Canklestank
Neo Member
For real? If you can't return the items you don't want that is BS. Customer service my ass.
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Gamestop: Forced bundles are "Convenient" for Consumers
- Thread starter jmizzal
- Start date
For real? If you can't return the items you don't want that is BS. Customer service my ass.
Effigenius
Member
Yeah. they used to, but they closed that loophole quick! It seems the Gamestop stores found it unfair that they were being stuck with this useless garbage.
This bundling situation is interesting. There's no denying that it's crazy successful and profitable for the companies. hell, Walmart is even doing it now too for Switch bundles. We are going to see more and more stores start doing this because nobody is telling them they can't, and they're making a lot of money off of items that they normally make no money on. Someone, be it Nintendo, or a judge, is going to have to actively tell them they can't do it for this to stop.
I remember I worked at a Best Buy in the Portland market wthen the Xbox 360 launched, and the stores in the area were forcing bundles on people. It made the news and the district manager and a few other high ups got fired over it. I wonder if they work for Gamestop now....
shoepolishsmelling
Member
I was under the impression that you could return unwanted items or sell them back. Honestly a manager tried to school me on it for a switch Zelda bundle, it seemed sketch. "Issa no from me"
Fox Mulder
Member
It's legal scalping. I'd say how I'd never buy their bundles, but I already got turned off from GameStop anyways.
Fantastapotamus
Wrong about commas, wrong about everything
Fuck off
dragonyeuw
Member
Does Nintendo have the power to do that, though? Short of refusing to supply a particular retailer, I can't imagine they have any grounds to police a retailer from bundling in this manner. Unless it somehow goes to the courts and it's determined to be anti-consumer?
MaverickHunterX
Member
IIRC, I believe it goes by state if forced bundles are legal or not. I remember when my store was doing the Wii/PS3 launches, we were told that we couldn't do forced bundles, only suggested. But the year before, they did for PSP at launch (before I worked with them)
I think that Gamestop (and all the other companies) are able to get away with it online because those restrictions are different on a website versus a B&M store
I think that Gamestop (and all the other companies) are able to get away with it online because those restrictions are different on a website versus a B&M store
Effigenius
Member
Hey gamestop, you know what' convenient for consumer? An all digital future. How about you work on making that happen if you're so concerned about our convenience?
I would think so. They choose who they supply inventory to. If they don't like how their products are being used to peddle the company's crap, they can just stop supplying the company with new product.
I would think so. They choose who they supply inventory to. If they don't like how their products are being used to peddle the company's crap, they can just stop supplying the company with new product.
Okami Haundo
Member
Actually, I remember seeing rumors around the announcement of the Xbox One X about just this. IIRC they said that Microsoft would use Azure to let Gamestop facilitate buying/trading game keys for digital titles. Obviously that didn't pan out.
Honestly, I wish they at least attempt to match their competition. Literally no reason for me to buy games with them when Best Buy gives 20% off titles with GCU. I even have a local game store that gives coupons for 25% used games with every $5 pre-order.
Convenient for the consumer...how exactly? When you bundle a game with a system or sell a game with a pre-order bonus, that's one thing. When you an in-demand system with somewhat related physical items (but not really), that's another. Not illegal, but scummy...and borderline scalping.
This is why I rarely shop at GameStop anymore (I only nab things like exclusive amiibo from there) and I'm pretty much Best Buy exclusive. If I'm looking for old second-hand stuff, I'll check 2nd & Charles or a local video game store that doesn't force bundles or things I don't want with the sale of a video game.
This is why I rarely shop at GameStop anymore (I only nab things like exclusive amiibo from there) and I'm pretty much Best Buy exclusive. If I'm looking for old second-hand stuff, I'll check 2nd & Charles or a local video game store that doesn't force bundles or things I don't want with the sale of a video game.
Effigenius
Member
Yeah, I agree. I'm sitting on $500 in their credit from the July trade in deals, and I don't even want to use it to get games for $60. I need to redeem them for Amazon gift cards like everyone else did.
I'm honestly surprised Nintendo doesn't care to clamp down on the Switch bundles.
Nintendo's profit is from their software, not their hardware; every Switch stuck in a bundle that no one wants to pay out the ass for is a Switch that's not in a costumer's hands, and every customer that would buy a Switch at MSRP but can't find one is a customer that's not also buying Zelda, MK8DX, Splatoon 2, ARMS, or whichever they want.
Nintendo's profit is from their software, not their hardware; every Switch stuck in a bundle that no one wants to pay out the ass for is a Switch that's not in a costumer's hands, and every customer that would buy a Switch at MSRP but can't find one is a customer that's not also buying Zelda, MK8DX, Splatoon 2, ARMS, or whichever they want.
opticalmace
Member
Lmao
Because Gamestop is the only brick and mortar store that allows trade-in's and sells used games...
Colossal Moo
Member
Obviously, this is bullshit. Gamestop sells bundles because it is a way to raise the price of the console without appearing to do so. It also allows them to make more money during console launches if there is a shortage (basically, people really want the console so they will pay more even thought they don't want some or all of the stuff in the bundle).
Colossal Moo
Member
It's very possible that Nintendo profits from their hardware and software. I suspect they don't clamp down on bundles because the retailers would punish them if they did (i.e. Gamespot wouldn't stock the Switch or would push PS4s and X1s instead of the Switch). A good example of a retailer punishing Nintendo is Amazon. Here is Amazon's page for the Switch https://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Switch-Gray-Joy-Con/dp/B01LTHP2ZK/ref=sr_1_3?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1504212220&sr=1-3&keywords=nintendo%2Bswitch&th=1 . Notice that the price is well above MSRP (i.e. $299)? Also, notice it's only sold by third party resellers?
It's possible there's a slight profit from hardware at this point, but the lion's share is from software. They shipped Switches via air earlier this year to meet demand, which would suggest that Nintendo is prioritizing getting the console to customers over eeking out every penny from hardware.
That's because Amazon's out of stock and the scalpers are using Amazon to sell them; Amazon isn't controlling resellers to punish Nintendo. There's nothing to suggest that Amazon is punishing Nintendo, and Gamestop refusing to sell their most popular item probably isn't going to happen.
Bigboss242
Banned
Place is horrible there is one down here in Southern California.
dragonyeuw
Member
Well yeah, that's what I was saying. I don't think they can go beyond that though, which the other poster seemed to be suggesting. Frankly, since Gamestop/think geek has already shown their hand as far their bundles, I would love for Nintendo to step in and say they can't sell their Minis in that fashion or they risk having their allocations taken away.
CrunchyFrog
Member
Because Gamestop is the only brick and mortar store that allows trade-in's and sells used games...
amazing
Freudian slip?
RiderKairuu
Member
I wouldn't have been able to get a Switch when I did if it weren't for the GameStop bundle. It's a shitty practice from a shitty company but I had the means to purchase one when I really wanted one.
Because Gamestop is the only brick and mortar store that allows trade-in's and sells used games...
I had a good laugh because I thought your username was "bemusedchuck"
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
You know what's more convenient? Letting me decide what I want with my new piece of hardware.
Fancyarcher
Member
Yeah, no they aren't, they're kinda annoying actually.
socksfelloff
Member
Man, if only the switch came with a way to charge the controllers.
God bless gamestop
God bless gamestop
Tavernacle12
Member
The only way it's convenient is it's such a terrible idea that it often allows people to buy products that scalpers would otherwise buy. Obviously, the extra price is just as terrible, but I'd rather someone overpay a store for a product than a scalper.
That might just be me thinking scalpers are the scum of the earth, though.
That might just be me thinking scalpers are the scum of the earth, though.
Rellik
Member
Why bother when people are clearly buying these.
Vote with your wallet instead of bending over because you "needed" a Switch.
Choppasmith
Member
Yeah, that's the only real upside. Scalpers will balk at some $250 SNESC Bundle allowing the people who really want it to buy it as opposed to the "Haha! I bought 5 thanks to my 3 different accounts. You snooze you lose suckers! Now pay up!" scalpers.
Alebrije
Member
Are you telling me the only way to get a SNES classic is buying a bundle or you can get just the SNES alone?
Because if the bundle stuff the only way they should be shamed of that
Snkfanatic
Banned
I needed a good laugh. Thanks for that lol
Yup, it just helps Nintendo move another overpriced set of Joycons. They couldn't give fewer shits. It's not like they're sitting on shelves for months or something. Nintendo is still getting their cash, and even more than they would for just the console.
If there's one thing Nintendo couldn't care less about, it's the shopping experience of their customers.
At least a riding lawnmower and raw beef have actual uses - I can't say the same for a full-size Mega Man helmet or fake Minecraft tools. Forced bundles only exist as a way for Gamestop to dump non-selling overstock on people who are trying to buy products they actually want; there's no 'convenient' about it. This shit is one of the many reasons I don't shop there (or Thinkgeek).
The practice wouldn't vanish overnight, but nobody else pushes it as aggressively as GameStop. Would Best Buy continue with the hassle of used inventory given how much smaller a proportion of their business it represents? Without a major competitor that focuses on the practice? Maybe.
RoninChaos
Member
I'd be for these bundles if you got a discount on the items purchased but you don't. Gamestop can get fucked.
I mean is this really something to get that worked up over?
Those bundles on Gamestop sell out pretty god damn fast so it's not like no one is buying these things. I would know, I thought about buying one a few times before finding a Switch at Walmart.
Also, unless my math is shit they weren't exactly jacking the price up on anything, most of the deals were actually just that...deals. Or at the very least the exact price you'd pay buying all that shit anyways.
Ya'll acting like Gamestop is holding these things hostage. If you don't like the bundle then don't buy it and when they don't sell I'm sure Gamestop would change it up.
Unfortunately for you, they sell like hot cakes. So what's the problem here?
Those bundles on Gamestop sell out pretty god damn fast so it's not like no one is buying these things. I would know, I thought about buying one a few times before finding a Switch at Walmart.
Also, unless my math is shit they weren't exactly jacking the price up on anything, most of the deals were actually just that...deals. Or at the very least the exact price you'd pay buying all that shit anyways.
Ya'll acting like Gamestop is holding these things hostage. If you don't like the bundle then don't buy it and when they don't sell I'm sure Gamestop would change it up.
Unfortunately for you, they sell like hot cakes. So what's the problem here?
starry sonata
Member
Okay! Whatever you say, Gamestop. I'm so glad I buy my games at Best buy now.
Hoho for breakfast
Member
That's fantastic, but what I find even more convenient is abusing the trade deals.
Asshats.
Asshats.
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
I'm kinda lucky that I bought into the good bundle that they offered, which was a Switch, Zelda, Zelda season pass, Fast RMX, Shovel Knight, and Snipper Clippers. With the exception of Snipper Clippers these were games I was already gonna buy with the console so with that, plus only paying around $100 with the trade-ins, I lucked out. All their other bundles for the Switch have been trash.
I mean at least the items in this bundle are useful.
Of course, a lot of stuff is legal in the US. A gas station has too much competition to pull shit like that but Gamestop evidently doesn't.
It's different in the EU where forced bundling is actually illegal.