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Things you hate about gamestop?

I shop there looking for old PS2 games usually because sometimes people online charge exorbitant prices for things years old. Sometimes GS does too though.

What I hate though, is the disorganized used PS2 games. There never seems to be someone available to ask, but looking through those games is a pain. There's just so much shovelware and so many old sports games.
 
I go into Gamestop maybe once every three months. Usually to pick up a console game. Nothing to dislike about the place really. Get all my games through Steam or Amazon these days.
 
Realistically the only thing I hate is how high their game prices are compared to virtually every other store there. The only thing I consider buying there is game hardware.

Otherwise they're OK. I've gotten better trade-in values there than other stores / online stores.
 
Outside of the usual pre-order/magazine/card pushing, I don't really have a problem with Gamestops in general. However, last Christmas I bought a used copy of Order of Ecclesia that ended up being pirated. When I took it back in the next day the manager actually started yelling at me, telling me I was wrong even after I pointed out all the signs of it being a counterfeit copy, not the least of which being that it would boot in a Phat or Lite but not a DSi. Took a good 15 minutes before she bothered to check on various in-store DS's before finally giving me my 20 bucks back. The other employees were really apologetic towards me and I just laughed it off because of how angry she got over something so stupid, but I've never gone back in that particular store

Edit: Also when I went to the midnight launch of GTAIV it smelled pretty rancid in there, though I attribute that more to nerds nerding out than the actual store itself
 
Nothing.

It's a fine establishment.

I enter, say which game I would like, decline any offers or cards, and make my purchase and leave quickly and painlessly.
 
Snuggler said:
I would like to grab a game, buy it and leave.

I know they force their grunts to do it, but I don't care about your card, I don't care about preordering a game that comes out six months from now, I don't care if your grubby used version is two dollars less, I don't care about pawning my games to you for pennies on the dollar.

Just leave me alone and let me buy the goddamn game.
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This. It's also why I pretty much buy anything that isn't food on Amazon. So fucking tired of the bullshit grind of shopping for electronics. First you have to drive through traffic - usually unavoidable as an adult working 8-5 with many stores closing at 9 PM. People walk around aimlessly with their damn phones. They have a store greeter that's completely awkward and pointless. Stores put promotional stuff in their already too small walkways making it impossible to navigate the store properly. Shitgrin no-nothing sales people ask if you need "help". Stupid club member and store credit cards only fools would sign up for. They check your recipes like you're a crook, but that's assuming they had what you were looking for. Then the girlscouts welcome you at the exit with their diabetes sexist cookies.

Amazon? UPS dude drops by after work and asks for a signature and a typical "how's it going?".
 
Just last week for the first time in years I was over pressured by a Gamestop employee to pre order.

I believe he asked me three to four times and forced me to say NO three times. I won't be going back if I can help it because of that.

The staff there used to be cool and ask you if you would like to pre order anything today with a smile on their face and when you said no, they left it alone, so I had no problem shopping there.I'm convinced its either a new manager or DM after last week.
 
A few weeks ago, I went to Gamestop and bought something. I talked to the guy behind the counter, asked him if he'd played Portal 2 yet. He said no, said he was gonna pick it up later that day since it was down to $40. So we got talking about how it sucks that I picked up the game on day 1 for $60, and here it was for $40 like two weeks later.

Dude asks me for my Gamestop card, scans it, does some stuff on the computer. I take out my credit card to pay for the $10 game I was buying, guy says, "Nah man," and gives me $10 cash. I look at the transaction on the card pad and see:

RETURN - Portal 2 $59.99
PURCHASE - Portal 2 $39.99
PURCHASE - Other game $9.99


Dude refunded me the difference between full price and sale price just for the hell of it. I didn't even ask.

I literally walked into a Gamestop expecting to spend money, and walked out with a free game and $10 cash.


I don't really have a problem with the franchise as a whole. I've been to some awesome ones, and I've been to some shitty ones. I stopped visiting the shitty ones and continued shopping at the awesome ones. So.
 
Slamtastic said:
Nothing.

It's a fine establishment.

I enter, say which game I would like, decline any offers or cards, and make my purchase and leave quickly and painlessly.
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he's one of them!
 
i hate how this one store used to try and screw me every time. Get a used game off the shelf and this one particular store, with different employees, always replaced it on the sly with a cracked broken case and shitty manual (or no fucking manual but theres one in the fucking case i gave him) while they were pretending to look for the disc.
 
Funny GS story to share. A year ago, I'd read a thread here on GAF about how some Gaffers were suspecting that GS was hiring pretty girls as a strategy. My girlfriend was hating her current job, so I persuaded her to go stop by the GS in the mall and apply. Now, this place gets dozens of apps a day, but they all get turned down. She goes there, says a few words to the manager, and literally gets hired that same day, instantly. Another funny thing is that she says it's probably the easiest job she's had, since all she did was alphabetize stuff.
 
I don't like that people who don't know any better get fooled by their business practices. I know I shouldn't care, as it's almost a Darwinian effect, but I do feel for those poor uneducated gamers.
 
Slamtastic said:
I think everyone else just has shitty GameStops.

I only go there on day 1 anyway, and always get a sealed copy.
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I was just joking of course, I don't have any real problems with gamestop. Their used games are overpriced but i'm not inclined to get any used games from them. problem solved
 
KevinCow said:
A few weeks ago, I went to Gamestop and bought something. I talked to the guy behind the counter, asked him if he'd played Portal 2 yet. He said no, said he was gonna pick it up later that day since it was down to $40. So we got talking about how it sucks that I picked up the game on day 1 for $60, and here it was for $40 like two weeks later.

Dude asks me for my Gamestop card, scans it, does some stuff on the computer. I take out my credit card to pay for the $10 game I was buying, guy says, "Nah man," and gives me $10 cash. I look at the transaction on the card pad and see:

RETURN - Portal 2 $59.99
PURCHASE - Portal 2 $39.99
PURCHASE - Other game $9.99


Dude refunded me the difference between full price and sale price just for the hell of it. I didn't even ask.

I literally walked into a Gamestop expecting to spend money, and walked out with a free game and $10 cash.


I don't really have a problem with the franchise as a whole. I've been to some awesome ones, and I've been to some shitty ones. I stopped visiting the shitty ones and continued shopping at the awesome ones. So.
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Like a boss.
 
Jroderton said:
Oh no doubt. My store has the little bins on the counters with hundreds of Madden 07 and MLB 2k6 discs in them for like $2 or $3 dollars a pop. Is that because with sports games there is a new one coming out each year or what?
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Yeah and everyone trades in their old installments when the new ones come out. Little do they know they could just buy one new sports game for each sport every 5 years and the experience wouldn't change

they would also save like $800
 
I've only been to Gamestop once in the past 3 years and that was to pre-order Gears 3 to get the Beta. I don't want to have to go back to cancel it, but that's five bucks.
 
KevinCow said:
I don't really have a problem with the franchise as a whole. I've been to some awesome ones, and I've been to some shitty ones. I stopped visiting the shitty ones and continued shopping at the awesome ones. So.
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I went to one before where the guy asked me "Why the hell did you preorder it in the first place, if you were going to cancel it". Took a nasty ass attitude with me, I decided to cancel my other pre-order while at it, and never went back.

The other one close by, they never once bothered me. They don't bug me for subscriptions or pre-orders. They always offer to do store searches for me. And they on multiple times let me price adjust and get manuals/cases for titles I've already purchased.
 
CoffeeJanitor said:
Yeah and everyone trades in their old installments when the new ones come out. Little do they know they could just buy one new sports game for each sport every 5 years and the experience wouldn't change

they would also save like $800
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Must.. have.. new.. roster
 
I don't mind GS much any more. Aside from the sales BS that every store in the world seems to be smacking customers in the face with. The way customer service = Endlessly pestering the customer with "Are you finding everything?" preferably with a new clerk every 5 square feet.

I can't really hold that against GS when everyone else does that too.

Their hardware replacement plan's the only thing that's kept me on the 360 in the past year. Two systems died, the third seems to be holding up, but it's an Elite so who knows when it'll go belly up too.
 
It's hard to hate on something good.

Since I started to play iOS games I have been buying all my PS3/360/Wii games on Gamestop or Game, always used. I've been spoiled by the iOS prices. $60 is too much for games, I generally wait about 2 months and always turn up LTTP but get the games for $30 or less (300 swedish crowns is usually my target price, if they're more expensive than that I just wait one more month).
 
Their used games are so unorganized.

I asked for 4 used games the other day (the web site said that store had them), and like after 5 minutes digging through a drawer, guy could only find 2.

Also, I sort of wish they forced people to trade in cases with their games. And if not, at least provide blank cases for all of their used games when you buy them (instead of for some games).

Besides that, I don't care too much about Gamestop, especially since getting games online. But I love their used games, though.
 
I think Gamestop hasn't yet come to the realization that the games boutique crap is old hat.

Its not 1994 and your video game shopping choices are your local Sears or Kmart or you could go Gamestop (EB, Babbages..etc) That specialty shop shit just doesn't fly anymore, games are available everywhere with freat deals with an equal selection.

Its simply time to update you business practices.
 
They're really pushing pre-orders after every purchase now. It doesn't bother me, I know it's their job to say it, but they are certainly asking it more than they used to.

Overall though, I'm fine with them. Not my number one B&M store to go to, but I'm not actively avoiding the store or anything.
 
I have never once had an issue with a Gamestop employee or transaction. I've always been served by friendly people who are just doing their job. I politely turn down pre orders if they are offered with a ,"just this for today, thank you" complete my transaction and leave. No different than going to any other large chain store.

Edit: the buy 2 get 1 free used game deal is also quite awesome.

Edit 2: I've never once felt overly pressured to buy anything there. And no, I've never worked at Gamestop nor do I know anyone that has.
 
Pyrokai said:
Internet. Unless need asap.
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Well


WEGGLES said:
If I wasn't so impatient I'd order through amazon more often.
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:)

The problem with Amazon is if I order from .com to my US po box it's fast but I might not be to my po box for a few days. If I order from .ca it's slower but comes to the house. If I just go to EB I have it today. Though, lately Steam is king.
 
PseudoKirby said:
gamestop, has become very overpowering in the game market, hell one could say they have a monopoly...

their compact little stores are everywhere now, hell there are 10 of them within 30 minutes of me...

like the mcdonalds of gaming..
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Gamestops are already contracting .

I live in paramus NJ and we used to have a good 30 of them within a 15-20 minute drive. In the last 6 months they have closed down 4 of them and 2 more of them are closing when the lease is up.

I think they hit a point where they over expanded in some area's and are now competing with themselves
 
shitty selection. Most of the games they do have are in shitty condition and smell like cigarette smoke. Stop gutting a copy for display. Stop asking me a shitload of questions when I want to buy a game. Those are the things that keep me out of gamestop.
 
Yeah, I feel sorry for the employees there. They have been either brain washed by GameStop to sell, or feel threaten enough about losing their jobs by not getting reservations and subscriptions that they resort to crazy tactics to sell them.

I do own a PowerUp card, and have a few games reserve at my local GameStop, so I have paid my dues for shopping at GameStop.

I am fortunate to have a GameStop where the workers know me real well, and act like regular workers, so I usually have a pleasant and simple shopping experience there.

However, the experience was not similar when I visit other GameStop's where I don't know anyone, especially the one I am sharing below. I thought already having a PowerUp card, and 3 games reserved at GameStop was good enough for them to not harass you when you come in to buy something, but I was wrong.

Here is how a conversation went for me a few days ago (Not 100% accurate since I can't remember word for word, but this is real close to how it went)

Me: (hands employee 1600 Microsoft Points)
Employee: Do you have a Power Up Card?
Me: Yes, I do (hands him my card)
Employee: Great, it looks like your card only has 5 months left before it expires, did you want to renew it today to make sure you continue to receive your benefits and magazine?
Me: No, Thanks. I'll decide when it's almost expired if I am going to renew it.
Employee: Are you sure? If you wait until it expires you might miss out on a magazine.
Me: I am good for now plus I don't even read the magazine that much.
Employee: Really? It's one of the best video game magazines out there. If you buy a single issue it's $7, I can get you another year added for just another $15
Me: It's cool, I don't need to renew it this early.
Employee: Alright, but don't wait to long! Did you at least want to pre-order any upcoming games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3? Gears of War 3? for your 360?
Me: No, I already have those pre-ordered at my local store.
Employee: Oh, did they give you a poster for your Call of Duty? If you pre-order it here I can give you a free poster today
Me: Yeah, I got one
Employee: Well you should just pre-order it here, and cancel it at the other store because we are probably going to have a huge midnight event here when it releases. We will be giving away stuff, and hosting a tournament
Me: No, I live closer to the other store, and probably won't even get the game at midnight.
Employee: Ok, but if you change your mind just let me know!
Me: Ok, thanks.

So he finally gives me my damn 1600 points, but then proceeds to talk another long speech about taking the customer survey, so I can have a chance to win some GameStop gift cards, and help him out by giving him a good score for helping me today.

This guy was either completely brain washed by GameStop and loves his job too much, or is scared of getting fired and puts on an academy award winning performance for GameStop in selling. He tried to get me to renew my card which still has five months left on it before it expires, and to cancel a reservation at another store, so he can get one.
 
I am one of the rare persons who actually likes shopping at Gamestop. In fact, I have about 12 games on preorder now. The employees are very friendly, they know me by name. And they don't badger me with preorder sales pitches.

The main reason I do all my preordering at Gamestop is because I use their system as sort of a "lay away." I pay for half the game when I preorder it, and pay the other half when I pick it up. While I understand that I am still paying 60 dollars for a new game, it is not all at once, and that is easier on my wallet.
 
1. It's not EBGames
2. The company does not cater to "core" gamers. All they want is latest COD, Pokemons & Wii Fit monies.
3. Selling games takes a back seat to selling Game Informer(s) and getting reserves for general mass market titles that are going to sell the same number of copies with or without pre-orders. I can sells 10 magazine subs and no games a week for a year and be the best damn employee ever.
4. They take little to no pride into the aesthetics of the stores. With all of the banners and crap store fronts look like fire sales or flea markets. Save the EBX in Aventura Mall in North Miami
5. The company has done next to nothing to compete with competitors but blame employees for losing sales to Amazon, Best Buy, TRU, etc.
6. That stupid ass bunny
7. Oh, the fucking stickers.
8. While I don't mind employees checking out games (thought I'm an EB guy so the shit is new to me) I don't believe in selling checked out games as new. In my management days I sold them 10% off for shopworn and made employees wait 2 weeks to checkout new releases or wait for a used one.
9. Thanks to project $10 their, no our used prices are only $2 cheaper than new copies and there has been no big push as a company to let customers know that the used titles are gimped.
10.......I can go on forever


But its not as bad as some people make it out to be. Though if ass-hats are employed at your local store...theres little you can do. And we don't wanna harass people about shit, but they think thats the only way to sell it. I don't wanna ask you to preorder 8 different games, on top of a warranty, Used copies of your game or a digital sub to GI

EDIT: 9.9 Stores that hire people who either know too much useless shit about games and have Donkey Jizz for social skills. Or the fucker that can sell shit, but has no clue WTF they are talking about and makes shit up 99% of the time.
 
Fine with them. When I want to preorder a game, I preorder there; otherwise I don't. The card has been nice, will renew it since it's about to expire soon.

Unlike "another retailer" were yesterday me and my friend because we're the kind of customer that when we have time, we take our time comparing prices and analyzing our purchases. Guess "the manager in that store" doesn't believe in that, as he sent security and 2 employees to put pressure and check on us.

Or "an online site" that took 1 week to ship the preorder of Portal 2 of a friend and another 1 to actually receive it. And their excuse was that "well, you didn't paid for shipping".

At Gamestop, we just walk in there, look at the games, buy it and leave. No security, no shipping, no wait...well, except waiting in line. :p
 
Their prices.

Around here, a regular game is between 95 and 105 Dollars in their stores. I remember the Bad Company 1 Gold Case Collections mah-thingy was almost 115 bucks. Yes, Denmark has some shitty ass prices on games but having GameFlop pushing it that extra mile ... No thanks.

I only went there to leech on their opening offer, trade in 2 PS2 / 3 / Xbox / 360 games and get a new one for free. I had so many games I wanted to get rid of, over 100 PS2 and Xbox games. Suffice to say, I could barely get home with all those new games I got. 50+
 
The games here at Gamestop in Germany are absolutely overpriced. The money which you get for used games is ridiculous. I have no idea how they can survive.
I mean there can't be so many dumbfucks who pay 70€ for a game.
 
Snuggler said:
I would like to grab a game, buy it and leave.

I know they force their grunts to do it, but I don't care about your card, I don't care about preordering a game that comes out six months from now, I don't care if your grubby used version is two dollars less, I don't care about pawning my games to you for pennies on the dollar.

Just leave me alone and let me buy the goddamn game.
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This.

Call it getting older and crankier, but I stop shopping at places that push cards/subscriptions on you or collect personal information. There are many other places I can shop that don't do these things.

Also stickers on the paper label.
 
The only problem I have with Gamestop is how they seem to have driven all the rivals that were all over the place 5-10 years ago out of business.

I've never had a problem with their staff, probably because I don't live in the US and only go in the store when visiting family back home. Do I want magazine subscriptions? No, I don't have a domestic address? Do I want to preorder something? No, I'll be out of the country on the release date. I'm just buying these games today, thanks.

And one more thing in their employees' favor: I bought Valkyria Chronicles 2 for the PSP in September 2010 at the $40 retail price. Couldn't bear the high-school-anime theme and only played it briefly. Went back there on my next visit home in December and was able to return it for full price -- which I promptly spent on two $20 PSN cards to buy DLC for the first Valkyria Chronicles. Can't complain when a store lets you return an opened item three months after you bought it!
 
-Stickers all over games
-They shouldn't accept games without the original packaging
-Unsealed new games
-Every time I walk into one of these places there's always some bros in cargo shorts with stupid haircuts talking to the clerks about their latest CoD highlights. This is like 5 different stores in my area.

+I like going here for used PS2 games and have managed to find most everything I could want on PS2 there over the years
 
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*thing
 
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