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UK Retailer GAME is dead | Brera's Lament
- Thread starter CrunchinJelly
- Start date
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I saw Gamestation were selling pre-owned Mass Effect 3 on PC for £29.99 today. Thought it was quite funny since you can get it cheaper than that new from most places. Also I'm guessing they must be bought in from somewhere cheaper and re-priced, as if they were actually preowned the keys would have been used and they wouldn't work (I think?).
Indeed - I thought that GMG didn't deal in pre-owned PC games?
Gamestation used to, I think they still do in some stores although they were phasing them out it seemed towards the end. GAME have never sold preowned PC games for as long as I can remember.
JennyTablina
Member
So...the bank now own the company, is that a temporary measure while it sorts itself out or is there another reason for RBS buying GAME themselves. It's a bit confusing *psyduck.jpg*
Though I feel sorry for the staff that were part of the mass cull, must suck to see your store close but others stay open :/ Though I think it's sadly for the best, but they should of been a bit more considerate to staff. At least they did pay them for the month I suppose?
Will the company trade as GMG again or go back on the market at all? Or would it start up under a new name?
Though I feel sorry for the staff that were part of the mass cull, must suck to see your store close but others stay open :/ Though I think it's sadly for the best, but they should of been a bit more considerate to staff. At least they did pay them for the month I suppose?
Will the company trade as GMG again or go back on the market at all? Or would it start up under a new name?
Mama Robotnik
Member
From the still-open list:
GAME:
Stockport - 67-69 Princes Street, , Stockport, Greater Manchester, SK1 1RW
Gamestation:
STOCKPORT 65 Princes Street STOCKPORT SK1 1RW
The two stores that are infamously next door neighbours, are still open! They must be both pretty profitable, I imagine.
If a new brand name comes along, one of them is surely doomed?
GAME:
Stockport - 67-69 Princes Street, , Stockport, Greater Manchester, SK1 1RW
Gamestation:
STOCKPORT 65 Princes Street STOCKPORT SK1 1RW
The two stores that are infamously next door neighbours, are still open! They must be both pretty profitable, I imagine.
If a new brand name comes along, one of them is surely doomed?
zomgbbqftw
Banned
RBS are buying the company because that is the only way they can guarantee they get their money back, I figure that the administrator has gone in and said GMG's assets are not worth £175m so it is likely that the bank will load up the new company with the same £175m worth of debt and sell for a nominal fee.
GMG will not come back on the market, it will be owned by an RBS led consortium of banks. If the banks can't find a buyer they may choose to refloat the company but the appetite for a new company will be poor so that is unlikely.
Ugh, what an annoying day. All that needed doing today was waiting for TNT to collect our boxes, tidy up a bit, and then hand over to our Regional and PWC representative.
Except TNT never showed up. So I spent 7 hours there doing pretty much nothing but drink tea and play football in the loading yard. Sure, it's better than loading boxes up but I'd rather have had it all done today. Now I'm gonna have to go in tomorrow as well.
Except TNT never showed up. So I spent 7 hours there doing pretty much nothing but drink tea and play football in the loading yard. Sure, it's better than loading boxes up but I'd rather have had it all done today. Now I'm gonna have to go in tomorrow as well.
checkeredknight
Member
I over-heard one of the higher ups visiting our store say "WHAT, they're not using TNT any more!? What the fuck are we supposed to do?" on the phone today. I'm assuming your shitty day might have something to do with that?
We spent today putting everything in boxes. Our bins are full, so we even had to put the rubbish into empty boxes. I ended up walking out at about 3PM. I was supposed to be in 11 - 2, but offered to stay a bit longer. It just become incredibly un-fun, everyone was getting stressed on getting everything finished and I think we were expected to work in silence. Fuck that. I'm not working for free in complete silence and having no fun while I'm at it. I ended up just leaving.
That's ridiculous. Especially if you're working for free.I over-heard one of the higher ups visiting our store say "WHAT, they're not using TNT any more!? What the fuck are we supposed to do?" on the phone today. I'm assuming your shitty day might have something to do with that?
We spent today putting everything in boxes. Our bins are full, so we even had to put the rubbish into empty boxes. I ended up walking out at about 3PM. I was supposed to be in 11 - 2, but offered to stay a bit longer. It just become incredibly un-fun, everyone was getting stressed on getting everything finished and I think we were expected to work in silence. Fuck that. I'm not working for free in complete silence and having no fun while I'm at it. I ended up just leaving.
Wait, what? You're working for free?! Go home man! We got our normal contract hours for the week which everyone has worked now and will be paid for, it's just myself and the manager left. If TNT don't turn up tomorrow morning we're just gonna borrow a loader from across the road and wheel it up ourselves, coz we wanna be done and outta there tomorrow.I over-heard one of the higher ups visiting our store say "WHAT, they're not using TNT any more!? What the fuck are we supposed to do?" on the phone today. I'm assuming your shitty day might have something to do with that?
We spent today putting everything in boxes. Our bins are full, so we even had to put the rubbish into empty boxes. I ended up walking out at about 3PM. I was supposed to be in 11 - 2, but offered to stay a bit longer. It just become incredibly un-fun, everyone was getting stressed on getting everything finished and I think we were expected to work in silence. Fuck that. I'm not working for free in complete silence and having no fun while I'm at it. I ended up just leaving.
Also, complete silence? Man
We've been doing everything we can to keep our guys' morale up with music and games (hence some football) to take away from the monotony of it all. Costa has been providing us with free drinks and the Greggs across the road has been bringing us free lunches too. It is a kinda close knit town so everyone nearby helps each other (even the CeX guys down the road). We also got some letters from some kids from one of the local primary schools who were sad we were closing and didn't want us to go! I over-heard one of the higher ups visiting our store say "WHAT, they're not using TNT any more!? What the fuck are we supposed to do?" on the phone today. I'm assuming your shitty day might have something to do with that?
We spent today putting everything in boxes. Our bins are full, so we even had to put the rubbish into empty boxes. I ended up walking out at about 3PM. I was supposed to be in 11 - 2, but offered to stay a bit longer. It just become incredibly un-fun, everyone was getting stressed on getting everything finished and I think we were expected to work in silence. Fuck that. I'm not working for free in complete silence and having no fun while I'm at it. I ended up just leaving.
There's loyalty and then there's foolishness.
Why are you doing their work for free? I know you are friends with whoever, but that's a job that paid employees should be doing.
Also, if they aren't paying you, I don't see why you should bother following their rules about not talking or whatever. You're doing work that will solely benefit THEM for nothing. Screw them.
Don't forget that the company recently decided you were expendable.
Your time would be better spent looking for another job or getting your CV in order.
checkeredknight
Member
Wait, what? You're working for free?! Go home man! We got our normal contract hours for the week which everyone has worked now and will be paid for, it's just myself and the manager left. If TNT don't turn up tomorrow morning we're just gonna borrow a loader from across the road and wheel it up ourselves, coz we wanna be done and outta there tomorrow.
Also, complete silence? Man
You really shouldn't have to take it all yourself, either. That's what we were doing with a lot of our stock, but we only had one roll cage to use that we managed to borrow from Sports Direct. It was ridiculous, we shouldn't have to manually kart all of our shit to other stores, even if you're a manager or just a sales assistant.
Before we could get that roll cage, we were having to take the boxes by hand. One of mine had three original Xbox consoles in it and two 3DS's. The PWC guy (or whoever he is) was at the store once we got back. He must have been watching and complained at us for stopping for 30 seconds or so for a breather. He didn't even say hello, just bitched at us. Absolute prick, it was very hard not to punch him clean in the face. Luckily he pissed off after ten minutes or so.
I know. We're idiots. I have my CV in order and such already; I haven't ruled any of that out.
I think the reason my managers are being a bit strict now is because we still have a lot of work to do. Everything needs to be done and we need to be out by tomorrow. It's a big shop and there aren't many of us. They're stressed, it's a lot of work and the company doesn't give a shit. I love our shop and the people who work there. Me and a few of my colleagues have worked for free for shitty GAME Group many times since I began work there. As a lackey, you're expected to stay and hoover / clean the shop for 30 - 40 minutes after closing each day. During this time, management cashes up. They get paid; we don't. I've definitely worked well over 40 hours for free because of this.
I'm happy to stay there and help for free if I can have a laugh with my friends and have fun as well as getting things done. If they want us to knuckle down and go through hell on our last days for nothing they can fuck off.
Psychotext
Member
Ridiculous, take a radio in tomorrow. They can do a grand total of fuck all.
JennyTablina
Member
http://www.game.co.uk/wcsstore/holding_page/game/index.html?storeId=10151
Site not open but advertising in-store offers at the moment including advertising Star Wars Kinect for Tuesday (Super Pokemon Rumble for £24.99 - thats a deal?)
I assume that means they are feeling pretty confident about recovery?
Site not open but advertising in-store offers at the moment including advertising Star Wars Kinect for Tuesday (Super Pokemon Rumble for £24.99 - thats a deal?
)I assume that means they are feeling pretty confident about recovery?
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
http://www.game.co.uk/wcsstore/holding_page/game/index.html?storeId=10151
Site not open but advertising in-store offers at the moment including advertising Star Wars Kinect for Tuesday (Super Pokemon Rumble for £24.99 - thats a deal?
I assume that means they are feeling pretty confident about recovery?
Errrr... Kinect Star Wars is £30 online, they want £40?!
How have they even got the game? Did they negotiate the same deal as with the Vita?
I am pretty sure that Super Pokemon Rumble was already discounted to £19.99 before Game started to go under. So yeah, it's a great deal.http://www.game.co.uk/wcsstore/holding_page/game/index.html?storeId=10151
Site not open but advertising in-store offers at the moment including advertising Star Wars Kinect for Tuesday (Super Pokemon Rumble for £24.99 - thats a deal?
I assume that means they are feeling pretty confident about recovery?
Haha. I banged on about these two last week! Even posted a picture of them, crazy when you think about it!
J Tourettes
Banned
You wouldn't catch me working for free in a no fun allowed environment.
Also, I Wii a fad? :lol It was the must have gift for about 4 holiday seasons.
Also, I Wii a fad? :lol It was the must have gift for about 4 holiday seasons.
Seriously man, fuck them, they don't give a shit about you. Do your contracted hours to ensure you get paid, but don't let them take the piss on working conditions and don't work for free! They won't remember and they won't care no matter how much you help them.
Every time a large company says that "they value their people most of all" it makes me sick, it's ALWAYS a lie.
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
Tesco print ad, as spotted by CVG:
Psychotext
Member
Good, a supermarket war can only help us.
checkeredknight
Member
Enjoy your weekend LordAlu! Game Station Grimsby signing off as of 2PM this afternoon. The PWC guy apologised for being a nob and shook our hands. We took a few pictures if anyone wants to see, but it's nothing interesting. Just an empty shop. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the pub.
Guessing he must have realized that you guys were doing all that for free.
I'd have told him to go fuck himself. I had to deal with adminstrators when Best Buy went and the guys assigned to our store were decent about it. I expected all of the store to hate them but they were good people
axisofweevils
Holy crap! Today's real megaton is that more than two people can have the same first name.
Not sure if this has been posted, but one of the people that worked in the GAME store at Colchester uploaded this to youtube, featuring him playing a song on guitar in an empty store.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGN4_EM_bZ0&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGN4_EM_bZ0&feature=youtu.be
Dandare4444
Member
As long as he doesn't mention this on his CV, he should be fine.
Amazing.
He should of entered the Voice.
This is fantastic. I worked with a lot of (middle and upper management) moronic useless pricks during my time at GAME, and his KPI lyric had me in stitches. I felt that man, I felt it.
I hope he and every other unfortunate GAME employee lands on their feet
This is fantastic. I worked with a lot of (middle and upper management) moronic useless pricks during my time at GAME, and his KPI lyric had me in stitches. I felt that man, I felt it.
I hope he and every other unfortunate GAME employee lands on their feet
lol, that song seemed very true. A lot of the managers I had to deal with were total pricks. Actually I can only think of three managers in my time at Gamestation who weren't pricks. One was my manager, one was an Area Manager I had for about 18 months, and the other was a manager of a nearby store. The rest? All cunts.
DefectiveReject
Banned
Ha ha. That's my local game (there's another around the corner that survived but I always used this one)
Went into the GAME at the White Rose Centre in Leeds this afternoon. To be honest, it doesn't feel any different. Maybe there's a little less pre-owned stock on the shelves than before, but otherwise I was a little surprised at how little had changed in that particular store.
bu-bu-bu-but gaming in the UK is doomed without GAME lol.
ThoughtsOfSpeaking
Banned
I have to admit I'm surprised that gamestation lewisham is still open, especially considering the amount of independant storeS in nearby peckham and elephant and castle. That said, I think they got a huge boost as the big blockbuster by me (catford) closed down in response to the riots. They must of got a boost of business from that because before then the shop was nearly always empty.
I think this thread needs renaming after chequeredknight. GMG doesn't deserve you. Did you tell them to stfu? They can't et the clear out sorted in time and stressed out? Go fucking pay someone to do it you fucknuts.
Reading this last page has made me so angry. At least my blind loyalty was through greed.
These bastards have sacked you, they may not even pay you at all and have the nerve to treat you like slaves?
Fuck them up the ass.
Knight, do yourself a favour. If you want to stay in retail, get a job in tesco. Better pay, better conditions and from what I've heard, they treat their staff well.
Fuck GMG and fuck you for working for free for those scumsuckers.
Reading this last page has made me so angry. At least my blind loyalty was through greed.
These bastards have sacked you, they may not even pay you at all and have the nerve to treat you like slaves?
Fuck them up the ass.
Knight, do yourself a favour. If you want to stay in retail, get a job in tesco. Better pay, better conditions and from what I've heard, they treat their staff well.
Fuck GMG and fuck you for working for free for those scumsuckers.
I think this thread needs renaming after chequeredknight. GMG doesn't deserve you. Did you tell them to stfu? They can't et the clear out sorted in time and stressed out? Go fucking pay someone to do it you fucknuts.
Reading this last page has made me so angry. At least my blind loyalty was through greed.
These bastards have sacked you, they may not even pay you at all and have the nerve to treat you like slaves?
Fuck them up the ass.
Knight, do yourself a favour. If you want to stay in retail, get a job in tesco. Better pay, better conditions and from what I've heard, they treat their staff well.
Fuck GMG and fuck you for working for free for those scumsuckers.
Reading this last page has made me so angry. At least my blind loyalty was through greed.
These bastards have sacked you, they may not even pay you at all and have the nerve to treat you like slaves?
Fuck them up the ass.
Knight, do yourself a favour. If you want to stay in retail, get a job in tesco. Better pay, better conditions and from what I've heard, they treat their staff well.
Fuck GMG and fuck you for working for free for those scumsuckers.
Good, a supermarket war can only help us.
Whoever loses. We win
Ohhhhhhh shit...
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/former-game-workers-furious-at-late-wage-admission/093715
Utter scumbags.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/former-game-workers-furious-at-late-wage-admission/093715
Utter scumbags.
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
Little Old Man
Member
Happy for the people who should be safe in their jobs for the time being at least. Wonder what strategy OPcapita will take. Hopefully they'll pull it back towards being a specialist retailer once more.
JonathanEx
Member
So the jobs are saved.
For 12 months until the next round of cuts, probably.
Either way, I think GAME needs a bit of a rebrand maybe? Having 2 brands is a bit much especially after the closures - keep the Game name, make it lowercase ffs and it helps draw a line under this mess.
For 12 months until the next round of cuts, probably.
Either way, I think GAME needs a bit of a rebrand maybe? Having 2 brands is a bit much especially after the closures - keep the Game name, make it lowercase ffs and it helps draw a line under this mess.
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
Jeff Albertson
Member
Dumb question but the shares people had are now dead yes as in they were under the old company so are gone for good no matter what?
Little Old Man
Member
I need to know how this works, as it seems to me that a mysterious company now not only owns a struggling british electronics chain, but now an even bigger, even more struggling international video game chain.
Do they interfere in the running of the stores? I guess they do in some way as they just fired 1000 Comet employees. But will the stores get any autonomy back? Will OpCapita just enable things to go back to business as normal (as Comet seemed to)? No deciding on one brand, or one store per town? What about the near-700 international stores? What about the suppliers owed millions, and who wanted GAME DEAD for years of pre-owned profit-"theft".
So many questions, and probably no answers for months
I'd have preferred Gamestop to buy them out, at least they would make changes instead of just injecting adrenaline into the body and letting it twitch for a while longer.
Throwing guesses into the wind here, but I imagine they take each takeover on a case by case basis. So they'll have a dedicated team who researched GMG extensively before becoming involved, and during its demise, creating initial plans for different scenarios depending on when/in what state they purchased GMG in. I'm assuming they might even hire new analysts if it is a market they feel they have not much experience with.
My guess is now they'll have a long look through the books, and see how it runs with 300 stores, with emphasis on sorting out the poor relations with publishers, and seeing if the international stores are worthwhile, perhaps with some other minor changes such as changing GS stores to Game ones etc. Then in 6-12 months, the rebranding and proper restructuring will begin, with any more store closures happening then.
checkeredknight
Member
Funny story Brera, I used to work at TESCO! I was on the CD, DVD and Game department there for two years before I moved to University. The upper management didn't give a fuck and often looked down upon the shop floor / warehouse staff. The only time the management would ever interact with the likes of us was when we were being told what to do and what not to do. Other than that, it wasn't a bad little job.
I agree with what you're saying though and I appreciate the kind words. I doubt I'm the only staff member doing shit like this in their final week, so I would feel selfish with a thread named after me. My colleague Phil (who has been Senior Sales for the company for nine years) worked a full day for free on Thursday. He's more deserving than I am.
Hmm. What does this mean? I'm not expecting redundancy, but I am expected to be paid next Friday. According to my regional manger, we will be paid the two weeks we're still owed by GAME on Friday the 6th of April. The PWC guy said that we should expect the weeks pay (that's just gone by) from the administrators soon after.
Also got my redundancy letter today. Ticking that I got no notice of redundancy. Applying for compensation. Expecting to receive jack shit.
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