GameStop may rip you a new one!

By Rolando . February 7, 2007 . 9:07pm

I’ve heard plenty of cases where GameStop employees will steal reservation money you put down towards a given game or console and will make up the excuse "Sorry sir but we can’t find a copy of your reservation within our system" or something akin to that. It’s convenient, too, since GameStop now uses a new system were reservation receipts are out and your only proof is the receipt you get back. Now, of course, something else is about to happen!

James Munn of Aeropause posted a blog on January 31, 2007 of his journey to GameStop and the events that ensued. In a nutshell, Munn asked for a new copy of Sid Meire’s Pirates for the PSP for $20 new. He then saw the sales associate take out a manual of the game and place it in a new case to which Munn replied "I said NEW". The clerk trembled with terror saying the game was new….just not sealed. Munn’s response was

""So if I walk out the door right now with that unsealed case then walk back in here next week with it in the same condition, you’ll give me full return credit as a new game? I mean, it IS new after all right!?""

His response makes a lot of sense, and I’m sure a lot of you who’ve bought new games at GameStop have asked yourself the same question when situations like this happens. Back when Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth was released for the PSP a while back, I was given a new case with the clerk pulling out the manual and the actual game from his cabinet. I didn’t make much of a deal back then because the game was new, but I never did wonder whether or not I’d get a full return on the game. After all, GameStop has this ridiculous policy where you can’t return a new game unless its sealed. Of course, even that policy is ridiculous because there are a ton of games that have so many problems with it you aren’t aware of it until you actually play the game yourself or learn about it from magazines or websites…after you’ve opened it of course.

Has this ever happened to you?

TAGS: Gamestop

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argus

Games are too easy to rip nowadays. That's why retailers require new games to still be sealed. It's also because the store wouldn't be able to resell your lightly scratched "I only played it once and didn't like it" game as a new copy. Most retailers won't take back opened CD's or DVD's, and this is no different. I'm not sure what "problems" you're refering to that you'll find out once you play the game or read magazines and websites. Why can't you find out about the game before you buy it? Why should this be different from any other type of product? If you're talking about a game being defective, then Gamestop will exchange an opened game for another copy of the same game. So if you get a bad disc, you're still covered.

You write, "GameStop has this ridiculous policy where you can’t return a new game unless its sealed." I'd like to know, have you found ANY retailer that will give you a cash refund on an open game?

Gamestop puts a sticker seal on any of those "gutted" copies you refer to. If you buy an unsealed new game and it doesn't have a sticker seal on it, then someone isn't doing their job. Ask to speak to the manager on duty. The point is, you can buy a new unsealed game and still return it if you haven't broken the seal. It's just like any other new game.

I don't know anything about employees stealing reserve money. Now that you mention it, it seems plausible. I would recommend calling the customer service line with specifics about transactions. It might take a while for them to sort things out, but there will be a paper trail. This is something I hadn't even thought about before, and it could be cause for concern.

Flutie

I've never heard of employees stealing reserve money, I'm sure it might have happened somewhere. I heard of a manager that got fired for a similar thing, promising people Playstation 3 pre-orders then pocketing the money (this was long before they were taking pre-orders, and it might have been at EB) If you're going to be paranoid of something like that, then you might as well keep your receipt.

That guy is a huge asshole, though, for yelling at some clerk about Gamestop's corporate policy. Did he really think the guy would change it or something, or that he'd even have the ability to? Plus, his reply didn't make sense, if he had played it. All GS does is open the boxes so that they can keep the games behind the counter. If they didn't do that, they'd keep them in display cases like Target

Lucas

Personally I think the "return only if sealed" policy is also out of line. For the scratching they could just have a grading policy- the more its scratched, the less you get for it. And as for ripping them, anyone pirating games these days would just get GameFly, for it is far more convenient.

But to my story... when I bought Rainbow Six: Vegas for the 360 the "Authentic Microsoft Product" seal was exacto-knifed. It had clearly been cut, not accident torn. I did not think much of it then as I only noticed when I was in the car 20 minutes away, but you can be sure from now on I double check.

Good reporting!

Toad64

At least Flutie here seems to understand that what happens in certain isolated cases shouldn't be considered a broad view of how all the stores are run. I work at EB games and yes, they want us to sell used games, but no, if you ask for new we're not about to slip you a used one instead!

As for the products being opened, yeah, some people complain about this, and I can understand where they're coming from, but it just boils down to us needing to put the boxes on the shelves, but we don't want people possibly stealing the games so they're "gutted", the games are taken out and put behind the counter. If someone brings a game to the counter, if we have any sealed copies back there we give them those. However, if it's the last copy of the game, we just put the game back in and sell it like that (though if it's a gift or something some people do ask us to shrink-wrap it).

I hope this wasn't too much of a long-winded and defensive reply, but all too often I read of some bad incident at an EB or Gamestop, and they feel it's representative of the entire company. But I like the work and I like our store, and at least at my store I always feel we're trying our best to help our fellow gamers.

Chris

Gamestop really needs to stop opening games, taking them out of the case, and then selling them as new.

There are game collectors out there for whom that act will significantly devalue the game for them.

Also, it lets them be sneaky if they want to. "Hmm...this game is used. But it looks new, and has all the component parts fully new-looking. Why not call it new?"

Bryan

That's because it is a new game. Just because the disc was removed doesn't mean it isn't. It's your decision if you don't want to purchase it just because it's the final gut copy, wait till they get more in if you have such a big issue with it. As was said, it can be reshrink wrapped as well too if you really want that.

Bryan

Should add that they also put a plastic seal over a new game so that you can return it a week later, AS LONG AS IT IS UNOPENED. then the game is used, and your sol, because it isn't new anymore. If you buy new and they aren't putting the plastic seal on it, make sure they do.

Dision

"That’s because it is a new game. Just because the disc was removed doesn’t mean it isn’t."

"you can return it a week later, AS LONG AS IT IS UNOPENED. then the game is used, and your sol, because it isn’t new anymore."

So if the store opens the game, it's still new, but if the customer opens the game, it isn't new anymore? Where I come from, we call that a double standard.

Roli O.

The author's response (the one whose blog I linked to) was logical in itself. The copy of Pirate's he purchased was new; but as someone noted above, whenever a new copy turns out to be the last copy of the game they have, they end up just giving you the display case and put the contents in the case, in this case the UMD and instruction manual plus whatever other inserts the game includes.

The question is simple. If he's being sold this new game as new, shouldn't he be able to return it as new? After all, it wasn't sealed when he purchased it; so that instantly, logically speaking anyway, negates that Gamestop policy where "new games can be returned within seven days only if left sealed". Whether or not he asked them to shrinkwrap the copy of Pirate's he purchased isn't the issue.

Tom

I just ended a 4 (almost 5 year) stint with EB (now Gamestop). GameStop's policy makes a lot of sense. We put copies of games out on the wall. How do you think we're supposed to prevent them from being stolen? We ahve to advertise both new and used product. Therefore both new and used games get placed on the floor. Employees are supposed to put a sticker over the break in the case. It's either that or shrinkwrap the game. But those games are new. They get taken out of the case and put in a CD sleeve or bag. As for game collectors, you need to define what you mean. Do you mean collectors of video games, or people who are looking to make loads of cash for buying sealed rare games and selling them to real collectors? Real game collectors shouldn't care about a game being opened. The joy is in owning the game and, if they're a true collector, in playing the game.

James

In April I bought a 80gb ps3 refurbished from gamestop and got a warranty for a year. But then the system broke so we called the online store and they said the warranty was over so they would not take it back so I go to the store and ask if I could trade it in for the metal gear bundle and they wont take the system. Not much was wrong with it the blue ray drive broke thats it but they said they could only give $150 back so there was no choice but to buy the metal gear bundle for $350 and use the system $150 to buy. So I bought it but dont go to gamestop anymore.