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GameStop review: return, exchange, buy 19

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11:21 am EST
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OK help me understand if i buy a game new for 63 dollars and don't like it and want to return or exchange it for a game the same price i cant i only get 22 dollars back so i get ripped off for the 41 dollars and theres nothing i can do about.Hows that fair?can someone tell me.

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19 comments
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Cyberxion
Santa Fe, US
Jun 30, 2011 8:18 pm EDT

As much as I loath Gamestop, I don't really see the problem here. Once you take off the shrink-wrap it's considered used. Of course the same thing ought to said when Gamestop does it to gut their games, but that's neither here nor there. This has pretty-much been store policy since that class-action suit a decade or so back, and is pretty-much the policy at any store you go to anymore. Once you open it you can't take it back for a full refund. It sucks, but that's why it's more important than ever to do your dilligence as a consumer before you spend your hard-earned cash on a game.

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pobarjenkins
Minneapolis, US
Apr 20, 2011 4:43 am EDT
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Why did your nephew open the gift? Didn't he know he did not want it by looking at the box? They can't accept it back for an entire return due to piracy or altering of the software, and not only Gamestop has this policy but the majority of other retailers as well. Once you open a game/console it can never be sold as new again, only used, which decreases its value.

That Assistant manager who makes $10/hour for standing their ground would much rather keep their job.

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Konflikt45
Lone Tree, US
Apr 19, 2011 9:08 pm EDT

And on top of the ridiculous return policy and them offering me about a third of what I paid for a brand new, less than a week old system they would turn about and sell it for $10 less than a new unit. Tell me that is not HIGHWAY ROBBERY at it's finest! On top of that, the 18 year old ###s the company hires try to convince everyone that unless you pre-order a game, that you will probably not get a copy of it! Give me a break! If you don't think the companies that make these games don't plan for the amount of sales these games generate then maybe you should take some busniess 101 classes! One person may not sting a jenky organization but a group would and trust me, if I get the chance I WILL be right along side every other consumer this company has screwed with their BS policies! Companies like this undermind the American tradition of businesses everywhere! So to the Assistant manager who makes $10 an hour standing your ground, you may want to make some much needed and wiser decisions on the companies you chose to work for.

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Konflikt45
Lone Tree, US
Apr 19, 2011 8:54 pm EDT

I agree with Jay, Gamestop's return policy is a JOKE as is your weak customer service. I purchased a gift for my nephew for his birthday which was two days away. After opening it and taking a look at it, he decided that he didn't want it. I went to return the item less then a week later and was told by an 18 year old ### (that seems to be the norm in these stores) that because the system, a PSP had been opened that is no longer had value and that it couldn't be returned. She also stated that I could trade it in for 1/3 of what I paid for it! As a consumer and a business major with a Masters Degree in the subject it's my opinion that Gamestop does NOT treat their customers well at all. Their main concern is their profit margin as opposed to doing right by their customers. On top of that, their trade in policy is a JOKE, hands down.

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OhWowReally
, US
Jan 29, 2011 11:46 pm EST
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Jay Wx, please tell us where you live. I want to know because I want to live in the land where Walmart and Target will give me 100% of my money back for a game I open, play, and decide I don't like.

Oh, that's right, you live in land of fantasy.

Here's a hint. If Walmart or Target are taking back a video game, DVD, or CD that is open and giving 100% of the money back to the buyer, they are breaking the law. The copyright laws (at least in the United States) only permit refunds if the game is unopen. If the game, CD, or DVD is open, they can only exchange it for the same product. Basically, once you open it, you are only protected that it is not defective. It has nothing to do with like/dislike. You take an open game to Walmart or Target and tell them "I didn't like it, " they are going to say too bad and send you on your way.

Please contact the State Attorney General, who will most likely have a hard time holding back laughter as he tells you how amazing wrong you are.

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Jay Wx
dalla, US
Jan 24, 2011 11:53 pm EST

Ok, lets get ONE thing clear...
IF you purchase this game at walmart or target, open it, play it, and decide you do not like it...you can return it for 100% of the PURCHASE PRICE, not part, not half, not a %age.
ALL of you Gamestop managers on this site posting 'return policy' bs, are a joke.
When a large amount of CONSUMERS (you know...the ones that PAY your salary) Are DISSATISFIED with service/return policies...this is a problem for your company.
I can guarantee i will be discussing this with all my gamer buddies, and push them to walmart or target to purchase their games.
I will also be contacting our state atty general for what i believe to be an illegal practice.
(OH and just FYI...i AM a business owner...)
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Pithyresponse
, US
Sep 22, 2010 4:07 pm EDT

It never ceases to amaze me how truly ignorant people are. I've worked for this company in the past in a managerial capacity and spent the majority of my time placating and educating customers who have absolutely no idea what they are buying, how much its actually worth, and how the Gamestop business model is intended to function in the real world. Allow me to enlighten the unenlightened.

1. The profit margin for new games is 6-8 percent, depending on title and platform. What that means for retailers is that the 65 dollar purchase price paid by consumers, nets a company like Gamestop about 6 six dollars in profit. 6 not 65. There is no sustainable margin in selling new games.

2. Pre-owned games, systems and accessories are how Gamestop makes a profit. You may piss and moan about getting 25 dollars for your "new" game, but the reality of the situation is that Gamestop has to sell the product they've purchased from you in order to make any money at all. What nobody seems to understand is that just by accepting your trade, the company is effectively losing money, gambling that someone in the future will purchase it at a later date. In the meantime, the value of the game and the potential to sell it decreases. This causes more loss than most are aware. When Gamestop stopped carrying nintendo 64, dreamcast and playstation 1 games, any on-hand quantities were a net loss for the company. Both in potential revenue and actual cost spent on said merchandise.

3. Educate yourself. Be a savvy consumer. Ask the right questions. I can guarantee that the throngs of pierced, faux-hawked, 20 somethings who work at Gamestop are not part of some evil cabal out to steal your cash. The fact of the matter is that most consumers are simply ignorant as to what they are buying. When you go to a dealership to buy a car, you don't approach the first salesman you see and say "Gee, I'd like to purchase one of those things with four wheels and a windshield." No, you do research and make an informed decision, in order to avoid complication down the road. What a concept.

4. If you don't like a company's policy don't support them with your business. Gamestop is in the position they are in because they demonstrably provide a valuable service to consumers. Whether you agree or disagree is a non-point; they are a fortune 200 company that continually posts record earnings, with 7000 stores worldwide. Unless you believe that every purchase you ever make should be accompanied by a sales clerk reading you the fine print on your receipt, you have no right to complain or give anybody in the store a hard time.

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pobarjenkins
Minneapolis, US
Sep 18, 2010 6:58 pm EDT
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And to be honest, many businesses don't let you return opened merchandise at all. I suggest selling your used game on amazon or something like that. It may get you a better profit.

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pobarjenkins
Minneapolis, US
Sep 18, 2010 6:57 pm EDT
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I suggest people rent video games before purchasing them.

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screwGS
phoenix, US
Sep 18, 2010 6:52 pm EDT

i just bought halo: reach on tuesday 9/14/10. and i went to Gamestop TODAY. was gunna trade in halo:reach witch i bought for $62 brand new and i was gunna trade it in for modern warfare 2. and they said i could only get $25 back for it in store credit. seriously what the hell... and i only had for 4 days. And if u buy a preowned game and u dont like it u can take it back with in 7 days..but you cant do that for the newer games? thats just total BS. but if i would of sold them the game they could of put it back up for sell for $60? thats [censor]ed up...so technicly you can get more money out of preowned games then the newer ones...screw gamestop. thats all i gotta say..

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B.is.a.kid.
San Diego, US
Jul 09, 2010 8:19 pm EDT

ok morrow_dennis, you are a complete [censor]. its called a RETURN POLICY. most businesses put them on the bottom of every receipt after purchase. i work for sam goody (btw we sell games too), and as most BUSINESSES will tell you, you cant return something just because you do not like it. that is not a priviledge you have. but you are priviledged to take it back to that store and exchange it for the same exact item if it is defective. dont take that 22 bucks for granted because the gave you the option to actually get something in return for your crap game. dude grow up!

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G.Harrison
Ft Worth, US
May 28, 2010 10:02 am EDT

Working in retail has taught me that people are dumb and they only hear or see what they want to. It's simple economics you are not going to get top dollar for your used games especially sports games. I do not know any retailer that returns brand new software. Once again it is an option and it's not mandatory also do not scream at the employee he or she is just doing their job they are there to help you and raising your voice or making a scene does not help at all. If you have any problems talk to corporate they controll trade in values if you don't like it don't shop there simple enough.

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fairnessinbusiness
Virginia Beach, US
May 22, 2010 10:59 am EDT

I love how when I open the game, its considered used. When gamestop opens the game, they can still sell it as NEW. With that kind of advantage, I don't see why they don't just sell all the trade in games as NEW. Maybe i can go in and buy a brand NEW copy of some 8 bit NES titles.

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abgx360
clendenin, US
Nov 11, 2009 2:52 pm EST
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I love how consumers do not understand the practice of the business. YES you paid sixty dollars for this game, YES you should have checked it out before you bought it. But NO you are not entitled to more than the trade-in. I am an assistant manager for a Gamestop. When a used game comes back, it is very simple, if it is still working, then re-gut it and put it back on the shelf. The customer gets their money back or a different game, their choice. That is one of the perks of buying a used game, on top of the EDGE discount. With a new game if Gamestop takes it back, it would have to be defected out and results on a direct loss to the company. If the game is not working than the new one is swapped for a sealed new one, which we then open that way the customer can not work the system. Get over it.

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screwGamestop
Austin, US
Sep 11, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

AngryLlama

You are a ###ing corporate employee!

Why don;t you get the ### over it and get the hell of consumers lists.

People hate your crappy customer service and nothings is going to change. We all know you do what your do to make the extra dollars. You and your company are chaep ripoff artist.

GAMESTOP SUCKS and you SUCK too. Get over the fact that people don;t like that your are ###ing them over!

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Death.by.Ninja
San Diego, US
Jul 07, 2009 6:00 pm EDT

There is something wrong with the buy back policy. The buy back is almost always less than half of what it will be sold at used. Even if you paid x amount of dollars for it new and resell. I think the policy needs a revamping to make buy back at a fair and reasonable price. Also Used vs New, go used if your not sure if you'll like the game or not, this way you can get a FULL refund if you return within the 7 day period. New and opened you can only get an exchange for the same item with no refund. Which also brings up that they can sell a game already opened, put into a sleeve, call it "NEW" and charge $60.00 though it is NOT in the original manufactured sealing. This is such bad practice. You have no real way of knowing if the game is in fact new or getting a used copy. To sum it all up, get used games if your not sure, by them new if you are solid certain.

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AngryLlama
Calhoun, US
Apr 25, 2009 3:44 am EDT

Here's a novel idea. Don't blow 60 dollars on something you don't even know if you're going to like. It's not school supplies, or rent, or utilities. It's ###ing entertainment. It's not an 8 dollar movie you can yell about. You're going to be stuck with this damn game. Rent it, watch some illegally uploaded clips of it on Youtube, something. But don't blow 60 dollars on a ### game and expect ANYONE to just let you return it out of the kindess of their hearts. Gamestop, Walmart, Best Buy... they're businesses. They're around to make money, and try to help you. Letting you trade it in is trying to help. Taking it back for 60 and making 0 dollars (actually LOSING money when you figure in the purchase, return, and time spent doing both... payroll isn't free) is bad business.

Trade it in, get the lesser value for cash, run down to Home Depot and get some plywood, build a bridge, and GET THE ### OVER IT.

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bdennis02
newbury, US
Feb 13, 2009 11:01 pm EST

lucky we take ur ### assed games anyways. dont like the prices then go cry to ur momma cause shes the only one that puts up with your ###

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Juon13
Lithia Springs, US
Dec 10, 2008 12:44 pm EST

Ok there is not one company that will let you return or exchange an opened brand new game, cd, or dvd because of copyright protection laws. The $22 they offered you was the trade in value and before you complain about it being less than what you paid for it consider this. When you buy a brand new car as soon as you drive it off the lot the value has already decreased thousand of dollars it's the same concept. At least with Gamestop you have the option of trading in so you can get something for it if you don't like it. If you had tried that at a company that does not deal in trade ins then the only answer you would have received would have been a no and a showing of the door.

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