DS Daily: GameStart

I hate going to GameStop.
Typical things you must say to keep one of the employees from breathing down your neck (it's not like they -want- to do it, the normal ones anyway, but if they don't, they get fired).
"No, I don't need any help."
"No, I'm just browsing."
"No, I don't want to pre-order that."
"Yes, I know it's coming out soon, still don't want to pre-order it."

Geez! If I want to be driven insane by annoying, clingy, stalker-ish people, I'll just go to my baby brother's school.

I never get hit with a bunch of questions when I go into a gamestop. At least nothing beyond the usual, "Hello, can I help you find anything?" I just say "No, I know what I'm looking for." and they leave me alone.

Now, at Best Buy I will have 3 or 4 people ask me if they can help me find something no matter what section of the store I am in.

I am not a fan. But I am also a hypocrite, as I get most of my games from Gamestop used. New games I'll buy from Best Buy most of the time.
The thing that bothers me the most about GS is the "new"/"used" game system. I've bought a game from them NEW (but wasn't in shrink wrap) and upon returning home, realized that I got the wrong one. I tried to return it the next day and they wouldn't take it because it wasn't wrapped, even though it wasn't wrapped to begin with! I paid $40 for it, but got back like $14 since they would only take it as USED. Jackasses.

I really don't have a problem with employees breathing down my neck. They are generally cordial and let me browse in peace but if they really want to draw more customers in they need to up the prices they give for trade-ins. Yes this will eat into profit margins but if they want to gain an ounce of cred back they need to give back to the customer a bit instead of thinking all gamers are early teenage boys with mommies credit card (maybe that's why I don't get bothered I'm not part of their customer base.)

Gamestop definatly needs to stop presuring people into pre orders and warranties. Funny story: I bought the metal gear trilogy and the clerk asked if I wanted a warranty, I told him no, he asked another 3 times! all 3 times I said no, when he gave up I turn to my friend and say "I like how they pressure you into stuff here" to which he replied "Hey, Im still here. Maybe you need to work on your personal skills. See I can be hurtful too" ha I certainly got owned by the clerk. Regardless I felt I was in the right.

My Game Stop, up here in Maine at least, is run by fanboys who are, on the positive side, fun to geek out with about upcoming releases and such. I was never much of a gamer until the DS (the only other console I own is a Sega Gensis) so they're very helpful in suggesting titles similar to the ones I enjoy.

On the con side, its similar to everyones, no I do not want to preorder. They always describe with urgency how I won't be able to get it if I don't preorder. Yet every month, when I decide that theres enough leftover in my budget for a game, the games are always there, new- even two to four weeks after they've been released.

I appreciate the personality of the shop- though this may be just in my area, but they must be required to tell me to preorder every game we talk about, because by now they should understand that I can't afford to.

The EB employees where I lived were always more informed and able to offer opinions than the local Game Stop employees. Then they merged and now everyone is pretty meh.
Considering me and my buddies just go in there to check out stuff to pirate or pick up some 5 year old PS2 game for $5, I'd say they're already very good.

What they need in my area, where a lot of poorer people who can't afford new games for $50 go, is someone with a lot of game knowledge who stands by the bargain bin. There are ALWAYS people asking "is this good? which is better, [sports game] 2005 or 2006? does this suck because it's 3 dollars?" If they ask about one of my favorite games I'll recommend it, but that's really the job of the store.

It's not so bad. Anymore, I only go once a month or so and never because I'm actually looking for any game in particular. There are a handful of games that are no longer commercially available that I scan for in hopes that I can get a copy (I refuse to be price gouged by ebay), and if I don't see them, I leave. It's mostly to no avail, but searches have yielded things like copies of Etrian Odyssey and Lost in Blue in the past. The ton of stickers they plaster over everything can be annoying, and I've had a bad experience or two with employees, but I don't hate the chain. After all, when I want new games, I order them from Amazon. No tax, free shipping, and I can get games right at my doorstep. It's worth the few days' wait.

I don't mind shopping at Gamestop. I've never been hounded by employees wanting to help. They'll ask me if I need help and I'll say I'm just looking and they'll leave me alone.
Others have complaints about having preorders forced on them, but I can't ever remember being asked if I want to preorder anything.

The one thing I don't like about Gamestop is how much money you get when you trade something in. I'm not expecting big bucks for my games but I would at least want more than almost 3 bucks when they'll sell it for more. Long story short when I trade in something I want the trade in value to be the same as what your going to sell it at or at least 2 or 3 bucks cheaper.

And I can also do without the does she really think we'll let her walk out with these games looks and/or attitude when I put a stack of M rated games on the counter. I understand that I look 13 but once I show my ID and it says I'm almost 23, it should stop. Yes I know they have to ask for ID for anyone who looks under 30. And it pisses me off the most because my cousin will buy M rated games and they won't ask for her ID and she's 19 but looks 20 maybe 21.

Stop trying to cram pre-orders/magazine subscribtions/Edge cards/used games/extended warranties down my throat. No, I don't want to save a dollar and get a copy of Tales of Legendia that some guy stored in his ass when he wasn't using it. No, I don't want to pay extra just in case the ass game doesn't work. Shut up and leave me alone.

I dont go to gamestop. There's this place right across the street that sells used games, and the people there are nicer. Plus, they have games from EVERY system, from NES to Virtual Boy to PS3.

I was in GameStop on Monday checking out their abysmal at best, selection of PC games. Most of my gaming is done on the PC with the DS taking a close 2nd but they have shrunk their PC games section down to nearly nothing and of course their dedicated gaming areas are huge. As a long time PC gamer, it sucks to see them reduce their selections to just a handful of titles. When the guys working there saw me looking at PC software, they didn't even ask if I was looking for anything in particular so I guess they don't give a damn about the PC. I am sure that isn't where the money is.

Trade-ins. I don't trade games in at GS anymore because you get almost nothing for them; I go to a little family-owned store.

Incomplete used games in crappy condition should NOT cost or be worth nearly as much as complete copies in like-new condition. And quit sticking price tags on inserts.

...Anyway, I've never been annoyed or nagged at any GS. Standard "Hi, can I help you?" when walking in and "Would you like to pre-order something?" while checking out.

Actually, last month I found a complete Gradius V at the same store I bought my copy (missing manual) at. After explaining the situation, they straight up let me have the manual. Now that's customer service. :]

I don't really mind GS very much.

When it comes to selling games, I usually try 2 sell them to my brothers of friends, or I just keep them even tho I don't play them.

My main complaint however. is the size of the store in general. I think it's quite sad when u specialize(sorta) in gaming, yet most stores like walmart and best buy have games sections bigger than the whole store...
ok, maybe that's a little exaggerated, but I think GS needs bigger stores, all the ones I've been 2 are quite small...

I do go to GameStop, and I don't think it's that bad of a place. Sure, there is an employee or two who can get annoying from time to time, but it's hardly anything worth stopping to shop there. I didn't like their method of taking the discs out and having them behind the counter at first, but by now, I'm used to it, and I just know that, if that's something that bothers me, I should just go elsewhere. What really annoys me is like, well, last time I went in, I went to go check out a couple games, and their prices were not only not that competitive, but they had no artwork. I really hate that. But in cases of rare games, I buy it anyway and try to print the art out myself.

I get some of their policies, but some things seem like no brainers to me. Instill a little independance in your customers.

Take an extra second to place the sticker over the box barcode; it does no one any good to obscure description and number of players in a stock of hundreds. Yes, I could ask for your help, but many times the clerks are just as clueless as I.

Invest in some shelves: I get that you angle most to be visible from the register to deter theft, and that you're obligated by regional to obscure useful areas with promos and cut outs... but get some shelves that can hold games fronted, filed, and tiered. The point is, the shelves should hold games, and not snatch them into their viselike deathgrip, and snag and shred anything you're trying to browse. Also, vertical locked poster displays for portables would make it much easier to gauge the price to the impulsivity for many GBA titles (I'm less likely to ask you how much Pkmn Emerald costs than I am to buy it).

Catalog : Used bookstores can do it, so can you. In the dead spaces between the demos and the doors, put a information kiosk for customer look-ups. How many times have student loans came in and Gamestop lost business because I couldn't find out the library produced by Nippon Ichi? Countless.
How many times have I left the store after asking about a producer's library and got sneered at by the zygote behind the register? Many times. If I can find it myself, I will... but if I even think that the unhelpful staff will profit via commission (or at least not get fired) by my purchase, I often times leave in hopes that they starve to death or quit.

Releases : If you have three screens, and all of them are showing back-footage of Super Mario Galaxy... tune one of them to a scrolling display of releases by system, and I won't glare at you during the "pre-order" segment of our retail interrogation.
If there's a subtle reminder, I might bring up the issues of preorders myself.

Authoritae: Kick the unsupervised 6 year olds out. You aren't their babysitters, nor do you want to be sued for liability. Shopping is so much less enjoyable when the merch is being gummed by countless, raging children. Besides... Mall Security is probably bored anyways. And chances are... the parent that yells at you for it isn't the customer you want either lest you enjoy being subpeonaed (sp?) in the trial of unaccompanied minor charged with car theft, purchase and possession of drugs, and 2nd degree murder of alleged prostitute.

Customer Service: I have my headphones on... of course I don't want your help, your magazine, or your witty banter. Stay away from policy so much, and rely on training staff for customer service. P.S. - The warranty is a sham; save that speech for Aunt Vicki buying Babysitter Simz! for niece of indeterminate age.

Smart Stocking : Limit the storage of shovelware to a minimum (whatever to keep the suppliers happy), or invest in a cheap mailing division to sell customers their "Pink Kitten-Mania" obsession. If you want to market to girls, find games that are critically evaluated for misogynistic content, and solid gameplay scores and push that.

Decor : Get one plant; your store smells like ass.

The only problem i have with the Gamestop store we have and its not even there problem, is that the store it waayy tooo small and always so crowded. Thats why i never go in there, you could probably fit only 20 people in there and they would be squished. But like i said thats not the problem with most gamestops... just ours *sigh*

I hate hate hate the whole Game Stop experience! I have been in several and they have many problems in common.

1. Dimly lit
2. Putting titles on racks at floor level, so customers have to get down on the carpet to read titles (try that in a skirt).
3. Conversely, putting titles on racks so high, you can't reach them or even read the price sticker.
4. Cramming me at the register with things I obviously don't want, i.e. I'm a thirty something woman who only ever buys casual DS titles- it's a safe bet I don't want to preorder "BloodBath XXVI".
5. Counter guys who scoff/look alarmed when a woman walks in the store.
6. Whoever mentioned the snaggy racks, thank you- I agree.

Look- the place is very obviously designed for 10-20 year old guys. It is not a pleasant aesthetic experience if you fall outside that demographic. To improve it?

1. Display titles in a better rack situation- like Best Buy
2. Light it like a Target. A little graphic redesign a la Target would not go amiss either.
3. Don't try to upsell people on games from different systems
4. I always thought it would be cool if they had bigger "flagship" stores that sold more that a usual Game Stop- figures, manga, import game mags, snacks. Perhaps like media cafes in Japan. Having expanded Flagships has worked well for retailers like Bath and Body Works.
5. Air the place out every once in a while, and dust!

it'd be nice if the employees actually knew a thing or two about games beyond what the company tells them. i remember one time i was trying to humor the guy bugging me for preorders and asked if i could preorder the disney version of meteos. he appeared to be quite confused.

they also suck at recommending games. just because i'm a girl doesn't mean i want to play something with animals in it, necessarily.

I will not shop at GameStop because of thier shady practices, such as 1) Selling an opened game as "New" if its opened its not new, or when they re-shrinkwrap the game to get arround that >:( 2) The fact that they only give you say 5 dollars for that trade in for that new(ish) game then sell it 2-3 dollars under the price for the NEW shrink wrapped game sitting next to it. 3) Selling used games without the original case or manual (Disk only) at 4-5 dollars under used, or even taking in things in that condition. 4) NO PC Games, yeah i get it you get more $$$ out of used games and console games but the PC is still a viable successful gaming platform so keep some stock in, most places have a small display with about 15-20 different games when all the other consoles get hundreds. I love how they push for preorder hard when the day after release of a game (or even a few days) they are tripping over copys of the game. As you can see i hate GameStop so if i want a new game i go online or go to Best Buy, used i go to ebay, i can usually get it for much cheaper and almost guaranteed to be in better quality. Stop supporting this horrible game store.

PINK FLUFFY BUNNIES AND PEOPLE DRESSED UP AS BARBIES PRINCESSES.

>___> Not.



...... I don't know... but the store is pretty boring.
The prices are not competitive, the atmosphere is poor, .... I just go there when I'm bored, people I came with want to shop for clothes for hours, or I've pre-ordered something, or skipping school.

Like I did for Final Fantasy XII---not really worth it, but really fun to skip class for :]

i dont think gamestop realizes that they are primarily a used game seller. if anyone wants to buy a new game, they will typically go to a larger carrier of that game (best buy, circuit city, walmart, etc.) but they market everything in-store towards new games. yea, i realize there are a few hardcore fanboys that HAVE to play a game the night it comes out (halo fanboys, this one goes out to you) and I have bought several games on launch day. anywhere i've gone though, I haven't had an issue just picking up a copy without preordering. even some big-name games like burning crusade and GTA 4. what gamestop needs to do is first realize it is the largest market share of used games bar-none, and second advertise for the gamers that want to pick up a classic you can't find anywhere. that is one thing i think gamecrazy does much better than gamestop. also, i think it would be cool to see more console generations represented. they don't currently carry the highest rated game of all-time, Ocarina of Time. sure, most of US have played it, but what about these "casual gamers" that are just coming to the market and may want to delve deeper into certain genres? GS has the opportunity to make some serious money here. let's make it happen!