I don't know Gamestop very well? but as a UK citizen Game always seemed to push their "tactics" too far. I remember when they offered free returns of up to a week for all titles and that bit them in the arse, and their purchasing of shop space was Starbucks-esque and isn't working out, and weren't there stories about employees buying cheap stock from other stores to sell second hand at Game? that's not a wise decision.
Really, what I meant by pawn-shop style was they copy business practices of others without thinking of the unique qualities that are computer games.
As for gamestop? maybe slightly different percentages of new vs. used and slightly less shops makes all the difference.
The dumbest decision I've ever had to grin and go with in my life. Basically giving games away for free.
When GAME took over Gamestation they were told that Gamestation had to keep its 'identity' for at least 12 months before any rebranding happened. While signs didn't change policy within the stores changed within months to basically become another GAME store.
Prices became the same.
Stock became the same.
Trades in became the same.
Retro gaming and niche target markets went out of the window. I'm sure you all remember the infamous 'I was told to set fire to all retro games' rumour. While I little dramatic it wasn't too far from the truth.
Its a business group that has went from one bad decision to the next over the last decade or so. They treat people badly from customers to their own employees, and wonder why people become 'fed up' of them...
When they moved away from just letting people browse and enjoy their visit to a store, instead of complaining and moaning that they've been on the demo unit for 5 minutes that was enough for me.
APPROACH EVERY CUSTOMER AND GREET THEM WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF ENTERING THE STORE.
ASK IF YOU CAN HELP THEM WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF THEM ENTERING THE STORE.
TELL THEM TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE ON TOP OF WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY BUYING.
UPSELL UPSELL UPSELL
GIVE THEM CRAP
Its not just GAME that follow this idea of retail to be fair, but its horrible - seems even more so horrible for a 'nerd market' like GAME's where the buyer is going generally be clued up.
If you've worked in a store you get to know your customers, you get to know the ones that are happy to just browse and hope to discover something randomly (you asking if you can help only gets in their way). You can tell the ones that are 'out of place' and will probably be grateful for your assistance.
I know they wanted everyone to get the same shopping experience, but customers don't want 'the same' they want to be treated as it suits them.
The idea someone had earlier of having a video store/arcade combine store really interested me. It reminded me of how we used to do it when I worked at Virgin. The games section was sort of just 'left' for me and one other person to look after, while the rest of the store went about pushing DVDs and CDs.
We set up a line of Demo Units so it was like a little arcade. We'd have a new release in one unit, and we'd rotate a back cat game we thought was forgotten about. I'm not saying it turned over a huge amount of money selling that extra 2/3 'forgotten about' game a week, but hey...
Then the XBOX was released and Head Office went crazy and we had to start following their rules and suggestions on POS and Demo Unit games..!
