My "New" game from Gamestop might not be "New?" (And should I return it?)
- Thread starter Gorilla Gunk
- Start date
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That's pretty fucking underhanded. I'm never shopping at Gamestop again. ...that is after I use the gift card I've still got.
360 games have a perforatable seal on them. I know you can peel them off (which is what I do) but they're bloody hard to get off without damage. If that's broken I won't buy the game.
GAME do that in Australia, but the manager is supposed to inspect the game when it's brought back and if it's damaged it has to be purchased. I never saw that happen but I was only there for like 3 months. But in saying that, I never saw a game come back undamaged and our manager never let us take new releases because a, someone in the store usually bought it and we would direct questions to them, b, he didn't want us to sell all the others and not have the borrowed one if a customer came in looking for it.
GAME also don't gut the games in Australia. So shop at GAME!
(Disclosure, I don't work there any more. They are just generally nicer than EB and I find a big difference in Gametraders from store to store as they're franchises.)
Edit:
GAME do that in Australia, but the manager is supposed to inspect the game when it's brought back and if it's damaged it has to be purchased. I never saw that happen but I was only there for like 3 months. But in saying that, I never saw a game come back undamaged and our manager never let us take new releases because a, someone in the store usually bought it and we would direct questions to them, b, he didn't want us to sell all the others and not have the borrowed one if a customer came in looking for it.
GAME also don't gut the games in Australia. So shop at GAME!
(Disclosure, I don't work there any more. They are just generally nicer than EB and I find a big difference in Gametraders from store to store as they're franchises.)
Edit:
Is there not a 7 day return policy? Plus, tell them you were in a hurry and didn't have time. You're a non-confrontational person, but you still have rights as a consumer and you want to exercise them.Gorilla Gunk said:
Return it and I would even talk to the manager about your concerns. On top of that if this kind of practice is a deal breaker for you then I would say stop shopping there. As consumers we have the right to choose which retailers we get our products from.
You didn't know this? This was also done at EB. It's how employees are able to be knowledgeable of all the games they sell, and a major employee benefit.Gorilla Gunk said:
And this has been standard at all EBs and Gamestops since at least 1997, which is when I heard about this.
So welcome to what's been common knowledge to anyone who's had a friend who works at a game store for the past 14 years.
Honestly, it doesn't bother me all that much. They guarantee that the games aren't damaged, and they put fresh DLC codes in, so what does it matter?
the game stop I go to has all the sealed games behind the counter and when you go to buy a new one they give you a sealed copy that they have stored away. That sucks I'm sorry to hear that your "new" game may be used but I don't think theres anything you can feasibly do about it :\Gorilla Gunk said:
I'd complain that I wanted a manual but the store probably isn't able to give you a new in box game in the wrapping since its not how it does business. If you haven't broken the seal they put on the game then you can get your money back (or at least 80% depend on legal mumbo-jumbo). The game is the same quality as new (even if the box sucks but most people don't care about the box). If it really bugs you, turn it in, get your cash (it'll probably be diminished) and buy the game elsewhere.
As a current gamestop employee I disagree with the checkout of a new game also. Our store manager only allows used and if we have at least 3 copies of said game in stock.
Bring it back to the store with the receipt. Explain that you believe the game had been checked out because of the condition and respectfully ask for a return.
You may need to be a little pushy in terms of tone, but keep a politeness and you should be able to get your money back or exchanged for another new copy.
Bring it back to the store with the receipt. Explain that you believe the game had been checked out because of the condition and respectfully ask for a return.
You may need to be a little pushy in terms of tone, but keep a politeness and you should be able to get your money back or exchanged for another new copy.
I used to work at a game shop for a while, and we were allowed to check out new and used games, but if we checked out a new game even for one day, we'd at least mark it as used. Doesn't seem right that GameStop is allowed to say that a product is new when it really isn't.
That's 99% of the case, However when we're on our last copy we have the 'gut' copy. Under normal circumstances the disc and possible dlc code has been removed, put into a paper sleeve and the case sticker'd and placed out on the floor as a display that we have it in stock.Kingpopadopalus said:
I work for Game Stop, and I can tell you that its company policy to have one "gutted" copy of all titles for display. Two if its new and/or extremely popular. So if it was the last copy of Crysis, that's probably what you got. But the new discs aren't used, tested, sold or anything. They go out of their original box with any DLC or bonus things, and right into a WHITE sleeve (pre-owns go in yellow to tell them apart). Then when gutted copies are sold, they are resealed.
So if there's anything wrong with your disc, yeah bring it back, but if its fine, just go with it. Its not you they are targeting, or anyone for that matter. Its just the way that company does business.
So if there's anything wrong with your disc, yeah bring it back, but if its fine, just go with it. Its not you they are targeting, or anyone for that matter. Its just the way that company does business.
I must have the best gamestop in the world near me, because I never have even half the issues people talk about :S I've almost never had an issue with a game be from disc damage, and I always could get it replaced for no cost.
Course I usually by used anyways, cuz I'm a cheapskate, so maybe this doesn't exactly apply.
Course I usually by used anyways, cuz I'm a cheapskate, so maybe this doesn't exactly apply.
That's odd, when I worked at GS we were allowed to check out the games, but only used copies. It was pretty strictly enforced too. Never was anyone allowed to take home a new copy of a game.
That being said, I can't say I'm surprised. I'll buy from GS only if the game is new and factory sealed, or if it's an out of print title that I've been looking for but can't find online.
That being said, I can't say I'm surprised. I'll buy from GS only if the game is new and factory sealed, or if it's an out of print title that I've been looking for but can't find online.
Back when MVC existed in the UK (yes I used to work there), they brought in a genius idea, the simple concept of, a couple of days before the Friday (release day in the UK), we'd receive an envelope containing coloured printed game sleeves, which we'd place in empty dvd cases and use for display, and all games would be kept, sealed, behind the counter.
Of course, this would cost a bit, so there's zero change of Gamestop doing it, as they'd lose a tiny bit of profit for the benefit of their customers.
I believe it was brought in mainly for the PC, because people would come in, take an empty case off the shelf, and either scribble down, or take a photo with their phone, of the CD key, and then when we sold the game, as new, as the disc had been taken out and stored behind the counter, angry customers would return stating the cd key had been used.
Made us look shifty and dishonest, pissed us off, and the thieves got away with it. Fortunately someone came up with a fairly low cost idea to fix the problem. I imagine with DLC codes it's a similar problem to cd keys.
I do however full support gamestop employees getting to try new games out overnight, in a bid to educate them on what they're trying to sell. What needs to happen is some transparency, if you respect your customer enough to tell the truth, I don't think most people would mind.
Hell, it's going to be one or two copies maximum, tell them it's been tested by a staff member and it's 10% off. Everyone's happy, no-one feels robbed because they were told it was 'new' and it's not sealed, and Gamestop treat their customers and staff better, probably leading to more profits long term.
I hate the idea that most customers are assholes and idiots. Most of them are fine decent people and if you trust them with the truth, they'll be fine about it. We had an unofficial policy that the nicer a customer was, the more we'd do to help them resolve any problems, and the more of a beeyatch they were being, whether it was all out rudeness or just being petty and demanding their 'rights' over something tiny, we'd go bare minimum legal duty.
Of course, this would cost a bit, so there's zero change of Gamestop doing it, as they'd lose a tiny bit of profit for the benefit of their customers.
I believe it was brought in mainly for the PC, because people would come in, take an empty case off the shelf, and either scribble down, or take a photo with their phone, of the CD key, and then when we sold the game, as new, as the disc had been taken out and stored behind the counter, angry customers would return stating the cd key had been used.
Made us look shifty and dishonest, pissed us off, and the thieves got away with it. Fortunately someone came up with a fairly low cost idea to fix the problem. I imagine with DLC codes it's a similar problem to cd keys.
I do however full support gamestop employees getting to try new games out overnight, in a bid to educate them on what they're trying to sell. What needs to happen is some transparency, if you respect your customer enough to tell the truth, I don't think most people would mind.
Hell, it's going to be one or two copies maximum, tell them it's been tested by a staff member and it's 10% off. Everyone's happy, no-one feels robbed because they were told it was 'new' and it's not sealed, and Gamestop treat their customers and staff better, probably leading to more profits long term.
I hate the idea that most customers are assholes and idiots. Most of them are fine decent people and if you trust them with the truth, they'll be fine about it. We had an unofficial policy that the nicer a customer was, the more we'd do to help them resolve any problems, and the more of a beeyatch they were being, whether it was all out rudeness or just being petty and demanding their 'rights' over something tiny, we'd go bare minimum legal duty.
The following is based on what I know of Aussie law, so it might not apply to you outside of Australia. If it doesn't there's some serious problems with your system, though.Gorilla Gunk said:
If the game was something other than it was advertised (ie. New), then you're fully withing your rights to return it. In fact, it would be illegal for them to refuse to refund you. Saying that you paid for it in a specific way wouldn't invalidate this (though they could, if they really wanted and hadn't moved them on already, return your second hand games to you), and it is within your rights to refuse a different copy if they offer you one. They rely on people being too scared or embaressed to return the games, when they're the ones at fault. If they cause trouble, ask for their names or to speak to someone higher up.