Working at a game shop

[Typecast]

The answer to your question is unfortunately, "Shitty"

People have this wild idea that they'll be hanging out with their buds all day, impressing kids on the Soul calibur display or help hot, uninhibited MILFS in tight sweaters pick out educational games for their brats. In reality it's drudgery, misery and Soccer moms.

As obvious as it seems, it happens a shit load anyway. Even with the best intentions before hand. Consider me a pessimist.

They vomited digestive juices on you? What the fuck kind of gamestore are you going to?

Game Traders Bulimia.

I didn't laugh till I saw that.

 

[Labyrinth]

Game Traders Bulimia.

I didn't laugh till I saw that.

"I'll give you a teaspoon of acid and some carrot lumps for each mana card."
"Deal, so long as I get any pill casings that come up too."

 

[Slycne]

A few years ago I worked for an EB Games. While not my worst job, I have certainly had better. A few points of advice for what you are getting into:

1. Working during the holiday season is going to be rough. This is true of all retail. You may have to work on or around actual holidays.
2. There is really nothing special about working in a game store. It might even be worse because you are expected to sell and promote products that you might not agree are note-worthy.
3. Because they know that they can attract that "working at a game store would be awesome crowd". They don't pay as well. This might not be true for yours.
4. Holiday hires are the first to get axed after the season is over. So if you are looking for long term employment, this maybe a good way to get your foot in the door but be aware of that is what happens.

Now that I have filled you all with misery, I'll at least list some positives from working there.

1. Like The_Deleted said most people come in knowing what they want to buy. Ever once in the blue moon you can talk someone out of a poor decision. This is especially true sometimes with parents and grandparents who come in not knowing what to get.
2. The one thing that kept me working there so long, I stayed part time even after moving on to another job, was friendships with the other employees. More then likely you are sharing a common gaming interest.
3. There may be other perks besides discounts. My store allowed us to rent out used games as long as we had more then 1 copy. So it was great to play through games that you know weren't worth buying, but you still wanted to try it out. This is how I found out that Advent Rising wasn't worth the plastic that it was printed on.

If you need the job go for it. Just expect it to be insanely busy during this season and don't get any ideas that you are going to get paid to play games all day.

 

[Thomas of Gilead]

When talking to the ladies I would advise explaining very slowly and simply, just to make sure they understand. There maybe be a few that find this patronising...

These people are not worth your time!

This is the MOST efficient way of dealing with women en masse.

The the great majority of women NEED help when choosing and finding games, and so the few exceptions are being selfish by expecting you to make allowances for them.

 

[Amnestic]

Edit: Cheatking. If possible attempt to refrain from vomiting digestive juices all over the inteviewer. If you feel hungry, I would suggest bringing something discreet, like a mars bar.

This is poor advice. Bringing something discreet shows that you have things to hide. Instead, a picnic basket with full ready-cooked roast pork dinner (Including hot apple sauce). It shows that you have good taste and you're not ashamed of your personal life.

I'd say go for it, but I'd recommend one thing. Treat female gamers who come in to buy games the same as you would male. It's really annoying to be either patronised, or have a store assistant following me around like a puppy.

Breathing and not dying is also recommended.

 

[cheatking]

Wow guys and girls thanks for the input! And the jokes, i was crying while reading this.

I get that this will be a holiday job (I worked in a supermarket last year) and was just wondering if i should go for the game shop this year as it is my *ahem* field of expertiese and the possibility of a full time job there does interest me (getting new releases before anyone else? Droooooool).

 

[Madrak the Red]

I personally would find it inhumanly boring- as you don't actually get to play the games- now working at a Games Workshop or similar store- that would be entertaining.

Ahh, crap, I'm taking it seriously. And it is over. Bollocks.

 

[Altorin]

Hey guys looking for your opinions here.

My local game shop "GAME" is hiring for the xmas season and I was wondering if it was worth applying.

Yes there is discounts and such but is it worth dealing with the mothers of child gamers (I know who these are as my mother used to be one of them which is why i shop alone).

Also if any of you work/used to work in game stores can you tell me what it was like?

Many thanks.

Just don't expect your absolute adoration of games as a medium and art form to be appreciated by the managers.

because they don't freakin' care.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Read "The Customer is Always Wrong" first.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.70218.684496

Then decide.

 

[cheatking]

Read "The Customer is Always Wrong" first.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.70218.684496

Then decide.

Thanks, now after reading that I'm not sure if I even want to work again

 

[Albert Wesker]

http://www.youtube.com/user/WhistleBlowerZero

Game stop scares me now.

 

[AmericanWarMachine]

Hey guys looking for your opinions here.

My local game shop "GAME" is hiring for the xmas season and I was wondering if it was worth applying.

Yes there is discounts and such but is it worth dealing with the mothers of child gamers (I know who these are as my mother used to be one of them which is why i shop alone).

Also if any of you work/used to work in game stores can you tell me what it was like?

Many thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byJSoWl476I
watch all of those (they are funny and informative!!!)

 

[meatloaf231]

I'd say go for it, but I'd recommend one thing. Treat female gamers who come in to buy games the same as you would male. It's really annoying to be either patronised, or have a store assistant following me around like a puppy.

Yes dear, whatever you say dear. Now lets get you a copy of cooking mama and if you behave, maybe we can stop to look at the window display at the vaccume store.

I jest, I jest... I'm sorry but I couldn't resist.
But I must say, I find it funny that women often comment about wanting to be treated the same as a man, but when we do treat them as we would a dude, they switch their tune to "that's rude" or "that's disgusting".

Save it for the Feminism thread, Khell. If you get in a debate, be kind enough to take it out back.

 

[mark_n_b]

I'd say go for it. If you are going to get any Christmas retail job you're going to have to put up with a lot of shite, no matter what. Christmas is not a fun time to work when you are on the front line dealing with the public (unless you like that sort of thing)

Just remember that, just because you got this job (if you get this job) that doesn't make you a gaming expert. Maybe you are, but it isn't because you work at a game shop. This is one of the most irritating habits of game retail associates which make me not talk to the sales guys; I'll ask a question and they clearly don't really know the answer so they'll look at me like I'm some idiot fanboy putz going on about something stupid.

 

[Space Spoons]

I dunno. I've never worked at a game shop, but the general belief seems to be that because the administrators know there are throngs of bright-eyed, bushy-tailed gamers just lining up to work at what seems to be a dream job, they're able to treat their employees like garbage. Poorly paid, highly expendable garbage. Not to mention the belief that some parents tend to use game shops as impromptu daycare centers... I've heard some real horror stories.

And man... You wanna work at a game store during the holidays? The measly little grocery store I work at gets pretty bad, but I don't even want to think about how much worse it'd be with someone calling my register every four minutes to ask if we have any Nintendo Wiis in stock, and then to yell at me about how I've ruined their family's Christmas by not single-handedly solving Nintendo's hardware shortage issues...

On the other hand, it's always nice to run into employees who aren't disgruntled and rude. If you think you can handle the work with a good attitude, go for it. I'm sure your fellow gamers will appreciate it, especially during the always-hectic holiday season.

 

[Good morning blues]

I have no idea why anyone would ever want to work at a video game store. You make minimum wage, and in addition to dealing with the general public, which is bad enough as it is, you also have to deal with the young nerds who want to talk your ear off about their character build in WOW or their totally awesome counter-strike server all day. If you work at a chain place, you get the added bonus of constantly being nagged to sell all of the stupid magazines, warranties and stupid special offers that nobody ever wants or uses, and get yelled at for not selling enough of them because nobody wants or uses them.

 

[meatloaf231]

I dunno. I've never worked at a game shop, but the general belief seems to be that because the administrators know there are throngs of bright-eyed, bushy-tailed gamers just lining up to work at what seems to be a dream job, they're able to treat their employees like garbage. Poorly paid, highly expendable garbage. Not to mention the belief that some parents tend to use game shops as impromptu daycare centers... I've heard some real horror stories.

And man... You wanna work at a game store during the holidays? The measly little grocery store I work at gets pretty bad, but I don't even want to think about how much worse it'd be with someone calling my register every four minutes to ask if we have any Nintendo Wiis in stock, and then to yell at me about how I've ruined their family's Christmas by not single-handedly solving Nintendo's hardware shortage issues...

On the other hand, it's always nice to run into employees who aren't disgruntled and rude. If you think you can handle the work with a good attitude, go for it. I'm sure your fellow gamers will appreciate it, especially during the always-hectic holiday season.

Firstly, what happened to your suspicious man covered in snow avatar? That was awesome.

Secondly, it's very true that any job will be annoying and difficult. As for me, my old job was the most boring work I have ever done. The same closing routine every shift, with one other person. Barely a single customer entered the store.

Bleh. I would rather have horror-story inducing people than complete and utter boredom. At least you get to tell the horror stories later.

 

[darktrogdor20x6]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byJSoWl476I


all of you people need to watch this. It is a parody of Yahtzee Croshaws style, the man does it to remain anonymous, I have to say, it's pretty funny and informative. And it also exposes gamestop for the little rip off artists they are.

 

[darktrogdor20x6]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byJSoWl476I


all of you people need to watch this. It is a parody of Yahtzee Croshaws style, the man does it to remain anonymous, I have to say, it's pretty funny and informative. And it also exposes gamestop for the little rip off artists they are.

I know it's 90 minutes long but if you watch it I grantee you will not want to shop at Game Stop much less work there. And it's not bad humor, however youtube has removed part one. But you can pick up on what you missed. Or just download it, he has the link on his youtube page.

 

[LordCraigus]

GAME bought out Gamestation, the only decent game shop in my town. Stuff GAME.

Since GAME seems like it's the Gamestop of Europe, I suggest watching the vid posted just above (and all the other vids by that guy as well).