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lex-1020

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CRank: 6Score: 66380

A case of Corporate rip off: Gamestop

I own a PS3. The 80gig MGS4 bundle, the last model with backwards compatibility (B/c). Seeing as how I never really use the B/c and my electric bill is outrageously high I decided maybe it was time to trade up to the Ps3 slim. (It's suppose to use 40% less power) So being a smart shopper I decided to do some research and see how much I could sell my Ps3 for. Here are the specifics.

1) It is the 80gig MGS4 Ps3.
2) It has a backwards compatibility emulator in it, so it plays all ps2 and ps1 games.
3) I have installed a 320gig hard drive (HDD) in it. (This is well within Sony's warranty, in fact they actually encourage and explain how to change HDD in the instructions).
4) The system itself is in perfect condition, no scratches, dust, or chips in the system.
5) And I have a Brand New Playstation Move Sports Champion Bundle. (Gift from a friend) unopened.

I could easily get $350 dollars off Ebay for this, but I decided to call Gamestop to see how much they would give me. Here's what Gamestop said.

1) They would give me $120 dollars for the system.
2) $120 dollars is including backwards compatibility feature. (Backwards compatibility does not increase the price of the system.[I called back later and just said I had a Ps3 with no backwards compatibility, the price was the same])
3) They said I have to re-install the original 80gig HDD as the 3rd party one I had violated the warranty.
4) The man said he would have to charge me a refurbishing fee of $20 dollars to replace the outer shell of the system. (After telling him it was in perfect condition he said "It's company policy."
5) The man also told me that "Gamestop does not take new unopened merchandise." I would have to open the Sports champion bundle in which case I would get $20 dollars for the Wand, $20 for the eye, and $10 for the game.

Over all. I would receive $150 dollars from Gamestop for my 320 gig Backwards Compatible Ps3 with New Unopened PS Move sports champion bundle. That's about as much BS as I've ever heard.
350+ on Ebay or 150 from Gamestop. I think my choice is clear.

Neckbear5646d ago

GameStop's CEO is Recette, what would you expect?

lex-10205646d ago

Oh I know. I'm going to do a follow up article about how they were only going to give me $70 for my 360

saladthieves5644d ago

WE SHOULD BOYCOTT GAMESTOP!! It's times like these I usually get pissed at them and just go to steam instead.

kancerkid5643d ago

Why boycott, just sell it somewhere else. No one is making anyone here do anything with their systems. Gamestop is just a conveyance for those who don't care or don't do any research.

Statix5643d ago

Have to agree with kancerkid; why is a boycott or public backlash necessary? This is capitalism--if Gamestop gives you a crap deal, then take your business some place else, like eBay, Amazon, or Craigslist.

I've "boycotted" Gamestop for several years now, in the fact that I just naturally have never bought anything from them in recent memory. Not because I'm doing it on PURPOSE, but because their prices suck, and I always find a better deal some other place.

Like Amazon for example. Does Gamestop give you a $20 gift certificate for free for preordering Call of Duty: Black Ops? Nope.

Silly gameAr5643d ago

They were going to give me $45.

vhero5641d ago

See the main problem is selling a console on Ebay means you are taking a chance to get ripped off I mean I use Ebay all the time but selling something that expensive you gotta be extremely careful who you sell to. I have even took less money in the past to give a second chance to a more reputable buyer. Ebay is getting worse for scammers all the time and paypal are a joke.

Neko_Mega5645d ago

Hastings gives you about $170 just for the 160GB PS3 Slim, that is if you have that store close by.

You are right is sucks they don't give you much when you can get more another way, I got threw them most of the time but it is because GameStop doesn't care about having the case or book for the game as Hastings does.

lex-10205645d ago

I've never heard of Hastings. I'll look them up and see how much they would give me.

BeOneWithTheGun5640d ago

We have some in Spokane, WA and they are really cool. For me, though, I use Craigs. It's easy to weed out the more "questionable" types. Make contact, talk on phone and if you have any suspicions that they are a tweaker then don't deal with them.

I just sold my 4Gb 360 Slim for 150. Not bad since I paid 199 for it. I basically bought it for Halo, Fable and Gears. Halo was cool, Fable sucked and Gears is pushed out a year. 50 bucks to have owned Halo for 3 months and play Fable, meh, I've done worse.

outwar60105645d ago

sell it on ebay buy the new slim for like 200 hundred buck(im from the uk so dont know exact price) get a move bundle too use change towards next electric bill

shazui1235645d ago

Installing a 3rd party HDD does void the warranty so I can see why you would have to reinstall the original 80gb one.

dkblackhawk505645d ago

........really? Sorry but lol? Sony, the company who makes the PlayStation 3 gives step by step directions on how to take the HDD out for upgrading purposes...not like Microosoft's Xbox 360...it does not void the warranty, whoever told you that is a complete idiot.

shazui1235645d ago

Ah sorry you're right. The person who told me that is indeed an idiot :P The funny thing is, it was a game employee if I remember correctly. Why the hell I believed them I don't know :/

Neko_Mega5644d ago

The manger at are GameStop has said that before, he has even said PS3 couldn't play PSOne games and couldn't download them.

He has even said Wii wasn't never hard to find and Sony must be not making alot of money to keep up.

PC Gamer he is, yeah you find them anywhere, theirs only about 3 people at are GameStop that know alot about all three game systems.

lex-10205645d ago

It doesn't read the actual warranty.

killzowner5644d ago

Read the comments - that's already been established

BeOneWithTheGun5640d ago

You're joking, right? Any 2.5 Sata is compatible and Sony encourages you to upgrade and provides instructions. It's actually a selling point for them.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5640d ago
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70°

Microsoft Gaming Revenue Drops 7% Year-on-Year, Content and Services Down 5%, Xbox Hardware Down 33%

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Not looking good. Hopefully Asha Sharma is able to turn Phil’s disaster around.

dveio2d ago

To me it's still quite remarkable how they can cash-in 5.3bn in revenue in a single quarter, since their hardware is basically dead.

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The stock mark is what makes Microsoft remarkable, They have convinced every institutional and retail investor to just keep piling money into them. Like many big tech giants they are just a big growing pyramid scheme. As long as people keep dropping money into ETF's that cover the market Microsoft will always be liquid. At the same time it is completely stifling innovation and competition. People need to start being more discreet in how they invest their money as it's killing the system.

Tanktopmaster922d ago

Once they re-evaluate exclusive all will be fine….

S2Killinit2d ago

Riiiiight because people will just flock back to them for one or two games per year.

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15+ years of bad performance is what they call irreparable in business. It is time for them to sell off the assets and get out of entertainment.

Tanktopmaster922d ago

These declines are on the back of extra revenue received from releasing games like Forza horizon 5 on PlayStation. So I’m being sarcastic here when I said they should go back to exclusives. Killing off a revenue stream from Ps5 sales will only make things worse

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