PSA GameStop is changing its pre-order refund policy

Mishimaryu

Banned
If you want to get your money back for a pre-order you’ve placed, you’ll have 30 days after the launch of the game to get a full cash refund. After 30 days, you’ll get store credit.

https://youtu.be/pBcYEBTggVU
 
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Who waits 30 days or more to pick up a game they preordered?
The bigger question is, who even pre-orders anymore? The trend is digital delivery and even if someone pre-orders there’s a good chance the price will drop within 2-3 weeks of release. The last time I pre-ordered a game was in 2008.

 
Last ditch effort by them to pocket some cash knowing the company is going under soon and when the stores shutdown there will be unspent store credit on people’s accounts.
 
The bigger question is, who even pre-orders anymore? The trend is digital delivery and even if someone pre-orders there’s a good chance the price will drop within 2-3 weeks of release. The last time I pre-ordered a game was in 2008.
someone doesn't have GCU

 
The bigger question is, who even pre-orders anymore? The trend is digital delivery and even if someone pre-orders there’s a good chance the price will drop within 2-3 weeks of release. The last time I pre-ordered a game was in 2008.
People who cares about preorder bonus

 
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Non-issue. My preorders at Gamestop for are either done with trade credit anyway or if I spend cash it is for something exclusive to them that I want like the Sekiro limited edition statue
 
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Sounds like a cash-crunching way of changing their policy. Maybe the lenders that were looking into the company found something that we don't know about that's about to come due?

Yeah, someone doesn't understand that people still pre-order physical copies so they have a hard copy of it and can resell it down the road if they want.

 
sounds like they are just getting rid of a liability. probably a bunch of old forgotten accounts with $5 here and there, adds up after a few thousand people do it.

 
Who waits 30 days or more to pick up a game they preordered?
Take for instance, something happens and you can't get to a gamestop like a hospitialization or something serious. If you're on meds, you may not remember you have something preordered. Things happen where that can happen.

 
I don't see an issue here.  For any reason you don't pickup your preorder, it will be credit instead of cash.  First off, it is only 5 bucks down to preorder a game.  I don't see any reason to pay off or put any more than 5 bucks.   So if the 5 bucks goes to credit if you don't pick up after 30 days, it is NO BIG deal.   

 
The bigger question is, who even pre-orders anymore? The trend is digital delivery and even if someone pre-orders there’s a good chance the price will drop within 2-3 weeks of release. The last time I pre-ordered a game was in 2008.
I pre order collectors editions and Funko pops from GameStop. Because they only get the exact amount to cover thier pre orders. Sometimes I'll do standard editions if the pre order bonus is cool enough.
 
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Take for instance, something happens and you can't get to a gamestop like a hospitialization or something serious. If you're on meds, you may not remember you have something preordered. Things happen where that can happen.
Yeah that probably accounts for .001% of all preorders where they aren't picked up so let's try an answer that happens on a regular basis.

 
I don't see an issue here. For any reason you don't pickup your preorder, it will be credit instead of cash. First off, it is only 5 bucks down to preorder a game. I don't see any reason to pay off or put any more than 5 bucks. So if the 5 bucks goes to credit if you don't pick up after 30 days, it is NO BIG deal.
it is only 5 bucks it is NO BIG deal.

 
I put $5 down and pre-ordered a game last Feb and never went in and got it (Dynasty Warriors 9 for the steelbook). Wonder if I could still get my $5 back from that. Credit doesn't bother me because I'd probably just turn around and use it on Driveclub. I'll have to stop in sometime soon and ask when I'm by the one I went to next...
 
If this is same as trade-in credit, then it's even better for me.  Since I don't get taxed on that. 

Gamestop would be like a bank.  "Deposit" $60 in there for 30 days, and save 8% off that next game (in the form of not having to pay tax).  

A savings of about $5.

I wouldn't likely do that tho, since I'm too lazy to go up there and preorder just to save $5.  And $60 could be needed somewhere else.

 
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If this is same as trade-in credit, then it's even better for me. Since I don't get taxed on that.

Gamestop would be like a bank. "Deposit" $60 in there for 30 days, and save 8% off that next game (in the form of not having to pay tax).

A savings of about $5.

I wouldn't likely do that tho, since I'm too lazy to go up there and preorder just to save $5. And $60 could be needed somewhere else.
It would likely be a Gift Card, not Trade Credit, unless perhaps if you originally paid with Trade Credit, so likely would still be taxed if applicable.

 
Can confirm I'm one of the scoundrels who had preorders out there for 30+ days that I hadn't picked up for a number of reasons.  It didn't help that I could only cancel it from the store it was reserved at, and there are 5 within a handful of miles of my house.

From what I understand from the myriad articles, it stemmed from GS Corporate making employees push hard for preorders on every transaction.  People would put the $5 down to shut them up (or help them out, because quotas), and then forget to go back and cancel it.

 
Good to know though that never has been a problem for me as I usually pick up my pre-orders.  

As far as to those asking why people pre-order, one of the reasons I do is for niche games that have limited print runs.  There Katamari Damacy: ReRoll is a good example.  I didn't pre-order it since it was released during December and I had other expenses.  I figured I would just grab it in January once my bank account had recovered a bit.  I went to purchase it a couple of weeks ago and it was sold out on Gamestops website and it was going for double retail price on Ebay.  Thankfully Gamestop had another run pop up a week later but there are several smaller games that would not have happened.  If your into physical games that are niche you are better off pre-ordering.

 
I don't see an issue here. For any reason you don't pickup your preorder, it will be credit instead of cash. First off, it is only 5 bucks down to preorder a game. I don't see any reason to pay off or put any more than 5 bucks. So if the 5 bucks goes to credit if you don't pick up after 30 days, it is NO BIG deal.
When GameStop files for Chapter 11 after failing to attract a buyer, those with store credit become the absolute bottom of the creditor list, meaning they'll never see a dime.

 
I never pre-order due to that. The game isn’t going to run out unless a special is available like RDR2 & the XV1X
 
So if you pay with trade credit and forget to pick the game up, are they converting that into store credit too?
 
The bigger question is, who even pre-orders anymore? The trend is digital delivery and even if someone pre-orders there’s a good chance the price will drop within 2-3 weeks of release. The last time I pre-ordered a game was in 2008.
Yup...in this day and age, there's very little reason to pre-order anymore. GS will sometimes offer an "exclusive" free item with a pre-order, but I've found that it's hardly only given for pre-orders. I walked into a GS and bought a game weeks later after release and it still came with the pre-order bonus item (a "Souls 3" keychain, if memory serves?). Guess it depends on demand.

I'll even take it one step further: there's very little reason to buy any game at launch. Chances are, you have a backlog of games sitting on your shelf. Unless you're just dying to play a new release, it'll likely just gather dust on your shelf. Waste of $$. And, like Rodster said, the price will drop within weeks of release...maybe taking a bit longer for popular titles. VERY popular titles like RDR2 and Spider-Man, yeah...you'll wait longer, but that's the exception. Depending on your level of patience, you could even wait till BF and score the game at a really fab discount. Though, TBH, I really want to play "Sekiro" ASAP, so that's my exception to the rule.

Also, if you wait a few weeks/months before buying a new title, you'll get the benefit of any bugs hopefully being worked out in subsequent updates released before you ever press play.

 
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Not a fan of GS, but i dont see anything wrong with this. If you dont go get your 5$, its on you. Anyways if you preordered something there, you likely go there often and you prolly dont care and just take credit no problem.

Honestly i hate gamestop, but only because of shady practices and policies. They need a new CEO who will make sweeping changes, starting with the top reasons people hate gamestop. They are clearly documented online lol.
 
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So if you pay with trade credit and forget to pick the game up, are they converting that into store credit too?
It would remain as credit & if you don’t spend it they would have to put it on a trade card.

This is for people that pay cash/debit/credit card for a preorder & don’t pickup (it would be put onto a normal gift card.)
 
Yup...in this day and age, there's very little reason to pre-order anymore. GS will sometimes offer an "exclusive" free item with a pre-order, but I've found that it's hardly only given for pre-orders. I walked into a GS and bought a game weeks later after release and it still came with the pre-order bonus item (a "Souls 3" keychain, if memory serves?). Guess it depends on demand.

I'll even take it one step further: there's very little reason to buy any game at launch. Chances are, you have a backlog of games sitting on your shelf. Unless you're just dying to play a new release, it'll likely just gather dust on your shelf. Waste of $$. And, like Rodster said, the price will drop within weeks of release...maybe taking a bit longer for popular titles. VERY popular titles like RDR2 and Spider-Man, yeah...you'll wait longer, but that's the exception. Depending on your level of patience, you could even wait till BF and score the game at a really fab discount. Though, TBH, I really want to play "Sekiro" ASAP, so that's my exception to the rule.

Also, if you wait a few weeks/months before buying a new title, you'll get the benefit of any bugs hopefully being worked out in subsequent updates released before you ever press play.
In store GameStop preorders can be treated as layaway & paid off a bit at a time. It’s how I afford all my top/collector’s editions.
 
Most here are too young to remember when they changed their return policy years ago.  If I recall  you use to have up to 7 days to return a new or used game.  Opened or not. People started to abuse the policy treat them like gamefly.  Take a game home and beat it return it. 
 

A lot of people were pissed when that change came out.  

 
Most here are too young to remember when they changed their return policy years ago. If I recall you use to have up to 7 days to return a new or used game. Opened or not. People started to abuse the policy treat them like gamefly. Take a game home and beat it return it.

A lot of people were pissed when that change came out.

The thing is many employees actually suggest that to people. I've been talked out of buying short games (sub 10 hours) and told to just get the pre-owned copy to 'rent' it.

 
People are forgetting one BIG reason to pre-order. Your guaranteed a sealed copy.

With all the complaining about gutted display cppies, surprised this wasn't mentioned. Don't be shocked if your getting a gut copy for KOEI games or other niche NIS games, GS doesn't get too many.
 
I could swear they already did this. At the end of the year I always get an unspent credit email which is usually $5 or $10 that I've forgotten as a preorder somewhere along the line. 

 
People are forgetting one BIG reason to pre-order. Your guaranteed a sealed copy.

With all the complaining about gutted display cppies, surprised this wasn't mentioned. Don't be shocked if your getting a gut copy for KOEI games or other niche NIS games, GS doesn't get too many.

You're guaranteed a sealed copy shopping anywhere else too.

 
You're guaranteed a sealed copy shopping anywhere else too.
Nah most retail stores don't carry those niche titles. Then there are those special edition carboardrd outerbox games which I've seen get damaged from the spider wrapping all the time at Bestbuy.
 
Today for the first time I pre-ordered something through the app for in store pickup. I don't know how long this has been an option. Here is the email I got:

Shipping Method:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT IN-STORE PICKUP ORDERS:

You will be required to remit payment at the store, at the time of pickup. We will not charge your credit card online for any in-store pickup order. Please bring payment and identification in the form of either a copy of your order confirmation, a valid driver''s license or other government issued identification.

Please pickup your product within 48 hours of store arrival. If the product is not picked up within 48 hours, you authorize us to charge a $5.00 fee to the credit card you provide, to cover the cost of shipping and handling to the store.
I added the bold there to emphasize the $5 charge. WTF
 
Today for the first time I pre-ordered something through the app for in store pickup. I don't know how long this has been an option. Here is the email I got:


I added the bold there to emphasize the $5 charge. WTF
That has been their policy and in their store pickup e-mails for at least the past several years. Having said that, I've never heard of them actually collecting the $5 if you fail to pick up.

 
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