Ever buy an Apple product?
Literally every single company that sells that stuff marks it up that much. I don't think it's fair to single Best Buy out on cables.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Today was probably the last time I will ever set foot in a gamestop...
- Thread starter GKDAIR
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Ever buy an Apple product?
Literally every single company that sells that stuff marks it up that much. I don't think it's fair to single Best Buy out on cables.
Yeah, I miss when I was a kid working for MediaPlay. No pressure, my job was to help people to find books, end of line.
So corporate's plan is to pester customers so much that it makes them never want to set foot in Gamestop again. They must have some Harvard Business School alumni working thereI think if they stopped bugging customers to buy all this extra crap that no one is interested in and had competitive prices and outstanding customer service, that would do much more for the company than whatever garbage they're trying to push. I don't want to feel like I'm buying a used car from one of those sleazy "buy here, pay here" lots when all I'm buying is a freaking video game.
I was at a store a few weeks ago and the cashier kept bugging me to sign up for one of their stupid credit cards.
"Will this be on your store credit card today?" No
"Do you have a store credit card?" No
"Would you like to apply for a store credit card?" No
"You can save 10% by applying for a store credit card!" No
"You don't even have to be approved, you get the 10% off just for applying!" No, I do not want a store credit card, I just want to buy my stuff and pay for it with my debit card.
It really makes me not want to go back to that store if I'm going to be bothered like that every time. And I know the cashier is just doing her job and the orders to do that come down from way up in the corporate ladder, but I don't think the big shots coming up with these awful ideas actually go into their stores and experience it from a customer's perspective. It's obnoxious, annoying, and one of the reasons why people buy stuff online instead of in stores now.
I'm not a fan of GS's corporate policies (they're about as draconian as the game producers'), but I work there as a favor to my best friend who's the manager of my store (and has been with the company since the EB days. Lets be honest, the suits at GS have never worked retail in their entire life, our district manager came from Verizon, and out regional was a banker.
But in all honestly, for every one person who gets angry, I have tons of customers who preorder or get the Pro card. I can consistently break 100% in reserves. I'm sure the OP will claim that it's because I'm a woman, but in all honesty, I just don't hard sell. I get a feel for the customer, if they're someone who seems open to either, then I sell. If it's some grandmother getting a giftcard, no.
Honestly I go to the stores that are the least pushy and leave me alone. I'll go to Target or Walmart (ew) to get a game because the employees get me my game and I leave.
No "solution selling" or warranty/scratch protection pushing.
No "solution selling" or warranty/scratch protection pushing.
No hon, it hasn't. GS has trade in bonuses all the time. And let's be real here, the people who bitch the most on trade-ins are people who expect full retail for Madden 05 for the Gamecube. Everything is supply/demand in pawn shops or any business that buys or gives store credit for used product. Everything depreciates, from your car, to a copy of Duke Nukem. If GS has a low supply of Modern Warfare 3 and there's still a big demand, it trades for $30 (for a year old game), if there's a lot of Madden '11 and low demand, it trades in for $3-4.
I actually had someone get mad at me because his PS2 games weren't trading in for $30 a piece.
I don't mind shopping at GS, I get that retailers have to hustle, but it's a matter of finesse. Some are better at it than others.
I've had good experiences from GS employees who are serious gamers and steered me clear of more expensive games that are bad to cheaper used or sale items. They won't just say, "this game sucks," but will give its good and bad points since they play them. I appreciate retailers who know their product. Unfortunately not all GS employees are gamers.
I've had good experiences from GS employees who are serious gamers and steered me clear of more expensive games that are bad to cheaper used or sale items. They won't just say, "this game sucks," but will give its good and bad points since they play them. I appreciate retailers who know their product. Unfortunately not all GS employees are gamers.
I agree that some people expect unreasonable prices for trades. But GameStop offers a B.S price for most games, even if in mint condition and latest game. I easily get a better price for selling used games on Craigslist than what GameStop has ever offered me. Also Gamefly offers a much better trade in credit towards purchases.
That's true. I did have good experiences with employees being knowledgable and honest at GameStop, but that's not what I'm referring to. I'm referring to the forced like rewards programs and warranties they try to sell even after you said NO for the sixth time already. That in itself turns consumers off and I'm surprised the suits sitting in their cozy offices haven't figured this out yet.
Being that said, Since this is a Apple forum. I've had no problems when Apple employees tried to sell me Apple Care or something else like a bundle. They have always left it alone after saying NO once or twice and were very polite. BestBuy is the opposite, they actually treat you like dirt when you turn down a warranty, bundle or rewards program.
People buy them because they are ignorant. They don't know there is no difference, these companies use marketing to make the product seem better and the sales person makes it seem like you have to have it. They are preying on people's ignorance to make an extra buck.
I went with a friend of mine to the Cox office when he got a new TV and was upgrading to HD cable. The sales lady kept trying to sell him an HDMI cable for an extra $50. I told her that I could get the same exact thing on Amazon for $2.99, and she tried to tell me I was wrong until I told her I have a bachelor's degree in communication technology.
You're right. Many of the bigger items are comparatively priced. They try to get you on the markup on the accessories. That's where they really make their money. But yeah, always do your research beforehand.
Best Buy seems to be one of the worst. Radioshack is pretty bad too. Like I said, I understand the whole process of markups to cover overhead and stuff, but it gets to the point where these places are just taking advantage of less-informed consumers.
I've never worked at a gamestop, but I've been to them so much I know all the tricks and trades of employees.
Basically its a commission job but you don't make commission. They HAVE to shove that crap down your throat.
I've never been to a store that shoved that much crap down my throat at one time before.
Every retail store has to do it, but Gamestop takes it a step further. Gamestop will not take no for an answer, and will ask you two or three times before checking you out. I've actually had an employee hold my game ransom from me until I pre-ordered something.
Gamestop used to not be so bad about this, but they have gotten really really bad about it. Practically every gamestop I walk in now does this to the point where you could almost press Harassment charges agaisnt them.
Also, to the people saying I'm sexist? .....what? I'm confused on that one, and people seemed to pay more attention to that then my entire story about gamestop.
Basically its a commission job but you don't make commission. They HAVE to shove that crap down your throat.
I've never been to a store that shoved that much crap down my throat at one time before.
Every retail store has to do it, but Gamestop takes it a step further. Gamestop will not take no for an answer, and will ask you two or three times before checking you out. I've actually had an employee hold my game ransom from me until I pre-ordered something.
Gamestop used to not be so bad about this, but they have gotten really really bad about it. Practically every gamestop I walk in now does this to the point where you could almost press Harassment charges agaisnt them.
Also, to the people saying I'm sexist? .....what? I'm confused on that one, and people seemed to pay more attention to that then my entire story about gamestop.
On the scale of things I consider creepily objectifying women to be far worse than trying to sell add-ons.
I find this hard to believe. Why didn't you just say "I want a refund" or walk out if it wasn't yet paid for? Yet when an employee is being pushy towards another customer that you dont even know, you say something? If you let the employee hold your item hostage to get a pre-order this incident today won't be the breaking point either.
Did you even read the thread fully before posting such an offensive message?
I see people like you all the time... Please read the full thread before posting such negative comments.
Ron would be upset
Last edited:
Go back and reread the thread then reconsider you comment(s).
I can see where this is going... Have a nice day
I keep telling my managers there is no faster way to run the company into the ground...
Sadly, s/he's not fan of mine.
I was hoping s/he'd go back and reread the thread and note his/ her own comment on the issue.
I guess I'm lucky, the guy who is always running my local Gamestop is really nice. He does ask the standard questions at checkout (warranty, membership card, blah) but he's not pushy about it.
I suppose I'm in the minority, but I would much rather go to a store and buy something rather than order online. Sure, the price is slightly higher, and the employees are rather pushy; but it gets me off my behind, outside, doing something. Plus, no wait for delivery.
Couldn't agree more. Mostly because "nah, not interested" is pretty easy to say. Also, I have to deal with guys like him every time I do a shift at GS. They either treat me like I'm stupid, or they blatantly talk to my chest.
Agreed. I try and remember that they're just doing their (stressful, underpaid) job and politely decline. If they get pushy, I just say it a little more firmly. I remember when I worked at Apple in school, and having to sell Apple Care and mobile me and One to One and whatever other crap was annoying. People are conditioned by hard sales of add-ons, that they immediately tense up and get defensive. It always made me feel slightly like a used car salesman. Probably why my numbers were always in the red on all 3 categories, but I digress.
They get a slight pass from me because their stores are always crawling with pushy kids that don't have enough money for anything, don't know what they want, and haven't washed their hands in what seems to be a year.
I will admit that Gamestop is one of my least favorite places to shop for a bunch of separate reasons. One, I've sworn off buying games or accessories from them that are used. I seem to always, always get a controller that is broken in some way, or a game that won't play because it's either scratched to hell or resurfaced to hell. The multiple trips required to return/exchange, then dealing with their stickerfied copies of games just got to be way too much hassle. Kids are their biggest customers, and they rash on their stuff. I'm very particular about my electronics, so it's not a good marriage.
As Koodauw suggested, vote with your wallet. It's America, you can shop where you like and avoid places you don't like at your leisure.
That said, the sexism by both the guy in the OP's story, and the OP himself is unfortunately not very surprising in tech/game stores.