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[dlobro1080]

Hey all,

I just bought PGR from a Gamestop a few weeks back, and I realized it was a used copy resealed as new. It's not the first time that's happened to me. I'm in NYC. Anyone else have these problems?

 

[fugimax]

It's illegal, btw. Report them.

 

[DarienA]

Hey all,

I just bought PGR from a Gamestop a few weeks back, and I realized it was a used copy resealed as new. It's not the first time that's happened to me. I'm in NYC. Anyone else have these problems?

Is it a used game resealed as new or is it the display copy that was reasealed to sell.

EDIT: And why are you "just now" realizing a game you bought a few weeks back is used?

 

[BarneyBP]

How do you know it's used?

 

[viper60782]

at gamestop, we often resealed last copies of the games since we need them displayed. does it have used stickers on it?

 

[Beer Monkey]

I know that one EB location here, for many years, let employees take home copies to play for a few days, and that those copies were resealed and sold as new/display.

 

[Triumph]

Yeah, GS/EB "guts"(removes disc/instructions) of games for display purposes. You might have gotten a display copy.

 

[daegan]

please realize that it wouldn't benefit the store in ANY WAY to sell it to you as new if it was in fact used, as it would negatively impact their used %.

that said.

if it was a gut copy, it's pretty obvious because they reseal it in front of you and it's the same case they had on the wall and if you really have a problem with it just DON'T BUY IT.

finally, it's these stores' policy, when a new game is returned for another copy, it's always defective. it never ends up back in stock unless the sm is doing something wonky.

 

[GDJustin]

please realize that it wouldn't benefit the store in ANY WAY to sell it to you as new if it was in fact used, as it would negatively impact their used %.

They buy back a used copy of a new release for $15-20 (maybe), and then can resell it for $45 marked used, or $50 marked new. How does selling the same product for more money not help them?

 

[fugimax]

if it was a gut copy, it's pretty obvious because they reseal it in front of you and it's the same case they had on the wall and if you really have a problem with it just DON'T BUY IT.

Not true. When a game is no longer in its prime they take several of its boxes off the wall (usually games have 4-5 boxes out there if it's a big title).

So yes, while sometimes they go to the floor and reseal, there are cases where they have already resealed it and it's behind the counter.

 

[Matlock]

They buy back a used copy of a new release for $15-20 (maybe), and then can resell it for $45 marked used, or $50 marked new. How does selling the same product for more money not help them?

They've got quotas on how much new and used product they sell. You'd know that, if you'd read the entirety of what you quoted instead of knee-jerking out.

 

[Xrenity]

Hey all,

I just bought PGR from a Gamestop a few weeks back, and I realized it was a used copy resealed as new. It's not the first time that's happened to me. I'm in NYC. Anyone else have these problems?

If you actually payed full price for it, you've got to back and tell 'm.

 

[fugimax]

They've got quotas on how much new and used product they sell. You'd know that, if you'd read the entirety of what you quoted instead of knee-jerking out.

They could be buying it back "under the table" somehow and reselling it as new. This would boost income at the store, but it would probably be flagged by corporate when they sell more copies than they were ever shipped..

 

[Justin]

They buy back a used copy of a new release for $15-20 (maybe), and then can resell it for $45 marked used, or $50 marked new. How does selling the same product for more money not help them?

Because for the store to buy a copy of the game from the distributors it costs them close to 40 buck so the profit on a new $50 game is around 10 bucks. They buy the same game as a trade in from a customer for 15 bucks, sell it for 45 and make 30 dollars profit.

If you think stores are buying new release games from the distributors for 15-20 bucks you are wrong. The most markup I have seen on a new $50 video game has been 12 bucks. I work at frys and we are able to look up the wholesale price for any item we carry.

 

[∀ Narayan]

It's illegal, btw. Report them.

Is it really?

 

[TurtleSnatcher]

uh my gamestop doesnt do that.. sometimes corporate actually sends out emails to stores to take new games and stick em in the used drawer cause they wanna open up more sku's for inventory purposes.. not once have i seen what was mentioned above in my store..

you can get fired for that..

 

[Doc Savage]

It is possible that they sold the new as used to get a pre-played sale and then took the used one and sold it as new and said it was a display copy. I have seen it done dozens of times. Some store managers are extremely shady and ruthless when it comes to meeting their pre-played goals.

 

[TurtleSnatcher]

they have used game sale goals, but there usually not that strict about it.. biggest things is IPT's (Items per transaction), Reserves, Subscriptions.

 

[Matlock]

They could be buying it back "under the table" somehow and reselling it as new. This would boost income at the store, but it would probably be flagged by corporate when they sell more copies than they were ever shipped..

Do you even understand the concept of quotas?

 

[Doc Savage]

It is also illegal in the sense that these companies are public and being traded and being so they need to submit 10k earning statements and this falls under falsifying earnings reports. If you ever go into a store and ask for a new system and they say they only have used there is a pretty good chance they are lying to you. There is a way around that if you call another EB the store associate can run a district wide look-up and tell you what stores have it in stock as of the previous night.

 

[fugimax]

Do you even understand the concept of quotas?

Indeed I do, but if you make the most profit of any store in your area, they don't give a flying fuck.

Do you understand the concept of profit?

 

[Matlock]

fugimax: You're ignoring facts here--there are guidelines for both profit and quota percentages on new and used product. If you don't meet one, they do give a flying fuck.

 

[fugimax]

You're ignoring facts here--there are guidelines for both profit and quota percentages on new and used product. If you don't meet one, they do give a flying fuck.

You're the one not considering that maybe the meet the used quota, and anything above that they resell as new to meet/exceed their profit quota.

 

[DarienA]

Indeed I do, but if you make the most profit of any store in your area, they don't give a flying fuck.

Do you understand the concept of profit?

<buzzer> How long have you been involved at the management level? Simply put you're wrong, I've seen crown prince (high profit stores) mgrs fired at various Gamestops for doing dumber shit.

 

[GDJustin]

Because for the store to buy a copy of the game from the distributors it costs them close to 40 buck so the profit on a new $50 game is around 10 bucks. They buy the same game as a trade in from a customer for 15 bucks, sell it for 45 and make 30 dollars profit.

If you think stores are buying new release games from the distributors for 15-20 bucks you are wrong. The most markup I have seen on a new $50 video game has been 12 bucks. I work at frys and we are able to look up the wholesale price for any item we carry.

What the heck are you talking about?

WE'RE talking about a store selling a USED game as NEW.

I'm not sure what you're trying to day. Well, actually yes I am. You're saying that the margins on used titles is much greater than the margin on new titles, but that's not really relevent (besides being obvious as shit).

 

[Matlock]

Fugimax: Since it's obvious you want to explore wild "what if" tangents that would "disprove" my points instead of basing your arguments upon reality and stated company policy, I fail to see how continuing this discussion will bring anything but a headache.

 

[fugimax]

Since it's obvious you want to explore wild "what if" tangents that would "disprove" my points instead of basing your arguments upon reality and stated company policy, I fail to see how continuing this discussion will bring anything but a headache.

Riiiight...because managers never fudge numbers..

 

[DarienA]

Riiiight...because managers never fudge numbers..

We know they fudge them... but corp accounting at Gamestop was relentless when I was a lowly employee years ago PT who chatted with a DM regularly...

 

[fugimax]

We know they fudge them... but corp accounting at Gamestop was relentless when I was a lowly employee years ago PT who chatted with a DM regularly...

Oh I'm sure they are.

I just suppose I could just see a scenario where a DM pushes his stores to do some underhanded things like selling used games as new. It would be hard to hide as a store manager, but I wonder if a DM has enough power to cover-up the transactions.

 

[dammitmattt]

What people are failing to see here is that each individual game store does not buy these games from distributors. The corporate buyers buy them in large quantities. P&L is calculated based on what is sold, not how the product was originally purchased from distributors.

There is more to it than this, but when calculating P&L, a new title is worth a certain amount (let's say $10) while a used title is worth more (let's say $20). It is always better for the books for the store to sell a used copy.

Now I know that is an extreme simplication of how P&L and inventory accounting works, but that is the basic gist of the situation. Anyone trying to argue that it is better for the store to sell it as new does not understand how things work...

 

[dlobro1080]

>>EDIT: And why are you "just now" realizing a game you bought a few weeks back is used?<<

Let me clarify. I realized upon purchase and quickly returned it. They took it back no questions asked. I was just thinking about it and thought I'd check if anyone had a similar experience.

 

[fugimax]

Anyone trying to argue that it is better for the store to sell it as new does not understand how things work...

So, a possible scenario:

Sell used game for new price, but record sale correctly (as a used sale). SM/DM covers up extra profit by adding in fake used sales at the end of the month (So if there's $5000 profit on this scheme, DM ups used units bought/sold to match this number.)

Consumer gets screwed, inventory works out appropriately, and income is inflated.

Ya?

 

[Matlock]

PROFIT PROFIT PROFIT corporate doesn't care PROFIT PROFIT PROFIT
PROFIT PROFIT PROFIT what about all that non-moving inventory PROFIT PROFIT PROFIT

 

[Ponn]

Oh I'm sure they are.

I just suppose I could just see a scenario where a DM pushes his stores to do some underhanded things like selling used games as new. It would be hard to hide as a store manager, but I wonder if a DM has enough power to cover-up the transactions.

You've never worked in a game store have you? EB and Gamestop both push the shit out of used product because of profit margin. Why in the world would they want there used game sales marked up in their new sales? No matter what the extra money they make on that one game it gets lost in the numbers and does not matter, only that they lost a used game sale which does matter in numbers.

You people and your black helicopters.

 

[Drensch]

One of the chains lost a lawsuit regarding this crap. And while we're at it, don't give me this "display copy" horsehit. It's been opened and played=used. I don't give a fuck who played it and where it was played.

 

[Ranger X]

One of the chains lost a lawsuit regarding this crap. And while we're at it, don't give me this "display copy" horsehit. It's been opened and played=used. I don't give a fuck who played it and where it was played.

If it's open but not played? You buy games for their seal i suppose?

 

[Ponn]

If it's open but not played? You buy games for their seal i suppose?

I can see it now, bullies standing outside EB and grabbing peoples games and cutting the seals open and handing them back while laughing. All the gamers anal about their precious seals slowly trodding away crying. :lol :lol

 

[Ranger X]

I can see it now, bullies standing outside EB and grabbing peoples games and cutting the seals open and handing them back while laughing. All the gamers anal about their precious seals slowly trodding away crying. :lol :lol

LOL you made laugh out loud at work basturd!

 

[john2kx]

One of the chains lost a lawsuit regarding this crap. And while we're at it, don't give me this "display copy" horsehit. It's been opened and played=used. I don't give a fuck who played it and where it was played.

Even if it's just opened and not played, it's used.

I expect GS/EB to hold themselves to the same standards they hold their customers.. If a customer tries to get a full refund for a game they bought and opened (but may not have played), it won't happen.
They consider it used.

I won't buy an opened game (played or unplayed) from them for full price, period.

For the two clowns above, it's more of a matter of principle than actually giving a shit about the plastic wrap.

 

[MrDaravon]

Even if it's just opened and not played, it's used.

I expect GS/EB to hold themselves to the same standards they hold their customers.. If a customer tries to get a full refund for a game they bought and opened (but may not have played), it won't happen.
They consider it used.

I won't buy an opened game (played or unplayed) from them for full price, period.

For the two clowns above, it's more of a matter of principle than actually giving a shit about the plastic wrap.

They need to gut copies to have cases out so people can see them. The only alternative I personally could think of would be to have the publishers supply extra cases to put out for that purpose, but then if it's busy or whatever and they sell out, and they can't get to the floor to pull the display, there are going to be people asking them for something they don't have now. From working at EB during the holidays, I could defineately see that could be a problem. It's annoying, but anybody have any better ideas? Unless you're buying it for a present for someone, and the disc is in PERFECT condition, I can't see why you would care honestly anyway. If the disc/case is messed up though, that's different.

 

[mrkgoo]

I don't know how EB is run over there, but over here, they offer soemthing noone else can even hope to match - 7 day right of return for any reason. It's to encourage you to buy in the first instance, completely risk free (you can even ask for money back).

The general consensus in NZ is not to allow software or music returns due to piracy. Or so they say. But EB allows returns for ANY reason. You can say I finished teh game in one week, and I don't need to paly it again, and they'll porbably take it back. It's their policy, and they honour it (though they reserve the right to refuse if you abuse it).

Thing is, I'm guessing, it's a double-edged sword. What happens to returned games? They must stick them on the shelves and sell as new. They have been played, but not kept. As long as the return isn't about a defective product, and it's about not liking it during the trial period, they probably consider it as new.

Maybe.

 

[MrDaravon]

I don't know how EB is run over there, but over here, they offer soemthing noone else can even hope to match - 7 day right of return for any reason. It's to encourage you to buy in the first instance, completely risk free (you can even ask for money back).

The general consensus in NZ is not to allow software or music returns due to piracy. Or so they say. But EB allows returns for ANY reason. You can say I finished teh game in one week, and I don't need to paly it again, and they'll porbably take it back. It's their policy, and they honour it (though they reserve the right to refuse if you abuse it).

Thing is, I'm guessing, it's a double-edged sword. What happens to returned games? They must stick them on the shelves and sell as new. They have been played, but not kept. As long as the return isn't about a defective product, and it's about not liking it during the trial period, they probably consider it as new.

Maybe.

EB used to do that when I worked there a couple years ago, but I'm pretty sure they stopped doing that, they only take returns if it's defective and replace the copy, although that could vary by state or something. I don't THINK Gamestop's ever had that policy, or if they did they don't now, since my local store won't do that.

 

[ImNotLikeThem]

Matlock:
Do you work at EB/Gamestop? No, probably not. In any case, there is no such thing as "quotas", especially for NEW software. Used is always, ALWAYS preferred over new, and they are right, there is NO benefit to the company for selling new games. Used is pure profit, so that excuse is bull.

 

[dammitmattt]

I don't know how EB is run over there, but over here, they offer soemthing noone else can even hope to match - 7 day right of return for any reason. It's to encourage you to buy in the first instance, completely risk free (you can even ask for money back).

The general consensus in NZ is not to allow software or music returns due to piracy. Or so they say. But EB allows returns for ANY reason. You can say I finished teh game in one week, and I don't need to paly it again, and they'll porbably take it back. It's their policy, and they honour it (though they reserve the right to refuse if you abuse it).

Thing is, I'm guessing, it's a double-edged sword. What happens to returned games? They must stick them on the shelves and sell as new. They have been played, but not kept. As long as the return isn't about a defective product, and it's about not liking it during the trial period, they probably consider it as new.

Maybe.

EB stopped this policy a couple of years ago after rampant abuse by customers using the stores as free rental programs, as well as the stores getting in legal trouble by resealing these returns and selling them as new. Gamestop had a similar policy years ago, as well.

 

[Scoobert]

Matlock:
Do you work at EB/Gamestop? No, probably not. In any case, there is no such thing as "quotas", especially for NEW software. Used is always, ALWAYS preferred over new, and they are right, there is NO benefit to the company for selling new games. Used is pure profit, so that excuse is bull.

Well, there are "quotas" on select new releases.

 

[dammitmattt]

Matlock:
Do you work at EB/Gamestop? No, probably not. In any case, there is no such thing as "quotas", especially for NEW software. Used is always, ALWAYS preferred over new, and they are right, there is NO benefit to the company for selling new games. Used is pure profit, so that excuse is bull.

I worked at EB on and off for 6 years, and there sure as damn hell are quotas, both hard and soft, for sales/preorders/guides/warranties/etc. What company do you work for?

 

[bdoughty]

One of the chains lost a lawsuit regarding this crap. And while we're at it, don't give me this "display copy" horsehit. It's been opened and played=used. I don't give a fuck who played it and where it was played.

Yes they probably lost the suit to the same ASSHATS that were the problem to begin with. The ones who played games a few days and abused the EB & Gamestop policies on returning opened games. Causing said companies to stop this policy, angering the ASSHATS into creating a lawsuit for selling them a game that had been opened. Mind you these very same ASSHATS had no problem with EB & Gamestop selling "their rented games" for full retail. Only when their abuse comes back to bite them in their very ass do they grow this "greater awareness of all things opened and sold at retail."

ASSHATS want their cake and eat it to, they are scourge of retail society. Something tells me by your tone you are one of the ASSHATS in question.

 

[vitaflo]

How come every other store that has floor models of certain products are discounted when sold to the public, but the games that are opened and put on display are not discounted when sold?

No offense to GS/EB but why do I want to pay full price for a game that has had its case manhandled by everyone that has come into the store, has a big price sticker stuck to the box and has been faded by the sunlight shining through the window?

Cut me a deal here!

 

[bdoughty]

I don't know how EB is run over there, but over here, they offer soemthing noone else can even hope to match - 7 day right of return for any reason. It's to encourage you to buy in the first instance, completely risk free (you can even ask for money back).

The general consensus in NZ is not to allow software or music returns due to piracy. Or so they say. But EB allows returns for ANY reason. You can say I finished teh game in one week, and I don't need to paly it again, and they'll porbably take it back. It's their policy, and they honour it (though they reserve the right to refuse if you abuse it).

Thing is, I'm guessing, it's a double-edged sword. What happens to returned games? They must stick them on the shelves and sell as new. They have been played, but not kept. As long as the return isn't about a defective product, and it's about not liking it during the trial period, they probably consider it as new.

Maybe.

LOL I missed this while typing but just you wait... ASSHATS will move to New Zeland just because of this. This is how it USED to be here in the good ol USofA.

 

[dammitmattt]

So, a possible scenario:

Sell used game for new price, but record sale correctly (as a used sale). SM/DM covers up extra profit by adding in fake used sales at the end of the month (So if there's $5000 profit on this scheme, DM ups used units bought/sold to match this number.)

Consumer gets screwed, inventory works out appropriately, and income is inflated.

Ya?

I hate to have to post again, especially in response to something so stupid, but I have to correct this travesty.

Using EB's POS system, the only way to do this would be to price override the game from $44.99 to $49.99, which would show up on the receipt, as well as a description saying "PO-GAME." As far as covering up the extra profit by adding in fake used sales, there would be no way to do this without affecting your inventory and having to adjust in/out inventory at some point. You can't just up the units bought/sold! This data is taken straight from POS systems, meaning there has to be an original transaction.

Just stop.