That smell is due to their entire store being full of used product
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Gamestop won't go bankrupt because customers are "young, aimless"
- Thread starter Makai
- Start date
That smell is due to their entire store being full of used product
Some of you sound ridiculous. I also am sorry they people somehow manage to live next to the worst GS in the country (I don't count an employee trying to chat as being the worst). I don't use GS anymore but when I do I am in and out. Oftentimes I've stuck conversations with them. Sometimes you can tell people don't want to work there but that's anywhere.
LapinAgile
Member
You could have just as easily said "No thank you, I am not interested." It's her job, no need to act like an asshole.
I guess I'm fortunate enough to have a Gamestop that's run and employed by mostly decent people. Gamestop in my town has a much better list of available games than the local Wal-Mart or Best Buy in the town next to mine, and I'd rather just drive 10 minutes to Gamestop to buy a physical game than wait 2 days for it to arrive via Amazon. The employees at my Gamestop are actually pretty good about not trying to shill literally everything humanly possible at me too.
But it does.
If it didn't, there wouldn't be a bunch of people in this topic complaining about GameStop's up sale policies. Nor would there be tons of articles on the web telling people how to train themselves not to feel guilty when saying no.
It might not bother you, personally, but a lot of people feel a slight psychological twinge of pain/guilt when they say no. They do it anyway, but it's still a bad feeling.
Petrae
Member
What GameStop fails to realize as a chain is that a growing number of consumers don't want to engage in small talk and have to negotiate through a ton of sales crap to get what they are looking for. Some people don't mind it, but others do-- it's a waste of valuable time and it gets tiresome having to fend off salespeople who are obligated to upsell you on crap that you don't want (even if it's becauae they're subject to termination if they don't have enough success).
I've got three GS locations near me, and I've written complaints about each of them-- never to get more than a "We're sorry" e-mail from a DM. One location is filthy and often fails to put discs into cases during/after a transaction. Another lied about inventory that I wanted to pick up in-store; I got a "We don't have it" reply, but I found it when I went down there with little effort. The third location is one of those strong-arm locations that browbeats customers into preordering.
They're all run poorly, and it's frustrating to see coming from someone who has worked in gaming retail a few times.
I won't sit here and wish GS to close. I don't care what happens to the chain. I think it's become even worse since times have been getting tough for them, and I'm glad that my personal need for the chain is almost at an end, but let people shop where they want.
Mihos
Gold Member
Gamestop near me is fine also. Just some high school kids that genuinely like games. I will usually talk with them a bit about general stuff and what they are excited for coming out, and outside of asking if there is anything I want to preorder, they don't push anything.
Matrix XII
Member
tearsintherain
Member
In my area it is a bit odd, we have probably around 25 Gamestop's in the city and around 8 Best Buy's. Best Buy has been kicking serious ass the past few years on gaming deals, with 20% GCU discount on all games (and it going on sale for $5-30 multiple times), huge inventory, no one bothering you when you shop, online ordering and in store pickup, good trade in values, etc, etc.
However every time a big game launch comes up all the gamestop's around me just wreck Best Buy in terms of customers. For both Destiny and Call of Duty I visited 2-3 gamestops and 2-3 Best Buys at midnight and the gamestops each had 100-200 people in line picking up games, while Best Buy had at most 30 or 40. I rarely see anyone with GCU. I guess people are just too stupid/ignorant to save money. Yet when something like black friday rolls around they all stand at best buy for 8+ hours to save $100 on a TV...
I still like shopping at Gamestop just to see what happens to other people. Right after Christmas they had 50% sale on guide books so I picked up a super smash CE guide for $6, while waiting in the extremely long line the family in front of me had a 14 year old kid with GTA5 for 360 and his brother with some 3DS game. Clerk starts processing them, right before the mother pays the manager walks by and says "ma'am do you know this game is rated-M and features violence, sex, and killing prostitutes?" The mom starts yelling at her kid in spanish who starts crying and begging for the game while his brother had that "haha fuck you!! look on his face", it was the greatest thing in the world.
However every time a big game launch comes up all the gamestop's around me just wreck Best Buy in terms of customers. For both Destiny and Call of Duty I visited 2-3 gamestops and 2-3 Best Buys at midnight and the gamestops each had 100-200 people in line picking up games, while Best Buy had at most 30 or 40. I rarely see anyone with GCU. I guess people are just too stupid/ignorant to save money. Yet when something like black friday rolls around they all stand at best buy for 8+ hours to save $100 on a TV...
I still like shopping at Gamestop just to see what happens to other people. Right after Christmas they had 50% sale on guide books so I picked up a super smash CE guide for $6, while waiting in the extremely long line the family in front of me had a 14 year old kid with GTA5 for 360 and his brother with some 3DS game. Clerk starts processing them, right before the mother pays the manager walks by and says "ma'am do you know this game is rated-M and features violence, sex, and killing prostitutes?" The mom starts yelling at her kid in spanish who starts crying and begging for the game while his brother had that "haha fuck you!! look on his face", it was the greatest thing in the world.
drtomoe123
Member
GS as a store has its uses. I don't typically buy new games from them, but I've probably shopped there 100+ times since they introduced the birthday coupon. After the 20% off, I got Pikmin 3 for $35 and Akiba's Trip PS4 for $25. While their prices for just released used copies of games are typically laughable, the 10% PUR discount + 20% birthday coupon easily makes their prices the lowest around. Show me another retail outlet where I could get those same prices (clearance doesn't count).
They're really great for finding games for systems that they're phasing out. I'm very relieved that I was able to use their online inventory checker to find games for the PS2 like Rule of Rose ($19.99), Haunting Ground ($14.99), and Kuon ($2.99) while they still had them.
GS, like any other retailer, can be a great place to shop if you know what you're doing. If you're going in and pre-ordering a new game with the season pass and strategy guide, you're doing it wrong.
They're really great for finding games for systems that they're phasing out. I'm very relieved that I was able to use their online inventory checker to find games for the PS2 like Rule of Rose ($19.99), Haunting Ground ($14.99), and Kuon ($2.99) while they still had them.
GS, like any other retailer, can be a great place to shop if you know what you're doing. If you're going in and pre-ordering a new game with the season pass and strategy guide, you're doing it wrong.
I started using Gamestop for Day 1 games since Amazon started charging sales tax. UPS didn't deliver to my house until after 6pm and sometimes as late as 9pm.
The employees at the one I go to are nice enough, one poor girl was buried in a one sided conversation from dude giving her a description of his Evil Within playthrough. I saved her by queuing up.
The employees at the one I go to are nice enough, one poor girl was buried in a one sided conversation from dude giving her a description of his Evil Within playthrough. I saved her by queuing up.
SpacePirate Ridley
Member
Pretty funny considering they went bankrupt in Spain like two months ago.
Good riddance!
If only the gameshop (not gamestop) where they treated me so well didnt close also, I wouldnt have any problems finding all amiibos
they were amazing and really cool people.
I only use mediamarkt for my physical games now.
Good riddance!
If only the gameshop (not gamestop) where they treated me so well didnt close also, I wouldnt have any problems finding all amiibos
they were amazing and really cool people.I only use mediamarkt for my physical games now.
Dude, shopping at a chain like GameStop is the exact opposite of supporting the local economy. I understand it pays back somewhat, but jeez. See if you can find another used game store around you instead of buying into the big guys
BigBadShamoo
Banned
GameStop thrives because it's an actual store and you can actually look at the games before you buy them. No credit card hassles, no shipping the worst thing is getting asked do you want something else other than what you're buying. I've had good experiences at GameStops and I like that it's just a gamer store. I don't want to see it go under.
Delt31
Member
Really? This headline nails the typical person I see in there. Reacting to this article is like reacting to someone saying bees like honey. It's very obvious. Kids are generally being taken advantage of because they are exactly young and aimless. Why anyone in there right mind would trade in video games for their obnoxious prices or be lured in to pre ordering the latest game when the target or best buy has it and 10% or more cheaper is crazy. It's the young and aimless that keep this place alive.
Now have I ever stepped into a GameStop? Of course! I love seeing video games but I'm generally not buying anything. Guys like me (and presumably a lot of you) don't keep that place a float. It's the young and aimless or parents of the young and aimless!
Randolph Freelander
Member
I can't really argue with their premise, though I'm not entirely sure they'll be correct about their outcome.
No, it's not just you.
I strongly dislike stores that offer a poor checkout experience. I honestly cannot remember a single time where I was able to checkout at Gamestop without being offered a dozen useless products & services that I had not even hinted at wanting. I have no issue with the employees at the store. It's the corporate "Lets suck every single dollar out of our customers" policies that are a huge turnoff, and unfortunately, it's the store employees that have to push those policies onto people.
It's only a matter of time before stores like Gamestop become useless for mass consumers. The in-store experience coupled with advancements in internet speed(and storage spaces) and the console maker's desires to cut Gamestop out are going to be the primary reasons why Gamestop isn't a player in the future. The secondary reasons i.e. Publishers launching individual subscription programs for DLC and 'exclusives' are also going to make Gamestop a non-factor. I would be incredibly surprised if Gamestop isn't a former shell of itself 10 years from now.
But it's not, it's anti-gamer. Their used game sales are atrocious, and it's telling that everyone who defends them lists the 50 steps you have to go through to get a good deal. If they were a gamer store you'd get good deals without jumping through hoops and they wouldn't try and fuck you over by selling used games for $5 less than a new copy. On top of that they are now in the scalping business and charge a premium on certain items like they are ebay sellers or something. Seriously, what kind of "gamer store" marks up items over their retail price to make an extra buck? Do you see Amazon doing that? Does Best Buy? Fuck no, but Gamestop will sell a new $9 Skylander for $30 used because reasons. If there was ever a company that needs to go out of business it's Gamestop. Unfortunately there are plenty of morons who go in there and buy $55 used games and whatever garbage the employees can sell them.
There are no gamer stores anymore.
Actually, the worst is that they don't have stock, which is the main thing that has driven me away from retail. I don't preorder, and only buy a few games around their release each year anymore. Unless it's a top selling game like the latest Call of Duty or GTA, if I go into a Gamestop (or any other game store for that matter), I'm simply not guaranteed that I'm going to get a copy of something that was released 6 months ago.
I'm not anti-GameStop specifically, but I'm just tired of entering or calling a retail gaming store to check to see if they have a copy of something only to be told they don't, and wasting my time, when I could just buy it digitally or over Amazon.
the last 2 times I tried to shop at Gamestop have ended in me being belittled and talked down to until I walked out without my intended purchase. I had a kid arguing with me that I was letting my (4yr old) kid down by not buying him a 3ds instead of a used DSi. The little shit straight up refused to sell it to me and instead just kept trying to argue with me. It was surreal. Even as I left, the fat little goth girl made a snide comment that I could fill out a complaint form if I wasn't happy. They both giggled as they said it. It was crazy. I was being bullied by a couple teenagers.
sorry to make this about me, It still grinds my gears and my shrink is sick of hearing me cry about it.
sorry to make this about me, It still grinds my gears and my shrink is sick of hearing me cry about it.
I feel like people that complain about Gamestop's upselling methods haven't gone to stores with really strong upselling standards with high pressure salespeople. I get how GameStop can be annoying for some people when they do it, but I think perspective is often lost on how much they do it. I guess being asked if I have a card or if I'd like to preorder a game isn't that annoying when you're used to having employees try and upselling you and ignore your "no"'s several times before stopping.
batman2million
Member
I think this story deserve it's own thread. Wait, don't we have a "gamestop stories" thread? If not, we should make one.
But seriously, that's terrible. I've had them try to feed me a bunch of garbage but I just troll and feed them garbage back.
You should have said "Okay, I'll take you up on that offer. Give me the office number of your district manager." That would have stopped them from giggling if they even knew what that meant.
Petrae
Member
I don't know that I'd go THAT far, although the GameStop juggernaut has dismantled many of them. I'm fortunate enough to have a couple of places that aren't GS within 20 minutes of home, plus there are a couple of other stores that are a bit farther out (but worth the trip).
These stores:
-- Don't upsell
-- Don't have employees that hound you while you look around
-- Let you try a game in-store before you buy
-- Will preorder a game for you if you ask them to
-- Carry games from 2600 through Gen8
-- Have knowledgeable / no-BS staff for questions
These stores get most of my gaming budget. Amazon gets a little bit, too. These stores are for gaming enthusiasts. GS is a store that tries to capitalize on "gamer culture" but ultimately comes off as a try-hard, with few (if any) of the benefits I get from smaller places.
I'd be on the horn with GS corporate and then filing a BBB complaint. Don't even bother at the District level. That's ridiculous, and you deserve better than that. That should be a fireable offense, getting you to NOT spend money in the store.
Perfect. That reply was perfect.
AgentOtaku
Member
Iorv3th
Member
Fill out that survey and let them know. The reason Gamestop sucks is because of this pre-order/numbers culture they created. Also the people that set up training stuff online, if I could find some of that stuff and post it. The conversations they expect you to have with people... So out of touch.
Sheriff_Battlesnake
Banned
I like Game Stop for the most part. Physical goods just feel good to own and I don't have to stress about room on my hard drives. Secondly, I'm a talkative guy, so I usually end up having some pretty cool conversations and great customer service because I've built a relationship. I love instant internet convenience, but nothing beats that personal interaction.
shark sandwich
tenuously links anime, pedophile and incels
To be honest, I don't think they care. I think at some level Gamestop's upper management knows that well-informed hardcore gamers are not where most of their money comes from.
They aren't going to go out of their way to keep you as a customer. They want suckers for customers. The people who trade in used games so GameStop can resell them at a huge markup. The parents who don't know anything about gaming and can be convinced to buy any accessory. The kind of people who don't realize that the vast majority of games are not scarce and do not need to be preordered. Parents with kids who are easily convinced and will beg for whatever the clerk suggests.
On a side note, do we have any examples of retailers who have recovered from the kind of situation GameStop is in now?
gregor7777
Banned
Gamestop stores smell like body odor. Such a disgusting store.
blame space
Banned
do you butt in at the register if someone mispronounces atelier
oh my
I know you are joking, but this actually might not be a terrible idea. I don't see myself participating but for the type of people that do like to go to Gamestop to "talk shop" and meet other gamers, maybe it would make sense to actual make those casual interactions part of the shopping experience and monetize it.
Petrae
Member
GameStop only cares about the numbers, but rarely follows up on actual written complaints or phone calls to corporate HQ. The employee(s) involved get a coaching session-- and possibly get written up-- but the chain doesn't actually work to fix the consumer's experience.
Filling out surveys with negatives, at best, gets the employee in some trouble but almost never gets the satisfaction of resolving the issue that inspired the poor survey to begin with.
There's still a large-enough base of GS customers that losing a few who refuse to go back isn't any skin off the chain's nose. In fact, the chain is willing to hedge its bets on angry customers coming back after a time, so it's only a temporary loss.
infinit777
Member
I am a bit confused about gamestop... Are they legally considered a pawn shop? One of my friends opened a game store in the city i live in and the city classified his store as a pawn shop. He gets new products in so its not just pre-owned games.
Im just curious how gamestop circumvents this (if they do)
Im just curious how gamestop circumvents this (if they do)
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
osnap
Petrae
Member
IIRC, GameStop locations must get pawn and/or junk sale licenses from the town/city that the location is opened in.
Interestingly enough, though, GS often finds ways to circumvent some local policies. In one local town, there's a 30-day wait period that's supposed to conclude before traded-in/bought-back items are resold; an independent game store is bound by this while the GS location is much more loosely enforced-- if at all.
It does help the local economy... Sales tax at the very minimum but there's waay more to it than that. It helps with property tax (as long as that stores in business they pay property tax), it keeps local jobs if they are in business, if the store is doing well it creates more jobs etc. I'm talking as compared to shopping at amazon or other online retailers.
Why is everyone freaking out at this?
FeenixRising
Banned
I said goddamn
This. After PayPal screwing me over on a game sale, letting the buyer keep the game AND awarding him a refund in the dispute, I'll never do this again.
Craigslist is an ok option but there are lots of scammers and some horror stories in my city. It's just not worth it for the risk of meeting random strangers. I'll take the $5-$10 loss and just trade it in at GameStop. And if you time your trade ins right during times they are giving big bonuses, you don't really lose anything at all over doing eBay or craigslist.
Lumpy Onion
Member
haha this one made my day.
Genius
They actually pipe that fragrance into the store through the vents. Makes things more authentic.
Shifty1897
Member
It's not just you. Whenever I go into the gamestop, I go straight for the game I want, and get in line to checkout. This should tell the cashier or manager that I'm not there to converse about how awesome Call of Duty is or whether or not I should pre-order The Order: 1886.
The exceptions are the girls that work at GameStop. It seems like they get harassed so much that they're relieved when I show up and just want to buy my things and get the heck out of dodge without making small talk / proposing to them.
infinit777
Member
Thanks, I have been curious about this for awhile.