http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3141356&did=1
:lol :lol :lol
:lol
The EB Games part is very accurate as well. :lol
:lol :lol :lol
:lol
The EB Games part is very accurate as well. :lol
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
1up.com: Tough Customer
- Thread starter ManaByte
- Start date
Clueless customer story: I was in Wal-Mart the other day, just browsing around the games section, when this excited-looking guy and his kid come over. They ask the clerk if they have Playstation 3. The clerk says no. The guy looks around for two seconds, sees the PSP in the case, and says "Is that the PS3?" The clerk again says no, explaining that it's the Playstation portable. "So it's like, considered the PS3, right?" says the man. Explaining once again the difference, the guy finally gets it and turns to his kid, who is crushed to hear the news, as they had just sold their PS2 to get a PS3. :lol
AndriaSang
Member
What a great idea for an article.
They need to go to Wallmart and Target.
They need to go to Wallmart and Target.
Great feature, I would have read even more spy transcripts if they had them!
I can forgive an average Toys R Us or Best Buy employee for being a little out of the loop on the specifics of each videogame console, but one thing that annoys me is when store employees know less than I do about their own promotions.
For instance, on Saturday I noticed some older employee at Best Buy who was clearly assigned to the video game section. I asked if they'd be participating in the free Mario 64 DS promo with a DS purchase, starting tomorrow: "I don't know. I don't know about the next week's sales until you do."
Well, will they have any more copies of Mario 64 on hand? There's only a couple on the rack and they'd go quick when that promotion starts.
"I don't know. Everything we have right now is on the shelf. [tell me if you've heard that one before]"
WHAT THE HELL GOOD ARE YOU SIR?
I can forgive an average Toys R Us or Best Buy employee for being a little out of the loop on the specifics of each videogame console, but one thing that annoys me is when store employees know less than I do about their own promotions.
For instance, on Saturday I noticed some older employee at Best Buy who was clearly assigned to the video game section. I asked if they'd be participating in the free Mario 64 DS promo with a DS purchase, starting tomorrow: "I don't know. I don't know about the next week's sales until you do."
Well, will they have any more copies of Mario 64 on hand? There's only a couple on the rack and they'd go quick when that promotion starts.
"I don't know. Everything we have right now is on the shelf. [tell me if you've heard that one before]"
WHAT THE HELL GOOD ARE YOU SIR?
I just went to an EB Games yesterday and I was listening to the clerk explaining that games like Gran Theft Auto or [insert generic violent game name here] would never appear on GameCube, which is a kiddy console.
I asked him right after his speech when Killer 7 for GameCube will be available (games sometimes are released late in Quebec because of the whole french booklet/artbox thing). He said that he didn't knew and that he would have to look at his computer for the information. It was clear in his way of answering me that he did not have the intention of actually moving from the shelves and go check for the information. I walked away without saying more.
1. Bringing out the fact that a game like Killer 7 is going to be released on GameCube right after his speech wasn't intentionnaly, though quite funny.
2. WTF? This is the last time I am buying at that store. Some EB Games are filled with pretentious jerks while others are very well informed, interested in their stuff (come on, when you work at a game store, you at least STAY INFORMED about releases dates and such things).
I asked him right after his speech when Killer 7 for GameCube will be available (games sometimes are released late in Quebec because of the whole french booklet/artbox thing). He said that he didn't knew and that he would have to look at his computer for the information. It was clear in his way of answering me that he did not have the intention of actually moving from the shelves and go check for the information. I walked away without saying more.
1. Bringing out the fact that a game like Killer 7 is going to be released on GameCube right after his speech wasn't intentionnaly, though quite funny.
2. WTF? This is the last time I am buying at that store. Some EB Games are filled with pretentious jerks while others are very well informed, interested in their stuff (come on, when you work at a game store, you at least STAY INFORMED about releases dates and such things).
The Take Out Bandit
Member
Hey, at least he was honest.
I could just imagine the pissing and moaning you'd be doing if he blew a load of hot air up your ass.
Me?
I prefer to act like Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet when I'm at Gamecrazy.
"So do you have an Xbox?"
"XBOX?! FUCK THAT SHIT - PLAYSTATION 2!"
Problem is getting them to come back when you've really got a question. :lol
Apparently some of you have never worked in gaming retail. I mean shit, I know as much about games as any of you do... I have over 100 games from this gen.
But guess what?
When clueless parents come in needing some guidance, I tell them that the GCN is generally for a younger audience and is much more kid-friendly. Xbox, on the other hand, is best for older gamers.
They don't want me to give them a ten minute oral essay about the libraries for each game.
But guess what?
When clueless parents come in needing some guidance, I tell them that the GCN is generally for a younger audience and is much more kid-friendly. Xbox, on the other hand, is best for older gamers.
They don't want me to give them a ten minute oral essay about the libraries for each game.
The Take Out Bandit
Member
I worked game retail, it's a pretty soul crushing experience.
It couldn't have happened at a better time too, with the idiot horde flocking to buy that overhyped pile of dookie aka N64. I was there when War Gods launched.
It was like surviving the Holocaust, or Hiroshima - or both at the same time. Holoshima!
I fucking hate you Nintendo. I hate you to death.
It couldn't have happened at a better time too, with the idiot horde flocking to buy that overhyped pile of dookie aka N64. I was there when War Gods launched.
It was like surviving the Holocaust, or Hiroshima - or both at the same time. Holoshima!
I fucking hate you Nintendo. I hate you to death.
No, I shouldn't have to tell them how to do their job. It's not like I was getting paid to be their boss. I'm tired of that particular store with those particular clerk...mrklaw said:
A couple of months ago, that same clerk took the liberty of laughing at my request of buying Resident Evil 4, that buying a GameCube especially for that game (even though that was not my case) was stupid. I thought that it might be because he knew that Capcom had confirmed a PlayStation 2 port; he was clueless about this also, which isn't surprising, but then why being a jackass?
We do our best to help people at our store. We've got a really good crew that knows their shit. Today though, man...
There's this guy who comes in and he's pretty helpful. You can tell that he wants to work here because he's always telling people to preorder stuff, get a sub, and what the latest promotion is (he's about 2-3 years too young though). Today I was trying to explain to this guy how this B2G1F deal was working in the store, and he hijacked my conversation and made it sound like the customer would get the PS2, and TWO FREE GAMES. Every time I tried to bring the convo back to me to clear up the confusion, he'd hijack the pitch again. Finally I said he'd get the Madden he wanted free because he wanted the PS2 and needed a memory card for it.
Besides that... it was kind of a good day. Numbers-wise, it was horrible, but we were able to keep the store clean and there were a lot of customers that came in that just wanted to talk about stuff including an RPG fan who just discovered the GBA, a guy who was searching for good used comedies, and a 20 year veteran of Zelda games (she was probably in her 60s or so- she bought Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, the strategy guide for it (that she specifically asked for), a Game Boy Player (that she didn't know existed before today) along with a couple of accessories for her GBA SP).
But then there are the days where we get the ignorant customers. Thankfully I haven't run into anyone quite as ignorant as the ones above as an employee or a customer, but I've had my share of both. One time I remember searching everywhere for Eternal Darkness the day it came out at about 3 different stores in the same mall, and one guy told me that it should be out around August.
I think there was one time where I just appeared to be an ass, but I didn't mean to. These guys were laughing and joking around, and they picked up a Gran Turismo 4 promotion box and asked if we had the game in stock (this was before Christmas). I just laughed because I thought it was a joke (the box did have COMING SOON on a big sticker in the corner). All of a sudden they looked pissed off and thought I was laughing because we were sold out and that I was being snooty about it. I apologized and told them what happened and when the game was coming out though.
There's this guy who comes in and he's pretty helpful. You can tell that he wants to work here because he's always telling people to preorder stuff, get a sub, and what the latest promotion is (he's about 2-3 years too young though). Today I was trying to explain to this guy how this B2G1F deal was working in the store, and he hijacked my conversation and made it sound like the customer would get the PS2, and TWO FREE GAMES. Every time I tried to bring the convo back to me to clear up the confusion, he'd hijack the pitch again. Finally I said he'd get the Madden he wanted free because he wanted the PS2 and needed a memory card for it.
Besides that... it was kind of a good day. Numbers-wise, it was horrible, but we were able to keep the store clean and there were a lot of customers that came in that just wanted to talk about stuff including an RPG fan who just discovered the GBA, a guy who was searching for good used comedies, and a 20 year veteran of Zelda games (she was probably in her 60s or so- she bought Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, the strategy guide for it (that she specifically asked for), a Game Boy Player (that she didn't know existed before today) along with a couple of accessories for her GBA SP).
But then there are the days where we get the ignorant customers. Thankfully I haven't run into anyone quite as ignorant as the ones above as an employee or a customer, but I've had my share of both. One time I remember searching everywhere for Eternal Darkness the day it came out at about 3 different stores in the same mall, and one guy told me that it should be out around August.
I think there was one time where I just appeared to be an ass, but I didn't mean to. These guys were laughing and joking around, and they picked up a Gran Turismo 4 promotion box and asked if we had the game in stock (this was before Christmas). I just laughed because I thought it was a joke (the box did have COMING SOON on a big sticker in the corner). All of a sudden they looked pissed off and thought I was laughing because we were sold out and that I was being snooty about it. I apologized and told them what happened and when the game was coming out though.
monchi-kun
Member
although funny this obviously is a big problem since this industry relies so much on the casual gamer dollar. uninformed and unmotivated salespeople could kill off those precious unit sales. there are good ones that work in retail but more often than not they have an ambition to move up or out of retail into testing or development gigs because there isn't enough incentive for them to stay....much like QA testers that are really good at what they do and know a lot about the industry/business.
I don't understand some clerks... I mean, they are supposed to be there to tell you what's positive about and actually tell customers what they want to hear.
I remember a guy that started to talk with me about liking Resident Evil games. He walked out of the store with a Gamecube and Resident Evil 4.
I remember a guy that started to talk with me about liking Resident Evil games. He walked out of the store with a Gamecube and Resident Evil 4.
Yeah, I had to say it a lot when I worked retail, because it was usually the truth. Most stores try to put product on the floor as soon as possible, as the object of a store is to sell things. Hiding product from you works against that goal.Teddman said:
I couldn't fucking stand this widespread notion of consumers that all stores have this big warehouse in the back where they're keeping the things just to spite you. If there's anything in the back it's new releases that can't be put out, and maybe a shipment being processed to be put on the floor as soon as it can.
The funny thing is after hearing so much about stupid retail employees... I went to EB in the US to nab a PSP for my little brother and was pleasantly surprised. The (lone) clerk was polite and friendly, helping me through the awkward process of buying a PSP, opening it to check for dead or stuck pixels, then returning it on the spot if necessary (it wasn't). Even the resident geek customers weren't annoying or intrusive. Good stuff...
...though it still pales to the rapturous applause I received when arriving back at my local game store here in HK as they congratulated me for my beloved Liverpool's sensational European Cup triumph
...though it still pales to the rapturous applause I received when arriving back at my local game store here in HK as they congratulated me for my beloved Liverpool's sensational European Cup triumph
Jonnyboy117
Member
RE4, Conker
scissorfight
Banned
I can see why they'd get those responses at Toys 'R Us or Best Buy, but gaming store employees generally know their stuff.
For every stupid game store employee I occasionally run across, there are 100 customers that are infinitely worse. I can't remember how many times I've burst out laughing listening to some of the questions these employees have to answer, or watching some of the little brats they have to deal with.
Gaming store employees, I salute you.
For every stupid game store employee I occasionally run across, there are 100 customers that are infinitely worse. I can't remember how many times I've burst out laughing listening to some of the questions these employees have to answer, or watching some of the little brats they have to deal with.
Gaming store employees, I salute you.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
I bet none of you have ever had to break up a fist fight between two angry mothers who both wanted the last copy of a GBA game during the Holiday season.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
why would you? it sounds like fun.SonicMegaDrive said:
echoshifting
Banned
Shig said:
Actually, at the bookstore I used to work at, this would happen all the time...*especially* during the crazy holiday season. We'd get flat after flat of product to put out on the floor and we simply didn't have the staff to do it. All we could do was have a couple people working in the store over night every day of the week to open the boxes and get product out. It sucked, too, since the computer would show it as being in-store even when it was still packed. I had more than one customer who I explained this to who demanded that I go in the back room and dig it out for them...hard to get people to understand what an impossible task this is.
So, basically, there are some stores where this is true. At Borders, anyway...there really is a big room in the back where we keep things...not to spite people but because the system sucks.
Squirrel Killer
Member
Shig said:
Could it be that the customer doesn't think there's some sort of conspiracy keeping them from the juicy goods they want, but just wants you to check if there's "a shipment being processed to be put on the floor as soon as it can" that just hasn't made it to the floor yet? Or maybe they're wonder if there is additional stock that wasn't put on the retail floor initally for lack of room? I mean, there is a storeroom, right? Isn't it logical to think that the storeroom would hold stored stock?
SonicMegaDrive
Member
Squirrel Killer said:
No, in most cases its definitely the 'conspiracy' theory. I've had several customers insist on me looking in the 'back room' for sold out goods many times. I would always explain to them, "There IS no back room". The response is usually along the lines of, "You damn employees always horde the good stuff for yourselves...".
Squirrel Killer
Member
SonicMegaDrive said:
Maybe if you didn't feed them such obvious bullshit as "There IS no back room" they'd be a bit more understanding. Try, "While there obviously IS a back room, all of our available stock is immediately put on the sales floor." Of course, there are still going to be idiot customers beyond that, but at least that way, you didn't lie to the half-intellegent ones.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
Squirrel Killer said:
Except, there really is no back room. All merchandise comes immediately off the truck onto the salesfloor.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
Laurent said:
Heh. Actually, I was once tempted to take them to the "Backroom"(bathroom) just to be a smartass. But I thought better of it.
Squirrel Killer
Member
SonicMegaDrive said:
So where do those guys go when they go through the big double doors and re-emerge a couple of minutes later with a refridgerator?
SonicMegaDrive
Member
I'm not sure what you mean, but it's a pretty simple thing to understand.
Merchandise is brought into the store by vendors. These vendors bring the merchandise in through the front entrance. All merchandise is placed on the sales floor. It's up to the employees to stock the shelves with the merchandise. In the unlikely event there is any 'overstock', that merchandise if placed on top of the shelf or behind another like item. No merchandise is placed in any magical storage closet or warehouse.
Merchandise is brought into the store by vendors. These vendors bring the merchandise in through the front entrance. All merchandise is placed on the sales floor. It's up to the employees to stock the shelves with the merchandise. In the unlikely event there is any 'overstock', that merchandise if placed on top of the shelf or behind another like item. No merchandise is placed in any magical storage closet or warehouse.
Squirrel Killer
Member
SonicMegaDrive said:
So where do those guys go when they go through the big double doors and re-emerge a couple of minutes later with a refridgerator?
SonicMegaDrive
Member
SonicMegaDrive
Member
Sorry. I just had to get to the obvious Arnold reference.
StRaNgE said:explain this B2G1F deal to me if you would.
i been thinking of getting a PS2 for just 2 games that just might work out perfect
It only works on used stuff. So you buy two used things and get one free.
Used PS2: $119.99 (large version... slim version is $129.99- good luck. Check the model number on large PS2s and stay the fuck away from anything starting with a 3).
Used memory card: $17.99 (magicgate) or $19.99 (Sony)
Used game: Anything $17.99 or $19.99 and under, depending on the price of the memory card will be free.
That's at Gamestop, by the way.
The guy who kept hijcacking my sale made it sound like you'd get two free games. Which you won't. Well, unless you decide to buy 3 more games on top of that.
Teddman said:
According to Best Buy's store policy, access to future ads is limited to managers and sometimes supervisors. This varies from store to store, as different people/managers handle store policies differently, but as a general rule, he's absolutely right. Also, even if he did know the next week's sales, he is not supposed to tell you. He has no idea whether or not you work for a rival comapny (Circuit City, etc), or even worse if you're what's known in retail circuits as a secret shopper.
Yes, there's product in the warehouse, but under normal circumstances the product that's back there is either excess inventory or hasn't hit street date yet. While it's possible he just told you that was all they had so that he could shoo you away for being annoying and asking questions he isn't supposed to be answering anyways (again store policy), he probably was telling you the truth considering the small area in the warehouse that is usually set aside for excess inventory for the media department in a typical Best Buy.
carbonbased
Member
Not true, at least at Best Buy. Not only is there a back room where they keep excess stock (I have several friends who have worked there and seen it first-hand), but there have been many times I've had to ask an employee to check for a newly released game in the back, after which they return with said game in hand.SonicMegaDrive said:
When i worked at Gamestop, i'd get the backroom comments all the time. On my last stint there, i worked in the backroom for a third of my shift, organizing and maintaining the stock. So i knew better than anyone else there what was in our backroom. Add to that the fact that i got there no earlier than 4p, so all shipments had been received and processed when i arrived, or at the very most, there'd be a box i hadn't seen the last time i worked containing product. i'd still get people that insisted we had a copy in the back, we were a gamestore and we were "supposed to have all games in stock", etc. i've told several customers essentially that if i had what they were looking for i would gladly give it to them to so they could get the hell out of the store.
Also, the "backroom" mentality isn't just for games. i was talking to a coworker who worked a bar and every night he'd get people who insisted he had something that they didn't have. Maybe they had it a couple of weeks ago but they sold out or don't stock it anymore. But they'd insist that he was holding out on them. i don't think i could work a bar -- irrational idiots are one thing, but drunken irrational idiots are worse.
On the flip side of the argument, i've worked at Best Buy and witnessed several times people in the media department who didn't know a shipment arrived because it was in the wrong place in the warehouse (which was much more spacious than the hole we had at GS) or they just not doing their job and goofing off. It goes both ways.
Also, the "backroom" mentality isn't just for games. i was talking to a coworker who worked a bar and every night he'd get people who insisted he had something that they didn't have. Maybe they had it a couple of weeks ago but they sold out or don't stock it anymore. But they'd insist that he was holding out on them. i don't think i could work a bar -- irrational idiots are one thing, but drunken irrational idiots are worse.
On the flip side of the argument, i've worked at Best Buy and witnessed several times people in the media department who didn't know a shipment arrived because it was in the wrong place in the warehouse (which was much more spacious than the hole we had at GS) or they just not doing their job and goofing off. It goes both ways.
Laurent said:
This "official release" thing is funny. The vast majority of games don't have street dates. You have your very rare Halo 2/November 9s and such, but 99% of games arrive when they arrive. There's a shipping date, and that's it. You didn't get anything sneaky, you got what the store had to sell. If they were all sold out except for reserved copies, and it was getting late and a bunch hadn't been picked up, maybe they slipped one out for you, but you certainly didn't get one "early."