Gamestop shenanigans sell open games as 'new'

by Alexander Sliwinski { Mar 25th 2007 at 2:25PM }

Gamestop isn't new to weird shenanigans in their business tactics. In late January, James Munn, over at Aeropause, told the story of a Gamestop employee selling him a "new" game by opening a display box and putting the game disc into it. He was even asked if he wanted it shrink-wrapped, essentially discrediting any item in the store from being truly "new." Now we have a similar tale.

After hearing about the awesomeness of God of War II all week from colleagues, a lazy Sunday drive to go pick it up seemed in order. We even called ahead to make sure they had copies and were informed they did. Arriving at the Gamestop store, we went straight to the counter and asked for God of War II. The gentlemen proceeded to ask if there was a reservation, we said there wasn't, and he walked over to the display wall and grabbed the empty box for God of War II. He then walks back behind the counter and takes some discs and the manual from the security case, we immediately realized we were experiencing the Aeropause article.

"I'd like a new copy please."

The clerk looked up and said, "This is new. We just take the game out of the box." He then closed up the case and pointed to the front of the box where the sticker said "New: $49.99." He continued to tap the word "new" on the front of the box as if that somehow made this an unopened product. There was no mention of a 10 percent discount for selling an open package, nor was there warning that I'd receive an open package. Meanwhile, there were clearly unopened God of War II games in the security case.

It's moments like this where you think you're dealing with a Ferengi, or imagine channeling Sheneneh from the show Martin and saying something like, "Oh, no you di-in't."

After twenty seconds of truly stunned silence, we walked out of the store, drove to Best Buy and got a new copy of the game. Which wasn't just in its factory-sealed box, but in a second security case.

The problem isn't that the Gamestop tried to sell an opened item, it's that they'll charge full price for an open product. Yes, some retailers will re-stock open items, but most places won't take back opened games and they sure won't sell you an open game as "new." If we're purchasing a new title and paying full price, we want the item to be the same as when it arrived from the factory -- you know, "new." Gamestop continues to pile up the shady business practices.

Tags: eb games, gamestop, shenanigans, shrink wrapped, unsealed

Reader Comments (Page 2 of 9)

Kazi @ Mar 25th 2007 3:20PM

"Now that last point sounds stupid. But think about it. What did we actually do to make the title not new? We opened up the seal. So if people like their games sealed we can do it for them. Seriously, is there any difference between the company putting their own plastic on the case? If anything we are making it a little easier for the customer. Those boxes are annoying as hell to open by hand."

Would you buy preopened food?

LordAlu @ Mar 25th 2007 3:22PM

"Yeah this happens all the time in the UK, so I always by from Amazon or Play.com. Although after a recent look around Tesco I saw that they sold their games in those security boxes unopened AND about a fiver cheaper than Game and Gamestation! God I hate Tesco but I can appreciate a cheaper copy of Final Fantasy XII in pristine factory sealed quality. I had a similar experience at Asda last year when I bought DOA4 on the day of release for £10 cheaper than Game (was only £40 at ASDA). So basically I have this to say about the "specialist" game shops, why do you treat your customers who want to give you a heap of cash for a NEW game like shit?"

Supermarkets can afford to offer games at a cheaper price because they make all their profit on the food they sell. Selling games is not a profitable business, hence why companies will do everything they can to push pre-owned, as selling that is pure profit to them. Your example of DOA4 is a case in point - it cost GAME £44+ PER COPY for DOA4 when it was launched, hence it went on sale at £49.99. Supermarkets can afford to lose the money since they make so much elsewhere, but games retailers cannot.

Back on topic, at GAME we seal everything that leaves, even "gutted" games (we have seals that are easily torn off), so if they don't want it they can still return it so long as the seal isn't broken... do Gamestop not do this in the US?

Travis @ Mar 25th 2007 3:23PM

If they're selling a game that's been opened, there needs to be some sort of discount. I don't see why that's such a big deal.

I've seen shadier stuff at GameStops before, one I went to marked some PS3 prices up completely arbitrarily. I think they were selling the $500 SKU for $600, and the $600 SKU for $650. Gave some bullshit reason I didn't bother to remember. Of course, calling another GameStop in the area, they had PS3s for the actual price.

Kazi @ Mar 25th 2007 3:23PM

Ops, I feel kinda stupid with that food comment already. Think Grocery Store with gamespot practices.

dsub @ Mar 25th 2007 3:24PM

It's this simple.

If you don't like it, don't fucking buy it.

Your still getting a new fucking game. Seriously, are you THAT anal about your games that having the precious shrink wrap removed before you purchase a game somehow makes it tainted and unusable?

It still has all the same old new contents, free XBL trials, manuals, rebates, etc. and the game itself is IMMEDIATELY placed into a protective sleeve to keep it from getting ANY scratches on it at all. If you don't like it, then shop at fucking wal-mart or best buy and shut the fuck up.

Would you prefer they have everything displayed behind glass so you'd have to wait 30 mins for an associate to get a game for you?

The method that EB/Gamestop uses is the most cost-effective and logical way to display a game that is in stock. The only time you should ever get a new game that has been opened is when there are only 1 or 2 left anyways. If there are more than that, then the associate is likely just to lazy to go find one on the stock shelves.

In the end though, it all comes back to the same thing. If you don't like it, then take you higha nd mighty "elitist" gamer attitude and shop elsewhere. Seriously. As if the game fucking plays any differently. Some people are just annoying and picky.

Joshua @ Mar 25th 2007 3:26PM

GameStop and EB Games suck.

john @ Mar 25th 2007 3:27PM

This is why I usually go up to the counter with no box and ask for the game.

gregory mitchell @ Mar 25th 2007 3:27PM

They let return NEW UNOPENED GAMES. If you walk out with a NEW OPENED you waive that right to return it as new. If i cant return It without wrapping and saying its new. you shouldnt sell it to me like that as new.

daniel @ Mar 25th 2007 3:28PM

this is pretty much standard practice here in the uk but in tesco for new games they used to just have the cases with photocopied sleeves in them you pick it up go to pay for it they go get a sealed copy from the warehouse-i guess game shops dont have the space and it takes ages so now they just put the sealed games on the shelves

xdrewfacex @ Mar 25th 2007 3:28PM

same thing the first poster said for me. gamestop really has some shady practices and severely poorly managed stores. there's on store by my house that has always been great, but nearly all the others suck.

Megabacon @ Mar 25th 2007 3:29PM

In england we have gamestation and everything they sell is opened, so whats described here is a common occourance for me

talbain @ Mar 25th 2007 3:30PM

Hmmm this has never happened to me before, but i wonder...

Does opening the game box and store the contents separately save any space? You still have to keep the boxes and the manuals and the media anyway... why not do that with JUST one game and put in for display and store the rest out of the reach of the customer so that the have to ask for the game if they want to buy it?
Many stores do that here in japan, and not just for games.

I understand that people don't want to buy opened games, it makes sense because after the game is opened and even if you are told the game really is new, then there is no proof the game is actually new, so you have to "trust" the retailer, which is too much to ask for some if its the first time you buy there.

The fact that the game box is closed and sealed is the only proof you need, i wouldn't drink from a PET bottle of coke that's been opened and sold to me as new, even if it didn't contain any poison, it would make me doubt, to me thats reason enough to get a refund.

@18 The fact that "Best Buy" employees are careless while handling boxed merchandise (thanks for the insight) doesn't mean that the people at "Game Stop" are not with unboxed products, plus... bad handling of merchandise can also happen long before it hits a store.

Service_Games @ Mar 25th 2007 3:30PM

Unless I pre-order games, this happens pretty much every single time I go to my local EB. It annoys me to NO end.

Supposedly they don't get display boxes for the games they sell. They "gut" new copies of the game and put 'em on the shelves. While really no one can prove it any longer, these copies are supposedly "new" in that the disc has never been used only the box displayed. It still annoys me to NO END. My local GameStop doesn't seem to have this problem, though. And, I've been buying a lot more games from Best Buy recently because I'm getting sick of getting game cases that have been sitting on the shelves getting handled and scratched up.

If it wasn't for EB's trade-in program (I trade a TON of games), I probably would have left them months ago.

SG

thecactusman17 @ Mar 25th 2007 3:31PM

Sounds like a lot of overseas people find this practice rather common. I don't know what sort of consumer protection laws may be in your country, but in the US most stores won't accept returns of opened games, and it becomes extra hard to exchange opened games.

So if a store tries to sell me a "new" opened game, what they're actually doing is trying to insure that I can never come back and return it at full price. The best I could possibly do is trade it in for half of the used price. I've never had to deal with this practice before for new games, but rest asured that if it hapened that would be the last time I shopped at that location.

Prat @ Mar 25th 2007 3:31PM

I'm so sick of these moronic posts by incredibly anal people. THEY TAKE THE GAMES OUT OF THE CASES SO THAT THEY ARE NOT STOLEN AND YOU CAN STILL LOOK AT THE BOX AND MANUEL IF YOU WANT! So what if the case is open and possibly has a sticker on it. You don't plug the case into your computer/console to play it. The disk is what’s important. You all need to get over it and move on with your life. If you really want a sealed copy all you need to do is show up close to the launch of the game and 95% of the time you can have a sealed copy, they will always sell all of their sealed copies that are not reserved first. They usually have extra copies of all their games and will only sell the opened copies if they are the last ones. There is nothing shady or underhanded about this, it is a simple concept to follow and only a retard would be so concerned over it. You have two choices, either the Gamestop method or the Wall-mart method where everything is locked in glass cases and you can only see the cover and nothing else.

Dave Silva @ Mar 25th 2007 3:32PM

The local Gamestop got a copy of River City Ransom Advance the other day. It was brand new. I was happy that they got a copy, but then they took out the game and put the box along with all the other beat up boxes on display.

They said that they only got that copy.

Needless to say, I haven't bought anything there since. :(

gregory mitchell @ Mar 25th 2007 3:32PM

LordAlu, thats exactly my point. Especially with xbox games the seal is broken. So its impossible to return it as unopened which is the only was you can return a new game to gamestop.

Tim A. @ Mar 25th 2007 3:32PM

Man this is pretty normal in the Netherlands, about 90 % of the retailers sell thier stuff this way.

helava @ Mar 25th 2007 3:35PM

1.) It doesn't matter what Gamestop's "standard" practice is. If their standard practice was to tear out all the first pages of the game manuals, that wouldn't make it okay.

2.) It's not new if it's opened. Period.

3.) It's not the customer's job to pay for Gamestop's policies. If they "gut" the game, they should suck up the $5 difference, and at least offer the gutted displayed game at used game prices.

That's all there is to it.

F @ Mar 25th 2007 3:37PM

You do realize they have been doing this since before 1993 ....

We did this with SNES and Genesis games...

Your a little late.

NoHitHair @ Mar 25th 2007 3:37PM

Having worked at an EBGames for several years I can assure this is standard practice. Each store receives an allotment of new games based on the store's location, volume and average monthly sales. Out of those new games each store is required to display at least one. Since corporate was (and probably still is) phenomenally ignorant of gamers, we had to "gut" copies placing the display case on the floor and removing the disc and sometimes manual and placing them behind the counter. This happens with absolutely every single title that comes through the store - it is not simply an isolated incident.

Personally, I do agree with the notion that once a game is removed from a factory seal it is no longer new. This is an especially verifiable belief when one needs only look at the prices of an original factory sealed copy of FFIII or Chrono Trigger for the SNES, or FFVII for the PS. However, most video game retailers don't agree.

Perhaps a more relevant and important observation would be to ask what happens when a customer returns a new game. Though uncommon due to a widespread enforcement of refusing to accept an opened game, exceptions were made and titles that were not visibly damaged were re-shrink wrapped and entered into the "new" inventory. By the way, every EBGames and Gamestop store I've ever visited had and consistently used a shrink wrapper.

Luigi193 @ Mar 25th 2007 3:39PM

Whats wrong with this? I like EB...

LordAlu @ Mar 25th 2007 3:39PM

"LordAlu, thats exactly my point. Especially with xbox games the seal is broken. So its impossible to return it as unopened which is the only was you can return a new game to gamestop."

Which is why I asked if Gamestop seal them. At GAME here in the UK, we place a purple seal over the box, after placing the "guts" inside, which you have to remove so you can open it. That way, even though it isn't factory sealed, it has been re-sealed by the retailer, and can be returned for a full refund so long as the seal is intact.

We also have display copies of games (where the publisher sends us sleeves for their games which we place in empty DVD boxes, but that is only for very new stuff and they never send enough. Hence why games must be gutted and put out on display. Otherwise all the stores would just be one large counter with everything behind it to prevent theft.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 25th 2007 3:39PM

When Gamestop do this to me, I generally stole a Game Guide from the counter... I really do it.

Homer 918 @ Mar 25th 2007 3:42PM

I used to purchase games exclusively at the EB Games in my area but I got tired of them treating me like shit everytime I came into the store. It was like they didn't want my business.

vanadium @ Mar 25th 2007 3:44PM

They did this when I bought DQVIII for the PS2 last year. Sold me an open-box as new, didn't realize it till I got home and...

...the disc was screwed! Wouldn't even load! I ended up spending another 4 hours tracking down a replacement at a Gamestop many miles away when they found one sealed copy left.

F'ing lame. Now I insist that all my games from there that I buy NEW are truly sealed.

eric n @ Mar 25th 2007 3:50PM

While most of GameStop/EB's practices have already been explained in the comments to answer a few other questions:

- Only one copy of a game is gutted and all copies that haven't been gutted are sold before the gutted copy. When a game is a new release there may be an additional two copies of the game gutted.

- You are still buying a new game - it hasn't been used. It's been opened, but the book and disc have been shrinkwraped right after being opened. Yes, you can't return a new copy of a game if it has been opened (meaning the shrinkwrap broken open), but if a game is gutted, as long as the shrinkwrap on the book/disc hasn't been broken, it can be returned. Plus if the game is sold before it's had the chance to be shrinkwrapped, usually (or at least I do and my coworkers do) we make a note on the receipt.

- Display boxes are put out for some games regardless of if we have the game or not. This is to promote the game and is usually sent to us at the request of the game manufacturer. These cases usually say "DISPLAY" on them and feature no price sticker.

- I can't speak for everyone, but while most employees also disagree with a lot of GameStop's practices, a good amount of employees are gamers themselves and are as careful as possible when gutting games to ensure you get the game in the same prestine quality you would if you had opened it yourself.

- Yes, most of these practices are done to reduce the chance of theft. A lot of you commenting are well informed gamers who know what you like, but a large majority of GameStop / EB's clientele aren't so much. You'll be suprised how many empty cases get stolen and other common occurances of the moronic kind. We have to cater to the customer who wants to browse and therefore have to have cases on the floor. Most of you know what you want when you come in and go straight to the employees.

- Lets face it, GameStop / EB are in it just to make money. What you can hope for is that the employees are gamers like yourself and they're the ones who do their best to make sure you're satisfied while still following the requirements of their job.

So hopefully that cleared up a few things. I'm not going to join in in the GameStop rulz/sucks arguments as obviously I'm biased, but maybe now you can understand things a little better from the associates perspective.

Service_Games @ Mar 25th 2007 3:51PM

"Seriously, are you THAT anal about your games that having the precious shrink wrap removed before you purchase a game somehow makes it tainted and unusable?"

Actually, yes...yes I am. While I do a lot of trading, I want my games to look absolutely pristinely new when I bring them home for the first time. I couldn't care less about what they do with them once they've given me store credit for the trade-in, but until that time comes, it better be PERFECT! Even new practices force employees to put these stickers on new games that leave behind a TERRIBLY sticky residue when taken off. Yes, it allows you to prove that the game is still new, but those spots on the disc can get VERY dirty VERY quickly.

SG

Nanatsusaya @ Mar 25th 2007 3:54PM

I worked at Gamestation in the UK, and its been standard policy in there for ages. We don't use security gates so its the only way to stop theft; although plenty of the empty cases still get stolen.

Seriously, this is a lot of fuss about nothing. Ask to see the disc before you buy, get the cashier to write a note on the reciept to say its "display" copy. Or buy elsewhere. But this bitching is kinda silly.

Super-Jesse-Mario @ Mar 25th 2007 3:54PM

Alright, I could see complaining because it was played, or scratched, or possibly even fornicated upon, but just because they removed the shrink wrap for you and put it in a sleeve isn't something to cry about. I feel that retailers need to start stocking their own "display" copies for the games, as people can get irked by it. However, unless it's something I reserved (i.e. a mario game) I always just walk across the street and buy it at wal-mart for pennies less.

Now, if they sold me an open Wii system, that's something to bitch about.

TDR25 @ Mar 25th 2007 3:55PM

I guess this experience isn't really new to anyone that's ever shopped at Gamestop or EB Games. They tried that trick on me and the only thing I did was say that If a brought a brand new unopened game, took it out the store, open it, and than bring it back, they wouldn't let me get my money back nor would they allow an exchange. I actually said this to the guy behind the counter and he couldn't say shit because he knew that I was right. I did the same thing as what was stated in the article, and left the store without the game. I think I either brought the game online or at Circuit City or Best Buy. I don't remember the game I brought, because this situation happened to me more than once at both EB and GS. Till this day I refuse to buy anything from either store.

Zeromaru @ Mar 25th 2007 3:57PM

I notice one guy said that Gamestop/EB do it to keep prices down. Well, I know here in Newfoundland, EB Games always have the highest prices, and most likely like that all across Canada. I don't shop there anymore. I either go to Wal-mart or Microplay (a local franchise, the nearest one has good management, they replaced my DS Lite that had a single stuck pixel with no hassle, so they get my business).

mr mobius @ Mar 25th 2007 3:58PM

this is common occurance in the UK.

I shop at two GAME stores (one is 20 miles from my house and another ten miles away opened later) and both seem to do this. They will have between 3 and 5 copies of the top ten games out, and then singular copies of other older games. These have been gutted and the game discs and manuals are stored in a drawer behind the desk where they are kept safe.

I know that if you take a game disc up to the desk they'll take out the game and manual and carefully put them into their proper places.

I know that Twilight Princess was new in the wrapping since was newly in the store that day, but I guess its a small store so they eventually have to have displays out. If you ask them for a game thats not out then you'll get it wrapped also.

In my opinion if these are handles with care, I've no problem with it. The games are new if they have never been touched by a console before and have no scratches on them or save files (well on ds and old cartridge games anyway). The games will still work on my console and once I play them they'll not be new anyway.

GAME has a 14 day return policy as far as I'm aware and it doesn't matter if its sealed or not, as long as the game has no scratches on it and you've a receipt they'll return for full price. These games then are put on sale as used games for a cheaper than the new games.

I've also bought used games before and I've found except for a small save file which can be deleted, the games are as if have been untouched. Saying that, I'll only buy a used game if the packaging and manual seem in good order since its a good indication of the care a game was given.

Judd @ Mar 25th 2007 3:59PM

"It's called a cardboard print out with a picture on it. Shit, I guess that's too complicated."

Yea, actually it is. Think about it. The alternative would be that that the publisher would have to ship the store one extra case, but without the game inside. So let's say the game gets sold out. Then I guess you're saying that the game case would have to be put behind the counter. Then let's say that there is a lack of space for cases of games that have sold out. We'd probably have to throw out the empty case sent by the publisher. So now the publisher decided to send in a new shipment of the title. Are they going to have send us a seperate copy of the empty case every time we get a shipment?

Even if this were to be done, this would be the publishers responsibility not Gamestop. How do you expect Gamestop to inform it's customers that a game is in stock, if every case that shows a customer the cover art, has a game inside of them?

Oh and another thing. Please don't blame the clerks for the policies of corporate. We have to pitch every customer to buy used, trade in games, reserve titles and get Game Informer. If we don't do enough of that, we get fired. It's a job that usually pays minimum wage and it's pretty thankless. Trust me, I had plenty of problems with Gamestop myself, that's why I quit. But this policy is not their worst one.

Yourself @ Mar 25th 2007 3:59PM

It's not necessarily about the games being in absolute pristine factory condition... people are unsettled by this because there is no real way to prevent them from tossing a used disc in there when you take it to the counter. It's a variable that shouldn't be in their hands, because it could easily be used to unjustly benefit them.

Koekoenutt @ Mar 25th 2007 4:02PM

I think this crap is ridiculous. When I go into my Gamestop store, They have NEW DS games in their crappy used boxes with the permament marker to mark what game it is. They said the game hasn't been touched, and was just stored and didn't have any more cases left. I want to know why I won't be getting an instruction manaul or the real case that it came with if it was new? I find this a lot with DS games around a lot of Gamestops by Cleveland, OH. It's dirty and I hate not getting the real case for a NEW game, so they lose my business.

nate @ Mar 25th 2007 4:03PM

mayve because food gets spoiled and a fucking cd/dvd/blue-ray/whatever doesn't

Service_Games @ Mar 25th 2007 4:04PM

"The method that EB/Gamestop uses is the most cost-effective and logical way to display a game that is in stock."

WAY back in the day (we're talkin probably 1990ish here), TRU used to have a picture of the game cover in a plastic slot on the wall with pieces of paper under them. These pieces of paper would show the game name, price, and possibly the barcode. Yeah, you'd have to take it up to a sealed glass/plastic room where someone behind the counter would take the sheet of paper and give you the game in return. But, to me...that seems like a much better route than gutting the games. I can't see as how that would cost *that* much more.

SG

Service_Games @ Mar 25th 2007 4:04PM

"- Only one copy of a game is gutted and all copies that haven't been gutted are sold before the gutted copy. When a game is a new release there may be an additional two copies of the game gutted."

I was told by a GameStop manager (a store manager) that during the holiday season, they gut multiple copies of the game. Supposedly there are many people walking around in the store. If one person picks up a popular game off the wall, then another customer may think they don't have it in stock. I think it's pure BS, but supposedly true. It wouldn't surprise me at all.

SG

John @ Mar 25th 2007 4:05PM

yeah, i live in scotland, and this has never NOT happened to me. every single game i've ever bought from a dedicated games retailer. had no idea it was a big deal. don't really see the point of the article if i'm honest- why should americans think they can be more fussy than the british? but then this is joystiq and kicking up a fuss is what happens here. no offence intended.

npa.189 @ Mar 25th 2007 4:05PM

i don't shop at gamestop/eb games anymore because im tired of their bullshit like this

Twist @ Mar 25th 2007 4:09PM

This sometimes happens when it is the last copy in store or the last non-reserved copy. I personally think that this was a major over-reaction. There are much better reason to avoid GameStop/EBGames than this (their poor customer service practices being at the top of my list).

Pom @ Mar 25th 2007 4:10PM

This is what every store I've been to around my home (in London, UK) has been doing since 2004 for every non-portable game.
I thought it was just that they were getting shipments of Game Disc & Manual (in a plastic wallet, identical in every store) inside the box, then they take those out (not opening the see-through plastic wallet), and use the empty case as a display case - when they come to put the manual and game disc in, its still inside the plastic wallet, therefore still unopened, and they don't even take it out then and there, but leave that up to you.
I don't really get what's bad about this...

Genoboost @ Mar 25th 2007 4:10PM

I don't understand why you can't just have extra, blank dvd cases lying around, and when you get a new game, print out the cover art, and slap a sticker on it, and that's called a display case. when that game is no longer available new, take the display case down, take the cover art out, slide new cover art in, and voila! You have a display box for a whole new game, and all for the cost of a sheet of paper. Blank DVD cases and a printed sheet of paper is not outragous. Especially if it will bring back all the clearly disgruntled customers that are commenting here. Whether it is company policy or not, it is apparent that Gamestop/EB are driving away customers with the practice.

Also, yes, I am sure that most of the games that have been "gutted" are in great condition and are perfectly fine, the fact is though, that once the game is opened you can not be 100% sure that it is truly new and has not been messed with, and without that 100% assurance of being new, many customers will not believe it is new at all.

Taylor B @ Mar 25th 2007 4:11PM

As an employee of Best Buy, I have trouble believing that Best Buy would ever re-seal a video game and re-sell it. First, we don't ever allow returns on open software, we only replace it if a copy is damaged, and it's always replaced with a new copy. From there, it's set to be DEVO (Destroyed). All used software, broken hardware, opened consoles (PS3/X360/wii etc) are destroyed and are never resold.

Second, It would be difficult me to measure what quantifies "proper handling" of a video game. In the 6 months I've worked at BB, I've only seen one temp employee mishandle a game, and he was never re-hired. We don't drop our games, and from when we recieve them, to when we display them, they are taken out of our totes, immediately shelved in our warehouse, or cased / sorted on our sorting table, then promptly carted to be put on the shelves. We don't toss our games around or mishandle them in anyway that would be disapproved of by any reasonable customer. Accidents due happen, but as always, if a disc is not working or broken, we will always replace it with a new copy within our return policy, no questions asked.

People need to realize how serious BB is about their business, you will see bad employees or annoying policy from time to time, but there is alot of accountability at our business. A single employee will have their supervisor, direct dpt. manager, store managers, general manager and district manager. I have 7 supervisors, with 3-4 in store at anytime.

I don't expect to work at BB for any extended period of time, but after working there, I wouldn't really shop anywhere else. BB corporate is serious about business, same with management, and that all spells out something that will ultimately break down to good things for customers.

Chris @ Mar 25th 2007 4:11PM

Our local Tesco put the game boxes on the shelf in security cases, you buy this and the cashier at the till removes the game box from the case. You then go to customer services who go into a saferoom to get another security case which contains the game disc which they put into the box for you. Can't get much more secure than that!

However, I agree about the problem of returning the item. I have tried to return CDs before but because they were not sealed they refused to take them. A letter to head office fixed that.

Hikaru @ Mar 25th 2007 4:13PM

They put coming soon games with printed art that says "Display Box",they can do the same with new titles, I worked there and they fired me because I was always pointing out things like that, if you want a used copy go there, for new games even wal-mart is better and sometimes cheaper, BTW the games that you can check-out and play in your house ARE the gutted ones, not used ones like someone pointed out.For those who said that you can have it shrink wrapped let me tell you, a new plastic seal is way different than the one gamestop use to seal games...the factory one is "folded" and the gamestop one is "burned"