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

[ManInRed]

As long as the game plays fine I'm not really sure what the problem is though you might want to complain about the fact there wasn't a manual with it.

Well there is a problem with this practice, as it could allow GameStop to sell used games as new games. A practice that does not give an money back to the original developers of the game, one the same level of piracy in costing them money, but the player buying the game still has to pay full price for the game.

I think the best way to avoid this is to demand for a new copy and not a gutted copy, or at the very least refuse to pay beyond the "used game" cost for any copy of the game they cannot prove is new. Really, nothing is stopping the customer from leaving GameStop and buying a new game somewhere else.

I do understand why game stores gut games to avoid theft, but until GameStop gives developers some of the profit they make from reselling games (stop stealing from developers), I have a very hard time seeing why they can't afford sell any gutted game at used game price (which is usually only $5 less).

 

[ElNeroDiablo]

Of the 6 DS-era Pokemon games I bought at my 'local' EB Games (in Wagga. D/P/Pt all pre-owned, HG/SS both new, White new. got Black at BigW in the same mall and had White price-matched to the BigW price ), I only ever had to return the copy of Pearl I originally bought due to scratches on the cart's contacts that went THROUGH the contacts thereby rendering the game unusable.
Took it in next time I was in town and there and got an exchange after I told them about the problem.
I also got my DSi (new in sealed box) and DS Lite (pre-owned) from the same store and after finding out that the DS Lite's WiFi was useless (it wouldn't talk with my DSi when trying to trade 'mons between games) I took it in and informed them of the problem and had it exchanged for my current Guitar Hero DS Lite (again, pre-owned) which I haven't yet had a major problem with barring some new dead pixels on the touchscreen (I'll fix that with a replacement touch screen soon as it's not worth trading in an otherwise fine system for).

Of the 4 items I bought brand-new from EB Games (DSi, HG, SS, White), none of them had the manufacturer's tape cut as the boxes were factory-sealed from out back.

~HOWEVER~ when I bought my copy of WoW Chest (Classic/Burning Crusade), the external box had the tape on the bottom edge cut and the contents box taken out from storage as it seemed they had run out of factory-sealed versions at the time (I cut the tape on the TOP when opening a factory-sealed item).

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

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.

No, I'd rather them sell me that game that the opened for the purpose as a used copy since its been used and all.

 

[Gustavo S. Buschle]

I think the employees should only be able to "rent" used games. Or maybe they should have only one copy which all employees can "rent".

 

[Dr. wonderful]

Yup, that what we were supposed to do.

But I always include the Handbook. No good game is seen with out it.

 

[Shadu]

I think the employees should only be able to "rent" used games.

Several managers enforce this. Not all, but some. I don't think there's anything in the handbook that declares it either way, but I know my second manager (I went through three or four and two different stores when I worked for GameStop) would not allow us to rent new games. And we always had to have at least two copies of whatever we were renting.

 

[Grafin Drachen]

If it where me, and especially if they charged you the new release price for the game, you can bet your undies I would march it back and demand that something be done. If you are buying new, you deserve new and nothing less. As much as I HATE corporations like Wal-Mart, if you buy new, you're guaranteed new and if it is defective, they will usually bend over backwards if you have any issues with the disk. (Been here with Rock Band 2, I exchanged that darn thing like 4 times, before I got all of my money back and a free working copy of the game).

I can understand the anti-theft side of the situation, some people are just that petty to walk into a shop and "help themselves" to what they want. However, the policy regarding the employee's being able to "test drive" the games is not exactly good business, is it now? I know other places do it, particularly places here in Canada that sell used inventory, but the new stuff is almost always locked up behind the cashes, or close by while the used stuff is much more vast in quantity so it's given the special treatment, but at least you know what you're getting yourself into there.

If they refuse to exchange/replace/ect, simply ask them - now where exactly is it openly advertised that when buying some item from your shop with the "new" label that it might not be exactly "new" (and in your case, incomplete (However, I have noticed A LOT of games coming without manuals and instead with a slip of paper saying "manuals available at.." to save paper/be environmentally kind). If they cannot answer this, raise a stink about false advertising, and if they still don't do anything, threaten them in some way (Media and/or legal action). Even if they can answer this, most places I've dealt with will usually do what they can to make a customer happy. After all, how many people go around saying "I just got this and it was amazing!" as oppose to "I just bought this AT THIS LOCATION and..."

As for the "Why did you not do anything then" line, just look at them and simply say - I was in a bit of a hurry that day and had places to be and did not have time to deal with it. (make absolute sure you have your receipt too!) Now that I have some free time, I would like to deal with this. If they refuse, ask for the manager/person in charge. If they still refuse, see my previous paragraph. As long as you have not waited say - a month and it's only been a couple of days, then all should be "smooth sailing".

Hope all works out for you!

 

[Flare Phoenix]

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.

Yeah, but they shouldn't sell a copy of a game, which has been played with, as new. Or, at the very least, ensure the game is in its original condition when it is sold to the customer (i.e. so save files still on the game, disc and box in good condition etc...)

I think the problem is Gamestop isn't telling their customers this is what is happening. They know full well if anyone found out their "new" game had been previously played with they would demand it be reduced in price. I know if I'm going to buy a game for $120AUS I'm going to be damn sure no one has ever used it.

 

[funguy2121]

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?

No. No, no, no, no, no. A thousand times, no. Nien. Also, no.

Petitioning a shit company like Gamestop won't get you anywhere, 'cos they could give a shit about you. All they care about is duping you out of your money. Punish them by going elsewhere, and being loud about it, instead.

Also? No.

 

[Charli]

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.

Same for GAME, we make 1-2 guts of the game, so that when that's gone, the game and thusly all the stock is gone. If you want an entirely new plastic shrink wrapped version then you'd probably be told you'd have to wait for new stock or special order it.

This is what it sounds like but the disc should not be scratched or smudged. Get that checked out... If it wasn't sealed then a sales rep dun goofed...

Our used games are also kept in the white envelopes (different draw) but I don't know how true that is for every Gamestop, I know a few GAME stores have slightly different structure.

Anyway it's unlikely there will be much of a fuss if you take it back and raise the issue with them, at least in the cases I handled in the past there was just an exchange of words and exchange of game boxes and done and dusted.


Edit: GAME employees are not allowed to take Gutted copies to use for themselves to my knowledge. That's just asking for a stink up to happen. All it takes is one bad drunken evening with friends mishandling your CD's to get that situation screwed up.

 

[nixonsnow]

I used to work at EB Games in British Columbia, Canada, and under no circumstances were we ever allowed to "rent" the games. Absolutely ridiculous. One copy of every game was "gut" so that we could put the case on the wall without worry of theft, then the sleeves were all put away in alphabetical order and never touched again until somebody bought that last copy of the game.

 

[Charli]

I used to work at EB Games in British Columbia, Canada, and under no circumstances were we ever allowed to "rent" the games. Absolutely ridiculous. One copy of every game was "gut" so that we could put the case on the wall without worry of theft, then the sleeves were all put away in alphabetical order and never touched again until somebody bought that last copy of the game.

Same case for GAME to my knowledge, that is rather disgraceful if that is happening.

 

[Hitisanta]

i got a cover where everything seamt fine but when i opened it the disc was cracked, and since i dident buy it with gamestops game protection, i dident get anything back :-(

 

[SkinyJim]

I can recall during my time in EB Games in Australia that we had a return policy for new games. You could return the game within 7 days of purchasing it and get your money back if you didn't like it. When this happened the game was sold again as new. I think one of the conditions were that it still had to be in a "like new" condition and I always checked for this. And seriously if someone tried to return a game in the condition you described I would probably just laugh at them.

Also we were never allowed to rent games. We wanted one we bought it.

 

[Gorilla Gunk]

Thanks for the replies everybody.

I'll definitely be returning the game today. Like I said, the disc is has some scratches on it and is smudged and definitely looks like it was either used or they stored it in the same drawer they put their pens and staplers in.

This will definitely be the last time I got to Gamestop.

 

[instantbenz]

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.

How much money the seller has doesn't relate to this. So ... I'll go with what someone replied to me with that it's more like an employee at a dealership that hasn't driven that vehicle that he's about to sell me.

Either way I had said in my original post relating to the op that I'm not pleased with receiving something used that they consider new and that the store should just purchase an extra copy of new games, pass that to all employees and then make it used.

As consumers we should be treated fairly, as workers they should know what they're talking about.

 

[Mxrz]

Very hard to get a refund from gamestop on new games. Do_not_buy_new_games_from_gamestop_ever. They also have a plastic wrap machine in the back for a reason.

 

[rockyoumonkeys]

I flat out refuse to buy display copies. It's a practice I abhor. If I see them pulling out a paper sleeve, or if the game they hand me is shrink-wrapped and not factory sealed (you can typically tell...shrink wrap is softer and will have a "seam", whereas the factory plastic is harder and crinklier and "folded over" on the top and bottom), I'll just tell them no and walk out.

It's not even because they might take the games home, it's just that those paper sleeves are murder on games, especially when they're jammed in there with hundreds of others. So the discs themselves are invariably scratched, scuffed, and very very dirty.

And it sucks, because Gamestop would have an amazing selection if all their display copies were actually new. But unless it's a brand-spanking-new release, I typically assume the only copy they'll have is the display copy, and won't even bother asking anymore.

Occasionally, I'll see an inexpensive game I want that I can't find anywhere else, and I'll ask to examine the disc in the hope that maybe it beat the odds and remained in excellent shape, but no, they're almost always wrecked.

 

[MetalDooley]

Similar thing happened to me a few months ago with GAME.Bought a new copy of Crackdown 2 and when I got home there was no manual and the disc was scratched and smudged.Brought it back and got them to exchange it for another copy.If I was you I would definitely return it.The simple fact is if they are selling something as "new" then it should be in perfect condition and you are well within your rights to return it if it's not

Funnily enough I've never had any problems with Gamestop though