When Will Gamestop/EB Games Stop Screwing Customers
I used to be a naive gamer once. I used to believe everything Gamestop and EB Games told me was true and they were out to help me. Well, since I basically went through hell over my Xbox 360 purchase (because I was obviously supposed to be on the first shipment list, but somehow I was bumped back), I have never trusted Gamestop/EB Games after that.
There have been numerous stories on the internet concerning how Gamestop/EB Games is continually screwing their customers over. This article is to educate people who have not personally experienced being screwed over by Gamestop/EB Games.
Exhibit A: Reselling of BK Games
This picture came straight from my friends over at Destructoid . What you are seeing speaks volumes. Basically, the BK games cost $.99 at participating Burger Kings. And how much is Gamestop/EB Games selling a used copy of this game? According to the picture, $7.99. Great googly moogly…
Exhibit B: Price Gouging on Wii HD Component Cables
As you can see, Gamestop/EB Games has made their own Wii HD cables since Nintendo is working so slow to get their cables out into stores. So Gamestop/EB Games has done the gaming community a “HUGE” service by offering what people want…a Wii HD Component cable. But, of course, they decide to charge almost double the amount since they are in such high demand. Classy Gamestop/EB Games… reeeeal classy…
Exhibit C: Gamestop/EB Games Sales Tactics Exposed
The Mad Gamer used to be an employee of EB Games. In his article, he describes how EB Games would make their sales team actually harass people to buy games, never give their honest opinion about games, and how truly crappy their trade-in policy is. Highly recommended article.
These are just 3 examples of how truly horrible a company Gamestop/EB Games is, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m opening the floor to you, the readers, to share your own experience in being screwed over one way or another by Gamestop/EB Games. Make sure you introduce yourself in an “AA” way. Like this:
“Hi, my name is BB, and I’ve been screwed by Gamestop or EB Games…”
February 5th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Well, your first example is a bit flawed.
That game is $7.99 because of how rare it is. This is the same with just about EVERY used game that’s sold. They dont just magically come up with a price, then call the stores and tell them what to price it at.
Used games have a formula they get processed through before they get a price. I would think a few factors come into play here:
1. Availability. (how many new/used copies does EB have in stock across the nation)
2. Ship date. (how old is this game?)
3. MSRP of game when new.
Im sure that Availability is one of the key factors here. Remember that is a BK game that is only purchased via BK. EB has no ‘new’ copies of that game to sell.
February 5th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Availability? Regardless of where it’s being sold, in the end it’s still sold over three million copies. For any game, that’s pretty damn impressive, and for your typical game buyer, doesn’t make it SOUND like there is some availability issue.
As for the other two exampes… this is why I do almost ALL of my game buying off the internet, from sites like Amazon and (yes) even eBay. You go into a Gamestop nowadays, and it’s “Hi? You want to buy this game? Sure you do. Oh, you know you do. Have you seen how pretty it is!” Meanwhile Game Informer, a magazine that has a deal with EB/Gamestop, is giving said game a 2.25. It’s simply rediculous.
February 5th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
[...] BB, 451’s Golden Child, has a very interesting piece up on 1pstart.com about Gamestop’s continued screwing of the people, ranging from this pretty low maneuver, to their handling of the Wii HD Component cables. It’s a damn fine read. Posted in General Link to this Entry Email This Entry [...]
February 5th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
They only charge what they do because people are spending their money. They wouldn’t be so terrible with prices (i.e. the wii cable) if they weren’t getting people willing to fork over the cash. If you don’t want to pay those prices, then don’t buy from them. There are numerous other sources for games other than them. I’ve always wondered how they’ve even stayed in business.
February 5th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
[...] But, what was my story that I wanted to tell? Well, I’ll add it at the end, but I will say I think it goes pretty well with what BB wrote over at sister-site 1P Start about EB Games/Gamestop screwing over customers. To read my experience, check out the rest of the entry. [...]
February 5th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
I had an experience with EB Games that was a hassle on the Burning Crusade launch day. I just finished writing it up (linked from the comment above because I linked to this story before I told it). Unfortunately they are the only store around me to get games from, but I will say their service is utter crap and I am rarely happy with how I am treated there.
February 5th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
See I’ve only been to ones where the employees are the most socially retarded people on the planet. They’re nice, but they frighten me.
February 5th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
I’ve had a heck of a time with the whole trade-in thing in the past. Getting really crappy trade in prices and strange guidelines for that they will take (vs what they will sell). Back when I was a Sims addict, they gave me a HUGE runaround when one of the expansion packs was released.
Thanks for this, BB, I’ll be sure to get my games from elsewhere in the future.
February 5th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Oh wow oh wow oh wow! What freaking money hungry ,grubbing bastards. I remember the Xbox TIME also and the reason you got pushed back is because they were buying the systems themselves and selling those suckers on Ebay for 5 times the price. Also Christopher I did not even pay 7.99 at Bk New for that Lousy game. The point is as long as there are naive people who do not know much about gaming or electronics they will keep taking advantage.
February 5th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
@Christopher
Let’s say that all of a sudden, Guitar Hero II for the PS2 is a “rare” game, and it’s nearly impossible to find it anywhere. From your argument, your telling me that it would be alright for Gamestop/EB Games to charge $200-$300 for the game, just because it’s “rare”? That doesn’t make sense to me at all. The BK games are $.99! $1.00! And what’s the trade-in value for that game at Gamestop/EB Games? $.28? Your argument does not hold up at all.
February 7th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Gamestop/EB has screwed me in the past. I recall one time when I purchased a used game from them and a couple weeks later I decided to trade it back in. They wouldn’t take the trade claiming the disc was scratched, but I only played the game a couple times and it was in the identical condition it was in when I left the store. From now on before I ever leave their store, I’ll check the discs of anything I buy. If they even have a minor scratch I will demand a new one. I am also slightly suspicious that these stores sometimes try to pass off a “mint” used game as a new one.
Gamestop/EB will continue screwing people as long as we continue shopping there. I will never buy a system from them.. that’s for sure.. I had a lot of problems with them and the Xbox I bought years back. The recent 360 I purchased was from Target.
Also never trust the EB employees too much. They sometimes know what they are talking about but often they have no clue. They just repeat the information they heard. I think in the future to cut back on the ripoffs, they need to just have all games offered as downloads.. and perhaps have a market place online where you can sell off a game to another player at a reduced price. I think Sony and Microsoft could easily set something up like that.