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[DenogginizerOS]

For many on this board, a game has been purchased from EB/Gamestop that has already been opened. For some, this is not a big deal. However, as we approach the holidays and gift-giving is around the corner, I have to once again voice my opinion that this policy needs to stop. I bought Ace Combat 6 this weekend and did not discover until I got home that it was already open. No mention was made to me at the time of sale and the sticker that MS uses to "seal" their games was still on but had been carefully sliced with a razor. Now, after hearing impressions of Assassin's Creed and seeing the ads for it on TV, and knowing I have very limited funds due to the AAA assault that is being waged on my wallet this fall and winter, I have decided to return Ace Combat 6 and use the credit.

Surprisingly (actually, not really), one mental giant manning the phones at my Gamestop this morning is telling me they may not give me credit for Ace Combat 6. Evidently, because there is an unopened copy still in the drawer at the store, and their employees are supposed to give those out first, the guy is pretty unsure how I ended up with an open copy. He told me he will have to consult with the manager but doesn't think he can do it. On top of that, when I told him I wanted to reserve Assassin's Creed, he told me he didn't think they would have any extra copies because they have a lot of reserves and the game is going to be "sick". However, he said I could trade-in Ace Combat 6 with another X360 or PS3 game and get an extra $10 towards Assassin's Creed, again, if they have any. Wow.

I am pretty sure that I will get my money back. And I assure you no magazine racks will be harmed in the process. But I wanted to use this story as a way to promote discussion on this topic. Granted, I could have sold my games on ebay, gone to another store and avoided Gamestop altogether. But for a lot of people, trading games in the mall is one of the only ways they can get games.

So, two things:

1) Please, if you care, ask your Gamestop to stop selling open games, or, at the very least, ask them to mark on the receipt that a game is open just in case the person buying it is giving it as a gift, or in my case, has a change of heart and wants a different game.

2) Please, support workforce training for mentally retarded people. These people can make valuable contributions to the workforce, and it is clear that the ones hired by Gamestop are still not getting the adequate training they deserve.

 

[Like the hat?]

doesnt matter to be because when i buy a game I know I want it, and I usually tear the shrinkwrap off in the car right away anyway.

 

[acm2000]

stop being so anal? most shops dont have space to keep them unopened, and it makes no difference either way -_- aslong as its not scratched, why does it matter

what next? im breathing air someone else already breathed! i demand a refund from god!

 

[AstroLad]

A class action would probably take care of things.

 

[AtomicShroom]

Simple. Protest by buying your games elsewhere. If enough people bothered by this practice all go shop elsewhere, Gamestop will run out of business and the problem will be solved!

 

[Mojovonio]

maybe just don't go to gamestop?

 

[birdman]

I don't like it much either. Luckily around here the Gamestop that used to be an EB still sells the new games packaged up, so I go there if I want a new game.

 

[RiskyChris]

stop being so anal? most shops dont have space to keep them unopened, and it makes no difference either way -_- aslong as its not scratched, why does it matter

what next? im breathing air someone else already breathed! i demand a refund from god!

Don't have space?!

The fucking disc and box separate takes up more space than together. It's not a space issue for GS.

 

[acm2000]

Don't have space?!

The fucking disc and box separate takes up more space than together. It's not a space issue for GS.

umm, no, the boxes go on the shelves, the disc and manual in the drawer etc

 

[Visualante]

Shop somewhere else. Gamestop is quite big enough.

 

[Soygen]

Don't they only do this with the floor copy?

 

[Attack You]

On top of that, when I told him I wanted to reserve Assassin's Creed, he told me he didn't think they would have any extra copies because they have a lot of reserves and the game is going to be "sick".

What he meant was the game has been feeling ill as of late and may call out for a couple of days to recuperate.

 

[blame space]

Don't have space?!

The fucking disc and box separate takes up more space than together. It's not a space issue for GS.

:lol Seriously, how can you make this a space issue? It takes up more space to separate the two things.

Anyway, knock over their magazine rack, etc. Or just don't buy from Gamestop.

 

[soul creator]

when I used to work there I would always use the "Opened/Shopworn - 10% off" option we had on the register if it was the last copy and it was opened. Might not hurt to ask for something like that. Also helps because that text is printed on the receipt, so if you need to return it, they already know that it was open and theoretically shouldn't give you any trouble.

Or you could just not shop there, lol.

 

[Firewire]

I've never had this problem at my EB's (Toronto) The games I get are always sealed & never opened. I was kinda surprised when I first heard about this awhile back.

 

[mcgarrett]

I used to work at Software, Etc., which eventually was bought out by the company that become Gamestop. Not only did we do the display box thing, but any returns that weren't defective were re-shrinkwrapped and put back out on the shelf as new. Which had some rather comical results back in the cartridge days...

I remember once we sold a returned copy of NHL '9X to a family, only to have them return it within a few days. It seems that the previous own had used some rather foul language in their games saves, and weren't too happy that their young son was exposed to it.

 

[Zapperkhan]

umm, no, the boxes go on the shelves, the disc and manual in the drawer etc

Ok, I want you to go home and take a disc out of a box put it on top and check the difference between it and box with a disc inside.

Spoiler

The one with the disc inside takes up less space

P.S. The boxes on the shelves are for display only in the first place.

 

[Jeff-DSA]

I used to work at Software, Etc., which eventually was bought out by the company that become Gamestop. Not only did we do the display box thing, but any returns that weren't defective were re-shrinkwrapped and put back out on the shelf as new. Which had some rather comical results back in the cartridge days...

I remember once we sold a returned copy of NHL '9X to a family, only to have them return it within a few days. It seems that the previous own had used some rather foul language in their games saves, and weren't too happy that their young son was exposed to it.

My copy of Turok 2 was a re-shrunk copy that I got from Software Etc.. Not only was it the last time I went there, but they actually refunded my money in full and game me a gift card in equal value once I threatened to call the BBB. It was hilarious, because I was just some dumb crap high school kid and they bit on my bluff.

Still, the whole re-shrink resell policy was downright dirty. I hated them for that.

 

[Z_Y]

stop being so anal? most shops dont have space to keep them unopened, and it makes no difference either way -_- aslong as its not scratched, why does it matter

what next? im breathing air someone else already breathed! i demand a refund from god!

You missed the point. What if he had bought that game as a gift and then the giftee decided to return it? At the very least...gutted copies should be noted on the receipt. If their return policy was as lax as it was 5+ years ago this wouldn't be an issue. They won't let you return opened games but have kept with the practice of gutting copies. Doesn't make sense.


Not to derail...but has anybody noticed that trade-in values have seemed to plummet? Now they throw in all these bonus offers and extra credit deals to make it seem like you are getting a great deal but at the end of the day they are still only giving you $9 for a game you spent $60 on 4 months ago.

 

[Andokuky]

Ok, I want you to go home and take a disc out of a box put it on top and check the difference between it and box with a disc inside.

Spoiler

The one with the disc inside takes up less space

P.S. The boxes on the shelves are for display only in the first place.

Not as Gamestops around here. The boxes you bring up to the counter are usually the ones you take home and they put a disc from a sleeve in a drawer inside. Doesn't really bother me because as someone else says, they're just saving space and I always make sure I'm not getting something used and scratched.

 

[RiskyChris]

Not as Gamestops around here. The boxes you bring up to the counter are usually the ones you take home and they put a disc from a sleeve in a drawer inside. Doesn't really bother me because as someone else says, they're just saving space and I always make sure I'm not getting something used and scratched.

 

[ZealousD]

1.) This is a corporate policy. Nothing is going to change by asking your store to stop doing this. Employees are just as annoyed by this practice as anybody, albeit for different reasons (it's a pain in the ass to deal with, especially on days when a lot of games come out).

2.) GameStops are suppose to place some kind of seal on gutted new games to show that they were a display copy. Note that a -NEW- sticker placed directly on box is often a sign that it was on display.

3.) As always, if this practice bothers you, never buy new games at GameStop unless you preorder. It's the only way you're guaranteed to get an unopened copy. It may also interest you to know that sometimes excess display copies get re-shrinkwrapped occasionally (IE they have two display cases out there in the new releases section, a new game comes to replace it, one of them gets shrinkwrapped).

 

[Satter]

I used to work at Software, Etc., which eventually was bought out by the company that become Gamestop. Not only did we do the display box thing, but any returns that weren't defective were re-shrinkwrapped and put back out on the shelf as new. Which had some rather comical results back in the cartridge days...

I remember once we sold a returned copy of NHL '9X to a family, only to have them return it within a few days. It seems that the previous own had used some rather foul language in their games saves, and weren't too happy that their young son was exposed to it.

Oh, that's nothing. Back when Babbage's had a store here in H-town, a family bought a "new" game for their 8 year son. However, disk inside was a porno.

I haven't bought anything from Gamstop in ages. Their store is usually staffed with the laziest morons I've ever dealt with.

 

[Big-E]

This happened to me with Bioshock. Everyone was out of it and I had to go to EB to get it. Sure enough the supposed only copy was an opened game. I bought it anyway but thats because I needed Bioshock.

 

[jay]

stop being so anal? most shops dont have space to keep them unopened, and it makes no difference either way -_- aslong as its not scratched, why does it matter

what next? im breathing air someone else already breathed! i demand a refund from god!

Are games now classified as used or new based on the number of scratches on them? If so, many of my PS1 games just became brand new.

 

[Haunted]

And I assure you no magazine racks will be harmed in the process.

boo.

 

[Kestastrophe]

Not to derail...but has anybody noticed that trade-in values have seemed to plummet?

99% of the time, gamestop trade-ins are close to highway robbery. A few months back I was able to trade in RE4 Wii for $25 and Mario Party for $45 with the use of a coupon, but that's about it. You can almost always get more value on Ebay, Blockbuster, or GameCrazy.

 

[Jube3]

It bothered my quite a bit too, its all in my head but it just feels like im paying full price for a used copy. I just pick up my games online or go to frys, best buy or toys r us. They're closer to me anyways.

 

[soul creator]

as far as the space thing, technically they are saving drawer space since they don't have to put a full case in there, and can instead put it on a shelf.

Then again, I don't think that's exactly the primary reason for the practice.

 

[Stumpokapow]

1.) This is a corporate policy. Nothing is going to change by asking your store to stop doing this. Employees are just as annoyed by this practice as anybody, albeit for different reasons (it's a pain in the ass to deal with, especially on days when a lot of games come out).

2.) GameStops are suppose to place some kind of seal on gutted new games to show that they were a display copy. Note that a -NEW- sticker placed directly on box is often a sign that it was on display.

These two combined are the right answer.

Make sure you ask your employee to mark the game as gutted on your receipt, and make sure s/he uses the gutted seal sticker on the case itself. Your problem is not so much the sale of gutted games, it's that the employee is failing to let you return it because he believes it is opened rather than gutted. Obviously the problem this time is not your fault, but this is a very easy way to stop them.

I have the opposite problem. Since I never return games, I always ask the employees NOT to put the gutted stickers on... most of them say that they have to put the sticker on and suggest that I buy a bottle of Goo Gone.-

It bothered my quite a bit too, its all in my head but it just feels like im paying full price for a used copy. I just pick up my games online or go to frys, best buy or toys r us. They're closer to me anyways.

In a book store, you do not get a discount because someone leafed through the book or read some of it at the store. I frequently see paperback books with slightly cracked spines. Not a defence of the practice; I don't agree with gutting either... just that the book analogy is weak because bookstores regularly sell shopworn product.

 

[Like the hat?]

they don't do it to save space, they do it to keep games from being stolen.

 

[Kestastrophe]

they don't do it to save space, they do it to keep games from being stolen.

I agree. However, I don't see why they don't just use the empty cardboard cases that they have on display for pre-orders.

 

[ThePeter]

.

 

[Davidion]

It's kind of strange, but as much as I hear about these horrible problems at gamestop, I've never once experienced them. I've always received good service from the handful of locations that I visited and I've never seen this "open games sold as new" phenomenon. Maybe it's localized to some areas. *shrugs*

I do see some weight to the space-saving argument, however. Considering that their corporate philosophy is more conservative than that of your local no-name game shop, it's reasonable for them to not want to put a fully packaged game on the shelves (to void theft, as mentioned by others), which would lead to taking the game out and putting it back in the box at POS the most efficient logistical choice.

It's kind of a hard balance to strike, but I think they likely need to revamp their retail strategy a little if it's upsetting consumers so much.

 

[Kintaro]

If it bothers you so much, make sure you ask for an unopened copy. If they don't have one, shop someone else. Simple. Now STFU and quit whining about it.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

I'm going to echo the people who are saying that if you have so many bad experiences with a store, stop patronizing it. Giving them the money and complaining on a message boards washes out exactly the same to them as giving them the money and skipping home happily.

 

[Zapperkhan]

Not as Gamestops around here. The boxes you bring up to the counter are usually the ones you take home and they put a disc from a sleeve in a drawer inside. Doesn't really bother me because as someone else says, they're just saving space and I always make sure I'm not getting something used and scratched.

You must have some bigger/less visited stores. We only have 1-4 display copies then they have shelves behind the counter with all the shrinkwrapped games.

 

[ZealousD]

I agree. However, I don't see why they don't just use the empty cardboard cases that they have on display for pre-orders.

They aren't cardboard. They're actual DVD cases that cost money.

 

[Andokuky]

Case on shelf + disc in drawer = less space than case on shelf + case/disc in drawer.

The only alternative to that would be to keep the discs in the case on the shelf and that would make it far easier for people to steal. I think this is only a problem with older games though. New games, you can see plenty of shrink wrapped copies in the case. Older games though, there's really no need to have 20 new copies of Legends of Wrestling 2 in the drawer when you can have one display case out and a few discs in the drawer.

But either way all you have to do is ask for a new, unopened copy. It's not like they are forcing their evil opened ways onto people.

 

[Z_Y]

99% of the time, gamestop trade-ins are close to highway robbery. A few months back I was able to trade in RE4 Wii for $25 and Mario Party for $45 with the use of a coupon, but that's about it. You can almost always get more value on Ebay, Blockbuster, or GameCrazy.

I wasn't aware that Blockbuster took trades. I'm going to check them out. Thanks!

 

[speculawyer]

Yeah, there is a thin line there . . . . what is to stop them from selling a very good condition 'used' (that was sold to them by a gamer) as a 'new' game after a quick shrink-wrap?

 

[RiskyChris]

Case on shelf + disc in drawer = less space than case on shelf + case/disc in drawer.

The only alternative to that would be to keep the discs in the case on the shelf and that would make it far easier for people to steal. I think this is only a problem with older games though. New games, you can see plenty of shrink wrapped copies in the case. Older games though, there's really no need to have 20 new copies of Legends of Wrestling 2 in the drawer when you can have one display case out and a few discs in the drawer.

But either way all you have to do is ask for a new, unopened copy. It's not like they are forcing their evil opened ways onto people.

Is this a space issue or a loss prevention issue?

 

[ZealousD]

Yeah, there is a thin line there . . . . what is to stop them from selling a very good condition 'used' (that was sold to them by a gamer) as a 'new' game after a quick shrink-wrap?

Potential lawsuits?

Is this a space issue or a loss prevention issue?

A combination of the two.

 

[Davidion]

Is this a space issue or a loss prevention issue?

Both, quite frankly

 

[DenogginizerOS]

If it bothers you so much, make sure you ask for an unopened copy. If they don't have one, shop someone else. Simple. Now STFU and quit whining about it.

As I stated in the OP, I had no reason to think it was an open copy. That is my point. There was no mention of it at the time of purchase, no marking on the box, and no marking on the receipt. I did not discover it was opened until I got home. It is now up to the manager to determine if I will get full credit for the game, but my point is that if they are going to do this, they should have a consistent policy about marking receipts/boxes. This game could have easily been shrinkwrapped at Best Buy and no one would have seen the razor sliced seal. My point is more about making sure that people who buy something as a gift or change their mind before playing should not be in limbo about whether or not they can return a game sold to them as open.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

Yeah, there is a thin line there . . . . what is to stop them from selling a very good condition 'used' (that was sold to them by a gamer) as a 'new' game after a quick shrink-wrap?

They won't. Heck, sometimes you even see the rare phenomenon of the "Used" sealed copy, which is a sealed copy of a game that someone for some god-forsaken reason traded in, being sold as used at used price. Some stores will open up said used copy and gut it, some will leave it sealed in the case with a yellow used sticker on it.

Inventory must be properly accounted for. Accountants demand this, and you should know that, speculawyer. Any discrepencies in stock (such as "-1 in stock") that can be noticed by head office have to be addressed by the manager or the hammer will fall.

Sort of like how the store that ends up consistently over when they cash out at the end of the day isn't cheering at all the extra money they're making.

 

[bryehn]

I'm surprised this practice still exists. Once a game's seal (MS seal, security seal, etc) is broken, it's no longer a "new" product.

Any time this happens to me, I simply state that I'm no longer interested in the product, unless they want to sell it to me at the used price, and let me use my discount card. Otherwise I'll just go somewhere else, even if it costs me $5 more

 

[Apocryphon]

Didn't they start doing this at certain places because there had been instances of shipments arriving with the discs missing?

 

[Solo]

Practices like this are why Ive stopped going to EB, and just throw my money at Walmart. Less hassle, cheaper prices.

 

[Attack You]

They won't. Heck, sometimes you even see the rare phenomenon of the "Used" sealed copy, which is a sealed copy of a game that someone for some god-forsaken reason traded in, being sold as used at used price. Some stores will open up said used copy and gut it, some will leave it sealed in the case with a yellow used sticker on it.

Inventory must be properly accounted for. Accountants demand this, and you should know that, speculawyer. Any discrepencies in stock (such as "-1 in stock") that can be noticed by head office have to be addressed by the manager or the hammer will fall.

Sort of like how the store that ends up consistently over when they cash out at the end of the day isn't cheering at all the extra money they're making.

The Gamestops near me won't accept sealed trade-ins now. I tried to unload my unopened Mario Party 7 w/ mic, Astro Boy PS2, and FF Dawn of Souls recently. They probably assume they're stolen.