EB Games ID'ing???

[prettytendo]

I was at EB Games looking for some last gen stuff to pick up. I grabbed a copy of Narc for $2.99. Went up to the girl at the register. She then wanted to see my ID...

Umm, yeah.
I am 26.
WTF??

I've had them tell me before that games are M-rated, which is perfectly okay. But to be an idiot and tell me that she needs to verify I'm 17 to purchase this game is new!

Anyone else have this happen or is it just the bimbos at my store?? :lol:

[QiG]

Don't feel bad, I'm approaching 26 and have been I.D.ed for R rated movies (basically it means I look 16 and under). I worked in a store that sold tobacco and alcohol and they WILL send people in from both the state and internal security to monitor that stuff. Don't be offended that someone is being smart and trying to protect their job.

I remember I.D.ing really hit the fan about 8 years ago because I got carded for cigarettes more after I turned 18 than before.

[TheBlueWizard]

That just must be your store. I personally watched a GS employee sell Halo 2 to a 7-8 year old on Sunday.

There is NO law requiring an ID (in most states) to buy a game. Alcohol and tobacco, yes, but games, no.

TBW

[prettytendo]

"...they WILL send people in from both the state and internal security to monitor that stuff. Don't be offended that someone is being smart and trying to protect their job."



I suppose I do understand that. I just figure that going there with my husband and son that we wouldn't look like a bunch of corporate people, or cops. Especially my 7 y.o. LOL

[mrlokievil]

They are just trying to protect themselves. If they sell to an underage person they can get int trouble and if they pick and choose who they ask they can get in trouble. I get ask all the time and the employees know me. It's just a precautionary measure.

[FriskyTanuki]

Mine does it and I'm glad, since it's a good policy for them to have. It's no big deal to me to take five seconds to let them check it and buy the game. Just because you're 26, it doesn't mean you can't be carded for anything ever again.

[eswat]

The turn-over rate at the EB near my work is high, so every once in a while a kid will ask for ID when I buy an m-rated game. For the record I'm 21, and I get carded at EB more often than I do at a bar...

[DGenerateKane]

I got ID'd for Warcraft III, a T rated game when I was 17 at Fred Meyer. Meanwhile I rarely get carded for alcohol....

[Foolman]

I've had them tell me before that games are M-rated, which is perfectly okay. But to be an idiot and tell me that she needs to verify I'm 17 to purchase this game is new!

Anyone else have this happen or is it just the bimbos at my store?? :lol:
I can't tell if you're kidding.

[Dead of Knight]

Just be happy that they thought you looked younger than your age. :lol:

[daroga]

I got carded buying the MGS collection on Sunday. I've not gotten carded for anything in a while save for the liquor stores where they'd even card your grandfather. My guess is they're cracking down on this and making them check all IDs.

[pimpinc333]

I don't get what the big problem is. You take offence to someone asking to see you are at least 17 and you get pissed off over it? Cashier/Worker is just doing there job. Seriously OP, you need to lighten up.

[evyrew]

It's better for them to check everyone. It ensures that employees will bother to check when it is actually needed. It's also a way to prevent credit card fraud, or help remember your name the next time you come in. I say it's a good thing.

[refusedchaos]

haha im 16 but i have have only got carded once at GS, and that was cause i wanted to buy a SMT Devil Summor guide! i didnt know that you coulde get carded for guides too!

i never get carded anywhere else.

[SL4IN]

That just must be your store. I personally watched a GS employee sell Halo 2 to a 7-8 year old on Sunday.

There is NO law requiring an ID (in most states) to buy a game. Alcohol and tobacco, yes, but games, no.

TBW

There's no law for it, but employers and employees can still be fined for it.

[trq]

Yeah, I'm with the OP -- carding is good, but what, are you gonna card retirees? Use a little common sense. And for what it's worth, I just got carded buying House of the Dead for the Wii, and since I'm all shifty and rarely carry ID if I'm not driving, I had to have my buddy buy it for me. The kicker, of course, being that I've been of legal drinking age for basically a decade.

[prettytendo]

It seems like several people think I was pissed... I was slightly annoyed at most. I just think its bizarre to get carded when I was very obviously over the age of 17. And like several people who posted, I can't remember the last time I got carded for alcohol... That is pretty ironic.

Taking out ID is not a big deal... just funny... :lol::lol::lol:

[Vinny]

Mine does it and I'm glad, since it's a good policy for them to have. It's no big deal to me to take five seconds to let them check it and buy the game. Just because you're 26, it doesn't mean you can't be carded for anything ever again.

Yeah, seriously. I'm 21 and only got carded once but they usually card anyone who looks questionable as to their age.

Besides, if you're 26 and still get carded it's sort of a compliment... if you're a girl.;)

[Chibi_Kaji]

I've been carded for the last few games I have purchased from Gamestop and Gamecrazy. But has anyone else been asked for a birthdate instead of an ID? The last time I picked up an M rated game from Game Crazy, I had the cashier ask me for my Birthdate instead of ID. Now that seems a little strange to me...

[strummerbs]

Yeah, I'm with the OP -- carding is good, but what, are you gonna card retirees? Use a little common sense. And for what it's worth, I just got carded buying House of the Dead for the Wii, and since I'm all shifty and rarely carry ID if I'm not driving, I had to have my buddy buy it for me. The kicker, of course, being that I've been of legal drinking age for basically a decade.

When I worked at a movie theater, we were required to card anyone we believed looked 35 or younger. One of my co-workers was reprimanded for not carding a 30-year-old secret shopper buying tickets for South Park.

[BillyBob29]

LOL. It cracks me up how I get carded at Best Buy, most recently for the GTA4 pre-order, but the liquor store never asks for ID.

[Dyson]

I'm 22, but I haven't been carded since I grew my beard out following High School.

[Kapwanil]

Depends on where you live, mostly. Back at home every single store will card you, no matter how old you look, if you're purchasing an R/NC-17 DVD or an M rated game. Of course, this can easily be skirted by getting a parent to go in and buy it for you in case you are underage, but the employees are also quite big on telling the parent exactly what's in each game.

Myself...I don't mind being carded, really. I couldn't care any less and when else am I going to whip out an ID? It's a bit more shocking that EB/GS around here cards everyone without fail whereas when I'm buying liquor it's more of a crapshoot. The kid in front of me who barely looks 16, is sweating to death, and is shaking like mad gets a pass whereas I'm asked for ID and two credit cards for verification. ;)

[mitch079]

I'm 32 and still get carded - GO ME!

[eswat]

One of these days I'm going to laminate a fake ID and put my birthdate as 1997 and see what happens.

[urzishra14]

whenever i purchase something that may require an age requirement I just hand over my ID with the money (i have to get in the wallet anyways..) its just easier on all parties involved.

[insertcleverthing]

whenever i purchase something that may require an age requirement I just hand over my ID with the money (i have to get in the wallet anyways..) its just easier on all parties involved.
Yeah, I've started doing this too. I get carded every freakin' time when I buy alcohol without fail even though I'm a ways over 21. I must have one of those baby faces. Oddly enough, I wasn't carded when I bought my first legal drink at a bar after turning 21. WTF?

[007]

You know, it might be a bit dickish, but I ALWAYS wait until I'm asked. Cigarettes, liquor store, movie theater... unless they ask, I don't whip it out. I think I just like seeing if people are going to do their job correctly or not. If they ask for ID, I'm completely 100% courteous about it.
Regardless, I've had a gigantic fuck-all beard for at least 6 years now, so I rarely get carded anyway.

[KingBroly]

yeah, they're id'ing, and they have been id'ing (start of the year I think). Even on pre-orders. Even for RP bonus discs you get to enter online betas.

[Lord_Kefka]

Actually, my home state of Illinois here had that legislation. It was quickly overturned of course, but it shows the scary fact that it's possible. The law would have had fines for people who sold M rated games to those under 18.

Gamestop has been pushing (on the corportate level) the idea of asking for ID on M rated games for years. But whether or not your local regional manager, district manager or down to store manager level has been actually going through with making the employees do it.

Which is all well and good, it's a self-regulated industry at this point. The ESRB is a ratings board created to keep the peace after the Mortal Kombat congress hearings fiasco. But still, there are no real fines being handed out or government intrusion. At least for now....Hillary wants otherwise.

So my opinion is just your mouth shut, flash your ID and be thankful the government isn't any deeper into our hobby.

[QiG]

That reminds me, I walked to the mall around 8-9ish on Black Friday and there were kids asking me to buy Assassin's Creed for them in gamestop. They must enforce it around here.

I have the id out everytime I buy alcohol, not so much with other things. It's a crap shoot who's going to ask so I just grab it while my wallet is out anyway.

[SeanNOLA]

I used to work in a game store, and we used to be very strategic with when we carded:

I carded everyone who bought a GTA game (you never know who might be a reporter)
I carded everyone who bought an M-Rated game when there were kids close by, especially when GTA games were out/coming out soon (this deterred them from trying to buy a copy later without a parent or guardian)
I also had to card everyone who traded games in.

I'm guessing the fact that the OP had a 7 year-old with her increased her chances of getting carded, because if I had been working and seen a mother purchasing an M-Rated game, I would have carded her (I have been chewed out by mothers before, making broad generalizations about how we let just any old toddler in to buy snuff porn and beastiality games or whatever it is that we sell)

[evyrew]

Some stores and restaurants go by the 'card them unless they have gray hair' policy.

[blaked569]

i'm bothered that the game stores near me DON'T card me for M-rated games

[Derrick1979]

I hear the same line if im anywhere besides my local Gamestop that all the employees know me..

They tell me the game is M rated and they card me... im 28


It is store policy ad a strick state law so no only with the employee be canned if it is a secret shopper they dont card the store itself will get fined...

Just show them the ID whats the big deal.

[wubb]

Eh, I wouldn't have a problem with it. Might not be against any law, but I think the store should be able to enforce not selling M rated games to people under 17 if they want.

I did see an old dude get royally pissed over being denied service at a bar once. He was gray haired and obviously well over 50 but the bartender said the policy is no alcohol w/o ID no matter how old you look and this guy apparently didn't have ID on him. Dude was livid.

[insertcleverthing]

I did see an old dude get royally pissed over being denied service at a bar once. He was gray haired and obviously well over 50 but the bartender said the policy is no alcohol w/o ID no matter how old you look and this guy apparently didn't have ID on him. Dude was livid.
I support carding in pretty much all areas (especially video game sales), but that...that is just plain fucking stupid. Seriously, way to miss the entire point of the practice in the first place.

[tangytangerine]

I don't have a problem with it. It's part of their job that they need to enforce, otherwise the company punish them.

Gamestop is the only one around here that cards me. Game Crazy just asks for my birthdate, probably cause they know I'm older than 17 since I have a account there(since you need to be 17 to have one).

[dmaul1114]

I'd like to see them ID more, really needs to be some enforcement of it. Would take some heat off of M-Rated games if they;d ID more consistently as then blame is 100% on parents as they have no excuses if they're buying them for their kids or not keeping up on what their kids are playing at their friend's houses etc. Should already be on parents totally, but IDing more would at least take some ammunition away from the Jack Thompson's of the world.

Anyway, I can't recall getting ID'd for a game or movie anytime in the past 8-10 years (I'm 29). I seldom get carded for alcohol anymore, maybe 1 out of 10 times.

[Ryukahn]

I've always looked older than what I actually am, so getting carded hasn't been an issue with me. In the past 10 years or so, I think I've only been carded once or twice.

I remember when I was 13 and went to a car show. They tried to make me pay as an adult (it was 16+ = adult) and my dad had to argue with them that I was only 13. I'm sure when I'm in my 40s and whatnot I'll be doing everything I can to look younger, but for now it's great looking older! :lol:

[PenguinMaster]

I get carded all the time now. I found it convenient that most places started cracking down on carding around the time I turned 17, even though I've been buying M-rated games since I was around 7 years old.

Pretty much everywhere also asks for ID when paying with a credit card (which is excellent), so I usually don't know if they're asking for ID because I'm buying an M-rated game or because I'm paying with a credit card (or both).

[monkeydeew]

bestbuy never cards on frontlane games rated M. is that a loophole?

[H.Cornerstone]

at Target were supposed too, but no one ever does. However, if some 10 year old tries to buy an M-rated game I won't let him.

[Thomas96]

Gamestop has to do it.. and they need to show their efforts. Their whole business is games. In the future if any laws pass or anyone tries to present a lawsuit against them, or anything, they can always say - these are our procedures, and this is the way we conduct our business.
[by IDing on a regular basis].

[torifile]

There are so many other things to get annoyed about. Why even work yourself up *at all* over this? The employee was just doing her job right. Why punish her for it?

[MSUHitman]

There was a kid a couple of months ago (I work immediately next door to a Gamestop) that didn't have ID on him and spent the next half hour walking around outside asking people to buy the game for him. We didn't know what he was doing from inside our store and he looked suspicious so we called the cops and he split when they drove by. It was only after the cops came I asked the Gamestop guys about him and they told me about the ID.

[musha666]

A while back my friend (who is 30 and looks it) went to Best Buy to buy a game. It was rated M so they carded him for it. Fair enough. Thats the only way the ratings system will work. The kicker was the next person in line was a girl, maybe 15 or 16, was buying an R rated movie and wasnt carded.

Cartoon violence is more dangerous then live action violence I guess:|

[prettytendo]

A while back my friend (who is 30 and looks it) went to Best Buy to buy a game. It was rated M so they carded him for it. Fair enough. Thats the only way the ratings system will work. The kicker was the next person in line was a girl, maybe 15 or 16, was buying an R rated movie and wasnt carded.

Cartoon violence is more dangerous then live action violence I guess:|

:applause: That's what I am getting at!! Consistency, Consistency, Consistency!! It's BS to card someone obviously of age then go on to not card someone that is obviously not...

[FriskyTanuki]

That's because movies no longer have the violence stigma that games are dealing with now.

[JJSP]

I wish Gamestop carded more. It might reduce the number of available 12-year-olds to call me a "$$$$$$" on Xbox Live.

[rapsodist]

It does feel a little awkward sometimes when I get carded, but I realize that for the person who asked to see my ID they'd rather risk offending me than losing their job. I've also seen stores that ameliorate this by posting signs that say anyone who looks under 40 will be carded.

[oscargrouch]

See its the double standard that annoys me. R rated movies vs M games, yeah completely different policies in most stores.

I just found it funny one time where i didn't get carded for the beer I was buying, but when i said can i get a pack of smokes they wanted to see my ID.

[davidjinfla]

Actually in FL you can be prosecuted for selling 'R' rated movies to someone under 17. As to EB, back in the day, they made us post a statement about checking ID's right on the counter. Corporate then laid down the Law! Anyone caught selling M rated games to anyone under 17 was to be terminated. Store managers and Assistant managers were also responsible for making sure employee's were trained and if it could be proved they weren't they were also fired. don't know if it is still that way.

[MidnightRain]

There's an EB near me that does this. I find it amusing that I've been carded for buying video games multiple times, but have never gotten carded for buying alcohol.

[untouchablemike]

I am an employee of GameStop. We have to card. There is an employee at my store that will ID everyone, gray-haired, tattooed, with multiple kids, absolutely everyone.

Personally, I ID everyone anyone who could by any stretch of the imagination be under 20. That pretty much covers my ass. Also, we ID'd everyone for the Launch of Halo 3, no exceptions. We will also ID everyone on the night of GTA IV, no exceptions. I will ID regulars, just for appearance's sake. They never mind, and if there are customers waiting, it sends the message that they will get carded too.

If we're caught not carding anyone that could potentially be even close to the age of 17 - our manager would reprimand us - if not fire us - on the spot. Enforcing ESRB ratings is something that's even on our "GameStop TV" - the ad-laden TV show that's playing in every GameStop/EB. So don't hate too hard. I would have ID'd you too.

[Brak]

I still get ID'd, even though I have mutton chops, a goatee and a moustache.

(I'm a man of excess.)

[ElwoodCuse]

It's better for them to check everyone. It ensures that employees will bother to check when it is actually needed. It's also a way to prevent credit card fraud, or help remember your name the next time you come in. I say it's a good thing.

It's a violation of all credit card merchant agreements to require ID. They are only allowed to check if the signature on the card and the signature on the receipt/touchpad match.

Actually in FL you can be prosecuted for selling 'R' rated movies to someone under 17.

Unless it's porno you're up against only your employer, not John Law.

[spoo]

I'm 32 and still get carded - GO ME!

I hear you, I'm 28 and I still get carded at times, sometimes with the eyebrow. It annoys me all to hell when teenagers card me, but normally it is the baby boomer crowd that cards me. I'm aware that I have a "baby face" and I don't mind being ID'ed at the bar or the liquor store but at the game store/Best Buy to get CoD4 with my wife by my side it annoys the hell out of me.

It's a violation of all credit card merchant agreements to require ID. They are only allowed to check if the signature on the card and the signature on the receipt/touchpad match.

I have never heard that before.... If someone uses a stolen CC at the store the CC company will do a charge back and not pay the store for the goods bought using the stolen CC. Stores check ID when you use a CC to make sure that you aren't stealing from them.

[vlv723]

I don't mind getting checked, which is understandable but one time when I was trading-in/buying at Gamestop, I got carded not once, not twice but three friggin times!

One- Verify ID for trade-in
Two- Verify ID for Mature Rating Games
Three- Verify ID for Credit Card

Man, I was really annoyed, but the guy was new and gave him a hard time about it, but it was all laugh and jokes at the end.

[Wolfkin]

i worked in a theater and we're supposed to card everyone who looks under 30 so the fact that she carded you didn't mean she thought you were under 18. It just means she didn't think you were say over 35 or what ever their policy is.

[Nathan_Sama]

ive been id'd...
had to wait for my mom to get pack from lowes to get the games too
this was during the B2G1 sale

[eswat]

Tuesday is going to be interesting. I'm pretty sure a regional manager will be coming to EB that day, carding 50-year olds or something.

[Mahoney07]

My uncle is 50 and has been ID'd for alcohol.

[SL4IN]

I have never heard that before.... If someone uses a stolen CC at the store the CC company will do a charge back and not pay the store for the goods bought using the stolen CC. Stores check ID when you use a CC to make sure that you aren't stealing from them.

It's law to ID when customers are paying with CC.....

[ElwoodCuse]

It's law to ID when customers are paying with CC.....

Show me this law.

http://consumerist.com/consumer/your-rights/how-to-report-merchants-for-requiring-a-minimum-purchase-or-making-you-show-id-333160.php

"Although Visa rules do not preclude merchants from asking for cardholder ID, merchants cannot make an ID a condition of acceptance. Therefore, merchants cannot refuse to complete a transaction because a cardholder refuses to provide ID. Visa believes merchants should not ask for ID as part of their regular card acceptance procedures."

"A merchant must not refuse to complete a MasterCard card transaction solely because a cardholder who has complied with the conditions for presentment of a card at the POI refuses to provide additional identification information."

[spoo]

Show me this law.

http://consumerist.com/consumer/your-rights/how-to-report-merchants-for-requiring-a-minimum-purchase-or-making-you-show-id-333160.php

"Although Visa rules do not preclude merchants from asking for cardholder ID, merchants cannot make an ID a condition of acceptance. Therefore, merchants cannot refuse to complete a transaction because a cardholder refuses to provide ID. Visa believes merchants should not ask for ID as part of their regular card acceptance procedures."

"A merchant must not refuse to complete a MasterCard card transaction solely because a cardholder who has complied with the conditions for presentment of a card at the POI refuses to provide additional identification information."

Thanks for the info. No wonder CC companies can't loose money with their outrageous APR, crazy large late fees, charges merchants that accept their cards and if a card gets stolen and purchases were made on the card don't pay the merchant for the purchases from the stolen card. On top of that since they can't "refuse" a CC sale from someone they suspect isn't the card holder for refusing to give an ID.

[TheBlueWizard]

There's no law for it, but employers and employees can still be fined for it.

True, but only by their own company. The state can't fine you if its not illegal.

[jimbodan]

I don't like getting carded (I'm 26), but I do understand why they do it and try not to get upset over it.

[Solori]

My 64 year old grandma has actually been carded by GS clerks more than once. IMO that is completely assinine. I have no problem with GS employees checking the ID on people who have a remote chance of being under 17. But seriously, there is absolutely no reason to card a 64 year old woman. BTW she pays with cash so it had nothing to do with credit card verification.

To those who say it is no big deal to flash your ID to a clerk, I want to point out that your drivers license does contain personal info. I actually used to know a guy who worked in a restaurant who used to get a kick out of using info he got from looking at women's drivers licenses to creep them out -- for example he would let them know that he knew their address, height, age etc. People can abuse info found on your driver's license.

I look at it like this- People have a right to keep the personal info on their driver's license private. At the same time, GS has a duty not to sell m-rated games to people under 17. If you look like you are possibly 17, that is a reasonable justification for infringing on your right to privacy. However, if you don't look like there's any chance that your'e 17 then GS loses their justification for needing to infringe on your privacy rights. That's why I think GS's policy, as it is applied, is stupid and without justification = bad customer relations. Which is one (of many) reasons I choose not to shop at GS unless it is a last resort.

Ironically, GS thinks that its policy fosters good customer relations. GS thinks it is showing people that it takes its responsibilities to keep m-rated games out of minors hands seriously. Personally, I don't see how carding elderly gray-haired people is a sign of a responsible company. I also think it is ridiculous to card obviously 30 somethings. But that's just my 2 cents. Being a private retailer, GS will only change its policy if enough of its customer base is irritated by it. Since most of GS's customer base appears to be in their 20s and younger, and that is the age group that it is reasonable to card, I doubt GS will change its policy anytime soon.

[double_j]

The only time I get carded is if

a.) A manager is there
b.) I shave. Because with facial hair, I look like a logger, without it, I look like a teenager apparently.

[ElwoodCuse]

On top of that since they can't "refuse" a CC sale from someone they suspect isn't the card holder for refusing to give an ID.

It's not that they can't ever refuse a credit card sale, they just can't do it because the person won't show ID.

Try paying for something with an unsigned credit/debit card at the Post Office, you WILL be shut down. In my experience though the Post Office is infinitely more vigilant about comparing signatures (or checking for them at all) than all other merchants combined.

[Thomas96]

I got ID'd when I bought Dark Sector and Army of two.. lol