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GAME UK launches 'elite' loyalty scheme
- Thread starter Savantcore
- Start date
N1tr0sOx1d3
Given another chance
If you visit Games website you have the option to gift a friend too!!!
BUHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
BUHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
They got a £100 million lifeline last year just before they could have went into Administration again.
Yes, the lol Game sucks posts add little but there's a few of us here who follow the UK industry well enough to know that Game has been woefully managed for around a decade.
This Elite card is not worth it for 90% of customers who do not but 10+ full price titles a year. It's overpriced and addresses little as to why they're falling behind competition, including B&M stores like Smyths and Grainger. Would love to see those names in the South though.
They get retailer exclusive stuff so some people have no choice if they want that steelbook or whatever.
If we're name-dropping/recommending alternates, I'll go ahead and give a shout-out to The Game Collection. I purchase around 80-90% of physical games through them now; lower prices, speedy delivery, usually get games a day before release, good customer service, reward point system is actually pretty decent.
I originally pre-ordered my Switch through GAME and was away [at GDC] when I got an e-mail from them stating that an "error" had meant that they had accidentally reserved a Switch for me that didn't exist. See that they're sold out on the site, head over to The Game Collection, e-mail CS if they have any left and if it means I'll have to wait however many weeks, they immediately reply (within the space of about five/ten minutes) stating that they do have units left AND they can get it to me before March 3rd. My Switch ended up arriving a day earlier as promised with no delivery issues.
...And this is why smaller, less-established retailers deserve both mention and support. Any retailer that actively responds to questions on social media is a plus too.
This. Unless you really want a boxed copy of a game right now and don't want to wait for a delivery there is really no reason to buy from GAME. Plus they absolutely gouge you on price if you buy day one in-store without pre-ordering, setting prices at £50+ whereas some online retailers will sell you the exact same copy day one for less than £40.
I guess, but in all honestly I decide to take the loss and not support them.
Plus if you wait a while, they tend to trickle down onto ebay and places like ShopTo eventually.
Game really needs to die. I have no idea why anyone shops there. This is one of those times where more options isn't necessarily a good thing - that option is just screwing people over.
I remember seeing threads on how buying physical is so much cheaper and digital. I went into my local GAME for the first time in years and was like "ok people don't know what they're talking about" after seeing USED games for £40-50.
Obviously I went into the wrong shop - but how can this place still be in business? Are consumers so confused about games that they have to go into a store called GAME to buy them?
I remember seeing threads on how buying physical is so much cheaper and digital. I went into my local GAME for the first time in years and was like "ok people don't know what they're talking about" after seeing USED games for £40-50.
Obviously I went into the wrong shop - but how can this place still be in business? Are consumers so confused about games that they have to go into a store called GAME to buy them?
I mean, I spend well more than that every year on games, but I'd save more money than I would make by shopping elsewhere.
frankie_baby
Member
10% off but i saw yesterday they put the price of breath of the wild up 10%, what a joke
Daffy Duck
Member
Because GAME is the only place to pick up special editions of those games.
MemoryHumanity
Member
LMAO
Noboru Wataya
Banned
I'm no fan of GAME or its prices. But I was able to walk in today and get Farpoint with the gun, Fire Emblem Echos Special Edition and Prey all for £180. That's not extortionate and they are all new releases.
Sometimes I buy from Tesco, sometimes Argos, and sometimes I preorder online. But having that choice is always a plus. What benefit does anyone receive by GAME folding?
Although to stay on topic: The Elite reward card is definitely not for me. I wouldn't buy enough new games at GAME. Nor do I ever trade anything in.
Sometimes I buy from Tesco, sometimes Argos, and sometimes I preorder online. But having that choice is always a plus. What benefit does anyone receive by GAME folding?
Although to stay on topic: The Elite reward card is definitely not for me. I wouldn't buy enough new games at GAME. Nor do I ever trade anything in.
CosmicRomancer
Member
Yeah, I don't see the appeal of this scheme at all.
I'm surprised they're still getting away with selling games for such exorbitant prices. I haven't bought anything in there for ages. They take advantage of their brand -- makes the uninitiated easy targets. To be fair though, they occasionally have good pre-owned deals online.
And I suppose I can't be too harsh on them seeing as I somehow managed to get a £240 refund for my YLOD PS3. Heh.
I'm surprised they're still getting away with selling games for such exorbitant prices. I haven't bought anything in there for ages. They take advantage of their brand -- makes the uninitiated easy targets. To be fair though, they occasionally have good pre-owned deals online.
And I suppose I can't be too harsh on them seeing as I somehow managed to get a £240 refund for my YLOD PS3. Heh.
Jo Shishido's Cheeks
Member
Why haven't they gone out of business yet? smh
Shotgun Kiss
Member
Then you'd be well aware of how fucking stupid it is to ridicule staff for something they have no control over. Yet you did it anyway. So well done; on top of acting like a prick to somebody just trying to do their job, you were also a hypocrite.
My local game has this weird PC gaming section at the back. There's no indication of what it is or whether you're even allowed in there for free, didn't see a single person enter or leave except the staff. You even have to go past the counters to get to it, it's really strange.
N1tr0sOx1d3
Given another chance
GAME were the ones to charge a fee for trying out PSVR. Like £500 wasn't enough for a couple of titles, move, camera & PSVR itself.
Yes you would get a refund for purchasing the unit, but if you didn't the fee would apply. GAME are masters of eeking every last penny from your wallet.
Yes I understand a business needs to make profits but their prices are far beyond what other retailers charge.
angelic
Banned
GAME things
Black ops 3 launch day I queued in GAME to buy a console, with all the mums and dads in the queue. I told the people around me it was £42 in the supermarket 3 shops down from us, but none of them would leave the queue...they were scared, GAME made them feel safe. Some of them even said "but I have my £5 pre order to redeem", even though theyd be losing £8 even if they just walked away and went next door.
I bought my switch pro pad from them because I had a lot of credit from trade price matching, £65, even the nice staff in my local wouldnt budge on the price, everyone else selling for £60, but wanted to get rid of my credit. £5 added for no reason other than they could. They also had a few switches and wouldnt sell them without a game and accessory attach for an extra £100 or so, no switches on their own allowed.
Bought Bioshock Collection off them, recieved no bonus tin when unwrapping cellophane. Was a lie, the tin was just a bonus item, not a real steelbook, and they didnt even send it. Was refused refund because I'd opened it (expecting to find my tin).
Fuck em.
Black ops 3 launch day I queued in GAME to buy a console, with all the mums and dads in the queue. I told the people around me it was £42 in the supermarket 3 shops down from us, but none of them would leave the queue...they were scared, GAME made them feel safe. Some of them even said "but I have my £5 pre order to redeem", even though theyd be losing £8 even if they just walked away and went next door.
I bought my switch pro pad from them because I had a lot of credit from trade price matching, £65, even the nice staff in my local wouldnt budge on the price, everyone else selling for £60, but wanted to get rid of my credit. £5 added for no reason other than they could. They also had a few switches and wouldnt sell them without a game and accessory attach for an extra £100 or so, no switches on their own allowed.
Bought Bioshock Collection off them, recieved no bonus tin when unwrapping cellophane. Was a lie, the tin was just a bonus item, not a real steelbook, and they didnt even send it. Was refused refund because I'd opened it (expecting to find my tin).
Fuck em.
brokenbeans
Banned
They don't even match trade-ins with CEX anymore because apparently they offer now better value on trades, whatever I'm mostly digital anyway.
Well don't you sound like a nice friendly not at all difficult chap.
angelic
Banned
It was a launch day long queue and people were chatting, so I told them it was £13 pounds cheaper 3 shops down.
Whats your point?
I'm shocked they're still going since a lot of UK high street stores have closed down in recent years. They cannot compete with the pricing and convenience of online shopping + free delivery.
It's only a matter of time really, the same goes for tech stores like Currys, I browse the store to see the products first hand, take the model number and order online from elsewhere. Although they are quite good with competitive pricing on some things, it's almost always cheaper online.
Back to Game, they do sometimes offer good exclusive editions not available elsewhere but other than that I've never really used them. I think I made a preorder with them once and it was late so never went back.
It's only a matter of time really, the same goes for tech stores like Currys, I browse the store to see the products first hand, take the model number and order online from elsewhere. Although they are quite good with competitive pricing on some things, it's almost always cheaper online.
Back to Game, they do sometimes offer good exclusive editions not available elsewhere but other than that I've never really used them. I think I made a preorder with them once and it was late so never went back.
As someone who was assistant manager of a GAME & Gamestation for 4 years before administration, brand loyalty to GAME/Gamestation is strong. You'd see the same repeat customers day in, day out - buying newest releases (when there was a Grainger round the corner and a Tesco, ASDA and Argos down the road), trading in the ones they bought 2 weeks ago for 60% less.
As it's been said, there's also a lot of parents and grandparents who just come in, too. Especially evident over Christmas, and when Skylanders launched. These just don't think to go elsewhere.
And yeah, guys, don't be a dick to the people who work there. They won't "budge on price" because they can't. They don't set the prices. They're told to repeat the same messages, pre-orders, and insurance that they're told to from head office.
By all means, "Fuck GAME" (I agree), but don't take it out on the minimum wage, often 4 hour contract (although last I heard some were 0 hour now) early 20s.
As it's been said, there's also a lot of parents and grandparents who just come in, too. Especially evident over Christmas, and when Skylanders launched. These just don't think to go elsewhere.
And yeah, guys, don't be a dick to the people who work there. They won't "budge on price" because they can't. They don't set the prices. They're told to repeat the same messages, pre-orders, and insurance that they're told to from head office.
By all means, "Fuck GAME" (I agree), but don't take it out on the minimum wage, often 4 hour contract (although last I heard some were 0 hour now) early 20s.
angelic
Banned
Currys are another one cut from the same cloth.
I was in 2 months ago, my mum needed a new TV. She needed it that day, a Samsung 4k for £680. I found it online for £530. I went in to look at it in person, asked the manager if he'd do any sort of match or deal. He came back with "we'll knock 20 pounds off". I even showed him on my phone, look, £530, why would we pay £660 for 1 extra day with it. My crazy mum would have paid £600 to take it away then, but they couldnt even get close, their "price matching" is a joke.
Oh I've worked for GS and GAME in management too, lots of tales of their stupidity.
I was in 2 months ago, my mum needed a new TV. She needed it that day, a Samsung 4k for £680. I found it online for £530. I went in to look at it in person, asked the manager if he'd do any sort of match or deal. He came back with "we'll knock 20 pounds off". I even showed him on my phone, look, £530, why would we pay £660 for 1 extra day with it. My crazy mum would have paid £600 to take it away then, but they couldnt even get close, their "price matching" is a joke.
Oh I've worked for GS and GAME in management too, lots of tales of their stupidity.
I imagine most of the UK gaffers that say physical is so much cheaper than digital are buying from online retailers. I mainly buy physical copies, save a load off the prices of digital new releases, and haven't bought anything new from a high street games shop like Game in years. The only thing I buy from them is PSN cards (to buy games on sale) as I don't particularly trust Sony with credit card info, so I suppose they get a tiny cut from that. Even then I could more easily get the code from Amazon but sometimes I've got time to kill and old habits lead me in.
They used to be quite good for finding the odd bargain a decade ago, I used to enjoy hunting for DS games there, but now even second-hand stuff is meticulously priced to have a severe markup on anywhere else.
Nope, supermarkets.
Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons are all cheaper than digital and are often cheaper than Amazon as well if a certain title isnt shifting like it should. Sainsbury's were doing the last Deus Ex game at £15 at least a fortnight before amazon was.
Tesco is the one outlier in that they seem to be up around digital prices and very rarely have offers on.
Round here anyway.
Ah, fair enough! I mainly buy portable games and the supermarket range is usually pretty crap around here, just the Mario/Pokemon games really, and even then they aren't really any cheaper than Amazon etc. If you want anything outside of the top 20 sellers it can be hard to find, but that goes for Game too. Agree that it depends on how big your local supermarket is- the Asda in my home town is the size of a warehouse with a games department to match, but my local Tesco in the small town I live in now has barely six feet of shelf space for games, as you say, all at the same prices as elsewhere. Sometimes it seems like it depends on how much enthusiasm the relevant department manager has for games retail too, but maybe that's just me, happy to concede the point to anyone with any actual knowledge of how they work
I shop at Game sometimes but only when I want to trade in or see something that I can't find anywhere (I got one of the handful of Persona 5 copies they had at launch while it was unavailable at Amazon, simplyable and other online retailers).
I can sell games on eBay and I'd get more money for them there than Game but honestly I cannot be bothered putting up a listing and waiting for them to be sold individually, then shipping them individually.
Also you are crazy if you buy games digitally in UK from PSN, the prices are fucked up. There is a reason why my digital purchases are using my NA account and loading it up with PSN cards.
I can sell games on eBay and I'd get more money for them there than Game but honestly I cannot be bothered putting up a listing and waiting for them to be sold individually, then shipping them individually.
Also you are crazy if you buy games digitally in UK from PSN, the prices are fucked up. There is a reason why my digital purchases are using my NA account and loading it up with PSN cards.
There's good sales on the EU PSN store sometimes, that's the only time I use it, picked up lots of PSOne games for my Vita for very little. At one point Suikoden/Suikoden II/Arc the Lad II were about £2 each, that's the kind of stuff I go for to tide me over between the new releases I buy physical copies of.
They died here in Australia about 5 years ago, after ~5 years of operation. It was just a recipe for disaster.
- Buy out The GamesWizards, an existing, successful games retailer and rebrand all stores to GAME
- Expand from 20 stores nationwide to ~120 in under 2 years
- Charge higher prices than any other retailer and focus on up-selling over customer service
- ???
- Collapse into administration and die