Gamestop Policy on gutted games..

They get all the promo "reserve now" lithos.. i don't understand why they don't have a "now in stock" label, similar to a greatest hits label, and slap it over the "reserve now" portion of the litho. It'd save GS a ton of money as people would be getting sealed copies of everything.

Just imagine it.. a video game retail chain.. run by people that know and play video games, and know what "new" means.
 
[quote name='depascal22']If gamers ran a video game chain, it would go out of business.[/quote]

Well, especially if it were run and frequented by CAGs, since they would come in saying 'I can get that game for $4 @ Sears, Kmart, etc, etc' and nothing would ever MOVE. In the end, the gamer run store chain would have to start giving GS like trade values to remain profitable and would in turn be gobbled up by the monolith known as GS.

Although, I will say that the local store here has great prices and even decent trade values, though it's only a lil mom n pop type shop. He bases his prices on Gamestop and almost guarantees to beat GS's price by at least a couple dollars, which is more than enough to keep me coming back time and time again.

I guess that's why I've frequented his shop and the other local small shop more than the chains in recent months/years.
 
[quote name='depascal22']If gamers ran a video game chain, it would go out of business.[/QUOTE]

At least they wouldnt gut new games and attempt to sell them at new price. >_>
 
Am I the only one who doesn't mind gutted games if you're aware they're gutted? The worst thing that happens is that you don't buy it. It might not be a good practice, but it's not shady if they don't hide it.

Well, I guess it's shady if they say it's "REALLY NEW!" and nobody had played it, but we're CAGgers, so we know better.

I got a gutted copy of Bangai-O for the Dreamcast some six or seven years ago. *shuffles over to DC shelf* Yeah, it's still impeccable.
 
[quote name='Chuplayer']I got a gutted copy of Bangai-O for the Dreamcast some six or seven years ago. *shuffles over to DC shelf* Yeah, it's still impeccable.[/quote]
Consider yourself lucky. I bought the last "new copy" of Sega Smash Pack for DC they had when EB started to try to clear out DC games in 2002. Didn't know until I got outside that they had stickered a area of the case that was cracked(upper righthand of the "door"). So until I replaced the case, I was stuck with a copy that wouldn't fully close because of that.
 
[quote name='tangytangerine']Consider yourself lucky. I bought the last "new copy" of Sega Smash Pack for DC they had when EB started to try to clear out DC games in 2002. Didn't know until I got outside that they had stickered a area of the case that was cracked(upper righthand of the "door"). So until I replaced the case, I was stuck with a copy that wouldn't fully close because of that.[/quote]

I bought a copy of Hot Shots Golf Fore! there awhile ago, they never told me it was opened, and the case looked very beat up. For some reason the sticker was torn off, though it was still in their system as new. When I checked the disc it was very dusty and had scratches and what even looked like some GUM on the bottom of the disc!

The worst part was the idiot employee who said "it only looks like some dust and marks" when I returned that POS.
 
[quote name='thegarageband']But would you GLITTER it?[/quote]

I'd have a glitter machine outside. After an annoying soccer mom comes in with 5 kids under the age of 8, I'll turn that bad boy to coat all of them as they walk out the door.
 
lol fun thread.

[quote name='ebman2001']as a store manager of a gamestop/eb games i have to say this, listen im tired of hearing this crap, and ill spell it out for you guys right now so you have no more confusion of our policies.......ON NEW GAMES its 30 day return policy UNOPENED, 7 days to exchange it for the same game OPENED if defective.....the so called used persona that you speak of has never been played, simply put in an envelope or plastic jewel case (depending on the store), and put with the other "gutted" new games, hasn't been tampered with or missing any items....when we sell the last copy of a game we reverse the process, my store in particular will ask if you want it shrink wrapped or "stickered" shut to indicate its sealed for you in case its a gift.........if you want the game sealed up so badly then either A) reserve so its set off to the side for you or B) don't shop at my store cause honestly you people that think there hot shit and have to have there game sealed can go spend more money on your games and not get the gaming experience that we try to offer our customers

Sorry to be blunt but i had an asshole customer like him come in just this weekend not wanting to buy a used game wanted the new one, so i sold him the new one, he comes back an hour later telling me i sold him a used and charged him full price, after explaining it to him and not wanting to deal with a person that thinks he's better than everyone else i gave him his money back and explained to him again how it works with our stores, he just reinterated on how its used, guys, its open thats all it is, shrink wrap taken off.....and you wanna know whats funny, we sometimes get games shipped to us direct from the vendor (thats the guys that make the games) shrink wrapped as if we did it, when we didn't

And ill admit, we offer a policy to "check out" games at our stores, but if the employee returns it in unsellable condition they are required to buy the game then and there or basically be terminatted[/QUOTE]

you can feed us whatever BS is in your managers handbook 101 but if it is opened, it is not new. Very simple concept that Gamestop and aparently nearly every employee from top to bottom fails to grasp.

You are even admitting that your employee's check out games. That, my friend, is USED.

Get a printer. Order a couple hundred empty cases off ebay for $50. Pick up a pack of 250 sheets of photo paper at Sam's for $30. Print out the covers you need and never open a game again. That way your "asshole customers" get what they are paying for, not what corporate says they are paying for.

[quote name='THoward7382']

And keep in mind a game is only new for roughly 5 seconds. The time it takes you too open the case and put it in your console. After that its a used game.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. That's why I'm buying a NEW copy not the USED copy sitting next to it on the shelf.
 
i saw a gutted and stickered *brand new* Persona 3....i wanted to cry...so sad, cause the slip case is a lil beat up and its plastered with stickers
 
Yeah, every EB has been opening up those Persona 3s like mad. Leaving an empty, oversize slip case on the wall with stickers on it to get raped by the mcdonalds eating american public is not my idea of selling new product. fuck them.
 
It's too bad that the public doesn't care if it gets gutted games. After all, this is the same country that loves reality TV, bad action movies, and pop music. Not saying that other countries aren't guilty of this but we love it more zealously here.
 
[quote name='ebman2001']as a store manager of a gamestop/eb games i have to say this, listen im tired of hearing this crap, and ill spell it out for you guys right now so you have no more confusion of our policies.......ON NEW GAMES its 30 day return policy UNOPENED, 7 days to exchange it for the same game OPENED if defective.....the so called used persona that you speak of has never been played, simply put in an envelope or plastic jewel case (depending on the store), and put with the other "gutted" new games, hasn't been tampered with or missing any items....when we sell the last copy of a game we reverse the process, my store in particular will ask if you want it shrink wrapped or "stickered" shut to indicate its sealed for you in case its a gift.........if you want the game sealed up so badly then either A) reserve so its set off to the side for you or B) don't shop at my store cause honestly you people that think there hot shit and have to have there game sealed can go spend more money on your games and not get the gaming experience that we try to offer our customers

Sorry to be blunt but i had an asshole customer like him come in just this weekend not wanting to buy a used game wanted the new one, so i sold him the new one, he comes back an hour later telling me i sold him a used and charged him full price, after explaining it to him and not wanting to deal with a person that thinks he's better than everyone else i gave him his money back and explained to him again how it works with our stores, he just reinterated on how its used, guys, its open thats all it is, shrink wrap taken off.....and you wanna know whats funny, we sometimes get games shipped to us direct from the vendor (thats the guys that make the games) shrink wrapped as if we did it, when we didn't

And ill admit, we offer a policy to "check out" games at our stores, but if the employee returns it in unsellable condition they are required to buy the game then and there or basically be terminatted[/QUOTE]

Why is it that you can open a game and still sale it as "new" ( you even admit that it does get used by employees that can check out games). Going buy those guidelines, I have several hundred "new" games.

The story that you have to open 1 of each game for a display is TOTAL BS ! You could get the cases that are "DISPLAY" like I see at lots of stores ( TRU uses them and a few others around here)
 
[quote name='Chuplayer']Am I the only one who doesn't mind gutted games if you're aware they're gutted? The worst thing that happens is that you don't buy it. It might not be a good practice, but it's not shady if they don't hide it.

Well, I guess it's shady if they say it's "REALLY NEW!" and nobody had played it, but we're CAGgers, so we know better.

I got a gutted copy of Bangai-O for the Dreamcast some six or seven years ago. *shuffles over to DC shelf* Yeah, it's still impeccable.[/quote]

well before i really didn't mind them being gutted and sold as new but when i found out that managers lend out games to employees i was pretty upset. think of it as one of those open box tvs at bestbuy. if you ask a bb employee if they are new, they will say yes. if you ask them if they were used, they will also say yes. but at least BB sells them slightly cheaper than the msrp.
 
[quote name='thesilentshadow30']Why is it that you can open a game and still sale it as "new" ( you even admit that it does get used by employees that can check out games). Going buy those guidelines, I have several hundred "new" games.

The story that you have to open 1 of each game for a display is TOTAL BS ! You could get the cases that are "DISPLAY" like I see at lots of stores ( TRU uses them and a few others around here)[/quote]

But see though, TRU isn't run by a bunch of greedy, scheming profit whores like Gamestop. If it were, then you might see 'new' copies of games like that in TRU too.

Oh and Phear, I think Gamestop still gives 10-20% off for taking a gutted game, but only if you ask NICE. And quite frankly after all the bs I've run into from them, I've lost the ability to be nice to even the poor hourly punch monkeys at GS.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']But see though, TRU isn't run by a bunch of greedy, scheming profit whores like Gamestop. If it were, then you might see 'new' copies of games like that in TRU too.[/quote]

Why do you guys think any company is run by anyting but greedy scheming profit whores?
 
[quote name='depascal22']Why do you guys think any company is run by anyting but greedy scheming profit whores?[/quote]

Because we have some faith left in some retailers to not constantly GOUGE us as much as Gamestop is guilty of. Of course, if we stopped actually SHOPPING there, then they would have NO WAY of doing so. But, I guess some of us are just gluttons for punishment.
 
Cracking open Jeanne D'arc this morning was a sublime experience. The shrink wrap makes it feel like it's Christmas. Plus it's nobody's but mine. fuck you very much, gamestop. I really want every other asshole that comes into gamestop handling the merchandise I purchase..

(besides that I got Jeanne D'arc for $10 off at best buy, cheaper than GameStop would sell it used.. lol)
 
[quote name='depascal22']If gamers ran a video game chain, it would go out of business.[/quote]

How do you know? I think there's two people on this site who are gamers, running game stores, and doing fine.
 
[quote name='lehviput']Calling the BBB is absolutely useless. YOU should call corporate yourself. Anyway, your GS is run by a bunch of jerks. I've never had a problem returning a gut before.[/QUOTE]

That was probably left by an old Quizno's or something when they stopped leasing the retail space, and Gamestop moved in with their new "Starbucks of game retail" business model.

There's no absolute way in hell that Gamestop Corp would have an upstanding account with the BBB.
 
I remember buying a sealed (but not really) copy of System Shock 2 from the local Compucentre store years back. With no disc and a shredded manual, it was obviously gutted and was probably a returned copy where the employees didn't even check to make sure the disc was included. Or it could have been employee-owned, but either way it shouldn't have been re-wrapped and sold as new as far as I'm concerned.

But looking back now, a lot of the titles from that store were probably gutted and sold as if they were fresh from the publisher. (games of the same title had varried/beat-up wrapping)

Since they got replaced by a store that sells designer diapers, I haven't really cared about their mal-practices since...
 
can someone add this poll? would you rather be sold games as gutted or resealed with that phony machine they have. actually i dont think it makes a difference
 
I just want the world to know...

It pains me every time I have to gut a game. I really hate doing that. If at all possible (slip covers, special editions, ect) I keep the game sealed and just put a fake case on the floor. It's a deceitful practice, but one that I DO understand. I know that myself and my store are special cases, and it pisses me off when some douchebag manager is too worried about their own ass to do anything right, just like it bothers everybody else.

And for the love of god, why is it that almost every other GameStop/EB Games employee that posts on this forum is some illiterate asswipe? You're really not helping our case, guys.
 
[quote name='reibeatall']I just want the world to know...

It pains me every time I have to gut a game. I really hate doing that. If at all possible (slip covers, special editions, ect) I keep the game sealed and just put a fake case on the floor. It's a deceitful practice, but one that I DO understand. I know that myself and my store are special cases, and it pisses me off when some douchebag manager is too worried about their own ass to do anything right, just like it bothers everybody else.

And for the love of god, why is it that almost every other GameStop/EB Games employee that posts on this forum is some illiterate asswipe? You're really not helping our case, guys.[/quote]

I applaud that. I know some people that work at Gamestop and they are equally as disappointed in that practice. Is there any way to let the company know that gutting games and selling them as new is wrong and may actually be hurting their business? I as a customer have never called their feedback phone number but I doubt that is even a question on the recording. Rather than complaining about it, maybe there is a way that CAGs can make a difference and actually help.

Maybe it's just a pipe dream but who knows?
 
[quote name='galvatron2k1']I applaud that. I know some people that work at Gamestop and they are equally as disappointed in that practice. Is there any way to let the company know that gutting games and selling them as new is wrong and may actually be hurting their business? I as a customer have never called their feedback phone number but I doubt that is even a question on the recording. Rather than complaining about it, maybe there is a way that CAGs can make a difference and actually help.[/quote]

I'll see what I can do from the inside. I'll send e-mails to all the higher-ups, but I think that one employee isn't really going to make a difference. A LOT of people are going to have to comment on this for even a miniscule chance at change.

I did some searching around online for phone numbers/e-mail accounts of corporate people, but couldn't find anything other than the customer serivce number at 817-424-2000. At work later I'll get more information for this.
 
people arent mad that the game is gutted, they are pissed they dont get some sort of discount for it i.e. used price. if that alleged 10% off open item discount is real, then it should be used a lot more.
 
[quote name='monkeydeew']people arent mad that the game is gutted, they are pissed they dont get some sort of discount for it i.e. used price. if that alleged 10% off open item discount is real, then it should be used a lot more.[/quote]

Right, I totally understand that. So, if there are people that are going to complain, they should tell corporate that once the game is open, it's used and should be sold as such (including gutted copies). No ifs, ands, or buts. That includes reshrink-wrapped games as well.
 
[quote name='galvatron2k1']Right, I totally understand that. So, if there are people that are going to complain, they should tell corporate that once the game is open, it's used and should be sold as such (including gutted copies). No ifs, ands, or buts. That includes reshrink-wrapped games as well.[/quote]

This will never end until people start saying "no" at the counter. But then again, then Gamestop will probably do something like reshrink the games to make it look like it was wrapped all along (many people can't tell if a games been shrink-wrapped or not). My Gamestop used to reshrink extra display copies to make it look like they were never opened, yet the idiots forgot to take off the stickers underneath the plastic.
 
in all honesty, anyone stupid enough to pay full price for a gutted copy deserves it. sorry in advance but its not hard to check before you pay & leave.
 
[quote name='Rozz']This will never end until people start saying "no" at the counter. But then again, then Gamestop will probably do something like reshrink the games to make it look like it was wrapped all along (many people can't tell if a games been shrink-wrapped or not). My Gamestop used to reshrink extra display copies to make it look like they were never opened, yet the idiots forgot to take off the stickers underneath the plastic.[/quote]
I always check. This is more along the lines of what I was talking about. Some people may receive a re-wrap which is total BS.

And what about the employees who just shove it in the bag? I still check, but not everyone does. How about the parent who picks the game up for their child or girlfriend for their boyfriend (vice versa), etc. This thread being a prime example. I know the OP got his money back, but look at what he had to go through to get it. It's just wrong. Maybe corporate needs to be told that this is BS so they will stop doing it.
 
A few years back I would get all bent out of shape if they sold me a 'gutted' game. Now, if it's in good shape I really don't care.
 
It bothers me that the experience at different stores can be so completely different. Some are very professional, helpful and considerate, others verge on outright animosity and are clearly anti-customer.

Gutted games are neither used nor new, they are floor models or display models. And just like when you buy a display model at a best buy or such place two things need to occur.

One: The product should be slightly discounted (in this case 5% would be fair)
Two: The consumer needs to clearly be made aware this is not a new item, it is a display item that has not been used or resold in any way and otherwise identical.

There are a lot of people, maybe the majority of people, buying these gutted games under an implied understanding the item is brand-new, when it is not and this is not being communicated, almost as if to trick the consumer. The trickery and not being open about a product is what is most foul.
 
This is not so much on topic but along the same lines. I found a copy of Ar Tonelico in stock from the website. So I get in the car go to the store that has it. Lo and behold its a damn gutted used copy. Id like to think the employee didnt trash the slip cover and manual but Im probably wrong.

I will admit right here and now I was merely buying it for collectors purposes. But the value (monetarily and sentimentally) is ruined when a game is gutted. There is always the off chance that the owner of the game brought in just the disc. But it doesnt seem likely to me. Ar is such a niche game that I dont even see someone trading in a copy let alone disregarding the condition of the game and keepsakes.
 
To add fuel to the fire, I can say this to those who think pre-ordering a game guarantees you a sealed copy.

It doesn't.

I pre-ordered Mario Kart DD at ebgames, and I called every day to make sure I got there the day it came in. On the day it came in, I went there at 3PM and the employee sold me a gutted copy. I wanted to punch that fucker so bad, but I was content with going home and playing my new Mario Kart DD.
 
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