Gamecrazy appreciation thread!

I didn't realize it until the other day, but I've been giving Gamecrazy a lot of my business within the past year. This came to my attention when one of the clerks mentioned he recognizes me now, and that they're pretty friendly about giving me demos and chatting when I'm there. They also don't bother checking my trade-in's since I'm ultra anal about the care of my games, and optical media in general.

It helps that they're just six miles away and I can bike there. Even though there's an EB a mile away, I'd prefer to go the extra distance and deal with Gamecrazy.

The EB is a f'ing daycare center for all the ghetto children (I live in 'da hood) who's parents are too lazy to be raising them properly. So you walk in and there's six or seven kids crowding the f'ing doorway on the demo units. Then there's the chaos of the store layout - ALPHABETICAL ORDER, MOTHERFUCKER, DO YOU KNOW IT?! Nothing I love more than searching for software in the huge PS2 library, with no fucking order to speak of. The clerks at the Gamecrazy I visit organize the new and used software regularly. I don't see how EB can not do this. I was doing it six years ago when I was working at Software Etc. It's good business, sure you won't be able to sit on the phone and sweet talk your bitches (You can count on never getting through to EB on the phone when certain folks are working) when you should be working; but you know - it's a fucking business!

What I appreciate most about the stores is the layout. All the new games are behind the counter, eliminating the bullshit practice of "gutting games". The counters are mostly glass showcases, so they can display expensive or old merchandise from them, so there's no wasted floor space.

They also give me what I consider a reasonable amount of trade-in credit for my games compared to EB or Gamestop. I'm completely ignoring Gamerushtard since they never have anything I want in stock, and fucked me over previously. The first impression is the lasting impression, and well - Gamerush is another Blockbuster company and that speaks volumes for it. There's no reason for me to abuse their "amazing" trade-in deals when they don't stock shit I want.

The only real problem I have with Gamecrazy is the prices of older software doesn't drop as quickly as other stores, but that's really not a problem as sooner or later the price will drop. Which more or less guarantees they'll have that esoteric GC title you were looking for in stock.

The clerks also don't push pre-orders on you as obnoxiously as EB or Gamestop. They do push the pre-orders, but the delivery is a far cry from the telemarketer line most EB and Gamestop employees spew at you, you know that branching flow chart of "hot upcoming games" EB and Gamestop clerks have drilled into their head in the event you say "No"; they can reroute the path to another title and ask you repeatedly until you complete the transaction or push the magazine rack onto them.

The one clerk still insists on pushing the MVP card on me, but I don't buy used games; so he's knows I say no now just to spite him. ^_^

So big ups to Gamecrazy, and if you're a Gamecrazy employee - pat yourself on the back. You deserve it. :P
 
I vastly prefer my local Gamecrazy to, well, all other game stores in the area. I get decent trade-in credit, the dudes workin' the counter like games but hate fanboys, and they always get my preorders in early.

The manager has chased out a couple nerds trying to hold court in the middle of his store, which takes balls. Once some fanboy starts ranting to the air around him about Star Wars or Smash Brothers or Stargate, it's hard to get 'em to stop -- especially if he has a few sub-nerd groupies.

+1 Gamecrazy.
 
Oh hell yes!

That Rent One, Get One free coupon is the best default pre-order incentive of any game retailer. Seriously, at least you're getting some incentive for putting your f'ing money down if there's no manufacturer pre-order goodies. It also helps to perpetuate one's gaming addiction.

That's another thing. They're also really good about distributing pre-order goodies. I recall pre-ordering Street Fighter: Anniversary Collection pretty late in the release schedule, and I still got the goofy Ryu, and Chun-Li IIRC, busts when I picked up the game.

Gamecrazy rox bitches! :D
 
GameCrazy is great; my only complaints deal with obtaining obscure titles from them... but EB and Gamestop are no better at supplying off the wall titles. If GC just increased their return window from 7 to 30 days, I'd be happier. Still, they're my favorite gaming store at the moment.
 
I loved them in Vegas, they were the only chain game store I would shop at.

Where I live now, it's a dirty little hole. Kind of a come down. That said, unless things have changed recently, I always loved that they had used Genesis, SNES, Saturn and NGPC systems and games. That rocks the fucking house.
 
The Take Out Bandit said:
Wait, what's Gamecrazy's return policy like?

It's funny, but I've completely written off game store return policies.

14 days, no questions (I believe)...although if you've paid any in store credit, even a dime, they'll be forced to just give you credit instead.
 
They give you a free movie/game rental from Hollywood Video a month for a year. It's like a 50 buck value for nothing other than buying from them.
 
Let me also chime in with GameCrazy, they've gotten alot of my business lately as well... they are a bit further away than the new EB that is real close to me... but whenever I go in there... the walls look like utter chaos....

better trade in credit
better service
no pre-order pressure or add on purchase pressure.

+1 Gamecrazy
 
I work at gamecrazy. The crux of the business is the mvp card, of course. You now get either a year to EGM or XBN or 6 months to OPM, so that helps the value of the card quite a bit.

Also, gamecrazy is broken up into two different stores. There are the corporate stores, which are most plentiful, and then the "boards stores." The boards ones are usually linked to a hollywood video. I think.

We do reseal new games. Sometimes games come with the shitty shrinkwrap from the factory. But other times it is because they are resealed. So if you notice the shitwrap, ask for another copy. If the next one is shitwrapped, then it's probably the factory. Or just keep asking.

The return policy is this: 7 days cash back for new, unopened product. 90 day warranty on all used merchandise. If there is a defect, another copy of the game will be given. If no copies remain, a STORE CREDIT is given, with which other things can be purchased. You're allowed to try out new/used games (no M ratings) before you buy. Lots of times people will buy a game, hate it, bring it back saying that it doesn't work and expect to buy a different game.

Erm, yeah... ask me any questions if you guys have any!
 
Since moving into my new apartment, Gamecrazy's been the easiest game store to get to, and I've been really pleased with it so far. They've got a really decent selection of used stuff (I might have to pick up that $20 copy of Klonoa 2 for a friend, and grabbed a really nice copy of Herc's Adventures PSX for $15 last night), I didn't have any problems waltzing in and picking up a DS launch morning (didn't have to put money down for a pre-order, I just "added it to my 'wish list'"), and they were the only retail outfit around that had Mr. Driller Drill Spirits on the 1st.

I don't do much movie/game renting, so that sheet of free rentals I got with the DS will probably go unused, but it was a nice bonus either way.
 
I have to agree about the trade-in value thing associated with the main retail stores. I traded in nine games (Assorted PS2 and GameCube games) just last week to Blockbuster after feeling like EB and Gamestop's prices were ludicrous. Here's the breakdown of what each store would give me for my goods:

EB - $22.70
Gamestop - $35.50
Blockbuster - $65.75

Granted, I can't get the selection of new games at Blockbuster that I can get at EB or Gamestop but who cares. The money I spend on DVD's and box sets comes from the same pocket that the money for games comes from. I figure it all works out in the end. It's better than being royally ass-raped by the big game chains.
 
Gamecrazy rules. When my DS got a dead pixel, I came there 10 days later to exchange it. The manager said he would have been glad to exchange it, but they had no DS systems to exchange it for. So, instead, he paid for the boxes and stuff at fedEx with his own money, for me, and he even threw in a free game, for any system of my choosing (I chose Alien Hominid).

The employees are top-notch, the selection is always great (I've always found what I'm looking for at gamecrazy), they have great collections of used stuff for older systems... there seriously isn't one thing bad about Game Crazy.
 
Yeah, the employ and management are pretty damn classy--when I complained about not being able to get my cash back (because their comp systems don't split the values between cash and credit), they gave me $5 credit.

Not exactly the best thing, but an explanation and a little bit of an incentive--I love the bastards.

Too bad there ain't one up here...only a GameStop. Of which I HATE GameStop. Fucking receipts instead of magnetic cards or even a centralized Customer ID database. :-\
 
Heheh, there's a gamecrazy just a mile away from here, in the Golden Valley shopping center. I can walk there, if I want to. ^_^ (and I have, before)
 
GameCrazy's prices suck cock. That is, unless you like paying full price for games. $49.99 Skies of Arcadia: Legends let me touch you.

EBGames.com and 25% off preowned games (AFF15 code + EB Edge card) is where it's at. I've never gotten a game in bad shape from them and their preowned GC,PS2,XBox games come with the case. You can always send your shit back if you're unsatisfied the the condition of it.
 
True, the prices are a little high, but the selection more than makes up for it.
 
thats the only place i shop anymore. and the guys i know who work at eb, gamestop, etc, all shop there too.
 
Top Bottom