DEAL ALERT THREAD

[Pete1210]

Supposedly starting next Sunday (the 2nd), per cheapassgamer, 2 for $60 on

Amazing Spiderman
Arkham City
Battlefield 3
Darksiders 2
Mass Effect 3
Max Payne 3
Modern Warfar 3
NCAA Football 13
Prototype 2
Sleeping Dogs

what store?

Toys R Us

[Gurantsu]

Best Buy is KILLING Gamestop on trade-in values.

I don't work at Gamestop anymore (after six years home with the kids I'm actually getting a real full-time job!), but it always amused me when the e-mails would come down trying to convince us that Gamestop still was the best when it came to trades. A total load of bull, especially when followed by more pressure to sell that stinking Power Up Rewards card, which is about worthless. They just can't fathom that they are no longer top of the heap when it comes to games; they honestly feel that they are supporting the gaming industry. I keep telling my friends who are still there to start putting out the resumes, because they are in for a rude awakening.

I shopped there when I had the employee discount. Now that it's done they're the last place I'll buy anything (OK I do have Borderlands 2 on pre-order from when I worked there, but after that it's done).

[Rodster]

Best Buy is KILLING Gamestop on trade-in values.

I don't work at Gamestop anymore (after six years home with the kids I'm actually getting a real full-time job!), but it always amused me when the e-mails would come down trying to convince us that Gamestop still was the best when it came to trades. A total load of bull, especially when followed by more pressure to sell that stinking Power Up Rewards card, which is about worthless. They just can't fathom that they are no longer top of the heap when it comes to games; they honestly feel that they are supporting the gaming industry. I keep telling my friends who are still there to start putting out the resumes, because they are in for a rude awakening.

I shopped there when I had the employee discount. Now that it's done they're the last place I'll buy anything (OK I do have Borderlands 2 on pre-order from when I worked there, but after that it's done).

The last game I bought at Gamestop was Madden 10 whenever that was. Things have changed so much in the videogame business. I remember back in 1993 when I first started playing videogames. There was Babbage's and Software Etc. and how it all morphed into Gamestop, I lost track, lol.

It's not so much trades anymore as to why I don't shop at Gamestop, they've have no longer given me a reason to. I had friends who used to work there and although I never abused the system, if a game truly sucked as opposed to I did not like it. I could count on them to take it back. When they left I lost that option. Funny how way back in 2003 they started a VIP program for loyal customers where if you bought enough from them they secretly put you on the list and would take back any return.

With the inception of Amazon.com getting into games that's where 99% of my business goes to. I can buy, trade games and get promotion discounts for buying games all from the comfort of my computer. I don't have to drive and spend time preordering or picking up the game. It's mailed to me with release day delivery for free.

In Florida they now add tax to any trades as well as purchases so it's essentially a double tax. Another turn off with Gamestop is all the up selling and preorder nonsense when you walk in the store. Even if Amazon was required to charge me tax, i'd still buy my games from them.

[TCrouch]

Funny how way back in 2003 they started a VIP program for loyal customers where if you bought enough from them they secretly put you on the list and would take back any return.

That still exists. My local Gamestop treats my entire family like royalty due the sheer amount of $$ I spend there. I wanted a Tiger Collector's Edition for TW13 but they didn't have one, so my wife picked up the regular version. They actually called us back 3 or 4 days later to tell us they got a CE in, and took the regular version back and gave us the CE instead. They'll take anything back and credit me with free guides and preorder bonuses even if I didn't preorder

Point being--it still exists, it's not like they can't get away with it anymore. Until they give me a reason not to, all of my business goes through my local Gamestop.

[Rodster]

Funny how way back in 2003 they started a VIP program for loyal customers where if you bought enough from them they secretly put you on the list and would take back any return.

That still exists. My local Gamestop treats my entire family like royalty due the sheer amount of $$ I spend there. I wanted a Tiger Collector's Edition for TW13 but they didn't have one, so my wife picked up the regular version. They actually called us back 3 or 4 days later to tell us they got a CE in, and took the regular version back and gave us the CE instead. They'll take anything back and credit me with free guides and preorder bonuses even if I didn't preorder

Point being--it still exists, it's not like they can't get away with it anymore. Until they give me a reason not to, all of my business goes through my local Gamestop.

When I lost it that privilege and I had my suspicions it still existed that's when I took my business elsewhere. I used to spend on average 2-3K a year with Gamestop. I longer spend that money as my gaming interest has slowed way down but I thought 2-3K on average wasn't too for a customer.

[TCrouch]

I refuse to disclose how much I spend there annually

[Rodster]

I refuse to disclose how much I spend there annually

Heh don't worry. At one point I was spending 4-5K in my gaming prime, (consoles and games). Fortunately for my wallet those days are long gone.

[Wilk5280]

Amazon, best buy, target, mom&pop, whatever... Anything comes before Game stop. I hate the soliciting and the pushing of other products and services, but more than anything I hated them trying to sell me a display game at full price as new. The looks and comments they'd give me when I refused to purchase the game at full price was insulting.

Haven't been in a GS in years. I despise that company for some reason.

[FifaInspected]

I think many of us went through the "it's a new release so I need to buy it" phase.

[Gurantsu]

Amazon, best buy, target, mom&pop, whatever... Anything comes before Game stop. I hate the soliciting and the pushing of other products and services, but more than anything I hated them trying to sell me a display game at full price as new. The looks and comments they'd give me when I refused to purchase the game at full price was insulting.

Haven't been in a GS in years. I despise that company for some reason.

To be honest, MOST of the games that are opened for display are just that, opened brand new with the box going on the shelf and the "guts" going into a special rack in the back. I wouldn't be surprised if some stores would sell used games that way, but for the most part it really is a new game, it's just that since there aren't always fake boxes to put on the shelf we had to gut a new one.

Still, they do come off as shifty much of the time.

The sad thing is when I first started working for Electronics Boutique (before Gamestop bought them out) when I first moved to PA, people seemed to be more loyal to the employees than the company. We had a great crew, and knew our customers and would spend a lot of time with them, even just chewing the fat with the regulars who would stop in to just hang out now and then. Heck, we even had some customers come to our going away party for my first manager since we knew them so well. And they spent a ton of cash in our store.

But now those types of relationships are gone, and its all about pushing this extra crap on people who can't afford or just flat out don't want it. If the subscription numbers are down then you get visits from district and regional managers to find out what is wrong. What is wrong is that people don't want to spend money on your crap, but good luck getting that across to them. As far as I was concerned, I'd let them know about it, and if they said they weren't interested that was that. I would never pull the crap they used to show in the training videos, because if someone tried it on me I'd walk the hell out of the store.

If you aren't comfortable in a store you aren't going to shop there. Gamestop hasn't figured that out yet, and by the time they do I bet it's too late.

[TCrouch]

That's still the relationship my local GS has, which may be why I don't have any of the anti-Gamestop feelings that a lot of people on this board do. Every employee seems to know me, my wife, my mom, whoever when we walk in. The regional manager (who used to be a local employee) gave us her number to give her a call if there's anything I ever need that's "against policy" according to the local employees in case they get a new person in, etc.

But when I go in there sometimes, there are some people just chatting with the clerks, or a customer asking about a game--if I'm in the room, the clerks will end up referring them to me for my opinion on it lol.

I don't know, I feel very lucky because mine is still a very mom and pop feel.

[Rodster]

I can relate to what Grant said about the loyalty to EB employees before they were bought out by Gamestop. Those employees all hated being bought out and said things would change and not for the better. They were right.

The thing about the open boxed games on the shelf is, I knew from former EB who were now working for Gamestop, they were allowed to take home those games, play them and return them so they can recommend them to customers. Then they went back on the shelf. Nice guys, which is why I always refused any open game.

My most recent experience at a Gamestop was trying to find a hard case for my PS Vita. I wanted a case so I could put my Vita in and play it in the case. I thought I found the case, I asked the employee if I could take it out of the case and inspect it before buying it. He said nope, I could inspect it in the store after buying it and if it wasn't what I was looking for I could return it. So I paid for it, then had to stand in line a second time so I could get my money back while the piece of sh*t was upselling and offering preorders to everyone in line.

[Gurantsu]

I can relate to what Grant said about the loyalty to EB employees before they were bought out by Gamestop. Those employees all hated being bought out and said things would change and not for the better. They were right.

The thing about the open boxed games on the shelf is, I knew from former EB who were now working for Gamestop, they were allowed to take home those games, play them and return them so they can recommend them to customers. Then they went back on the shelf. Nice guys, which is why I always refused any open game.

My most recent experience at a Gamestop was trying to find a hard case for my PS Vita. I wanted a case so I could put my Vita in and play it in the case. I thought I found the case, I asked the employee if I could take it out of the case and inspect it before buying it. He said nope, I could inspect it in the store after buying it and if it wasn't what I was looking for I could return it. So I paid for it, then had to stand in line a second time so I could get my money back while the piece of sh*t was upselling and offering preorders to everyone in line.

Back in the day that was the case, but every store had different policies. We weren't allowed to take any game home if it was a new copy, only used sign-outs were allowed. Still, depending on the store there is a lot of room for indiscretion. Certainly our district had its share.

It's all about the employees, as Terry is saying. I remember we used to hold games for people if we knew they were fans, and then call them to see if they were interested. I still remember this one old lady who would buy every Gameboy RPG that came down the pike. We'd hold one, call her, she'd trade in the last one and get the new one. You can't downplay that relationship between the employees and the customers, that's where trust comes in, and from that, sales (and REPEAT sales) emerge.

I have no beef with the numbers, I understand that that's what the bean counters down in Texas are looking at. But at the same time they need to understand these types of relationships, and let the local stores try to develop them.

[jLp vAkEr0]

Uncharted 3 is now $20 nationwide but good luck finding a copy.

Was able to snag one of 2 left @ Best Buy.

Brand new copies are sold out in all Gamestops in PR.

Guess it's FINALLY time to play UC3 which is weird for me since it's only my favorite game series of all time (after Half Life).

[toonarmy]

My main beef with Gamestop is that they sell the gutted copies at a new price. They always claim that the stickers on the front of the cases come off easy with some alcohol or by putting the case over heat. Much of the time neither method fully gets the sticky residue off the case fully and leaves a dull finish mess on and around where the sticker was. Maybe a minor quibble for some, but when you want to sell a game on the internet as "like new," having a case that looks like s*** makes it hard to list as like new. It also sucks for people like me who are OCD about keeping their games and cases really neat. It also turns me off that they take a pissy attitude with me when I decline to buy a gutted copy and move along.

Maybe my GS is just really crap, but I've bought gutted copies of disc-based games that had pretty big scratches on them, and cart-based games with saves on them from being played by store employees. I have bought some things from them in recent years that were a really good price compared to other stores, but I avoid them when I possibly can. It's too bad, because back when the store was Waldensoft and Electronic's Boutique they typically had fairly good customer service and I was loyal customer. You would think that with so many online places to buy games now that brick and mortar Gamestops would up their service rather than become more crap.

[XXXIV]

Got this poster at auction the other night for $7.


Now thats a deal baby!

[Rodster]

My main beef with Gamestop is that they sell the gutted copies at a new price. They always claim that the stickers on the front of the cases come off easy with some alcohol or by putting the case over heat. Much of the time neither method fully gets the sticky residue off the case fully and leaves a dull finish mess on and around where the sticker was. Maybe a minor quibble for some, but when you want to sell a game on the internet as "like new," having a case that looks like s*** makes it hard to list as like new. It also sucks for people like me who are OCD about keeping their games and cases really neat. It also turns me off that they take a pissy attitude with me when I decline to buy a gutted copy and move along.

Maybe my GS is just really crap, but I've bought gutted copies of disc-based games that had pretty big scratches on them, and cart-based games with saves on them from being played by store employees. I have bought some things from them in recent years that were a really good price compared to other stores, but I avoid them when I possibly can. It's too bad, because back when the store was Waldensoft and Electronic's Boutique they typically had fairly good customer service and I was loyal customer. You would think that with so many online places to buy games now that brick and mortar Gamestops would up their service rather than become more crap.

My biggest beef with gutted copies is if I return an open game they won't refund my money cause it's OPEN. That's why I demand they sell me a sealed game with the wrapper. But since I haven't dealt with those scumbags in years it's a moot point.

[Rodster]

GTA IV Complete plus Max Payne 3 (PC) $24.99 Amazon.com (only today)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/r ... 534ZSWR57M

[Pete1210]

Like TCrouch, my local Gamestop is a nice place to shop. But I will go wherever the sales are. Sometimes that will be Gamestop when they have extra 60% TIV or B2G1 free. Every so often Gamefly has some great sales on used games with like new cases. I check cheapassgamer.com for the best deals.

[fsquid]

I worked the EB in college so I could get games and take them home back in the day. I enjoyed it then. The only thing we pushed was that Game Doctor thing that would "repair" your scratched disks.

[bulls23]

Microsoft needs to step it up and include an HDMI cable as well.

$5 is too rich for your blood?

You'd have to ask Bill Gates.

[FifaInspected]

My first trade-ins at best buy tonight. Fifa12, madden 12 and F1 2011 gave me $49. Such a sweet deal.

[Wilk5280]

Wanted info:

Looking to pick up vita with probably madden and looking for best deal at retail.

[10spro]

Wanted info:

Looking to pick up vita with probably madden and looking for best deal at retail.

I just saw a deal that throws Madden at you, plus a $50 dollar certificate for any future purchase at BB Canada for $249. Pretty sure there's something like that in your neck of the woods.

[toonarmy]

Amazing Spiderman
Arkham City
Battlefield 3
Darksiders 2
Mass Effect 3
Max Payne 3
Modern Warfare 3
NCAA Football 13
Prototype 2
Sleeping Dogs

2 of these for $60 at Toysrus. Since my TRU is crap and didn't have either of the games I wanted I went to Walmart and they price-matched without any problem. Happy to grab Sleeping Dogs and Darksiders II for 30 a piece. The woman initially rang up my sale as 2 for $30, but the manager doing the override caught the mistake.

Also, Target has Max Payne 3 for 34.99, plus they will give you a $10 gift card for buying any game over 34.99 and putting down $1 towards any preorder. So even if you never picked up the preordered game you could get Max Payne for 25.99 if you count the gift card. Additionally, some Targets still have the Max Payne 3/GTA IV bundle, so if you can find that bundle you can really score.