You've all heard people complain about Gamestop. Perhaps you don't like that used games are just 5 dollars less than a new copy, or that the employees don't know a thing about games except for what's popular and what sells the most for them.
But what if I told you that the company allows it's employees to actually rent the games that sit on the store shelves, take them home, and play at their convenience? Does that seem wrong to you? Does it seem fair that the employees take these games home, potentially harming the discs, the manuals, or even the cases, and then bring them back to the store and sell them to the customer? What if I told you they did this with brand new copies of video games? Games that, when you buy them, are wrapped nicely in cellophane, giving the impression that it is sealed straight from the factory, and not a single soul has touched your precious disc and manual. Does THAT seem right to you? Knowing that they are still charging full price for these previous employee rentals?
"Blasphemy!!" you may say, but you would be very wrong. See, I have acquaintances that work with this company that have given me proof of this. Proof that the company pretty much hides from their customers, to give the illusion that they are getting the best deal around when they get that "brand new" 60 dollar game; with a piece of DLC that they apparently can't get anywhere else in the world. You know, unless they actually play through said game to unlock it normally!
Some may go on the defense of this action, perhaps you would say that at least the employees get a better understanding of what they are selling to us. But look at it more like this, do you really think they care about being informative with video games? Do you think many of them will take a copy of some lesser known game like Valkyria Chronicles or something like that to become informed about it, or go for the popular casual game like Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed or Madden so they can play it first? That's how I think of it, and how low I think the company is.
"Kalypso Media and Kite Games are today very proud and happy to announce that ‘Sudden Strike 5’ is now available for PC and consoles." - Kalypso Media and Kite Games.
"Indie developer, Strangely Named is excited to confirm that their latest title, OBLITACRATER, is out now on PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S, alongside its full 1.0 release on Steam." - Strangely Named.
"Arc System Works Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce that the Steam port of ‘Puzzle Bobble Every Bubble!’ is available today!" - Arc System Works Co., Ltd.
As a Gamestop employee of several years I am inclined to respond to your several mistakes. 1) Game Advisers are a majority of the time gamers themselves. and as such have a wide expanse knowledge of gems and AAA titles to recommend the customer. 2) They don't only know about the newest blockbuster games. We are in fact told to know and market the newest games as well as their accompanying DLC as possible first buys, then after that we are able to help "advise" consumers on other titles that will fit their preference. 3) Used games are only $5 less than the new version, at only about the first 2-3 weeks to several months depending on the game. But don't forget to mention that you will get the most money back on a recently purchased game if you return it during that period, so don't forget there are pluses to that time frame. 4) You misrepresented the employee rental policy. Employee's cannot rent out new games and re-wrap them in cellophane. I'm not sure what crack you smoked but I bet if you take it south of the border you'll make a killing. Employee's can rent out used games though. As Gamestop employees are gamers who take care of their own games, we generally don't damage the disc, case, or manual, and if we do we purchase it. We care more about giving you a bad game than that bastard cousin lenny who borrowed legend of the dragoon and "lost it". Fuck him, uncle mort and that whole side of the family. lay-a-bouts! Also, what organization doesn't allow it's employees some perks of its own product. You think you work at yankee stadium and don't get a merchandise on team products? employee of the month raffles for free tickets? Dude we don't get paid Warren Buffet money, allow some employee perks and fight the real organizational corruption in your government. 5) All this constant hate for Gamestop is unjustified. Hating on the fact that you got $3.25 for Shenmue when you told you friend on the way in it's a gem? Then stop being an idiot and sell it to your friend for $10. Hate the way DLC and game content is only available on a pre-order. That's the current lay of the land. Instead of voting with your mouth some more and keep blowing hot air, or vote with your money in inform the companies, the real culprits, that you won't pay for content that should of been on the disc by NOT BUYING IT!. Otherwise you're the fool who keeps purchasing something you hate and you sound like the girl who always complains about dealing with assholes yet jumps into the next relationship with one. The problem is you dumb dumb!
Where did you get your info about employees playing and re-wrapping new games? I'm genuinely curious. I've read many a rant from ex employees, but I haven't once heard about that. I've always assumed that they can only do it with used games. The closest I've heard to what you're saying is that one person did say that they rented out gutted new copies. Even then that's only one out of about five(I like me a good Gamestop rant lol). So yeah, this is the first I've heard about re-wrapping sealed games.
What? I have had the pleasure of working for them, and my team were the best around due mainly to the fact we were so clued in about the games and consoles we sold. The policy gave us the opportunity to dabble in games we would otherwise never have bought / played. When it comes to giving advice to people who don't really know what they're after, this personal experience was invaluable.
Also, we were not allowed to borrow most of the 'triple A' titles until the actual release day (and anyway, they didnt usually arrive until the day before release). This meant that our customers got to play the big ones before us! The benefit was borrowing the smaller, lesser known games.
I suggest you do not base your opinions on a few 'aquaintances', and instead try to find out some hard facts first.
I was a Gamestop assis't store manager for 18 months, so let me chime in:
1) "Renting" the games is intended to not only be a perk, but to also allow employees to gain better knowledge of the product they sell. Y'know, you complained that the clerks don't know anything except the most popular games, then you get mad that they're given the option to educate themselves?
2) You can always ask for a shrink-wrapped copy of a game if it means so much to you. However, a lesser-known perk of bringing home that stickered "New" game is that you can return it within the store guidelines of a new game. After all, since the store opened the case, who are they to say you actually played it? If they give you trouble, you can say that either they return your "New" game that - of course - you yourself did not open, or you can have a talk with a consumer advocate agency about product tampering and false advertising, since didn't you pay the "New" price?
3) Call of Duty is still one of the highest-selling franchises. When that many people are that dumb, I hardly think Gamestop is to blame for people not doing their homework.
I stopped going to gamestop long time ago. Prices for used games are laughable and I hate fact every motherfucking time somebody asked me for ID or if I wanna pre order some future upcoming title ... NO I DON'T ! FUCK OFF ! Amazon Ebay or craigslist thats all.