Game Crazy

Wow, it's been about a billion years since I started a thread. Anyway, just wanted to state/ask a few things...

As you may or may not know, Game Crazy are these stores that make their homes inside Hollywood Video complexes, and sell a seemingly wonderful assortment of new and old games alike.
I basically spent my day today travelling with the boy across Sacramento (the crappiest town in america, also the hottest in temp) searching for a few key games we need to complete our collection. By complete lucking out, I found UmJammer Lammy which I've been searching for forever, but been too lazy to buy on eBay. Also racked up a perfect copy of Super Metroid. I saw lots and lots of wonderful old games I wish I had hundreds to spend on.
Anyway, my question is--
This place seems almost a bit too good to be true. The prices are lower than GS and EB, the workers are friendly, mostly knowledgeable, very very very awesome selection, etc.
Has anyone had any experiences, good or bad with this place? I'm just kinda curious on the consensus. It's pretty rare that I see a place besides the normal EB where I'm like "wow, I'm definately coming back here!"
Also, has anyone subscribed to their membership program, and if so, where did you break even on the $20 membership price? edit: clarification- How many games did you buy before you started saving money?

Thanks everyone!

I'm guessing this is a west coast only establishment?

oh, eep. whoops, yeah, yeah I guess it is. Sorry about that, I thought it was a USwide kinda thing...didn't mean to exclude anyone =X

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Originally Posted by NoFace

I'm guessing this is a west coast only establishment?

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Not hardly. I've encountered about ten in the Greater Cleveland area here in Ohio, just look for Hollywood Video stores. If you don't have them I'm sorry, because they actually hire cool workers.

Bummer... I haven't seen any on the east coast (from NYC to Boston). Sounds like they have the whole "mom and pop store" feeling while still being a chain. Which is cool.

I had some friends that worked at my local one when I was in Columbia City. Aside from the juice I had at that one, they're nothing special. Well I guess it is easier to offload all the lame junk that piles up around here on those places than anywhere else, but they don't do much for me as a retailer. I spend most of my time there doing no doubt irreperable damage to my eyes trying to read the labels of all the SNES, NES and Genesis games that they shoehorn in there.

Did I mention that it's company policy to throw boxes and manuals IN THE DUMPSTER if they're short on room? That's bullshit.

In short, I have no respect for Game Crazy whatsoever but I have managed to make them useful.

Pa

I've never seen a hollywood til I moved down here but alas no Game Crazy. Guess I'll keep an eye out for one though.

There's a Hollywood Video down the street from my new house, and I always figured the Game Crazy connected to it was just HV's version of Blockbuster's games section. Now that I know there's something more to it, may have to swing by one and check it out.

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Originally Posted by PaCrappa

Did I mention that it's company policy to throw boxes and manuals IN THE DUMPSTER if they're short on room? That's bullshit.

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The Gamestop I worked back in Holiday '01 season did this too, Pa. Someone came in and traded in a perfectly mint copy of Ogre Battle 64 with case and instructions. They stickered the cartridge and tossed the box and docs in the trashcan. Thank God I was working when this happened and saw it occur, I picked the things out of the top of the trash and took 'em home, and now have an extra box and inst. for the game in mint shape :nod:

They're all heretics and blasphemers and scalawags! Chain game shops are ruining it for everyone!

Pa

There is one or two Hollywood Video stores in my area. Is GC something that's just a little section of the store when you walk inside, or would I be able to see a Game Crazy sign on the outside if I drove by?