What are GameStop/EB Games' policy regarding repackaging games?

J

Josh7289

CAGiversary!
Feedback
1 (100%)
I know GameStop and EB Games both open all their games from their original factory packaging and remove the discs before selling them (whether they re-shrinkwrap the game after you buy it or not), but what I was wondering is how they handle pre-orders. I'm not sure, but I think if you pre-order a game from them, when you pick it up, you'll get a copy still in its original factory seal. I think they don't mess with the packaging if they know someone is coming to pick it up (or at least they don't mess with them if you pick them up on release date or so...). Does anyone know GameStop/EB Games' policy or practice regarding this?

Thanks!
 
No one will believe this story, but I swear that it's true.

I pre-paid Farcry for Xbox 360 from EB Games. When it came out, I went in and picked it up an hour after the store got their copies in. Clerk shoved it in the bag. I get out to my car, look at it, and it's an opened case with 2 "Played It? Trade It!" stickers, price sticker, and two of the clear circle stickers that they put on the opening edge of the case.

I go back in, and tell the clerk he gave me a used game. He says it's new. I show him the case, and he said it's new, but they didn't have any copies left to display on the wall.

I shit you not.

Dumbfounded, I stood and stared at the clerk for about 15 seconds before I spoke. And then I said "A) if you have no more copies to sell, why would you need to advertise it? And more importantly, B) If it's my game that I've already paid for, why are you opening my game and putting 50 stickers on the case and putting it on the wall to advertise a game that you don't even have?"

So then the clerk stares at me for a second, and says "That's the way we always do it. We have to advertise."

So I refused the game and asked for a refund, and he said "I don't think I can, there's no way to enter into the computer that you don't want it because it's opened. I mean, it's a brand new game. It's like we checked it for you." So I told him to "Find a way". and as he was taking his time "trying to figure out how to do it" he said I wouldn't be able to find this "hot new release" anywhere in stock for weeks and I should just take it.

I got my money back, and went over to Target where they had about 50 copies in stock, and all were factory sealed.

Fun Tip: EB Games & Gamestop employees are allowed to sign out new games and take them home, play them, bring the dirty scratched up games back, reseal them and sell them as new. That's why they always have 15 gutted display copies of every game, because they all take a copy home.

People will say that's not true, but I know store managers and it is absolutely true. If you buy a new game from EB or Gamestop, there's a very good chance it's a used/resealed game.
 
umm...when you buy a "NEW" game at a store it should always be factory sealed or its not even worth touching.
 
Why do they open ALL the games ? I have heard this before, and I did a trade 2 for 1 on Rayman, and the wrapper was pretty loose, but the disc was mint with no scratches so I let it go, I traded 2 $10 games anyway
 
yeah i got kinda pissed when they changed their policy on new games
i no longer purchase new games at EB/GS
i usually just go to Gamecrazy or a store like Target/Wal-Mart
 
[quote name='xGunCrazyx']yeah i got kinda pissed when they changed their policy on new games
i no longer purchase new games at EB/GS
i usually just go to Gamecrazy or a store like Target/Wal-Mart[/quote]

Same here. I only go to EB/GS when I'm looking to get a used game for cheap. New games? Forget it.
 
[quote name='Haggar']Fun Tip: EB Games & Gamestop employees are allowed to sign out new games and take them home, play them, bring the dirty scratched up games back, reseal them and sell them as new. That's why they always have 15 gutted display copies of every game, because they all take a copy home.

People will say that's not true, but I know store managers and it is absolutely true. If you buy a new game from EB or Gamestop, there's a very good chance it's a used/resealed game.[/QUOTE]
Hate to tell you this, but that's not news here.

Earlier this summer, my sister bought a copy of Elite Beat Agents that was "new" but came with 90%+ of the game's content unlocked by whoever had taken it home before they sold it to us. We got an exchange at another store and I'm not going to be buying any new games from the chain again.
 
[quote name='Haggar']No one will believe this story, but I swear that it's true.

I pre-paid Farcry for Xbox 360 from EB Games. When it came out, I went in and picked it up an hour after the store got their copies in. Clerk shoved it in the bag. I get out to my car, look at it, and it's an opened case with 2 "Played It? Trade It!" stickers, price sticker, and two of the clear circle stickers that they put on the opening edge of the case.

I go back in, and tell the clerk he gave me a used game. He says it's new. I show him the case, and he said it's new, but they didn't have any copies left to display on the wall.

I shit you not.

Dumbfounded, I stood and stared at the clerk for about 15 seconds before I spoke. And then I said "A) if you have no more copies to sell, why would you need to advertise it? And more importantly, B) If it's my game that I've already paid for, why are you opening my game and putting 50 stickers on the case and putting it on the wall to advertise a game that you don't even have?"

So then the clerk stares at me for a second, and says "That's the way we always do it. We have to advertise."

So I refused the game and asked for a refund, and he said "I don't think I can, there's no way to enter into the computer that you don't want it because it's opened. I mean, it's a brand new game. It's like we checked it for you." So I told him to "Find a way". and as he was taking his time "trying to figure out how to do it" he said I wouldn't be able to find this "hot new release" anywhere in stock for weeks and I should just take it.

I got my money back, and went over to Target where they had about 50 copies in stock, and all were factory sealed.

Fun Tip: EB Games & Gamestop employees are allowed to sign out new games and take them home, play them, bring the dirty scratched up games back, reseal them and sell them as new. That's why they always have 15 gutted display copies of every game, because they all take a copy home.

People will say that's not true, but I know store managers and it is absolutely true. If you buy a new game from EB or Gamestop, there's a very good chance it's a used/resealed game.[/quote]

I believe it. As a former employee, I could check out new games, but you can't scratch the disc or you have to pay for it. They then sell the game as new, even though it is used. I am so glad I quit working there, that place is a scam in multiple ways. I just bought RE4 Wii version with left over credit there, and now I realize it was repackaged. I will never step foot in a Gamestop store again.
 
I remember one specific booklet that was thrown back into my case, they jammed it in backwards and of course, they ruined it.
 
[quote name='fshaia']Why do they open ALL the games ?[/QUOTE]

Because it makes it harder for the customers to tell which ones are used and which ones are genuinely new.


I have a theory that the whole reason Sony stopped using the white sticker label across the top of new games a few years ago was so that GS/EB can make it easier to sell resealed games as new. GS/EB is basically the Wal-Mart of the gaming industry, so I'm sure they could easily muscle Sony into doing it.
 
[quote name='Haggar'] People will say that's not true, but I know store managers and it is absolutely true. If you buy a new game from EB or Gamestop, there's a very good chance it's a used/resealed game.[/quote]

I think that this really depends on the store. Most stores have to gut copies to put on the shelf and some stores check out tons of copies of games to employees. The store I shop at doesn't usually have problems. I refuse to buy used copies of new games, so maybe they have given up on trying to sell them.

Also, when preorders come out, they always take those copies, leave them sealed and tape the preorder tickets to them. They are always set aside for us, so that's good. Now that the management has changed, we'll see what happens with all of the stuff in the next couple of months.

TBW
 
I don't know why the hell they don't just have flyers like they used to do at TRU. There was a picture of the front and back cover of the game with a flyer underneath. You take the flyer to the clerk, he brings out a new game. I always hate ordering things from GS or EB online because about 30% of the time they are sold in "new" condition, but really are used. I've had to return items to them on at least 5 different occasions. I think I've made about 17 or so orders in the last 2 years. Luckily, my last set of $10 PSP games all came sealed.
 
[quote name='opportunity777']I don't know why the hell they don't just have flyers like they used to do at TRU. There was a picture of the front and back cover of the game with a flyer underneath. You take the flyer to the clerk, he brings out a new game. I always hate ordering things from GS or EB online because about 30% of the time they are sold in "new" condition, but really are used. I've had to return items to them on at least 5 different occasions. Luckily, my last set of $10 PSP games all came sealed.[/quote]

Flyers!?!?! The sad thing is that they don't need flyers. 95% of the games they sell new have a pre-order/coming soon cardboard box. Just design a sticker to put over the coming soon tag or better yet design the coming soon tag to be a removeable sticker. I have never understood it. They get like 1-20 cardboard fake game boxes (sometime a few, other times a large amount for a display) and then when the game comes is released the stores chuck/give away the game boxes and put a gutted game box on display.
 
[quote name='opportunity777']I don't know why the hell they don't just have flyers like they used to do at TRU. There was a picture of the front and back cover of the game with a flyer underneath. You take the flyer to the clerk, he brings out a new game.[/QUOTE]

[quote name='paddlefoot']I have never understood it. They get like 1-20 cardboard fake game boxes (sometime a few, other times a large amount for a display) and then when the game comes is released the stores chuck/give away the game boxes and put a gutted game box on display.[/QUOTE]
Space. That's all.

If you haven't noticed, most GameStop and EB locations are tiny, and don't have much of a back room. It's a lot more efficient to put the actual cases on the wall and the game and inserts in a stuffed drawer, because the alternative would be trying to find a way to fill store space while having somewhere to put all of these sealed, mint games or to find a way to keep people from stealing the sealed games off the wall displays.

I'm not saying that makes the policy acceptable, but there is at least some justification for it.
 
I don't know what Gamestops you guys go to, but the only time I have that problem is if the game has been out for a long while and there's like only one copy in the store. Otherwise, if I'm getting a new game, it always has its factory seal.
 
Wait, so even ordering games online runs a risk of getting a used game listed as new?

Agh...

Anyway, the reason I started this thread was because I recently bought a copy of Ninja Gaiden Sigma Collector's Edition off eBay that someone bought on Tuesday new and sealed from their local GameStop. He said the game was already sealed when it was sitting behind the counter, so I'm hoping it's safe to assume it was factory sealed.

Also, comparing the pictures of the game to other pictures of the game in other eBay auctions, the shrinkwarp seems to be the same style.

Personally, it's easy for me to tell when a Nintendo system game is resealed, becuase I am very used to the official style of shrinkwrapping, so I'm just really hoping this copy I got off eBay is truly factory sealed.
 
From an Ex-EB employee who worked at multiple stores in the NY/NJ area I can tell you that the official policy of EB is that they dont LEND out games to employees.

But from experience I can tell you that most managers/assistant managers do allow employees to BORROW games. They do so to allow the workers to be knowledgeable in what they sell but more to the fact they do so to keep the employees happy. Contrary to popular belief EB employees hardly make a worthwhile income. Working at another retailer of video games usually pays more but EB has a very friendly WORKING environment (not so much for the customers).

As for reselling used games as new that is strictly against all policies of EB/Gamestop but I for one have seen it happen. Usually its a mix up but sometimes more often than not its the district managers fault/policy. District Managers for those who dont work in business are basically managers of managers of stores usually around 10-15.

As for opening NEW games and shrinkwrapping them, it is true that it is a practice that has been goin on at EB for years but usually they only do it if the promotional material for that game is lacking (ie. no display boxes, no signage etc.). Selling video games is a business you need to show product on the floor to sell it. Another reason for doing this is to keep ACTUAL product off the floor both to conserve space and security reasons. One of the rules I was asked to follow while working there was not to show actual product to customers (games from behind glass cabinets, games from the back room, etc.) but of course most employees find it hard to so. So the official policy is if someone asks to see something from inside a glass case or from the back room you're supposed to send them to the wall shelves and show them the product that has been "gutted".


As for mutiple copies of a game being "gutted", I cannot say for sure it isn't because they are being borrowed out to employees because sometimes this does happen but more often than not it was a request from the higher ups and EB/Gamestop. On Sundays in my district we get a marketing package from the higher ups that tell the employees what exactly has to be put on display and how many of each item should be put up (Big Cardboard cutouts, display case games, what game to put inside the demo console, what games should be at Eye Level, etc.). In this little package they sometimes skimp on the number of an game that should be displayed (demo boxes) so to keep the marketing people happy (they send people around to make sure their instructions are followed to the letter and the store is fined if it isn't) they "gut" more of a game to fill out the spots on the walls.

Finally, LEGIT managers are not allowed to lend out games, package them as new when returned, etc. but it does happen in some cases. But if they wanted to follow the letter of the law they should and some actually do send the "opened/used" game to EB's Defective warehouses where they are usually either destroyed/restocked as used if found usuable/shipped to distributor for credit or replaced. But of course doing this cuts into the stores margin and manager's pay and reputation are based on these numbers.
 
For those who don't know official from shrinkwrapped its pretty easy to tell...

Official

Edges are flat and pressed in like a present.

Shrinkwrapped

Edges look like they were compressed and is very rough to the touch. Also if held under a hair dryer the plastic melts alot faster than would an official plastic seal.
 
Would that apply to Ninja Gaiden Sigma Collector's Edition? The standard game case comes inside another cardboard slipcase, so I'm not sure...
 
Collector's Edition of games are a little tricky to figure out. If it was sold from EB usually their isn't a need to open these unless its out of curiosity. But as for the way they are packaged these are trickier because some packagin companies use the same exact method as EB for shrinkwrapping. The reason for this is because usually collector's edition of games are of an abnormal size and ordering specific sized official wrap is usually out of the question or just out of the budget. Sorry I could not help...
 
[quote name='TomoyoN'] I can tell you that the official policy of EB is that they dont LEND out games to employees.

But from experience I can tell you that most managers/assistant managers do allow employees to BORROW games. [/QUOTE]


This changed when EB got bought. Also, wtf is the difference.

I've taken out games before personally, but I've been cool about it, imho. I've always rented out a used copy if available, and store display if not. I also always wipe the data from a DS game I've taken out. I make sure to keep the disc in top shape and pristine, so I don't have to pay for it.


By the same token, I know for a fact that my fellow employees aren't as careful.



Anyway, OP, you got douched. A preorder copy should never be cracked open, and at my store we won't do it. How long after release did you wait before you picked it up?
 
I once saw a lady return a sealed game for cash out....no receipt!

I couldn't believe my eyes...she had a small child of about 5-7 and said he got it as a b-day gift but the boy already had it.

I've seen customers try to replace faulty consoles that were purchased new get rejected and have a GS employee say "should've bought it used" to the guys face, but seeing a manager let some lady return a sealed game for cash was definitely a first, I'm positive that isn't policy lol
 
[quote name='TomoyoN']From an Ex-EB employee who worked at multiple stores in the NY/NJ area I can tell you that the official policy of EB is that they dont LEND out games to employees.[/QUOTE]

Then why do EB Games/Gamestop have a sign out book from corporate where employees have to sign out the games they are taking?
 
All my stores sell the New games they advertise... I know they're factory sealed, so either my district's a haven or you're all just damn unlucky. The older games all had the new Sony label on top or I was able to tell it was never shrinkwrapped.

If they ever started rewrapping some games, I hope they restrict it to the sports titles that they always hype up. Just keep games like Odin Sphere sealed but go enjoy Madden 'XX (use it as a coaster for all I'd care...)
 
[quote name='Proto Man']I don't know what Gamestops you guys go to, but the only time I have that problem is if the game has been out for a long while and there's like only one copy in the store. Otherwise, if I'm getting a new game, it always has its factory seal.[/QUOTE]

I don't know what Gamestops you go to but mine has 5 gutted copies of Atelier Iris 3 on the floor, and not one still factory sealed. Same with nearly every other brand new game that just came out (especially DS and PSP games).
 
ive had a problem with this sometime now. cause ive had many experiences at eb where i purchase a game not knowing that i would be getting a open/gutted copy instead of it being said as an actual "NEW" copy.

i went to gs to get .hack gu vol1 premium and ask if it was brand new, the guy said yes, and asked me if i wanted him to open it and inspect if everything was inside. i think i yelled "NO!!" to him. i couldn't believe how stupid he was.

but couldnt they get in trouble for this though? selling things that are unsealed as new... ive had some occations too where i passed on a supposed "new" game when i checked the disc and had a few hairline scratches on them. when i asked them they said it came like that. great, im looking forward to a scratched new game when i open my new copy of persona 3 on aug 14th :)
 
I got into an argument with a gamestop employee yesterday about this. I asked to buy a new Killer 7 for the gamecube. He goes to the gamecube section and picks out an opened Killer 7 case with a "NEW" sticker on it. I tell him that I want a new one that is sealed. He gives me a dirty look and says that it is new, pointing at the sticker on the case. We exchange opinions on the gamestop store policy for a few minutes and then I leave. I really never want to go into that store again, but I'm sure I'll find myself there one way or another.
 
wow i wonder if my gamestop is like that, i usually go to the one in NY, Astoria, on stienway. i might just go get my halo 3 legendary from circuit city then if this is what they do,
 
So, here are some pictures of the game I received. The shrinkwarp feels kind of loose, and those line-y things on the back of it don't look like something I remember EBStop shrinkwrapping to have.

What do you think?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1092/1030643382_8f3caa62e6_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1374/1030643494_2beab51132_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1219/1030643548_3f1f45c1e5_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1225/1030644020_319416a832_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1140/1030644138_db32b84455_b.jpg
 
My initial instinct is that that game has been resealed however I'm new to the PS3 scene so I can't be positive.
 
[quote name='Halo05']My initial instinct is that that game has been resealed however I'm new to the PS3 scene so I can't be positive.[/quote]
It's been resealed. You can tell from the 1st pic. The plastic would be folded if it was the original seal(some Ps3 games are factory sealed the same way PS2 games are). The way it's sealed in that pic tells that it was a open copy that they resealed in the back.
 
Keep in mind that some companies are cheap and send their games out with a shitty shrink wrap job. For instance, Ubi Soft this gen is doing this. I got a factory sealed copy of Raving Rabbids for Wii and it felt really badly done. After checking around the internet forums, here included, everyone had the same style shrink wrap. I know it's fun to bash EB/Gamestop, but it is not always as black and white as you'd like to see it.
 
Actually at Best Buy I've never seen a Raving Rabids without the traditional Y-Fold.

Seems like you got served.

Sometimes we get them in with the heat sealed and the y-fold.

Why does it say Gamestop on the back of that Ninja Gaiden?
 
[quote name='TomoyoN']For those who don't know official from shrinkwrapped its pretty easy to tell...

Official

Edges are flat and pressed in like a present.

Shrinkwrapped

Edges look like they were compressed and is very rough to the touch. Also if held under a hair dryer the plastic melts alot faster than would an official plastic seal.[/QUOTE]

M$ has changed the way their games are pressed now, and as they still enforce the green bar code along the edge of the case- or in EA's case where they have a security seal also along the bottom- alot of the 360 games have been arriving in the stores with generic shrink wrap. If you're a stickler for new 360 games, check to make sure it still has the barcode intact before pitching a fit.

As far as sony games, I'm still seeing PS2 games factory packaged as you described, but a lot of third-party PS3 games have started to ship with generic shrink wrap (*cough*2K*cough*).

Hope that helps there. As far as the rest, he should have refunded you flat out for that game. In my shops, I keep all reserves backstocked and tagged- usually through the weekend of its release (rather than the shorter, advertised term of 48 hours). We do have a borrow out policy, and if anything were to come back from my employees looking less than pristine, I would either make them buy it flat out, or call payroll and have them take care of it. If the employee wants to trade it back?- well, then it would be sold as used.

There used to be a 'shop worn' discount code that allowed managers to knock down the cost of these types of games, but on a store by store basis, people were using it far too liberally. If not for those individuals, there would still be a margin for investing your time and effort into these variety of games. I think it's a shame they've taken it away, and to reciprocate, have started enforcing a 'used-only' borrow out policy.

When it comes to buying a 'New' game, and it's gutted with the sticker that reiterates its condition, please understand - they give us crap for payrates. That usually means being able to hire literate people and that's about it. However, the kid should have at least called around for you...
 
[quote name='Skelah']is bait and switch illegal? and is this not what advertising a new game and giving you a used one is?[/QUOTE]

Not really. Bait and switch is usually when a store advertises something at a great price to get you in the store. They then have none of the sale item in stock and hoping that since you are already in their store, will buy a more expensive model that they just happen to have.
 
I had the problem of a resealed game in the past from GS/EB, but its a simple problem to solve. I just don't buy anything from them, don''t even mess with trading games in there since GR is still standing. Buy most of my new games through amazon giving Cheapy the comission and buy my used games from the cag trading forum...
 
kjauburn, what is GR?

Anyway, the game is an irregularly shaped Collector's Edition, which is exclusive to GameStop/EBGames. Anyone want to revise what they said, or do you still think it's resealed?
 
[quote name='Mr Unoriginal']Not really. Bait and switch is usually when a store advertises something at a great price to get you in the store. They then have none of the sale item in stock and hoping that since you are already in their store, will buy a more expensive model that they just happen to have.[/QUOTE]

What, like Circuit City last week with those fucking 1600 point cards?

If I wanted to be furious I would go find out if a bunch of them magically appeared on Sunday after the sale ended.
 
[quote name='Halo05']What, like Circuit City last week with those fucking 1600 point cards?

If I wanted to be furious I would go find out if a bunch of them magically appeared on Sunday after the sale ended.[/quote]

I'm pretty sure they are all restocked by now...
 
[quote name='Haggar']No one will believe this story, but I swear that it's true.

I pre-paid Farcry for Xbox 360 from EB Games. When it came out, I went in and picked it up an hour after the store got their copies in. Clerk shoved it in the bag. I get out to my car, look at it, and it's an opened case with 2 "Played It? Trade It!" stickers, price sticker, and two of the clear circle stickers that they put on the opening edge of the case.

I go back in, and tell the clerk he gave me a used game. He says it's new. I show him the case, and he said it's new, but they didn't have any copies left to display on the wall.

I shit you not.

Dumbfounded, I stood and stared at the clerk for about 15 seconds before I spoke. And then I said "A) if you have no more copies to sell, why would you need to advertise it? And more importantly, B) If it's my game that I've already paid for, why are you opening my game and putting 50 stickers on the case and putting it on the wall to advertise a game that you don't even have?"

So then the clerk stares at me for a second, and says "That's the way we always do it. We have to advertise."

So I refused the game and asked for a refund, and he said "I don't think I can, there's no way to enter into the computer that you don't want it because it's opened. I mean, it's a brand new game. It's like we checked it for you." So I told him to "Find a way". and as he was taking his time "trying to figure out how to do it" he said I wouldn't be able to find this "hot new release" anywhere in stock for weeks and I should just take it.

I got my money back, and went over to Target where they had about 50 copies in stock, and all were factory sealed.

Fun Tip: EB Games & Gamestop employees are allowed to sign out new games and take them home, play them, bring the dirty scratched up games back, reseal them and sell them as new. That's why they always have 15 gutted display copies of every game, because they all take a copy home.

People will say that's not true, but I know store managers and it is absolutely true. If you buy a new game from EB or Gamestop, there's a very good chance it's a used/resealed game.[/quote]

Oh I totally believe you, it's happened to me, though with Trauma Center for Wii. I emailed GS as well.

I'll NEVER buy a new game from there again. I haven't shopped there since.
 
[quote name='Quintox']Oh I totally believe you, it's happened to me, though with Trauma Center for Wii. I emailed GS as well.

I'll NEVER buy a new game from there again. I haven't shopped there since.[/quote]

I only buy used Xboxs from GS nowadays. Mostly I get em and softmod em and install Xbox Media Center on em then I sell em to people who need a cheap easy to use Network Streaming / CD/DVD / DiVX player.
 
Wow, I'd heard some stuff about GS and resealing, but never realized just how bad it was. I feel pretty lucky that the 4 closest Gamestops I frequent only gut copies that are for display, keeping all extras sealed in the drawers or behind the glass cases to sell first before finally selling the gutted copy.

Also surprising to me is that so many Gamestops re-wrap gutted games and sell as new. I think the only thing I recall seeing wrapped that way sometimes are used systems with controller and wires. I've never seen it used on games.

It seems to me it would work better if they just had display cases and used print out inserts to swap out as needed. When I worked at a video rental store a few years back, this worked well for the new release wall and game section. I think it would be less time consuming for the employee, and obviously better for the customer being guaranteed that the new game they purchase is actually sealed.
 
[quote name='eternalblue81']Wow, I'd heard some stuff about GS and resealing, but never realized just how bad it was. I feel pretty lucky that the 4 closest Gamestops I frequent only gut copies that are for display, keeping all extras sealed in the drawers or behind the glass cases to sell first before finally selling the gutted copy. [/quote]

Same. I've never received a gutted copy if they had sealed ones still in stock. And even then, the few times i did receive the display copy, I really didn't mind. As long as the disc isn't scratched and everything is mint, I don't care if the box is unsealed. I mean, I would have unsealed it myself as soon as I got home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top