Poll: Should this have happened?/

[meepop]

Ok so I just bought a used copy of Afrika at Gamestop (if "just bought" means 2-3 hours ago). I put it in, loaded it, started the game. I ride around in a jeep for 5 minutes, get to the "taking pictures part" out of the jeep, and when I get out, it just froze. I couldn't do anything, and the scenery was moving.

I call up Gamestop to tell them it's not working, and the stupid representative says "Oh, you can return it and get the only other copy we have which is new and pay the difference, or return it and get your money back." I'm like "...You're kidding right?" No, he wasn't. He didn't seem to understand that the game was working, but that it froze.

I then sent Gamestop a rude email (no profanity but part of it was in caps lock) explaining that claiming that a game works by putting it into the appropriate system, loading it up, and checking to make sure it starts properly. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying it's bad, or that they should play every game they have at least for more than 5 minutes, but that just starting it isn't enough. I'm sure as hell not going back there for a while. I'm trying to work out whether or not they can be forgived.

So I ask you, members of the Escapist, should I have gotten a used game that "worked" for about 5 minutes? Or in other words, should this have happened?

Edit: Would any of you like to drive an hour out of your way to get to a Gamestop that just sold you a game that isn't working? No? Okay then would you rather be like the guys from the GameFly commercials? I went with the latter, admittedly no throwing TVs out of windows or punching a wall but still--Getting to and from that Gamestop is a task saved for someone who actually can afford the price of gas right now, and also someone who WANTS TO.

 

[The Amazing Tea Alligator]

It's partly your fault for shopping at Gamestop, but it's mostly their's. Fuck Gamestop.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

The thing about Gamestop is that they don't really care that much for the quality of there used games or consoles. If they can start it up, they assume its working. They can't play through all their used games from start to finish to make sure that the games work properly from beginning to end, but the whole "You have to buy a new copy," thing seems a tad harsh on you.

 

[Fenring]

I'm sorry, am i missing something? He offered you your money back. What's the problem here? Just give it back and get your money. Did you expect a brand new copy for free? More money than you payed?

 

[fix-the-spade]

So I ask you, members of the Escapist, should I have gotten a used game that "worked" for about 5 minutes? Or in other words, should this have happened?

They offered you a refund or a replacement, what more can they actually do?

Regarding testing the games, they start them up, start a game and assume it works. Working in a shop you can't sit there and play every game for an hour to make sure it's not going to crash, there just isn't the time.

That it didn't work is unfortunate, but they offered to make good. Sending rude emails seems a little excessive.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[Worgen]

thats why they have a 7 day return for any reason you want thing for used games, cause you can never tell how they will work

gah the responses of this thread reminds me of the woman going nuts over mc donalds not having chicken mc nuggets, its a used game, if they dont have any more in stock then thats hardly their fault, you should find someone else with it and make them trade it in, what the hell are you whining about? They didnt say they wouldnt take it back

 

[Kpt._Rob]

Now I'm not an expert here... but I'm actually fairly certain that that's not the process they go through to check games. What I had read was that they have a facility to which they ship all used games and other used items where they are run through some special machine that supposedly helps refurbish them. Even if that wasn't the process... do you really think it's at all possible for them to check games any more thorougly than that? We're talking about a company that takes in a lot of used games, if they were to spend even 10 minutes testing each one... that'd cost them a lot of time and money, money they don't want to spend if they are going to stay profitable.

From what I've observed, gamestops are a hit and miss chain. The one here in the town where I live is really good, the employees are always really helpful, and I've never had any serious problems. Still, even though the one here in town is good, I still know that I'm taking a risk if I buy a used game, and you should have known that too.

 

[The Amazing Tea Alligator]

It's partly your fault for shopping at Gamestop, but it's mostly their's. Fuck Gamestop.

Gamestop sucked before he entered, so technically it's Gamestops fault for sucking so much.
HATE THE GAMESTOPZ!

OT: No, go back and speak to the manager.
Break his kneecaps if necessary.

But he willingly entered that dark place.

 

[instantbenz]

Forgiven yo ... and Amazing Tea ... agreed. I'm sad Game Crazy is through. They seemed more personable ... plus I freelanced their contest posters for kick backs from time to time. And you can always take your business to Amazon if you're willing to shell out shipping charges ... which, if you don't have a vehicle to get to the store anyway, is completely acceptable.

The one thing I love about GS is that you can 'buy' a used game and take it back within a week for your full money back. I think that rule is nationwide.

 

[SturmDolch]

Sounds like a case of Self-Entitled Customer. No, Gamestop can't afford to play-test every used game they receive to see if it won't freeze at one point. Imagine the cost of the jobs assigned to this.

Thus, they give you your money back if it doesn't work. You said so yourself! What's to get angry about!? People like you are the reason people hate working retail; the customer's that get pissed even if compensation is offered for whatever service isn't working.

 

[Worgen]

It's partly your fault for shopping at Gamestop, but it's mostly their's. Fuck Gamestop.

Gamestop sucked before he entered, so technically it's Gamestops fault for sucking so much.
HATE THE GAMESTOPZ!

OT: No, go back and speak to the manager.
Break his kneecaps if necessary.

But he willingly entered that dark place.

your right, he should have shopped at someplace wholesome like wallmart

 

[The Amazing Tea Alligator]

your right, he should have shopped at someplace wholesome like wallmart

Wherupon our handy-dandy heavenly chorus looks to the sky, and sings "Steam!".

 

[Worgen]

your right, he should have shopped at someplace wholesome like wallmart

Wherupon our handy-dandy heavenly chorus looks to the sky, and sings "Steam!".

you cant buy 360/ps3 games on steam, if he bought a used game then it was for one of those and what the fuck is up with all the game stop hate? no one seems to be willing to quantify it at all

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I don't shop at Gamestops. I've heard rumors of their terrible service though. I'd go talk to the manager. If he doesn't take you seriously, pull out the Super Scope.

Protip: Don't buy used games if you turn into a crybaby every time they aren't the quality of new games.

A good rule to live by. They are used games for a reason. If you're lucky the reason is that the guy who bought it originally played it and hated it. If you are unlucky, it is for resale because it is broken.

It is a gamble every time you buy a discounted game.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[Trivun]

The policy, having to pay the extra for the new copy, is fair. That's how the store does business, and it is the same at other stores, game shops and non-game shops (at least, in the UK it is...).

However, though I don't expect the staff to play through an entire game to check if it works, surely they can play through perhaps 15-30 minutes to check it works for a decent way into the game. If it crashes, say, ten minutes in, then they should get their money back from the sap who sold the game to them, and whatever else they do. But yes, they should check the games more thoroughly.

So in this case, tough luck, OP. The store has done absolutely nothing wrong and you have no grounds to complain. However, the store should check a bit more than just starting the game up to see if it works properly. That's about it, really...

 

[Geo Da Sponge]

I will start off by saying recently I bought a used copy of Fallout 3 for £10. It didn't work at first, and I ended up returning to the shop twice to no avail (the guy at the shop put it in a new 360 and it worked perfectly, and therefore couldn't give me a refund unless I brought in my 360 to show that it didn't work for me). However, the morning afterwards the game worked fine for no apparent reason, and has worked perfectly since. So if I can get through that without throwing a tantrum, you can be happy with getting a refund without having to do anything.

I call up Gamestop to tell them it's not working, and the stupid representative says "Oh, you can return it and get the only other copy we have which is new and pay the difference, or return it and get your money back." I'm like "...You're kidding right?" No, he wasn't. He didn't seem to understand that the game was working, but that it froze.

what's your problem? The representative offered you a refund or a replacement because your game doesn't work. What more do you want? So what if the game works, but it froze? Is he supposed to be amazed because you have some special or unique glitch? Do you expect him to have some perfect solution for any random problem you might have? What's so 'stupid' about this representative anyway? He offered you a refund or replacement. I know I've already said that but it bears repeating because unless you live a two hour drive away from this branch of Gamestop this a perfect solution.

I then sent Gamestop a rude email (no profanity but part of it was in caps lock) explaining that claiming that a game works by putting it into the appropriate system, loading it up, and checking to make sure it starts properly. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying it's bad, or that they should play every game they have, but that just starting it isn't enough. I'm sure as hell not going back there for a while. I'm trying to work out whether or not they can be forgived.

So you expect them to play all the games they own in the shop? Not just one of each title, but every single copy? Can you understand why checking over a hundred different games is not a profitable use of their time? To check a game as you suggest they'd have to play each one for an hour, minimum. They probably don't want to pay someone for a hundred hours just to play a long string of games.

Oh yes, and sending a rude email to a big corporation? I'm sure they're really going to care.