Indeed. I have been looking everywhere for a report from someone who had a chance to play with "Take 2" at Macworld who can state whether Apple has addressed the single most complained-about non-feature of the AppleTV among folks who have actually purchased one: no support for video playlists.
Well, I've read *lots* of comments here from people who have bought "new" gutted games from Gamestop and ended up with something less than they paid for. If this happens to you, *always* call the Gamestop complaint line and *always* call the better business bureau in your area. If you have used a credit card dispute the charge due to "misrepresentation of merchandise".
Credit card disputes are an *excellent* way to get their attention, because most issuing banks levy a stiff "investigation charge" against the seller every time a charge is disputed.
Selling used items as new (and this in my mind includes discs "borrowed" by staff) is _fraud_. Credit card companies don't like vendors who routinely engage in fraud.
Here are some other helpful suggestions for those shopping at Gamestop...
If they try to sell you a gutted game, and won't sell you a sealed one upon polite request, simply refuse to buy it and walk out of the store. Buy it on eBay/Amazon/etc. if it's obscure. Buy it at Target or Best Buy if it's not.
To ensure that you don't get a gutted game, don't bring the case to the counter.
To further ensure you don't get a gutted game, refile the case of the game you want among the 10 copies of Madden 97 in the $10 or less rack.
Or, if you are there with a friend, have them pick up the gutted copy and walk around the store while you go to the counter.
Don't buy used games from Gamestop. Ever.
Don't ever, ever, *ever* sell used games to Gamestop. Sell 'em on ebay, sell or trade with friends, give 'em away to Goodwill.
Gamestop rips folks off coming and going on used games - cut off their air supply.
When they try to sell you a pre-order, ask about what games you can preorder. For every system you have, and for any system you *think* you might someday buy. Pre-orders are important! That is the only way you'll be sure to get a copy of the game on Game Day! (Unless you shop at Target) Consider each one carefully, then decline each one individually.
When they try to sell you a magazine, ask them how many pages does it have, and whether the reviews are any good, and who their favorite columist is, and whether they read the magazine themselves, and what was the best article that they've read in it lately. Then decline to subscribe.
When they try and sell you "game insurance" ask if they have a written copy of the policy coverage. Inspect it carefully - it is a binding contract! Ask about what sorts of damage are covered - fire, earthquake, acts of god, deep scratches, deliberate damage. Then decline the coverage.
If, after all this, you do still break down and buy a gutted game, don't despair. Play it for a few days, then discover that it is "defective". Go back to Gamestop, and see for yourself whether the claims of "gutted game returns are treated as normal defective returns" or not. With luck, you walk out with a brand new sealed copy...
If Gamestop gets to occasionally define "new" as "only played by staff" or "a really clean used copy that will pass as new", then I think customers are well within their rights to define for themselves exactly what "defective" means.
Always remember that the Gamestop employee you are dealing with is a fellow human being, and deserves courtesy and respect - even when they are being surly and unhelpful and arrogant and trying to sell you worthless add-ons and barely discounted used games and crappy magazines. After all, they're "just following orders" like any good corporate soldier. So as you go through the simple steps above, remember to SMILE!
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May 3rd 2007 1:36AM (Joystiq)Credit card disputes are an *excellent* way to get their attention, because most issuing banks levy a stiff "investigation charge" against the seller every time a charge is disputed.
Selling used items as new (and this in my mind includes discs "borrowed" by staff) is _fraud_. Credit card companies don't like vendors who routinely engage in fraud.
Here are some other helpful suggestions for those shopping at Gamestop...
If they try to sell you a gutted game, and won't sell you a sealed one upon polite request, simply refuse to buy it and walk out of the store. Buy it on eBay/Amazon/etc. if it's obscure. Buy it at Target or Best Buy if it's not.
To ensure that you don't get a gutted game, don't bring the case to the counter.
To further ensure you don't get a gutted game, refile the case of the game you want among the 10 copies of Madden 97 in the $10 or less rack.
Or, if you are there with a friend, have them pick up the gutted copy and walk around the store while you go to the counter.
Don't buy used games from Gamestop. Ever.
Don't ever, ever, *ever* sell used games to Gamestop. Sell 'em on ebay, sell or trade with friends, give 'em away to Goodwill.
Gamestop rips folks off coming and going on used games - cut off their air supply.
When they try to sell you a pre-order, ask about what games you can preorder. For every system you have, and for any system you *think* you might someday buy. Pre-orders are important! That is the only way you'll be sure to get a copy of the game on Game Day! (Unless you shop at Target) Consider each one carefully, then decline each one individually.
When they try to sell you a magazine, ask them how many pages does it have, and whether the reviews are any good, and who their favorite columist is, and whether they read the magazine themselves, and what was the best article that they've read in it lately. Then decline to subscribe.
When they try and sell you "game insurance" ask if they have a written copy of the policy coverage. Inspect it carefully - it is a binding contract! Ask about what sorts of damage are covered - fire, earthquake, acts of god, deep scratches, deliberate damage. Then decline the coverage.
If, after all this, you do still break down and buy a gutted game, don't despair. Play it for a few days, then discover that it is "defective". Go back to Gamestop, and see for yourself whether the claims of "gutted game returns are treated as normal defective returns" or not. With luck, you walk out with a brand new sealed copy...
If Gamestop gets to occasionally define "new" as "only played by staff" or "a really clean used copy that will pass as new", then I think customers are well within their rights to define for themselves exactly what "defective" means.
Always remember that the Gamestop employee you are dealing with is a fellow human being, and deserves courtesy and respect - even when they are being surly and unhelpful and arrogant and trying to sell you worthless add-ons and barely discounted used games and crappy magazines. After all, they're "just following orders" like any good corporate soldier. So as you go through the simple steps above, remember to SMILE!
Have fun! And thank you for shopping at GameStop!