Gaming Store Expectations

K

kumanoki

Member
What do you expect from your local gaming stores? (Aside from having the games you want.) I've had bad experiences, and I've heard a lot of retarded shit from friends about clerks, policies, hours, etc. So what should your local game store do for you?
 
Make sure the place smells decent. Lots of game stores smell awful because little kids playing game kiosks shit in their pants and fart in front of everyone (I'm sure they try to hide it) because they don't wanna lose their place on the kiosk. And then there's the teenage punks who've never heard of deoderant.

Filthy air, that's what it is!
 
Absolute loyalty to the Nintendo brand name.
 
<shrug>, I really don't have any expectations other than having the game I'm looking for at a reasonable price. A good bargain bin never hurts, though...
 
Consoles set up with games to try. At least one for each system, including GBA (and DS now I guess).

Other gaming stuff besides videogames (like Yu-Gi-Oh cards).
 
racks that aren't too heavy to push over, but still heavy enough to make a loud noise when they hit the ground.
 
A good selection of old games is always nice. I'm talkin Sega Master System, Atari, Saturn, SNES, NES, N64, Genesis, the works. I spend a while looking for games in bins like these.
 
kumanoki said:
How about the staff?

Do you want a talker, or someone who will leave you the hell alone to shop in silence?
Click to expand...

I want staff that only speaks when spoken to. It's not like they're on commission, anyway.
 
kumanoki said:
How about the staff?

Do you want a talker, or someone who will leave you the hell alone to shop in silence?
Click to expand...

If they're going to talk, the word "pre-order" better not leave their lips unless I mention the word first.

Also, magazine racks that aren't nailed down.
 
I work at my local EB, I try my best to provide a balance to the lopsidedness that is EB.

How do I do that?

1) Pro-Nintendo
2) Bring a DS wherever I go so I can sell sell sell!
3) Know my PC hardware (I've never encountered an EB employee that knew pc stuff).



And actually, at EB, we are on a sort of commision, on GPG's and warranties.


Among other things, I don't know, just my 2 cents :)
 
When I ask for a new game, I absolutely mean a new copy, not a game that has been gutted, opened and slapped with "BUY IT, TRADE IT!" stickers
 
My expectation is that when I go to a gaming store, I want the employee to shut the fuck up. I don't want them to say a single thing to me about what they "reccomend", and I sure as fuck don't want them to tell me I should pre-order whatever they perceive is the "next big thing." Mother fuckers would sell me a zippo bag full of putrid, rotting baby carcasses if some videogame company put a label on it.
 
Gahiggidy said:
Absolute loyalty to the Nintendo brand name.
Click to expand...

heh, they actually use to have a retail chain like this in the late 80s, it was call Captron and they only sold Nintendo stuff
 
heh, they actually use to have a retail chain like this in the late 80s, it was call Captron and they only sold N intendo stuff
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention that. In my area of Japan we have a store called Wanpaku Kozo that is owned by N intendo. The logo is in Mario 3 font and has a little Bubble Bobble dragon on it. N intendo plastered all over the front of the store. Of course now it sells everything, but I'm sure fifteen years ago it was nothing but N intendo.
 
Some game store employees are graded on how many preorders for X they sell or whether they mention deal Y during checkout... don't get mad at them for mentioning it. Now if they're being pushy, then you can tell 'em off. :D

Do you guys mind if an employee comes up and asks how you're doing or if you need help finding something?
 
We just had out first game store open a couple of days ago, i went in and they were really friendly helpful. I've been to other stores where the've been really rude, know nothing about games or are PC freaks. i went ton one and got told rudely that no soul caliber II gamecube version existed, like 2 weeks before release. same thing happened with tales of symphonia.
 
What EB's are you guys going to? I have never had them be anything but nice...maybe they are different here (Orlando, FL)

Occassionally they ask me if I want to pre-order something, and if I want it I do, but they have never been pushy or rude.

They just opened one here across from UCF and those guys are the best...they know what they are talking about and they gave us free food and had a DJ and stuff during their midnight Halo 2 event.
 
+Give me my shit in its original packaging and don't whine when I refuse to buy something that was previously opened.

+Don't comment on my purchases unless you're saying that the game is good.

+And do not, by any means, try to sell me any of your fucking cleaning kits.
 
expectations?

well I expect the store to at minimun have all the most recent games, last 2 months or so (ok maybe not the really really shitty ones) as well as a good mix of best sellers and critically acclaimed titles.

If I'm looking for a game and it's not on the shelves I would like it if the empoyees would order it for me, if that's no longer possible I'd like it if they told me where some other game shops are so I can look there.

bargain section (not used)

used section

clean demo kiosks

bright lighting

roomy ailes
 
Lots of game stores smell awful because little kids playing game kiosks shit in their pants and fart in front of everyone (I'm sure they try to hide it) because they don't wanna lose their place on the kiosk.
Click to expand...

Actually, I do this if I'm being spiteful / vindictive.

Like on Black Friday, I was waiting 30 full minutes in EB to complete my transaction, and I just figured - What the hell? And started letting SBDs fly.

If you want me out of your store, you'll service me faster. ^_^

What I want out of a game store is more or less Game Crazy. New games are unopened. The store is considerably well stocked. And more often than not they give me what I consider to be a reasonable price for trade-ins.

A higher standard on accepting used games from people would also rock. I'd be more inclined to buy used from chain stores if they would stop pimping $30 coasters run through a Game Doctor.

For used games I prefer the local record store. They've got a decent stock, great prices, and the clientelle is very good on their games. You can find games and DVD's in like new condition for a song and a dance.
 
1. Do not belittle my purchase choices. I really don't care if you think that the game I want is the scum of the earth... if I'm trying to give you cash for a game, take it and smile.

2. If you don't have a game in stock, don't lie and claim the game was delayed a week. Rather, say that you don't have it in stock.

3. Try to actually get obscure/budget games in stock. Being a speciality store selling only video games would lead one to believe that I'd have better luck finding obscure titles at your store, rather than at Toys R Us or Frys. Sadly, this is rarely the case.

4. Do not ask if I want to preorder something -- unless you are offering me a bribe should I preorder.

5. Don't gut games, unless you intend to offer me a 10% (or greater) discount on a gutted game.

6. Get rid of "discount cards" and other silly promotions which require me to pay you in order to "save money."

7. Please keep your "industry secrets" to yourself. I really don't care to hear more about "World Smash", how Microsoft bought Sega last week, or how the GameCube has been discontinued.

8. Please don't offer to sell me discs of bootleg games for the Dreamcast. For that matter, don't offer to mod my Xbox if I were to buy one. Encourage piracy only serves to anger me.

9. Match competitors' prices. By competitor, I mean "any store in the same city." I really don't care if Fry's/Wal-Mart/etc. isn't a "competitor" according to your rules; if I'd rather buy a game from them, that makes them a competitor.

10. If you sell me a game for $40 on Monday, and the price changes to $20 on Wednesday, kindly refund me the difference with a smile.

11. Have the same return time frames as normal stores. Seven to fourteen days is just annoying.

That's a start.
 
Have you guys actually had clerks that make fun of the game(s) you are purchasing? That just seems so crazy and strange to me. Of course I never buy shitty games, so maybe that's why...

And yeah, EB's trade-in standards have completely gone down the toilet. I traded in my PS2 for an Xbox in October, along with a bunch of old PS2 games. They didn't even look at any of the game discs, and they didn't even test the PS2 to make sure that it worked. On the plus side this means I never get stuck waiting in line behind some jerkoff that wants to haggle about whether or not his copy of NHL 2002 is too scratched to earn him the massive $1 store credit.
 
border said:
Have you guys actually had clerks that make fun of the game(s) you are purchasing? That just seems so crazy and strange to me. Of course I never buy shitty games, so maybe that's why...
Click to expand...

Every once in a while when buying an obscure title, I'll get a ,"what the hell is this?" from the employee as he rings it up, not that I really care.

Keep in mind that Gamestop, and probably other stores, hire secret shoppers to spy on employees. At GS, you are required to (a)greet the customer as he walks in, (b)mention trade-ins, (c)mention the discount card if he's buying a used game, (d)mention pre-orders, (e)and thank him for his business. If you fail you can get written up.

My god, that was a pain in the ass.
 
Depending on the store is whether or not they gut the games. At least thats the case with the EB I work at. We're in the mall so our store is pretty small. We can't even carry our older PS/N64/DC stuff, we have to send it out to other stores.

I've only been working there a week and already had a problem with someone about a gutted copy of WoW. He was picking up the game but going to install it on his girlfriend's PC with his copy. Guess he just wanted to copy on hand as long as it worked. Well he said since its gutted how could he return it. Manager just said to use that small clear seal and re-seal it. I did so and assured this putz that he could return it as new as long as the seal wasn't broken. Well I get a call from another manager at a store this putz used to work for saying a customer complaint might be coming my way. He said I refused to seal the game for him. Its customers like this that make me wanna jump over the counter and dropkick them in the throat.

Aside from that I just generally ask someone if they're looking for a certain game or just "looking". I don't press the person any more than that and haven't had any problems.
 
border said:
Have you guys actually had clerks that make fun of the game(s) you are purchasing? That just seems so crazy and strange to me. Of course I never buy shitty games, so maybe that's why...

And yeah, EB's trade-in standards have completely gone down the toilet. I traded in my PS2 for an Xbox in October, along with a bunch of old PS2 games. They didn't even look at any of the game discs, and they didn't even test the PS2 to make sure that it worked. On the plus side this means I never get stuck waiting in line behind some jerkoff that wants to haggle about whether or not his copy of NHL 2002 is too scratched to earn him the massive $1 store credit.
Click to expand...

They don't care. I used to work at EB Home Office and they take whatever they can get their grubby hands on. No matter how fucked the discs are they end up buffing them anyway. As for hardware they don't care either. If it works, it works. They blow it out and clean it then send it back out. If it doesn't work they either replace the parts with parts from other PS2s/Xboxes or break it down and use the parts. As for lasers they use blackmarket lasers they buy from China to replace lasers. The blackmarket lasers they get don't last very long. So remember folks, don't buy preowned!

As for game store expectations..

1. Have the games I want in stock at all times.

2. Don't fucking talk to me. I just want to buy my game and leave. :lol

3. Don't try to sell me a magazine subscription each time I go there.

4. I doubt this would ever happen but I would love to see self check out counters.
 
DavidDayton said:
2. If you don't have a game in stock, don't lie and claim the game was delayed a week. Rather, say that you don't have it in stock.

3. Try to actually get obscure/budget games in stock. Being a speciality store selling only video games would lead one to believe that I'd have better luck finding obscure titles at your store, rather than at Toys R Us or Frys. Sadly, this is rarely the case.

5. Don't gut games, unless you intend to offer me a 10% (or greater) discount on a gutted game.

6. Get rid of "discount cards" and other silly promotions which require me to pay you in order to "save money."

9. Match competitors' prices. By competitor, I mean "any store in the same city." I really don't care if Fry's/Wal-Mart/etc. isn't a "competitor" according to your rules; if I'd rather buy a game from them, that makes them a competitor.

10. If you sell me a game for $40 on Monday, and the price changes to $20 on Wednesday, kindly refund me the difference with a smile.

11. Have the same return time frames as normal stores. Seven to fourteen days is just annoying.
Click to expand...

I don't understand why #2 would happen at all. Why would someone tell you it was delayed when it was out? Every other one above is dependent on corporate policies. I'm sure that's irrelevant to you, but others might try not to be a jerk to the kids behind the counter while they're doing their jobs. The EB/GameStop "discount card" is a good deal for their magazine, and it actually cancels itself when the subscription is up, unlike the EW/SI subscription at Best Buy. And many people easily buy more than $100 in used stuff each year, so their card saves them a bunch of money and gets them a free magazine. All the game stores here switched to a 30 day return policy long ago.
 
kumanoki said:
What do you expect from your local gaming stores? (Aside from having the games you want.) I've had bad experiences, and I've heard a lot of retarded shit from friends about clerks, policies, hours, etc. So what should your local game store do for you?
Click to expand...

Jerk me off 24/7
 
When did stores start asking for individual game warranties? The last couple games i've gotten at an EB, they've asked me if I wanted a warranty for it. A warranty for a single game? No thank you. And the way they push it, it must be something they make commission on.

A typical EB store conversation for me:

Clerk: MGS3 huh? I've heard it's good.

Me: Yeah, that's why I'm getting it.

Clerk: You want to get a warranty with that?

Me: For the one game?

Clerk: Yeah, It's 5$. If the game gets scratched, broken, etc. We'll replace it for you.

Me: No thanks.

Clerk: You sure? it's only $5.

Me: No thanks.

Clerk: You mean to tell me you've never scratch up games?

Me: I take good care of my games.

Clerk: Alright, it's only $5 though.

Me: No thanks.

Clerk: You sure? You never know, the game could get scratched.

Me: No thanks.
 
ChrisReid said:
Every other one above is dependent on corporate policies. I'm sure that's irrelevant to you, but others might try not to be a jerk to the kids behind the counter while they're doing their jobs. The EB/GameStop "discount card" is a good deal for their magazine, and it actually cancels itself when the subscription is up, unlike the EW/SI subscription at Best Buy. And many people easily buy more than $100 in used stuff each year, so their card saves them a bunch of money and gets them a free magazine. All the game stores here switched to a 30 day return policy long ago.
Click to expand...

Blah blah blah.

I never said that the folks behind the counter aren't being forced to be annoying, did I? These are twerpy corporate policies which serve to annoy folks, like myself, who want to buy games. I don't see how I'm being "a jerk" in any of this -- I'm merely pointing out the annoying policies of the two speciality video game stores. The discount card is not a good deal for their magazine, as most of us don't want the magazine in the first place. The EB and Gamestop stores here in California still have their 14/7 day return policies.

Again, EB and Gamestop are quickly losing any competitive advantage they once had. When I can get a greater variety of games, earlier and for a lower price, by shopping at stores like Fry's and Toys R Us, I really don't see what purpose Gamestop or EB serve.
 
Drey1082 said:
When did stores start asking for individual game warranties? The last couple games i've gotten at an EB, they've asked me if I wanted a warranty for it. A warranty for a single game? No thank you. And the way they push it, it must be something they make commission on.

A typical EB store conversation for me:

Clerk: MGS3 huh? I've heard it's good.

Me: Yeah, that's why I'm getting it.

Clerk: You want to get a warranty with that?

Me: For the one game?

Clerk: Yeah, It's 5$. If the game gets scratched, broken, etc. We'll replace it for you.

Me: No thanks.

Clerk: You sure? it's only $5.

Me: No thanks.

Clerk: You mean to tell me you've never scratch up games?

Me: I take good care of my games.

Clerk: Alright, it's only $5 though.

Me: No thanks.

Clerk: You sure? You never know, the game could get scratched.

Me: No thanks.
Click to expand...

See also:

Clerk: Want a strategy guide with that copy of Star O...

Me: Gamefaqs.

Clerk: OUT! OUT! FAH-OOL SINNAH!!!! I CAST THEE OUT, DEBBUL!!!!

Luckily for me I've recently found a good Gamestop with good guys behind the counter that not only know what, say, Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is, but also talk about what they've heard about it as well for a nice intelligent convo while I'm getting rung up; makes shopping actually pleasent.
 
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