Why does everyone hate GameStop?

I've noticed that there are a lot of people who hate Gamestop for some reason. I know they are pretty much a monopoly of gaming stores, but they offer good service and quality products. Can anyone tell me why people hate them?

I'm not looking for personal experiences about why you hate them like (they didn't know what I was talking about or they ripped me off, etc).

No I don't work at Gamestop either.

because there are none where I live :PRikardur

well that makes sense haha. but where do you live wheres there's no GameStop or EB Games? In the USA I mean.

Because they're more interested in what they can do for me than what I want from them. I NEVER trade games in, yet they're still mandated to ask me if I have any trade-ins. They don't expect a game to do well, so they don't order anything beyond pre-orders and give it a chance. I don't care if a game is similar and the computer thinks I might be interested, I'm not going to pre-order the new 50 Cent game. No, I don't like sports games, so I don't want to pre-order Madden and be part of their midnight launch, no matter how many times corporate tells them to ask everyone. :|MAILER_DAEMON

I know you said no personal experiences but I can only speak from my own perspective. I wouldn't say I hate them but I don't shop there unless no one else has a game I'm looking for. I guess I'll shop there before Wal-Mart or EBay, but that's it. I don't like their pushy clerks trying to sell you a bunch of stuff you don't want or need; I know it's a practice that most people use but Gamestop's the worst place that I know of. One time the clerk tried to sell me eight different things in between the time I put the game on the counter and the time he gave me the receipt. They also take the wrapping off games (I've heard stories that they will even play the games) and then still sell them as new, which is lame.

So I wouldn't say they offer good service because they're way too pushy, and I wouldn't say they offer quality products either since their new games are usually unwrapped and their used games are often in lousy condition. I have found a few decent things there over the years, but I usually only consider stopping there if everywhere else doesn't have what I am looking for.

They ask you because they have too, like you said, the corporate people tell them too.Altair1337

[QUOTE="Altair1337"]They ask you because they have too, like you said, the corporate people tell them too.MAILER_DAEMON

I know you said no personal experiences but I can only speak from my own perspective. I wouldn't say I hate them but I don't shop there unless no one else has a game I'm looking for. I guess I'll shop there before Wal-Mart or EBay, but that's it. I don't like their pushy clerks trying to sell you a bunch of stuff you don't want or need; I know it's a practice that most people use but Gamestop's the worst place that I know of. One time the clerk tried to sell me eight different things in between the time I put the game on the counter and the time he gave me the receipt. They also take the wrapping off games (I've heard stories that they will even play the games) and then still sell them as new, which is lame.

So I wouldn't say they offer good service because they're way too pushy, and I wouldn't say they offer quality products either since their new games are usually unwrapped and their used games are often in lousy condition. I have found a few decent things there over the years, but I usually only consider stopping there if everywhere else doesn't have what I am looking for.

kfjl

Gamecrazy is horrible for trying to push things on their customers. I went in there to get a disc cleaned and pick up the Metal Gear Solid Essential collection. I have never had someone offer me so many service plans, warranty's, disc protection plans, reservation, trade in, store member card offers in my life. I just wanted to get in and out.

I have been disliking GameStop more and more ever since its employees cleared out games that the company deemed "too old." First, the stores stopped selling NES, SNES, and Genesis games. Then, N64, Playstation, and Dreamcast games faced the same fate. Most recently (this April, to be exact), the stores stopped accepting Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.

Why have these stores stopped trying to distinguish themselves from other game stores? Is it bad for business to accept the old games? It makes no sense to me.

It's almost the exact opposite here in Canada. We've had EB Games for years, and our city got our first gamestop about 3 or 4 months ago. The staff is really friendly, not pushy at all. The games are cheap, and they have a wide selection.

The only thing that sucks is the trade-in values. I usually trade in my games at Blockbuster, as I can get $15 for a game I spent $5 on at Gamestop.

I have been disliking GameStop more and more ever since its employees cleared out games that the company deemed "too old." First, the stores stopped selling NES, SNES, and Genesis games. Then, N64, Playstation, and Dreamcast games faced the same fate. Most recently (this April, to be exact), the stores stopped accepting Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.

Why have these stores stopped trying to distinguish themselves from other game stores? Is it bad for business to accept the old games? It makes no sense to me.

UltimateXShadow

I can understand why they would want to do that because of the amount of clutter that the small stores would have if they kept all past generation games and current generation games as well. My question is though, where do all the older generation games go if they haven't been clearanced out?

...where do all the older generation games go if they haven't been clearanced out?
juradai

It's almost the exact opposite here in Canada. We've had EB Games for years, and our city got our first gamestop about 3 or 4 months ago. The staff is really friendly, not pushy at all. The games are cheap, and they have a wide selection.

The only thing that sucks is the trade-in values. I usually trade in my games at Blockbuster, as I can get $15 for a game I spent $5 on at Gamestop.

grim1813

i totally know what you mean. EBgames here is nothing like what everyone says about it on the forums. I'm actually grateful our EBgames is better. the staff are friendly, they aren't pushy, they have some game knowledge. the one I goto actually has nerds working there, so thats good. fanboys or not.

i've been to a few in newyork, and basically EVERY used game there has no coverslip or manual. it's just a DVD box with that ugly blue slip inside with the name written on it.
it makes me glad to walk into my local EB and see how beautiful the used games are with all their original coverslips inside looking at me.

[QUOTE="juradai"]...where do all the older generation games go if they haven't been clearanced out?
rragnaar

Want make a trip out to the desert, Rags? ;)

Let's go pick up some games that we missed.

[QUOTE="rragnaar"][QUOTE="juradai"]...where do all the older generation games go if they haven't been clearanced out?
juradai

Want make a trip out to the desert, Rags? ;)

Let's go pick up some games that we missed.

[QUOTE="rragnaar"][QUOTE="juradai"]...where do all the older generation games go if they haven't been clearanced out?
juradai

Want make a trip out to the desert, Rags? ;)

Let's go pick up some games that we missed.

That's a good question...it really makes me wonder where they all are.

I dont hate them, they're fine.

Only bad thing I can say is their trade-in prices (and I trade in A LOT) are totally horrible. I get about $3 for old Xbox/PS2 games, and about $15 for 360 games.

[QUOTE="juradai"]

[QUOTE="rragnaar"][QUOTE="juradai"]...where do all the older generation games go if they haven't been clearanced out?
rragnaar

Want make a trip out to the desert, Rags? ;)

Let's go pick up some games that we missed.

Ha! I have never seen a grown ass man react in that way before. You move fast for a man of your stature.

As for the older games, I am going to venture a guess and say that they sell them to those places that specialize in vintage games and consoles. They probably just throw them in a box and sell them in bulk to those dealers. It's either that or they give could possibly give them to employess as bonuses? *shrugs*

I dont hate them, they're fine.

Only bad thing I can say is their trade-in prices (and I trade in A LOT) are totally horrible. I get about $3 for old Xbox/PS2 games, and about $15 for 360 games.

UltimaSlayer94

Well that's actually where the catch is. The more people trade in their games the less they have to give for trade in value. Basically, when trading in games you are giving life to this process.

Ha! I have never seen a grown ass man react in that way before. You move fast for a man of your stature.

juradai

:lol:... I'm dangerous when those survival instincts kick in.

[QUOTE="UltimateXShadow"]

I have been disliking GameStop more and more ever since its employees cleared out games that the company deemed "too old." First, the stores stopped selling NES, SNES, and Genesis games. Then, N64, Playstation, and Dreamcast games faced the same fate. Most recently (this April, to be exact), the stores stopped accepting Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.

Why have these stores stopped trying to distinguish themselves from other game stores? Is it bad for business to accept the old games? It makes no sense to me.

juradai

I can understand why they would want to do that because of the amount of clutter that the small stores would have if they kept all past generation games and current generation games as well. My question is though, where do all the older generation games go if they haven't been clearanced out?

Well, I can understand that for the "old" non-handheld games. But, the Game Boy and Game Boy Color games fill a relatively small amount of storage space. There has to be another reason that contributed to GameStop's decision.

I don't HATE Gamestop, but I also have no reason to go there. I used to go there whenever a game came out thinking that since all they have is games, they would put it up on the shelf first. However, every time I went there, the same thing happened.

Me- "Do you have Game X?"
Clerk- "No, we just sold the last copy a few minutes ago. You should have pre-ordered."
Me- "Yeah, that happened with the last game I wanted, so I actually did this time."
Clerk- "Oh, sorry dude. We just sold your copy because we thought you weren't coming."
Me- "The game came out today and school only got out 20 minutes ago."

I would then go to some other store, like Target or Wal-Mart or K-Mart or Toys R Us or something. They would have tons of copies on the shelf, and I would bring it to the checkout without having to be asked if I wanted to buy magazine subscriptions or reserve games that they wouldn't even hold for me. It's just way easier to NOT go to Gamestop.

I have never hated Gamestop (though I don't think I'd ever trade in a game, their values aren't always great). I did see some good deals on used games (snagged a couple). I also discovered that one of the guys who works at one of the ones near me not only knows his stuff, but is pretty cute as well.

Needless to say, I think I'll be spending more time there :D

I don't know either.

There are probably a few bad ones out there just like every other chain in the business world. But the one(s) I go to are very nice, the employees are nice, I get fair trade in values, and no I don't work there either

there should be a sticky proclaiming gamestop's suckyness. i dealt with them for years and finally enough is enough. my wife was also management at one for a little while. lets do the rundown.

• They give you relatively nothing for your trade ins, and then turn around and sell them for $5 less than a new copy.
• They sneak in "gutted" copies of games as new whenever they can. They also always try to push you into used copies of games because it makes them way way more money. I understand wanting to make more money, but they are far far too pushy.
• They have a policy of not selling a game that is in stock to people unless they pre-ordered, even when they have more than enough. they tell you you need to wait until the next day. this is to get you to pre order, which earns them CRAZY interest on your deposit.
• In general, the employees are horrid to deal with. They hire people who tend to know nothing about games (if you are a mildly attractive girl you are automatically in, even if you have no limbs). They force these employees to upsell everything or fear losing their jobs. If people dont want a magazine subscription or a used copy they get in trouble. THIS is why they are so pushy, and unhappy. - I know not all stores are like this, but i have been to tons of gamestops and this is the general experience.
• They are smug about their pre-order policy. If you do not pre-order, you are a second class customer in their opinion. They tend to mock you if you don't get a game you want because it is out of stock, because you should have pre-ordered, you idiot.
• They do not support the industry in a positive manner. They only order enough copies of many games to cover pre-orders. Another tactic to get your money into their high interest savings account.
• They routinely over book pre-orders, leaving people without their game they were counting on.

My biggest gripes are the stickers and the way they open a brand new game and try to sell it off as new. It's technically not new when someone ******* opens it. And please Gamestop, stop using those stickers that are hard as hell to remove!Kreatzion

Yeah, that's jacked. I've kind of just accepted that my game cases won't be pretty-fied if I get them used at this point.

I never really had a problem with GameStop. The only thing I hate is when y'want to trade in a game that was 60 bucks but then miraculously turns out to be $5.

There seem to be several reasons for the dislike of Gamestop.

1. Trade-in values of games aren't as high as some would like. For example, I thought that RPG Maker 3 was worth more than the $12-15 they offered. I don't know how much it's really worth, since it's collecting dust in storage right now, so maybe it was a fair offer:?

2. Stickers and gutting. Yes, this is annoying, and it would be great if they'd stop doing this.

3. Employees:
a. Gamestop supposedly treats their employees poorly, pressuring them to sell preorders, subscriptions, warranties, etc. I also remember hearing bad things about their hiring/firing policies around the holidays? I don't remember the specific criticism.

b. The employees are ignorant/rude/whatever. I've personally not noticed this, but I don't make a habit of chatting with strangers.

4. The company has bought up other game chains. I liked Funcoland and their 9-cent Nintendo cartridges, for example.

5. Some people just hate big businesses.

Gamestop is just so completely soulless and I should know, because EB Games was the same way right up until they were purchased by Gamestop.

I think by now, the pipe dream they served up to the public about the merging of two huge gaming chains being able to offer better, more competitive deals for consumers can be safely put to rest. Gamestop is more penny-pinching that ever, and their trade-in prices and trade-in "specials" are a bigger joke than they ever were.

The sort of mongrels that are common place amongst the staffs of game stores would never have made it onto my staff when I mangaed what with their lack of grooming and non-existent people skills. No, asking me for a pre-order on the flavor of the month and asking me to bring in my games for trade doesn't count.