Though Game qualified it as a small percentage of its 682 stores, it still translates to 247 lost jobs. Here's hoping that those affected will land on their feet.
Though Game qualified it as a small percentage of its 682 stores, it still translates to 247 lost jobs. Here's hoping that those affected will land on their feet.
Reader Comments (67)
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 8:44AM Stupidiot said
Haha, I thought it was bad enough that Epsom had a GAME and Gamestation effectively at opposite ends of the high-street. Reading some of these comments I'm surprised they haven't been compared with Starbucks level domination (or phone shops; they're ten a penny).
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 8:46AM Milky1985 said
Too all the people going "thats because your prices are too high compared to online retailers", please shh about that, there are reasons for that and to cut a long story short if they tried to price match online stores they would be out of business very very quickly.
Online stores can be a lot cheaper because they can drastically cut the ammount of people needed to run the business. while this is great if you are only buying it can be bad if you need customer service or just simply help with something (want to ask about release date or system specs for example) since you have to go through a generally busy phone system.
In stores they have bigger expenditure due to wages and rent etc so they have to make money other ways, one way is less discounts on new games (remember they still discount the games, very rarely does a game sell at RRP) other ways are from stuff like trade ins etc
With retail stores you have the advantage of someone to talk to who can help out, had a scratched disc in my copy of lost odyessey wayyyyy back, took it into game store, guy looked at it swapped hte disc from a copy on the shelf and scanned my reciept to "swap" the game, as a customer i'm happy , disc swapped, 10 minutes done, store still gets the dodgy copy to send back.
If you got it from an online store your looking at a week or so minimum to get it sorted.
Both types of retail have there places, yes you pay more in store but thats for the service you get (before anyone pipes up, if you had bad service, talk to the manager of the store not whine on here)
And good luck to all the people out there that have lost there jobs, hope you all get new jobs quick!
Online stores can be a lot cheaper because they can drastically cut the ammount of people needed to run the business. while this is great if you are only buying it can be bad if you need customer service or just simply help with something (want to ask about release date or system specs for example) since you have to go through a generally busy phone system.
In stores they have bigger expenditure due to wages and rent etc so they have to make money other ways, one way is less discounts on new games (remember they still discount the games, very rarely does a game sell at RRP) other ways are from stuff like trade ins etc
With retail stores you have the advantage of someone to talk to who can help out, had a scratched disc in my copy of lost odyessey wayyyyy back, took it into game store, guy looked at it swapped hte disc from a copy on the shelf and scanned my reciept to "swap" the game, as a customer i'm happy , disc swapped, 10 minutes done, store still gets the dodgy copy to send back.
If you got it from an online store your looking at a week or so minimum to get it sorted.
Both types of retail have there places, yes you pay more in store but thats for the service you get (before anyone pipes up, if you had bad service, talk to the manager of the store not whine on here)
And good luck to all the people out there that have lost there jobs, hope you all get new jobs quick!
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 9:28AM zefur said
I upvoted you
But still the main reason people dont go into Game stores is because of the prices I only go in their for browsing nowadays to see what games I would like or the pre owned.
yes its true what you say but not everyone will think about the whole picture of why its more priced up they are just looking for the best price (like me)
The only time I would buy from Game or Gamestation is if I was too late to pre-order (heavy rain) and its the same price in every store but now with many supermarkets being able to get you the game on the day for cheaper I dont see me going there.
At the moment I have th choice to quickly run to Game and get heavy rain or go to morrisons on the way home (or godforbid Blockbusters) and Im leaning towards morrison
I hope that the people who are losing jobs get back on there feet real soon
Gamestation>>>>>Game
Reply
But still the main reason people dont go into Game stores is because of the prices I only go in their for browsing nowadays to see what games I would like or the pre owned.
yes its true what you say but not everyone will think about the whole picture of why its more priced up they are just looking for the best price (like me)
The only time I would buy from Game or Gamestation is if I was too late to pre-order (heavy rain) and its the same price in every store but now with many supermarkets being able to get you the game on the day for cheaper I dont see me going there.
At the moment I have th choice to quickly run to Game and get heavy rain or go to morrisons on the way home (or godforbid Blockbusters) and Im leaning towards morrison
I hope that the people who are losing jobs get back on there feet real soon
Gamestation>>>>>Game
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 8:48AM NightElve said
I'm a bit curious guys what's the average price of a game in a retailer store such as Game / EB in UK?
Here in Mexico the only gaming stores we have are GamePlanet / Gamers and usually a new game for PS3 / 360 cost around 999 MX / 76 USD.
Of course I don't buy games at these gaming stores, I usually buy my stuff by either going to USA or at stores such as Sam's Club / Costco which usually have better prices.
Here in Mexico the only gaming stores we have are GamePlanet / Gamers and usually a new game for PS3 / 360 cost around 999 MX / 76 USD.
Of course I don't buy games at these gaming stores, I usually buy my stuff by either going to USA or at stores such as Sam's Club / Costco which usually have better prices.
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 9:26AM (Unverified) said
on average i would say 360 games in GAME are normally £39.99 some times higher at £44.99 the same with PS3, rarely do i see new games for £35 or less like they are online, PC games are worse i find in GAME stores most of the time there £30+ where as online there normally £25 or less.
Reply
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 12:50PM xYOSSARIANx said
This is for the Xbox,
New games are £40-£45 (US$60-68). Non AAA may be reduced to £35 ($53) almost immediately. From this retailer, but you can save 25-33% by buying from a super market or online.
That's the problem with the specialist games stores in the UK, they are the most expensive place to but gaming stuff from, it kind of defeats the point of having them.
They also give very low trade in rates and try to make at LEAST 100% profit from the resale.
Blockbuster Video gives the highest trade in rates I have found. They also sell new games normally £5-£10 ($7.50-$15) cheaper than the specialist stores.
I have only used 'Game' once in past few years and that was only because I had £50 ($76) on my loyalty card and I wanted to spend it.
Reply
New games are £40-£45 (US$60-68). Non AAA may be reduced to £35 ($53) almost immediately. From this retailer, but you can save 25-33% by buying from a super market or online.
That's the problem with the specialist games stores in the UK, they are the most expensive place to but gaming stuff from, it kind of defeats the point of having them.
They also give very low trade in rates and try to make at LEAST 100% profit from the resale.
Blockbuster Video gives the highest trade in rates I have found. They also sell new games normally £5-£10 ($7.50-$15) cheaper than the specialist stores.
I have only used 'Game' once in past few years and that was only because I had £50 ($76) on my loyalty card and I wanted to spend it.
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 9:31AM dosed150 said
£40 is about the average i think which is apparantly $61 US, i remember it wasn't too long ago there were $2 to £1
yeh i know some GAME locations like that Watford has a game on the high street and 1 in the shopping centre and a gamestation also on the high street
and colchester theres 2 games basically round the corner from each other and a gamestation pretty close as well
yeh i know some GAME locations like that Watford has a game on the high street and 1 in the shopping centre and a gamestation also on the high street
and colchester theres 2 games basically round the corner from each other and a gamestation pretty close as well
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 11:38AM Alex R said
I don't go to game anyway. Gamestation is cheaper, which is strange considering they are owned by the same company.
And my local game is right next to McDonalds so all the fat kids come in all the time and block the 360 section.
And my local game is right next to McDonalds so all the fat kids come in all the time and block the 360 section.
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 1:42PM Jomolungma said
I've been sayin' the UK's got no game for years... now, maybe it'll finally come true.
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 4:12PM beddoes said
No surprise here, Game overcharge a ridiculous amount and are 90% pre-owned games. Not only that, they are run by jumped up p****s.
I'll be sad to see Gamestations go though, you can go in there and have a neardy conversation and and a 99p gameboy cartridge.
I'll be sad to see Gamestations go though, you can go in there and have a neardy conversation and and a 99p gameboy cartridge.
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 5:29PM Katana Master said
You think that is bad? My favourite and local shop got closed today. Out of the blue, it tore my heart apart when I saw them taking apart the shop's sign.
Rest In Peace
Rest In Peace
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 6:47PM x3r9g6 said
i like how original that store name is
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 7:19PM ukSamo said
If Game charged more reasonable prices they may not have to close, last time I visited one I asked them to price match the local Tesco store only 5 minutes walk away and they point blankly refused. With supermarkets and online sales dramatically increasing I think retail outlets need to do something special to keep their customers.
Posted: Feb 27th 2010 7:53AM (Unverified) said
Want to know why they point-blankly refused?
Because we're not allowed. Head Office has stated we cannot match either supermarkets or online stores. Can't match online for reasons explained in other comments.
Can't match supermarkets because places like Tesco etc sell the game at close to the price they paid, or often at a loss like FIFA 10, just to get you through their door to do your weekly shop whilst you're there.
Reply
Because we're not allowed. Head Office has stated we cannot match either supermarkets or online stores. Can't match online for reasons explained in other comments.
Can't match supermarkets because places like Tesco etc sell the game at close to the price they paid, or often at a loss like FIFA 10, just to get you through their door to do your weekly shop whilst you're there.
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 8:09PM SWGooner said
Been a long term customer of Gamestation and felt really valued when one of the tenured staff remembered I'd usually buy racing games or Pro Evo and commented that Ace Combat 6 wasn't my sort of game. I was a little dismayed when they were bought by Game, but it has allowed our branch to move into a bigger store, so it's all good.
Best of luck to the guys losing their jobs, no-one deserves that.
Best of luck to the guys losing their jobs, no-one deserves that.
Posted: Feb 27th 2010 7:00PM Keiichi said
Debenhams? They’re in Fenwicks in Newcastle. What’s gonna happen to that one?
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