Sell Your Used Games, Get Thumbprinted
Gamers who want to trade their used games in Florida's Broward County are in for a surprise: When they hand over their games, they're also going to have to hand over a thumbprint.
A report in the GameStop [http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/05/used_video_games_fingerprint_gamestop_florida.php] went along with the policy because, as manager Carlos Rivera put it, "They have guns. I don't argue with people with guns."
Kayla Concepcion, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office, said the requirement is actually part of a new law passed by the Florida Legislature that puts used videogames in the same category as items sold at pawn shops. As a result, people selling their games to shops like GameStop have to provide thumbprints and a range of other personal information. Most people don't care, Rivera said, although a few have "turned around and walked out."
GamePolitics [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/71887-Changes-In-Florida-Law-May-Impact-Used-Game-Sales] readers in the state are claiming that stores in different counties have not implemented the policy. Regardless, the idea of having to provide that sort of information just to unload a few old games strikes me as borderline outrageous and a good incentive to sell the stuff online or out of a trunk. Have any of you run into this at your local GameStop?
(photo [http://www.flickr.com/photos/36122696@N08/3348359006/])
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Gamers who want to trade their used games in Florida's Broward County are in for a surprise: When they hand over their games, they're also going to have to hand over a thumbprint.
A report in the GameStop [http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/05/used_video_games_fingerprint_gamestop_florida.php] went along with the policy because, as manager Carlos Rivera put it, "They have guns. I don't argue with people with guns."
Kayla Concepcion, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office, said the requirement is actually part of a new law passed by the Florida Legislature that puts used videogames in the same category as items sold at pawn shops. As a result, people selling their games to shops like GameStop have to provide thumbprints and a range of other personal information. Most people don't care, Rivera said, although a few have "turned around and walked out."
GamePolitics [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/71887-Changes-In-Florida-Law-May-Impact-Used-Game-Sales] readers in the state are claiming that stores in different counties have not implemented the policy. Regardless, the idea of having to provide that sort of information just to unload a few old games strikes me as borderline outrageous and a good incentive to sell the stuff online or out of a trunk. Have any of you run into this at your local GameStop?
(photo [http://www.flickr.com/photos/36122696@N08/3348359006/])
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