Urgent Message for Gamestop Shoppers

Hey guys, just a heads up. Our store is changing policy on all used DS games, and I'm pretty sure its nation wide, not district wide. From here on out, unless feedback changes things, stores will NOT be keeping DS cases, or instruction manuals. 

It seems to be an unfortunate decision from higher ups in the company because most of the games come in without cases anyways, and it will save store space for other inventory. They fail to realize that this will make it practically impossible to find some games complete. 

Anyways, get out there and start snatching up complete games while you can. I'm glad I recently bought some rarer DS games, because this just happened today with no warning. For the time being we are keeping the old cases just in case there is a change in course, but management doesn't think so.

TL;DR buy used DS games nao.

Discuss.

Edit: If you dislike this decision I'd email the company and see if we can't turn this around, because its hard enough to find some of these games. It won't be too hard for me as I work for them, but for the regular customer this is going to be a ball breaker.

I found out how to email them BTW.

From tellgamestop.com you can choose not to take the survey, but still complain/compliment by clicking on a link. From there you can enter your local info, click other/dont remember on who helped you and the next page you can right out your complaint and ask to be contacted by the District Manager.

I wonder if this will affect PSP games as well.GAMECAMILLER

[QUOTE="GAMECAMILLER"]I wonder if this will affect PSP games as well.falconclan

Man that is just idiotic...I don't have the proper words to explain how dumb that is.

All the more reason to not spend any money at Gamestop.someNONSENSE

The policy was mentioned to me a few months back by a friend of mine who works at a local Gamestop, but I had seen that no one was enforcing it at that time. I'm curious why it's come back up.

[QUOTE="someNONSENSE"]All the more reason to not spend any money at Gamestop.gmsnpr

The policy was mentioned to me a few months back by a friend of mine who works at a local Gamestop, but I had seen that no one was enforcing it at that time. I'm curious why it's come back up.

There are probably many variables.What I don't understand is that gamestop doesn't see that they are shooting their biggest customer, the core gamer, right in the heart.

I won't get into the horror that this causes me as a collector, so I'll just go straight for the business side of things:

Don't they realise they could get more money for a complete copy? I don't know what the mentality of the average American game buyer is, but over here people will nearly always be willing to pay a little more (say, £1-2 extra) for a complete copy, even if they're not collectors.  I can't imagine it's too different where you are.  People love bargains, and there's no better bargain than a like-new item at used prices.  It's probably a psychological thing.  I might not like shopping at Game (I suppose the closest thing we have to Gamestop) but even they see the sense in keeping stuff as complete as possible.  Gamestop are just throwing away money.

I guess I can see the space argument as an issue, as a loose DS game is tiny in comparison to a fully boxed version... but can't they just control their inventory better?  I don't pretend to understand the particular internal workings of a company with which I have no experience... but retail is retail.  They are a large (inter-) national chain, surely the processes are in place to ship excess stock around to where it can be better merchandised?  Larger stores, stores with fast stock turnover... maybe keep the bulk excess (ie. 10 billion copies of Nintendogs) in a central warehouse and sell it online?  All retailers have space issues, there's always too much stock and too little space... but you don't see many other retailers taking this kind of blunt instrument approach.  Maybe I'll sooth my overflowing stockroom by ripping the covers off books so I can squeeze a couple more out on the shelf...

By the way, is it really true that most DS games traded in to Gamestop lack cases?  It's totally the opposite here.  Hardly any stuff I see in Game/Gamestation/CeX etc. is less than complete.  Occasionally a missing manual, but that's always marked on the box as such and usually sold at a discount. Guess that's just another culture difference, eh?

Has anyone else experienced the caseless selling of DS games? I'm trying to get a scope on thing. My boss insists this is nation wide.falconclan

Honestly I only see cases missing from older Nintendo systems like Gameboy, Gameboy color, etc. I don't know anybody that will buy any game without box and instructions though.(even if it is cheaper)

One of my local GS's is already doing this for PS2 titles that are 4.99 and under.   Rather than eat up the space with a case and manual, they are taking the disc and putting in a paper sleeve and then selling it that way.

Here's the deal, and what I think would be a good compromise.   If the game comes in used disc/cart only, then fine, then leave it that way, but if a game comes in with the box and manual, stock it that way and charge me an extra buck or two.  I would be perfectly happy with that arrangement.

One of my local GS's is already doing this for PS2 titles that are 4.99 and under.   Rather than eat up the space with a case and manual, they are taking the disc and putting in a paper sleeve and then selling it that way.

Here's the deal, and what I think would be a good compromise.   If the game comes in used disc/cart only, then fine, then leave it that way, but if a game comes in with the box and manual, stock it that way and charge me an extra buck or two.  I would be perfectly happy with that arrangement.

duncanr2n

As far as the DS games go, I'm happy to say that my store is saving the box and instructions for games that come with them, however this is a tradition we adopted, and likely won't be put to use nation wide. Also it may only be a matter of time before we are forced to get rid of them, what with the 3DS. 

I won't get into the horror that this causes me as a collector, so I'll just go straight for the business side of things:

Don't they realise they could get more money for a complete copy? I don't know what the mentality of the average American game buyer is, but over here people will nearly always be willing to pay a little more (say, £1-2 extra) for a complete copy, even if they're not collectors.  I can't imagine it's too different where you are.  People love bargains, and there's no better bargain than a like-new item at used prices.  It's probably a psychological thing.  I might not like shopping at Game (I suppose the closest thing we have to Gamestop) but even they see the sense in keeping stuff as complete as possible.  Gamestop are just throwing away money.

totalgridlock

I can't count the amount of times I have been in line at an EB/Gamestop and watched the parent in front of me ask for a game in which they are buying some their childs friends birthday, and how often they are sucked in with the "we have a used copy available for X dollars less". 

As long as they are complete then 9/10 that route seems to be taken, however getting a small chip for five bucks less then a sealed and complete game? I will opt for the new game thanks. 

Just a heads up that I talked to a manager of a local EB Games in Vancouver, B.C, Canada here were I live and he has heard no plans to take up this new change to the DS games that they sell at their store. I believe that EB Games is affiliated with Gamestop in some way so that bids well for the EB Games in Canada.TwarBlackshire

ah that's good news

figures... I don't shop there anyway... they've been trying to kill the gaming industry for years.waflerevolution

rofl, matter of opinion of course

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"]figures... I don't shop there anyway... they've been trying to kill the gaming industry for years.Big_Evil666

rofl, matter of opinion of course

matter of fact actually. I'm not going to bother giving more than 50 reasons this is true... I'll just go with the most obvious one.

they have bought out literally EVERY bit of competition they had just so they no longer had to compete. this includes more than 12 store chains in the US alone and more than 50 worldwide and more than 100 mom and pop stores.they aren't even the main company either, they are a barnes and nobles subsidiary.

[QUOTE="Big_Evil666"]

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"]figures... I don't shop there anyway... they've been trying to kill the gaming industry for years.waflerevolution

rofl, matter of opinion of course

matter of fact actually. I'm not going to bother giving more than 50 reasons this is true... I'll just go with the most obvious one.

they have bought out literally EVERY bit of competition they had just so they no longer had to compete. this includes more than 12 store chains in the US alone and more than 50 worldwide and more than 100 mom and pop stores.they aren't even the main company either, they are a barnes and nobles subsidiary.

oh well, all companies do the same thing

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"]

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"]figures... I don't shop there anyway... they've been trying to kill the gaming industry for years.Big_Evil666

rofl, matter of opinion of course

matter of fact actually. I'm not going to bother giving more than 50 reasons this is true... I'll just go with the most obvious one.

they have bought out literally EVERY bit of competition they had just so they no longer had to compete. this includes more than 12 store chains in the US alone and more than 50 worldwide and more than 100 mom and pop stores.they aren't even the main company either, they are a barnes and nobles subsidiary.

oh well, all companies do the same thing

most companies don't do most of the things GS does... still, you're attitude about it is bad... just because everyone else is trying to destry society and the econemy, it's okay that GS does it too?

[QUOTE="Big_Evil666"][QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"]

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"]figures... I don't shop there anyway... they've been trying to kill the gaming industry for years.waflerevolution

rofl, matter of opinion of course

matter of fact actually. I'm not going to bother giving more than 50 reasons this is true... I'll just go with the most obvious one.

they have bought out literally EVERY bit of competition they had just so they no longer had to compete. this includes more than 12 store chains in the US alone and more than 50 worldwide and more than 100 mom and pop stores.they aren't even the main company either, they are a barnes and nobles subsidiary.

oh well, all companies do the same thing

most companies don't do most of the things GS does... still, you're attitude about it is bad... just because everyone else is trying to destry society and the econemy, it's okay that GS does it too?

i'm not condoning what they do, but it's just business, and i could care less actually what they do. but i'm not going to boycott EB Games or GS just over that

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"][QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"]

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"]figures... I don't shop there anyway... they've been trying to kill the gaming industry for years.Big_Evil666

rofl, matter of opinion of course

matter of fact actually. I'm not going to bother giving more than 50 reasons this is true... I'll just go with the most obvious one.

they have bought out literally EVERY bit of competition they had just so they no longer had to compete. this includes more than 12 store chains in the US alone and more than 50 worldwide and more than 100 mom and pop stores.they aren't even the main company either, they are a barnes and nobles subsidiary.

oh well, all companies do the same thing

most companies don't do most of the things GS does... still, you're attitude about it is bad... just because everyone else is trying to destry society and the econemy, it's okay that GS does it too?

i'm not condoning what they do, but it's just business, and i could care less actually what they do. but i'm not going to boycott EB Games or GS just over that

I don't do it JUST for that either.

[QUOTE="Big_Evil666"][QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"][QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"]

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"]figures... I don't shop there anyway... they've been trying to kill the gaming industry for years.waflerevolution

rofl, matter of opinion of course

matter of fact actually. I'm not going to bother giving more than 50 reasons this is true... I'll just go with the most obvious one.

they have bought out literally EVERY bit of competition they had just so they no longer had to compete. this includes more than 12 store chains in the US alone and more than 50 worldwide and more than 100 mom and pop stores.they aren't even the main company either, they are a barnes and nobles subsidiary.

oh well, all companies do the same thing

most companies don't do most of the things GS does... still, you're attitude about it is bad... just because everyone else is trying to destry society and the econemy, it's okay that GS does it too?

i'm not condoning what they do, but it's just business, and i could care less actually what they do. but i'm not going to boycott EB Games or GS just over that

I don't do it JUST for that either.

oh, sorry, my bad. it's just that's what it sounded like

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"][QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"][QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"]

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"]figures... I don't shop there anyway... they've been trying to kill the gaming industry for years.Big_Evil666

rofl, matter of opinion of course

matter of fact actually. I'm not going to bother giving more than 50 reasons this is true... I'll just go with the most obvious one.

they have bought out literally EVERY bit of competition they had just so they no longer had to compete. this includes more than 12 store chains in the US alone and more than 50 worldwide and more than 100 mom and pop stores.they aren't even the main company either, they are a barnes and nobles subsidiary.

oh well, all companies do the same thing

most companies don't do most of the things GS does... still, you're attitude about it is bad... just because everyone else is trying to destry society and the econemy, it's okay that GS does it too?

i'm not condoning what they do, but it's just business, and i could care less actually what they do. but i'm not going to boycott EB Games or GS just over that

I don't do it JUST for that either.

oh, sorry, my bad. it's just that's what it sounded like

really? I very specifically said "I won't start listing over 50 reasons"

Oh, Gamestop want to outsell their competitors are you serious? I understand what you're saying waffle, that if people keep buying games there then other smaller chains will suffer and that's not good but it seems to affect you so personally which is why people probably don't understand your passion about, because as long as they get a game at the lowest price, they won't really care.

[QUOTE="Big_Evil666"][QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"][QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"][QUOTE="waflerevolution"][QUOTE="Big_Evil666"]

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"]figures... I don't shop there anyway... they've been trying to kill the gaming industry for years.waflerevolution

rofl, matter of opinion of course

matter of fact actually. I'm not going to bother giving more than 50 reasons this is true... I'll just go with the most obvious one.

they have bought out literally EVERY bit of competition they had just so they no longer had to compete. this includes more than 12 store chains in the US alone and more than 50 worldwide and more than 100 mom and pop stores.they aren't even the main company either, they are a barnes and nobles subsidiary.

oh well, all companies do the same thing

most companies don't do most of the things GS does... still, you're attitude about it is bad... just because everyone else is trying to destry society and the econemy, it's okay that GS does it too?

i'm not condoning what they do, but it's just business, and i could care less actually what they do. but i'm not going to boycott EB Games or GS just over that

I don't do it JUST for that either.

oh, sorry, my bad. it's just that's what it sounded like

really? I very specifically said "I won't start listing over 50 reasons"

oh well u have your reasons, whatever they are for not wanting to shop there, that's cool. but i'm going to cotinue to shop at my local or at any EB Games