[General Discussion] Gamestop and gutted games

I hate shopping at Gamestop.

I went to purchase Guilty Gear XX today, and I saw that they had 2 gutted display copies of the games. I asked the cashier if they had any unopened copies of the game and then he just started to lecturing me about how display copies are the same as "brand new." I've been through this discussion with this store so many times that I don't want to waste my time, but since I was purchasing another game I couldn't leave. Well, I shouldn't leave, I mean why should I leave? He kept pestering me about how displayed displayed copies are new and wanted to show me the disc, but I told him to don't bother and that opened games aren't new. Afterwards I kept repeating "I just want that game" for like 10 times. Then he goes on trying to make me feel bad by talking about how I'm going to waste gas going to another store, and having the other employees support him in the fact that I won't be able to find a sealed copy and sarcastically saying "good luck finding it." He pestered me for about 15 minutes before ringing me up.

I mean what the heck is that?! Why did they have to gut 2 copies? Anyways, I hate shopping at Gamestop, but they're one of the easiest places to get niche games, so I can't do much about it. We'll, besides ordering online, but I shouldn't have to avoid buying it at the store.

What are your thoughts about how Gamestop works? Angry? Satisfied? Don't care?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Well, as a worker, I can attest. I certainly can't explain the worker lecturing, though I feel this may be a bit of a stretch. Depending on the game, a couple copies need to be gutted to get proper public exposure. At some point, the game's less new, and we take one off, keeping the guts back in the game, and putting it back in display.

Either that or they gutted 2 games just to piss you off

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I mean, I could understand if it's the last copy. Sure it's gutted, but you need ONE copy out there. I don't mind paying full price, just as long as the CD isn't messed up or anything.

As long as it looks new, it's fine with me.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Gamestop is the best place for PS2, 3, Wii, GC, DS, GBA, GBC, Xbox, 360, PC.

It's the best place for when a new game comes out too.

I have a gamestop related story that just happened today. So they close at 6pm on Sundays and I wanted to pull over to grab one of the Tribes games for PC. I was on the way elsewhere and had the idea at the last second to goto gamestop. At 5:58 I arrive at the parking lot and the only two parking spaces in the packed area where handicapped ones. I decide to ignore those and drive elsewhere to find something. When that idea fails I decide to just park at the handicap spot right in front of the gamestop door, anyway. While I'm busy parking on it, an employee locks the door! If I would have just parked there in the first place (which would be no big deal because there are no cops around there) I would have had the game in my hands! So now I have to wait for tomorrow...

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

That's odd they would gut both copies of the new Guilty Gear. Far as I can tell, no stores got more than 3, 4 copies, save for the larger volume stores. Even still, that's not a game we'd typically gut two copies of.

Why do we (GameStop) gut two copies (or more) of a game? Well for one, you should notice that each "new" section has a column dedicated to "New Releases", where a single title is gutted twice. That strategy is used as a selling tool -- the theory is it won't catch your eye if you only see it once, but seeing it twice will make you remember it and persuade you to buy it. It's a subconscious thing.

The other reasoning behind gutting more than one game goes back to our planagrams. We have to have a certain amount of space dedicated to specific sections, i.e. new PS2 games, used Xbox, etc. Sometimes we have to gut more than one copy of a single game in order to fill that space. Most stores don't have that problem, but new stores and stores with an unusually small amount of product variety will have that problem. My store was one of those, but I got it fixed.

Really though, an opened copy of a game shouldn't bother you. Unless you've got a fetish for peeling off that annoying plastic, just buy it. No one else's played it, and it sits peacefully with the instruction manual in a safe place. No biggie.

I was speaking idiomatically.

If the game's never been sold, its new. It'll still have the new plastic smell and the disk will still be in almost absolute perfect condition. If you're really that upset, wait for them to get more in stock and suffer because the new game wasn't new enough.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I don't mind it. On one hand, I like peeling the shrinkwrap off a new copy, but getting the gutted copy is a good feeling because I'm making the store order more copies of said game (and most of the time when I'm buying a game, I hope it racks up good sales numbers anyway). So my one purchase means another 3-4 copies sold for the publisher because I'm forcing the store to get more. At least, that's how I see it.

FELIPE NO

If it's a special edition of a game I really want, I'd care. But that won't happen since the games I really want are all pre-ordered and untouched. Therefore: NO WORRIES, HOMIE.

For anything else that might be an after-thought, I don't really care. I bought a used copy of ICO for 10 bucks at a Rasputin Records store and it looked brand new. The CD, case, and manual were all in pristine condition. The same went for my copy of Gitaroo Man. I didn't really care: what mattered was that I had the game. I owned it. It worked fine.

Originally Posted by LeHah

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The thing I hate about my local gamestop gutting things is that they still leave the manual in the case. Then random people look through it with their greasy fingers and ruin it. And of course gamestop will still charge you full price even after the manual was tampered with. ;_;

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Sorry to hear that, Miles. Unfortunately, that's one of the things (few though there are) GameStop doesn't have a uniform policy on. At my store, we don't leave the instruction manuals in the case in the instance of gutting new games. Everything comes out.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by SouthJag

No one else's played it,

Horseshit.

Lots of EBs still have that ridiculous check out policy. Even if they aren't officially sanctioned anymore, you still hear about it everywhere.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by FatChocoboF3

I hate shopping at Gamestop.

Don't shop there then. :] I always hear these whinging stories from Americanadian's about how GameStop/EB's shit. Yeah, EB's shit here too. They're like a garbage tip! You could probably throw a big bag of smelly apples in there and they'd advertise it on their in-store radio! Shelving space isn't even used for games, they just load them with publisher blowjob 'coming soon!' boxes, everything is dumped on tables in the middle of the store so nobody can move without knocking a mountain of Barbie's Cheese Sandwich Adventures over. That's why I go to one of the many other stores that stock video games instead. Surely Gamestop isn't the only retail chain in America to stock unpopular games. You could do the same! You even save money! Shock! =o

I don't know why EB don't just follow what basically every other store has been doing for the past fifteen years or so, and keep the games locked in security cases. Sure it results in slightly less shelf space, but it's not like they use them anyway. Maybe install a security system that'll detect if someone runs out of the store with a game. That way they wouldn't have to bother throwing the discs and manuals in their bottomless pits! It is the 90's, there is time for technology. The local Game and JB-Hi Fi stores do this, and they stock a shitload more games than EB. I like EB for their massive amount of pre-owned games though, it's where I pick up all my obscure GOTY stuff for like $10 a pop. And the Edge card dealy is pretty neat. 10% off + one year warranty on anything (pre-owned lolololol).

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

"White" and "worker" and "game store" just don't go good together.

I went to the philippines years ago, and all their games were sealed. They were sitting there in plastic cases which had to be removed at the counter with some special device, and they wouldn't do that unless you paid first.

Excellent security measures and service. Really, down here everything needs to pass the OFLC classification board before they reach the country, although this only kicked into effect around the beginning of 2006.



Basically, all games here have one (and only one) of those labels, but they're actually that size. That picture I just linked isn't blown up or anything. And, these aren't stickers, but actual imprints which are printed into the game's cover and cannot be removed.

In order for them to do this, of course, the game must be unsealed (if it was ever sealed in the first place), meaning that every single game rated by the OFLC (which covers NZ, Australia, and parts of Asia) is opened, somewhat.

Oh no, it doesn't stop there. Usually the game stores here (Central Park, EB, Gamesman, Gameplanet) will take the discs physically out of the game case, along with the manual, and put them away. Usually they put them away in a paper-thin disc holder which you usually see regular CDs in.

Then, they put their fucking "This item has been discounted!" or "10% off!" or whatever, stickers on the game cases. Unless you actually ask for them to give you a case which is out the back, of course.

One store I know here puts ALL game cases on their shelves, and keeps the games in the storage room out back. The games are given a position on the shelf, and stacked. You just take one, bring it to the counter, and they fetch the manual and gam- wait, they actually have to take the game OUT of the case, into a CD sleeve, out of the CD sleeve, and back into the case.

One of the last PAL games I purchased (early 2006) was La Pucelle, and I made the store manager go through about six different copies before finding one which wasn't scratched.

This is why I import my games. All of my stuff arrives sealed, in perfect condition, guaranteed. All second hand games I've purchased have arrived unsealed, but flawless. Maybe this sheds some light on why I'm "such a big importer of games" - I won't even bring the blue case, ugly spines and OFLC labels into the picture here.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Actually the ones that have the ugly pre-school ratings as part of the actual box art are completely manufactured here, disc, manual, cover, so they'll usually arrive at stores shrink wrapped. But yeah, the distributors that do the more visually pleasing thing of simply getting in Euro copies and slapping an Aussie sticker over the cover, remove the shrink wrap, and they'll end up at stores all scratched up no matter what. Which means we can't win either way really.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Infernal Monkey

Don't shop there then. :] I always hear these whinging stories from Americanadian's about how GameStop/EB's shit.

I try to avoid EB/Gamestop when I can, but the unfortunate truth is that there aren't many alternatives left. Wal-Mart/Target only get the big titles the day of release, and Best Buy/Circuit City are staffed by absolute morons who don't put out stock and don't have the games when they're supposed to either. EB has slowly but surely put all the mom and pop video game retailers out of business, or bought them out (e.g., Rhino and some other chain that used to be in the Mid-Atlantic region). If you want a title that isn't Halo or Madden on its release day, your best bet is EB, and they know it.

As for gutting, I avoid buying those because I've heard about their "employee rental" policy. At least they aren't as sneaky about it as they used to be. Ten years ago, they didn't even acknowledge they were gutting games. You'd take a box up to the counter, and they'd go in the back room and bring out a shrinkwrapped box. You had to look close to see if it was a brand new copy, or if they had assembled it in the back room and used their shrink wrap machine, and they'd play dumb about the whole policy if you asked.

FELIPE NO

Time to make some new stores then, I'll lend a hand! We can build them out of shrink wrap! "NOBODY ALLOWED INSIDE"

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I dont understand why gamestop does that. Why do they have to open every copy, and put the disc in a sleeve? Cant they just have one opened(display case) and leave the rest sealed? If i buy a game new, it better have shrink wrap on it.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Generally, it would not bother me as I would get used games. Well...use to anyway. These days, used games have only a slight discount from new games and hence I only get those if the new games are unavailable.

I am surprised one would be lectured at a place where they want to buy something. It would make me NOT want to buy it and complain. Sorry, but if one is to spend his/her cash on some product, they shouldn't be criticized for their decisions but given respect for it. It's like saying, "Ok, despite giving my company money and me a job, I don't care and going to lecture you". Paying to be lectured in a store for a product you may or may not buy....no.

However, EB Games/GameStop has treated me well. When I visited them about two months back, I got a game in which they said if I didn't like it, I could bring it back and get a new game. I did just that and had no problems whatsoever. Just showed the receipt, showed my new game, and was on my way.

They also were very helpful for when I wanted to buy a gamecube game. I didn't even ask them directly, only said the thought outloud in which they let me know there were two copies available. They helped me find it too. Very polite when I paid for my game.

I have noticed that things have changed in the last few years from when I last visited one. Namely, NDS and GBA games were in CD sleeves, with the instructions, and were put into the game case. Very strange and seems way too much effort compared to just placing one case out and keeping the rest sealed in the back...

Circuit City isn't that bad, but I never used their customer service concerning games. Actually, I avoid their customer service unless it has something to do about warranties or such. I have found their 'advice' unreliable and downright wrong at times. Can't beat Circuit City's deals though (like the buy one, get another half off deal last week on NDS games).

I have had very little trouble with Wal-Mart concerning games. In fact, the manager was nice enough to give me my money back when I bought and tried out several copies (Having to come back to the store over and over again to get a new copy) of a dreamcast game. And this is during the time of "Once you open, no refunds" for games.

I don't really have an opinion on Target. One just finally opened up, and I visited it a few times. Customer service was fine...they opened the case to let me get my game.

I miss having Toys-R-Us. They had some awesome deals...especially when they are getting rid of stock. When they went to remove all their dreamcast games, the games became 90% off. Can't beat that. Of course, they probably took the longest of all the places I went (bought a paper up to the register, paid for it, and then wait for them to go to the back and find the product).

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Two gutted copies of Guilty Gear don't really surprise me. I went into a Gamestop last year and asked the employee if he had any sealed copies of Shadow Hearts III left. The guy gave me the usual offended spiel about how they only open one for display purposes, and then pulled out 6 gutted copies from the case behind him. That didn't really phase him though. He just changed tactics to trying to convince me that the opened copies were just as new.

I've gotten so fed up with EB's shit that I just walk out without a word whenever they start up one of their rant if I'm not already buying something else. It's ridiculous to spend 20 minutes trying to just buy one game that I already had pre-ordered because they won't shut up about the strategy guide and transferring my $5 over to other upcoming games.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

You know, there is zero reason for ANY games to be gutted, even display games. If some hourly employee is handing me a supposedly "new" game where they take some random disc out of a drawer and put it into a random case, then they could just as easily have bought the game disc and case from a Hong Kong bootlegger for $1, meanwhile keeping the original real copy for themselves, planning on pocketing the difference.

Still, it would be easy to do the same thing without "gutting" as it's easier to shrink-wrap things now than it used to be. I buy some games that make me wonder if they haven't been re-shrink-wrapped. However, it just gives me a bad feeling if I am buying something new that has been opened, and I'm not the one who opened it. Might as well use Ebay at that point...

My experience with Gamestop has generally been good, except that I think the stand-alone stores have 100% better staff than the stores inside malls. It seems like malls lower the IQ of the general population by a good 50 points right off the bat...

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Which reminds me...

I was at EB Games one time, buying a copy of Dark Cloud 2. I saw they had it used and I was perfectly fine with that. So I go and buy the game and frantically run home, literally peeing in my pants just to play.

It was at that moment I realized, "Holy shit. This is a Dark Cloud 2 Demo Disk." Yes, a fucking demo disk. So I return the next day to find the same employee who sold me the game working there. I explain what happened and he was baffled by the mistake also (The demo disk and the actual game cover almost look completely similar). He happily refunded my money and I moved on to another Gamestop in that mall (There are three. <_< It used to be 1 Gamestop, 2 EBs. Now it's 2 Gamestops, 1 EB). I buy another used copy from there, and what the fuck do you know, the CD freezes when I hit the start menu. Being frustrated with my whole situation, I return the game at that Gamestop and look around. Lucky for me, they had a new copy.

At that point, I didn't care if I had to pay $25 for a new copy. I wanted to play Dark Cloud 2, and I wanted to play it NOW.

I finally have a decent copy and it works... I just have to get around to completing it. <_<

Even after all the crappy service from Gamestop and EB, I continue to go there and buy games. Why?

All the store locations are close to me and they usually hold some games I can't find anywhere else. I don't have the luxury of ordering games online like some of you. >_<

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by rpgcrazied

I dont understand why gamestop does that. Why do they have to open every copy, and put the disc in a sleeve? Cant they just have one opened(display case) and leave the rest sealed? If i buy a game new, it better have shrink wrap on it.

Every store I've gone in has two opened copies and the rest of the new releases in the case/shelves behind the counter.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

my gamestop blows then

FELIPE NO

I stopped buying games (from Gamestop) when I couldn't order games weeks in advance. I just order online or download them.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by rpgcrazied

I dont understand why gamestop does that. Why do they have to open every copy, and put the disc in a sleeve? Cant they just have one opened(display case) and leave the rest sealed? If i buy a game new, it better have shrink wrap on it.

Already answered in thorough detail. Scroll up, or read the quote!

Quote:

Why do we (GameStop) gut two copies (or more) of a game? Well for one, you should notice that each "new" section has a column dedicated to "New Releases", where a single title is gutted twice. That strategy is used as a selling tool -- the theory is it won't catch your eye if you only see it once, but seeing it twice will make you remember it and persuade you to buy it. It's a subconscious thing.

The other reasoning behind gutting more than one game goes back to our planagrams. We have to have a certain amount of space dedicated to specific sections, i.e. new PS2 games, used Xbox, etc. Sometimes we have to gut more than one copy of a single game in order to fill that space. Most stores don't have that problem, but new stores and stores with an unusually small amount of product variety will have that problem. My store was one of those, but I got it fixed.

Jam it back in, in the dark.