People have been suspicious of this for years now. Accusations are always made, but nothing has ever been done about it. Does GameStop sell used games as new? I am 100% convinced that they do in fact sell used games as new games. I was suspicious of this practice several years ago when I bought a few new games that seemed to have “used level” scratches on them. When I took them back to the store, the manager apologized and replaced the discs. I got what I wanted, so I was satisfied for the time being.
Over the years, I have questioned GameStop’s reasoning for new games coming in cases that were already open. Most of the time, you will hear that they like to keep empty cases on the shelves to prevent theft. While this makes sense, it also makes it real easy for them to pull off the shady business practice they are accused of. With the numerous complaints all over the internet concerning this activity, I am sure the corporation is aware of the complaints, yet they do nothing about it. Would it be too hard for them to just put cardboard inserts on the shelves and give you a new unopened game when you get to the counter?
One alarming practice that I have heard directly from GameStop employees is that they sometimes bring games home with them to play, return the games to the store and then sell them as if they were still brand new. Considering I have heard this from more than one GameStop location, I’d be willing to bet this is an accepted corporate policy.
In my personal opinion, the moment a factory seal is broken on a product, it’s no longer “new”. If that’s not enough, if the game has ever been played, it’s definitely NOT new. I’m not sure why GameStop/EB Games hasn’t caught on to this notion. You will not see Wal-Mart, Target or even Best Buy pull as many stunts as GameStop, so why should we put up with it? The answer is we shouldn’t. Gamers complain non-stop about GS, but never do anything about it. If we’d stop purchasing opened games at the full new price and stopped putting up with the numerous other unethical situations going on, things would actually change. While you may be brainwashed into thinking you get good deals on trade-ins, the fact is you’ll get far more money selling your games on Amazon or eBay. While some GameStop loyalists claim they are not breaking any laws, it seems to me that nearly every state has laws against unfair and deceptive business practices. Selling used products as new is a crime in federal and all state courts.
I guess it just blows my mind that the majority of gamers complain about GameStop every day, yet they continue to walk into the stores and keep the machine rolling. At one time, I did a ton of shopping at GameStop, but those days are over. To avoid the scams and hassle, I am doing all of my shopping online or with retailers that are straight-forward with the condition of their merchandise. I don’t want to leave a store checking a “new” game for scratches. I want my new games to be sealed and without worry.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:09 pm
In Quebec, such practices are illegal. Some companies have been shut down because of it.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:13 pm
it’s illegal here, but the odds of someone acting on it are fairly slim. I guess we live in a corporate friendly society, but the legal system will go after individuals in a heart beat for small stuff.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
While it seems possible, it also comes off as a
bit of a surprise to me. It doesn’t make too much
sense, imo, for them to market them as “new”
when they make more money selling games
“used.”
Their whole practice is based off of it!
But yes, I completely agree on your sentiment
of the whole “gutting” process…I always ask
for a copy unopened (plastic intact), or I go
somewhere else and buy the game.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
of course they make more from used games.. the games you trade in. I’m talking about “brand new” games and what’s going on with those. I’m not really sure what you are talking about. They can still sell a “new” game for more than a “used” game.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:31 am
I think that’s me in the pic wearing the jean jacket…
September 4th, 2008 at 2:24 am
probably is
September 4th, 2008 at 4:51 am
@ Will: They sell it for MORE, but they MAKE more
from selling “used” games.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:16 am
yeah i know, but that wasn’t my point. I’m saying they sometimes sell used games for a new price.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:34 am
I used to work for them when I was in college. They are new and they sometimes get scratched just being put into the sleeve. I don’t understand the problem, If you don’t want an opened one, ask for another. Usually though those are the last ones sold because they are the displays. It’s just like a car you can buy a new car wth many thousands of miles on it and it still new. And once again they is very little profit in new games or systems, It’s a publicly traded corporation theymust make money to survive. It’s the same as the argument against oil companies, t’s not fair to tell anyone how to run their business as long as its legal. As far as empty display boxes that would be fine,but the game companies would have to furnish them,. only the giants could afford that, and small indies would not get shelf space. This would lead to higher prices and fewer titles.
I still feel the future is fidital downloads with no reasle value and higher prices. I don’t believe that manufacturers will lower prices because they are making more money. Look at the Itunes model you lose the lo-fi song and it’s gone forever.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I agree with Ed. I also worked at a gamestop while I was in school. It is a corporate policy to allow employees to “check out” (actual term) new games to take home and play. These are always the display copy of the game.
One thing that Ed pointed out that I would like to highlight is that this is the display copy. It is the last copy that they would sell of a game, and it would only be sold if the store was completely out of copies. Similar to a display model anything at any store. When I worked I routinely saw customers ask for a new unopened copy, only to be informed that we were down to the last copy, and upon request that copy was always discounted to used price level if the customer asked.
I agree that it is deciptive to sell these games as “new” but what like Ed said, the only other solution would be for the game companies to send dummy boxes to go in their place. Otherwise the store would have an incredible amount of shrink (loss) which would lead to higher prices.
So I would recommend that you just deal with the reality of it. Ask for a discount if there is only a display model left, or just but your games someplace else.
The reason you go to gamestop (at least why I did/do) is because the employees there generally are gamers themselves and they will tell you if the game you are about to drop 60$ of sucks or not.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:39 am
I haven’t bought from Gamestop for years and I will continue to not do so. They are shady and lame, and are another example of the corporate monster that came in and took over all the mom-and-pop shops country wide. I wish for them nothing but failure.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
@Will: Ok, you win