Gamestop not allowing re-sellers to get Edge card?

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davyd

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I went with my roommate to GS today. While there, he decided to renew his edge card since it was expiring this month. When the clerk looked up his info, he claimed the system had a note in it saying NOT to renew the Edge card membership because he had been flagged as a re-seller.

Don't get me wrong, he IS a reseller (I think he bought something like 9 copies of ICO in the past 2 months), but it surprised me that Gamestop would actually pick that out.

This seems like a new thing to me, is this a recent development, or possibly in my area only? Do any GS employees here have any info on this? I'm hoping me buying two copies of DDR mario within 4 months didn't get me flagged, my renewal comes around in April.

EDIT: Tomorrow he's going to a different gamestop to try to renew. He believes that it's just that local GS attempting to get rid of him. We compiled a list of the things he purchased in the last three months in order to help people figure out if they are in the same boat as he is.

ICO - 7
Tetris DS - 3
Wavebird - 7
Advance Wars 1 - 3
Advance Wars 2 - 3
Advance Wars: Dual Strike - 4
Marvel vs Capcom 2 (PS2) - 2
Marvel vs Capcom 2 (xbox) - 1
Disgaea 1 - 3
Persona 3 (new) - 4
Persona 3 (used) - 1
Monopoly/Battleship/Etc. - 1
Gameboy Player - 4
Pikmin 2 - 2
Xbox Live Compilation - 3
Orange Box - 2
Assassin's Creed - 2
Halo 3 - 2
Etrian Odyssey - 3
Electroplankton - 1
Zelda Master Quest - 2
Zelda Collector's Ed. - 2
Fire Emblem (gba) - 2
Fire Emblem 2 (gba) - 2
Fire Emblem (gc) - 3
Nocturne - 2
Jedi Outcast (gc) - 1
Turok - 1
Devil May Cry 4 - 1
Devil Summoner (new) - 5
Devil Summoner (used) - 2
MGS: Twin Snakes (gc) - 1
TRAPT - 2
Shadow Hearts - 2
Rez - 3
DDR Mario - 3
Various DVDs/Seasons - 16

This does *not* include the items that he bought for his own use.

EDIT 2:
[quote name='"Davyd"']He was denied at a second GS today. He asked why, specifically, he was not allowed to renew. This employee just said that the system would not allow it, and that he was confused himself, as he's never seen it happen before. The manager was out and the other employee didn't know what was going on, either. He asked if he was banned from the store, the employee just gave him a weird look and told him no.

He went to a third Gamestop, this one he rarely went to as it was rather out of the way. He signed up for a "new" subscription with the same name but a fake address (he doesn't care about the mag), and it went through just fine. Apparently it's easy to get around the system. It'll be interesting to see if they catch on later.[/quote]
 
[quote name='davyd']I went with my roommate to GS today. While there, he decided to renew his edge card since it was expiring this month. When the clerk looked up his info, he claimed the system had a note in it saying NOT to renew the Edge card membership because he had been flagged as a re-seller.

Don't get me wrong, he IS a reseller (I think he bought something like 9 copies of ICO in the past 2 months), but it surprised me that Gamestop would actually pick that out.

This seems like a new thing to me, is this a recent development, or possibly in my area only? Do any GS employees here have any info on this? I'm hoping me buying two copies of DDR mario within 4 months didn't get me flagged, my renewal comes around in April.[/quote]

bumping to see what people say. Seems weird to me. I have seen a couple threads lately about Gamestop flagging resellers. Wondering how they are getting this info. Just based on buying more than 1 copy of a game?
 
I'm not sure. I've never seen this happen before, so it might be a new development. I hope they don't start cracking down on people who use coupons excessively, or all of CAG will be banned from GS. Though coupons usually say "Limit one use per visit," so I don't think that would be a huge issue.
 
A week or two ago, a CAG posted about them denying him service on a GS.com order, because he had been flagged as a reseller. All of their promos warn about resellers, so I am sure this is something the corporation takes very seriously.

I have used many of the coupons extensively, coupled with my Edge card, without an issue at all, so I doubt that will come into play. As you point out, the coupon clearly says one per visit, so I don't think that is a problem.
 
[quote name='kell']Reselling is the only thing GS is good for.[/quote]

Haha. This.

I would think it would greatly benefit Gamestop to have all these people taking mass quantities of games from them. I dont think the 10% is going to break them though.
 
If it was online, that's one thing but this happening in stores is a little disturbing. They're tracking what people are buying? I wonder if they'll start tracking coupon usage too?

On many occasions, I've bought the same game multiple times due to sales/coupons (B2G1Fs especially). Hell, I bought like 3 copies of BG Dark Alliance II using that 25% off PS2 game coupon a few weeks ago... and I've picked up like 2 copies of DDS2 from the BF B2G1F sale. I never resold them, just traded them... though it's the same in prinicle I guess.

Guess I'm on that list then.:lol:
 
I am going to assume that their policy would be pertaining to a clear pattern. I have bought multiples of good deals before, keeping one and flipping another. I haven't had any problems with my Edge card or buying online. I'm guessing this is going to apply to people who are constantly buying five copies of something.
 
resellers are probably a lot of their business, so if they lose them, it looks like a bad move on GS from where i sit. they are paying gamestop the same amount someone else would, so i honestly don't see where they have legal grounds to even deny you renewing it since while morally wrong, there is no law against being a reseller. oh well, i try to sty away from gs anyways, just 1 more reason to add to my "gs is stupid, do not shop there" list.
 
[quote name='Vinny']If it was online, that's one thing but this happening in stores is a little disturbing. They're tracking what people are buying? I wonder if they'll start tracking coupon usage too?

[/quote]

it's called edge card. it tracks every purchase you use it on. Same deal with bestbuy rewards. You get an incentive and they get information on marketing and shopping patterns. Standard practice
 
[quote name='Vinny']What?! Gamestop actually doing something that's... good? Huzzah Gamestop!:applause:

You should be one to talk...[/quote]

[quote name='Vinny']Guess I'm on that list then.:lol:[/quote]

Hypocrite.

[quote name='bigdaddybruce44']I am going to assume that their policy would be pertaining to a clear pattern. I have bought multiples of good deals before, keeping one and flipping another. I haven't had any problems with my Edge card or buying online. I'm guessing this is going to apply to people who are constantly buying five copies of something.[/quote]

I have been labeled as such with only one order of multiples.
 
Im just wondering how they classify this. Do they track multiple purchases on the same game and then make a decision? If anyone with knowledge of exactly how you get classified as a reseller can post that would be great. I used that GC coupon last time about 25 seperate times. Not that that matters since there are no restrictions.

Judging by the couple seperate posts I have read it seems to me that there is no real rhyme or reason for how they classify this stuff. As I posted in the other resellers thread, this is a completely boneheaded move by Gamestop, if they are somehow deciding to crack down on resellers. I can guarantee you 100% that stockholders don't give a sh-t if resellers are feeding money into the system.
 
so i honestly don't see where they have legal grounds to even deny you renewing it since while morally wrong
Click to expand...
Morality and law don't always overlap. Stores can deny you service for just about any reason they want. Blatant discrimination, like denying people service over race or religion, would certainly got them in hot water, but nothing is stopping them having other such policies, like "no shirt, no service" or not selling to resellers.
 
[quote name='bigdaddybruce44']Morality and law don't always overlap. Stores can deny you service for just about any reason they want. Blatant discrimination, like denying people service over race or religion, would certainly got them in hot water, but nothing is stopping them having other such policies, like "no shirt, no service" or not selling to resellers.[/QUOTE]


while i understand that, how can they be the judges of who is reselling for sure? you could be buying for friends as gifts. while not likely, the only thing that i can figure out is that they think it is morally wrong. they cant claim legally it is another business without proof and i honestly dont see a real reason why they can take it. i also think it is very bad for business on their end, since the resellers probably buy more games than most of their other consumers year round and if the resellers can get it elsewhere for the same price, why would they go to the place that did that to them? i dont get it, but i guess i am just not the greatest at understanding business tactics.
 
[quote name='Brian9824']it's called edge card. it tracks every purchase you use it on. Same deal with bestbuy rewards. You get an incentive and they get information on marketing and shopping patterns. Standard practice[/quote]

This is why when you make a purchase that may be bordering on the realm of being a reseller(like buying multiple copies of games, like I did with Powerdrome Racing for PS2 about 2 years ago)or when it's for an insanely small purchase(like a penny guide or something), DON'T USE YOUR RZ OR EDGE CARD!!!!!!

Since it seems that those using their Edge card or other discounts are getting nailed by GS for being a 'reseller', the best way to do transactions are face to face, in store with CASH. You know, that green stuff they give you at the end of your work week for doing your job?

I know, I know, it's alot easier for some to just go online, click a few buttons, enter in a coupon code, enter in CC info and just wait for the stuff to be delivered to your house. But from the stories people have been relating on here lately, it seems like you're better off not trying to get that piddily 10% off by using that card if you're buying a couple of the same item.

That's about the ONLY way I figure you could avoid being labeled as a reseller.
 
Don't want to be seen/labeled/flagged?

Bite the bullet and don't buy/trade-in with your Edge card. Or, if you must, use friends Edge cards instead, and rotate around. Lastly, always pay in cash.

Trading-in with your own Edge card should be no problem, so long as you don't stretch the credit too long.
 
regardless of giving them your edge card doesn't GS always ask for your info when reselling games. Thus when they ask for your address and phone number it'll still be linked to your edge card (unless you moved or something), but I don't remember a time when they haven't ask for my info. And i don't think it's just your area i'm sure most places keep track of how many sales and/or returns you've made with their store. I know walmart and target keep track of that, i'm sure a handful of other stores do too.
 
It's not about legality. It's not about morality. It's about profit. It's very similar to a casino tossing out card counters. They want to be the only ones to profit from the reselling of games.
 
But how does Gamestop suffer if someone buy two copies of ICO for the price they are asking -10% for Edge versus if 2 other people buy one copy of ICO for the same price?

I suppose you could argue that they are after that extra 10% if the other people DONT have edge, or new Edge customers?
 
WTF? What's with the double post? I have a brutally slow wifi connection tonight, but I only submitted once. Damn you, internets!
 
[quote name='kell']Hypocrite.
[/QUOTE]

I definitely deserve that. When I said that in whatever thread I said it in, I was only thinking of online orders and never thought about the fact that while I never did it online, I did buy multiple games from a B&M GS store.:dunce:
 
If they can track what people are buying, and they really wanted to stop resellers WHILE making money, they should be raising the prices on the games that resellers buy so that they are closer to street market value.

Of course they have been raising lots of prices across the board to some extent.
 
Hoarders generate pissed off customers. Rewarding those people with 10% off just seems foolish. It's definitely in Gamestop's best interest. Why risk pissing off the soccer moms/casual gamers in favor of people who just wanna make money on eBay?
 
seeing this is the second thread about this new thing at gamestop, i cant help myself so i made this:

gsreseller.gif


feel free to use it.

maybe i will get this stamp as well since ive been buying all the wavebird i see.
 
[quote name='rywateska']Don't want to be seen/labeled/flagged?

Bite the bullet and don't buy/trade-in with your Edge card. Or, if you must, use friends Edge cards instead, and rotate around. Lastly, always pay in cash.

Trading-in with your own Edge card should be no problem, so long as you don't stretch the credit too long.[/quote]

LOL Didn't I just say all that, admittedly with a large diatribe along with it?
 
[quote name='davyd']I went with my roommate to GS today. While there, he decided to renew his edge card since it was expiring this month. When the clerk looked up his info, he claimed the system had a note in it saying NOT to renew the Edge card membership because he had been flagged as a re-seller.

Don't get me wrong, he IS a reseller (I think he bought something like 9 copies of ICO in the past 2 months), but it surprised me that Gamestop would actually pick that out.

This seems like a new thing to me, is this a recent development, or possibly in my area only? Do any GS employees here have any info on this? I'm hoping me buying two copies of DDR mario within 4 months didn't get me flagged, my renewal comes around in April.[/quote]
you should write to their corporate offices asking for a refund of your edge card. since you cant use it, you should be entitled to get your money back.
 
[quote name='dinaboo']It's not about legality. It's not about morality. It's about profit. It's very similar to a casino tossing out card counters. They want to be the only ones to profit from the reselling of games.[/QUOTE]

yes, i understood that part. if you read the rest of my post, it also stated how i dont understand it really benefits them in any way at all. they are making the same amount of money one way or another since the "reseller" is paying their asking price anyways.

to the person that said it was about pissing off others because of them hoarding, that is complete bs too. 3/4 of the games that person is buying has had the same amount of opportunity for everyone to get it and it would only appeal more when they see it is the last ones leaving. if they saw 5-6 of them, they wouldn't be interested in it at all, because then it is "not popular".

again, i may not understand business tactics very well at all, but i don't see anywhere that this will benefit gamestop at all and if anything i see it hurting their business more. this just means more stock not selling or selling for the same amount as the "reseller" paid for it, which may push that "reseller" to buy their items elsewhere which is basically handing the competition more money.
 
[quote name='m0rningbreakfast']Screw the schlubs out of their commissions and just renew your EDGE card via that Game Informer mail-in card for $2 - get the card in about 2-3 weeks.[/QUOTE]


you think they get commission? in the year that i worked there, no commission was given anything for pre-orders, what is now the edge card, or replacement plans. it was just stuff that was shoved down our throats to pester the customer with and if the employees respected the manager, they tried so that he didn't hear from the DM about his stores low numbers. the only reason i ever asked for any of that stuff was out of respect for the store manager since he was a really cool guy and busted his ass working there around 80 hours a week since he was the only salary person there after they transferred the asst. manager to another store,
 
[quote name='davo1224']Hoarders generate pissed off customers. Rewarding those people with 10% off just seems foolish. It's definitely in Gamestop's best interest. Why risk pissing off the soccer moms/casual gamers in favor of people who just wanna make money on eBay?[/quote]

No they don't. This is ridiculous. The only thing you can resell at Gamestop is the occasional bargain bin game or the occasional regular priced rare PS2 game. Gamestop is being foolish about this. Resellers are driving their profits, soccer moms are also, so are the hard-core gamer and occasional gamer, but they are all coming from different angles. You're confusing hoarders with people who seek out rare games. You can't "hoard" rare games. There aren't enough available.

Gamestop is making a HUGE mistake by doing this, if it is even true. I can guarantee I spend much more money (Im talking a LOT more) at gamestops than most people on here yet I have never been branded a reseller. That also includes buying multiple copies of games. That is why Im still wondering how these people supposedly get labeled as resellers (though it still makes no sense to do this for Gamestop business wise). Games that are able to be resold make NO difference to their profit margins, since few are actually looking for them in brick and mortar.

As much as Gamestop doesn't seem to want to admit it. There IS a difference between online and in-store.
 
Now I know what to say when they ask to sell me an Edge card and I say no and they ask me 4 or 5 times. I'll just say I'm a reseller.
 
[quote name='YoshiFan1']Now I know what to say when they ask to sell me an Edge card and I say no and they ask me 4 or 5 times. I'll just say I'm a reseller.[/quote]


LOL, it would be funny to see the expression on their face.
 
Okay, my roommate is going to try to go to a different Gamestop tomorrow and renew. He thinks that maybe the manager at the one we were at today put that note in the system just for that store to try to "get rid" of him. To be honest, the one he was denied at was his main GS for buying stuff. He would go in once a week and just buy piles of stuff. Maybe the manager was just pissed that he was taking all of the good stuff?

I'll keep everyone updated.

And to the person saying that he should write corporate to get a refund, they didn't take away his CURRENT card. He still has that until the end of this month, when it expires.
 
[quote name='davyd']Okay, my roommate is going to try to go to a different Gamestop tomorrow and renew. He thinks that maybe the manager at the one we were at today put that note in the system just for that store to try to "get rid" of him. To be honest, the one he was denied at was his main GS for buying stuff. He would go in once a week and just buy piles of stuff. Maybe the manager was just pissed that he was taking all of the good stuff?

I'll keep everyone updated.

And to the person saying that he should write corporate to get a refund, they didn't take away his CURRENT card. He still has that until the end of this month, when it expires.[/quote]

That doesn't make sense though. Any manager would welcome the sales, no matter where they come from. It only makes them look better.
 
He'll find out tomorrow.

Just for fun, we're making a list of all the things he bought at gamestop in the last three months, as he keeps all of his receipts in a box. I'll post the list when it's done so people can see if they're in the same league as him.
 
Well this will be interesting. Almost time for me to renew my card and I bought 5 gamecube's in the week they had the get a free game with it. Most of the time the only stuff worth reselling from GS comes from their coupon deals. Of special note how are all the GR/BB flippers doing with the edge card renewal? I mean some of these guys have bought 10+copies of Forza/MUA.
 
He's probably lucky they don't ban him/refuse to sell to him.
Most retailers have the fine print somewhere in their policies "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone", and "anyone" generally includes resellers. And like was said elsewhere, they don't even need a reason--as long as it's not based on race/sex/etc, they can refuse to sell to anyone for any reason; suspicion of reselling, you were rude to the clerk, you knocked over a magazine stand, etc.
I've bought a few things that were cheap to put on Amazon or trade elsewhere, but I've never had much luck at finding the great deals, and my time is worth more than the hassle and travel/gas to hunt down a game to "flip" for 10 bucks "profit". Plus I think flipping, games or houses, destabilizes and artifically inflates the market (and we see how well houseflipping has worked now).

Sure they can and do track what is bought. The only way they don't is if you pay cash and don't give your phone number or identifying information. All companies do this, sometimes at the high level "Store A sells lots of sports games" to the low level "Joe Smith bought NFL 2k and 2k5, let's send him an ad for 2k8."

Makes it even easier with the Edge card.

I think all GSes ask for info when accepting trade ins; laws regulating pawning/reselling used items require an "affidavit" that the item you're selling is actually yours, and they want some traceability in case the items were found to be stolen.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']This is why when you make a purchase that may be bordering on the realm of being a reseller(like buying multiple copies of games, like I did with Powerdrome Racing for PS2 about 2 years ago)or when it's for an insanely small purchase(like a penny guide or something), DON'T USE YOUR RZ OR EDGE CARD!!!!!!

Since it seems that those using their Edge card or other discounts are getting nailed by GS for being a 'reseller', the best way to do transactions are face to face, in store with CASH. You know, that green stuff they give you at the end of your work week for doing your job?
[/QUOTE]


I agree, I never use my Reward Zone card when buying a penny item and always pay with cash (if it's one or two items the cashier sometimes just tells me to take it and they take an extra penny or two they have at the register). Even though you are doing nothing wrong buy purchasing penny items, I don't want it tracked.
 
[quote name='davyd']I added the list of items he purchased in the last three months to the first post.[/quote]
Crap! He surely had a LOT of cash to burn at that GS. I'm surprised that GS had such a good inventory on those hard-to-find games. Perhaps the manager and other customers were pissed by the excessive hoarding...?!
 
Who are resellers and what do they do?.Are they the people buying multiple copies of games with the Edge card then reselling X game back to the store?Or are they the people who buy multiple game to sell them somewhere else(ie ebay)?
 
What if I bought a game, then a friend wanted the same game, so I bought it with my card, etc. Would they automatically think I'm a reseller if friends want to jump in on my discount? I think as long as I'm the one making the purchase it shouldn't matter.

Aside from that, if they blacklist resellers they must honestly expect to sell the same amount of copies with less discounts applied.
 
[quote name='Methadon']What if I bought a game, then a friend wanted the same game, so I bought it with my card, etc. Would they automatically think I'm a reseller if friends want to jump in on my discount? I think as long as I'm the one making the purchase it shouldn't matter.

Aside from that, if they blacklist resellers they must honestly expect to sell the same amount of copies with less discounts applied.[/quote]

I've bought two copies of a game a few times over the past year or two, either at the same time or on separate occasions. I always use my Edge card and my credit card, so I would be easily traceable. I have not had any problems, so I don't think you'd have an issue in that situation you described.
 
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