Gamestop's shenanigans.

You mean completely-free-market-capitalism?

edited 26th Aug '11 1:12:30 PM by mahel042

Exactly, the kind of thing that ultimately leads to violent angry mobs at best and angry mobs of insane super powered mutants at worst.

Well, that's the way that America's going, if current politics are any indication.

This kind of thing makes me glad that I live in the UK and therefore don't have to use gamestop.

We have Game Stop in Ireland though, so don't be surprised if they're coming to you. They bought out a chain here....odd they haven't set up in the UK though. Irish people are probably just much dumber with their money. :P

Apparently GameStop is offering $50 store credit to those who purchased Deus Ex without the On Live coupon. So as far as customers are concerned, they're right as rain.

At this point it's down to whether or not Square Enix or On Live try to take legal action, though it's not looking likely. Advertising such deals on the box might work in the future; in those instances Game Stop removing them might count as false advertising against them.

This seems rather bewildering. All the games stores we have here are pretty cool, Gamestation, GAME...

Wait, we only have GAME and Gamestation.

Wait, they're both the same company.

...

HMV sells games too. It's primarily a music store but tends to have everything a main gaming shop would have.

That too. But HMV's a media store really... and it's also close to bankruptcy IIRC.

The copies of the PC game are being recalled and replaced with ones without coupons. Also it is not the action of every single store. Some did it, some did not. This sounds like some form of mid level management muckery that ducked the chain of command and caused a problem.

Meh, I'm kinda' done with GameStop. You only need to hear a few horror stories and bad business practices from a place before you realize that if you keep giving them business, that'll keep them doing whatever it is they're doing.

I usually buy games from either Fry's Electronics (just for the sweet atmosphere; I spend about an hour to hour and a half wandering around the store, then remembering I'm there for a video game, and snagging it) or Best Buy. Big business, sure, but they're alright.

I’m a console gamer by default; there’s not much gaming love for Macs.

edited 26th Aug '11 3:58:09 PM by Newfable

I stopped shopping in Gamestop when last time I visited my Gamestop it had less psp games than my total collection and they were all shitty.

edited 26th Aug '11 6:29:06 PM by stevebat

I started going to gamestop because they screwed me less then the brick and mortar I have been shopping at for years.

This Gamestop sounds like a dodgy outfit.

They can't be that bad, right? What are they... the AT&T of video game stores?

...kind of?

More like the Wal-Mart of video game stores...

edited 26th Aug '11 6:54:42 PM by USAF713

That means nothing to me. Here, Walmart is called ASDA, and we have a pretty decent opinion of it.

...in the US Wal-Mart will move into a small town and literally kill every other marginally small business in a 10-mile-radius around it. Standard policy for them is to dissolve a store if the workers attempt to unionize, as well, and they pay shit and have low standards for worker treatment...

edited 26th Aug '11 7:16:07 PM by USAF713

Game stop is not even that remotely dickish. The various brick and mortar stores specialize in used games and accessories but offer new stuff to a limited extent. Our example is Gamers they have multiple locations in the city. Game stop has a few more but they are better for new games. Recently Gamers changed their trade in rates. They started giving less then Game Stop. Give you guess who gets my business now.

I meant that it showed Wal-Mart's dickishness...

@DG: It ain't capitalism, it's a crime. It would be like wal-mart going through every box of ceral to remove coupons only valid at other stores. Actually, it is EXACTLY like that.

edited 26th Aug '11 7:33:35 PM by thatguythere47

Ahh. I thought it was a comparison. The local game stop has some cool guys working at it. The brick and mortar has guys that love to chat when things are slow. Casual conversation is something I enjoy.

That too. But HMV's a media store really... and it's also close to bankruptcy IIRC.

No! I love HMV! They have great deals and there's nowhere else here just to get stuff they have. Damn, should I use up my gift credit soon?

Local game stores are nice, yes. I haven't had a chance to spend time in the one closest to where I am, though. There aren't even any Gamestops where I am, so I've had to get all my games from Amazon or digital distribution. The last game I got from Gamestop was Dissidia.

Speaking of which, to answer an earlier comment about why digital distribution hasn't killed Gamestop's business model yet: I think it's a combination of factors. Part of it is sheer size letting it weather a loss of business, but part of it is people like to save money on used games, don't want to wait for shipping, and don't have/don't know about local game stores. Finally, digital distribution kind of sucks if you've got a crappy Internet connection.

I agree with the rest, but I have to contest this one- usually I see games cheaper online than at gamestop.

I think the problem with gamestop is a more of a middle/store level management issue than a top level issue.

@ Occono. Yeah. You should.

Apparently, if it goes down, it could spell the end of music retail in the UK (& Ireland).