EB firing people for ebaying Ps3 and Wii

[phear3d]

heres the link

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/24/rumor-eb-gamestop-workers-fired-if-ps3-wii-listed-on-ebay/

they are showing no remorse!

[Scorch]

They threaten that every time a new system comes out.

[TheBlueWizard]

Well, its a $7/hour job, so who cares if they fire you? In most states, an employer can fire you at any time for any (or no) reason and there isn't shit you can do about it. Hell, at my job (I'm an engineer with a Fortune 500 company), we have to sign something the day we start indicating that we understand they can fire your butt at any time for any reason.

If that's what EB wants to waste their time and money on (tracking serial numbers to employee purchased systems) then that's their problem. It will become our problem when all of this wasting time causes game prices to go up.

TBW

[gaelan]

good rumor even though it is totally not enforceable

[Chacrana]

heres the link

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/24/rumor-eb-gamestop-workers-fired-if-ps3-wii-listed-on-ebay/

they are showing no remorse!


Assuming this were true, who would care if you got fired for ebaying a PS3? You'd be making like a $500 or $600 profit by selling a PS3 and it'd take you over 100 hours of working at a shit job to get that kind of money.

[NamPaehc]

I think this might just be more for the public and Sony more then anything. So they can say "hey we told them not to do that!" to Sony so they feel better, and they can seem as if they are putting customers first.

[David85]

You will eaisly make $1000 on the sale and if they fire you no biggy.

Plus how would they find out? Of course there is the problem of people knowing you bought one and asking how it is, but you can just say you bought it has a gift.

[mykevermin]

I simply fail to see how they'd track a certain eBay sale back to an employee.

[pinoy530]

This article is stupid.

"We like the idea of EB/Gamestop trying to get consoles into the hands of gamers, but this plan may have little impact."

Do they think that the person who buys it off ebay is going to throw it off a roof or something? Of course that person is going to buy games, and those types of people who spend that much on ebay are probably the same people who walk into EB/Gamestop and buy 4 or 5 brand new $50-$60 games at a time. Don't they prefer selling to rich ass gamers?

[mykevermin]

This article is stupid.

"We like the idea of EB/Gamestop trying to get consoles into the hands of gamers, but this plan may have little impact."

Do they think that the person who buys it off ebay is going to throw it off a roof or something? Of course that person is going to buy games, and those types of people who spend that much on ebay are probably the same people who walk into EB/Gamestop and buy 4 or 5 brand new $50-$60 games at a time. Don't they prefer selling to rich ass gamers?

When they say "this plan may have little impact," they're implying that EB/GS are probably making idle threats, or they know they won't be able to prevent employees from doing this.

And, while you make a somewhat coherent argument, you are missing one crucial point: if someone is spending $1000+ on a PS3, that's, bare minimum, $400 they may have been willing to spend on software at EB/GS, but they no longer have the option to do so.

[Javery]

And, while you make a somewhat coherent argument, you are missing one crucial point: if someone is spending $1000+ on a PS3, that's, bare minimum, $400 they may have been willing to spend on software at EB/GS, but they no longer have the option to do so.

There's also the lost sale that EB could have made to that person, in theory.

[mykevermin]

There's also the lost sale that EB could have made to that person, in theory.

I don't think EB/GS gives employee discounts on hardware, so that's moot.

[bmsdaddy]

Don't you guys think that the person willing and able to spend $500 or more over retail for a console is also able to afford to buy some games for said console? I doubt that they would "tap themselves out" to buy the console and then let it sit on the shelf. Of course exceptions will exist but if they are that dumb to overpay...............

[Javery]

I don't think EB/GS gives employee discounts on hardware, so that's moot.

I meant that EB would lose the sale to the person who ultimately buys the eBayed system - so instead of selling 2 systems they only sell 1. Of course you could argue the employee would have never bought the system for himself.

[mykevermin]

Don't you guys think that the person willing and able to spend $500 or more over retail for a console is also able to afford to buy some games for said console? I doubt that they would "tap themselves out" to buy the console and then let it sit on the shelf. Of course exceptions will exist but if they are that dumb to overpay...............

It may embitter them to the experience. Taking javeryh's point a little further, the transaction will no longer take place in an EB/GS - where they have an opportunity to upsell the customer (extended warranty, software, etc.). Having employees sell it (1) makes the company look bad to consumers (the sort of "I could buy one at this store if all the goddamned employees didn't buy them" logic), and (2) takes away EB's opportunity to sell more stuff to you.

Taking these steps, even if they are ultimately empty gestures (I don't think many people really believe that EB/GS will stop many employees), gives them a good public image as a company who "wants to serve its customers." It's pure PR.

EDIT: That's still wonky math to me, javery. I see your point a bit better, though, even if I don't buy it.

[bmsdaddy]

Many people plan on buying one now, selling it for a profit, then buying another later for themselves with the proceeds.

[phear3d]

i really dont think they have a way of tracking these down on ebay. unless they have big mouths and tell their co-workers they've sold them on ebay. i think this is just a way to get on sony's good side and assure them that they comply to their request. but if i do work there and im able to get the ps3 on launch day, i will sell it on ebay without a doubt.

[jz4evr]

this is nothing new. it's been a gs/eb rule. not only system's anything bought by an employee and resold (within 1 year) will get you fired, only if they find out. they only want employee's to resell back to them so they can make take more money away from the staff.

[dracula]

i really dont think they have a way of tracking these down on ebay. unless they have big mouths and tell their co-workers they've sold them on ebay. i think this is just a way to get on sony's good side and assure them that they comply to their request. but if i do work there and im able to get the ps3 on launch day, i will sell it on ebay without a doubt.

i have no idea how they could track them through serial numbers. I guess if they somehow worked with ebay to get the names of EVERYONE who lists a ps3? i am just guessing.

I find it pretty baffling that people are willing to overpay for these systems but whatever

[David85]

But who is going to write the serial numbers on an eBay aution? The number is not needed at all.

[dracula]

no i am saying that gamestop/eb would track ALL of names of people selling their systems on ebay, but for that to work they would need ebays help. I think they can find the names of all of the people who preordered a ps3 because it is in the gamestop system, and when they pick up their system it says the serial number on the receipt, and presumably is in the system

Not sure if that makes sense or not, but like i said, they would still need ebay's help to get the names of everyone listing a ps3 auction. And why would ebay go through the trouble and man hours of tracking all of that information unless if gamestop/eb was supplying the manpower?

as stated, this is just idle threats by gamestop/eb to gain PR.