EB/GamesStop One in the same

[bowens]

Maybe everybody else already knew this, and I'm just way out of it, but I just realized that EB Games and GameStop are the same place. Check out these two pages: EBGames (http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=919139) GameStop (http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=919139)
There is one of each of these in the mall near me. It's kind of odd that they would have two stores so similar. Even the bottom of the EBGames website says, copyright GameStop.

[tobefirst]

Yup...welcome to the club. (:

It's kinda like, although not exactly, Banana Republic is Gap is Old Navy. Not quite the same, but that's the first analogy that popped in my head.

[PlaceofDis]

i can't remember when or who. i think it was about a year or so ago that one bought out the other. i believe it was Gamestop buying out EB but i could be wrong on that too.

[PlaceofDis]

Yup...welcome to the club. (:

It's kinda like, although not exactly, Banana Republic is Gap is Old Navy. Not quite the same, but that's the first analogy that popped in my head.

no not at all the same. because Gamestop and EB are identical. you're example is a Tiered type of thing and is more akin to Lexus, Toyota, and Scion all being one company.

[tobefirst]

no not at all the same. because Gamestop and EB are identical. you're example is a Tiered type of thing and is more akin to Lexus, Toyota, and Scion all being one company.
Alright there, smartypants. (: I said it wasn't quite the same...hehehe.

[PlaceofDis]

Alright there, smartypants. (: I said it wasn't quite the same...


i know i know. i was trying to come up with a similar analogy actually and this is perhaps one of the single anamolies in Retail.

^ that was a weird sentence.

[WildCowboy]

Yep...GameStop bought out EB Games about a year ago.

Often times they won't change the name right away (if at all) because the company being acquired often has brand/name recognition in their region that the new company doesn't have.

i know i know. i was trying to come up with a similar analogy actually and this is perhaps one of the single anamolies in Retail.

Kind of like Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream...

[XNine]

Alright there, smartypants. (: I said it wasn't quite the same...hehehe.

A better analogy woould be Blockbuster Video and Hollywood video. They were both owned by Viacom and all profits went into Viacom's pockets. In order to remove themselves of a monopoly risk, they sold Hollywood Video, but still, they were the same company doing the same things...

[WildCowboy]

A better analogy woould be Blockbuster Video and Hollywood video. They were both owned by Viacom and all profits went into Viacom's pockets. In order to remove themselves of a monopoly risk, they sold Hollywood Video, but still, they were the same company doing the same things...

Hollywood Video wasn't owned by Viacom. Blockbuster attempted a hostile takeover of Hollywood a couple of years ago, but Hollywood instead sold themselves to Movie Gallery.

[PlaceofDis]

Kind of like Edy's and Dreyer's ice cream...

hmmm i suppose. i thought Edy's was supposed to be marketed as being a 'superior' brand and had a larger price-tag. but i could be wrong on that too. :o

[WildCowboy]

hmmm i suppose. i thought Edy's was supposed to be marketed as being a 'superior' brand and had a larger price-tag. but i could be wrong on that too. :o

Nope they're exactly the same...containers look identical except for the name. It's Edy's east of the Rockies and Dreyer's to the west.

[baleensavage]

When I heard a while back that Gamestop bought EB I was pretty frustrated. I've always liked EB better and now Gamestop has a total monopoly on video game stores. Sure you can buy video games elsewhere, but in terms of dedicated video games stores (at least in New England), they are it. From what they said at the local store, they have just finished the inventory consolidation and this fall they are going to do rebranding. Whether all the stores will become the same or whether they will keep the corporate logo (like when Nike bought Converse) is anyone's guess. I can't imagine them keeping two stores in one mall open indefinitely, but you never know.

[PlaceofDis]

Nope they're exactly the same...containers look identical except for the name. It's Edy's east of the Rockies and Dreyer's to the west.

ah gotcha. thanks for clarifying that.

learn something new everyday. :D

[WildCowboy]

ah gotcha. thanks for clarifying that.

learn something new everyday. :D

I guess it's Dredy's if you're standing on the Continental Divide...

[dizastor]

Hellman's mayonaise on the East Coast
Best Foods mayonaise on the West Coast

Delicious on both coasts, straight-up or with a sandwich. ;)

[PlaceofDis]

with these food examples that we've come up with are close. something about the Gamespot/EB contiunes to make me think that is singularly unique still. in that they have both stores relatively close to one another in just about all regions. the icecream and other examples equate to regional brand marketing.

[bowens]

Thanks for the quick replies. I guess I've just been out of the loop for a while. I really haven't played many games for a while. I have an XBox but haven't bought a game in probably over a year. But I just bought a DS Lite last week and have been playing it everyday.

[WildCowboy]

with these food examples that we've come up with are close. something about the Gamespot/EB contiunes to make me think that is singularly unique still. in that they have both stores relatively close to one another in just about all regions. the icecream and other examples equate to regional brand marketing.

Here (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6122418.html) is an article from the announcement of the merger that mentions that rebranding and consolidation will occur in 2006.

It is not unusual for a merged company to take some time before fully consolidating. As you say, it is somewhat unusual to do it on a "permanent" basis if there aren't other distinguishing factors like geography.

[PlaceofDis]

Here (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6122418.html) is an article from the announcement of the merger that mentions that rebranding and consolidation will occur in 2006.

It is not unusual for a merged company to take some time before fully consolidating. As you say, it is somewhat unusual to do it on a "permanent" basis.

oh i know about taking time on the rebranding and such. it just doesn't seem to be happening. :eek: :rolleyes: at least not here yet.

[dizastor]

A good store example is Macys. They swallowed a bunch of regional retailers and in some regions kept the names for a while or added their name to the regional name to create a wholly unique store name.

For a while in some locations Macys and the other stores did indeed co-exist before they decided to consolidate under the Macy's name.

Filenes, Robinsons-May, and The Bon-Marche are the ones I am aware of as I've lived in Massachusetts, So. Cal., and now Seattle. Up here in the Northwest Macys bought local retailer The Bon Marche and created Bon-Macy's it was only about a year ago that they dropped that bastardized name.

That's the only example I can think of that is dead on. I'm sure there are more.

[jdechko]

Part of the reason one of the local EB managers told me is that as far as volume, they weren't even close to competing with Wal-Mart or Best Buy. The merge doesn't give GameStop/EB the total monopoly on video games (probably used games) but rather helps them to compete against larger retail stores.

I prefer EB to Gamestop, but it's not the most important thing in the world.

[bowens]

Then, in mall locations where there is duplication in retail outlets, store closings will follow "when appropriate," according to a GameStop official.
That answers one question. That kind of sucks though. I normally go into both to try to find a better deal. Now I won't have a choice.

[baleensavage]

I've never been able to understand why Walmart could even offer competiton for stores like EB. They only ever have a handful of games and prices aren't that good. Its the same thing with Target and other box stores. They have lousy selection and high prices. Thats why I always liked EB. Plus the whole used thing is great and most of the employess actually, gasp, play games. You're lucky if you even find an employee at Walmart.

I suppose it's just the convenience factor. Parents dont want to bother go to a game store when they can buy their kids games at Walmart.

[PlaceofDis]

usually the Box stores like Walmart, Target, and BestBuy are actually cheaper for new games than EB/Gamestop. and more advertising, and more sales etc.

Used games are a totally different story though.

[tobefirst]

usually the Box stores like Walmart, Target, and BestBuy are actually cheaper for new games than EB/Gamestop. and more advertising, and more sales etc.

Used games are a totally different story though.
I bought Madden '07 for the xbox (regular one) the week it came out at Walmart for $40. Everywhere else was $50.

[jdechko]

I suppose it's just the convenience factor. Parents dont want to bother go to a game store when they can buy their kids games at Walmart.

That's what I think too, as I would much rather go to EB to buy a game over WalMart.

[LastLine]

Try going to the Apple Store in Sheffield. Makes me chuckle that they have a Game store next to them, then just around the corner, there's another. Spitting distance really. Same company, same branding everything...

[Dagless]

It's like Currys=Dixons=Comet. or as it used to be. I'm sure there was a 3rd site that was identical too. All owned by the same guy... or used to! again.

*I remembered the 3rd one :p

[MacRumorUser]

Try going to the Apple Store in Sheffield. Makes me chuckle that they have a Game store next to them, then just around the corner, there's another. Spitting distance really. Same company, same branding everything...

Out of interest. What's meadowhall like nowadays, haven't been for oo 8-9 years at this stage :eek:

[bowens]

I've never been able to understand why Walmart could even offer competiton for stores like EB. They only ever have a handful of games and prices aren't that good. Its the same thing with Target and other box stores. They have lousy selection and high prices. Thats why I always liked EB. Plus the whole used thing is great and most of the employess actually, gasp, play games. You're lucky if you even find an employee at Walmart.

I suppose it's just the convenience factor. Parents dont want to bother go to a game store when they can buy their kids games at Walmart.

I really haven't bought much at EB. They have always seemed higher priced to me than GameStop. Maybe it's just my imagination, but on used games GameStop has always seemed cheaper.

[7on]

I used to remember Electronic Boutique (which is EB) and Babbage's - now all EB's and GameStops.

At one point the mall back home had a GameStop, Babbage's, and EB Games all in operation. All near each other too. So I'd stand in the middle and charge up my gaming power.

[Mackilroy]

Where I live, there's a Gamestop on one side of the road, and then if you go a few miles further down the road there's an EB Games on the other side.

[e²Studios]

EB Games/Gamestop is to games like Virgin is to music. They usually carry more stock than target or wal mart so you pay a premium on the games that you buy from there. On release day wal mart or target are usually cheaper, ive found some great deals at target. The one thing i do love is buying used games. They carry a 7 day return policy so if i hate the game i can return it vs. buying it new hating it and getting their lowball used turn in price.

I read in the WSJ that Gamestop is taking the "starbucks" type approach to building their stores up, should be interesting to see how it all pans out. There have been many stores that have fallen from expanding too fast.

Ed

[LastLine]

It's like Currys=Dixons=Comet. or as it used to be. I'm sure there was a 3rd site that was identical too. All owned by the same guy... or used to! again.

*I remembered the 3rd one :p
* You got it wrong


Currys = Dixons = PC World = The Link (well not the link anymore, they sold that to O2)

Comet's independent of them.

[LastLine]

Out of interest. What's meadowhall like nowadays, haven't been for oo 8-9 years at this stage :eek:
As horrible as ever :P

Nah in seriousness - I hate clothes shopping - and being honest, that's about all that's there. THe Apple store's the only thing that gets me to show up now and again.

[thegreatluke]

Monopoly is one of the best board games ever.

Too bad the business practice isn't.

[jrk07]

Not to stir up a flame fest or anything, but I recently decided to stop shopping at EbGames/Gamestop altogether.

Besides their constant disorganization/overall trashiness, the employees have really reached an all-time low for customer service. On three ocasions with two different employees, I have been pressured to reserve a game. I know this is obviously the norm, but these past few times the employees used an attitude that was downright disrespectful. Not to mention their reluctance to sell games the day they get them if you didn't reserve the game.

I'm sure you are now thinking that I am over-reacting, but I assure you that the gamestop/ebgames in my area are just plain awful. I was once a Gamestop employee myself, so I sorta have a better feel for whats expected of the employees, and these stores just make me sick. The reservation pressure obviously comes from the Corporate Management who thinks that every store in the nation needs 200 Madden NFL reserves, no matter how big the city, or how many other gamestops are already in the same town. As far as keeping the store organized though, that is just something you'd think the employees would keep up, kind of like cleaning your bedroom.

I now look for the games mainly at Target or Best Buy, which is usually a pain if I want something more obscure like Super Robot Taisen for the GBA, but I get by.

This brings me to my final point that I wish that there were LOCALLY OWNED gamestores. I'm sure this is something that just couldn't work because of the monopoly Gamestop Corp. now has over the stand alone video game store though. I would really pour all of my video game buying dollars into a locally owned gamestore.

Anybody else think that a locally-owned gamestore would be great?

[Abulia]

Anybody else think that a locally-owned gamestore would be great?
As someone who's been in the hobby and game industry for two decades (pen and paper RPGs, miniatures, etc), this would be a disaster.

People who live the medium (games) != business sense. No concept of inventory turnover, actually selling a product ("I just got this new game that I think is right up your alley, Bob"), or proper business management. You're ordering the Hot New Game Of The Month (TM) to finance the shelf of crap that you've held onto for over a year and can't move. You're stiffing your smaller distributors to order more Pokemon...always just under 30 days solvent.

Plus, honestly, the startup capital for a videogame store would be huge. These aren't cheap SKUs.

So, respectfully, no. :) I'm close to boycotting EB Games/Gamestop too. They're on their third pitch at the moment.

[yg17]

Where I live, there's a Gamestop on one side of the road, and then if you go a few miles further down the road there's an EB Games on the other side.


Yeah, we have one of those situations in St. Louis. And both of the stores are only a couple years old, so I doubt either is closing anytime soon.

They usually carry more stock than target or wal mart so you pay a premium on the games that you buy from there.

I've found the prices to be pretty inline everywhere. Occasionally, Target and Wally World have sales, but regular prices are the same, give or take a few cents.

Anyways, I like GameStop/EB, I've never been given any trouble. There trade in values suck, but as far as purchasing, I've always had a pleasant experience. Then again, I don't shop there often, since I rarely buy games, and I did work at Target for 4 years so got discounts.


As far as locally owned stores go, we have a small chain in STL called Slackers, that has used and new CDs and games. They seem to be doing quite well....there's one in the same strip mall as a Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, GameStop and EB Games, and they've been in business for several years now.

[jrk07]

People who live the medium (games) != business sense. No concept of inventory turnover, actually selling a product ("I just got this new game that I think is right up your alley, Bob"), or proper business management.


Yeah, you definitely make a point there. I don't have faith that any local video game store could survive around where I live, as there seems to always be a new comic shop popping up just as the last failed comic shop is shutting down. The video game store would be the same I'm sure, full of a bunch of the owner's best friends making it an uncomfortable experience for the rest of the customers.

But man do I wish there was a decent alternative to the big box stores or Gamestop, argh.