stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

[beastwork]

I figured i would share this story with the community.

I was a little early for an appointment yesterday and i noticed a Gamestop nearby so I stopped in to kill some time. I hadn't planned on buying anything but i saw I used copy of Valkyria Chronicles for $17 bucks so i bought it and headed to my car. While I was in the car I checked out how much people were selling this game for and most had it priced at about $25 used so I was content with my purchase

Moving along, While reading the receipt I was glad to see that I had saved a whole whopping $2 by buying used so I decided to go back inside to see if they had a new copy of the game. I felt a little silly about going back in but then I thought about the poor guy who probably got $5 at trade-in and how the game studios get the raw deal every time Gamestop sells a used game.

so here's how the rest of the story played out

Me - "Hi I just bought this game but I didn't even think to see if you had a new copy. can you check for me?"

Gamestop chick - "hmmmm...I doubt we will have that one. Oh wait a minute we have a copy"

Me - "How much?"

Gamestop chick - "Well its $19 but if you buy it you can't bring it back. With the used copy you can bring it back after $7 days"

Me - "Hmmm I think I want the new one instead"

Gamestop Chick - "well it won't be sealed or anything but it will be new"

Me - "ok thats fine. Here is the $2. thanks"


Not sure if I did the right thing here or if it was even worth it but i felt better afterwards.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

So you paid $2 more for the same used copy?

If they opened it, even to gut it, IMO, it's used. It's probably been checked out (worker's taking it home to play it) over the years as well.

New is sealed, original wrapping and all.

Used, not sealed and opened.

[peteykirch]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

So you paid $2 more for the same used copy?

If they opened it, even to gut it, IMO, it's used. It's probably been checked out (worker's taking it home to play it) over the years as well.

New is sealed, original wrapping and all.

Used, not sealed and opened.

This!

How it's legal to advertise anything NEW as OPEN is beyond me. You can say LIKE NEW, but you can't charge NEW price for something OPEN.

[beastwork]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

well damn, just rain all over my parade lol. You do make a good point though. Purchasing the "new" game however gives me full access to Sega's warranty. So what should I have done in the situation?

Honestly Madden 10 was the first game I personally purchased in about 7 years. and since then I've bought final fantasy 13 (my girl talked me into it) and valkyria chronicles. When i got FF13 gamestop talked me into buying the used copy for $55. stupid move on my part. but they sold me on the "you can bring it back in 7 days" jive. like i said, I haven't been buying games for a while now, so I wasn't wise to this little trick yet.

[Cebby]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

So you paid $2 more for the same used copy?

If they opened it, even to gut it, IMO, it's used. It's probably been checked out (worker's taking it home to play it) over the years as well.

New is sealed, original wrapping and all.

Used, not sealed and opened.

Plus he has no ability to return the game.

In middle school I used to abuse Gamestop's return policy. It was basically a free rental store with an absurd selection of games.

[Brandwin]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

I don't understand....

[beastwork]

what part don't you understand?

My post was written in standard American English...

[peteykirch]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

I've had trouble before with EB Games, especially with their trade in policy. I went in after buying Madden 04, or whatever version had Ray Lewis on the cover. Well it turned out at release there was a bug which would corrupt all NCAA Draft Classes on the Xbox Version. So I went in and just wanted to swap out for the PS2 version. Note my version was still sealed, well that wasn't good enough, even with the receipt. He told me people shrink wrap the games them self and return empty boxes (NEVER heard that one before) so I had to trade in my Xbox copy and put the rest in myself.

Well when I got home I called EB HQ and complained like all holy hell. Turns out the employee was in the wrong, they are supposed to take back anything with a receipt, especially if it's still sealed. For my trouble they sent me a 100 dollar gift card, that editions Guide Book, and a PS2 controller. They also mailed out that employee a pink slip because I never saw him again afterward.

[aukevin]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

I don't understand....

I get what he's saying. He's proud of himself for spending an extra $2 to get a copy of the game where the money goes back to the game makers rather than buying the game used from Gamestop who gets to keep all the money plus the pitiful trade value money they got from the original owner. It's a good thing.

[Flightwhite24]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

I get what he's saying. He's proud of himself for spending an extra $2 to get a copy of the game where the money goes back to the game makers rather than buying the game used from Gamestop who gets to keep all the money plus the pitiful trade value money they got from the original owner. It's a good thing.

If this is the the case then that was cool. Up to your explanation aukevin I did not get what he was saying either. Well played OP, Peace!!!

[KrodMandoon]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

This!

How it's legal to advertise anything NEW as OPEN is beyond me. You can say LIKE NEW, but you can't charge NEW price for something OPEN.

That's the main reason I don't buy games from Gamestop.

[Brandwin]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

I get what he's saying. He's proud of himself for spending an extra $2 to get a copy of the game where the money goes back to the game makers rather than buying the game used from Gamestop who gets to keep all the money plus the pitiful trade value money they got from the original owner. It's a good thing.

Got ya. Thanks.

[Blzer]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

New is sealed, original wrapping and all.

Used, not sealed and opened.

I remember when I went to EB Games and bought ESPN NHL 2K5 for $20. At least that was the new price, but the cashier told me that they had a brand new, unopened copy that someone bought and had returned to them, and technically since it was removed from the place and then brought back, it was on the used shelf. I believe it was $16 or $17 then, so he actually encouraged me to buy that one, and I did.

Funny how EB was actually kind of a nice company in a way it seems, getting me to buy that one. I mean, it was like new considering it hadn't even been opened.

So I think that "used" is a product that was returned after purchase, regardless of removing the shrink wrap. Kind of weird how they would put it on that shelf though since it would be a loss in profit, unless the person returned it as used and without a receipt.

[Hooe]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

In middle school I used to abuse Gamestop's return policy. It was basically a free rental store with an absurd selection of games.

I've wondered if people do this, though I haven't done it myself. Doesn't seem like they try to hard to discourage people from doing this, in any case.

[o Mass Murda o]

Re: stuck it to the Man (Gamestop)

i have NEVER liked how if u buy a new game @ gamestop they bring u a copy that has no shrinkwrapping and charge u full price. how do i know someone hasnt already played this?? from there on out, i will never buy new games at gamestop unless its a preorder pickup @ launch. those seem to always have the shrinkwrapping on them.