Complaint against Gamestop online/sent me a resealed game as new

An employee once told me if he tried to play the display copy he would be fired.

On a related note, a Target employee told a old lady GTA is acceptable for a 15yr old.
 
[quote name='62t']An employee once told me if he tried to play the display copy he would be fired.

On a related note, a Target employee told a old lady GTA is acceptable for a 15yr old.[/quote]
Yeah, well Target employees hate their jobs, they'd tell an old lady that a DVD was a vitamin if she'd listen. ;-) But seriously, retail store like Target is nowhere to get decent game advice. Even though the game stores have been lacking too.
I have to say the only place that hasn't pissed me off (game-wise) is gamefly.com.
 
[quote name='62t']An employee once told me if he tried to play the display copy he would be fired.

On a related note, a Target employee told a old lady GTA is acceptable for a 15yr old.[/quote]

I witnessed it myself this weekend at an EB. The employee was playing Tekken 5 on the clock. At another EB in the same town, they were playing King of Fighters. At the Tekken 5 store, I even asked the kid if it was his own copy. His reply??? "Nah man, this is the display"
 
okay, i'll bring in the bias-ness from my own perspective...all the eb's in my area are filled with people who've been fired from GS's...lol...*yeeah*..

but i think i'd flip if i saw someone playing anything on the clock really. jeeazz. it'd be like a waitress coming to take your order while eating a box of cupcakes. i'd be like, uh..no.

~
 
[quote name='tauruskatt']okay, i'll bring in the bias-ness from my own perspective...all the eb's in my area are filled with people who've been fired from GS's...lol...*yeeah*..

but i think i'd flip if i saw someone playing anything on the clock really. jeeazz. it'd be like a waitress coming to take your order while eating a box of cupcakes. i'd be like, uh..no.

~[/quote]
on a slightly related note, I hate when waitresses/waiters sit down at your table and take your order. It creeps me out... I know your on your feet all day but I don't want you cozying up next to me.
 
on an even more unrelated note, my waitress when i went out tonight started telling me and my party all about their oldest waitress that had just died suddendly and they had just found out about the moment before we got there...which is sad, but...i..just wanted to eat... ;_;
 
[quote name='tauruskatt']on an even more unrelated note, my waitress when i went out tonight started telling me and my party all about their oldest waitress that had just died suddendly and they had just found out about the moment before we got there...which is sad, but...i..just wanted to eat... ;_;[/quote]

[quote name='AngellicLulu']
on a slightly related note, I hate when waitresses/waiters sit down at your table and take your order. It creeps me out... I know your on your feet all day but I don't want you cozying up next to me.[/quote]

Well you both seem to be hitting on the same point, their attempts to personalize the service to increase tips. Personally I rather like entertaining waitstaff but I think they should be a bit more keen on knowing when to back off.
 
[quote name='tauruskatt']okay...let's take a look at this...

1. retailers can't print display boxes up because it's illegal~ copyright mumbojumbo ~ that's why a marketing company for a game is responsible for displays for games that aren't out yet (unless the owner does it out of their own pocket, even then it's sort of, quietly frowned upon legally)

2. when it's a floor model for say, a fridge in best buy, someone's been poking around in that fridge for months. no one's been poking around your disc for months. and sometimes a store can sell out of and restock a game several times in a week, so even a small discount for 'display box' items would be ridiculously bad buisness sense because~

3. the game is unchanged. the only thing that is/should be different about a display copy is that you didn't get to open the plastic wrap. there are even ways to leave the seal in place while removing the disc, nintendo doesn't even *have* those seals. (i've seen people trying to turn tricks returning cds and games like this all the time)

basically, if you're buying something so that it can stay in sealed/mint condition and you don't plan on ever opening it or playing it, then you actually might have a reason to buy it later/somewhere else. if you're buying it as a gift, some places have shrinkwrap or bag seal things, if they don't, go somewhere else or get over it. *shrug*.

online i can understand wanting a factory sealed copy, since you didn't get the opptunity to say no. probably just a mix up. also, keep in mind sometimes the factory sealed copies of new games still get messed up 'rings' or lines around them when the disc doesn't snap into the button firmly (gets knocked around during shipping). tends to happen with huge releases more, imo (madden comes to mind)

oh, and excuse me if i don't understand this, "they're selling used for new, those bastards" sentiment, wouldn't it f up the books if they sold more copies of something then they actually had? =P

~[/quote]

Ok, what the fuck are you talking about? Against the law?

1. For EVERY new release my store (TRU) recieves a shipment of clamshell cases for all the new games that are coming out. They are empty dvd cases with the similiar (if not the same) inserts on the outside of the case. Customers can bring these to the registers to purchase the game they want. If this was illegal as you put it then trust me I think we would have been sued a long time ago.

2. Ok, I've bought 3 display copies so far at EB stores, 2 of them were NOT mint. So someone has been poking around my disc as you put it. I don't see a difference. It's not used but it's been smudged and scuffed and scratched. How much profit do you think stores make off games? Almost all the money you pay on games is profit, they are cheap, so your theory about bad business and restocking a display copy is sketchy at best.

Sure it's they're game and they can change whatever they want for it but come on, within reason, please. This is why they were sued and they LOST. Guess what, not only are the people here saying it, a judge somewhere agrees that they shouldn't do this. Surprise, surprise.

3. No, that's not the only thing. Sealed copies allow you the security that the game is new and untouched. I've been rather skeptical about buying used PS2 systems cause of this. You never know what has happened to the system while it's been out of the box. Buy a sealed game should GUARANTEE that nothing has happened to the game yet.
 
[quote name='Zon27']
3. No, that's not the only thing. Sealed copies allow you the security that the game is new and untouched. I've been rather skeptical about buying used PS2 systems cause of this. You never know what has happened to the system while it's been out of the box. Buy a sealed game should GUARANTEE that nothing has happened to the game yet.[/quote]

Untouched eh? So they don't get opened to put in those security devices? We've had people here who've bought sealed games that had been tampered with before they even arrived at the store. Granted problems with sealed games are uncommon but then most used games work fine also.
 
[quote name='Zon27'][quote name='tauruskatt']okay...let's take a look at this...

1. retailers can't print display boxes up because it's illegal~ copyright mumbojumbo ~ that's why a marketing company for a game is responsible for displays for games that aren't out yet (unless the owner does it out of their own pocket, even then it's sort of, quietly frowned upon legally)

~[/quote]

Ok, what the shaq-fu are you talking about? Against the law?

1. For EVERY new release my store (TRU) recieves a shipment of clamshell cases for all the new games that are coming out. They are empty dvd cases with the similiar (if not the same) inserts on the outside of the case. Customers can bring these to the registers to purchase the game they want. If this was illegal as you put it then trust me I think we would have been sued a long time ago..[/quote]

yes, just like i said, marketing companies take care of the artwork. but a tru & the other video game stores that we were discussing are run completely differently. and apparently tru's are different everywhere i suppose, because the last one i was in kept games live in those plastic locking cases, in a separately alarmed corner, negating any need for display boxes.

[quote name='Zon27'] Ok, I've bought 3 display copies so far at EB stores, 2 of them were NOT mint. So someone has been poking around my disc as you put it. I don't see a difference. It's not used but it's been smudged and scuffed and scratched. How much profit do you think stores make off games? Almost all the money you pay on games is profit, they are cheap, so your theory about bad business and restocking a display copy is sketchy at best.

Sure it's they're game and they can change whatever they want for it but come on, within reason, please. This is why they were sued and they LOST. Guess what, not only are the people here saying it, a judge somewhere agrees that they shouldn't do this. Surprise, surprise.

3. No, that's not the only thing. Sealed copies allow you the security that the game is new and untouched. I've been rather skeptical about buying used PS2 systems cause of this. You never know what has happened to the system while it's been out of the box. Buy a sealed game should GUARANTEE that nothing has happened to the game yet.[/quote]

hrm, well, i understand your point about being skeptical about display copies, i'd also like to point out that 'a judge somewhere agrees' could be followed by any numer of really silly ideas, especially if you include judges throughout time. yes, sealed copies do allow you some security (not even total security) that's why i said how important having the choice presented to you is, so you at least can look and decide if a scuff or fingerprint or incomplete microsoft sticker is more important then going somewhere else for the game. i don't think if it's the one last copy of a game the guy behind the counter is really going to be *that* worried about if it will sell or not that they're going to put a gun to your head and make you buy it.
 
http://www.gamestop.com/gs/help/classaction.asp

Here's a link to the class action settlement gamestop had a couple of years ago, basically for possibly selling used games as new.

In essence, what got me so mad at first was their hypocritical policy. They took a display copy and shrinkwrapped it expressedly for the purpose of their return policy. Once I took the shrinkwrap off, the game became used and they no longer accepted it according to their return policy. Yet they were the ones who took off the shrinkwrap in the first place and then did a half-assed job putting the sticker seal back on and shrinkwrapping it.

I had thought that losing that class action suit made them stop doing things like this.

A few other things.
1. They separate B&M and online gamestop for the purposes of taxes and having separate corporate identities, another reason that I did not expect a display copy to be shipped to me. I can't even return games bought online to B&M. Yet, they obviously share inventory since an online setup does not need display copies. They can mix and match inventory between online and B&M setups. But the customer is not allowed to do the equivalent.

I won't argue that B&M shouldn't have display copies. It's an acceptable way to sell something. But I know before I buy something B&M that it's a display copy. It's not the same online, especially when an online store doesn't need display copies and when the online and B&M stores are supposed to be different corporate entities.

2. I'm fully aware that display copies cannot be expected to have never been played. I believe most stores that sell display copies have official policies to not play display copies, but I know employees occasionally take those games home to play, depending on their managers. My OCDness makes me treat display copies the same way I treat used copies- I clean every used disc I ever get.

It's not ok for companies to setup a number of company policies that cannot be enforced- you can't define display copies as new when you can't enforce the rule against employees taking display copies home to play. I have nothing but affection for gamestop and eb employees, but I still don't want them to have played my display copy of a game.

3. Instead of comparing game discs to fridges and automobiles, compare them to similar categories like music CDs and movie DVDs. Have you ever seen or heard of any place that sells opened music CDs or DVDs as new? Not me. Not even mom and pop music stores.


My apologies to Cheapy if he doesn't like the name-dropping. I wrote it not so much as "I have a community to whine to" but just as a way of showing how I got to buy the games and a way to quickly establish my saviness as a consumer.
 
[quote name='The Truth']Sorry to start a conspiracy theory, but what if one if Gamestop resealed the game? :0[/quote]

Well some stores to reseal games, that's how they get the store specific alarm devices in there, it's the same with CDs. In fact in some cases I've bought a sealed game that was opened and when it was rewraped they used a store wrapper, so it looked like the wrapping on the used DVDs you see at blockbuster and Hollywood video.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']Well some stores to reseal games, that's how they get the store specific alarm devices in there, it's the same with CDs. In fact in some cases I've bought a sealed game that was opened and when it was rewraped they used a store wrapper, so it looked like the wrapping on the used DVDs you see at blockbuster and Hollywood video.[/quote]

I wouldn't buy those either. Anytime I see non-factory shrinkwrapping, I just say no. But these are rare- only time I can remember seeing them among my usual stores was when Bestbuy did this with GTA: SA. I bought one but promptly returned mine when I realized it was shrinkwrapped in this way, especially since some of the copies had the store shrinkwrap and some did not. At least in these stores, I know somebody's opening it, putting in a sticker, and sealing it back, with no chance of getting the disc scratched.

And an online retailer has no excuse to open them for security devices, just like it doesn't have an excuse to have displays.
 
[quote name='mbstuff']
I wouldn't buy those either. Anytime I see non-factory shrinkwrapping, I just say no. But these are rare- only time I can remember seeing them among my usual stores was when Bestbuy did this with GTA: SA. I bought one but promptly returned mine when I realized it was shrinkwrapped in this way, especially since some of the copies had the store shrinkwrap and some did not. At least in these stores, I know somebody's opening it, putting in a sticker, and sealing it back, with no chance of getting the disc scratched.

And an online retailer has no excuse to open them for security devices, just like it doesn't have an excuse to have displays.[/quote]

I actually got a game from buy.com like that. But for me I figure if they are opening it up to put in a security device it doesnt' seem much worse than calling a display copy new, they've tampered with both of them.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']I actually got a game from buy.com like that. But for me I figure if they are opening it up to put in a security device it doesnt' seem much worse than calling a display copy new, they've tampered with both of them.[/quote]

I'm no expert on how security devices are placed, but I think they do it without disturbing the seal sticker. Just open it part way, put secuirty sticker in, and reseal. No disturbance of the disc. To me, that's a significant difference from somebody actually touching the disc. Again, I'm pretty obssessive about somebody touching that disc, but there you go.
 
[quote name='mbstuff'][quote name='zionoverfire']I actually got a game from buy.com like that. But for me I figure if they are opening it up to put in a security device it doesnt' seem much worse than calling a display copy new, they've tampered with both of them.[/quote]

I'm no expert on how security devices are placed, but I think they do it without disturbing the seal sticker. Just open it part way, put secuirty sticker in, and reseal. No disturbance of the disc. To me, that's a significant difference from somebody actually touching the disc. Again, I'm pretty obssessive about somebody touching that disc, but there you go.[/quote]

They don't break the seal sticker when they do it but they do take off any outer wrapping and rewrap it. To me there really isn't much difference between that and busting the seal since they've already opened the case once. Personally the ones I hate the most are on CDs when they put the security device inside the middle space of the jewel case. Now that pisses me off. You have to pop the back off, remove the insert and pull the device off.
 
mbstuff~ that part i completely agree with, if you can't be given the option, then you should be able to trust that 'new' means from the factory/mint. i'm guessing you're right about the inventories being mixed (well, i suppose they would be, or where would they get all the used stuff online from?) but i am suprised that what was probably a display copy would somehow get sent out with an online order like that, i think it would be interesting to see what they offer you as far as fixing it, if they send you a factory sealed one or your money back or what...

i once got burned on ebay like that, except in my case soemthing that was supposed to be "mint" had dog teeth marks on it, and the disc was so scratched up it would only play in certain dvd players (depending on sensitivity) *growls*. i guess i'd rather miss out on a few 'deals' if i means i can physically touch what i'm buying first.

~
 
[quote name='zionoverfire'] Personally the ones I hate the most are on CDs when they put the security device inside the middle space of the jewel case. Now that pisses me off. You have to pop the back off, remove the insert and pull the device off.[/quote]

Are you sure the CDs don't come that way from factory/distribution and not the stores? It's pretty hard to take those seal stickers off and put them back on correctly.
 
[quote name='tauruskatt']
i once got burned on ebay like that, except in my case soemthing that was supposed to be "mint" had dog teeth marks on it, and the disc was so scratched up it would only play in certain dvd players (depending on sensitivity) *growls*. i guess i'd rather miss out on a few 'deals' if i means i can physically touch what i'm buying first.

~[/quote]

That's pretty bad, I suppose it was a norefunds auction to? So you couldn't ship it back and you were just stuck with it.

I got stuck once with a mint copy of Legend of Mana that turned out to be a ex-blockbuster rental that had a manual that was missing all the pages, luckily the auction ended the day after christmas so it was cheap, but still that ticked the hell out of me.
 
[quote name='tauruskatt']
i once got burned on ebay like that, except in my case soemthing that was supposed to be "mint" had dog teeth marks on it...
~[/quote]

That is pretty bad. I never trust the seller's idea of mint when I buy from ebay. For media, I basically bid a price no higher than what I would pay for something that works but is in otherwise terrible condition, and if the auction does not guarantee that it works, I don't bid in most cases.
 
yeah, it left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth regarding ebaying, i had figured i'd be okay picking one that used 'real photos' and everything...*ppff*...and not only was i stuck with it, but it was something i wanted for a present, so i had to go out and pay a third more over again for a second copy in close to mint condition at a specialty shop.
the only plus out of this was that i broke up with the guy so now i have my own copy of akira (which even dredfully scratched, still plays in my dvd player)
 
[quote name='tauruskatt']yeah, it left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth regarding ebaying, i had figured i'd be okay picking one that used 'real photos' and everything...*ppff*...and not only was i stuck with it, but it was something i wanted for a present, so i had to go out and pay a third more over again for a second copy in close to mint condition at a specialty shop.
the only plus out of this was that i broke up with the guy so now i have my own copy of akira (which even dredfully scratched, still plays in my dvd player)[/quote]

Really photos never worked all that well for me, it seems like half the time they use one taken by someone else. I have notice however when you sell with a photo you took you make a bit more.
 
[quote name='mbstuff'][quote name='zionoverfire']Well some stores to reseal games, that's how they get the store specific alarm devices in there, it's the same with CDs. In fact in some cases I've bought a sealed game that was opened and when it was rewraped they used a store wrapper, so it looked like the wrapping on the used DVDs you see at blockbuster and Hollywood video.[/quote]

I wouldn't buy those either. Anytime I see non-factory shrinkwrapping, I just say no. But these are rare- only time I can remember seeing them among my usual stores was when Bestbuy did this with GTA: SA. I bought one but promptly returned mine when I realized it was shrinkwrapped in this way, especially since some of the copies had the store shrinkwrap and some did not. At least in these stores, I know somebody's opening it, putting in a sticker, and sealing it back, with no chance of getting the disc scratched.

And an online retailer has no excuse to open them for security devices, just like it doesn't have an excuse to have displays.[/quote]

i am familiar with online retail stores (granted it was for Trading Cards) but they are suseptable to the same kinds of theifts as regular stores because it has to come from some B&M location.. i recall an incident where if proper security was in place it would have saved a store over 10 grand.. so.. putting security devices in games is a must for pretty much any store.. what isn't acceptable is having a scratched disc.. WTF.. NEW means NO SCRATCHED DISCS... (or very minor hairline scratches which occasionally happen)
 
to get the best results, dont bother emailing them, that never does anything. call them up and talk to a customer service rep, the phone reps for EB and gamestop are great but their emails are not so great.
 
Most of these posts don't have much to do with the OP. Personally I feel like you have the option to say 'No thanks' when a B&M store is going to sell you a display copy as new. So it's not a horrible situation.

If the price is still really good I'll go ahead and buy the opened copy as new. If I can get it for the same price (actually sealed) somewhere else. I usually go do that.

It would be nice if they gave you a small discount for buying the display copy, but I can accept that it's not their policy. (And if they did they'd probably just end up being hounded ALL DAY long "Hey can I just buy the display copy even though you still have a few new left? You have a lot more display copies than you need anyway!")
 
To the original poster,

It sounds to me like somebody mistakenly picked the preowned version of the game for your order. This almost NEVER happens, and we apologize. Let customer service know that you received a preowned version instead of a new version, and they should replace it for you. Send me your order confirmation number via private message so that I can look into it myself.

Online, we do not have the issue where display boxes are reused. All of our new product comes directly from the vendors. If you received a preowned version of the game, it means a preowned version was pulled for your order.

We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused, and hope you will reconsider using GameStop.com in the future.

Thanks,
Daniel
 
yeah i got 1080 snowboarding at EB with a similar thing. The game was open was the book case and disk was in perfect condition. I did check everything and made the judgement call to get it. I also had the clerks word that if I had any problems with it I could return it even though it was open. Had no problems but I would be furious if this happened to me over the internet...gg op
 
I think people are getting a little crazy here.

With the whole re-shrink issuse that would make me a little angry but I would just call up customer service and let them know the problem and get a RMA and return it for credit or a new copy.

And for purchasing online I know it is a pain sometimes to have to send stuff back, but sometimes you have too. I bought two games from gamestp online and they came in just horrible condition I called up and got an RMA just like that and sent them back no problem.

With display copies sometimes if your really want something you will buy the display copy. For example I really wanted Katamari Damacy when it was first releases and no one had any copies. My local EB had two copies and both were displays so I bought one. Everything was in perfect condition so no problems. Another example would be MVP Baseball at gamestop. They sold out right away and only had a display copy left, this being a popular game and I did not need to play it that minute I decided to pass and pick it up later.

I think sometimes we snap and get a little crazy over little things. I would like to see both EB and Gamestop give you some kind of discount on display copies, but until then you do not have to buy one unless you really want the game.

My two Cents. Have a nice day :D
 
[quote name='AngellicLulu'][quote name='62t']An employee once told me if he tried to play the display copy he would be fired.

On a related note, a Target employee told a old lady GTA is acceptable for a 15yr old.[/quote]
Yeah, well Target employees hate their jobs, they'd tell an old lady that a DVD was a vitamin if she'd listen. ;-) But seriously, retail store like Target is nowhere to get decent game advice. Even though the game stores have been lacking too.
I have to say the only place that hasn't pissed me off (game-wise) is gamefly.com.[/quote]

hey, i work at target and i give the best game advice... you know how many DS freaks i talked out of getting ping pals?
 
I worked at Gamestop for about 2 years (2 agonizing years with 2 incompetent managers who have been summarily terminated) and still talk with some of the guys there. A few people have made some incorrect claims, so hopefully this addresses a few:

1. Employees ARE allowed to checkout the display copies provided it is not the last/second to last copy of the game. This applies to new games, so check your delusions at the door as there is a LARGE possibility that someone has played that display copy.

2. The games can be damaged by storage. Easily. Those little cardboard cases they put them in, for lack of better words, blow total asshole. Especially the Gamecube sleeves. The discs get caught on the sharp edges and drug along the opening. That usually doesn't cause deep gouges(those are usually the result of some careless employee checking out the disc and not taking care of it) but I've seen them cause numerous minute ones.

3. The policy of not accepting a display copy for refund is fucking stupid, especially if they sell it that way. I remember a lady who bought a display copy of the wrong game, and my dickhead manager wouldn't let her return it and get a copy of what she had meant to buy. They can offer to seal it in the back, but I've only seen them do it 1/3 of the time if only because they're so busy. They're not required to take back a display copy for refund because they don't trust you. Lame.

Personally, I try not to buy display copies, if only because people pop open the cases, rummage through the manual, drop the inserts, tear the pages, muss up the case etc. Most of the times the discs aren't too bad, but I've seen some messed up ones. If it's a good deal I'll buy it, but if I can wait then wait I shall. It may seem anal, but that's just the way it is.
 
Reality's Fringe said:
I worked at Gamestop for about 2 years (2 agonizing years with 2 incompetent managers who have been summarily terminated) and still talk with some of the guys there. A few people have made some incorrect claims, so hopefully this addresses a few:

1. Employees ARE allowed to checkout the display copies provided it is not the last/second to last copy of the game. This applies to new games, so check your delusions at the door as there is a LARGE possibility that someone has played that display copy.

2. The games can be damaged by storage. Easily. Those little cardboard cases they put them in, for lack of better words, blow total asshole. Especially the Gamecube sleeves. The discs get caught on the sharp edges and drug along the opening. That usually doesn't cause deep gouges(those are usually the result of some careless employee checking out the disc and not taking care of it) but I've seen them cause numerous minute ones.

3. The policy of not accepting a display copy for refund is shaq-fuing stupid, especially if they sell it that way. I remember a lady who bought a display copy of the wrong game, and my dickhead manager wouldn't let her return it and get a copy of what she had meant to buy. They can offer to seal it in the back, but I've only seen them do it 1/3 of the time if only because they're so busy. They're not required to take back a display copy for refund because they don't trust you. Lame.

Personally, I try not to buy display copies, if only because people pop open the cases, rummage through the manual, drop the inserts, tear the pages, muss up the case etc. Most of the times the discs aren't too bad, but I've seen some messed up ones. If it's a good deal I'll buy it, but if I can wait then wait I shall. It may seem anal, but that's just the way it is.
Click to expand...

Sorry to drift OT, but can anyone provide similar insight as far as EBGames goes?

Do they have a similar policy, with employees checking out games?
 
Reality's Fringe said:
Sorry to drift OT, but can anyone provide similar insight as far as EBGames goes?

Do they have a similar policy, with employees checking out games?
Click to expand...
I don't know for a fact but every display copy I've gotten from EBgames, looked worse for wear... not just minor stuff you'd get from shuffling in a drawer either. But hopefully an EB employee can tell us what the policy is.
 
I figured I would throw my two cents in. I was at my local FYE looking through there used dvd section and came across a fairly rare dvd for a reasonable amount. I ask the lady working the desk if I could check the condtion of the disk to which she said yes. So I am in the process of taking the dvd out of there wrap they have there and I get rushed my another employee. He takes the dvd out of my hands and asks if I needed help. I say no, I was checking the disk condition. So you know what he does.........he takes the disk out sideways. It was sealed on the top with a used sticker . So he proceeded to take the disk out and I can hear the disk getting scratched. So he shows me it and there is one big scratch from the disk rubbing against its own holder because of the way he took it out. Idiot. Anyway I walked away from him and told him how much of an arse he was. I little off topic but I needed to vent.
 
both places allow for employee checkouts of games, so i think the issue there is simply balancing how much you trust the management and how much you care about sealed-ness or immediacy of having the game.

sounds like the OP is having a good experience as far as being able to rectify the problem, so for that, huzzah, lol...

probably moral of the story is that the squeaky wheel makes the most noice?~ no one's gonna post about getting their sealed mint condition games, and any group of people who buy a lot of games anyway are bound to have some small percentage of experiences with human err..

[quote name='mbstuff']You should have switched out the two akiras before the breakup :wink:[/quote]
:roll: good god, no kiddin'...

~
 
[quote name='AngellicLulu'][quote name='gsr']
Sorry to drift OT, but can anyone provide similar insight as far as EBGames goes?

Do they have a similar policy, with employees checking out games?[/quote]
I don't know for a fact but every display copy I've gotten from EBgames, looked worse for wear... not just minor stuff you'd get from shuffling in a drawer either. But hopefully an EB employee can tell us what the policy is.[/quote]

I never buy stuff from EB or GS, but the trade in deal at EB was irresistible(no gamerush around here) so I dumped a bunch of old games that I had beaten. I did the trade 5 for dmc 3 deal so I was just worried that if they run out of new copies, that I'd be stuck with a display copy.

So I called the guy an hour ago, because I forgot to ask about this whole display copy mess yesterday(they have around 5 display boxes of DMC 3 on the shelf)...I ask him whether they can guarantee that I'll get a factory sealed copy. He says, "Well we put aside a bunch of copies behind the desk for the folks that preordered" and and then he says, "Have you had any problems with display copies? They are practically the same as new copies"..."We gut them and put the disc in a drawer"..I say, "I've heard that the display copies get rented out" and he replies, "I can tell you that associates are not allowed to touch display copies"...

But based on folks saying that employees are playing display copies on the clock, I am not so sure..
 
[quote name='gsr'][quote name='AngellicLulu'][quote name='gsr']
Sorry to drift OT, but can anyone provide similar insight as far as EBGames goes?

Do they have a similar policy, with employees checking out games?[/quote]
I don't know for a fact but every display copy I've gotten from EBgames, looked worse for wear... not just minor stuff you'd get from shuffling in a drawer either. But hopefully an EB employee can tell us what the policy is.[/quote]

I never buy stuff from EB or GS, but the trade in deal at EB was irresistible(no gamerush around here) so I dumped a bunch of old games that I had beaten. I did the trade 5 for dmc 3 deal so I was just worried that if they run out of new copies, that I'd be stuck with a display copy.

So I called the guy an hour ago, because I forgot to ask about this whole display copy mess yesterday(they have around 5 display boxes of DMC 3 on the shelf)...I ask him whether they can guarantee that I'll get a factory sealed copy. He says, "Well we put aside a bunch of copies behind the desk for the folks that preordered" and and then he says, "Have you had any problems with display copies? They are practically the same as new copies"..."We gut them and put the disc in a drawer"..I say, "I've heard that the display copies get rented out" and he replies, "I can tell you that associates are not allowed to touch display copies"...

But based on folks saying that employees are playing display copies on the clock, I am not so sure..[/quote]

Maybe it is against their policy, but the guys at the local EB take the display copies and play them in the kiosks. Then, they go right back into the drawer. :? I just don't buy the game if they offer me a display copy.
 
[quote name='Rig'][quote name='gsr'][quote name='AngellicLulu'][quote name='gsr']
Sorry to drift OT, but can anyone provide similar insight as far as EBGames goes?

Do they have a similar policy, with employees checking out games?[/quote]
I don't know for a fact but every display copy I've gotten from EBgames, looked worse for wear... not just minor stuff you'd get from shuffling in a drawer either. But hopefully an EB employee can tell us what the policy is.[/quote]

I never buy stuff from EB or GS, but the trade in deal at EB was irresistible(no gamerush around here) so I dumped a bunch of old games that I had beaten. I did the trade 5 for dmc 3 deal so I was just worried that if they run out of new copies, that I'd be stuck with a display copy.

So I called the guy an hour ago, because I forgot to ask about this whole display copy mess yesterday(they have around 5 display boxes of DMC 3 on the shelf)...I ask him whether they can guarantee that I'll get a factory sealed copy. He says, "Well we put aside a bunch of copies behind the desk for the folks that preordered" and and then he says, "Have you had any problems with display copies? They are practically the same as new copies"..."We gut them and put the disc in a drawer"..I say, "I've heard that the display copies get rented out" and he replies, "I can tell you that associates are not allowed to touch display copies"...

But based on folks saying that employees are playing display copies on the clock, I am not so sure..[/quote]

Maybe it is against their policy, but the guys at the local EB take the display copies and play them in the kiosks. Then, they go right back into the drawer. :? I just don't buy the game if they offer me a display copy.[/quote]

I think eb let employees take games out at some point but they stopped that a few years back
 
The online sale of dispaly games as new is fraud... gamestop is commiting fraud by selling used games as new. There are no display games for an online business as is there is no store!

The only way to stop EB and Gamestop from this shitty practice is to REFUSE to buy the display copy unless you get a discount! It's that simple people. I would not pay $50 for a display copy.... I expect a discount and I always say no if it is not less expensive.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire'][quote name='mbstuff'][quote name='zionoverfire']I actually got a game from buy.com like that. But for me I figure if they are opening it up to put in a security device it doesnt' seem much worse than calling a display copy new, they've tampered with both of them.[/quote]

I'm no expert on how security devices are placed, but I think they do it without disturbing the seal sticker. Just open it part way, put secuirty sticker in, and reseal. No disturbance of the disc. To me, that's a significant difference from somebody actually touching the disc. Again, I'm pretty obssessive about somebody touching that disc, but there you go.[/quote]

They don't break the seal sticker when they do it but they do take off any outer wrapping and rewrap it. To me there really isn't much difference between that and busting the seal since they've already opened the case once. Personally the ones I hate the most are on CDs when they put the security device inside the middle space of the jewel case. Now that pisses me off. You have to pop the back off, remove the insert and pull the device off.[/quote]

What stores do this? I have never seen a game that had this done to it.
 
I am the only one that has a Babbages where they DO sell the display copies at a discount? I have picked up some good deals out of these. They have a dump bin where they put the display copies in and they are resealed but have a 25, 50, or 75% off sticker on them. I bought Intellevision lives and it was perfect inside but the case had scuffs and obvious wear from being handled by people as a display.
 
Ebgames is retarded as heck. I hate going there usually because these guys even open mmorpg's to display them. It wouldnt be bad if they only did it to like 2 copies, but they opened every single box of WoW except for 2 that were preordered. :\

As far as i'm concerned, you can't tell me its "new but opened" because once something is opened it really isn't "new" anymore imo.
 
[quote name='Skylander7']I'm willing to bet that those in this thread who are supporting these practices are:
A) Game store employees who just hate having to deal with people checking disc conditions
B) People who have never paid their own money for a supposedly new yet previewed by an employee beforehand game from said stores
C) Never ordered a game from Gamestop online and dealt with their asshat customer service dept.[/quote]

I work for EB but I really don't care if people ask to check disc conditions as long as they're polite about it. I do the exact same thing because I buy preplayed games all the time; I personally love the customers who trade in scratchless games.


And on another note, we're not allowed to check out games anymore...think they stop that practice a few years back.
 
[quote name='Indiana'][quote name='zionoverfire'][quote name='mbstuff'][quote name='zionoverfire']I actually got a game from buy.com like that. But for me I figure if they are opening it up to put in a security device it doesnt' seem much worse than calling a display copy new, they've tampered with both of them.[/quote]

I'm no expert on how security devices are placed, but I think they do it without disturbing the seal sticker. Just open it part way, put secuirty sticker in, and reseal. No disturbance of the disc. To me, that's a significant difference from somebody actually touching the disc. Again, I'm pretty obssessive about somebody touching that disc, but there you go.[/quote]

They don't break the seal sticker when they do it but they do take off any outer wrapping and rewrap it. To me there really isn't much difference between that and busting the seal since they've already opened the case once. Personally the ones I hate the most are on CDs when they put the security device inside the middle space of the jewel case. Now that pisses me off. You have to pop the back off, remove the insert and pull the device off.[/quote]

What stores do this? I have never seen a game that had this done to it.[/quote]

Yep as mbstuff said I was talking about music CDs, I've bought several at places like Fre Meyer and a local Sam Goody that acutally put the security devince inside the case insert, drives me nuts.
 
I've had multiple experiences at a Gamestop B&M where they would try to sell me "New" games, when in fact they would get the disc from behind the counter and place it in the open case. They've also tried to give my a case that was badly damaged on the inside, with the things that hold the disc in the case being broken off. The plastic on the outside was torn and marked on. This was for more than one game I tried to buy as "New" and for which they tried to charge me full price. Even after complaining, they make up an excuse that it is the last copy, when clearly I can see more copies in the drawer behind the counter.
 
[quote name='wubb']Most of these posts don't have much to do with the OP. Personally I feel like you have the option to say 'No thanks' when a B&M store is going to sell you a display copy as new. So it's not a horrible situation.

If the price is still really good I'll go ahead and buy the opened copy as new. If I can get it for the same price (actually sealed) somewhere else. I usually go do that.

It would be nice if they gave you a small discount for buying the display copy, but I can accept that it's not their policy. (And if they did they'd probably just end up being hounded ALL DAY long "Hey can I just buy the display copy even though you still have a few new left? You have a lot more display copies than you need anyway!")[/quote]

Only logical argument so far (for B&M)
 
Thanks for all the responses peeps. I've concluded from reading the thread that while many of us have had problems with display copies from B&M stores and with getting used games in unplayable/unacceptably terrible conditions, no one else who's responding to this thread has received a display copy that had been resealed to be sold as new from Gamestop on-line.

So I'll count it up to an error and not a systemic problem. I might still call the customer service guy since customer support e-mailed me his phone number and all, but I might not, since a phone call might be a waste of time for both myself and the service rep.
 
gamestop is suposed to give you a 10-15% discount on opened new games btw ( i know i work their) its F7 open or shopwarn merchindise :)
as for checking out by the rule book your not alowed to check out new things and whatever manager allowed that should get fired.
 
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