Well, to be fair, an actual real world experience is often more valuable than message board chatter. What happens so often on the internet, is that someone reports something (a unique experience) and people parrot it. Then it turns into "I hear about that all the time", but that really isn't accurate at all.
Ohhhh... You mean, the shelf would have empty boxes, and you'd take one of those up to the counter, and they'd pull the disc out of a drawer and then sell it to you. It would be a way to stop shoplifting.
I haven't seen that done anywhere in like a decade.
I think that's because most places they are either behind glass or individually boxed in a security case. Since they need to save space but still want to show off the cases, I imagine this is the best solution.
Not that I agree with it though. I'd never pay retail for an opened game.
The street goes both ways, Bike... Just because people prattle on the internet, doesn't make (whatever) issue widespread.
Take the recent DOA consoles. If you paid attention to the internet, you'd think it was a 50% failure rate.
This happens most on used games cause they dont require the case for a trade and a lot of titles dont have many copies available. Since it may be out of print you cannot find it new.
It is situational. It isn't as if they open the game because you are buying it.
I can't think of a reason for them to to open all new games. If they aren't on the shelf, they aren't going to be a shoplifting risk.No, I mean you walk up to the counter and ask for Gears of War 3, and they fetch an empty box from a drawer of empty boxes, fetch a disc from a drawer of discs, and then put it all back together. I've actually witnessed two GS employees systematically going through a pile of Black Ops 2 games and opening them, separating them, etc.
I used to think it was just an EB Games thing, but the practice continued long after GS took over.
What's weird is I don't live anywhere near a high crime area, either. 50 miles south of me, maybe I'd understand. Here? There's no reason.
I can't think of a reason for them to to open all new games. If they aren't on the shelf, they aren't going to be a shoplifting risk.
So, what would be the point?
LOL Remember that time GS took all the bonus codes out of the "new" games and then sold them? LOL
I can't think of a reason for them to to open all new games. If they aren't on the shelf, they aren't going to be a shoplifting risk.
So, what would be the point?
To screw you over; because then no matter what, when you want to return that game, it's used because it's open, EVEN IF IT'S NEW.
I don't doubt it... they may need display cases out on the floor. I don't know how else they'd get them. If they just sat games out on the floor they'd start disappearing.
Sure. But it doesn't mean I have any intention of buying what is essentially a used copy. As a business model it's not a terrible idea; don't get heavy on inventory, so you won't have an issue with unsold stock, right? But as a customer, with the other options available, it's not a place I look to shop.
Regarding the Deus Ex: Human Revolution OnLive Codes: We don't make a habit of promoting competitive services without a formal partnership. Square Enix packed the competitor's coupon with our DXHR product without our prior knowledge and we did pull these coupons. While the new products may be opened, we fully guarantee the condition of the discs to be new. If you find this to not be the case, please contact the store where the game was purchased and they will further assis
To screw you over; because then no matter what, when you want to return that game, it's used because it's open, EVEN IF IT'S NEW.
This is where I'll chime in. This actually happened to me. I was in a rush to buy a gift for my nephew, got the "last" gutted copy (turns out they had new unopened copies, my fault for being in a rush and not asking? You decide.)
Anyways, since I was in a rush I didn't notice the cashier didn't put the plastic clear circular sticker that for whatever reason translates to "this was a gutted copy". Turns out my nephew had the game. Oh well.
Fast forward 8 days (yeah maybe I should have gone back immediately) I find myself at the same GS trying to get a refund. Nope, game is open. I try to explain I didn't open it. Nope, no proof, "where is the sticker? there isn't even any residue?"
For crying out loud. Manager later and I got store credit. Gee, thanks.
And I LIKE Gamestop, I got nothing against them, it's just that little incident that made me realize how dickish they can be. They opened it, and didn't want to honor it for a refund even thought it was within their 30 day period.
Dang that would piss me off to no end. I would have refused a store credit without a doubt.
Dang that would piss me off to no end. I would have refused a store credit without a doubt.
That is where I like Gamestop comes into play, since I'd end up buying something from them down the road I saw it as equal trade.
That happened to my wife with a Wii game, too. Anyway, she bought the wrong game for our kids for Christmas. GS gave her hell when she tried to EXCHANGE IT less than a week later. Had the receipt and never even opened the box, but no sticker = SCREWED. Unlike railven, she walked out without a triumph. She's nice as can be, too, so I don't know if they just saw a pushover or what. I had been waiting in the car with the kids so we traded places. I told the manager that I'd call the cops and the local news if they didn't issue me a full refund immediately. "Sir, I can't give you a refund but I can give you a store credit." I took the win and walked out without another word said. Overboard/crazy? Maybe, but they earned it with their !#@$ty policies, practices, and customer service.
Want to know when/why I decided I didn't like GameStop? There you have it.
This is where I'll chime in. This actually happened to me. I was in a rush to buy a gift for my nephew, got the "last" gutted copy (turns out they had new unopened copies, my fault for being in a rush and not asking? You decide.)
Anyways, since I was in a rush I didn't notice the cashier didn't put the plastic clear circular sticker that for whatever reason translates to "this was a gutted copy". Turns out my nephew had the game. Oh well.
Fast forward 8 days (yeah maybe I should have gone back immediately) I find myself at the same GS trying to get a refund. Nope, game is open. I try to explain I didn't open it. Nope, no proof, "where is the sticker? there isn't even any residue?"
For crying out loud. Manager later and I got store credit. Gee, thanks.
And I LIKE Gamestop, I got nothing against them, it's just that little incident that made me realize how dickish they can be. They opened it, and didn't want to honor it for a refund even thought it was within their 30 day period.
EDIT: I just want to add the game never left the Gamestop bag. Got to the party was walking through saw the game on the shelf stuck GS bag back into my pocket.
So which one are you? GS employee or shareholder?
Neither
I've also had customers do the same.
Exactly. I guess I don't understand why anyone would accept a new game not in the (complete) original packaging?However, I'd refuse an opened package to begin with, so I don't think this would be something I run into.
Haha... While I've never been a Gamestop fan this just sealed the deal!
Just picked up Lost Odyssey complete for $8 at Gamestop.
Anyone want to tell me where else I can do that besides getting lucky on EBay?
You also forget the folks living in more remote areas with poor internet access. HD video will destroy even the top end Satellite plans in data usage. Gonna just tell them (and me) to eff off?One of your problems is that you have a serious propensity to project your behaviors and tendencies onto the masses. You somehow think that you're a model of the average consumer; you are not.
As a whole:
Gamers do not care about games like BlazBlue
People care less and less about physical media
People couldn't give two craps about collector's editions; and even those are being transformed into digital offerings rather than physical "here's a neat little character model and a booklet"
You are in complete denial, especially with respect to physical media. Just look at the music industry. If 5% of the population still purchased CD's, I'd be stunned. You point to the quality of BluRay as physical media's saving grace. Let's (erroneously) assume you're correct and that there's still significant demand for BluRay due to infrastructure shortcomings: how long until those shortcomings are no longer a factor? I'm sure there was a time when your current self would have defended CD's to your death... until the iPod came along and bent stores like MediaPlay over so far and so quick its spine snapped.
In fact, as Doppel pointed out with respect to the movie industry, MP3's eviscerated the music industry. Labels and artists had to re-evaluate how they made money. There were a few winners and a boatload of losers. You're witnessing the same thing now with the movie industry, and we've already witnessed a number of casualties, most notably Blockbuster, a former behemoth not at all unlike GameStop in countless ways, from its dependencies on physical media and resale all the way down to its awful customer service and policies.
And since your "quality" argument is woefully inept and inapplicable to the game industry for obvious reasons, anyone making an objective educated guess would say the game industry will get there even quicker (it's already happening, you just don't see it) now that console manufacturers are completely on-board with digital distribution. Quality isn't an issue and it in fact satiates the inner ADD/need-it-right-now inherent to gamers. No more pre-order BS or managing a bunch of media. The only unknown is what effect the desire to resell will have, and even that is only a factor for as long as the prevailing industry decision makers choose to entertain it.