Best Buy pulling a Gamestop?

MSUHitman

MSUHitman

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I went to the Best Buy near where I work (Fenton, MO) today and noticed something different. All the games (which used to be just packaged inside the plastic cases that had to be opened at the register) were no longer in the plastic cases. Instead, inside each case was a print out of the box art.

So if I buy a game from Best Buy now does that mean the cashier's have to call the media department to get the game from the stock room? Has anyone else noticed this at their local BB's?

If this is permanent, then that may curtail a lot of my purchases from Best Buy (which aren't too many) more towards Circuit City, Gamestop, Game Crazy, and an independent store I get my comics from (they sell games also.)
 
They're usually kept in a big metal cage near the registers similar to Toys R Us. You've probably walked past the cage a dozen times and never noticed it.
 
Yes it would curtail my purchases because it would be very inconvenient to buy a game at Best Buy now because you have to wait for the cashier to call someone from media to go into the stock room to find the game and then walk it up to the counter. That could take a lot of time whereas before all the cashier had to do was open up the plastic case and the game was already inside it.

Circuit City- Some new releases (and all PS3 games at my local one) are in a case but you find someone working the area to open the case for you and get the game so you can take it up to the register to purchase it. All other games are either not boxed (the clearance ones) or they are in the plastic case that the cashiers have the tool to open. I don't take a case to the register, then have to wait as the cashier calls someone to go find X game in the stock room, then wait as someone searches the stock room for X game, then brings it up to the register.

Toys R Us/Wal-Mart/Target/K-Mart- Yes the games are in the glass case behind/around the register but the register is right there. I don't have to take a plastic case to the register at the front of the store, have someone page someone to find the game in the stock room in the back of the store, then wait for someone to walk it up to the front of the store so I can buy it. I can buy it at the register right where the game is located.

Gamestop- All the games are either in the plastic case behind the register (newer releases) or they are in the stock room, but Gamestop's are like 1/12 the size of a Best Buy, so it doesn't take 5 minutes one-way to walk from the stock room to the register.

I've been a frequent customer of many Best Buy's in the St. Louis area and this is the first I've noticed this. If this is common practice at other stores, why hasn't someone else mentioned this? This has to be annoying for someone besides me.

Edit: Why is this not done on CD's/DVD's/Blu-Ray's/PC games also? Why is it just video games?
 
curtail.

They do not do this at any stores in my area, nor any stores in any of the major cities around me. Is your area a high traffic, potentially high crime area?
 
the Best Buy here used to do that. The games are in a cage by the registers, either the cashier will go get it, or they will call the door security guard guy to go get it. It takes like 1 minute to get usually and you can pay while they are getting it to maximize your time. It's not a big deal and is done in high theft risk stores/areas to curb theft.
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']curtail.

They do not do this at any stores in my area, nor any stores in any of the major cities around me. Is your area a high traffic, potentially high crime area?[/quote]

No it's a suburb of St. Louis in the southwest section of the county that's pretty well-off with very low crime. The major crime areas of St. Louis are North County and East St. Louis (on the IL side.)
 
[quote name='MSUHitman']No it's a suburb of St. Louis in the southwest section of the county that's pretty well-off with very low crime. The major crime areas of St. Louis are North County and East St. Louis (on the IL side.)[/quote]

Perhaps it's regional then?

I'm in GA, and none of the Best Buys in Atlanta, Columbia, Augusta, or Savannah do this.
 
[quote name='scsg75']the Best Buy here used to do that. The games are in a cage by the registers, either the cashier will go get it, or they will call the door security guard guy to go get it. It takes like 1 minute to get usually and you can pay while they are getting it to maximize your time. It's not a big deal and is done in high theft risk stores/areas to curb theft.[/quote]

1. My area is not high theft/crime.

2. The games are not at the registers. They're in the stock room so the cashier has to call for a member of the media department to get X-game, then that person goes to the stock room to find X-game, then walk it up to the register.

With 3 Target's, 3 Wal-Mart's, K-Mart, Circuit City, Game Crazy, 7 Gamestop's, Play N Trade (although it's not a good one,) and 3 local independent stores (only 1 of which I go to) within very close driving distance of where I work or live, why would I put up with this when there are other, more convenient options?

I'm going to go and see if the South County Best Buy does this now also. It's not a high crime area, but it would not be considered as good an area as Fenton.
 
Last time I was at best buy they still had the games in large plastic anti theft boxes.

Same with Circuit City...I rarely shop anywhere besides Gamecrazy and online for my gaming needs.
 
LMAO Should I respond or shouldn't I? I mean, 25-30 minutes, THAT is a LOOOONG TIME to wait. But, FIVE MINUTES and you're saying you're going to take your business elsewhere?

I mean, I could see if you're trying to grab shit on your lunch hour and you only get like 30 minutes and you haven't even had a bite for lunch yet, but if you're on your own time, what's the fuckin' hurry?

Is your time THAT valuable that you can't wait five fuckin' minutes for a retail wage slave to go find you your game, your royal highness?

People are so fuckin' impatient anymore, it's no wonder I stopped working in retail, since people expected you to be telepathic and know what they were going to ask you for before they even open their mouths.

Life is too short to be impatient and rush through your day and expect everyone else to ramp up their speed to cater to you. As others said, this is probably being done for security purposes or maybe it's being done as a 'test' in your market before it's used across the chain?

Either way, chill and take some deep breaths and listen to the fine quality Muzak while you wait for your shit to be brought out to you. Either that or order online with in-store pickup and then they'll have it waiting for you to be in and out in less than five minutes.
 
They have the newer games behind the cashier by me, take the box to the register, cashier turns around and gets the game, scan, pay, done. Same with Circuit City and TRU.
 
MSUHitman, my "home" store, the South County one on S. Lindbergh started this a couple of weeks ago. Though, there's a large locked case by the end of the registers that seems to be stockpiled with games. My guess is most of them should be there. And it's not all the games, it seems to be all the PS3, Wii and 360 games. PS2 games still are on the shelf, as are a good number of DS games.

I haven't been to any other BB's in the area, save the Fenton store, in a number of weeks. Only other one I'd hit with any frequency would be the Crestwood store, and I've not been there in weeks.

The St. Louis Mills Circuit City did this many months ago, and they said it was due to a theft issue at the time.

Though, I take a little offense about considering Fenton a better area with lesser crime than South County. :whistle2:s I'd put them on equal terms.
 
Eh, just go shop at the Crestwood Mall Gamestop. They need the business and my bro works there. It's the first store inside the mall so walking is at a minimum.
 
I can see how it can effect how I buy things from Best buy and Circuit City.. I only shop there when then have ridiculous sales (like 80-90 percent off games.. which they have had in the past..) I mean from my perspective the least amount of people looking to get said games that I'm interested in the better.. I don't want some random person who doesn't know what kind of deals are going down get one of the games by accident then take it up front then they have the cashire or even worst the stock boy go get the game then they notice "hey this is a pretty neat game and its only THAT MUCH?" then that guy calls his buddies to come down and cotton pick all the games and all i'm left with by the time its convienent for me to go I'm stuck with Barbie's Horse Adventure..

this sucks.. I would be upset... but as games fall in price.. so will practices like these.. all the consoles are still "fairly new" so highest security should be manadatory until next year.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']MSUHitman, my "home" store, the South County one on S. Lindbergh started this a couple of weeks ago. Though, there's a large locked case by the end of the registers that seems to be stockpiled with games. My guess is most of them should be there. And it's not all the games, it seems to be all the PS3, Wii and 360 games. PS2 games still are on the shelf, as are a good number of DS games.

I haven't been to any other BB's in the area, save the Fenton store, in a number of weeks. Only other one I'd hit with any frequency would be the Crestwood store, and I've not been there in weeks.

The St. Louis Mills Circuit City did this many months ago, and they said it was due to a theft issue at the time.

Though, I take a little offense about considering Fenton a better area with lesser crime than South County. :whistle2:s I'd put them on equal terms.[/quote]

Yeah you're probably right about that, actually from what Gamestop told me it may be better as they said they get a lot of people who stole games and plastic case from CC and BB, broke into the case (leaving it in a heap outside the store.) then went into Gamestop to sell the stolen games for cash, mostly meth heads from Jefferson County. The store I work at doesn't cater to the same audience so I guess I was oblivious to that.

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity. If there was a case near the register that had all the games I wouldn't be upset, but there isn't. This also appears to be a new trend, one I don't like. Why isn't this done with CD's, DVD's, Blu-Ray's, and PC games?

Oh and Iamthecheapestgamer (welcome to my ignore list BTW,) it really is an inconvenience as a lot of times I am on a lunch break and it also increases the possibility of employee incompetence. Also like urzishra14 said, what's to stop an employee from saying, "Sorry we're sold out, that case shouldn't be out there," only to stash it for himself/herself or one of their friends? I can't prove anything because I can't see the physical game stock to know if they're lying or not.

I also take it as an insult this is done to console video game players, but not music/movie/PC game lovers. I'm going to make a formal complaint to their management about this sometime in the next week and make sure not to buy anything there unless I have to.
 
It'd done because games cost 60 bucks and music/dvd/blue rays cost at most 30 bucks. I'm pretty sure mega box sets like Planet eath on blu ray get an extra security device put on them. I know the matrix box set I got on Hd-dvd did.
 
[quote name='MSUHitman']Thanks for satisfying my curiosity. If there was a case near the register that had all the games I wouldn't be upset, but there isn't. This also appears to be a new trend, one I don't like. Why isn't this done with CD's, DVD's, Blu-Ray's, and PC games?

I also take it as an insult this is done to console video game players, but not music/movie/PC game lovers.
[/quote]

Are you sure it's not there? My local BB recently put up paper inside their cage so you can't see what's in there, and moved them to a wall a few feet from the registers instead of next to them.

As for why it's not done with all disc media... simple likelyhood of theft. You can't get as much money selling PC games, CDs, or movies as you can console games. Plus, thanks to plentiful Gamestops, thieves have many more options for cashing out their stolen games over other media (most will spread out over many stores, cutting out ones that catch on for a few months until the staff forgets/changes before coming back.) It's not an insult, it's just making sure they still have the hot new game in stock for you.

[quote name='MSUHitman']
Oh and Iamthecheapestgamer (welcome to my ignore list BTW,) it really is an inconvenience as a lot of times I am on a lunch break and it also increases the possibility of employee incompetence. Also like urzishra14 said, what's to stop an employee from saying, "Sorry we're sold out, that case shouldn't be out there," only to stash it for himself/herself or one of their friends? I can't prove anything because I can't see the physical game stock to know if they're lying or not.
[/QUOTE]

Technically, you have that problem with any store, since you can't see under the counter or in the stock room to know if the employee's hiding an item. Trust me, if the cashier wants it, chances are the cashier's getting it no matter what the store's setup/policies are.

And, as a cashier, a word of advice- please, please try to avoid shopping on your lunch break. I do my best, but there's only so much we can do to speed up your checkout. You'll get much better service if you're not twitching to get back to work.
 
[quote name='MSUHitman']Oh and Iamthecheapestgamer (welcome to my ignore list BTW,) it really is an inconvenience as a lot of times I am on a lunch break and it also increases the possibility of employee incompetence. Also like urzishra14 said, what's to stop an employee from saying, "Sorry we're sold out, that case shouldn't be out there," only to stash it for himself/herself or one of their friends? I can't prove anything because I can't see the physical game stock to know if they're lying or not.

I also take it as an insult this is done to console video game players, but not music/movie/PC game lovers. I'm going to make a formal complaint to their management about this sometime in the next week and make sure not to buy anything there unless I have to.[/quote]

Either order online and do in-store pickup on your lunch break to avoid having to wait longer than five minutes or just buy from them when you're off work, so then you're not so rushed. That's the simplest solution I can suggest to avoid having to wait too long.

Otherwise just accept that they do the whole having to get the game thing for security purposes mainly and it's not a slight against gamers.
 
[quote name='Ziv']Eh, just go shop at the Crestwood Mall Gamestop. They need the business [/quote]Oh, what? $7 billion in revenue in one year isn't enough?
 
[quote name='cranguy']Oh, what? $7 billion in revenue in one year isn't enough?[/quote]

I was refering to the specific store where my brother works rather than the 30 other Gamestops in the the STL area or the company as a whole. It just happens to be in the area where the OP is looking.
 
One of the Circuit City stores near me has the locked glass cases, but they usually only have new releases and special editions locked up. Everything else is just out in normal display.
 
If I have to wait 5 minutes I'll go elsewhere. It already takes 20 minutes to checkout at BB because they are as dumb as dirt.

If it was like TRU with the case nearby no issue, but all the BBs near me aren't setup like that. I'll just go to TRU.
 
The cabinet is right next to the registers. All the cashiers have keys for them. I've never seen anyone wait to get a game. They hand the cashier the card and they go grab the game. It's pretty quick and painless.
 
My Best Buys here in Colorado don't have any of them placeholder displays. What they did was take the video game aisles and put giant locked glass cases that require a managers key to get a game out of. Up until just before last Xmas, all the stores in my area had the games on the racks like normal. Then the largest store, #164, shoved everything in cases, and now that move seems to be moving down through the smaller stores. Of the 4 Best Buys I frequent, only one still has the games actually out and sitting on racks.

when I go to the 3 larger stores, instead of being able to go into the store, grab the game I want and be out in 5 minutes now I have to go in, look in the case to confirm they have the game I want, find an employee who then has to call a manager, wait for the manager to come and unlock the case and then the manager either walks me up to the cash register or has another employee walk me up to the register. It's like I'm buying a handgun or something.
 
We wouldn't have this problem if people stopped stealing everything that's not bolted down. It's only gonna get worse as the cost of everything goes up. Instead of getting a real second job, some people seem to think that stealing is a legitimate way to "feed the family/habit".
 
I started stealing when I was 12 or something around there, but sometime around the last year or so I decided to quit. It's the adrenaline rush that kept me going, even after I got caught and thrown into the legal system.

It's still tempting, but I coach myself out of it. Sounds stupid, but it's addicting. Was pretty nice to get free stuff too, but oh well...I'll just whip out the coupons.
 
As long as they don't pull a Gamestop "Its our last new copy take this finger printed disc and 3 sticker box and pay us full price" scam.
 
Definitely a local policy, the BB and CC in Melbourne, FL have all their games right there on in the aisle with no security whatsoever other than the detector at the entrance, which is 5 ft from the games section in CC, BB's section is in the back of the store.

Wal-Mart here has everything behind glass, and I pretty much refuse to enter a GS on principle at this point.

Granted, the CC and BB here are pretty big, but I definitely like the open format.

~HotShotX
 
[quote name='BillyBob29']My Best Buys here in Colorado don't have any of them placeholder displays. What they did was take the video game aisles and put giant locked glass cases that require a managers key to get a game out of. Up until just before last Xmas, all the stores in my area had the games on the racks like normal. Then the largest store, #164, shoved everything in cases, and now that move seems to be moving down through the smaller stores. Of the 4 Best Buys I frequent, only one still has the games actually out and sitting on racks.

when I go to the 3 larger stores, instead of being able to go into the store, grab the game I want and be out in 5 minutes now I have to go in, look in the case to confirm they have the game I want, find an employee who then has to call a manager, wait for the manager to come and unlock the case and then the manager either walks me up to the cash register or has another employee walk me up to the register. It's like I'm buying a handgun or something.[/quote]

^^now that's annoying. At least with the xerox copies on the shelf thing, you can still look at a xerox copy of the back of the box and stuff and getting the game as you are checking out isn't really making you go out of your way. But to have to search out for a floor employee to find a manager with a key and then be walked to the registers is pretty inconvenient. Especially if you're not done shopping yet.

The Fred Meyers here all did that a couple years ago, but they have dedicated people in the electronics section to help you, so it's not as hard as finding a Best Buy employee when you actually need help (they seem to be everywhere when you don't need help though oddly enough)
 
retail stores are for noobs. I buy almost all my games and such off the internet, either new or used. Its cheaper than in stores, no drive for me, and no tax. :)
 
OH NO!

Now I have to wait a few extra seconds for someone to get the game from the giant cage of games! :roll:


And the reason this isn't done with CD's, DVD's, etc. is the demand. When was the last time you saw a midnight release for the latest Fallout Boy album. Not even the Sex and the City DVD is going to have shortages like Wii Fit did.
 
The local Best Buy did this for a while last year. Most of the newer releases were put in a locked storage unit near the front of the store, by the registers.

Then, one day, they were back out on the floor. The storage unit is still up front, so either they keep extra copies in there still, or they use it for something else.
 
OP, I wish Gamestop did this. The game you get a Gamestop often has a mangled, sun-damaged case, covered in stickers. At least Best Buy gives you a factory sealed copy.

Many BB have cages like other posters have said. The one near Glendale, CA does that.

When I lived in San Bernardino in the 90's they used to put nearly everything in these cages. When Tupac's "All Eyez on Me" came out, they had to open a cage. For a CD!

Of course, this was San Bernardino.
 
[quote name='Clarke']OH NO!

Now I have to wait a few extra seconds for someone to get the game from the giant cage of games! :roll:


And the reason this isn't done with CD's, DVD's, etc. is the demand. When was the last time you saw a midnight release for the latest Fallout Boy album. Not even the Sex and the City DVD is going to have shortages like Wii Fit did.[/quote]

Thanks for failing at reading comprehension. If you had read my post and first response, my major problem is there is no giant cage of games at my store, so it has to be retrieved from the stock room which is on the opposite end of the registers in the back of the store.

If the games were at the register, it would be fine, but they're not there at my local BB.
 
When I first read the thread title I thought this was going to be about a Best Buy gutting all their games and selling them as new ;)

Anyway, of the 7 fairly local Best Buys, only one does this. They said they do it because that particular store had a high rate of video game theft so they were forced to put all games over $29.99 in a cage until they are ready to be bought.
 
[quote name='rusty']retail stores are for noobs. I buy almost all my games and such off the internet, either new or used. Its cheaper than in stores, no drive for me, and no tax. :)[/QUOTE]

considering all the major deals i have gotten from places like CC and BB and even places like TRU that you CANNOT get online.. stuff like games for 99 cents (which is what I paid for Rocky on the PS2, and it wasn't bad) i mean nothing is comparable to the great deals you can get at retail chains when they are clearancing out stuff.

Amazon charges sales tax.. most places online charge tax.. unless you are buying from specific people and doing trades or buying stuff off of ebay .. you still have to deal with sharks who usually drive the price up way beyond because they are trying to make a profit
 
[quote name='urzishra14']Amazon charges sales tax..[/QUOTE]


If you live in New York they do. I've never had to pay sales tax from Amazon.
 
One of the Best Buys near me keeps games in a cage near the front of the store now. It's great fun waiting around for 25 minutes while they have to call someone 8 or 9 times before they finally show up to open the cage and I have to repeat the name of the game like 6 times because they keep forgetting it.
 
That sounds like most Kmart experiences I've had in recent months and years, Rainking187. But to me, if you want something, go there when you have plenty of time to waste since retail employees tend to move SLOWER if you ask them if they could hurry up.
 
[quote name='bigdaddybruce44']Yeah, this is old hat for current generation games. The Circuit City by me does it, as well.[/quote]

Same.
 
I'm on the IL side in Granite City and the Best Buy in Fairview Hights does not do this. Atleast last time I was there about a week or 2 ago they did not. They had some of the bigger titles(COD4, DMC4, Halo 3, and others I cant remember) in a glass case, but I think they also had 2 or 3 of the titles siting outside the case.
 
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