Wow. That's a new low in business practice.
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/deus-ex-human-revolution/news/6330790/gamestop-discarding-deus-ex-coupons-before-selling-game?tag=newsfeatures%3Btitle%3B2
Now, no criticizing Dark-Daventry's place of work. You wouldn't like him when he's angry. :suffer: :suffer: :suffer:
Funny how GameStop calls Deus Ex, "their product", when its actually SquareEnix product!
There was this gem from the comments section (ok, wow...);
QuoteI would also like to point out to everyone, Gamestop lets their employees take home new games for about 4-5 days to play, before bring them back, repackaging them and selling them as new. I know, simply because I've worked there and have done this special "rental" only one time, and that was for Arkham Asylum. But they have been opening, taking home and playing, repackaging and re-selling games as new for a while now.
Dear god I can't stand Gamestop. They are THE DEVIL.
The only reason I shop at them, is to occasionally find a hard to find DS game... I avoid them like the plague usually... Way over priced, and I have to go out of my way...
Amazon or Digital are my methods of choice for new games.
I have to agree. I'm not fond of Gamestop's practices, but I'm an ex-employee. So maybe I'm just a bitter jerk.
Funny thing; I strongly disagree with this business practice. It's wrong for Gamestop to do this. Not only is it false advertising, but they're changing the way the product was meant to be sold; it came like that. Leave it be. I may work for them, but I am free to criticize them as well; there are aspects of the company that I don't particularly agree with. I can't vouch for the rental thing though, as no one in my store rents games. It's a perk that's hardly ever utilized in my particular store. We have like one guy who does it, and I don't think he does it often. Other than that, I don't think anyone really uses it. I've never used it, and probably never will.
It should also be noted that Gamestop is a side job for me; it is by no means my primary job, nor do I intend to make a career out of it. My primary job is Roche Bros. Supermarkets, a Massachusetts only grocery store chain that I've worked for since 8th grade; nearly six years and counting. I also don't intend to make a career out of them, either. I just get more money from them. My grocery store caps my hours off at 32, so I have gamestop to supplement that.
Quote from: dark-daventry on August 26, 2011, 08:12:02 PM
Funny thing; I strongly disagree with this business practice. It's wrong for Gamestop to do this. Not only is it false advertising, but they're changing the way the product was meant to be sold; it came like that. Leave it be. I may work for them, but I am free to criticize them as well; there are aspects of the company that I don't particularly agree with. I can't vouch for the rental thing though, as no one in my store rents games. It's a perk that's hardly ever utilized in my particular store. We have like one guy who does it, and I don't think he does it often. Other than that, I don't think anyone really uses it. I've never used it, and probably never will.
It should also be noted that Gamestop is a side job for me; it is by no means my primary job, nor do I intend to make a career out of it. My primary job is Roche Bros. Supermarkets, a Massachusetts only grocery store chain that I've worked for since 8th grade; nearly six years and counting. I also don't intend to make a career out of them, either. I just get more money from them. My grocery store caps my hours off at 32, so I have gamestop to supplement that.
Do they allow you to take home a loaf of bread, eat part of it, then repackage and sell it as new? That would be awesome :P
Quote from: wilco64256 on August 26, 2011, 11:16:10 PM
Quote from: dark-daventry on August 26, 2011, 08:12:02 PM
Funny thing; I strongly disagree with this business practice. It's wrong for Gamestop to do this. Not only is it false advertising, but they're changing the way the product was meant to be sold; it came like that. Leave it be. I may work for them, but I am free to criticize them as well; there are aspects of the company that I don't particularly agree with. I can't vouch for the rental thing though, as no one in my store rents games. It's a perk that's hardly ever utilized in my particular store. We have like one guy who does it, and I don't think he does it often. Other than that, I don't think anyone really uses it. I've never used it, and probably never will.
It should also be noted that Gamestop is a side job for me; it is by no means my primary job, nor do I intend to make a career out of it. My primary job is Roche Bros. Supermarkets, a Massachusetts only grocery store chain that I've worked for since 8th grade; nearly six years and counting. I also don't intend to make a career out of them, either. I just get more money from them. My grocery store caps my hours off at 32, so I have gamestop to supplement that.
Do they allow you to take home a loaf of bread, eat part of it, then repackage and sell it as new? That would be awesome :P
If only... Actually, when we find an open item on the shelf, we have a bad habit of eating the contents inside, but keeping the container to get credit. When/if a vendor asks what happened, we just say that the bag broke open and all the chips mysteriously vanished or something. It usually works. And I get a nice little snack out of it XD I think I've eaten too many expired pretzels over the years...
Roche Bros. Supermarket makes me smile a bit. I keep thinking of giant Cockroach Plumbers running the store, in red and green overalls.
haha its a weird name, but its spelled differently than the insect. in a somewhat ironic twist, Roche Bros is actually a very well-respected chain in MA. Its a family run company that has maintained it quality for more than 50 years. in fact, we design our stores to look high-class. we also have a unique service that few grocery stores offer; we provide free carry out service. we will take your carriage to your car for you, rain or shine, snowstorm or hurricane. all free. in fact, we get in trouble for accepting tips. they also treat their employees very well and we have an unparalleled level of customer service; we have the highest level of customer service and employee morale in the industry. we continuously rank in the top 10 best companies to work for in Boston. wow, I think I just rattled off an advertisement for them lol.
anyway, back on topic... (I'm a terrible mod; I tend to start off-topic conversations more than stop them XD
I know its spelled differently, is pronounced differently?
Quotewe will take your carriage to your car for you, rain or shine, snowstorm or hurricane.
By carriage, are you talking about a grocery/shopping cart? When I was in England I think they called them a trolley!
Most west coast grocery shops will also carry your groceries to your car as well for free as far as I know (some offer it, some you have to ask)! Its a nice service, I never use it though. No one ever thinks of tipping the 'baggers' here as far as I know.
Quote from: Baggins on August 27, 2011, 11:34:23 AM
Most west coast grocery shops will also carry your groceries to your car as well for free as far as I know (some offer it, some you have to ask)! Its a nice service, I never use it though. No one ever thinks of tipping the 'baggers' here as far as I know.
Yeah, I know the Albertson's next to my house always offers to carry out my groceries. From what I was told, they "have" to ask the customer every time no matter the condition or situation. It's nice of them to offer, but I know that it's their corporation talking and not their genuine feeling, so I usually spare them the obligation and do it myself. ;D
Hah, hah ya. Besides its kinda awkward... I'm quite capable of pushing my own cart and putting bags in my own car. It feels kinda strange standing around letting them do it. If you try to help, you are often in the way! I've only called for assistance, if there was need for more than one shopping cart...
I know almost all grocery stores in MA don't offer carry-out service; its unique to Roche Bros. also, customers have come to expect us to take carriages out for them here. and yeah, tipping happens on occasion. I once got a 20 dollar tip for carrying out charcoal for someone. but I've moved on to other departments. I no longer do the front end; im actually working in grocery stocking shelves and what not.
Quote from: Baggins on August 26, 2011, 08:19:26 AM
There was this gem from the comments section (ok, wow...);
QuoteI would also like to point out to everyone, Gamestop lets their employees take home new games for about 4-5 days to play, before bring them back, repackaging them and selling them as new. I know, simply because I've worked there and have done this special "rental" only one time, and that was for Arkham Asylum. But they have been opening, taking home and playing, repackaging and re-selling games as new for a while now.
Makes me wanna throw the games I bought from them.
Quote from: Ravager on August 27, 2011, 01:02:43 PM
Quote from: Baggins on August 26, 2011, 08:19:26 AM
There was this gem from the comments section (ok, wow...);
QuoteI would also like to point out to everyone, Gamestop lets their employees take home new games for about 4-5 days to play, before bring them back, repackaging them and selling them as new. I know, simply because I've worked there and have done this special "rental" only one time, and that was for Arkham Asylum. But they have been opening, taking home and playing, repackaging and re-selling games as new for a while now.
Makes me wanna throw the games I bought from them.
Ahh yes, since I worked there, I was aware of the "rental" service that they had for their employees. I was enticed but never did it myself. After leaving GameStop, every time I want to purchase a game new from them, they start on pulling down the display copy (which is normally the ones they open and repackage), I always point down to the drawers and insist on them pulling out a new, shrink-wrapped game, and preferably the one in the back of the row. ::)
Funnily enough, I used to work for Sudbury Fatms, also a Roche Bros owned grocerystore. There was one across the street from my high school, so I worked for them for two years.
Quote from: KatieHal on August 27, 2011, 06:58:04 PM
Funnily enough, I used to work for Sudbury Fatms, also a Roche Bros owned grocerystore. There was one across the street from my high school, so I worked for them for two years.
Needham Suds, correct? (that's the abbreviation everyone in the company uses; we have two stores in Needham; a Roche Bros and a Sudbury Farms)
I started at Sudbury Farms in Sudbury when I was 14. It's a fantastic company to work for. I'm getting trained for Health and Beauty Care next week (our normal HBC girl is on vacation, and apparently I'm the replacement. It has nothing to do with my sexuality; my manager has no clue how I swing XD) and then the week after I'm training to receive. Which will mean me getting up at 4 AM. Not looking forward to it, but hey, the company wants me to learn these things, so I will.
Slightly on-topic; I learned how to shrinkwrap things at gamestop today. Which means I could pull a fast one on someone and sell them a used game as a new one... But I'm not that mean.
Quote from: dark-daventry on August 27, 2011, 07:46:53 PM
Which will mean me getting up at 4 AM. Not looking forward to it, but hey, the company wants me to learn these things, so I will.
I have to get up every morning at 4 AM for my job. I'd like to get a later shift, but I have a strict schedule with having to go to school and all.
Quote from: dark-daventry on August 27, 2011, 07:46:53 PM
Slightly on-topic; I learned how to shrinkwrap things at gamestop today. Which means I could pull a fast one on someone and sell them a used game as a new one... But I'm not that mean.
Do it. :P
After finally having some time to actually read through the article and look into what happened here I actually agree with what Gamestop did. What happened would be similar to the company that manufactures Big Mac boxes sending a big shipment of them to McDonald's with coupons for free Whoppers inside without telling McDonald's they were doing so. If a company I do business with tried to get me to give away coupons for a competitor I wouldn't do it either.
Now maybe Gamestop could have handled things a little bit differently, but they certainly do have the right to sell the game they've contracted to sell and they're under no obligation to do free advertising for a competitor at the same time.
A Whopper and a Big Mac aren't the same product (they don't taste the same, they don't have the same condiments, vegetables, or number of patties, or number of bun pieces), just saying!
Deus Ex is Deus Ex.
So the analogy is a little off... But I see what your trying to say.
However, your analogy might work better if it's referring to 'mode of delivery' (physical Gamestop vs. Digital delivery). So perhaps you buy a pair of Nike Sneakers, and its delivered by Fed Ex, but the box with the shoes, includes a coupon for a free second pair of Sneakers, delivered by UPS w/ free shipping!
Fed Ex who was payed for the first pair, might not be happy that UPS will be paid to deliver the second pair!
However, the ones that are having the most complaints with GameStop's policy are the customers. GameStop can do whatever they want, I suppose, and it might technically be 'legally right' to do what they did. But if they don't make their customers happy, they will go to GameStop's competition. I know I have!
I haven't seen these complaints coming from SquareEnix. Infact SquareEnix has apologized to it. So the complaints are only customers. It's the customers being hurt by this, and thus complaining.
Quote from: wilco64256 on August 28, 2011, 09:43:00 AM
After finally having some time to actually read through the article and look into what happened here I actually agree with what Gamestop did. What happened would be similar to the company that manufactures Big Mac boxes sending a big shipment of them to McDonald's with coupons for free Whoppers inside without telling McDonald's they were doing so. If a company I do business with tried to get me to give away coupons for a competitor I wouldn't do it either.
Now maybe Gamestop could have handled things a little bit differently, but they certainly do have the right to sell the game they've contracted to sell and they're under no obligation to do free advertising for a competitor at the same time.
While I can understand why GameStop did what they did, it still wasn't right. They opened up brand new games, took out these coupons, and then repackaged them just to sell them as a brand new product. If I were aware of the occurrence prior to me picking up the game, I would demand that GameStop sell it to me for a used price. There's no reason why I should pay full price for a product that has been tampered with. And with that being said, GameStop wasn't the only retailer selling Deus Ex. There were many stores that were selling Deus Ex with these coupons in them, and GameStop had the audacity to do what they did.
Then, when they wanted to try and make it up to the consumers, they gave away a $50 gift card to GameStop, thus demeaning the significance of the OnLive coupon. Sure, they shouldn't have to support OnLive's service, but they shouldn't have to double cross the manufacturers that they buy their games from. Square-Enix clearly wanted those coupons in the game for a reason, and GameStop shouldn't decide who gets to have them. It's not their game, and it's not their business. The game should remain closed until the consumer himself opens the game.
It's a poor example, but what if every candy store opened up every Willy Wonka bar to find a golden ticket? The consumer would never even have an opportunity to benefit from the manufacturer's deal, because the "middle man" tampered with the product, and conspired against the manufacturer. It's perfectly reasonable as to why the candy stores would do it, but once again, it doesn't make it right.
Fierce Diety is correct.
If a store compromises a game package, or destroys the full offer from the box (thus making SquareEnix 'false advertisers' in the process). I would want a discount as a used copy.
Again, the customer is always right...
As for this instore 'rentals' those games should be sould as 'used' as well, and marked as such. Again its fall advertisement to sell them as "new".
One has to wonder, was GameStop mad, when they were selling copies of Half-Life 2, and the codes in those games could be used to activate a digital copy on GameStop's 'competitor" 'Steam"? What would have happened if GameStop had removed all the installation codes :suffer:?
Yeah, like I said they probably could have found a better way to deal with the situation. Like just returning the games to Square-Enix until they got copies that didn't include a competitor's coupon.
Though I would disagree that removing the coupon altered the "new" state of the game itself. The boxes don't indicate in any way that the coupon is included, and Gamestop doesn't buy or sell used PC games anyway.
Gamestop has an obligation to their customers to deliver a good product, but they also have an obligation to themselves to stay in business. Doing free advertising for a competitor is never good for business.
Quote from: wilco64256 on August 28, 2011, 10:34:18 AM
Yeah, like I said they probably could have found a better way to deal with the situation. Like just returning the games to Square-Enix until they got copies that didn't include a competitor's coupon.
Though I would disagree that removing the coupon altered the "new" state of the game itself. The boxes don't indicate in any way that the coupon is included, and Gamestop doesn't buy or sell used PC games anyway.
Gamestop has an obligation to their customers to deliver a good product, but they also have an obligation to themselves to stay in business. Doing free advertising for a competitor is never good for business.
Once again, I see what you are saying. I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but it just seems too suspicious for GameStop to have taken actions into their own hands. It's true that they don't sell used PC games, but they still tampered with the product. If Square-Enix guarantees a coupon for OnLive in every copy of Deus Ex, who is GameStop to decide that I am not entitled to that coupon? They should have at least advertised their scheme. When I come to pick up Deus Ex, they should say "We opened your game and took out the OnLive coupon, because we feel like we shouldn't have to advertise their service." I would perfectly understand, but I would probably shop somewhere else (which I now do, because GameStop is petty). I see why they did what they did, but they have to realize that they are working for their customers, and shouldn't work against them. These are the kinds of things that will get you in trouble and have you lose business, not gain business. Even from a business outlook, this was a stupid decision on their part.
Quote from: Fierce Deity on August 28, 2011, 10:49:37 AM
If Square-Enix guarantees a coupon for OnLive in every copy of Deus Ex, who is GameStop to decide that I am not entitled to that coupon?
That's what I'm not sure of - I don't know that Square_Enix actually advertised that this was happening at all, I think it was just something they stuck in there without telling anybody. I could be wrong, I just haven't been able to find any information to indicate that SE was promoting this at all beforehand.
GameStop wouldn't have known about it if it was just stuck in the box with no information telling them it was there... Not unless someone discovered it through one of those 'rentals' and told the company. The company then told their employees to remove them nationally.
More than likely like most 'deals' that come with games, there was probably a sticker put on the box. That would have alerted Gamestop, and put them on the crusade to open every single box.
Also somehow the fans had to know about it, as they are the biggest group complaining! How would they have known about it, unless there is a sticker or some indication on the box? The fans knew somethign was missing, and many made complaints forcing GameStop to issue those $50 giftcards instead!
I just want to hear what OnLive has to say about this. They were seriously the only victim in this dispute. Their coupons were taken out, and most likely thrown away. The customers got their $50 value back but in the form of an exclusive GameStop giftcard, but OnLive's value was permanently terminated against their best intentions. The entire situation was unprofessional to say the least.
I'd actually be willing to bet that more people are hitting up OnLive's site as a result of this fiasco just to figure out what it is. They're probably getting more publicity than if GameStop would have just left things alone.
Quote from: wilco64256 on August 28, 2011, 03:00:27 PM
I'd actually be willing to bet that more people are hitting up OnLive's site as a result of this fiasco just to figure out what it is. They're probably getting more publicity than if GameStop would have just left things alone.
Exactly. GameStop didn't help themselves at all. They screwed themselves over. ::)
Customers will be less willing to buy from Gamestop in the future now that its been exposed that they 'open new copies', and use shrink wrap to reseal them and sell them as 'new'.