Archive: 17 posts

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The alleged practice of GameStop lending new copies of games to employees at their stores and then later selling those games as new, unused copies, may be a violation of federal law. GameStop's "check-out" policy, confirmed to Kotaku by a number of the chain's managers and employees, could fall under scrutiny of the Federal Trade Commission (http://kotaku.com/tag/federal-trade-commission/). Reached for comment this afternoon, GameStop officials declined to comment. "We do not comment on corporate policies that are competitive in nature," said Chris Olivera, vice president of corporate communications. "As your questions relate to company training, operations and discounting practices, I would not be able to provide feedback." Kotaku contacted the FTC earlier today to determine if the practice, which sells games already played by employees at the new price, not the used price?used titles are typically priced about $5 cheaper than brand new versions?would be considered deceptive advertising or marketing. The FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection is mandated to protect consumers against unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce. Violations of FTC restrictions are a violation of federal law, according to the commission. "The Federal Trade Commission protects consumers from unfair or deceptive advertising and marketing practices, and we encourage any consumer with a complaint about a company's business practices to contact us," said FTC public affairs specialist Betsy Lordan. Lordan said she was unable to confirm or deny the existence of any investigation that the commission is conducting. As a rule the FTC does not comment on the conduct of a particular business. The company's check-out policy, provided to us and verified by a number of GameStop employees states: Associates are allowed to check out one item of store merchandise for personal use for up to four days. Merchandise checkout is a privilege, not a right, and may be revoked at any time. Hardware, accessories, sealed CDs or software programs that must be altered to install may not be checked out. If the on-hand quantity of a product equals one, the item cannot be checked out. Hot titles may also be prohibited from being checked out, regardless of the on-hand quantity in the store. Associates may only check out items from the store in which they work. Associates are personally responsible for any merchandise they are allowed to check out. Merchandise must be properly checked out in the Employee Merchandise Check Out Log in the Game Planner. If the product is returned in unsellable condition, or if anything is missing from the package, or if the product is not returned, the Associate must purchase the product at the current price less Associate discount. Copying of the software and/or manuals/instructions is illegal and is strictly prohibited. Merchandise that leaves the store without being properly checked out or purchase is considered to be unauthorized removal of Company property and may result in performance coaching up to and including termination of your employment. According to a number of GameStop employees and managers across the country, all of which spoke to us on the condition of anonymity, new copies of games rented out to employees are often mixed in with the unplayed display copies. And both are sold at "new" prices. When a shipment of video games initially arrives at a store, managers are told to "gut" several copies of the game, removing the disc or cartridge from the packaging so it can be displayed on the shelf without concern of theft, according to our sources. The games are then placed in protective sleeves or cases under the counter. If a customer asks why the game is not sealed they are typically told the the game is a display copy. The game is still sold as new. When check-out games are returned, we were told, they are placed with the gutted display copies. If a customer asks about these, they are typically told they are display copies, not that they have been played before. Since the copies are often placed with display copies, even managers and employees typically don't know which of these games have been played and which haven't. While some GameStop managers will on occasion offer a "Shop Worn Discount" for a gutted or checked out title, we are told by our sources that this is actually against GameStop policy which states: "Do not apply Shop Worn Discounts to any new, used or checked out games, it may only be applied for damaged packaging and new accessories which have been opened." Headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, GameStop is the world's largest video game retailer, operating nearly 6,000 stores worldwide. The company's revenue was $8.8 billion in 2008. This is another way that they're ripping people off.

2009-04-13 16:58:00 Author: Arkei Posts: 1432

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YES! I hate Gamestop. Unfortunately, it's the only game store I have close to me.

2009-04-13 17:10:00 Author: qrtda235566 Posts: 3664

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YES! I hate Gamestop. Unfortunately, it's the only game store I have close to me. same its annoying but i dont care i always buy used

2009-04-13 17:58:00 Author: Snrm Posts: 6419

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Aha! i knew it! And here i though it was just me, but they ARE selling used games as new..... MAn, that really sucks, from now on i'm just buying used games from thoe people >:/

2009-04-13 19:16:00 Author: Silverleon Posts: 6707

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I really don't think them checking it out briefly beforehand damages them in any way. And putting them in protective sleeves to prevent theft is perfectly viable. In terms of buying games, Gamestop is the only place I know of that allows for easily buying used versions of games, and their return policy is decent. It ****** me off that they give them to employees in the first place. But putting them in protective sleeves likely isn't enough wear and tear for you to call "used," unless you need it to be perfect, which not even new copies always are. Edit: Surprised that word was edited. It isn't even a curse word. I'm used to forums without language filters, so forgive that.

2009-04-13 19:29:00 Author: Echonian Posts: 279

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Gamestop an American thing? We just have Game and I don't think they do anything like that. Seems a pretty stupid thing for the company to do.

2009-04-13 19:47:00 Author: Shermzor Posts: 1330

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We just have Game and I don't think they do anything like that. We also have Gamestation, don't forget them too! Man that was pretty sneaky of them, but you gotta admit, it was pretty clever too. Thankfully game stores here in the UK don't try and rip you off. Well, not in that way at least, though I do find the fact that Gamestation are selling PS2 games from last year at around thirty-five quid pretty iffy. Even really bad ones. But hey, there's a recession going on isn't there? I guess businesses have to do whatever they can...

2009-04-13 20:15:00 Author: KoRnDawwg Posts: 1424

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Yeah but we all know game station are notorious for preowned stuff; I've never bought anything new from there in my life .

2009-04-13 20:18:00 Author: Shermzor Posts: 1330

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Seriously, they have been suspect for years. I suppose it's a big deal to those that actually buy new from them, but it's really not a problem if you have an alternative. And I hope that you have an alternative as they aren't nearly as common as other retail giants.

2009-04-13 21:15:00 Author: supersickie Posts: 1366

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I like my Gamestop... the employees actually know something about video games. Beats Wal-Mart, they don't even have what I want most of the time.

2009-04-13 23:32:00 Author: Code1337 Posts: 3476

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Make sure when you buy a game "new" and full price that it's in that typical plastic seal for games... If it's not, fughettabodit.

2009-04-14 13:24:00 Author: Foofles Posts: 2278

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I like my Gamestop... the employees actually know something about video games. Beats Wal-Mart, they don't even have what I want most of the time. yeh but it helps somtimes like at target when i was gonna get call of duty 4 when it first came out. A kid told the guy the prices were wrong and that call of duty 3 was newer than 4 so call of duty 3 is 60$ and 4 and 20$ And the guy beleived him. Pretty lucky for a brave kid to do that right before i bought it

2009-04-14 23:21:00 Author: Snrm Posts: 6419

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yeh but it helps somtimes like at target when i was gonna get call of duty 4 when it first came out. A kid told the guy the prices were wrong and that call of duty 3 was newer than 4 so call of duty 3 is 60$ and 4 and 20$ And the guy beleived him. Pretty lucky for a brave kid to do that right before i bought it http://www.opaquelucidity.com/facepalm.jpg

2009-04-15 12:55:00 Author: Code1337 Posts: 3476

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If you need a new copy, don't get it at gamestop first, would be the lesson here. But I usually buy games used. And Gamestop usually has other things I need when I go to buy a new game, so I'll get it there anyways. I've never had a problem with a scratched disk or anything in years of shopping there, and if I do, I'll return it for a new new copy. Simple as that.

2009-04-15 16:58:00 Author: Echonian Posts: 279

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While I can't agree with employees borrowing copies of a game (wasn't happening at the EBgames I was working at), I certainly can understand and open copy for display. I mean, THERE IS alot of theft and it's either you display games in shelves like Wallmart and ToyRus or you display only their boxes. As a customer I like when I can look at the boxes and read the back. People are getting a bit upset when those games are sold as new but hey, that display copy was never played. I fail to see where it isn't "new". I mean, retailers are making such a low profit margin on new games that they can't even run a store just for new stuff, THEY NEED used stuff. They simply can't sell a demo copy at a lower price without losing some money. It's not like furnitures or cars or pretty much any other things sold at a lesser price when it was the "demo" or "display copy". Also, according to Gamestop and EBgames policy, the employee MUST sell you EVERY SINGLE COPY of a game before the display one. Ask the employee to respect this when he's handing you the gutted one by lazyness. Lastly, you can always refuse to buy a gutted copy. I don't see why people see it as their dog being killed or something. Just wait for the other shipment for the game or buy the game at another store is the little plastic seal on the box is THAT important to you. .

2009-04-15 17:16:00 Author: RangerZero Posts: 3901

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The Gamestop I usually buy from (Italy-Lombardia-Brescia-Roncadelle-Auchan shop gallery) is managed from an ex-work-mate (and PSN friend) of mine and he gives me always ''closed'' copies of the game, nothing like 'empty box' and searching the blueray in the drawer... The only 2nd-hand-games I bought (like 3-4) were marked with the yellow sticker in 3 different spots (front-back-manual) Maybe in that particular selling-spot this things do not happen so often... I know him and usually he doesn't behave that way...

2009-04-15 17:22:00 Author: Miglioshin Posts: 336

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I completely agree with that. It really is nothing more than a plastic seal. And as long as it is still in new condition, it hardly matters to me. You can always return it if you have to, but I've NEVER had to return a new game because of issues with it, from Gamestop or any other store.

2009-04-15 17:54:00 Author: Echonian Posts: 279

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