Sony Sending Free PS4 Bundles to GameStop Managers

[Cognimancer]

Sony Sending Free PS4 Bundles to GameStop Managers

Sony's getting a head start on marketing the PS4 by putting it in the hands of the people who will be stocking the shelves.

It's no secret that working in a games retailer sometimes earns you free swag. Of course, that swag is usually a T-shirt worth ten bucks or so - not several hundred dollars' worth of hardware and software. GameStop managers are in for a treat later this year when the PS4 launches, as they'll find one machine with their name on it, courtesy of Sony.

This news comes from the GameStop EXPO, which is happening right now in Las Vegas. According to an insider tip, GameStop managers have been promised a PS4 and seven launch titles: Killzone: Shadowfall, NBA 2K14, Madden, FIFA 14, Need for Speed: Rivals, Battlefield 4, and Beyond: Two Souls. That's a nice way to hit the ground running on the next generation (though the copy of Beyond will be for the PlayStation 3, since there's no PS4 version in the works). The seven free games will be delivered as a mix of physical copies and digital vouchers.

If you're feeling jealous right now, well, that's probably the reaction Sony is looking for. The PS4 was already courting retailers with its pro-used games stance, and now these GameStop employees will almost certainly have first-hand experience with Sony's system when customers come looking for console recommendations.

Bribery? Maybe. Smart marketing? Absolutely. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go befriend the nearest GameStop manager.

Source: Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/26/gamestop-managers-to-receive-ps4-seven-games/]

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[Roxas1359]

...and now I wish that I worked for GameStop. This is a pretty good marketing strategy to say the least, and I find it no different then when Publishers or Developers send special little exclusive trinkets and items to professional reviewers.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

As bribery, it wont work. If your an Xbox fan, i doubt you will buy a PS4 just cause the manager asked you to. Same with a PS fan and the Xbox. Either way, im sure those managers will have fun with that free console. An if they dont like it im guessing they will make a tidy profit on ebay.

 

[Dr.Awkward]

..No, no, no. I've heard enough GS horror stories involving managers that you DON'T want to involve yourself with several of these managers.

They're better off in the hands of fans who's having the worst time of their life right now.

 

[Timotei]

...and now I wish that I worked for GameStop.

The fact you even joke about that disturbs me.

 

[Roxas1359]

...and now I wish that I worked for GameStop.

The fact you even joke about that disturbs me.

...yeah it kinda makes me sick when reading it. I mean I don't have too much hatred for GameStop persay, but I still prefer going online for shopping more.

 

[Dragonbums]

See I was expecting that console to be delivered to the customer service staff. Not saying that all the managers don't deserve it, but you know...they customer service guys tend to be the ones taking the brunt of the shit from consumers and management alike.
Especially when they have to work through the holidays. The gesture should of gone to them to be honest.

Of course, this is bribery at it's finest.
What better way to get more people on your side by goading them with a free console with seven games.
.
.
.
. and how horrible it would be if said consoles are the first runner ups to hardware breaking glitches.

 

[RicoADF]

...and now I wish that I worked for GameStop.

The fact you even joke about that disturbs me.

Whats so bad about Gamestop?
No that's a serious question, over here in Australia we have EB games and while their not my preferred place to buy games (JB Hi-Fi takes that or steam), but there's nothing wrong with them. I get the suspicion it's to do with something they do specifically in America.

 

[Dragonbums]

...and now I wish that I worked for GameStop.

The fact you even joke about that disturbs me.

Whats so bad about Gamestop?
No that's a serious question, over here in Australia we have EB games and while their not my preferred place to buy games (JB Hi-Fi takes that or steam), but there's nothing wrong with them. I get the suspicion it's to do with something they do specifically in America.

A lot of Gamestop chains over in the US are pretty shitty.

I had a friend named Gabby who worked at Gamestop for years. They had a new management, and for whatever reason the manager hated her.

He purposefully gave her a zero hour work schedule just so he can fire her under the excuse that she "never came to work".

It's like you have managers that are respectful, and you have the other half that have a chip on their shoulder and ready to take it out on anyone with a lower wage pay than them.

EDIT: I would like to clarify though that sweet justice was served in the fact that said manager did not last very long running the store, and is now replaced by a nice, but really ignorant idiot who doesn't really know what he's doing.

 

[RicoADF]

A lot of Gamestop chains over in the US are pretty shitty.

I had a friend named Gabby who worked at Gamestop for years. They had a new management, and for whatever reason the manager hated her.

He purposefully gave her a zero hour work schedule just so he can fire her under the excuse that she "never came to work".

It's like you have managers that are respectful, and you have the other half that have a chip on their shoulder and ready to take it out on anyone with a lower wage pay than them.

EDIT: I would like to clarify though that sweet justice was served in the fact that said manager did not last very long running the store, and is now replaced by a nice, but really ignorant idiot who doesn't really know what he's doing.

Isn't that more it being the person that's the issue rather than gamestop, and since GS is a basic retailer they get the lower ends of the chain like mc donalds etc. Also an issue with American law if such actions is legal.

EDIT: So basically their the Wal-Mart of game stores? Lowest common denominator and all?
I've been to a wal-mart when I visted the states, that was rather degrading. Never got around to a gamestop sadly.

 

[Scars Unseen]

A PS4 would not be a big enough bribe to make me work for Gamestop.

 

[Dragonbums]

A lot of Gamestop chains over in the US are pretty shitty.

I had a friend named Gabby who worked at Gamestop for years. They had a new management, and for whatever reason the manager hated her.

He purposefully gave her a zero hour work schedule just so he can fire her under the excuse that she "never came to work".

It's like you have managers that are respectful, and you have the other half that have a chip on their shoulder and ready to take it out on anyone with a lower wage pay than them.

EDIT: I would like to clarify though that sweet justice was served in the fact that said manager did not last very long running the store, and is now replaced by a nice, but really ignorant idiot who doesn't really know what he's doing.

Isn't that more it being the person that's the issue rather than gamestop, and since GS is a basic retailer they get the lower ends of the chain like mc donalds etc. Also an issue with American law if such actions is legal.

EDIT: So basically their the Wal-Mart of game stores? Lowest common denominator and all?
I've been to a wal-mart when I visted the states, that was rather degrading. Never got around to a gamestop sadly.

In technical terms it would be a person issue more than the chain itself.
However it happens in Gamestop stores so often, and by so many people in the Customer Service department, that it warped into the basic identity of Gamestop employment here.
No matter where you go, if you ask somebody about their time at Gamestop, you will either get a mega rant, or a grave warning to NOT work there for the sake of your bullshit tolerance and sanity.

So in that case, yeah, it is the McDonalds of game stores.
However they are the ONLY store chain that specializes in games exclusively. So your other options would be Wal-Mart, Target, etc. And the people that work in the electronics section aren't exactly garaunteed to know what they are talking about.

Then again when I went to trade in my Gameboy Advance for an SP years ago the service man didn't know the name and simply referred it as the "flip Gameboy"

 

[Scars Unseen]

A lot of Gamestop chains over in the US are pretty shitty.

I had a friend named Gabby who worked at Gamestop for years. They had a new management, and for whatever reason the manager hated her.

He purposefully gave her a zero hour work schedule just so he can fire her under the excuse that she "never came to work".

It's like you have managers that are respectful, and you have the other half that have a chip on their shoulder and ready to take it out on anyone with a lower wage pay than them.

EDIT: I would like to clarify though that sweet justice was served in the fact that said manager did not last very long running the store, and is now replaced by a nice, but really ignorant idiot who doesn't really know what he's doing.

Isn't that more it being the person that's the issue rather than gamestop, and since GS is a basic retailer they get the lower ends of the chain like mc donalds etc. Also an issue with American law if such actions is legal.

EDIT: So basically their the Wal-Mart of game stores? Lowest common denominator and all?
I've been to a wal-mart when I visted the states, that was rather degrading. Never got around to a gamestop sadly.

Unless things have changed in the 6 years since I left the States, Gamestop is pretty much the only dedicated game store chain in America. There were others once upon a time, but they all got bought out. Your only other options in the US are electronic retailers like Best Buy and general retail giants like Walmart and Target. There may be some small local places here and there, but I've never seen one.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

This isn't really anything new. Sony did the exact same thing with the Vita.

There is a huge difference between being in a managerial position for Gamestop and just a regular employee. Too much of one if you ask me. Most Gamestop's for instance hire around 3 "game associates" and only give about 5 hours a week to each of them while keyholders and managers usually get anywhere from 20-40. Then there's crap like this with Sony and contests where big prizes like consoles and $500 gift cards go to managers for high numbers usually brought in by their underlings.

That's not to say it's any worse than any retail chain in the US, they're all horrible to their wage slaves.

 

[Haakmed]

I love these articles about Gamestop. So Gamestop managers get free playstation 4 and probably will get a free xbone just because. I just would be more interested to know how many of the store managers don't tell their staffs and try to keep it a secret.

 

[Xman490]

Dear Sony:
Calm down. Stop trying so hard. You're freaking me out.

 

[SeventhSigil]

Aaaaaaand; http://www.neowin.net/news/surprise-all-gamestop-general-managers-will-get-a-free-xbox-one-as-well

 

[ClockworkUniverse]

A lot of Gamestop chains over in the US are pretty shitty.

I had a friend named Gabby who worked at Gamestop for years. They had a new management, and for whatever reason the manager hated her.

He purposefully gave her a zero hour work schedule just so he can fire her under the excuse that she "never came to work".

It's like you have managers that are respectful, and you have the other half that have a chip on their shoulder and ready to take it out on anyone with a lower wage pay than them.

EDIT: I would like to clarify though that sweet justice was served in the fact that said manager did not last very long running the store, and is now replaced by a nice, but really ignorant idiot who doesn't really know what he's doing.

Isn't that more it being the person that's the issue rather than gamestop, and since GS is a basic retailer they get the lower ends of the chain like mc donalds etc. Also an issue with American law if such actions is legal.

EDIT: So basically their the Wal-Mart of game stores? Lowest common denominator and all?
I've been to a wal-mart when I visted the states, that was rather degrading. Never got around to a gamestop sadly.

Unless things have changed in the 6 years since I left the States, Gamestop is pretty much the only dedicated game store chain in America. There were others once upon a time, but they all got bought out. Your only other options in the US are electronic retailers like Best Buy and general retail giants like Walmart and Target. There may be some small local places here and there, but I've never seen one.

Personally, I suggest virtually any online retailer. Infinitely better selection, and almost invariably lower prices (half the time I can find a new game for less than GS charges for a used, if it isn't a recent release).

 

[Strazdas]

As bribery, it wont work. If your an Xbox fan, i doubt you will buy a PS4 just cause the manager asked you to. Same with a PS fan and the Xbox. Either way, im sure those managers will have fun with that free console. An if they dont like it im guessing they will make a tidy profit on ebay.

Well, im sure if say you bought PS4 had trouble with it, got to the place you bought it (gamestop) and asked them about it, and the manager, having one himself, woudl offer you a easy solution...
vs.
If you bought XboxOne, had trouble with it, got to the place you bought it (gamestop) and asked them about it, and the manager, not having one, would just say "i dont know anything".
yeah, i can see how that can encourage peopel to be more satsified and do a lips-to-ears sales rise.
besides, the costs are neglible, they are giving out what 50 consoles when their selling in millions.

Besides, they made a special white XboxOne for them as well. Thing is, since its White, its going to sell for thousands as a collectors item soon.