I was at software etc the other day to get a Xbox controller for a Halo 2 tournament. I wanted to get the official S one so that no one could complain that they lost because of a bad controller. While I was walking up to the counter, I heard the store manager (on a walkie talkie) tell his staff that who ever could sell the broken controllers will get $20 added to their pay check. So when I went up to th front, I asked for the Blue Controller S. The guy their immediately tried to get me to buy the broken one. He kept telling me how it was so cool because it had the GameStop logo on it and how it is the best controller available. I kindly told him no thanks, but he wouldn't listen, so I just walked out. Does this happen frequetly at game stores? Has anyone else experenced something like this before?
Do employees at game stores get paid to lie?
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doubledown
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Selling Broken merchandise would be a no-no. Not sure why they would do that.....
Did they tell you it was broke?
Did they tell you it was broke?
onetrackmind
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happened to me sometimes, usually with extended warranties but i understand most of the time its not the employees fault because they are being pushed by management and if they dont sell certain things they can lose their job. I've never had an experience like yours where you actually overheard the manager on the walkie though.
dratsacras
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I worked for Software Etc for 3 1/2 years and this is exactly the kind of stupid corporate bullshit they pulled every other month. They're pushing those stupid Gamestop controllers because they have a deal with Pelican, the manufacturer, to move rebranded garbage.
Sadder still, the "$20 bonus" on the paycheck will never happen, and those counter jockeys will make themselves look like ignorant shills for nothing.
Sadder still, the "$20 bonus" on the paycheck will never happen, and those counter jockeys will make themselves look like ignorant shills for nothing.
craven_fiend
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i don't think they are paid to lie. i think the are paid to push certain products. trying to sell a broken controller is just plain wrong.
edit:you should've bought the controller and asked for the extended warranty on it, just to piss them off. then open the controller right outside the store and take it in a show it being broken and get yourself a new controller or close the place down with the B B
edit:you should've bought the controller and asked for the extended warranty on it, just to piss them off. then open the controller right outside the store and take it in a show it being broken and get yourself a new controller or close the place down with the B B
I've worked for GS for 3 years. Never have I had a manager expect me to sell broken merchandise, nor have I ever been encouraged to sell anything other than what I think is the best choice for a particular situation, which would have been an S controller for your situation. So, in response to your question: No, I've never been encouraged to sell broken/lesser-qulaity product. Ever.
At the same time though, I understand that not every GS is the same, nor is every manager. If you really did hear what you say you heard, let someone at a different GameStop know. That type of thing shouldn't slide.
Also: They were on walkie-talkies? I've never seen a GameStop employee, upper-management or no, EVER using a walkie-talkie.
At the same time though, I understand that not every GS is the same, nor is every manager. If you really did hear what you say you heard, let someone at a different GameStop know. That type of thing shouldn't slide.
Also: They were on walkie-talkies? I've never seen a GameStop employee, upper-management or no, EVER using a walkie-talkie.
[quote name='sj41'][quote name='Ledhed']Also: They were on walkie-talkies? I've never seen a GameStop employee, upper-management or no, EVER using a walkie-talkie.[/quote]Was he at GameStop? I thought it was some place called software etc.[/quote]
Software Etc. and several other stores operate directly under GS, including Planet X, Babbage's, and at least one other that doesn't come to mind. That's why he said the employee was selling him on the "GS-brand" controller.
Software Etc. and several other stores operate directly under GS, including Planet X, Babbage's, and at least one other that doesn't come to mind. That's why he said the employee was selling him on the "GS-brand" controller.
[quote name='Cracka']i would have said "let me take a look at it" then when he handed it to me i would've beat the shit out of him with it and then left.[/quote]
No you wouldn't have.
At EB, broken merchandise goes where it belongs.. in a defective bin in the back.
No you wouldn't have.
At EB, broken merchandise goes where it belongs.. in a defective bin in the back.
Lord_Kefka
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I'm also a Gamestop employee and I've never heard of that. Where do you live? I ask, because that's most likely a sign of a really bad DM. So you may have to stay away from related stores in the area. We don't use walkie-talkies at all, and I'm surprised they have them knowing how extremely CHEAP our corporate home office is.
Here's the key, find the good employees at these stores. I wouldn't trust the employees at our local mall store because they'll sell you anything. We have a good staff (except for our corporate bitch manager) and we'll tell you if something sucks. Busted product does get defected out though. Otherwise it comes right back to us, and I don't like having to do all the paperwork.
On a side note, I actually kinda like the gamestop Xbxo controllers. They worked for me, but then again I'm not a childish whiny player who throws his stuff when he loses
Coolest thing we did recently was open up a Logitech wireless controller for xbox to demo it to customers. Those controllers would beat the shit outta you.
Here's the key, find the good employees at these stores. I wouldn't trust the employees at our local mall store because they'll sell you anything. We have a good staff (except for our corporate bitch manager) and we'll tell you if something sucks. Busted product does get defected out though. Otherwise it comes right back to us, and I don't like having to do all the paperwork.
On a side note, I actually kinda like the gamestop Xbxo controllers. They worked for me, but then again I'm not a childish whiny player who throws his stuff when he loses
Coolest thing we did recently was open up a Logitech wireless controller for xbox to demo it to customers. Those controllers would beat the shit outta you.
I am really confused.
Was it a used controller? I guess it would have to be at least opened for them to know it was broken. If so, wouldn't it cost less than the $20 "bonus" the employee would get? And even if they sold someone a broken controller, they'd just take it back the next day for an exchange. It doesn't make sense.
Was it a used controller? I guess it would have to be at least opened for them to know it was broken. If so, wouldn't it cost less than the $20 "bonus" the employee would get? And even if they sold someone a broken controller, they'd just take it back the next day for an exchange. It doesn't make sense.
guardian_owl
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[quote name='sj41']Yeah, you should've grabbed it, bashed his head in, and then scream, "WHO'S THE BITCH NOW?" but that may not have worked.[/quote] :lol:
[quote name='guessed']I am really confused.
Was it a used controller? I guess it would have to be at least opened for them to know it was broken. If so, wouldn't it cost less than the $20 "bonus" the employee would get? And even if they sold someone a broken controller, they'd just take it back the next day for an exchange. It doesn't make sense.[/quote]
All the more reason as to why I wonder if this event actually transpired to begin with.
Was it a used controller? I guess it would have to be at least opened for them to know it was broken. If so, wouldn't it cost less than the $20 "bonus" the employee would get? And even if they sold someone a broken controller, they'd just take it back the next day for an exchange. It doesn't make sense.[/quote]
All the more reason as to why I wonder if this event actually transpired to begin with.
zionoverfire
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They aren't paid to lie they are paid (or fired if they don't) to sell certain products that the company has excess of or makes a larger profit on. Normally they are cool and ask once then just drop it, but some of them go overboard. When they do walking out is normally the easiest way to deal with it.
That story doesn't seem to wash.
I'm a manager of a RadioShack, have been for almost two years, and we often have special payments for employees for products that aren't selling well, or that we have high profit in. (called spiffs) It is however ILLEGAL to sell used product as new, and anything broken will always get written off.
The spiffs are normally just a dollar or two and my employees are told to offer the items to every customer; usually, said items are discounted as well. We're not pushy about it, but we do want our customers to know what items are on special, and what other offers we have available. It's part of business.
On a side note, those service plans are occasionally very good deals. We offer several that guarantee replacement no matter what the customer does to their item, unfortunately enforcement of the replacement can vary by manager. I am very flexible, I would rather write off a small expense and have an extatic customer than the other way around. But, as always YMMV.
P.S. My employees never ever lie. I have fired people for lying to customers before.
I'm a manager of a RadioShack, have been for almost two years, and we often have special payments for employees for products that aren't selling well, or that we have high profit in. (called spiffs) It is however ILLEGAL to sell used product as new, and anything broken will always get written off.
The spiffs are normally just a dollar or two and my employees are told to offer the items to every customer; usually, said items are discounted as well. We're not pushy about it, but we do want our customers to know what items are on special, and what other offers we have available. It's part of business.
On a side note, those service plans are occasionally very good deals. We offer several that guarantee replacement no matter what the customer does to their item, unfortunately enforcement of the replacement can vary by manager. I am very flexible, I would rather write off a small expense and have an extatic customer than the other way around. But, as always YMMV.
P.S. My employees never ever lie. I have fired people for lying to customers before.
[quote name='Ledhed']I've worked for GS for 3 years. Never have I had a manager expect me to sell broken merchandise, nor have I ever been encouraged to sell anything other than what I think is the best choice for a particular situation, which would have been an S controller for your situation. So, in response to your question: No, I've never been encouraged to sell broken/lesser-qulaity product. Ever.
At the same time though, I understand that not every GS is the same, nor is every manager. If you really did hear what you say you heard, let someone at a different GameStop know. That type of thing shouldn't slide.
Also: They were on walkie-talkies? I've never seen a GameStop employee, upper-management or no, EVER using a walkie-talkie.[/quote]
They were using walkie talkies because the store was very crowded and loud. The store was completely packed with people.
At the same time though, I understand that not every GS is the same, nor is every manager. If you really did hear what you say you heard, let someone at a different GameStop know. That type of thing shouldn't slide.
Also: They were on walkie-talkies? I've never seen a GameStop employee, upper-management or no, EVER using a walkie-talkie.[/quote]
They were using walkie talkies because the store was very crowded and loud. The store was completely packed with people.
[quote name='Ledhed'][quote name='guessed']I am really confused.
Was it a used controller? I guess it would have to be at least opened for them to know it was broken. If so, wouldn't it cost less than the $20 "bonus" the employee would get? And even if they sold someone a broken controller, they'd just take it back the next day for an exchange. It doesn't make sense.[/quote]
All the more reason as to why I wonder if this event actually transpired to begin with.[/quote]
I am not making this up, I do not have any proof, but this really happened. Perhaps I was not being clear enough. I went into the Software Etc. (In the Willowbrook Mall in NJ) It was packed. The store manager was standing near the outside door. He had a walkie talkie. He told one of the employees (over the walkie talkie) take out those crappy broken controllers and try to sell them and whoever did would get a bonus of $20. The guy didn't know what he was talking about. The manager then told him they were the controllers that were in the back for a while that they could not sell before. The guy goes into the back and gets around 5 controllers (all the Gamestop ones). I ask for Top Spin and they do not have it. I looked at the Gamestop controllers, and all of them were really bad, so I go up to the front to buy the official Xbox controller (they were locked up in the front of the store). I ask him for the Blue Controller S, and he tries to sell me the Gamesop one. They were new, but the analog sticks looked pretty loose on them. He kept trying to sell it to me, so I walked out.
EDIT: I am confused as well as to why they would sell this to me which is why I am asking on these boards.
Was it a used controller? I guess it would have to be at least opened for them to know it was broken. If so, wouldn't it cost less than the $20 "bonus" the employee would get? And even if they sold someone a broken controller, they'd just take it back the next day for an exchange. It doesn't make sense.[/quote]
All the more reason as to why I wonder if this event actually transpired to begin with.[/quote]
I am not making this up, I do not have any proof, but this really happened. Perhaps I was not being clear enough. I went into the Software Etc. (In the Willowbrook Mall in NJ) It was packed. The store manager was standing near the outside door. He had a walkie talkie. He told one of the employees (over the walkie talkie) take out those crappy broken controllers and try to sell them and whoever did would get a bonus of $20. The guy didn't know what he was talking about. The manager then told him they were the controllers that were in the back for a while that they could not sell before. The guy goes into the back and gets around 5 controllers (all the Gamestop ones). I ask for Top Spin and they do not have it. I looked at the Gamestop controllers, and all of them were really bad, so I go up to the front to buy the official Xbox controller (they were locked up in the front of the store). I ask him for the Blue Controller S, and he tries to sell me the Gamesop one. They were new, but the analog sticks looked pretty loose on them. He kept trying to sell it to me, so I walked out.
EDIT: I am confused as well as to why they would sell this to me which is why I am asking on these boards.
[quote name='evilmax17']Do you mean that they were literally broken? Or are you using the word "broken" to mean "crappy"?[/quote]
I am just saying what the manager said. He said crappy broken. The analog sticks looked a bit loose, but I did not have the chance to properly inspect it. I have seen these controllers before and I hated them because the springs for the L and R triggers were really loose so I didn't want to buy them.
I am just saying what the manager said. He said crappy broken. The analog sticks looked a bit loose, but I did not have the chance to properly inspect it. I have seen these controllers before and I hated them because the springs for the L and R triggers were really loose so I didn't want to buy them.
-Never4ever-
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[quote name='guessed']I am really confused.
Was it a used controller? I guess it would have to be at least opened for them to know it was broken. If so, wouldn't it cost less than the $20 "bonus" the employee would get? And even if they sold someone a broken controller, they'd just take it back the next day for an exchange. It doesn't make sense.[/quote]
Exactly, none of this adds up at all. hmm. . .
Was it a used controller? I guess it would have to be at least opened for them to know it was broken. If so, wouldn't it cost less than the $20 "bonus" the employee would get? And even if they sold someone a broken controller, they'd just take it back the next day for an exchange. It doesn't make sense.[/quote]
Exactly, none of this adds up at all. hmm. . .
I honestly doubt all 5 of them were broken. That's what makes this sound so ridiculous. They may have tried to sell you on a lesser quality one, but to say that they tried to sell you broken product is quite a statement, and shouldn't be made unless you know for a fact that wasn't the case.
[quote name='Gabers']I try not to buy any "new" items from Gamestop or EB, unless the item has some kind of official seal on the box, but if they tell me to "go get the display case", I'll just end up leaving.[/quote]
If I had a dollar for every time a gamestop employee tried to pull that trick on me... NEW is NEW and SEALED IN THE BOX. USED, even MINT or PERFECT CONDITION still does not equal NEW once the game or movie is out of the box.
If I had a dollar for every time a gamestop employee tried to pull that trick on me... NEW is NEW and SEALED IN THE BOX. USED, even MINT or PERFECT CONDITION still does not equal NEW once the game or movie is out of the box.
zionoverfire
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[quote name='gmzone'][quote name='Gabers']I try not to buy any "new" items from Gamestop or EB, unless the item has some kind of official seal on the box, but if they tell me to "go get the display case", I'll just end up leaving.[/quote]
If I had a dollar for every time a gamestop employee tried to pull that trick on me... NEW is NEW and SEALED IN THE BOX. USED, even MINT or PERFECT CONDITION still does not equal NEW once the game or movie is out of the box.[/quote]
That sucks at my the GS and EB's near my house display copies are $5 off which rules!
If I had a dollar for every time a gamestop employee tried to pull that trick on me... NEW is NEW and SEALED IN THE BOX. USED, even MINT or PERFECT CONDITION still does not equal NEW once the game or movie is out of the box.[/quote]
That sucks at my the GS and EB's near my house display copies are $5 off which rules!
[quote name='Ledhed']I honestly doubt all 5 of them were broken. That's what makes this sound so ridiculous. They may have tried to sell you on a lesser quality one, but to say that they tried to sell you broken product is quite a statement, and shouldn't be made unless you know for a fact that wasn't the case.[/quote]
The store manager told the employees to take out the crappy broken controllers. He said broken, so I am assuming they were broken. Also, I believe the store manager said the person who sold the most of these controllers would get $20. I am just asking a simple question as to wether this has happened to other people before.
The store manager told the employees to take out the crappy broken controllers. He said broken, so I am assuming they were broken. Also, I believe the store manager said the person who sold the most of these controllers would get $20. I am just asking a simple question as to wether this has happened to other people before.
zionoverfire
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[quote name='ananag112'][quote name='Ledhed']I honestly doubt all 5 of them were broken. That's what makes this sound so ridiculous. They may have tried to sell you on a lesser quality one, but to say that they tried to sell you broken product is quite a statement, and shouldn't be made unless you know for a fact that wasn't the case.[/quote]
The store manager told the employees to take out the crappy broken controllers. He said broken, so I am assuming they were broken. Also, I believe the store manager said the person who sold the most of these controllers would get $20. I am just asking a simple question as to wether this has happened to other people before.[/quote]
I had them try to push stuff but never anything broken. I don't think the controllers were actually broken but he probably realizes how shitty the quality is. There would be very little point in selling you something that is broken because they have a return policy for 90 days on all defective and broken things.
The store manager told the employees to take out the crappy broken controllers. He said broken, so I am assuming they were broken. Also, I believe the store manager said the person who sold the most of these controllers would get $20. I am just asking a simple question as to wether this has happened to other people before.[/quote]
I had them try to push stuff but never anything broken. I don't think the controllers were actually broken but he probably realizes how shitty the quality is. There would be very little point in selling you something that is broken because they have a return policy for 90 days on all defective and broken things.
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