Screw EB Games / Game Stop

[Branovices]

It's funny when people believe that multinational corporations revolve around their wishes. You shouldn't listen to commercials; no company in the world actually cares about what you want, they care about making money. Pre-orders let the shop know how many games to order and let you know you can get the game within two days of release. It's not like they stole your money, you can easily get it back or still put it toward the purchase of your game. I've always known they wouldn't hold stock forever, it doesn't make good business sense. I think you're looking for a folksy old general store on Main st.

 

[Neopopulas]

It says it on my receipt

 

[BlazeTheVampire]

Your money is still there even if you don't pick up the game within 48 hours. It's still there, under your phone number. You didn't lose any money in this. All you have to do is tell them that you had it preordered and ask them to put the down payment toward that day's purchase. They never, at any point, stole your money.

Having worked at GameStop, I encountered this a lot. I, however, would always remind the person that they only had 48 hours to pick it up but could send someone else in their stead if they couldn't make it. Otherwise, they'll get more copies in soon and your money can go towards that. Same game, your money's not gone or stolen, you just didn't get it on day one. And you should still get the preorder bonus because you did have it preordered.

 

[Jonci]

Retailers that do preorders do it because it is safer for their business.

Preordering plays a major part in the release of a game. It tells not only the retailers, but the producer, too, how well the game will potentially sell. If the preorders are low, they'll only print so many disks and retailers will have a small stock. If the preorders are high, they'll make enough for the preorders and a larger percentage more for off-the-shelf purchases since they are betting on word-of-mouth promotion of the game.

It isn't a ripoff since you aren't paying anymore than you would off the shelf. You, instead, guarantee your own copy on release day. Of course you have to buy it when it releases, otherwise the retailer will shelf your copy since you didn't show up for it.

That's the key word here. I figured putting down 30% of the game's cost would guarantee me a copy when I was ready for it. I guess I was wrong.

You can always call around and see if another store has the collector's edition still in stock. Very likely, you aren't the only person that didn't pick up their game. Hell, I recently saw a Fallout 3 lunchbox still in a store. It's a matter of luck, but if you must have the Collector's edition, a little grunt work could find you one.

 

[tiredinnuendo]

Here's the thing about Gamestop/EB. It's not a "store", in the traditional sense. Their business model more closely resembles a pawn shop. I've had to go in there in the past to get something semi-close to release, only to be told that I should've pre-ordered. I might be able to accept this for oddball titles, but for something like LBP, there's no reason not to stock a whole bunch.

Anyway, I went across the street to Best Buy and bought one off the giant stack of them that they had right there, for anyone to buy. Which is how a store works.

This is a lesson I re-learn every few years. I keep going back, hoping it's gotten better, and it never seems to. If it's not, "You didn't pre-order," it's, "Are you sure you don't want to buy this crappy used copy that's covered in scratches and has no manual? It's five bucks cheaper!" One time they tried to sell a buddy of mine a "new" game that was clearly used, in so much as:

1) It was open.
2) It had been taken home by an employee and played.

So yeah. Fuck Gamestop. Buy things online, it's better for you. Or, if not online, buy them at a real store.

- J

 

[LeonLethality]

thats a rule here in canada too, what pissed me off is I pre ordered dissidia from gamestop with the promise of getting an included PSP cover and it said available in north america when I pre ordered it and the day it came out I went to get it and got nothing, why? last minute they said it would be USA only that pissed me off! it didnt need to be pre ordered they had plenty of copies I just wanted the damn case to go with it! /rant

 

[RaikuFA]

ive never gotton a preorder bonus

 

[lvl9000_woot]

That's funny because the gameslop by me doesn't sell you a game unless you preorder it. One of the many reasons I don't shop there.

My advice: don't pre-order!
It's the biggest consumer rip off since layaway and gamestop is the only retail outlet that managed to convince its customers that it's absolutely necessary.
Just go to a real store, grab it off the shelf and purchase it.

Retailers that do preorders do it because it is safer for their business.

Preordering plays a major part in the release of a game. It tells not only the retailers, but the producer, too, how well the game will potentially sell. If the preorders are low, they'll only print so many disks and retailers will have a small stock. If the preorders are high, they'll make enough for the preorders and a larger percentage more for off-the-shelf purchases since they are betting on word-of-mouth promotion of the game.

It isn't a ripoff since you aren't paying anymore than you would off the shelf. You, instead, guarentee your own copy on release day. Of course you have to buy it when it releases, otherwise the retailer will shelf your copy since you didn't show up for it.

Also, giving out special in-game items helps boots pre-order numbers quite a bit.

 

[TPiddy]

Here's the thing about Gamestop/EB. It's not a "store", in the traditional sense. Their business model more closely resembles a pawn shop. I've had to go in there in the past to get something semi-close to release, only to be told that I should've pre-ordered. I might be able to accept this for oddball titles, but for something like LBP, there's no reason not to stock a whole bunch.

Anyway, I went across the street to Best Buy and bought one off the giant stack of them that they had right there, for anyone to buy. Which is how a store works.

This is a lesson I re-learn every few years. I keep going back, hoping it's gotten better, and it never seems to. If it's not, "You didn't pre-order," it's, "Are you sure you don't want to buy this crappy used copy that's covered in scratches and has no manual? It's five bucks cheaper!" One time they tried to sell a buddy of mine a "new" game that was clearly used, in so much as:

1) It was open.
2) It had been taken home by an employee and played.

So yeah. Fuck Gamestop. Buy things online, it's better for you. Or, if not online, buy them at a real store.

- J

Yeah, I've always hated that the used games were only 5-10 less than the new ones... where's the incentive? Honestly, are there people that actually go in there and are like... wow... 5 bucks off! I'll take a USED one!

 

[Rednog]

Retailers that do preorders do it because it is safer for their business.

Preordering plays a major part in the release of a game. It tells not only the retailers, but the producer, too, how well the game will potentially sell. If the preorders are low, they'll only print so many disks and retailers will have a small stock. If the preorders are high, they'll make enough for the preorders and a larger percentage more for off-the-shelf purchases since they are betting on word-of-mouth promotion of the game.

It isn't a ripoff since you aren't paying anymore than you would off the shelf. You, instead, guarantee your own copy on release day. Of course you have to buy it when it releases, otherwise the retailer will shelf your copy since you didn't show up for it.

That's the key word here. I figured putting down 30% of the game's cost would guarantee me a copy when I was ready for it. I guess I was wrong.

You can always call around and see if another store has the collector's edition still in stock. Very likely, you aren't the only person that didn't pick up their game. Hell, I recently saw a Fallout 3 lunchbox still in a store. It's a matter of luck, but if you must have the Collector's edition, a little grunt work could find you one.

One could also go to Europe if they are that desperate to find Collector's Editions of games, the line the walls of a lot of stores, the one store I go to still has BC and Frozen Throne Collector's editions and Fallout ones too...seems like people out here just aren't willing to pay the extra cash for the "goodies" and they just sit in the stock forever.

 

[Rednog]

Here's the thing about Gamestop/EB. It's not a "store", in the traditional sense. Their business model more closely resembles a pawn shop. I've had to go in there in the past to get something semi-close to release, only to be told that I should've pre-ordered. I might be able to accept this for oddball titles, but for something like LBP, there's no reason not to stock a whole bunch.

Anyway, I went across the street to Best Buy and bought one off the giant stack of them that they had right there, for anyone to buy. Which is how a store works.

This is a lesson I re-learn every few years. I keep going back, hoping it's gotten better, and it never seems to. If it's not, "You didn't pre-order," it's, "Are you sure you don't want to buy this crappy used copy that's covered in scratches and has no manual? It's five bucks cheaper!" One time they tried to sell a buddy of mine a "new" game that was clearly used, in so much as:

1) It was open.
2) It had been taken home by an employee and played.

So yeah. Fuck Gamestop. Buy things online, it's better for you. Or, if not online, buy them at a real store.

- J

Yeah, I've always hated that the used games were only 5-10 less than the new ones... where's the incentive? Honestly, are there people that actually go in there and are like... wow... 5 bucks off! I'll take a USED one!

I'm always curious as to how there are always a handful of games that were just released being sold used a few days later, its like wtf do people just walk into stores buy a random new game, go home try it for an hour and then sell it back?
Anyways, with EB or Gamestops membership thingy people get another 10% used games so it usually ends up being another 5 or more off, which in the end $10ish off a game is a decent deal for those strapped for cash and don't have qualms about not having manuals and such. I know I've taken the bait sometimes when I go in and buy like 3-4 games (that and most manuals are absolute rubbish nowadays, especially with in game tutorials.)

 

[theSovietConnection]

Yeah, I've always hated that the used games were only 5-10 less than the new ones... where's the incentive? Honestly, are there people that actually go in there and are like... wow... 5 bucks off! I'll take a USED one!

Because sometimes you get stubborn bastards like myself that refuse to let any of my money go to certain publishers. Like Activision.

 

[RaikuFA]

bingo, although i do it on amazon

 

[Julianking93]

Good for you, both those stores suck.

Just buy stuff online or at a local game shop.

I pre ordered Resident Evil 5 from them once and I was in Florida (not where I live. On vacation) when it was released. I called them to say, I wont be able to pick it up today, could you hold it for me? I was friends with the manager and he guranteed that I'd get it next week.

Then ta-fucking-da, they sold it that very day I called them.

Bullshit..

 

[RaikuFA]

i also hate the fact that when you try and reserve a niche title, they wont let you and when you go in on release day, they go "sorry, shouldve preordered."

 

[Pimppeter2]

I don't buy stuff from Gamestop either, I just hate what they stand for

 

[TPiddy]

I'm always curious as to how there are always a handful of games that were just released being sold used a few days later, its like wtf do people just walk into stores buy a random new game, go home try it for an hour and then sell it back?
Anyways, with EB or Gamestops membership thingy people get another 10% used games so it usually ends up being another 5 or more off, which in the end $10ish off a game is a decent deal for those strapped for cash and don't have qualms about not having manuals and such. I know I've taken the bait sometimes when I go in and buy like 3-4 games (that and most manuals are absolute rubbish nowadays, especially with in game tutorials.)

From what I know, most of the used freshly released games come from the staff at the store as they get to try out copies before the game is released.

I can see how that adds up, and sometimes I forget that not everyone has as much money as I do

 

[Baby Tea]

I pre-ordered Dragon Age:Origins Collector's Edition to get that armor that you can use in both it and Mass Effect 2. I put down a $20 deposit on it.

Weird, because I just got the regular edition and I got the armor.
The collectors just comes with the Watcher's Keep as an extra bonus, as is my understanding.

But, that little nit-pick aside, that does suck that they sold it on you.
However, that's policy. They totally should have told you over the phone, and it was a big dick-move that they didn't, but I'd be more inclined to be pissed at the jerk who said 'Oh yeah! We'll have it for you!' rather then the whole company.

 

[Silvance]

Trust me... I checked and it's not there... I wouldn't be that stupid.

It's on the receipt. Right there. I'm looking at my Dragon Age preorder receipt and it's there.

 

[MuddShark6]

That must be your local shop. I live over an hour away and if I ask to have something held til the weekend or so they have never let me down. The 48 hour thing is standard policy but they should have told you when you reserved it. And also called you before selling it, since it was so limited. Still their bad in my opinion.