Why does everybody hate Gamestop?

the bottom line is this knowledge is the key with the internent and various other outlets gamestop is not the holy grail of video game stores if u disagree with thier bottom line shop elseware

justhat1

OMFG....are people just not reading some of these responses? There are places in this country that only have 1 frigging gaming store. SO ARE ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT SITUATION just supposed to sit on their ass and not buy games? Don't think so so yeah next time try reading some of these before repeating what someone else said.

I hate Game Stop because I have am 6'0 tall, have a full beard and am 20 years old and yet I still get carded for teen rated games. It's completely insanse. they will take my trade ins without my ID, let me reserve games without my ID, but won't let me buy games without my ID?

heysharpshooter

I went in there and asked to buy Deadly Creatures a few months ago. The guy grabbed the display box and stuck the disk and booklet in there and charged 50 bucks. I really hate them for that.

I am a bit split about gamestop.

They don't give much for used games, but they often have good trade in deals.

The gamestops here all seem to have sealed copies. (Scandinavia)

Their prices could be better. I am usually stunned when i encounter new games that are priced lower there than on amazon uk.

Gamestop employees that work around here don't seem to push that much useless junk.

What is pulling me into their stores atm is that they are practically giving away used PS2 games.

[QUOTE="heysharpshooter"]

I hate Game Stop because I have am 6'0 tall, have a full beard and am 20 years old and yet I still get carded for teen rated games. It's completely insanse. they will take my trade ins without my ID, let me reserve games without my ID, but won't let me buy games without my ID?

muthsera666

I used to work for Circle K, and one of the first things they taught us was "probable cause": If the person has gray hair, then don't card them for cigs. It leads to lost sales and poor customer service. I would understand if I looked young: I offended a couple of people because I carded them when they looked very young but were in their 30's-40's. Thats too bad for them, but if the person looks old enough, they generally are. I am older then half the people who WORK at the Game Stop close to my house.

And none of this changes the fact they let me do other things without the authorization of a state issued ID that are in fact more damaging.

[QUOTE="Metamania"][QUOTE="Dire_Weasel"]

Absolutely true. There's no need to pre-order a giant release like Madden, or Halo, or Call of Duty, every big-box store in the state will have pallets of them available.

Dire_Weasel

No, sir, you've got it wrong. Day one, every big box store has pallets of a big-release game. If you want your game to be a million seller, you have to make sure you get enough product to retail. Gamestop, of course, won't sell you a copy without a pre-order, but that's their policy, and another good reason not to shop there.

If you're looking for a small-release Altus game, a pre-order is a good idea but you're kidding yourself if you think Madden or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is going to be hard to find on release day.

When GTA IV came out, all of those copies flew off the shelves and we didn't have any copies in either. So that's why I believe it is VERY important to reserve a copy of ANY game that you want. That way, you don't feel screwed. So while I respect your view, I believe that you are wrong.

[QUOTE="Metamania"]

Actually, even if you don't pre-order one of those big titles, chances are that it would sell out very quickly before you know it. That's why it's important to reserve a copy of the game. That way, you don't have to worry whether or not the game is in stock and ready to buy. MadVybz

Time flies before you know it. Ever heard of 'waiting'? Everyone has to do it in life, why is it so damn important for you to get the latest titles the second the doors open? I've seen all the footage of such events, and it actually disgusts me to know that people are willing to physically harm someone over a game that will be continued to be sold weeks, months and years after it's release.

Seriously, if it's going to kill you just because you can't get a new copy of Madden or MW2 at release date, you need to see a psychiatrist. Especially when such titles will be EVERYWHERE on release date, not just in one store.

[QUOTE="Iceman8012"][QUOTE="Legendaryscmt"]

I think their biggest problems are their trade in values and selling used games as new. I can understand a business wanting a profit, but there's a difference between earning a profit and ripping the customer off while earning a bigger profit. As for their games, if the game is opened, it's not new. Only reason why it's not really being changed is that people don't consider it a big enough problem.

ShenlongBo

Didn't think so.

[QUOTE="muthsera666"][QUOTE="heysharpshooter"] Honestly, I'd rather they card everyone than card no one. I'm 22 years old and I still get carded. And I'm glad. I think enforcing the ESRB code is a good thing.heysharpshooter

I used to work for Circle K, and one of the first things they taught us was "probable cause": If the person has gray hair, then don't card them for cigs. It leads to lost sales and poor customer service. I would understand if I looked young: I offended a couple of people because I carded them when they looked very young but were in their 30's-40's. Thats too bad for them, but if the person looks old enough, they generally are. I am older then half the people who WORK at the Game Stop close to my house.

And none of this changes the fact they let me do other things without the authorization of a state issued ID that are in fact more damaging.

When I traded in games a couple of days ago, I was informed that their systems were updated and now they HAVE to ask fo an ID for trade-ins.

I went in there and asked to buy Deadly Creatures a few months ago. The guy grabbed the display box and stuck the disk and booklet in there and charged 50 bucks. I really hate them for that.

OreoMilkshake

Well, did you buy it? You could have refused and bought it somewhere else. If you paid for it knowing it was a gutted copy the only person to blame is yourself.

I don't hate Gamestop but they could give better trade in values and not take in games that are in awful condition.But when I find a game cheap that's hard to find in mint condition I'm happy

They've sold me broken hardware and software almost 100% of the time I goto one. I've gone to 4 different stores and all of them suffer from this. I've never been to a store with a track record like that. Used car dealerships aren't even that bad.

It's not so much the store or the company I hate but their "leetist" employees. It seems they all have the attitude that simply having a gamestop badge makes them an "authority" on gaming. It might be difficult to swallow boys, but there are people in the world who know more about gaming than you do.

[QUOTE="ShenlongBo"]

[QUOTE="Iceman8012"] Gutted copies aren't used. I am just tired of hearing that stupid excuse. It is ok to sell an "opened game" new. NO ONE HAS USED IT! Yes I do know of the rule they have for checking out games and how they are technically used (I used to work at a Gamestop). If the game doesn't look like it is brand spanking new then the employee has the payment of the game docked off of his or her pay, or they pay up front for the game. It isn't like the game is covered in dirt and scratches. It is almost like it wasn't ever used in the first place. I don't know about you, but I don't need that fuzzy feeling that no one has touched my disc outside of the assembly line.Iceman8012

Didn't think so.

An open game is an open game, "liability system" or whatever else be damned. The simple fact is, a customer can't return an open game back to the store as new, but an employee can. That's a pretty clear disparity. I could elaborate further to make it more clear, but honestly, if you can't draw the obvious conclusion from there, I'm done talking to you.

[QUOTE="justhat1"]

the bottom line is this knowledge is the key with the internent and various other outlets gamestop is not the holy grail of video game stores if u disagree with thier bottom line shop elseware

OMFG....are people just not reading some of these responses? There are places in this country that only have 1 frigging gaming store. SO ARE ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT SITUATION just supposed to sit on their ass and not buy games? Don't think so so yeah next time try reading some of these before repeating what someone else said.

Gamestop is only good for finding older used games. Otherwise I don't have reason to shop there. Gutted copies are a bummer.

The real issue is that employees make or break any respective store they run, which is why people often relate such divergent experiences when talking about this specific retailer. I used to frequent a GS where I was treated so well by management and staff that I actually would ignore sales at other stores simply to support that particular location. By contrast, other GS locations I have frequented have been places where I wouldn't have purchased a pack of gum from the clowns running the place.

As to the gutted copies, it's annoying as hell but the solution is simple: don't buy the gutted copy or, at the very least, inspect the game beforehand.

That said, the practice of letting employees take home games, play them and then turning around and selling them as "new" may, at some point, get GS sued because while they can claim merchandise is new if the seal is broken that claim becomes a blatant deception if somebody has actually taken the game home and played it.

That practice simply needs to be abolished, at least in regards to new merchandise.

Gamestop is vilified for being the evil empire of games, controlling pricing and availability with an iron fist. Many think their top priority is to rip off the customer and see the management team as greedy beyond measure. I want to suggest that this is far from the case, and Gamestop is merely another corporation in the industry we all love.

I will analyze many of the criticisms leveled against the company and explain why they're not fair. I will argue that you can criticize the game industry in general, but singling out Gamestop is unfair and unwarranted. (I realize I'm going to take a lot of crap for this one)

Does Gamestop really rip us off?

The chief complaint I hear from the gaming community is that Gamestop is ripping off customers with their pricing.

"They buy a game from the consumer for pennies on the dollar and then turn around and resell it for only $5 less than a new game. Gamestop isn't like any normal company looking out for their customers and building goodwill, they just want to use you and lose you. They're screwing both the developers and us, the consumer!" Sound familiar?

When we get into real financial statistics, however, it quickly becomes apparent this isn't accurate. Let's compare Gamestop to a company like Apple which has huge customer loyalty and is generally thought of as a company that does 'the right thing,' and has a target demographic that overlaps with Gamestop. Apple's operating margins are 21%. Gamestop? 8%. Apple is making over 2.5x the profit as a percentage of sales in comparison with Gamestop.

[The pictures start here and I couldn't really get them to transfer correctly – so if you're at all interested check out the rest … I go into how Gamestop adds value, how they help out consumers in a couple ways and how there are better targets for us to hate. I just didn't want to spam you guys with a wall of text if you didn't care and just wanted to respond to the headline.] Thoughts?

lstill01

If you want to give your hard earned cash to a company that cleans up second hand/traded games, then sells them as brand new due to the fact that the guy behind the counter is thick as a plank then so be it.. its your money !

[QUOTE="Iceman8012"][QUOTE="ShenlongBo"]Does any of this apply if I, as a customer, open a game in the store, and then decide I don't want it after all?

Didn't think so.

ShenlongBo

An open game is an open game, "liability system" or whatever else be damned. The simple fact is, a customer can't return an open game back to the store as new, but an employee can. That's a pretty clear disparity. I could elaborate further to make it more clear, but honestly, if you can't draw the obvious conclusion from there, I'm done talking to you.

And to make it even better, Future Shop/Best Buy is even getting into the used game market now. Awesome. So yeah, don't complain about Gamestop guys. Just go to Best Buy and forget they even exist. It's worked for me.

Again that's no where near me so I can complain if I chose to. Kthanksbai.

It tends to look online and base its prices on whatever it sells for on amazon. I went today and saw Tales of the Abyss, I picked it up, saw the $30 price tag, and walked out. They don't reduce the prices of games without the regular case/manual. They put up those awful adds. They go insane with putting stickers directly on the case instead of using displays. They unwrap new games. They tend to lie about preorder bonuses (I've heard this one, not experienced it.) I did buy Baten Kaitos (It was almost perfect, it even had the ads from Nintendo with the manual and the second disc hadn't been removed before today.) and Zone of the Enders today for a total of $15, that beats paying for the shipping, then waiting for a week.

[QUOTE="Iceman8012"][QUOTE="Legendaryscmt"]

I think their biggest problems are their trade in values and selling used games as new. I can understand a business wanting a profit, but there's a difference between earning a profit and ripping the customer off while earning a bigger profit. As for their games, if the game is opened, it's not new. Only reason why it's not really being changed is that people don't consider it a big enough problem.

ShenlongBo

Didn't think so.

Why in the blue hell would you open a game in the store then say you don't want it before you even played it? That makes absolutely no sense.

I really dislike Gamestop/EB Games, and as a result, I never shop there and try to involve myself as little as possible with them. Really, I only dislike their stores because I find the entire experience there to be unpleasant. 1) Getting harassed about pre-orders, often with no rhyme or reason. 2) A crappy store environment that can be disordered, overly crowded, and obnoxious. 3) Frankly laughable discounts for used products. Five dollar discounts for a used product? Seriously? 4) Draconian trade-in rates, often under the guise of "deals." Great..so I get to trade in three three-four month old games that YOU choose, and I get one brand new game. Fantastic. Even more fantastic is that that one new game costs 69.99, and those three games you want cost 39.99 a piece. I remember a couple of years ago, I brought in Overlord literally one week after the game was released. I was offered 20-25 bucks. I just sold it to a friend for the same amount. I've also seen someone bring in fairly new PS2 games (the Persona games, Grim Grimoire, Odin Sphere) and getting five bucks a pop. This, my friends, is what happens when one store has a near monopoly on the used game market. Thank God Big Box stores are changing that. 5) Their prices and deals are pretty much never better than anywhere else for the stuff you'd actually want. So why bother going at all? As far as new products go, I see Best buy and Future Shop having way more sales and price drops on games than Gamestop/EB Games EVER does. I'm also fairly sick of their exclusive DLC. I see people whining about console exclusive DLC. Why not whine about STORE exclusive, pre-order exclusive DLC. DLC that may not be available to you if you don't have that store in your area, DLC that is only available to you if you impulse purchase without waiting for reviews. It's just as bad, albeit in a different way. So I'll stick to big box stores, thank you very much. Not a massive store trying to disguise itself as being a smaller, indie specialty joint. Gamestop/EB Games has a monopoly in its having gobbled up almost all other gaming specialty stores, and the crap experience proves it. I'll go with Future Shop/Best Buy, which is large and spacious and has short line-ups. Where I'm left alone and not bothered about buying crap I don't want. Where I'm not forced to impulse buy, but nonetheless, where I can always get a game I want on launch day without a pre-order. I also get a 30-day price match and can keep my eye out for sales. For instance, Borderlands is coming out at Future Shop/Best Buy next week for $40 in its first week, and I can pick it up in store, for that price, with no pre-order. Meanwhile, Gamestop will be suckering their pre-order only customers for the full $69.99. And to make it even better, Future Shop/Best Buy is even getting into the used game market now. Awesome. So yeah, don't complain about Gamestop guys. Just go to Best Buy and forget they even exist. It's worked for me.Paladin_King

1. I've never experienced that...ever.

2. Also...never experienced that either.

3. I think their prices on used stuff is pretty decent most of the time. I got ODST for 50 bucks and all I had to do was wait a week after it's release.

4. I don't understand everyone's problem with the trade in rates...yea ok they aren't the best but do you people really expect to get 60 bucks trade in? Everyone complains about them "selling used games as new" but everyone thinks they should be able to do the same? Simply put, they don't make that much money off of new games so they gotta make money somehow. Once you play a game it isn't new anymore as you all like to say so you shouldn't expect to get more than $30-$40 for anything.

Oh and when they take your PS2 games that takes up inventory spacein their store, space that can be used for current gen games that are more likely to sell. Remember, they get many different kinds of customers, not just uber nerds who only play super obscure games (Which in actuality everyone should give them credit for because Gamestop's selection is MUCH more varied then the gaming sections of Walmart or Best Buy.)

5. Who cares about the DLC? 99.9% of the time it is just a special skin or some lame item that is just for fun or something. Example: Brutal Legend...DLC bonus is a Tenacious D guitar skin that isn't even the most powerful in the game. If that is the kind of thing that keeps you awake at night you have bigger problems.

Is Gamestop perfect. NO. Is a thread on Gamespot 5 times a day by random people going to change anything? NO. I know Gamestop isnt going to be liked by everyone and it shouldn't be, but it gets tiring every day seeing people whine about it and call them an evil company or something. I know most of the people on here are young and have absolutely no idea how to run a business but you have to be aware of profit margins (Which in GS case is not high on new games) and Inventory management. Do you know why Best Buy can sell some games for $40 first week? Because they make all their money selling computers, TVs, cameras, and all that other stuff so they can afford to take a hit on a game in order to get people into the store, because they are counting on people to buy other stuff while they are there.

[QUOTE="ShenlongBo"]

[QUOTE="Iceman8012"] Gutted copies aren't used. I am just tired of hearing that stupid excuse. It is ok to sell an "opened game" new. NO ONE HAS USED IT! Yes I do know of the rule they have for checking out games and how they are technically used (I used to work at a Gamestop). If the game doesn't look like it is brand spanking new then the employee has the payment of the game docked off of his or her pay, or they pay up front for the game. It isn't like the game is covered in dirt and scratches. It is almost like it wasn't ever used in the first place. I don't know about you, but I don't need that fuzzy feeling that no one has touched my disc outside of the assembly line.Gamefan1986

Didn't think so.

Why in the blue hell would you open a game in the store then say you don't want it before you even played it? That makes absolutely no sense.

1. I've never experienced that...ever.

2. Also...never experienced that either.

3. I think their prices on used stuff is pretty decent most of the time. I got ODST for 50 bucks and all I had to do was wait a week after it's release.

4. I don't understand everyone's problem with the trade in rates...yea ok they aren't the best but do you people really expect to get 60 bucks trade in? Everyone complains about them "selling used games as new" but everyone thinks they should be able to do the same? Simply put, they don't make that much money off of new games so they gotta make money somehow. Once you play a game it isn't new anymore as you all like to say so you shouldn't expect to get more than $30-$40 for anything.

Oh and when they take your PS2 games that takes up inventory spacein their store, space that can be used for current gen games that are more likely to sell. Remember, they get many different kinds of customers, not just uber nerds who only play super obscure games (Which in actuality everyone should give them credit for because Gamestop's selection is MUCH more varied then the gaming sections of Walmart or Best Buy.)

5. Who cares about the DLC? 99.9% of the time it is just a special skin or some lame item that is just for fun or something. Example: Brutal Legend...DLC bonus is a Tenacious D guitar skin that isn't even the most powerful in the game. If that is the kind of thing that keeps you awake at night you have bigger problems.

Is Gamestop perfect. NO. Is a thread on Gamespot 5 times a day by random people going to change anything? NO. I know Gamestop isnt going to be liked by everyone and it shouldn't be, but it gets tiring every day seeing people whine about it and call them an evil company or something. I know most of the people on here are young and have absolutely no idea how to run a business but you have to be aware of profit margins (Which in GS case is not high on new games) and Inventory management. Do you know why Best Buy can sell some games for $40 first week? Because they make all their money selling computers, TVs, cameras, and all that other stuff so they can afford to take a hit on a game in order to get people into the store, because they are counting on people to buy other stuff while they are there.

Gamefan1986

1. Lucky you, but clearly many people have shared my experiences.

2. Lucky you, but clearly many people have shared my experiences.

3. It is? I think the very fact that you're boasting about a $10 savings on a used product as being a landmark achievement says a lot, frankly. $5 is more often than not the norm. The deal you got on ODST should be the standard, if not the minimum. Their discounts on used games generally suck. Period. There are exceptions, sure, but those are exceptions.

4. Not 60, but does $20 sound right to you for a game that was a week old? I don't think $30-$35 is the ridiculous demand you make it out to be in that situation. And their "deals" are still a joke. Also, those weren't old ass PS2 games that took up space. They had shelves for those very same games, brand new. He wasn't trading in Timesplitters or something.

5. I don't care if it's lame. DLC is DLC, and it's often an extra map or character or two these days. I'm only saying that if people think console exclusive DLC is bad, there's no reason that this is ok by comparison.

6. Don't act as though I know nothing about profit margins and such. I've worked at two different Future Shops and have a Master's. Funnily enough, unless 1986 is just a random number in your SN, we're the same age. I don't care that Gamestop has to make their money somehow. That doesn't make them a better store. The fact remains that I can get a game for $40 one place and am forced to pay $70 at another place, and even then only with a pre-order. I don't care if Gamestop isn't able to do this due to their not having other departments; the fact remains that they can't do it and they're still demanding pre-orders. I'm not saying that Gamestop is an evil company, I'm just saying that they're a crappy store. Also, maybe it's just your location, but unless you're looking for last gen games, as far as this gen games go, I've found store stock to be about the same between Gamestop and the big box stores. If anything, Gamestop sells out easier.

7. I agree with you on the uselessness of having so many damned Gamestop hate threads. If you don't like the store, shop elsewhere. I do, as I see pretty much zero benefit to frequenting their stores. That said, here I am yelling on the internet nonetheless. Because it's the internet.

I actually enjoy buying from Gamestop. I used to buy from COMPUSA and MediaPlay, but since those 2 stores have gone out of business, and since there are 3 Gamestops nearby, I go there. Never had a bad experience. However, I am a PC Gamer (nothing against consoles though) so I haven't encountered trade-in problems. So at least from my point of view, they are okay. I feel the store is well organized, well-stocked. and the employees are friendly.

The game is just used for three days (if rules are followed) and that is close enough to new. You and anyone else can't see the difference if it were played any or just straight gutted behind the counter and never touched afterwards. The system has no effect on the quality of your new disc if used properly.

Iceman8012

Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. The term "new" in retail denotes merchandise that has never been used. The fact that the consumer can't tell the difference is irrelevant to the issue at hand. If a GS employee takes a game home and plays it for three days, the game is no longer new. For GS to assert otherwise is not only dishonest but could technically fall under the umbrella of fraud.

It's also incredibly hypocritical of the company because if I as a consumer break the seal of a new game, GS will not allow me to return it. I could literally buy a title, open it up, and bring it back 15 minutes later and they would immediatelyconsider that game "used" and deny me the ability to get a refund.

Like I stated earlier, I like GS but this particular practice needs to go away because it may very well get the company sued at some point.

I went in to buy NHL 2K10 the other day.

Q: I'd like a copy of NHL 2K10 for the XBOX 360, please.

A: Do you know you're the first one who's asked for that? I didn't even know it was released.

Q: Huh. Well, I'd still like NHL 2K10.

A: Um, OK. You sure you don't want NHL 10?

Q: Yes. (and "just gimme the damn game" is what I felt like saying.)

If I go to buy something, I'm pretty sure it's what I want. They don't get commission or anything; I don't see why I should have to defend a purchase.

Their used games are usually in the worst shape imaginable, they tried selling me a copy of Halo ODST last week that was so scratched up I doubt it would play. When I asked for a better condition disk they said I can either buy that disk or go somewhere else. Gamestop is a sham of a company that is ran by hooligans.

I went in to buy NHL 2K10 the other day.

Q: I'd like a copy of NHL 2K10 for the XBOX 360, please.

A: Do you know you're the first one who's asked for that? I didn't even know it was released.

Q: Huh. Well, I'd still like NHL 2K10.

A: Um, OK. You sure you don't want NHL 10?

Q: Yes. (and "just gimme the damn game" is what I felt like saying.)

If I go to buy something, I'm pretty sure it's what I want. They don't get commission or anything; I don't see why I should have to defend a purchase.

WindedSailor

Well, I'd maybe see your point if he wasn't dead on about NHL 10 being vastly superior. In this instance, I don't think he was being a jerk but rather trying to help you make a better choice.

I think at this point, it's just the cool thing to hate Gamestop. Yeah, their trade values are low. But then don't trade to them. It's a good place to go to find older games. If you want to sell your older games, go do it somewhere else.

The only real problem that I have with Gamestop/EB is their practice of opening up new games so they can stick the boxes up on the shelves. As far as I'm concerned this should be illegal and abolished. I can't think of anyplace or any product where selling already opened product to the consumer as new is considered an acceptable practice.

Archangel3371

But it's not just gamestop and eb doing it any more. It've seen open boxes being sold as new at places like Bestbuy and HMV recently

"Quite simply, if the people don't agree with their trade-in values, don't shop there."

Easier said than done, what happens if its the only gaming store in your city? Like it is here for me? I am not supposed to buy games anymore? Like hell, I have to a right to ***** about their trade in prices. Its freaking ridiculous, prime example....I went to trade in Little Kings Story. EB offered $10.50 for it when it was almost a $60 dollar game...yeah if that's not ripping people off, then I don't know what is. Another example is Valhalla Knights(but I am definitely not trading this one in) it is only 12.00 and its a 50 dollar game. So yeah I think I have earned the right to ***** about their trade in policy.

MKBound

[QUOTE="ShenlongBo"]

[QUOTE="Iceman8012"] Gutted copies aren't used. I am just tired of hearing that stupid excuse. It is ok to sell an "opened game" new. NO ONE HAS USED IT! Yes I do know of the rule they have for checking out games and how they are technically used (I used to work at a Gamestop). If the game doesn't look like it is brand spanking new then the employee has the payment of the game docked off of his or her pay, or they pay up front for the game. It isn't like the game is covered in dirt and scratches. It is almost like it wasn't ever used in the first place. I don't know about you, but I don't need that fuzzy feeling that no one has touched my disc outside of the assembly line.Iceman8012

Didn't think so.

No I won't. And that's the problem.

Besides, how do you know what the employees are doing with their games when they check them out? There could be tons or random people touching and using this supposedly new game when they have it.

[QUOTE="MKBound"]

"Quite simply, if the people don't agree with their trade-in values, don't shop there."

Easier said than done, what happens if its the only gaming store in your city? Like it is here for me? I am not supposed to buy games anymore? Like hell, I have to a right to ***** about their trade in prices. Its freaking ridiculous, prime example....I went to trade in Little Kings Story. EB offered $10.50 for it when it was almost a $60 dollar game...yeah if that's not ripping people off, then I don't know what is. Another example is Valhalla Knights(but I am definitely not trading this one in) it is only 12.00 and its a 50 dollar game. So yeah I think I have earned the right to ***** about their trade in policy.

[QUOTE="Gamefan1986"]

1. I've never experienced that...ever.

2. Also...never experienced that either.

3. I think their prices on used stuff is pretty decent most of the time. I got ODST for 50 bucks and all I had to do was wait a week after it's release.

4. I don't understand everyone's problem with the trade in rates...yea ok they aren't the best but do you people really expect to get 60 bucks trade in? Everyone complains about them "selling used games as new" but everyone thinks they should be able to do the same? Simply put, they don't make that much money off of new games so they gotta make money somehow. Once you play a game it isn't new anymore as you all like to say so you shouldn't expect to get more than $30-$40 for anything.

Oh and when they take your PS2 games that takes up inventory spacein their store, space that can be used for current gen games that are more likely to sell. Remember, they get many different kinds of customers, not just uber nerds who only play super obscure games (Which in actuality everyone should give them credit for because Gamestop's selection is MUCH more varied then the gaming sections of Walmart or Best Buy.)

5. Who cares about the DLC? 99.9% of the time it is just a special skin or some lame item that is just for fun or something. Example: Brutal Legend...DLC bonus is a Tenacious D guitar skin that isn't even the most powerful in the game. If that is the kind of thing that keeps you awake at night you have bigger problems.

Is Gamestop perfect. NO. Is a thread on Gamespot 5 times a day by random people going to change anything? NO. I know Gamestop isnt going to be liked by everyone and it shouldn't be, but it gets tiring every day seeing people whine about it and call them an evil company or something. I know most of the people on here are young and have absolutely no idea how to run a business but you have to be aware of profit margins (Which in GS case is not high on new games) and Inventory management. Do you know why Best Buy can sell some games for $40 first week? Because they make all their money selling computers, TVs, cameras, and all that other stuff so they can afford to take a hit on a game in order to get people into the store, because they are counting on people to buy other stuff while they are there.

Paladin_King

1. Lucky you, but clearly many people have shared my experiences.

2. Lucky you, but clearly many people have shared my experiences.

3. It is? I think the very fact that you're boasting about a $10 savings on a used product as being a landmark achievement says a lot, frankly. $5 is more often than not the norm. The deal you got on ODST should be the standard, if not the minimum. Their discounts on used games generally suck. Period. There are exceptions, sure, but those are exceptions.

4. Not 60, but does $20 sound right to you for a game that was a week old? I don't think $30-$35 is the ridiculous demand you make it out to be in that situation. And their "deals" are still a joke. Also, those weren't old ass PS2 games that took up space. They had shelves for those very same games, brand new. He wasn't trading in Timesplitters or something.

5. I don't care if it's lame. DLC is DLC, and it's often an extra map or character or two these days. I'm only saying that if people think console exclusive DLC is bad, there's no reason that this is ok by comparison.

6. Don't act as though I know nothing about profit margins and such. I've worked at two different Future Shops and have a Master's. Funnily enough, unless 1986 is just a random number in your SN, we're the same age. I don't care that Gamestop has to make their money somehow. That doesn't make them a better store. The fact remains that I can get a game for $40 one place and am forced to pay $70 at another place, and even then only with a pre-order. I don't care if Gamestop isn't able to do this due to their not having other departments; the fact remains that they can't do it and they're still demanding pre-orders. I'm not saying that Gamestop is an evil company, I'm just saying that they're a crappy store. Also, maybe it's just your location, but unless you're looking for last gen games, as far as this gen games go, I've found store stock to be about the same between Gamestop and the big box stores. If anything, Gamestop sells out easier.

7. I agree with you on the uselessness of having so many damned Gamestop hate threads. If you don't like the store, shop elsewhere. I do, as I see pretty much zero benefit to frequenting their stores. That said, here I am yelling on the internet nonetheless. Because it's the internet.

I wasn't boasting about a $10 savings...im saying saving 10 bucks for a new release just by waiting a couple extra days is pretty cool. Their trade in values really go by the odds of them being able to resell it quickly rather than how new the game is. Yea I've seen things like only getting 20 dollars after a week, but I can also trade in Madden halfway through the season for 35 because they know they can sell it fast.

Finally, I'm not saying you should care why Best Buy can sell a game for 40 and Gamestop has to sell it for normal price. Just saying that there is a reason and they don't do it just to be jack***es. And I didn't mean you specifically said Gamestop was evil, but a lot of people do.

It's cool that you have your Master's, i'm working on my MBA right now, what was your undergrad major?

Either people are blind or just plain stupid. I already said that I CAN AND WILL COMPLAIN BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND APPARENTLY WHAT THE HELL IT MEANS WHEN I SAID I GOT RIPPED OFF BY SAID INTERNET FOR GAMES SO WHY IN THE BLUE HELL WOULD I USE IT AS A SOURCE TO GET OTHER GAMES? now unless you're going to give me a car so I can go to the hour away store from here, I'd suggest you either open your damn eyes and read or shut the hell up.MKBound

Which site was it that ripped you off?

[QUOTE="BuryMe"]

[QUOTE="MKBound"]

"Quite simply, if the people don't agree with their trade-in values, don't shop there."

Easier said than done, what happens if its the only gaming store in your city? Like it is here for me? I am not supposed to buy games anymore? Like hell, I have to a right to ***** about their trade in prices. Its freaking ridiculous, prime example....I went to trade in Little Kings Story. EB offered $10.50 for it when it was almost a $60 dollar game...yeah if that's not ripping people off, then I don't know what is. Another example is Valhalla Knights(but I am definitely not trading this one in) it is only 12.00 and its a 50 dollar game. So yeah I think I have earned the right to ***** about their trade in policy.

MKBound

Either people are blind or just plain stupid. I already said that I CAN AND WILL COMPLAIN BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND APPARENTLY WHAT THE HELL IT MEANS WHEN I SAID I GOT RIPPED OFF BY SAID INTERNET FOR GAMES SO WHY IN THE BLUE HELL WOULD I USE IT AS A SOURCE TO GET OTHER GAMES? now unless you're going to give me a car so I can go to the hour away store from here, I'd suggest you either open your damn eyes and read or shut the hell up.

[QUOTE="MKBound"]Either people are blind or just plain stupid. I already said that I CAN AND WILL COMPLAIN BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND APPARENTLY WHAT THE HELL IT MEANS WHEN I SAID I GOT RIPPED OFF BY SAID INTERNET FOR GAMES SO WHY IN THE BLUE HELL WOULD I USE IT AS A SOURCE TO GET OTHER GAMES? now unless you're going to give me a car so I can go to the hour away store from here, I'd suggest you either open your damn eyes and read or shut the hell up._Tobli_

Which site was it that ripped you off?

Ebay