onken
Member
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8633953.stm
Can't say I'm surprised, they're pretty much the only people that still sell games for full RRP. I wonder what steps they'll take to address this.
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GAME profits slump 28%, chief resigns
- Thread starter onken
- Start date
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8633953.stm
Can't say I'm surprised, they're pretty much the only people that still sell games for full RRP. I wonder what steps they'll take to address this.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
The real problem, like the OP notes, is that supermarkets are fucking spanking them on price.
The Faceless Master
Member
must be all the piracy that's about to happen any day now on PS3 that's making people not buy games...
this is all your fault geohot!!!
this is all your fault geohot!!!
Keyser Soze
Member
GAME is in trouble
This is serious
We have to save them
British Monsoon
Member
There are two GAME stores near me, and each one has a Gamestation a few hundred feet away from them selling new games for cheaper than GAME can and accepting trade-in's for cash instead of just credit - then you've got supermarkets like Tesco, ASDA & Sainsburys all doing special deals on the day of a games release that just blow the dedicated gaming stores out of the water. It's not hard to see why GAME is failing, personally I haven't stepped foot in one in years.
Randy Lanzarote
Member
Here's an idea: Try to be a little more competitive in your pricing.
I used to love Game, back when I was in school, but back then they WERE the best place to get games, being one of the few dedicated chains. Other than their direct competition (Gamestation for example, not nearly as widespread) the only other places that really sold games were either overpriced indy shops (great for rare games or imports, but not 'general gaming') and big media chains (like HMV, who seem to ALWAYS charge full price, even on old games). When combined with their loyalty card system, this really did make them the best option most of the time (it helped that they made sure that their staff at least pretended that they knew the first thing about the subject matter too).
But times have changed. Sites like Play came along, giving discounts due to their lack of retail rent, and my extensive steam list proves that many people like me are willing to ditch physical copies for a bargain. Likewise, stores like CEX that sell second hand games provide me a way to get those games that I didn't have a huge interest in below the price that I would have to pay to get them new.
Seems to me that Game worked best when Game was leading the way in dedicated computer game retail and really getting the gamers through their doors. But now they're just one fish in a big sea of options and gamers know where else they can look.
Just look at the forthcoming release of Lost Planet 2. Game offers free DLC at release but otherwise loses out on price to both Play and ShopTo (which is also giving away free T-shirts).
Game probably still makes a lot on kids and parents looking for gifts, stuff like that. But I'd imagine that the gamers that helped them spread 10 years ago now know where to find better deals.
But times have changed. Sites like Play came along, giving discounts due to their lack of retail rent, and my extensive steam list proves that many people like me are willing to ditch physical copies for a bargain. Likewise, stores like CEX that sell second hand games provide me a way to get those games that I didn't have a huge interest in below the price that I would have to pay to get them new.
Seems to me that Game worked best when Game was leading the way in dedicated computer game retail and really getting the gamers through their doors. But now they're just one fish in a big sea of options and gamers know where else they can look.
Just look at the forthcoming release of Lost Planet 2. Game offers free DLC at release but otherwise loses out on price to both Play and ShopTo (which is also giving away free T-shirts).
Game probably still makes a lot on kids and parents looking for gifts, stuff like that. But I'd imagine that the gamers that helped them spread 10 years ago now know where to find better deals.
Cosmonaut X
Member
onken said:
Nintendo 3DS.
...and, yes, GAME is appalling - why on Earth should I pay so much more for a new game and the privilege of listening to badly-chosen, loud music and the opinion of the sales staff on whatever I buy ("oh, that's not suppose to be very good..." Really? Well, let me put it back on the shelf then...) when I can pick up new releases for significantly less in Tesco, or wait a week or two to pick them up for a fraction of their RRP in online sales?
Alot of supermarkets sell for little to no profit on games because it gets people in the store, especially if the game is big. Its not uncommon for a tesco/asda to lower prices in and around release to just beat the other and get the business in. I remember when Harry Potter was released last Tesco i believe sold it for rediculous prices just to get the business.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Chinner said:
you're more funny when you're making fun of america than when you're defending the uk
CruxisMana
Member
I'm not surprised.
Everything costs an arm and a leg there.
Everything costs an arm and a leg there.
peetfeet
Member
I last went in one about 5 months ago (first time in a few years), I was gobsmacked at the prices they were charging for new and used games. Like its previously been said, when you charge full price for games and sell used copies for more than competitors sell their new ones, the only way is down. It's not rocket science ffs. I'm amazed they have been in business as long as they have.
Jex
Member
Like others have said, one of their major problems is their huge number of stores, many of which are redundant. If they closed their stores that are right next to each other ala GAME/Gamestation then I'm sure they'd have a healthier balance.
The other problem is clearly pricing, with strong competition from supermarkets. They have to lower their prices on pre-owned games (what, £5 off? You're kidding me!) and find a way to sell more bullshit to the hardcore crowd.
The other problem is clearly pricing, with strong competition from supermarkets. They have to lower their prices on pre-owned games (what, £5 off? You're kidding me!) and find a way to sell more bullshit to the hardcore crowd.
J Tourettes
Banned
I think laying the blame purely at the door of the supermarkets is incorrect. Poor customer service, RRP (or more!) for games and peripherals, points cards etc p[lus the competition from online retailers all add up to a major headache.
They're closing at least 130 shops this year to try and redress the balance buit I think that in the long term they'll be in serious trouble unless they make some fundamental changes.
They're closing at least 130 shops this year to try and redress the balance buit I think that in the long term they'll be in serious trouble unless they make some fundamental changes.
It's sad to see people unemployed and I like having lots of outlets to buy games from but these guys simply aren't competitive with their pricing. It was inevitably going to catch them up sooner or later.
It's the same where I live. It's the illusion of choice, the same reason you'll often see Currys and Comet and Dixons Link and PC World in the same retail park, whichever you choose DSG (the parent company of all 4) will profit.Mad_Ban said:
, you don't have Virgin Megastores anymore?Very little money is made on a console sale. Game sales is where it's at.pilonv1 said:
When a console has a price drop, the stores get a rebate too. They basically make a small amount per console sale, regardless of how much the console currently costs.
As for Game costs, at least here in Australia they do often have decent sales. Also, they offer a fuckload more on a trade than EB. Not that that is a hard thing to do.
Kowak said:
I went along to my local ASDA for 12 thinking no one will come to this store maybe 20 at the most only to be greeted with an absolutely massive line of people waiting for the game after three hours of drama and listening to gossip being spread along the line i.e the store don't have enough copies, not the sort of news you want to hear when you've been lining up for 2 hours . ...Three hours later i finally got my copy.
Then walked outside and still saw people still queuing up to get their copies. :lol
If anyone wants to visit the absolute worst game store, they should hit up the Irish GameStop stores. There are two in Belfast, and no God nor respectable man lay within those hallowed walls. The stores smell like piss, the stock is terrible, the prices are laughable and the clerks think they're cool as fuck and they believe they know everything. After the Wii came out, a friend of mine went in and asked if they had any Gamecube controllers, and the dude behind the counter started laughing, and then said they were last gen. Same thing happened a good while after when the same friend was looking for a copy of Resident Evil Zero. Fat fucking prick.
JimboJones
Member
GAME and GAMESTOP are the only game stores in Ireland, GAME actually looks good compared to GAMESTOP and HMV :/
So nearly all my game purchases have been online for the past few years, only time I ever buy from brick and mortar is places like CEX.
So nearly all my game purchases have been online for the past few years, only time I ever buy from brick and mortar is places like CEX.
Diablohead
Member
The problem I have always seen is that they have way too many stores, in Swindon there is like 3 just in the town centre! and that is not counting in the gamestation store down the road too, Reading has too many also. Also they live with making profits on used sales, something where ebay nets you a much better cash rate and other stores and websites now allow trades, so they need to think of something else.
Their greed has gotten to them.
Their greed has gotten to them.
I can't remember the last time I bought a game at GAME.
HMV almost invariably have better deals, they've gotten very aggressive on games offers.
GAME, for a long time, has operated on the assumption that people would come straight to them and not bother to check other places first. They used to - if they don't still - have a 'lowest price guaranteed' mantra, but all that meant was that if you found a game cheaper somewhere else they price matched it. But for quite some time people trusted that to mean that a game wouldn't be cheaper anywhere else, so they just defaulted to going to GAME.
But that's totally changed now. People are far more conscious of where the best price for a game is now.
HMV almost invariably have better deals, they've gotten very aggressive on games offers.
GAME, for a long time, has operated on the assumption that people would come straight to them and not bother to check other places first. They used to - if they don't still - have a 'lowest price guaranteed' mantra, but all that meant was that if you found a game cheaper somewhere else they price matched it. But for quite some time people trusted that to mean that a game wouldn't be cheaper anywhere else, so they just defaulted to going to GAME.
But that's totally changed now. People are far more conscious of where the best price for a game is now.
Yeah, I remember when this guy came into my store with a load of PS2 games he wanted to trade in. I scanned them all, and said 'yeah, uh...you'd get 80p each for those'.
him: 'WTF, I spent £8 at least on each of them at GAME last week'
me: 'yeah, uh, they're £1.95 each here to buy, same for all preowned PS2 games'
him: *utter shock*
him: 'WTF, I spent £8 at least on each of them at GAME last week'
me: 'yeah, uh, they're £1.95 each here to buy, same for all preowned PS2 games'
him: *utter shock*
mugurumakensei
Member
onken said:
Apparently, a CVG report from British retailers pins the 3DS launch for October.