Buy-Rite to wrong no more; chain shuttered

The Better Business Bureau and the North Carolina Attorney General's Office have taken action against a game retailer in North Carolina after repeated complaints against the company for shoddy service, misrepresentation, and outright thievery of funds. As a result, Buy-Rite Video Games Inc. has closed its doors and ceased operations.

Buy-Rite Video Games was a North Carolina-based online retailer of used, antique, and imported games. The company offered refurbished systems and imported goods, most of which appealed to collectors and game fanatics. But despite its lucrative offerings, the company quickly made a name for itself as a bastion of bad service.

A quick Google search on the company makes it obvious that Buy-Rite was not known for keeping its customers happy. On Fatwallet.com, a bargain-tracking Web site, many users have posted complaints about the company. One such user described the monthlong process of receiving a Sega Saturn he'd purchased from the company. When the equipment finally arrived, he was sorely disappointed.

"The saturn was slightly cracked, same with the controller, but both worked. Two saturn games were horribly scratched and Soul Calibur didn't work. Not to mention all these games were used, which they did not mention on the website. I also found out when I received the orders that they had charged me over $40 in shipping."

According to the Better Business Bureau's Web site, Buy-Rite Video Games, which was founded in 1995, has infuriated hundreds of customers.

"Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record due to unanswered complaints concerning delivery problems & product dissatisfaction," reads the Better Business Bureau's Web site. "The Bureau has processed 414 complaints about this company in the last 36 months."

It seems that disgruntled customers have had the last laugh, however.

"On April 12, 2005 the North Carolina Attorney General's Office contacted Buy-Rite Video Games, Inc. requesting that the company ensure that they will take no more orders, inform customers of their business status and they must provide a working telephone number for customers to contact concerning the resolution of their complaints," reads the BBB's site.

Evidently, the company did not comply. According to the BBB's site, "as of April 26, 2005 the North Carolina Attorney General's Office reports that Buy-Rite Video Games is out of business."

Currently, the Buy-Rite Web site is down and no communications with the company had been returned. It is unknown what will become of any outstanding orders.