My "New" game from Gamestop might not be "New?" (And should I return it?)

[Gorilla Gunk]

So today I committed a gaming cardinal sin by trading in some games to Gamestop and getting a new copy of Crysis 2.

Only it wasn't really new. The guy took the disc out of an envelope and put it in a flimsy black case, the same you can by in bulk at Walmart, slipped the cover art over it, put int he DLC codes, and handed the game to me. I didn't even get the manual and the case was already a little broken.

I was a little flabbergasted and also late for work so I didn't really put up much of a fuss when I guess I should have. I'm just not the kind of guy who complains. I just don't want to look like an asshole.

Plus I thought, "Hey, even if it was in an envelope, the game is still has probably never been played. But it still bugged me and I when I got home and did some research and found this:

"As now Ex-Gamestop Employee let me make this clear. Those games can be new or used. We are required to ?gut? a copy to put on the shelf and put the new disc in an envelope locked up behind the counter. HOWEVER, employees are allowed to ?Check out? or as you would say ?rent? any gutted game. We have to sign a form with the game you checked out, your signature, employee ID number and date. You?re allowed to ?rent? said game for free for up to 7 days, and only one game at a time. This policy goes for any used and all new Gutted games with the exception of PC titles that use a Serial Key.Sometimes the employees take good care of the games, sometimes they don?t. If it?s a cartridge based console like DS, lots of times there will be employee save files still on the carts for example.The moral of this story:
If the game is lame, it?s probably still new but just opened. If it?s a very popular or just simply a good title, you probably only have a 50/50 chance *if that* that the gutted new copy is actually NEW.

Gamestop isn?t going to stop the gutting, but someone needs to start a petition to end GameStop?s policy of allowing employees from checking them out and taking them home. Next time GameStop tries to sell you a gutted game, be sure to ask the employee what guarantee do you have that the ?New? game hasn?t been checked out by an employee.? Just wait to see the tomato on their face then? "

Source: http://www.ps3blog.net/2011/03/27/gamestop-selling-open-games-as-new/

Now I'm really pissed. I got a game that was marked as "new" that could very well have been played by someone else, and the checkout guy didn't even bother to tell me.

So should I go back tomorrow and return the game? I know I really should, but I'm just afraid that they're going to put up a fight. Since I guess the copy I got was the last one, I can't really exchange it for another. Any advice on what i should say?

 

[Not PvP Flagged]

The same thing happend to me too, though it was an Xbox 360 and it was from walmart... It works fine, but it had an Xbox live account on it with some achievements for Halo: Reach, but yeah I would take it back.

 

[Mr Pantomime]

Return it, simply as the product isnt in new condition. Putting the disk aside, if theres no manual, and the case is cracked, I wouldnt accept it.

This is why I dont buy new games from EB games (I think its owned by Gamestop). Ill buy used, but if I want it new, I buy online.

 

[viranimus]

Welcome to the way gamestop now does business.

They dont sell new, they open the games up with the claim of adding in DLC, but really its an anti theft deterrent and a way to prevent returns for refund because you cant return a game that has been opened.

What I never could figure out is if your going to claim your doing to to pack in DLC, you do realize you can put those DLC pack ins wrapped in shrink wrap and then attached to the outside without having to destroy the manufacturers shrink wrap, right?

 

[instantbenz]

Would you rather the employee have no experience with games and be of no use when you ask them questions? I'd much rather a couple copies be gutted and the staff know about their product than ask a question and the pothead just stands up there with that'duh' look.

I agree that 'new' no longer applies and that they should get more copies in, but I'm certainly not against someone selling me something knowing what they're selling me.

It's like someone who's never driven a car owns a car dealership. No. That doesn't fly.

 

[Vivace-Vivian]

That shit would never fly here. You in Canada? That was allowed here years ago but they got rid of it for just that reason. Yes, we gut games, we have little choice, but the game is to be put in a sleeve along with the DLC codes for protection. Other than that, the game is put on the shelf. If a game's case is wrecked, the book is missing or anything else is wrong with the thing we send it back to head office to be torched or reclaimed as Used. PERIOD. That is policy, that is how GameStop Canada SHOULD be doing it. What happened to you is an atrocity, and I suggest you find out their store number, the name and number of their DM and kick shit around.

PS. That whole ?renting? thing was only used product in Canada as far as I know. No new product, gutted or not would leave the store with an employee.

 

[VashtaNerada]

Yea you should return it. They tried that on me before, and I told them I wanted a new copy, they said it was new, and I told them that if its not sealed i'm not paying full price for it. Well I ended up going to best buy and getting it there. So the only way they're gunna stop doing that is if it hurts them in their wallet. Anyways, after my local tax increase, I buy everything from amazon now, 99cent release day deliveries, every now and then get 25$ credit towards another game AND no tax! how cool is that?

 

[GrimHeaper]

It's like someone who's never driven a car owns a car dealership. No. That doesn't fly.

Can you think of a better example?
I mean if he's never driven and owns a car dealership he's rich and knows his way around a car anyway.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

This was pointed out years ago in Zero Originality: that little Zero Punctuation-esque campaign of an ex-Gamestop employee.

Frankly, if you're going to pay full price for a game there's no reason to buy it from Gamestop at all.

 

[Gorilla Gunk]

More details:

-The game appears to have some light scratches and some smudges on it.

-the guy didn't put that little seal on the case I've heard people mention.

I'm worried that when I get there they're just going to ask me 'Why didn't you say something when you got the game?' for which I don't really have much of a reply.

 

[mjc0961]

I would return it, not only because it wasn't new (if the shrink wrap is gone, it's not new anymore; the store's on return policy states this, but they display massive hypocrisy by ignoring it when THEY open the game) and thus they ripped you off, but because you didn't even get a manual or the proper case. No new game should come without a manual and in some stock case that's already damaged instead of the proper case it shipped in. That game is clearly a used game on two different levels (shrink wrap was opened before your purchase and it's not in its original case with all original inserts).

Take it back in and either demand a real new copy or your money back. Don't let those bastards screw you.

More details:

-The game appears to have some light scratches and some smudges on it.

-the guy didn't put that little seal on the case I've heard people mention.

I'm worried that when I get there they're just going to ask me 'Why didn't you say something when you got the game?' for which I don't really have much of a reply.

Yeah, if the game has scratches and smudges, that's another indicator that it's clearly NOT new.

And if they ask that, just tell them what you told us: you were on your way to work and didn't have time to argue about it.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Return it, say i was dissatisfied and would like to have a cash refund unless youw ould like to explain to the police and Federal Business Bureau (Or whatever your country calls it) why you're doing this, even though I know what I say doesnt matter and people will continue to be because they can and will.

Seriosuly, its not worth the trouble. Maybe I'm the exception rather then the rule, but the gamestop where I live is staffed by people who know games and tech. You can take anyhting to them and they'll know what to do with it and how to fix it. They wouldnt do this stuff you described.

... then again, my friend workds there, and he gives me employee discount on top of used sale for brand new games out of the shipping box he saves for me. So i end up getting brand new games like Persona 4, Pokemon White, the upcoming Catherine, etc for like $5 American.

 

[Baneat]

If the 1's and 0's are still good, no problem!

Unless the case is cracked or the disc is scratched.

 

[Gorilla Gunk]

Another thing is that like 90% of the game was paid for using whatever I got for my trade-ins.

That matter at all?

 

[synobal]

pro Tip don't buy at gamestop. It's the biggest scam in the world.

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

Just ask for a entirely new copy.

Works for me everytime. Of course, i've only ever got a gutted copy once, so...

 

[brunothepig]

Would you rather the employee have no experience with games and be of no use when you ask them questions? I'd much rather a couple copies be gutted and the staff know about their product than ask a question and the pothead just stands up there with that'duh' look.

I agree that 'new' no longer applies and that they should get more copies in, but I'm certainly not against someone selling me something knowing what they're selling me.

It's like someone who's never driven a car owns a car dealership. No. That doesn't fly.

Well, no it would be like someone who owns a car dealership having never driven the specific car you're considering buying. I think we could safely assume all employees have played at least one game, does it really matter that they have or have not played the game you want to buy? Look up some information online or ask some friends before you go shopping, why would you rely on the person who's trying to sell you the game in the first place? Besides, why can't Gamestop provide one or two copies that are just for employees renting, if you think it's really that important that the employees play every new release. They probably won't anyway, only the ones they like, so there's still a chance you'll get that "duh" look.

OT: I'm with the OP, they shouldn't be playing games then selling them as new. Like I said above, if this practice is to continue games should be set aside for the employees, or maybe just sold as used once they've been taken home by an employee.

 

[MercurySteam]

Now I'm really pissed. I got a game that was marked as "new" that could very well have been played by someone else, and the checkout guy didn't even bother to tell me.

EB Games over here in Oz does something similar, though it's only done with games returned as a part of the "7 Day Return Policy". A returned game is marked as 'defunct' and is sent off to a warehouse to be inspected and to make sure it 100% works. After that it is returned to a store in an envelope and is classified as a 'new' game. Actual new games come in sealed boxes but these ones are essentially used to delay the need to ship new games to the store. The game should be flawless, otherwise you'd have wait for them to order a copy in but keep in mind that not all games in envelopes have been used.

Unless you see actual damage on the disc, don't bother doing anything.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

i don't see how dealing with gamestop is a cardinal sin...

it's, by far, the cheapest and most efficient way to get most games. Other retailers are more likely to keep the prices up for long periods of time after they have (for sure) dropped (see: Sears)

plus they have so many deals going on all the time they're practically the Steam of Physical games (with the same kind of monopoly as well)

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

i don't see how dealing with gamestop is a cardinal sin...

I don't think it is, but I can understand the reasoning.

it's, by far, the cheapest and most efficient way to get most games. Other retailers are more likely to keep the prices up for long periods of time after they have (for sure) dropped (see: Sears)

plus they have so many deals going on all the time they're practically the Steam of Physical games (with the same kind of monopoly as well)

I think what people hate a lot is used games. Devs and publishers don't like it because they don't get money on the used sales. And I don't think they should (First Sale Doctrine and all that).

But I can see that sort of thing that the OP mentioned as a problem. However, you can always get a protection plan on the game. Or is that only where I live? Anyways, it's $3-5 and if the game breaks, they give you another one.