where i live (Canada) Eb games is THE best place to gety games because it is NOT more expensive than any store it is the same price and used is like 10 -15 dollars less,also you can get warranties, trade in games to get a new one and get money for ur old games. i got 135 dollars for ff4 ds, ff tactics a2, and unreal tourny 3 360 and was able to buy fallout 3 and fable 2 (pre-order) after thatzaqqaz713
I live in Canada as well.
1. You're correct with the prices. A few years ago, TC was right and they definitely were 10-15 bucks more expensive. These days though, everyone's pretty much the same price. The difference is that if you get it from Best Buy or Future Shop, you get 30 days price protection.
2. Their trade-in deals are absolutely Draconian. You get next to nothing cash-wise for them and their "trade in for a new game" deals are always ridiculous, usually demanding 3-4 for 1 game. Oh and they add stipulations on what those games can be as well (a particular platform or value). I have no idea what store you went to to get 135 dollars for those 3 games, but that is NOT the norm. That would normally net you 60 bucks, 70 bucks TOPS. I remember last year when Overlord came out, i tried to sell it to them literally SIX DAYS after release. I went to 3 EBS, all offered me around 20 bucks. one offered 25 bucks. At that rate, i just sold it to my friend for 25. At least someone i know would enjoy it.
3. Oh joy! You mean you got pre-orders? THAT'S GREAT! Pre-orders are the number 1 thing that makes EB a joke of a store. 9 times out of 10 you WILL NOT get a game within a week of release unless you put down a pre-order. Know what? I don't like to pre-order. I don't like to go to a store two times to make one purchase. I don't like to commit myself before I know as much as possible regarding a game. Yes, I know I can refund pre-orders, but it's a pain. I also don't enjoy increasingly sanctimonious attitude of the staff if you don't have a pre-order, nor do i enjoy their constant aggressive pushing for pre-orders...and further pushing for a special edition pre-order if you already have a pre-order.
4. For a specialty store, the staff is remarkably ill informed. They literally know nothing. For a big box store like Best Buy, I can let that slide, but for a specialty store? Come on.
5. Often times, EB Stores are cash saving operations for the company. They are often physically too small for the amount of traffic they get and they are often understaffed, made all the worse when you consider that the staff also have to do more engaged stuff like returns, trade-ins, pre-orders, etc, as well as answer queries or make sales. You will get no service in an EB (again unforgivable for a specialty store) and the lineups are usually just ridiculous. Considering how packed and noisy these stores get, I can only imagine the shop lifting.
6. Warrantees? Whoopee. Pretty much everyone offers warrantees. All the consoles come with warrantees, and if you want an extended warrantee, Future Shop/Best Buy's is far superior in terms of coverage and what it does for you. All EB offers that's unique is the insurance which you can put on a game (which they push on you as well). Game's don't need insurance unless you don't take care of your discs and if you do take care of them, bad burns, faulty discs are usually discoverable in the first 30 days anyway, when you're covered by any store's return policy.
So yeah, i'll stick to big box stores every time. They're just as impersonal, but I can get what I want, when I want it, I get price protection, I don't get crap pushed at me, and I can get what I want fast and easily with minimal hassle.
Log in to comment