May I ask why most people avoid Gamestop???

[Logos]

The reason I am asking is because I noticed alot of people on here order from Amazon or get games directly from Target etc...while they avoid Gamestop.

So is there something I am missing?

 

[blackgravity]

I don't avoid Gamestop really, I just avoid buying anything used from them at all costs. I prefer my money go to developers

 

[Logos]

Now that I understand

 

[XionTawa]

The reason I am asking is because I noticed alot of people on here order from Amazon or get games directly from Target etc...while they avoid Gamestop.

So is there something I am missing?

Well, many reasons...

First off, I am sick of them trying to talk to me and trying to get me to preorder crap I have never heard of... At my gamestop at least the people that work there don't know much of anything about gaming and are nothing but WoW players...which you can be a WoW player and not a gamer, that is 90% of the WoW subscription base ...

Also, Our Gamestop is the only Gamestop/Game Store within like 75 miles of here...so it is ALWAYS crowded...even like on Tuesday morning...

Many times they forget or just straight up don't carry beta promotions for preorders...

Our Gamestop is VERY small and has a very bad selection of used games which is my primary use for Gamestop...

Also, Amazon under most circumstances is MUCH cheaper than going through Gamestop for new games...

I could keep going but I think you have my point... "No, I don't want to preorder Poop in the Toilet 3, I just want my game and want to leave..." Also, "I don't play WoW, why are you trying to sell me a timecard???"

I don't avoid Gamestop really, I just avoid buying anything used from them at all costs. I prefer my money go to developers

Good idea and thought; however, that requires you be at least a little wealthy... The last time I was able to afford a new game was when I got my tax return...

 

[blackgravity]

Well, many reasons...

First off, I am sick of them trying to talk to me and trying to get me to preorder crap I have never heard of... At my gamestop at least the people that work there don't know much of anything about gaming and are nothing but WoW players...which you can be a WoW player and not a gamer, that is 90% of the WoW subscription base ...

Also, Our Gamestop is the only Gamestop/Game Store within like 75 miles of here...so it is ALWAYS crowded...even like on Tuesday morning...

Many times they forget or just straight up don't carry beta promotions for preorders...

Our Gamestop is VERY small and has a very bad selection of used games which is my primary use for Gamestop...

Also, Amazon under most circumstances is MUCH cheaper than going through Gamestop for new games...

I could keep going but I think you have my point... "No, I don't want to preorder Poop in the Toilet 3, I just want my game and want to leave..." Also, "I don't play WoW, why are you trying to sell me a timecard???"



Good idea and thought; however, that requires you be at least a little wealthy... The last time I was able to afford a new game was when I got my tax return...

Not really. I just don't buy games all that often. But I guess if I had more than a mile try drive to either my job/my wife's job i would spend more than like $15 a week on gas. Which is usually about what I spend.

Edit: I do buy used games, but usually they're really old. like crackdown, transformers movie game, stranglehold etc.

Example would be Brutal Legend: Bought it $20 new, could have had used for like $15, but I wanted Double Fine to get my money, not Gamestop

 

[Ember]

For so many of the used games at Gamestop, you could buy a new one anyway for just a few dollars more. Unless you find a good deal, or you're looking for something older, the markdown for new-ish releases hardly makes it worth it. For Tek and me, we're just annoyed that they've killed all the smaller resale shops and then raised the prices.

So Gamestop is alright, and we'll shop there if they have what we need, but we'll shop elsewhere if we can.

 

[XionTawa]

For so many of the used games at Gamestop, you could buy a new one anyway for just a few dollars more. Unless you find a good deal, or you're looking for something older, the markdown for new-ish releases hardly makes it worth it. For Tek and me, we're just annoyed that they've killed all the smaller resale shops and then raised the prices.

So Gamestop is alright, and we'll shop there if they have what we need, but we'll shop elsewhere if we can.

One main example of the deals I go for... Borderlands for 360 new $30... Used $17... I CANNOT afford the extra $13...every $10 is a big deal for us right now...

 

[Lloren]

I didn't get the memo. I pre-order from Gamestop or Amazon or whoever has the best price. I try not to get too emotional about game vendors.

 

[Keero]

It's usually the employees. I have two Gamestops here in Fairbanks and the employees are like night and day between the two stores. One has a mean manager and his crew try to get you pre-order two games, sign up for the magazine, AND get a warranty, whereas the other one is very laid back and I shop there enough for them to say "well, you know already know about the preorders and stuff. Enjoy your game." No pressure and such.

I usually buy new to support developers unless it's a really good deal on a obscure Gamecube or PS2 game. Nine bucks for Zone of Enders 2 Collecters Edition? I'm there.

 

[Logos]

Speaking of Gamestop putting the other shops out of buisness...We had a Gamecrazy (WHICH I LOVED) and GameHaven (WHich matched prices of anywhere you could find it cheaper) and both said because of GS has about 5 in a 10 mile radius it put them out of business. Sad I know...I have noticed that GS also has high prices on the newer games even if they are used...sad really.

The place I shop now is Hastings because they carry all the odd games such as those you wouldn't find at walmart or target with reasonable prices and they have EVERYTHING!

 

[Corpfox]

I used to buy games at EBgames.

Actually, most of my PS2 games are from there.

Example: Capcom Classic Collection 1 & 2, Time Crisis 3, Yu-Gi-Oh: DotR, etc.

I would buy there because most of the other stores don't sell any of those old games.

I go once in a while to try and find Midway Arcade Treasure 3 and Capcom vs SNK 2.

 

[OrryW]

Speaking of Gamestop putting the other shops out of buisness...We had a Gamecrazy (WHICH I LOVED) and GameHaven (WHich matched prices of anywhere you could find it cheaper) and both said because of GS has about 5 in a 10 mile radius it put them out of business. Sad I know...I have noticed that GS also has high prices on the newer games even if they are used...sad really.

The place I shop now is Hastings because they carry all the odd games such as those you wouldn't find at walmart or target with reasonable prices and they have EVERYTHING!

They also charge more for WoW time-cards than they're actually worth, I think it costs about $5 more than it does at any other place that carries them, at least around here.

Also, the nearest shopping area for games to here has not one but two Gamestops for some reason, one is in the Walmart parking lot and the other is in the mall, although there is still a small, privately owned used video game store here that isn't out of business, perhaps because they also sell tabletop games.

 

[XionTawa]

I used to buy games at EBgames.

EBgames and Gamestop are the same thing... Just 2 different names...same company...

They also charge more for WoW time-cards than they're actually worth, I think it costs about $5 more than it does at any other place that carries them, at least around here.

Our Gamestop price on those are that same as everywhere else...but I don't use time cards ...nor do I play WoW... hehe

 

[Ember]

One main example of the deals I go for... Borderlands for 360 new $30... Used $17... I CANNOT afford the extra $13...every $10 is a big deal for us right now...

I totally get that. I'm talking when a new game is $30 and the used one is like, $26. Which seems pretty frequent.

The place I shop now is Hastings because they carry all the odd games such as those you wouldn't find at walmart or target with reasonable prices and they have EVERYTHING!

We had a Hastings a few years ago. It was way too short-lived. =( I don't think they liked Missouri.

Also, the nearest shopping area for games to here has not one but two Gamestops for some reason, one is in the Walmart parking lot and the other is in the mall, although there is still a small, privately owned used video game store here that isn't out of business, perhaps because they also sell tabletop games.

Yeah, here, two of our Gamestops are within walking distance from each other. In adjacent stripmalls. I guess one used to be an EB Games, even though, as XionTawa pointed out, they are the same company.

 

[Atown]

the closest one is 80 miles away.... amazon is cheaper.... and i buy alot off the PSN

 

[RyanB]

Why do I loathe gamestop? Oh, let me count the ways.

• First and foremost, they killed (bought out) Funcoland. This was ten years ago, and many of you are too young to remember...but Funcoland was great. It's kind of how Cingular was great, but now I am stuck with AT&T. Really, GameStop has a virtual monopoly on the "video game store" now, and it shows.
• Gamestop.com does have some decent deals sometimes (which Amazon always instantly matches), but the stores do not. They don't even match their own website.
• Speaking of deals, gamestop "credits" are far too restrictive. You can't combo them with other deals, have to pay tax/shipping, etc. Honestly, $10 credits usually end up at nothing.
• They push used games. Hard. I am a collector at heart, and like things new. It's annoying to be constantly badgered in multiple ways when I just want to buy a copy of the game that hasn't been chewed on. Also, all of their policies are geared towards pushing you to used games.
• They sell used/open games as new. Maybe it's "just as good"...but it's the principle. Honestly, I think it's to try to get you to buy used. What's the difference if they're both open? GS.com does tend to ship sealed games, but not always. Which leads me to my next point...
• Those ugly yellow stickers. They are really hard to get off; it's ridiculous. They're just plain nasty, and it's silly considering it's obviously on purpose. What that purpose is...is beyond me. Maybe discouraging you from selling used on ebay?
• The stores smell like B.O., especially the small ones in malls. Maybe that's more of a comment on gamers in general, but you know what I'm talking about.
• The staff irks me. Obviously mileage may vary by different stores...just what I've observed.
• I'm still waiting for my $10 credit (emailed several times) for Darksiders that I ordered ~6 months ago.

I could go on...but it just seems to be a pattern with me. I will go 6-12 months without ordering from GS or in-store...then buy something against my better judgement. I always am left with buyer's remorse. I have no idea how, but they just always get me. I believe the only good thing about Gamestop is that because of their penchant for gutting copies of games...I get to come in, and look at the manuals. That sounds silly, but trust me, a game with a booklet that looks like VCR instructions is likely to have lower production value in game than one that has a colored, detailed one like back in the good ol' days. I really do recognize the importance of a used market; I just don't want it through Gamestop.

Conversely, Amazon always ships fast and free. Their credits are GREAT...you can stack them to your heart's content. I know they're probably just an evil corporate machine...but those smiling boxes just makes me love them. Or it could be the dozens of perfect transactions with no bad experiences.

I will add...sometimes I do buy used...especially for old systems. I've had many more A++++++ experiences (and prices) with random ebayers. Gamestop = F---------

 

[ewoksrule]

wow funcoland....that was totally my home away from home, back in the day.

 

[Abba San]

Even I remember funcoland - that was definitely "back in the day"

 

[Elader Arkon]

Wait, people actually buy games from brick and mortar stores?

The only reason I still insist on actually going to book stores is because I'd kill for the aroma of books they have (and if it is a good store, mingled with the smell of coffee). Videogame stores... Don't have that and you'd probably have to pay me to buy something from one. Online deals are so much better.

 

[Tek7]

For Tek and me, we're just annoyed that they've killed all the smaller resale shops and then raised the prices.

QFT.

Springfield no longer has any one-shot (i.e. not a chain) used game shops any more and all the chains suffer from the "HAI GUYZ BUY IT UZED FOR $5 LESS ROFLCOPTER PREORDER HALO4 KTHXBYE" disease. I tend to shop used game stores more for hardware (e.g. the Dreamcast Fishing Rod and no I'm not kidding, it's awesome) or uncommon games (e.g. Boktai, Boktai 2) than recent releases, though.

I was pleased to find a copy of WarioWare Twisted! at a local Gamestop for $10. (Used copies usually go for $20+ used on eBay.) Well worth the price.

EBgames and Gamestop are the same thing... Just 2 different names...same company...

Now, yes. I believe Gamestop bought out EB Games and changed the name. But I'm not familiar with the details.

although there is still a small, privately owned used video game store here that isn't out of business, perhaps because they also sell tabletop games.

A company that focused primarily on tabletop games recently went out of business in our area.

This followed the closing of a Hollywood Video (good riddance) and Game Crazy (whose prices were usually not that great, but did sell me a copy of Boktai for $10) next door to the tabletop shop.

Conversely, Amazon always ships fast and free. Their credits are GREAT...you can stack them to your heart's content. I know they're probably just an evil corporate machine...but those smiling boxes just makes me love them. Or it could be the dozens of perfect transactions with no bad experiences.

There's a lot of love for Amazon in this thread--and for good reason. All of my game-related transactions with Amazon have been great experiences.

Most recently, I purchased Super Mario Galaxy 2, received a $20 credit for future video game purchases from Amazon. When I received the $20 credit, I signed up for a free trial of Amazon Prime and applied the credit to a pre-order of StarCraft II. If all goes according to plan, I'll receive SC2 on release day--and I didn't pay a single cent for shipping or tax. $39.99 to have SC2 delivered to my doorstep on release day.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, had I not used the $20 credit I received from buying SMG2, it would have expired at the end of July. I'm not especially fond of a credit expiring within 2 months, but I may not have bought SMG2 from Amazon if I hadn't planned to buy SC2 soon.

Also, I bought Okami for $15 with Free Super Saver Shipping from Amazon. Probably the best value for a Wii game ever.

I will add...sometimes I do buy used...especially for old systems. I've had many more A++++++ experiences (and prices) with random ebayers. Gamestop = F---------

Wow. That's even worse than F-- (F minus minus).

The difference between random eBay sellers and Gamestop is that a random eBay seller lives and dies by his or her feedback. If Gamestop loses a customer, oh well, who cares? Gamestop already has an awful reputation among many gamers (as evidenced by this thread) but still rakes in the cash.

Wait, people actually buy games from brick and mortar stores?

When WarioWare Twisted!, Boktai, and Boktai 2 are $10 each at local B&M stores and $20-$30 each on eBay? Yes.

Otherwise? Probably not.