GUTS: WORSE THAN YOUR MOTHER DYING

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

Went to an EB, they had one copy, but it was opened (display copy). I told the guy I don't buy opened merchandise and went to leave. Of course he tried to explain that nothing was wrong with it but I don't pay a new game price for a game that has been opened, i.e., is not new. He then told me I'd have to get it at EB because Gamestop refused to carry it (bullshit, I called my local Gamestop and they said they were sold out of their 3 copies and would have more next week). Went to another EB and they had a sealed copy...mine. :)

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What the fuck. Was it really worth driving/walking to another store just so you can get some fucking plastic wrapping that you are going to tear off and throw away the second you get home? Did you think that in the one day that the game was available at EB some of the workers opened up their display copy and played fucking frisbee with it? Or that it was put into and taken out of a demo machine multiple times?

Would you rather that EB and Gamestop just didn't put the fucking game boxes on the shelves for anyone to look at? You don't seriously think that they should put live product on the shelves, do you?

Uh oh, Korly's mad.

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Originally Posted by Korly

What the fuck. Was it really worth driving/walking to another store just so you can get some fucking plastic wrapping that you are going to tear off and throw away the second you get home? Did you think that in the one day that the game was available at EB some of the workers opened up their display copy and played fucking frisbee with it? Or that it was put into and taken out of a demo machine multiple times?

Would you rather that EB and Gamestop just didn't put the fucking game boxes on the shelves for anyone to look at? You don't seriously think that they should put live product on the shelves, do you?

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What he probably thinks is that EB shouldn't sell open games as new under any circumstances and as long as they insist on doing this, won't receive his business (or mine).

Anyway, extremely cool game. My Best Buy had like 10 so no problem finding it. Great soundtrack too. Quite a gem. Hope it does well.

[rant]
I also don't pay a new game price for an opened game. Back when EB let you return anything in 2 weeks for a full exchange I didn't have a problem with it as long as the disc was perfect (since I was just going to bring it back anyways).

The little game shop I worked at just made excellent photocopies of the front & back covers and put them in empty DVD cases on the wall to display the new games. I can guarantee that no one would have bought the new games if we opened them up, gutted them and put the case on the wall. But giant corporations can get away with that shit on a daily basis.
[/rant]

And on subject, this game is the definition of crescent fresh. Best $20 game I've ever bought.

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Originally Posted by Korly

What the fuck. Was it really worth driving/walking to another store just so you can get some fucking plastic wrapping that you are going to tear off and throw away the second you get home? Did you think that in the one day that the game was available at EB some of the workers opened up their display copy and played fucking frisbee with it? Or that it was put into and taken out of a demo machine multiple times?

Would you rather that EB and Gamestop just didn't put the fucking game boxes on the shelves for anyone to look at? You don't seriously think that they should put live product on the shelves, do you?

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Time to change the tampon. Yours appears to have exceeded its absorbancy level.

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Originally Posted by Compass

What he probably thinks is that EB shouldn't sell open games as new under any circumstances and as long as they insist on doing this, won't receive his business (or mine).

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Indeed. It's the principle. When I go into Best Buy or Circuit City, I don't have to buy games, CDs, or DVDs that are opened. It's unacceptable to expect less in other retail establishments, and it's unprofessional of them to expect their customers to accept it.

I've worked at EBs and Gamestops before. When we get in a new game, we have to gut one copy, and put the box on the shelf so the customers can see it. That means that the game comes in, I take the shrinkwrap off, put the disc and the instruction book (and any other inserts) into a ziplock bag, and store it in the cabinet. I don't take my fingernails and scrape them across the back of the disc, and if there was any question about that, the customers get to see the disc before they buy it? Do you think that the game will work better if the cellophane stays on for a few more hours? Do you save the shrinkwrap that you probably rip off of the game before you even get home, and make a giant plastic ball out of it?

If the game has never been played or owned, what makes it "not new"? ANd even if it is a new copy, that is used in the demo systems at the store, what's the problem with that, as long as the disc is pristine? If you have to drive down the street to the Best Buy because you so desperately want your shrinkwrap, you just spent a dollar or two on gas, and now you're actually paying MORE for the game.

Makes no fucking sense.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

Time to change the tampon. Yours appears to have exceeded its absorbancy level.

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Yeah, because when women become worked up about a subject, they menstruate.

Real clever.

Not to derail this thread, I don't have a feeling either way on this topic. I simply think it is rediculous that EB and GS have not worked out something the game makers that they can recieve a few extra cases (over even inserts) for each game they sell, so they don't have to gut games.

What makes it not new? Simple, it isn't in new condition, as it would be at 99% of the other stores selling it. It's been opened, I'd hardly call that new. Just got this today, new, at Best Buy.

I've given up on trying to remove those. I just leave them on until I get replacement cases.

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Originally Posted by Videodrone

I don't even mind if it has been open, the problem is the impossible to remove without a trace price tickets and "New Release!" stickers.

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I agree with that. Once they have the stickers on, you can't really get 'em off. HOWEVER, if you just ask the guy behind the counter for a blank DVD case, he'll probably give you one, since in all likelyhood he has 5 crates full of them in the stockroom.

And yes, it'd be nice if the publishers would send EXACT replicas of the game sleeves toEB and GS so we could make displays without gutting things. I HATE gutting games, it takes a long time, you get anal bastards crying over the loss of their beloved shrinkwrap, and it leads to inventory mishaps. EB and GS get display sleeves ahead of time for most games, but they end up looking different than the final product, may not have the content descriptors on the back (like on Xbox games that tell you if it supports progressive scan, etc) and if they're left up when the game is finally released, most customers still think it's coming soon (since most demo sleeves say PREORDER NOW!!1 or COMING SOON!).

To me, if I want the game, I can get a fresh DVD case, and the game is still fucking new, I'll buy it. I don't need to go anywhere else.



Videodrone, where can I get some Katamari wallpaper? Also, I fucking hate the Ursa Major mission.

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Originally Posted by Korly

Yeah, because when women become worked up about a subject, they menstruate.

Real clever.

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No, it's that you're bitching like a woman on the rag. WTF is your problem?

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Originally Posted by Korly

I agree with that. Once they have the stickers on, you can't really get 'em off. HOWEVER, if you just ask the guy behind the counter for a blank DVD case, he'll probably give you one, since in all likelyhood he has 5 crates full of them in the stockroom.

And yes, it'd be nice if the publishers would send EXACT replicas of the game sleeves toEB and GS so we could make displays without gutting things. I HATE gutting games, it takes a long time, you get anal bastards crying over the loss of their beloved shrinkwrap, and it leads to inventory mishaps. EB and GS get display sleeves ahead of time for most games, but they end up looking different than the final product, may not have the content descriptors on the back (like on Xbox games that tell you if it supports progressive scan, etc) and if they're left up when the game is finally released, most customers still think it's coming soon (since most demo sleeves say PREORDER NOW!!1 or COMING SOON!).

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Here you are bitching about gutting games. Imagine that.

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To me, if I want the game, I can get a fresh DVD case, and the game is still fucking new, I'll buy it. I don't need to go anywhere else.

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Good for you. As far as I'm concerned, it stops being new the second someone other than me opens it and puts their hands on it. If they don't have a fresh DVD case in the back I'm stuck with "new release" stickers and whatever wear and tear the homies that hang out in EB all day have taken out on the case.

Plus, I have friends that work at Gamestop that tell me all the time that they open games and take them home to "try out". So, it may turn out that your "new" opened game is "used" after all.

My one experience with it turned me off to the practice, as I was sold a "new" Shenmue II for Xbox covered in scratches. Some new game...

Could it be scratched? Could it be fine? Sure, but there's no way to tell until I've opened the game. It's just not worth the risk to me to find out, especially when this game in particular is newly-released, and can be found in other stores.

Hey "pimp" you were the one bitching, I was just amazed by your foolish behavior. And some gutted game are going to have wear and tear from "homies" so that's why you get to look at the merchandise and decide for yourself if it's in new condition. Not having your beloved cellophane on it does not automatically mean it's no longer new.

Jeremy, if the game is no longer in the original shrinkwrap (ie, it's been re-shrunk by one of EBs employees), you should always check the game out before you buy it. Any game that has not been purchased and then traded in must be sold as new by EB and GS, regardless of wether or not it somehow gets fucked up at work. With Shenmue II this moight be a problem, but not fucking Katamari Damacy on the goddamn second day of release. I guarantee they didn't get a chance to fuck that one up, but you'll never know since you were crying over your lack of plastic wrap to actually check the game out.

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

Could it be scratched? Could it be fine? Sure, but there's no way to tell until I've opened the game. It's just not worth the risk to me to find out, especially when this game in particular is newly-released, and can be found in other stores.

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I think Korly mentioned this, but you can look at the disc between the time we take it out of the baggie and put it into the case. If it's new, it's new. I don't see the problem here.

If we're gonna go all out on this discussion, we should probably start a thread (or find the old one). There's almost no point since logic doesn't work in this argument.

It's more of a case-by-case, person-by-person thing. The different perspectives on it do make for interesting discussion though. Also, with the Shenmue II purchase, I was kind of rushed out of the store by the clerk, who just threw the discs in the case and slapped that goddamn "do not open..." sticker on it.

I really don't see how anyone can justify the gutting of games. Even if they haven't been played, they still have been taken out and put in those sleeves. That's usually enough to generate scratching or fingerprints on the game. Even asking to look at game is a piss off because A) the employees get irritated and B) what looks unscratched in the store's lighting often is scratched when viewed later under sunlight. Customers shouldn't have to deal with this worry when buying and paying full price for supposedly brand new products.

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Originally Posted by Korly

Hey "pimp" you were the one bitching, I was just amazed by your foolish behavior. And some gutted game are going to have wear and tear from "homies" so that's why you get to look at the merchandise and decide for yourself if it's in new condition. Not having your beloved cellophane on it does not automatically mean it's no longer new.

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I'd agree with you if you were right.

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

I really don't see how anyone can justify the gutting of games. Even if they haven't been played, they still have been taken out and put in those sleeves. That's usually enough to generate scratching or fingerprints on the game. Even asking to look at game is a piss off because A) the employees get irritated and B) what looks unscratched in the store's lighting often is scratched when viewed later under sunlight. Customers shouldn't have to deal with this worry when buying and paying full price for supposedly brand new products.

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Exactly. Plenty of the people who post here feel the same way. I don't see why Korly gives a fuck what we buy or why he made such a big stink just because I stated that I don't like gutted games.

OK, keep it going.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

I don't see why Korly gives a fuck what we buy.

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Because he has to put up with assholes at the store, and this kind of talk reminds him of that. I can relate.

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Originally Posted by Mzo

Because he has to put up with assholes at the store, and this kind of talk reminds him of that. I can relate.

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What, people who want unopened stuff are assholes, or you just run into a lot of people who are dicks about it? Me, I never give 'em a hard time about it, it's not their fault.

This is just a personal preference. I just prefer not to buy opened shit. If it pisses you off for whatever reason, I could give a shit. However, if a customer is an asshole to an employee over it, then they are a dick, and I can understand your attitude.

I'm with the Dole-man on this one. I don't buy opened shit. It's just the principle. I'll drive to another store to get the game if I have to, but I don't like people touching my stuff before I've opened it myself.

Call me crazy, but it's my money and my time.

Word.

Yo, X, I'll be on AIM at about 2:30 EST. You gonna be on?

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

I really don't see how anyone can justify the gutting of games. Even if they haven't been played, they still have been taken out and put in those sleeves. That's usually enough to generate scratching or fingerprints on the game. Even asking to look at game is a piss off because A) the employees get irritated and B) what looks unscratched in the store's lighting often is scratched when viewed later under sunlight. Customers shouldn't have to deal with this worry when buying and paying full price for supposedly brand new products.

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Customers want to look at boxes while they're in the store. They just do.

So the game store employees can either hand them the actual product and watch the customer make a dash for the door once they realize that they have what they want in their hands and that the employee is behind a counter. Like what happened to me when I worked at Funco.

Or they can gut games.

Gutted games will happen as long as
a) Customers want to look at boxes
and
b) Publishers refuse to send mock-boxes to stores

Until one of those facets changes, this won't.

I'm not a fan of buying guts, but that's mostly because the EB in my hometown used to put all the discs in a box where they slid around and got scratched and scuffed up. I had turned away several like that, but I've gotten two guts at the GameStop there when it opened this summer, and the discs were in perfect condition, and considering I didn't see a new copy of Sky Odyssey anywhere else for $15, I took it. Not the end of the world. Yes, the stickers are still on the case, but it's a minor problem and I'm sure I'll get around to fixing it someday, if it really bothers me.

I don't like the practice, and I'll only buy them as a last resort, really... but there are ways to make it suck less comparatively, I guess.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

Word.

Yo, X, I'll be on AIM at about 2:30 EST. You gonna be on?

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I'll be on, if I don't have to go to work. I just logged on/off looking for you. I'll jump back on right now.

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Originally Posted by dog$

Customers want to look at boxes while they're in the store. They just do.

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Customers want to look and feel the fucking memory cards. We have them behind the counter. They ask me if we have any, and I do and I tell them the price. Then I ask if they want one and they want to see it.

I just tell them it's not very exciting.

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Originally Posted by dog$

Customers want to look at boxes while they're in the store. They just do.

So the game store employees can either hand them the actual product and watch the customer make a dash for the door once they realize that they have what they want in their hands and that the employee is behind a counter. Like what happened to me when I worked at Funco.

Or they can gut games.

Gutted games will happen as long as
a) Customers want to look at boxes
and
b) Publishers refuse to send mock-boxes to stores

Until one of those facets changes, this won't.

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I understand that guts, while they suck, are a necessary evil. Publishers really should send mock-ups to stores, but they won't.

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Originally Posted by Fighter-X

I'll be on, if I don't have to go to work. I just logged on/off looking for you. I'll jump back on right now.

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Funny, I just logged on and off looking for you too. :)

so what game is this about that needed a new, and completely unnecessary thread? i mean couldnt this just have been put int he original thread?

I think if they gut the games they should take 5-10 dollars of the price when they sell them.

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Originally Posted by Mzoooooo

Customers want to look and feel the fucking memory cards. We have them behind the counter. They ask me if we have any, and I do and I tell them the price. Then I ask if they want one and they want to see it.

I just tell them it's not very exciting.

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Yup *nod* game store customers need to handle and ask the price of everything, no matter how mundane and stickered the objects are.

If these people were out buying bricks for a patio they'd never leave the store because they'd have to personally hold and price each individual brick.

Reminds me of the post-launch PS2 days when we had one mock system box and a roll of "DISPLAY ONLY" stickers. People everywhere were looking for the thing and would ask, each and every time, if the mock box had a system in it. So instead of acknowledging them with a verbal response, we'd silently take another "DISPLAY ONLY" sticker off the roll and slap it on the box. After three days the PS2 logo was the only thing visible.

BTW, LOL at the thread title.

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Originally Posted by animegirl20

I think if they gut the games they should take 5-10 dollars of the price when they sell them.

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That's what I'm screaming. Then they want to try to sell you a game with a case that has a sticky price marker on it.

Dole, I have to go into work. I don't know WHEN I'll return today.

#$^* damnit!!

I never understood why people on this board cared about "gutted" games (assuming there are no scratches on the disc), or price tags on game boxes, or any other stupid anal shit like that.

I buy games to play 'em.

If you're so concerned about gutted games, just buy your games online like a man.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

Funny, I just logged on and off looking for you too. :)

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That is SOOOOO cute!! n_n

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Originally Posted by animegirl20

I think if they gut the games they should take 5-10 dollars of the price when they sell them.

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You know, EB used to do that years ago. I agree with that... but they've gotten greedier and greedier about that and used game prices as the years have gone by.

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

what looks unscratched in the store's lighting often is scratched when viewed later under sunlight

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and with the help of a microscope. Thus rendering the game UNPLAYABLE!

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Originally Posted by sleeveboy

If you're so concerned about gutted games, just buy your games online like a man.

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Online is last resort. I'd like to go to the store and have the game....oh....TODAY. Cash money, not credit card.

The beauty is, I've got 10 different stores I can go to, all within the same 3 mile radius, so going to another store isn't a hassle for me. Just as simple as getting in the car and driving for a minute.

My copy has to be completely sealed as well or else I don't want it.

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Originally Posted by Fighter-X

Online is last resort. I'd like to go to the store and have the game....oh....TODAY. Cash money, not credit card.

The beauty is, I've got 10 different stores I can go to, all within the same 3 mile radius, so going to another store isn't a hassle for me. Just as simple as getting in the car and driving for a minute.

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Hell yah, and another thing, by the time some online companies actually deliver yah fresh as virgin game, the sequal already has been released:P

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

Plus, I have friends that work at Gamestop that tell me all the time that they open games and take them home to "try out". So, it may turn out that your "new" opened game is "used" after all.

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Same here. That is...EXACTLY...why I don't buy open shit.

This takes me back to 99' when I drove 45 minutes to get to pick up a NEW SEALED copy of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for the Dreamcast w/ a friend (who was going to buy it).

I call the night before to see if the game was avail, and asked if the game is new or not. I was told it was BRAND NEW. They held it for me, since it was the absolute last copy. We get to the store the next day, and the guy sheepishly hands me an OPENED copy....I didn't think about it much at the second, but then I figured out (from how the people behind the counter were talking) that they'd taken it home and played it the night before, since it was the last copy they would see for a bit.

My rich bitch friend didn't really care, but I was pissed off over the fact that I drove 55 miles only to be lied to. Then they tried to sell us the game for a new price. I spoke to the manager, and then called the district manager, and we finally got it for a used price.

If I pay a new price then i expect a new game, plastic wrapping an all. Yes the wrapping may well come off within 30 seconds but you still have the knowlage that it is BRAND new, not used or scratched or whatever. I do occationally buy pre-owned games but you can take them up to the counter and ask to play them in the demo consles to see if they work.
Ive not really had any problems with mine

Korly you definately over-reacted big time, if I go to a store I'll buy a gutted game if they don't have another copy but honestly I don't think I've ever been forced to put up with this as the only game I ever had trouble finding was SWG on release day and I still managed to get it at another store. This is probably related to the fact that I don't drive (not going to different stores) unless I'm in the mall but if Dolemite wants to buy his games unopened that's his preferance. It's his money that he worked for and he doesn't want to take any chances, that's all him Korly, it doesn't require an "OMFG you're such an idiot!" response from you.

Every EB i worked at had a shrink wrap machine in the back.

OMG! :rolleyes:

Yeah ive seen that, it isnt the nice "official" wrapping that comes with the games upon purchase, its the crappy cheapo wrapping....it doent fool anybody...i hope...coz its damn obvious.

FACTORY sealed is the name of the game man. Also, funny, if a bit insenstitive thread title. Hey, I buy used all the time, but I don't appreciate being mislead with a "new" game that should be, at a bare minimum, sold at a reduced rate.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

BTW, LOL at the thread title.

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Oh and not LOL at the title, the author is an insensitive bastard.

Insenstive with the title? BIG TIME. Bastard? no.

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Originally Posted by Korly

I agree with that. Once they have the stickers on, you can't really get 'em off. HOWEVER, if you just ask the guy behind the counter for a blank DVD case, he'll probably give you one, since in all likelyhood he has 5 crates full of them in the stockroom.

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They can do that? Damn, that would have been nice a month ago.

Well i dont know them and to me that title makes them a Bastard.
Thats really insensitive.
Nothings worse than your mother fucking dying.

Definitely. I've been faced with that nearly happening a few times this year, and it's not the least bit enjoyable to have to even think about. Also, I never thought to ask for a DVD case, maybe I'll give that a whirl next time I go to Gamestop.

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

Definitely. I've been faced with that nearly happening a few times this year, and it's not the least bit enjoyable to have to even think about. Also, I never thought to ask for a DVD case, maybe I'll give that a whirl next time I go to Gamestop.

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The copy of Suikoden 3 I bought a while ago was from a friend, who said that when he got the game at EB last year or so, the spindle that holds the DVD in the case was broken when he got it, and the disc was crystal clear. I just replaced it with one of my spare cases but knowing that retail has a box full would have been nice. Bah.

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Originally Posted by Fighter-X

Online is last resort. I'd like to go to the store and have the game....oh....TODAY. Cash money, not credit card.

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I'm the same way. There's something about going into a store and actually buying something physically.

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The beauty is, I've got 10 different stores I can go to, all within the same 3 mile radius, so going to another store isn't a hassle for me. Just as simple as getting in the car and driving for a minute.

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The EB I went into that had the gutted game happened to be next to my bank, which I was already going to to make a deposit anyway, so it was no big deal. Then later I had to go over to the mall anyway to do some shopping, so I just stopped and got the game in question there. No wasted time, gas, anything.

We have almost as many EBs and Gamestops here as we do Starbucks. That is, millions. The fact is that I'm paying my money for a service and if I don't get it as I want it I can drive a minute and get it somewhere else.

I always get $5 off any guts I buy. Just tell them to shop-wear it, and boom, five bucks off.

No biggie.

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Originally Posted by Fighter-X

Dole, I have to go into work. I don't know WHEN I'll return today.

#$^* damnit!!

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Bummer. I...I miss you. :cry:

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Originally Posted by Fighter-X

My rich bitch friend didn't really care, but I was pissed off over the fact that I drove 55 miles only to be lied to.

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55 miles...? YOU CRAZY!

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Originally Posted by Gohron

Korly you definately over-reacted big time

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I like Korly, and he's usually a pretty cool guy, but occasionally he just flips out and starts acting like a douche. He probably just had a bad day or something, he'll be okay soon.

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Originally Posted by Angel From Above

Oh and not LOL at the title, the author is an insensitive bastard.

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YOU KNOW IT! Since I split the thread off from another existing one, I got to name it. No surprise there, I'm sure ;)

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Originally Posted by Mzo

YOU KNOW IT! Since I split the thread off from another existing one, I got to name it. No surprise there, I'm sure ;)

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I figured that you named it, you trashbag ho. :)

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Originally Posted by Angel From Above

Well i dont know them and to me that title makes them a Bastard.
Thats really insensitive.
Nothings worse than your mother fucking dying.

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This is awesome, btw.

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Originally Posted by Mzo

You know, EB used to do that years ago. I agree with that... but they've gotten greedier and greedier about that and used game prices as the years have gone by.

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If the gutted games were $5 less then I'd have no problem picking them up as long as the disc is still perfect. And yeah, their used prices just suck. If it's a $30 new game or less the used one tends to be $2 cheeper, 2 fucking dollars!

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Originally Posted by Mzo

This is awesome, btw.

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You insensitive beast! Is her mommy really dead?

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Originally Posted by Xeno G

If the gutted games were $5 less then I'd have no problem picking them up as long as the disc is still perfect. And yeah, their used prices just suck. If it's a $30 new game or less the used one tends to be $2 cheeper, 2 fucking dollars!

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I have no problem buying a used game when I enter the store with the intention of buying a used game.

BTW, we had a thread once where we debated used game prices. Yes, they suck, but the reason they suck is because people will buy 'em at that price. They have no reason to lower it, in fact, they'd be stupid to. They're a business, after all.

Yeah, she actually did. Lots of my relatives have also died from myriad diseases, but if someone makes a thread called GUTS: WORSE THAN BRAIN CANCER I'm just going to laugh at it, since it is obviously not true.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

BTW, we had a thread once where we debated used game prices. Yes, they suck, but the reason the suck is because people will buy 'em at that price. They have no reason to lower it, in fact, they'd be stupid to. They're a business, after all.

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Oh I know man, I've worked for EB before. They make you push the used copies with lines like "you'll save money and the game has the exact same garentee as a new one!" even when it's a whoping $2-5 less and kinda scratched up. And 9 times out of 10 the customer jumps at it. The only people who'll pass up a used game in that situation are typicaly people like me or grandparents who just don't understand the entire theory behind buying any game used.

This isn't just a game thing but pricing stuff at one penny less than a whole number also gets the job done well. I can't count the times an adult will be looking at a game and then when their friend asks how much the $24.99 game (or whatever item) is they respond across the store "24 bucks!".

People is general are fucking morons. Sad, but true.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

You insensitive beast! Is her mommy really dead?

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Yes she fucking is and id appreciate it if it wernt treated like a fucking joke ok.

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Originally Posted by Xeno G

I can't count the times an adult will be looking at a game and then when their friend asks how much the $24.99 game (or whatever item) is they respond across the store "24 bucks!".

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Gee, I'd say $25. Guess they don't know about the whole rounding off thing.

But whoever thought of the whole "and 99 cents thing" was brilliant...I can't believe the amount of people who would scoff at something that was $50 but would jump at it if it was $49.99.

Hehe, gotta love that mentality. Reminds of reading about Ginsu knife sets running for $10, which didn't sell due to folks thinking they would be too cheap (quality-wise), so they raised the price to $15 and BOOM, magic quality increase AND sales boom.

And three easy payments of $19.99 are a lot easier to sell to the public than one payment of $59.97.

In my opinion, it's simple.

If you are going to open the merchandise and even allow your employees to take it home, you have no fucking right to charge it as "new". You can bitch all you want about how "wah! The publishers don't send mock boxes for display!" The publishers have nothing to do with employees checking games out and taking them home, only to sell them as new. Both EB and GS know this is bullshit because if you bitch about it they'll sell it to you at the used price.

They have as much right to be testy about me not wanting to buy an open, sticker-ridden, employee-played game as they have to look at me strange when I ask to see a used game before buying it: NONE.

I still dont see any logic in this. Its like a car dealership selling a car as new when the odo reads like 600 miles. THATS NOT NEW OH NOESSS! Last I checked video games experience no tangible wear from sitting in an air tight ziplock bag for (likely) less than 24 hours.

If any of you say you honestly keep the plastic wrap, i'd say you've validated your argument. Id also say you're a freaking dweeb.


Cheers.

Who are you?

For all the people who say "Wah, I wish publishers would send us empty boxes, but they don't, so you'll take it and like it".

When Toys R Us had their cheap game sale, I went to a couple. The amazing thing was, they had fake boxes of almost EVERY game on the shelf. You took the cardboard box (which was the same EXACT thing as the dvd, front and back) to the front, and they got the game out of the case.

If Toys R Us can do this, surely EB and Gamestop can.

And I don't know if this was answered earlier, but Dolemite mentioned he can go to Best Buy / Circuit City and get it brand new and why EB can't, well, Best Buy also makes about 5 times the revenue and can afford expensive security measures.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Melf

They have as much right to be testy about me not wanting to buy an open, sticker-ridden, employee-played game as they have to look at me strange when I ask to see a used game before buying it: NONE.

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This is the worst part, all those fucking stickers all over the case.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

But whoever thought of the whole "and 99 cents thing" was brilliant.

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I know when I worked at a few retail stores, that 99 cents thing was used to determine whether an item was active, clearence, etc.

Like 49.99 would be an active item, 49.96 would be a clearence item, 49.94 would be discontinued. stuff like that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

Who are you?

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I don't know but he/she sure knows how to miss the point of an argument.

As long as EB can get away with gutting titles, they'll do it. It's all about money. The moment they start losing money because customers decide to take their business to a store that doesn't gut, they'll install sensors, cameras and special cases, for every game. Right now, the costs for making mock-up boxes out-weighs the benefit.

Clarification: I'm not sure if this is true in the States, but I know that in Canada, employees are no longer allowed to try out games.

And, honestly, I enjoy purchasing factory sealed products (DVDs, CDs and games), but to me, buying an open product isn't the end of the world.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by anish

If any of you say you honestly keep the plastic wrap, i'd say you've validated your argument. Id also say you're a freaking dweeb.

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I keep the wrap on my GBA games. Just make a little slit in the top big enough to open it and get the game out then I just leave the wrap around it on my shelf. But, yes, I am a dweeb when it comes to collecting Gameboy games.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brisco Bold

Clarification: I'm not sure if this is true in the States, but I know that in Canada, employees are no longer allowed to try out games.

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I think it's kinda a store by store thing. Some managers are cooler than others.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Xeno G

I think it's kinda a store by store thing. Some managers are cooler than others.

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Actually, it was a company-wide directive. But it wouldn't be completely unheard of for a manager to allow employees to do so...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brisco Bold

As long as EB can get away with gutting titles, they'll do it. It's all about money. The moment they start losing money because customers decide to take their business to a store that doesn't gut, they'll install sensors, cameras and special cases, for every game. Right now, the costs for making mock-up boxes out-weighs the benefit.

Clarification: I'm not sure if this is true in the States, but I know that in Canada, employees are no longer allowed to try out games.

And, honestly, I enjoy purchasing factory sealed products (DVDs, CDs and games), but to me, buying an open product isn't the end of the world.

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Yo, darkness.

They can gut until their heart's content because a majority of gamers here in the U.S. are casual gamers who don't collect, and end up trading in most of their shit anyway.

Well, it's not the end of the world, but by all means, if I can get it sealed, then by damn, I'm going to get it sealed. I very rarely buy used/opened games, and then, it doesn't "feel" the same.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brisco Bold

Actually, it was a company-wide directive. But it wouldn't be completely unheard of for a manager to allow employees to do so...

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That's what I meant.

When I was a register jockey for EB our manager followed the company rules to the letter. When they (corporate office) started to let us borrow games overnight we were supposed to write little 2 paragraph reviews for 'em and turn it in when we brought back the game. If we didn't do that then he would write us up. I think I borrowed one game and just said the hell with it.

But I've had frinds work for other EBs and they could borrow stuff even when the head office said they wern't supposed to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Xeno G

That's what I meant.

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Yeah -- realized right after I typed it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Xeno G

That's what I meant.

When I was a register jockey for EB our manager followed the company rules to the letter. When they (corporate office) started to let us borrow games overnight we were supposed to write little 2 paragraph reviews for 'em and turn it in when we brought back the game. If we didn't do that then he would write us up. I think I borrowed one game and just said the hell with it.

But I've had frinds work for other EBs and they could borrow stuff even when the head office said they wern't supposed to.

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LOL at the mini reviews.

I'm not gonna front, I've popped in a GBA cart here and there when the store was super quiet.

I should save my game and name it PWNED.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fighter-X

Yo, darkness.

They can gut until their heart's content because a majority of gamers here in the U.S. are casual gamers who don't collect, and end up trading in most of their shit anyway.

Well, it's not the end of the world, but by all means, if I can get it sealed, then by damn, I'm going to get it sealed. I very rarely buy used/opened games, and then, it doesn't "feel" the same.

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Long time no talk, bitch.

To each their own, I guess. I can see both sides of the argument. I just don't think this an issue that's really important.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mzo

I should save my game and name it PWNED.

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That would be awesome. Do it, next week even.

And this reminds me of a used GB game we got in at the fist game shop I worked at. It was Link's Awakening and someone had edited the cart somehow. The game's title screen was changed to "The Legend of the Hunt: Nigger Season". It just sat there at the store for over a month and then one day someone asked to try it out and got a little surprise when it booted up. They were cool about it and laughs were had all around. :lol:

Eh I can see why he didn't want to buy the openned game. I had something like this happen to me before and I went ahead and got the game. I got it home and couldn't use it because it actually was a used game. Something about the key being already registered.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Xeno G

I keep the wrap on my GBA games. Just make a little slit in the top big enough to open it and get the game out then I just leave the wrap around it on my shelf. But, yes, I am a dweeb when it comes to collecting Gameboy games.

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That's strange, because that's the only market where the games aren't really worth anything years down the line.

I can't really think of any rare or expensive gb games =/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Xeno G

And this reminds me of a used GB game we got in at the fist game shop I worked at. It was Link's Awakening and someone had edited the cart somehow. The game's title screen was changed to "The Legend of the Hunt: Nigger Season". It just sat there at the store for over a month and then one day someone asked to try it out and got a little surprise when it booted up. They were cool about it and laughs were had all around. :lol:

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Best. Story. Ever.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roufuss

I can't really think of any rare or expensive gb games =/

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Castlevania Legends.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Melf

Castlevania Legends.

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15-20 bucks isn't that expensive, considering it probably cost 30 when it came out =/

If anything, it lost value.

It's dropped that much? Shoot, that game used to go for quite a bit. I never understood why it cost so much, as it's not really that great at all.

GBA games hold their value better than 90% of any other systems games. The only thing that does better are select RPG titles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IronPlant

GBA games hold their value better than 90% of any other systems games. The only thing that does better are select RPG titles.

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Yea, but with the reselling of gba games, alot of people who buy them don't really care about boxes and, to a lesser extent, manuals.

I mean, some systems, the cart will be 5 bucks, while a complete copy is about 20, but with gb games, they usually just stay at a constant price regardless if they are complete / mint or just cart only.

It's pretty odd, actually.

Eh give it another 10 years. Then they will care.

New should be new. Like New should be sold for less. It's that simple and that is practiced in every form of free market in the world on nearly every product sold in the world - why should games be different? Ridiculous.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by haohmaru

New should be new. Like New should be sold for less. It's that simple and that is practiced in every form of free market in the world on nearly every product sold in the world - why should games be different?

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Not games.

Why should EB and Gamestop be different? - should be the real question here.

Here's the answer: Because they can get away with it, and a majority of people say "wow, it's the last copy, I'm just lucky to be getting it so of course I'll take the nasty sticker covered, grubby hands copy!"

I haven't read the middle 6 pages of this thread, so I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but doesn't anyone here buy books? They're shipped non-shrinkwrapped, anyone can read them on the shelves, and you pay full price anyway. Magazines are even worse because of the cheap paper and the way people toss them about on the racks. Don't tell me there's no comparable business model to gaming's open/gut/refill thing, there is and it works fine.

I'm never thrilled to get a gutted game but on the other hand I've yet to meet a case I couldn't de-sticker with a small amount of care. I've never received a new disk in anything other than new condition (although you can be sure it would be returned in about 0.25 seconds if I did) but I can understand why you'd be a bit paranoid about condition. I will say, though, that the employees who "borrow" games overnight should be either written up or fired, unless the store has some kind of sign-out policy.

So long as game, box, and manual are in new condition it's good enough. Shrink wrap has no value.

James

Quote:

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Originally Posted by James

I
So long as game, box, and manual are in new condition it's good enough. Shrink wrap has no value.

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But the box and manual usually aren't in good condition, from what I've seen. Under no circumstances should I hand over 50 bucks to go home and have to de-sticker the case and other such nonsense.

With magazines, they are, what, 6 bucks? I can live with that, and plus, when it comes to magazines and books, that's an industry wide way of selling, and people got used to it.

EB and Gamestop are the only people who gut their games out of however many companies sell games. Then, they try to sell you the open game as new. Am I allowed to buy a game at EB, take the shrinkwrap off of it, decide to return it, and get all my money back?

I just don't understand the double standard. EB can take the shrinkwrap off and it's still new, but if you break the shrinkwrap and try to return it (without playing it, for whatever reason), it's used? This further complicates matters when the employees are signing games out, and they still charge you a new price.

Like I said earlier, if Toys R Us found a way to display games, I'm fairly confident EB and Gamestop could do the same.

I only get mad with books if the cover or some pages are really fucked up. Luckily, this hasn't happened to me yet. Every book I order comes in great condition.

As far as games go, unless I remove the shrinkwrap myself it is not new.

By the way, have any of you ever used a shrinkwrap machine to remove a game and then re-wrap the case to return to the store to get your money back? I've only did this once and it was almost 5 years ago with Final Fantasy VIII. I got the game for basically free and I've felt bad about it ever since. So long as they don't notice the wrap is different and you CAREFULLY put the price sticker back, it works.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Angel From Above

Well i dont know them and to me that title makes them a Bastard.
Thats really insensitive.
Nothings worse than your mother fucking dying.

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Ummm sorry but...shut up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raz0r

As far as games go, unless I remove the shrinkwrap myself it is not new.

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Yep, that's the point of the shrinkwrap.

For all I know, the employees are taking home the games and copying them, or doing who knows what to them, while I pay new prices.

And yea, now that I think about it, this does come up in magazines, since alot of gaming magazines have shrinkwrap on them to hold inside the goodies, and I generally won't buy a magazine if the shrinkwrap has been torn either.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roufuss

That's strange, because that's the only market where the games aren't really worth anything years down the line.

I can't really think of any rare or expensive gb games =/

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They may not be worth anything (yet) but just try and find complete copies of older GB games. It's about the hardest major platform to find complete & mint games for. I don't have many complete GB games but if it's a game I dig and it's complete I'm all over it whenever I see one (which isn't often at all). And finding ones with the box not crushed or banged up is even harder.

I won't even buy GBA games unless they're complete, baring some ultra low price on a good game. I've more or less quit collecting games outside of the GB, GBC & GBA. It's just more of a challenge and I can dig that.

Ok. I just got home, and there are 94 posts in a thread with my name on it, that I didn't start. So, to clarify things...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Angel From Above

Well i dont know them and to me that title makes them a Bastard.
Thats really insensitive.
Nothings worse than your mother fucking dying.

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You already apologized to me in PMs, but let it be known to EVERYONE that I didn't name or start this thread, and I love ALL of your mothers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by James

So long as game, box, and manual are in new condition it's good enough. Shrink wrap has no value.

James

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And that's the bottom line.

Now, those of you that think that EB/GS is trying to cheat you, let's talk.

Ya see, every company has good employees and bad employees. When I sell someone a used game, I don't wait for them to ask me to see the disc, I make them look at it and tell me if it's OK with them. If they have concerns, I put it in a demo unit for them.

When I sell a display copy of a game, I don't wait for them to ask to see the disc, I make them look at it. If they have concerns, it goes in the demo unit.

When we are talking about a gutted copy of Metal Gear Solid 2, which has been in the store for 3+ years, we are in a whole different universe than talking about a gutted copy of Katamari Damacy, which has been in the store for 2 days.

Someone mentioned employees giving them attitude when you ask to see the disc, and that person needs to complain to customer service, because punks like that give all EB employees a bad name. But, in the stores I've worked in, if you buy a new game, and we have to sell you the gutted one we will let you see it, let you test it, and if you ask, we'll give you a fresh DVD case.

Someone else mentioned that Best Buy can put elaborate security devices on all of their games, and they were right that EB/GS can't afford to. Plus, the reason that we can't put live product on the shelves, is that punk kids will take anything that's not bolted down. Why should EB have to eat $5-$10 dollars in profit per game that we have to gut? If you little shits would stop shoplifting, we wouldn't have to gut. On top of that, how much money do you think EB actually makes on the sale of a new game? If you guessed ALMOST NOTHING you'd be correct.





ANYWAY, I'm done debating this subject. I feel the same way James does, and you strange collector-types feel your way.

No hard feelings I hope.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Korly

Someone else mentioned that Best Buy can put elaborate security devices on all of their games, and they were right that EB/GS can't afford to. Plus, the reason that we can't put live product on the shelves, is that punk kids will take anything that's not bolted down.

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why bother with an elaborate security system if 95% of your games are behind the counter to begin with? i certainly don't expect EB/GS to put live stock on the shelves, but a photocopied cover would work as it already does at TRU (this has been mentioned already). shit, with all those empty cases you people have in back, if you can afford to give one away to someone that asks for it, you can surely afford to use one for a photocopied display.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Videodrone

Not to derail this thread, I don't have a feeling either way on this topic. I simply think it is rediculous that EB and GS have not worked out something the game makers that they can recieve a few extra cases (over even inserts) for each game they sell, so they don't have to gut games.

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Gamestop has, but not with all. All of our Ubisoft games are mockups, we don't gut them. Same with Atari's Driver 3, and Microsoft's Fable. Not all publishers do this. People who want plastic wrap may also recive this in the form of shrink wrap. It is also Gamestop proceedure to place a lightly adhesive clear sticker on the case where the price sticker will go, so that the price sticker is not left on the case. Since all 'Stops have shrink-wrap machines you can insist that they do thier jobs and reshrink it.

ANYWAY... GS and EB don't care too much about selling every new game they have. Most are on a 6 month sell or return status (save for EA games) and really only care about 1st week sales of said new items. They always always always perfer to sell used if they have it and if the used is more attractive than an opened new game then so be it (in their eyes). You can take your business elsewhere if you want factory-sealed plastic-wrap (and Dolemite did). Gamestop isn't losing sleep over this, nor would any rational employee (like myself). I couldn't care less if you would perfer to buy from Best Buy. I do my job and provide the services I am paid to do, and if you don't like it then stuff it, there's plenty of people who will buy games in your stead. What I don't like is when people feel the need to berate store employees for trying to sell them an opened copy. No one likes an unreasonably angry customer. If you don't like something, don't buy it and go somewhere else to find what will satisfy you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tracer

What I don't like is when people feel the need to berate store employees for trying to sell them an opened copy. No one likes an unreasonably angry customer. If you don't like something, don't buy it and go somewhere else to find what will satisfy you.

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Respect.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Korly

Ok. I just got home, and there are 94 posts in a thread with my name on it, that I didn't start. So, to clarify things...

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Someone at your house posting as you? May want to log out or something when you leave your computer alone.

I don't give a rats ass about buying a gutted game. Hell, it happens all the time, and I never have had a problem with it. I wouldn't even care if it was scratched up aslong as it worked perfectly. And as for manuals, I NEVER read them anyways, so I'd have no problem with some slightly bent pages or whatever.

basically, aslong as I'm not collecting, the games just have to run and I'm happy with it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roufuss

EB and Gamestop are the only people who gut their games out of however many companies sell games. Then, they try to sell you the open game as new. Am I allowed to buy a game at EB, take the shrinkwrap off of it, decide to return it, and get all my money back?

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I'm pretty sure that over here they'd be legally oblidged to aslong as the contents are in as sold condition. I quite often buy a game, play it for a while, then go back and return it because I didn't like it. The employers don't really give a shit, and the managers love me because I spend so much money there anyways (hell, my brother gets given promo shit just because they like him).