Gamestop grabs 49 stores in ... Norway (yes way!)

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Mar 31st 2008 at 9:00PM }

Not content with its sprawling store base across America, games retailer GameStop has continued its ~~invasion~~ expansion into Europe with the purchase of 49 stores in Norway, reports GamesIndustry.biz. The ubiquitous chain completed the transaction by ensnaring all of the outstanding share capital of "Free Record Shop," a business which, even to the layman's ear, doesn't sound terribly profitable. The acquired stores will now bear GameStop's brand and presumably start charging for their goods.

Tags: Acquisition, GameStop, Norway

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Howl Pendragon @ Mar 31st 2008 9:04PM

Sorry Norway your about to see the god damn hell GameStop calls employees.

Howl Pendragon @ Mar 31st 2008 9:32PM

The problem is that Gamestop employees don't know anything about gaming and can't read.

Examples (there all real):

I was preordering Warhawk and the GS guy says "Warhawk comes with Blu-Ray". Obviously I knew he meant it comes with a Bluetooth headset but seriously it comes up on the computer that it comes with a "BLUETOOTH" headset... Can he not even read?

Another time I was ordering Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the GS employee said "Do you want to preorder it on PS3 or 360?"

I mean seriously how can Gamestop employees be so stupid are they taught by lolcats or something?!

DangerMouse @ Mar 31st 2008 9:37PM

It's not that he didn't know what blu-ray was, it's because he didn't care.

Jacksons @ Mar 31st 2008 9:41PM

I've never actually required the sales associate to be knowledgeable, so it really doesn't bother me. I just like a place I can browse through used games. Definitely not a place I buy new games. I like mine shrinkwrapped, in other words "not opened" and especially "not taken home by an associate and played." How the hell they call those new is beyond me. Not a huge problem, there's plenty of other places to pick up new stuff.

Top Ramen @ Mar 31st 2008 9:54PM

Do not shun all Gamestop employees. For every Gamestop that has five to ten employees on average, you will find one that will be knowledgable, but not a dick. He will discuss gaming with you, but not how great he is at it.

My story: When the Wii came out a co-worker and myself went to the local GS to see what they had for games. My friend was able to acquire a Wii so he wanted another game with his system. He asks the GS if he has played Trauma Center. The GS employee, lowers his eyelids, and says, "I own it".

I, then reply to this chap, "Interesting. Have you played it?" Then, I promptly called him a jackass and walked out to my vehicle to wait for my friend.

Tiptup300 @ Mar 31st 2008 10:21PM

My local gamestop is apparently different. The manager was a friend who got out of school last year (very knowledgeable about games.) They know tons about games, they even can figure out why you NEED Mech Assault to not be platinum edition. The smash launch tourny was a blast.

Anonymous @ Mar 31st 2008 11:03PM

"Can I clean this disk with WD-40?"

If customers stop asking dumb questions they'll get smart answers.

Rob Accomando @ Mar 31st 2008 9:17PM

hahaha, that picture is awesome.

Kapitan Kramer @ Mar 31st 2008 9:34PM

goddamn, I read the title of the post, and instantly knew that it was you Ludwig who made such a horrible, yet wity pun...

Skin suit!

goodgod @ Mar 31st 2008 9:54PM

i'm sick of this. almost every time i try to browse joystiq, it's "evil gamestop this" and "invasion of gamestop" that. i worked for them for a few years as my first job, and i enjoyed the experience, but now i feel like shit just by browsing joystiq because of all this hate that's spewed. so you don't like the store? that's fine. but i thought this site was about "gaming" news, not how much you hate shopping. i'm tired of this. you've just lost a reader joystiq. congrats.

Howl Pendragon @ Mar 31st 2008 10:02PM

Honestly, don't feel like shit its not your fault. I'm happy that you worked at Gamestop because obviously since you read Joystiq you know about gaming.

The reason most people don't like Gamestop is because 1) some of the employees don't know too much about gaming
2) the games there are pre-opened and they call them new. And being pre opened we don't know what has been done to the game discs before we buy them
3) The trade in value is a little low for some games
3)

Tiptup300 @ Mar 31st 2008 10:23PM

1) Agrees, but usually I don't need the staff's help in game decisions.
2) I check for scratches right after buying, just check, if their are scratches demand a new disc.
3) Sell to friends, you make more money, your friend pays less money.

TegDagNe20o7onthebackhandside @ Mar 31st 2008 11:35PM

[quote]
i worked for them for a few years as my first job, and i enjoyed the experience, but now i feel like shit[/quote]

If you liked it so muych why did you leave :/

kastonie @ Apr 1st 2008 9:26AM

Hey man...
I managed a few eb games and then gamestop for a good while, and I can honestly agree with all the gamestop employees suck comments because I've witnessed it first hand. Of course I had to kick some ass and take some names to turn my stores around...but I would agree the majority of gamestops are employed by douches....

ApolloIV @ Mar 31st 2008 9:56PM

You wanna know something Joystiq readers? Get a job at Gamestop. And then, if well all combine our forces, Gamestop will be cool.

ApolloIV @ Apr 1st 2008 5:18PM

Why thank you sir

Courtney @ Mar 31st 2008 10:20PM

That's one of the best pics I've seen on the 'stiq in awhile.

scotty @ Mar 31st 2008 10:31PM

Oh look, another we hate Gamestop thread. How peculiar. Stop bitching and moaning about employees. You sit here and read gaming webpages all day, then get a thrill off walking into a Gamestop and boasting about how little they know in comparison to you. No shit they aren't going to know as much as you. If you worked in fast food, would you be reading up on fast food news every day? How about working at best buy? Do you expect every employee to read up on every single movie release, what every single movie is about, every little change in any industry they work in? Why the hell do you expect it from Gamestop? It's a retail part-time job for most, NOBODY from ANY COMPANY gets that invested in their job.

zelderman @ Mar 31st 2008 10:44PM

Yeah but Gamestop is a GAME store, that's all they sell(and a little bin of movies and some little game related trinkets) They SHOULD know about new and upcoming games. If I walked in to preorder Brawl and they asked me if I would like that on 360 or PS3, I WOULD call them a jackass and walk out. You should at least know what system the game comes out on.

The local Gamestop in town isn't that bad. I tried to buy Manhunt 2, and although I have been in there multiple times, they still asked for ID(that's called responsability) and I wasn't that mad. I was actually happy, because they are responsible when it comes to M rated purchases. Also it's a small town and not many gamers in this town, so going there and being able to chat about games is really fun, you can't do that to often at Wal-Mart or other places that sell games. Also just say 'No thank you' when they ask if you would like to preorder or get a magazine. Not that hard, I tell them that every time.

zelderman @ Mar 31st 2008 10:46PM

I am 21 by the way, I just didn't have the money to buy it. I hate not having a job.

Top Ramen @ Mar 31st 2008 10:53PM

It is not about knowing more, it is about human interaction, plain and simple. Gaming is an experience and it is different for everybody. I just don't like when someone thinks they are better than you because they have a game you haven't played that you could easily buy or rent. OR, if you bought (this console) and you should have gotten (that console). Despite the differences, gaming connects us.

On a side note, you are saying just because it is a retail part-time job, you shouldn't care? No matter what job you work at you should give it your all. It builds character. Hey, you never know, the one person you couldn't help out at your part-time retail job because you did not, or in your argument, should not care, could be of great assistance to you in the future.

Derevartives @ Mar 31st 2008 11:55PM

I'm from Norway and whatever you guys might think of Gamestop this is definitely good news we pretty much have no real games shop with a good library of games, we also don't have any renting out games or selling used ones.

scotty @ Mar 31st 2008 10:58PM

There's a difference between giving it your all, and constantly doing research at work. If an employee knows what system games are on, the basic theme of a game, or how to find information, they will do fine at Gamestop. If they don't know about a game, and state that, it's ok. You can't really expect a part-time retail employee to go home and spend hours researching gaming new sites. It's pointless. Just so he can impress a random joystiq reader?

Top Ramen @ Mar 31st 2008 11:14PM

I think you have completely missed my point. I don't expect said part-time retail employee to spend endless hours researching like he is preparing for an SAT just so I can quiz him on things I know. I do enjoy walking into my local Gamestop and talking about gaming, and generally having a good interactive discussion. Like you said, if I have a question and he doesn't know the answer that is fine. Usually, when I ask a question it is because I don't know the answer myself, but, when I ask if he has played this game then comes off like the cock of the walk because he has and I have not, that is a completely different bird we are discussing here.

James @ Apr 1st 2008 11:19AM

I'm sorry Scotty, but yes I do expect them to know some of the news out there. It's their JOB to know about games, systems, and releases. Why even bother getting a job at a gamestore if you don't even bother reading up on it every once in awhile. I can't really blame the employees, but I can blame gamestop for not requiring their employees to be a bit more informed. Don't give me this bull that since it's a part-time job they shouldn't be invested... they're being paid to help customers, and not knowing some of this basic stuff (i.e. that a big release like Brawl is only on the Wii). Man, I'd hate to go shopping with your low expectations.

hvnlysoldr @ Mar 31st 2008 11:13PM

That pun works.

driven2sin @ Apr 1st 2008 12:58AM

online they seem to be shaky - I got the beta key for B:BC but the next week they total fumble my pre-order for ninja gaiden DS

we actually have one of the few cool brick&mortars around here (replaced my bioshock disc day after launch when my xbox moved while running and sliced it up)

Worst Review Ever @ Apr 1st 2008 1:35AM

Everybody at my local GameStop was kind of a douche, especially the manager, so much so that I almost stopped going there. Then one day I mentioned to the one cool guy there that the manager was a dick. All of a sudden, everybody in the store was my best friend. Then the manager started being cool. It was really weird. He even hired me part-time and never schedules me just so I can get the employee discount.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 1st 2008 2:19AM

*GASP* There are people living up there?!!

JonRemedy @ Apr 1st 2008 3:42AM

I too live in Norway, and think this is a good move. You need to understand the situation here. Free Record Shop is basically a record shop, SELLING records, and a small selection of games. If they can turn it into a real game store, I will be thrilled. Seems like every store selling games do it as a secondary business. Spaceworld, I'm looking at you, you dirty peddler of mobile phones!

Vintage_Sega @ Apr 1st 2008 5:32AM

I'm from Norway, and I work in a Spaceworld Megastore. We have a big selection of games, because we are a Megastore. Unfortunatly not all stores can be that Mega so they've a smaller selection. Gamestop (or EB Games (powered by Gamestop) as they call themself over here) have bought up 49 Free Record Shops (originally from the Netherlands, also Free Record Shop = Independent Record Shop in the minds of the original owners) but they have one itty bitty problem... One of the biggest FRS stores in Oslo (the capital of Norway for those of you who still thinks we're a part of Sweden) will not be a Gamestop. This because the owner of the property did not think it would go with their intended profile, witch is a record store. This we will undoubtedly be seeing more of. I really like our original stores, and do not want to be americanized with endless corporate bulls*** and extremely low wages. GS has the money backing them, and the picture is terrifing accurate.

capt_carl @ Apr 1st 2008 8:37AM

Yay, more hating on GameStop.

We've been over that I'm a part-time GS employee. Sure, there may be lots of stores where the people that work there know nothing about gaming. But that's retail for you. How many times have you walked into, say Best Buy or Circuit City or even Fry's and tried to talk to an associate about the merchandise only to find they know nothing about it? Now, I'm not going to defend the Company, in fact I hate lots of their business practices like pushing Used and Subs/Revs, and treating their employees like crap since they don't "Meet numbers for the week." I work there because I know more about games then a lot of my store's associates, and I can get games at discount. I once had my fat-necked DM basically tell me to push magazines on people (on Black Friday), and when he handed me the magazine, I thanked him for the beating utensil to beat back the horde of customers outside of the store and proceeded to roll it up. AND THE CUSTOMERS LAUGHED BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY!

/rantover, it's too early in the morning.

Lemmiwinks (SSBBFC: 0903-2436-0891) @ Apr 1st 2008 12:28PM

I laugh my ass off at that picture every time I see it. Thank you for making my morning.

NATO_Duke @ Apr 1st 2008 12:36PM

Napoleon would be proud.

AlphaOmegaSin @ Apr 1st 2008 7:04PM

im so fuckin seeing gamestops everywhere, how is it that videogames are technically the 2nd biggest media out there, even though im pretty sure theyve taken 1st now but anywho, how is their only 1 big game store franchise? wtf....

Y2M @ Apr 2nd 2008 9:55AM

Do some of you even realize how many games come out in a year? Keeping track of all of them is a herculean task. And yes, asking what platform you want to reserve Smash Bros. on sounds ridiculous. But I've been in a video game store and seen people ask for Mario on the Playstation 3. Swear up and down that it exists and they've played it. And that the employee is a liar for saying otherwise.

So maybe it's best to confirm these things rather than order a game and tell the customer after fact that they're a retard.

AnnChristin @ Apr 29th 2008 2:10AM

I hate gamestop for one reason. My area manager was annoying and was never satisfied, made me change the setting of the store everytime I was there. And the fact that I would make more money in the register at a food store than as a store manager at gamestop. No wonder I only laster 9 months as a manager, and two years at all.

And I actually think gamestop bought free record shop just because there is a bunch of shoping malls who doesnt want gamestop in their mall, but now they just have to wait until the contract goes out. So I dont think the most of the shops will last more than a year ore two (depends on contract). But it's also stupid since there are a couple of malls who have a gamestop store and a free record shop store. Which means they will have to stores at one mall, and thats no good.