphrased note. "These cover arts are really spoony barding expensive so don't spoony barding waste them."

 

[MoxManiac]

I guess i'll restate my thoughts again, since this has unsuprisingly ballooned to 4+ pages.

I hate the policy. However, 9 times out of 10 it doesn't effect me anyways. The only time I buy games at EB/GS is 1) I absolutely need to have the game day 1, in which case my preordered copy is always shrinkwrapped, 2) EB/GS has had a big price drop on a game, in which case i'm not very picky about it being opened or not, since it was cheap anyways.

However, EB/GS's opening games and still selling them as new should NOT be defended. Let me ask you, if I opened a game bought at a store, opened it, then tried to return it (this includes EB/GS) would they give me a refund? NO! They wouldn't consider it new any more. So why should -I- consider an opened game as new?

 

[Tarazet]

However, EB/GS's opening games and still selling them as new should NOT be defended. Let me ask you, if I opened a game bought at a store, opened it, then tried to return it (this includes EB/GS) would they give me a refund? NO! They wouldn't consider it new any more. So why should -I- consider an opened game as new?

Exactly. After buying a "new" copy of Pokemon Emerald that had a 8-hour game save on it, I'll buy another gutted game from them as soon as they let me return opened games again.

 

[jjasper]

I don't usually go into Gamestop/Eb but I wanted to reserve the FFXII. So when I was there I saw they had a "new" copy of MGS: DGN. I had been all over the city trying to find it so I asked for it and of course they pulled that shit. I told them I wouldn't pay for it unless they gave it to me as used. And to my surprise they did.

Also didn't GS get taken to court over this like 2 years ago and was forced to give people money?

 

[brocke]

I just got back from working at Gamestop tonight, and I know how you feel. I guess the company justifies it because they need a game to gut and show on the sales floor. They should still find some other way of doing it.

Gamestop is one of the worse managed retails stores out there. I am referring to gamestop corporate. They have some of the worse policies ever that make absolutly no sense from a retail standpoint. The easiest problem to fix would be their shelving system.

They have the absolute worse shelving system ever. The way it is made, games never stay in place and are easily knocked off the shelf. And they should find some other way of seperating games rather than using boxes turned around. It's soo frustrating.

 

[tsp_gatmog]

So, I'm all pumped to get Radiata Stories for $20 finally after waiting and waiting. EB/Gamestop advertised new copies for $20 so I'm thinking "Hell, I'll just buy it there so I don't have to pay shipping and wait a week". So I go there today and buy the game and the clerk offered me a used copy for $17 and I'm thinking "Who wouldn't pay 4 more dollars for a new copy?". So of course I declined.

I get halfway to my car when I looked in my bag. I realized that the copy I have isn't factory sealed. Not only that, it has EB stickers all over it that say "NEW".

I go back into the store and I explain to the guy that this game isn't new. It's not factory sealed. He explains to me the only only ones they have left were open. So, I ask for my money back and he says "Ok, if it bothers you that much".

Hell, for all I know, they could be selling me used copies with a sticker that says "new" on it. I'm not that big of a dumbass. It was probably the first time I bought anything at EB/Gamestop in years and today was just another reason to not go there.

If anyone has boughted any of the discounted games from this thread that were advertised as "new" but really were please post.

from my experience at EB/Gamestop, that IS new. what happens is, when we're making room for the shelf behind the counter (all the unsealed gamecases), we have to take some down (say we have 10 of game X, and none of Y, so we take like 5 of X away and put 5 of Y on the shelf), and thus, we "gut" them (open the case, put the disc in a white sleeve behind the counter, and put the case on the big shelves, empty, for customers to browse.
while it s not sealed, it IS new.

 

[MrDaravon]

from my experience at EB/Gamestop, that IS new. what happens is, when we're making room for the shelf behind the counter (all the unsealed gamecases), we have to take some down (say we have 10 of game X, and none of Y, so we take like 5 of X away and put 5 of Y on the shelf), and thus, we "gut" them (open the case, put the disc in a white sleeve behind the counter, and put the case on the big shelves, empty, for customers to browse.
while it s not sealed, it IS new.

Part of the problem with it in general is I know for an absolute fact both Gamestops (I don't know about my EB) in my area do employee "rentals" on most titles. Unless you actually see an employee gut it, you cannot make the assumption that it is actually unplayed.

 

[Reilly]

while it s not sealed, it IS new.

It's "Like New", because something that is new would be catogorized has being factory sealed. For all I know, the game could have been droped or the manual might be bent. The fact that they deface the game by putting a sticker on it tells me it isn't "new".

 

[MrDaravon]

You know, the tons of stickers on the case bother me more than the game being opened. I forget which game it was, but I once came home with a game from EB that had EIGHT stickers on it. When I dumped a shitload of games at Gamestop recently when they had that trade in promo, I made a special point of swapping out all those cases that had stickers and labels for different games.

 

[Reilly]

You know, the tons of stickers on the case bother me more than the game being opened.

If I buy a used game (there or anywhere else), I buy those $1.99 demos they have at Best Buy to use as replacement cases.

 

[brocke]

Part of the problem with it in general is I know for an absolute fact both Gamestops (I don't know about my EB) in my area do employee "rentals" on most titles. Unless you actually see an employee gut it, you cannot make the assumption that it is actually unplayed.

Employee rentals (at least at my store), are supposed to only be on used titles.


And even though I hate gamestop, I work 1 day a week just to get the free rentals and other promo items we get to take home.

 

[bill0527]

Errrr

They've been doing this for a bazillion years. And there have been a bazillion discussions on this.

All of em justified too, those clerks should be shot and left in a ditch by the side of the road.

Something weird happens to people when they are indoctrinated as EB employees and I can't explain it.

You see.... everyone on this planet has a certain defintion that defines new. EB and Gamestop employees are the only other people in the world that have a different definition of what defines new. This new definition of "new" cannot be argued with an EB/Gamestop employee on a message board. They will defy all logic and reason and defend their keeper's definition of "new" to the message board death.

 

[JCBossman]

Well if you buy a Maxtor Hard Drive it comes covered in "MAXTOR" imprinted shrink rap, to let you know everthing is Kosher and hasen't Been tampered with, I agree they SHOULD give you a discount if the Factory Seal is broken, besides, say you give it as a gift to someone, the sticker they slap on the sopposedly new copy isn't a "Security Seal" as it can be opened,copied and closed again,without anyone the wiser, unlike factory Holographic stickers and shrink wrap, I wanna be sure If I am having problems it's due to a Manufacturing defect, NOT poor handling. Now Radio Shack does it right, if you are serious about buying something they will allow you to watch as they open the seals and show you everything is there including assories and everything is new, and in good condition.

P.S. This sometimes works in reverse I BITCH over every little scratch on USED games, and sometimes get some games that LOOK so good including manuals, I swear they gave me a BRAND NEW one just to shut me up

 

[Auron]

Employee rentals (at least at my store), are supposed to only be on used titles.


And even though I hate gamestop, I work 1 day a week just to get the free rentals and other promo items we get to take home.

It really depends on your store. The GameStop I used to work at would let us take the new games home as long it was a "gut." Of course if we scratched the disc, we bought it. That's how I ended buying the crappy Fantavision.

 

[helium121]

You know, when I bought my new car, it had 12 miles on it. I should have sued.

 

[Tarazet]

You know, when I bought my new car, it had 12 miles on it. I should have sued.

Kindly **** off with your apples and leave us geeks to our oranges.

 

[JCBossman]

Let's put it this way, if some dude "touched" your 18 yo daughters "Private Areas" is she as good as new?, would you mind if the guy did it just for "Display Purposes" and slapped a "tattoo" on her junk, or would you kick his ass!

 

[DarkAngelYuna]

Let's put it this way, if some dude "touched" your 18 yo daughters "Private Areas" is she as good as new?, would you mind if the guy did it just for "Display Purposes" and slapped a "tattoo" on her junk, or would you kick his ass!

Why the hell would you want to know so much about your daughters vagina...

 

[TurtleSnatcher]

How I look at it is really if its a gutted copy and you prefer not to buy it, then you dont have too.

If you do buy it and you are unsatisfied you still can return it within 7 days and not for the same item, but for your money back since you did buy a gutted item. I would reccomend leaving the price sticker on the actual box until after 7 days just in case.. then taking it off when you are satisfied. This helps the store go "Oh this was a gutted copy, so it was already open"

The return policy on new items is "return unopened and you will receive a full refund within 7 days" if you return a gutted copy (already open) with the label on it within 7 days then you should be okay..

Also try asking the associate/manager if they can write "Gutted" and initial it on the receipt so at least you can do it that way if you are giving it as a gift or something..


Anyways.. throwing my own 2 cents in it.

Its painfully hard to display those games in a small space with the amount GS/EB have in stores compared to a Best Buy. At the same time many 3rd party manufcaturers wont provide the needed box art in time by the time a game releases for GS/EB to print and make there own. 1st and 3rd party also wont provide box arts to all stores as well..

So.. Its just the way it is..

 

[Great Poster]

I took back NCAA 2007 for the PSP and told the EB clerk that the game was defective (rushing bug). I had had it for about 3 days. After some discussion, she did give me a refund. I'm sure as shit that they re-sold that copy as new. I doubt I'm the only person to have ever gotten a refund like that.


Moral? BEWARE THE GUTTED COPIES!

 

[TurtleSnatcher]

I took back NCAA 2007 for the PSP and told the EB clerk that the game was defective (rushing bug). I had had it for about 3 days. After some discussion, she did give me a refund. I'm sure as shit that they re-sold that copy as new. I doubt I'm the only person to have ever gotten a refund like that.


Moral? BEWARE THE GUTTED COPIES!

Doubtful they did, probably just defected it out.. its not that hard too.. takes 3 seconds.. and really they dont get in much trouble for it other then hurting there comps numbers at the end of the day..

 

[AniHawk]

Let's put it this way, if some dude "touched" your 18 yo daughters "Private Areas" is she as good as new?, would you mind if the guy did it just for "Display Purposes" and slapped a "tattoo" on her junk, or would you kick his ass!

Seek help.

 

[Great Poster]

If you do buy it and you are unsatisfied you still can return it within 7 days and not for the same item, but for your money back since you did buy a gutted item. I would reccomend leaving the price sticker on the actual box until after 7 days just in case.. then taking it off when you are satisfied. This helps the store go "Oh this was a gutted copy, so it was already open"

I bought a gutted copy of RR6 tonight at Gamestop and they slapped a sticker across the opening of the keep case. She even told me that I couldn't return it if I broke that seal. They were trying to push the busted-up-box used version that was a whopping $2.01 less than the new copy. She kept saying "Are you sure? You can buy the used copy and if you don't like it you can return it in 7 days. " I declined.

I hate gutted copies...but I hates me some busted-up-box used version more. I don't know how many times I've passed over a used copy of a game I wanted b/c the box looked like it had been chewed on and had more stickers on it than a hippie van.

 

[TurtleSnatcher]

I bought a gutted copy of RR6 tonight at Gamestop and they slapped a sticker across the opening of the keep case. She even told me that I couldn't return it if I broke that seal. They were trying to push the busted-up-box used version that was a whopping $2.01 less than the new copy. She kept saying "Are you sure? You can buy the used copy and if you don't like it you can return it in 7 days. " I declined.

I hate gutted copies...but I hates me some busted-up-box used version more. I don't know how many times I've passed over a used copy of a game I wanted b/c the box looked like it had been chewed on and had more stickers on it than a hippie van.

Call the store issues people.. gettting people in trouble/fired is fun!

 

[Oldschoolgamer]

Let's put it this way, if some dude "touched" your 18 yo daughters "Private Areas" is she as good as new?, would you mind if the guy did it just for "Display Purposes" and slapped a "tattoo" on her junk, or would you kick his ass!

What in the ****? Is that a good answer?

 

[Vyer]

However, EB/GS's opening games and still selling them as new should NOT be defended. Let me ask you, if I opened a game bought at a store, opened it, then tried to return it (this includes EB/GS) would they give me a refund? NO! They wouldn't consider it new any more. So why should -I- consider an opened game as new?

EBs used to do this. Gamestops may still do, I don't know.

But EBs used to let you have a 7-day period where you could bring it back, full price, and get another game if you decided you just didn't like it. I don't know if they did cash refunds or not, but you got the full value back if you got something else.

Problem was assclowns would take advantage of it; doing it every week, bringing back games in shitty condition that the employees had to take, basically ruining it for everybody.

 

[SixStringPsycho]

THis has happened to me like 2 or 3 times only, GS or EB has sold me new factory sealed games for the price of new ones.