GameStop Nailed With Class Action Over Deceptive Used Sales

eharriett

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Jan 22, 2011
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Is that all? I thought someone was finally taking Gamestop to task to selling used games without a cover or manual for the same price as thosecwith covers and manuals. Or the horrible conditions of many of thier used game disks. Legitimate problems there. But this--this is moronic.
 

Calax

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Jan 16, 2009
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I think it has more to do with how gamestop processes trade-in>used games. A person trades in the game, it gets the price re-stickered and then is either put in the back for storage or on the floor (minus the disk) for representation. Not much else in there (barring defected product).

And overall, a LOT of the customer service guidelines and such are non-existant. For example, when I worked there, the only real guidance that I saw concerning how to treat a customer was "Make your weekly numbers!" and that's it. Everything else about customer relations was from the Store Manager (the district manager couldn't sell an umbrella to a person in the middle of a storm). This is also why you see things like what the person above me found, weather or not to defect a product is left up to the person at the desk, so there is NEVER going to be a uniform level of how scratched something can be, as to the box and book thing, that's just kinda how it goes. If there's no book there's nothing gamestop can do about it, but the box should be replaced by a generic box and cover art (unless you somehow expect that gamestop has all of the publishers constantly producing art and books for every single game currently available on the market that they sell).
 

GotMalkAvian

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Feb 4, 2009
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Is there anything that people won't file a class action suit over? Granted, it would be nice if GameStop put up some signs to explain this particular downside of used games, but I think it's also part of the consumer's responsibility to understand that if someone else owned the game then odds are that a one-time code is gonna be used up. Personally, I have never bought a used game and expected any sort of included DLC codes to work.
 

Xanadu84

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Ariyura said:
More people just hopping on the sue happy bandwagon it seems. I'm pretty sure most people know that downloadable content is not included in used purchases but it's easy to blame someone else.
Go find a gamer who is under 18, and gets games for Christmas, birthday, or whatever. Ask their parents, "When buying a copy of a game retail, do you think that the free DLC redemption code included is no longer usable because it is on the secondary market?" After receiving a bunch of questions like, "Whats DLC?" and, "Whats the difference between used and new, it's just a game", you will probably have them shrug and say something like, "If it's on the box, then I must be getting it, right?". Certainly, anyone who visits the Escapist and reads articles, and has opinions on the state of video game buisness, culture, and technology will understand that a used game won't have DLC. But if you just like to play video games from time to time, there is no reason why they would understand the forces at work. And I will bet that while the people on sites like this mostly know more, "Serious" gamers, most of the business being done by gamestop is to people who arn't concerned with the economic minutia. They just look at labels and assume they are accurate. I myself completely agree with this article: Gamestops isn't being deceptive, just negligent. It's a problem that can be solved entirely by a roll of 1/2 cent, "Free DLC not included in used copies" stickers.
 

Xanadu84

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GotMalkAvian said:
Is there anything that people won't file a class action suit over? Granted, it would be nice if GameStop put up some signs to explain this particular downside of used games, but I think it's also part of the consumer's responsibility to understand that if someone else owned the game then odds are that a one-time code is gonna be used up. Personally, I have never bought a used game and expected any sort of included DLC codes to work.
Why would an individual without a relatively extensive knowledge of video game economics and politics even question the premise that if you buy a box that says it has something in it, you will get it? If you read the Escapist or another similar site, sure, you probably know, but why would, for example, the parent of a 17 year old gamer even ask the question? Hell, even if you are knowledgeable, would it be unreasonable for a person to say, "I thought that used games didn't have DLC, but they didn't change the box or do anything to warn me that this version doesn't have DLC. So I guess it must have DLC".
 

duchaked

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Dec 25, 2008
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can't say this is one of those cases where I'm siding against GameStop, but I suppose not all shoppers are as well informed on the market
speaking of which, they just need to put up a paper sign reading "used games may not include all additional content" or whatnot. done
 

duchaked

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disfunkybob said:
I haven't bought anything at GameStop since 2 years ago when a girl refused to sell me a game because I didn't want to buy the extended warranty. She told me they wouldn't give a replacement if it was defective out of the box. I complained to the manager and told him I was going to buy it at Target that was 2 blocks away.

So when pushing this BS is half of their job, I'm not surprised that some stores would gloss over these inconvenient truths.
if I want to buy a game brand spankin' new...yeah I'll buy it at a Target or Best Buy or wherever

hey, that way it's more likely to actually be SEALED =.=
 

Saelune

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Thats been a worry of mine actually...more so because I actually HAVE always gotten the DLC stuff with used games. They really should ensure you know. Preferably by the clerk having to tell you, but marking it clearly on the box.
 

PlaidHatter

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JediMB said:
GameStop had this ad in a video game magazine I read a while back.

"Same experience, lower price."
To me, that really hit the proverbial nail on the head. They're not selling discs in fancy packaging; they're selling experiences. So you buy the game, get the experience, and then you sell the disc back while still keeping the experience with you.

You can't compare that to cars, computers, etc., since those are bought for their practical functions.
Bull crap. There is just as much unique "experience" to driving any number of cars, reading any number of books, using any number of computers, or utilizing any of the examples you mention in your post. If you want me to elaborate on a particular example, please ask; there's far too much to write the varying experiences in each of those, and it's getting late.

JediMB said:
I don't know about you, but I've never seen any dedicated retailers that encourage their customers to trade in their newly bought books, DVDs or CDs a week later.
YOu must not have looked very hard. Allow me to help you there:
- Netflix (trade in or watch whatever movies you want whenever)
- Blockbuster (rental is borrowing a used copy)
- eBay (there's bound to be someone out there who wants to buy your broken crap)
- used book stores (every town has at least one)
- public libraries (almost always looking for donations)
- used car lots (every city has at least one)
- any private trade between friends (if I lent you my favorite CD or DVD)

Honestly, what makes gaming so exceptional? The only thing I can see that differentiates digital media from *any* of your examples is the issue of digital piracy.
 

Muphin_Mann

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My issue with them was not getting stuff in a new copy of the game. And, being a great guy, i didnt even sue them.