Game store clerks risk all, speak out ... anonymously
by Tony Carnevale 
{ Apr 4th 2007 at 6:27PM }
Games Radar's "Confessions of a Game Store Clerk" has more info than you would ever want to know about working at a video game store. Way more.The anonymous interview with eight current and former employees includes 17 pages of juicy details on such hot-button issues as who "mistreats" them the worst (hint: the customers) and State of Emergency ("that game sucked so bad"). Kudos to Games Radar for the mysterious neck-down photos of the unnamed clerks. These guys are really putting their asses on the line. If anyone found out they worked at Gamestop ... they might never score a date again.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Yukos @ Apr 4th 2007 6:51PM
I find it comical that Gamestop and EB employees are complaining about being mistreated by customers. In actuality, most of them have a false-sense of superiority and use it as a basis for treating everyone that walks through the door like a jerk.
Steve @ Apr 4th 2007 6:53PM
"GamesRadar: What other assumptions do people make about you?
#2: Or that we're condescending jerks... which is true in many cases. Especially after the 50th phone call that day asking if we have any Nintendo Wiis in stock."
It's very likely that 40-50 different people made those calls so as long as the customers are being polite why would they be a jerk about it?
On the other hand, I bet they get bitched at for asking if customers want those protection plans and subscriptions.
Wow, this is a long article, I'm still not done! Nice, though.
Sparerib @ Apr 4th 2007 7:12PM
F*ck those bitchy kids. I work in retail too and I have yet to run into wait times longer than any Game Stop I have ever been to. These assholes have the nerve to say that they are treating the customers with respect and doing an oh so great job, but every time I go in there are 15 people working and 1 register open while the rest of the employees either chit chat or just stare dumbfounded into space. They can keep their holier-than-thou article and shove it up their collective asses. Working in retail sucks. Find another job then.
RK @ Apr 4th 2007 7:10PM
I like the part about the 30 year old guy that just stands there and talks FOREVER about video games. I always feel bad for the employees when I see that guy.
Nicholas Sulikowski @ Apr 4th 2007 7:27PM
Speaking as a former Game Stop employee, I can tell you that everything they said is true.
Ralod @ Apr 4th 2007 7:26PM
The attitude of the employees, and the overall treatment of gamers by the big companies(well company I guess it would be) is why I no longer shop at gaming stores. I think there is a growing group of long time gamers who agree with that and are doing so as well.
Soon it will mostly be the parents, grandparents, the generally uninformed, and people trying to sell stolen games that will be the only customers they get if there are not changes made. The way the consoles were handled last year and how the Wii continues to be handled ensures that my attitude wont change anytime soon. That whole debacle has left a bad taste in a lot of gamers mouths.
I am a huge gaming fan, have been for most of my life. But I would rather give up the hobby then ever give my money or waste my time with Gamestop/EB ever again.
Anonymous Rep @ Apr 4th 2007 7:32PM
I find it amusing that the sales clerk in the picture is wearing his PS3 lanyard, with his Xbox 360 pull out ink pen and his Xbox 360 name badge. It's almost a certainty that he's NEVER seen a Sony Rep, while his Microsoft and Nintendo Reps are in there every month.
How about welcome to the REAL world, kids?
"Yeah, a lot of boring and tedious work - daily price changes, inventory counts and then the whole "no gaming while on the clock" policy."
JJ @ Apr 4th 2007 7:33PM
I'm sure if ANYONE here has worked in retail before, can understand some of his complaints.
Granted some EB/GS guys are jerks, the same could be said for ANY retail outlet. I run into jerks behind the counter in almost any store i go into, on the flipside i run into Ahole consumers almost everywhere i go too.
The way i see it, you just cant be too harsh and have to learn to relax or else this world will suck the happiness right out of you.
And Ralod while you may feel that way, you do realize EB/GS sell the majority of retail video games in the US right? They own like somewhere around 35-40% of the retail game market alone. It may even be higher than that.
But just because YOU dont personally like them doesnt mean others dont flock there.
Hell I and most of my friends HATE Walmart...and never shop there...doesn't stop that train from running does it?
Nicholas Sulikowski @ Apr 4th 2007 7:47PM
The customers at Game Stop are by far the worst thing s ever to have drawn breath. More than once they've asked me when Mario is coming out for the Xbox. I've had this conversation on the phone:
women "Do you have any 360s?" me "No, we're sold out." woman "So you don't have any?" me "No." women "So you're sold out?" me "No." "So you don't have any?" me ".....No." woman "Ok." *she hangs up really loudly in my ear*
Then there's the ones that call up asking for the trade in value of 10 games, or the release of 10 games that really don't have a set date outside of say october 200X or aren't even listed yet, and get really pissed that you can't tell them the date. And they always seem to call when there's a line of people at your register so you gotta do that in tandem.
I've had a customer cuss me out for saying that we were closing in 5 minutes!
Matt B @ Apr 4th 2007 7:48PM
Try being a cell phone tech at a local wireless store for a week and you will be running back to EB and beg for your job back.
Does anyone know how much these guys get paid hourly? Is it even over $8/hr?
Ralod @ Apr 4th 2007 7:56PM
JJ:
Yes it is true they do a lot of the sales of video games in the US. And I think they are making a lot of cash ripping people off with trade ins. Good on them.
Never however did I say my feelings was how the majority of people feel. There is a growing number of people, the hardcore gamers the store once really served that more and more are driven away from them. I don't think by me not shopping there it will make a difference, but if they don't change the way they treat there customers more and more will move away from them. People are stupid, but there not masochistic, well for the most part.
People who dislike Gamestop, there employees, and there practices now may be small in number, compared to the uninformed masses, but it is steadily growing.
as a sidenote: You cant really compare Wal-mart to Gamestop. People dislike Wal-Mart for various reasons. They put local places out of business, they undercut suppliers, they encourage manufacturers to move operations to china to lower labor costs, there semi-religious background.
But people shop at Wal-mart becasue it is cheap. It is a discount store. Gamestop is a specailty store. You go there to find somehting you cant find elsewhere. A lot of times there more expensive then other places. This is why you can't compare the 2.
Brandon @ Apr 4th 2007 7:57PM
Wow, people whine about everything... Try working at any retail shop in the US there will be stupid and uninformed people, complete jerks, and those you like. Some bosses you will like while others you won't it is a fact of life and they all just need to get over it. I worked at walmart and we had to ask each customer if they wanted to sign up for a new credit card for the entire week because we were the test store. Did not work out but I pissed quite a few people off just making them wait because someone wanted the credit card.
However there are a few GS/EBs that I don't go to anymore because of horrible treatment by the employees and some I will go to because the employees are great. And the phrase has been changed it is not "The customer is always right." Because lets face it most of the time they are wrong. The phrase is now "The customer is king." because you need to treat them well.
Mr Khan @ Apr 4th 2007 7:59PM
@ 9
I understand how that would be annoying, but for some people, it's quite some distance from home to game store, and gas is expensive, they have to be absolutely sure, one way or the other
In my case, i always ask twice more after they say "Yes, we have that game," because i've misread the signals too many times, and wasted too much gas in the past
1/2 of this report could be translated to almost any retail outlet, really...
awiifemale @ Apr 4th 2007 8:08PM
I guess I'm lucky then because my local Gamestop has some really nice employees, and I've found them to be very helpful. Seems like they like to run them short-staffed, but I've never seen them lose their cool with anyone (yet). Maybe it's because they have such a great manager, who knows. I brought in a bunch of homemade fudge for them for Christmas and they really appreciated it.
The EB store a few miles down the road is another story though.....nasty!
bgdc @ Apr 4th 2007 8:11PM
Not a big gamer but I buy all my stuff from Amazon - no tax, free shipping, 4% cash back, triple rewards points...why bother with a local store for any technology/gaming/software?
Liquidize @ Apr 4th 2007 8:12PM
I remember back when Funcoland first opened. I think I was five at the time (and probably one of the annoying kids these employees hate) but it was an awesome place. You knew if you went there people were informed on games, would talk games, were about games.
Honestly, I buy most of my used games online. Yes, I have gotten burned once or twice, and yes sometimes it is a EB-esque store selling it to me but I can avoid going to the store. Of the three video game stores by my house, 1 is complete morons, and the other two have crappy customers. I make sure I go there at off times when the soccer moms and grandparents are not there because (lets face it) most of the gaming and non-gaming population is hell on earth to deal with. And I'm saying that as a customer!
SLiFE @ Apr 4th 2007 8:16PM
A good read.
And all the more reason I stopped going to EB 6 months ago.
Roger @ Apr 4th 2007 9:23PM
oh yea keep crying while you reem us up the ass for crappy games at high prices you mcdonalds employee rejects. i never when there acting like a jerk but when somebody does you cry crocodile tears.
Sid Icarus @ Apr 4th 2007 8:35PM
When I went back to college I got a part time gig at Gamestop... Never again.
Here I was 25 years old. Before I went back to school I was working for a design consulting company making $45,000 a year and being flown to New York, Las Vegas and Atlanta.
Then I was at Gamestop, making $6.25 and hour and having my pockets searched every time I walked outside for a smoke.
Ivanoski @ Apr 5th 2007 12:05AM
Even though its true some employees are A-holes...most of the time employees are willing to help you out....everything stated in that article is 95% accurate.....where i work at if the customer has a good relationship ship with us...(honest,pre-orders,etc) we tend to hook him or her up(Wii's, free stuff, etc)
CubeGuy @ Apr 4th 2007 8:41PM
To anyone who hates GS/EB:
Please make don't generalize when it comes to the employees. The employees at the store I work at try very hard to help the customers, often going above and beyond the call of duty to do so. I can't count the number of times that the manager has sat with a customer with a phone in hand, trying to assist them with finding a particular game from other stores - often not a GameStop - in town.
Hearing the same anti-GameStop crap over and over just gets irritating.
Yourself @ Apr 4th 2007 8:53PM
This is for all those people last week who said about the Gamestop thing "nuh-uh those are just display copies"
#6: The shrink-wrapping of returned merchandise and reselling it as new.#6: The shrink-wrapping of returned merchandise and reselling it as new.#6: The shrink-wrapping of returned merchandise and reselling it as new.#6: The shrink-wrapping of returned merchandise and reselling it as new.#6: The shrink-wrapping of returned merchandise and reselling it as new.#6: The shrink-wrapping of returned merchandise and reselling it as new.#6: The shrink-wrapping of returned merchandise and reselling it as new.
These guys, p.s., seem pretty bitchy. Their complaints about customers are pretty retarded and apply to all retail, not just games stores. "This one time, there was this middle-aged woman who actually wanted to get her kid a good game, so she asked me questions. Life is SOOO HARD"
Dan @ Apr 4th 2007 8:55PM
i agree with u Yukos, some guys at EB and gamestop can be real jerks. Sure I'm a jerk where I work, which is at an ice cream store, but only when people get mad at me raise their voices (its ice cream for gods sake) If they're nice to me, I'm nice to them and I would never be a smart ass to them. Anyways, when I go into a game store, even if I ask them a legitimate question, I am guaranteed a wise ass remark.
Ralod @ Apr 4th 2007 8:56PM
@19
"Hearing the same anti-GameStop crap over and over just gets irritating."
Do you think you keep hearing it because it just may be true?
I too have put my time in at a games store. I worked at EB games before the gamestop merge. There were a lot of pain in the ass customers. But guess what? It is no different in any retail store.
Just because you are selling games does not give you the right to be condescending. Just because your selling a game and not a grill does not make you better then any of the other millions working the same dead end retail monotony.
Bluebreaker @ Apr 4th 2007 9:06PM
????
I never had a problem with Gamestop once. I go in, get my games, get on with life. None of this waiting 2-3 days with Amazon business. I've always loved gaming stores, hearing all this dischord is just strange. (Notice, I didn't say any of you were wrong, just that I never had a bad retail experience period.)
Joseph Villalobos @ Apr 4th 2007 9:35PM
Wow, this was a really good read!
AssemblyLineHuman @ Apr 4th 2007 9:40PM
The problem is that a good GameStop employee (one who does what they're supposed to) is worse than a bad one. They hassle you about buying a used game that's $2 cheaper than the new one when you tell them you want the new one. They ask you if you want a protection plan on EVERYTHING you buy. They remind you about all of their big trade-in deals. And you can't get mad at them because you know they're just doing what they're told.
Jerk Face @ Apr 4th 2007 9:47PM
Wow. That was the worst f*cking read I've had in a long time. I mean, seriously, what a bunch of self-righteous douche bags.
Wow, some of them actually have girl friends? As if that is a shocker to anyone in their target audience; which is, of course, gamers like all of us. WE know that not all gamers are total turds. You're preaching to the f*cking choir!
And furthermore, I happen to play Dnd all the time! Why is that always the example people use as proof that they are not nerds. "Oh, I don't play Dnd so I'm not TOO dorky." That is f*cking stupid. I roll dice and I actually have a hot f*cking wife.
See? People said so:
http://www.hotornot.com/r/?eid=AEELNQE&key=HPL
And everyone f*cking knows that Gamestop is the evil empire. This is not a surprise. If I see another god damned stupid article on Joystiq about this shit I am going to lose it.
F*ck!
Rubang B @ Apr 4th 2007 9:54PM
Hey everybody let's all click on Jerk Face's link and vote 1's for his wife! SHE SHALL BE DESTROYED JERK FACE. She checked her rating 7 minutes ago! Mwahahaha!
Jerk Face @ Apr 4th 2007 9:57PM
She and I were actually just joking about that. That was me getting her link when it was checked. I could have just totally destroyed her good rating with my rant. Ah well, this article still sucks anyway. I'm going to go get drunk.
Mike @ Apr 4th 2007 10:00PM
Excellent article. People should swap this link around and hope it wrecks Gamestop's stock value.
Rubang B @ Apr 4th 2007 10:07PM
Yeah this article does suck. It put me into a rage where I had to launch internet attacks on innocent D&D players and their wives.
I'm sorry everybody.
GameStop still sucks. If you work there, shoot yourself.
James @ Apr 4th 2007 10:08PM
Haven't gotten thru the article yet, but I did read the comments here. I agree with #23 -- I've never had a problem, and I've been to a fair few Gamestops/EBs. Worst thing is "Do you want to reserve..." or "Do you have your club card..." and that sort of thing, which I'm used to getting pretty much everywhere. I had a roomate who worked at an EB back in college, and his co-workers seemed like normal guys. Like some people have said, anybody who's stuck in retail can get worn down -- even if everybody is nice about it and doesn't act retarded, fielding that 50th "No, we don't have any Wii systems; no, we don't know when the next shipment is coming in; no, you can't reserve one; no, I don't know where else to look." call is going to try a saint's patience. I went through something like that myself -- I worked at a movie theater during the release of the Star Wars prequels, and had to take sometimes 30 calls in a single shift asking about tickets (Yes, they're sold out. Yes, all day. No, we don't sell tickets for tomorrow yet.) and even though I always had a really cheery disposition, it would get old surprisingly quick. It's actually a good sign -- the people who didn't get worn down were the pricks who took pleasure in turning people away.
GBreeder @ Apr 4th 2007 11:34PM
"Then again, I've also dealt with parents who won't get their kids Pokémon because... well, I don't know. The lady didn't tell me. All I know is that he's not allowed to have anything Pokémon."
I think this lady came into my store last weekend! She told me it was because she didn't trust any of that stuff from any of those "godless" Asian countries because they probably had subliminal messages built in... Her son, (bless his heart) managed to nag her into buying Jump Ultimate Stars before they left though.
bgdc @ Apr 4th 2007 11:21PM
all of you really go to game shops? why? This is as mysterious to me as the people who shop at best buy or circuit city. There are no advantages to shopping in-store. Only disadvantages (tax, gas, time, higher prices, dealing with other people).
Get into the 21st century. Places like EB and Gamestop should have gone out of business a long, long time ago. They serve no useful purpose in a world with free shipping and tax-free deliveries of the same goods but priced lower.
Kefka's Son @ Apr 4th 2007 11:35PM
I used to work at Gamestop(for 2 1/2 years)an i had some many problems. Sometimes customers suck, but most of the time it was ok. See i had my own policy, if the customer treats me like sh*t, then treat him/her like sh*t. I got away with it. They knew not to F with me. I had a reputation at the store i worked at. People wouldn't ask me for help anymore, because they knew what was going to happen. I know its bad, but whatever. I was never fired either.
I hit the lottery last year. So i can just sit on my ass for the rest of my life. I do feel bad for my friends who still have to work there to play the bills.(College/Rent) I even offer to give them money, but they wouldn't take it. I'll give it a few more months. They don't have the same policy i have.
Colin @ Apr 4th 2007 11:44PM
Great Article ... i actually have newfound faith in EB. I bought a used 360 controller a couple of weeks ago and threw away the receipt. It wouldn't sync with my 360 and I thought I was screwed. I walked in ready to turn on the heat, but was pleasantly surprised that one of the clerks remembered me from last week, and let me swap it for a new one. To return the favor, I put 25 down on Halo 3 Legendary and thanked them greatly for being cool about everything. They thanked me for not walking in being a jerk and making demands. Real recognize Real. I'll be back.
dsub @ Apr 4th 2007 11:36PM
You fucks can hate on Gamestop/EB Games employees all you want, but I read this stuff and laugh, because 99% of what these guys have said is true.
No, I myself don't act like a condescending jerk...unless I am provoked.
Seriously. You people wonder why we act that way at times. Work at a game store for 6 months, and you'll soon shut the hell up and see the whole picture.
I act like a condescending jerk when I get people that come in and throw a fit when we don't have any Wii's in stock. I act like that when I get someone that comes in and goes on and on about how they can't wait until the "PS3.1" comes out and asks if we have any info on it. Only to be yelled at and called stupid when I reply that I have no clue what they are talking about.
I act like a condescending jerk when I have everything set to go to close the store at 8:50 pm and some crack junkie comes in with a stack of 30 of stolen video games that I HAVE to take on trade for cash. I then act like even more of a jerk when said junkie flips out when they discover that they only get $10 in cash for 30 various sports titles that are all at least 3 years old.
Why am I a jerk? Because I then have to stay at work, print out stickers for every game, price them, file the games, and then put them on the shelf in exact alphabetical order, which in turn causes me to be stuck at work for another hour and a half.
I am also a jerk when parents send their children down from the sports bar two doors over to play games while they sit and drink for 4 hours as if we are the neighborhood babysitter.
I laugh as I type this, because I could go on and on with reasons why I may act like a jerk.
In the end though, I really am not a jerk. I was merely provoked. I really do answer the phone 50 times a day to customers wanting Wiis. 8/10 of them are nice, and I am never a jerk to a customer that is nice to me. However, 2/10 people feel as if they are entitled to a Wii. They will curse at you, yell at you, etc.
I know you all will continue to hate game store employees no matter what, because that seems to be the "cool" thing to do. Much like hating the PS3 right now. So I know that what I say doesn't matter because some douche bag will spout right back at this with a "that's retail, don't like it get another job" sort of comment, and you know what?
That's exactly the kind of person that I will act like a condescending jerk to. Think about that.
They say "the customer is always right" and "treat the customer with respect" and I agree with the latter at least, until the customer disrespects you.
GBreeder @ Apr 4th 2007 11:39PM
"Get into the 21st century. Places like EB and Gamestop should have gone out of business a long, long time ago. They serve no useful purpose in a world with free shipping and tax-free deliveries of the same goods but priced lower."
o_O Man! And they think that people who work in video game stores are withdrawn...
dsub @ Apr 4th 2007 11:43PM
cubeguy-
I hear ya. I try my hardest to be helpful to customers as well. For instance today I let some parents try out roughly 15 used GBA games on a traded in GBA just because they didn't know what to get their kid. I too have called around to endless amounts of stores to find such minute things as a gameplay card for Everquest. Why? Because the customer was nice about it. However, some customer don't want to be helped, they just want to argue and be irrate in hopes of getting a freebie. I know it's typical retail stuff, and I hate the bad wrap that EB/GS employees get as well, but you know what? I still love my job.
GBreeder @ Apr 4th 2007 11:47PM
Hey Kefka's Son... how bout a hand out bro... =P
micheal82 @ Apr 5th 2007 12:16AM
#5 must work at Toys R Us because that seems like my day. Open the day with system checks price changes and invetory followed by puting the crappy games in bins occasonally move the bins around because for some reason they believe if I put the crap some where else someone will buy it and take a swing set out to peoples cars evry ten minutes.
aylera @ Apr 5th 2007 12:16AM
I laughed at the question or response about people asking for advice on games.
Customers NEVER take your advice when they ask for good games -_- It's almost like taboo, they really really want to play shitty game XYZ.
This article is spot on, but you also have to remember that not all of the employees that were questioned work at EB/GS. One or two seemed to work at a mass retail chain like BestBuy or Target.
As a 5 and a half year vet of early Funcoland / Gamestop, I can say lots of this article rings true. Especially on the job advancement, burnout rate, customer base, stolen games(!), etc. etc.
The job is a go no where job, unless you want to manage. Managers get paid crap for the hours/extra work they have to put in. Prepare yourself to put in MORE work/hours if you want to be considered for a District Manager spot, and be prepared to relocate assuming a spot ever opens up (ha). Otherwise, be prepared to just slowly hate games and gamers increasingly over time, to the point where you wished you were just a regular customer again.
The sad thing is, if you're at Gamestop/EB for this many years, you probably don't have much to fall back on, in terms of experience or a resumé.
Aberu @ Apr 5th 2007 12:24AM
Personally, the comment about the customers being the worse proves they have no eye at themselves. Everyone I know who works at a Gamestop or EB are usually one of the two. The guy who knows nothing about video games who markets to you incessantly and bothers the crap out of you to try his demoes. This actually happened to me and I had to tell him to stop harassing me. The other type, is the gamer, who is a loser about how he works at the place. Loathes to do anything in the store. I came into a store wanting to turn in a box of DVD's and the manager turned me away since he wasn't done with inventory. I'm like, you opened the store 15 minutes early and your going to turn away my service? I told him I will go elsewhere right away and I guess he gets some incentive for doing these cuz he instantly stopped what he was doing. I really, as a customer, never have too much of a good experience at these places.
Game stores remind me of Best Buy. Absolutely no one in the place really gives a shit about what they are doing, BUT they are trained to make it appear like they know what they are talking about and/or doing. I think if you apply to one of these places and say you like video games or technology, they don't hire you on purpose, in fear of their assets and company "secrets".
Kefka's Son @ Apr 5th 2007 12:35AM
To #40 Hey Kefka's Son... how bout a hand out bro... =P
If we were friends i would give you some.
CubeGuy @ Apr 5th 2007 1:09AM
@dsub
Yup. I do that with GBA games as well. We're not supposed to, but sometimes people really do need help.
Also like to give out freebies that we happen to have still in the bin. I love the look on a kid's face when you hand him a Sonic plushie or a DS stylus when he isn't even buying anything. Parents love it, and they come back later.
It all comes down to this: be decent to your store employees, and they'll treat you with respect. Be civil to your store employees, and they'll give you free stuff. =P
We all win.
Cuja @ Apr 5th 2007 1:14AM
I think this GS manager O'F, IL is a robot. He would be perfect greeting people at the door of Walmart.
Bill @ Apr 5th 2007 1:32AM
Really, you pricks have no idea. It's not ALL of the customers, that is just irresponsible reporting. They didn't mean to bring down EVERY single customer.
But EB and GameStop accepts cash trades, which in a lot of neighborhoods, brings in a lot of shitty people, ghetto people who smell like pot, have ratty clothes, and look like they just may rape you at any given moment.
Then there are the parents who drop their kids off (Free baby sitting, wtf?)
YOU people, the gamers, WE LOVE YOU. Do not get the wrong impression. We seriously, seriously love you.
It's the crappy, grungy, foul mouthed, stoned thieves that most stores deal with that make things so miserable at times.
But again, gamers, we really do appreciate you, please don't get the wrong impression.
Mr Smith @ Apr 5th 2007 3:57AM
"expendable employee"
The only good part about that interview. What an exciting "tell all" interview with mostly spoiled brats. Could be the worst interview I've read, and yes, I worked at a video game retail store for more than "the holiday season".
uglyteeth @ Apr 5th 2007 4:47AM
I worked in retail during college at a dry cleaner. Yes...the customers suck. But I always treated people nicely until they were rude to me. EVERY time I went into a Gamestop/EB, the clerks were rude, lazy, slow. And like another person said, there would be like ten people working but they were all too busy talking to each other to help you out.
And these employees in the article are too lazy to get another job yet they refuse to advance to the "hive-mind corporate miasma?" Well good luck with that. I'm sure you will land and keep a good woman with that mentality. No wonder these guys are such jerks.