[Dozen Wicked Words]

They aren't stocking Mario Party 9 either which, while not in Mass Effect or EA league, its a huge, popular title on the Wii they are missing too.

[cloud493]

Game should do a massive clear out to get rid of all their preowned crap that takes up shelf space, and use that money to get the new titles in,

[cherryghost]

And they didn't stock and Ubisoft Vita games last week either. They're truly ****ed.

[cherryghost]

Originally Posted by cloud493

Game should do a massive clear out to get rid of all their preowned crap that takes up shelf space, and use that money to get the new titles in,

That's not the problem. The problem is they have a poor preowned section that Gamestop is just slaughtering them with. They cannot compete. Retailers that sell new games only will only go in the hole very quickly, as one a single-sided business goal just won't cut the mustard.

[VinLieger]

This is very sad to see happen, for a long time i was a loyal GAME customer but in recent years the simple fact was other stores had better prices and online delivery services so i stopped using them.
I would have gladly ordered online from them if Ireland had been properly catered for, like having prices in euros and not having to pay for overseas shipping, the fact that other stores managed to get this right here proves that they either were too stupid to see what they were doing wrong or just didnt care, either way its completely their own fault

[Venom]

Originally Posted by cloud493

Game should do a massive clear out to get rid of all their preowned crap that takes up shelf space, and use that money to get the new titles in,

It's the pre-owned crap that they make the most money on

I can't even remember the last time I bought something from Game tbh.

[Pageant Messiah]

Originally Posted by GT_Dublin

Quote:

The news was confirmed in a leaked memo sent to staff today by GAME Group northern Europe MD Tom Devine. It was obtained by IGN and transcribed by Edge. Here's the full text:

"Dear all,

Last week we held an event for our partners in the industry and explained the challenges we are facing in the short term - and we asked for their support.

We asked them to trade with us using manageable credit terms, and for them to continue to do that whilst we work through the strategic review and refinancing of our business.

We gave the industry commitments - we committed to integrity and openness in our dealings, and working with everyone equally.

We committed to only stocking products on which we could get the right credit terms, regardless of the title or the supplier. We will not stock products if the terms are not right for our business - we will not sacrifice long-term credit requirements for short-term sales opportunities.

As a result of us taking this position - a position that we believe is critical to our long-term health as a business - we have taken the very difficult decision to not stock EA's March releases, including Mass Effect 3.

As a specialist retailer dedicated to games and gaming, it is never easy to make a decision not to stock a title, particularly one with such a strong fanbase. But it is imperative that we treat every supplier evenly, that we stick to our commitments, and that we don't sign up to payment terms that will hamper us further in the future.

It is even more critical that we manage this appropriately with our loyal customers. We know they will be disappointed regarding Mass Effect in particular and in recognition of this, we will be contacting our Mass Effect pre-order customers and as a gesture of goodwill we will be offering them £5 of reward card / elite points.

I know that many of you will have to manage customer and supplier feedback directly, and I would like to thank you in advance for your support and am happy to answer any questions you have directly - just grab me as I walk around."

Looks like EA might be the bad guy here. I still don't think this was a good decision for Game from a consumer confidence point of view.

EA is not the bad guy here at all. Read between the lines of the bolded section.

We will not stock products if the terms are not right for our business - we will not sacrifice long-term credit requirements for short-term sales opportunities.

Game want to increasingly finance themselves, their running costs and more importantly their continued losses from credit given by the publishers. This is a scenario where a business already has the sales (pre orders) in place - knows that the item they buy in will be sold and cash in the bank within 5 days of it landing into them yet they pretend that it doesn't suit their strategy to stock the title.

Pure bullsh!t - even if EA said no more credit a retailler knowing they had guaranteed sales and hopefully profits to be made on the title would find a way / pay upfront if neccessary to secure that guaranteed profit. The truth is more likely that Game have absolutely no cash funds left and can't afford to pay for the stock up front nor will anyone finance them to do it because they are clearly so far behind elsewhere.

A company in trouble doesn't decide not to carry a particular line because of disadvantageous credit terms when there is money to be made from it (and a string of pissed off customers whose orders you would be cancelling) unless they simply can't afford to.

[Pageant Messiah]

Originally Posted by super_furry

Thing is, this whole thing's a vicious circle. They're in trouble because fewer people are shopping there, but their current problems are only going to put more people off from buying there.

I'm also surprised with how uncompetitive GAME have become over the last six months or so. I was in the Ilac Centre's store on Sunday and the vast majority of their increasingly limited new stock was €5 to €10 more expensive than HMV and Gamestop.

... Who are selling at a loss / heavy discounts from the RRP to do so. GAME are effectively the first of the bigger retailers to hit the bottom of the barrell from the price war that has been going on in the UK and Ireland for the past few years. HMV are in as much trouble as Game but are being supported by the movie studios who can't afford to see the only specialist retailer of DVDs etc go out of existence. Gamestop have massive pockets and are waiting for Game to go under. You're going to see game prices heading back to the €60 direction soon.

[PickledLime]

Originally Posted by Pageant Messiah

... Who are selling at a loss / heavy discounts from the RRP to do so. GAME are effectively the first of the bigger retailers to hit the bottom of the barrell from the price war that has been going on in the UK and Ireland for the past few years. HMV are in as much trouble as Game but are being supported by the movie studios who can't afford to see the only specialist retailer of DVDs etc go out of existence. Gamestop have massive pockets and are waiting for Game to go under. You're going to see game prices heading back to the €60 direction soon.

But are Gamestop willing to reach into their pockets?

Dunno about ye, but i've noticed recently that they've less staff working, shop isn't as well maintained. They seem to have had trouble getting certain stock too - were out of stock for how long of Skylanders because 'there wasn't enough been made'. Quick trip to Smyths sees the things stacked high and was told they're getting them regularly.

They also seem to be out of stock of Saints Row 3 since it came out. And where the hell are the cds gone?!

I have my suspicions about them (remember that they recently bailed out of NI and Portugal).

[RobbingBandit]

CDs were a bust for them,they didn't sell as well as hoped and now are pretty much in the bin. Bad for business all round if GAME do go bust as everyone needs competition for good business.

Originally Posted by PickledLime

But are Gamestop willing to reach into their pockets?

Dunno about ye, but i've noticed recently that they've less staff working, shop isn't as well maintained. They seem to have had trouble getting certain stock too - were out of stock for how long of Skylanders because 'there wasn't enough been made'. Quick trip to Smyths sees the things stacked high and was told they're getting them regularly.

They also seem to be out of stock of Saints Row 3 since it came out. And where the hell are the cds gone?!

I have my suspicions about them (remember that they recently bailed out of NI and Portugal).

[NTMK]

Originally Posted by Pageant Messiah

You're going to see game prices heading back to the €60 direction soon.

Doubt it tbh if they do that the online stores will destroy them

Ive been noticing GAME in Limerick having nothing but worthless titles like Fifa 08 in the preowned section and new game prices increased by €5

[Pageant Messiah]

Originally Posted by PickledLime

But are Gamestop willing to reach into their pockets?

Dunno about ye, but i've noticed recently that they've less staff working, shop isn't as well maintained. They seem to have had trouble getting certain stock too - were out of stock for how long of Skylanders because 'there wasn't enough been made'. Quick trip to Smyths sees the things stacked high and was told they're getting them regularly.

They also seem to be out of stock of Saints Row 3 since it came out. And where the hell are the cds gone?!

I have my suspicions about them (remember that they recently bailed out of NI and Portugal).

Gamestop won't be reaching into their pockets at all - Games demise will mean they can stop discounting so much and pay for some extra staff.

Shortages of Skylanders and Saints Row 3 in particular were industry wide and down to the publishers.

[PickledLime]

Figured the cds weren't working (i know most people, including myself, who buy music physically, don't part with it easily, whereas dvds are only watched a few times).

I don't think they're sinking quite yet, but i'm convinced they've sprung a fair few leaks.

[Pageant Messiah]

Originally Posted by NTMK

Doubt it tbh if they do that the online stores will destroy them

Ive been noticing GAME in Limerick having nothing but worthless titles like Fifa 08 in the preowned section and new game prices increased by €5

It's simple economics that game retaillers cannot survive on the margins that they have been operating on. Prices in bricks and mortar retail will have to go back up - and you're absolutley right this will drive more people to VAT free online retailers (this is why most are so much cheaper) but there will be a core bricks and mortar demand which with a big player like Game gone, Gamestop could survive on.

[NTMK]

Originally Posted by Pageant Messiah

It's simple economics that game retaillers cannot survive on the margins that they have been operating on. Prices in bricks and mortar retail will have to go back up - and you're absolutley right this will drive more people to VAT free online retailers (this is why most are so much cheaper) but there will be a core bricks and mortar demand which with a big player like Game gone, Gamestop could survive on.

Im not saying it will be a quick downfall but i imagine that with only GS as the main B&M retailer publishers will have less concerns about telling Retailers to **** off as regards DD pricing and with a new gen of consoles comes better DD solutions

Give it 5 to 10 yrs and GS will be gone from the high street unless they have some in genius plan

EDIT also as regards the preowned cds in GS that was an idiotic business move between piracy and new cds costing €10 who the f**k would buy preowned disc and how could they make any money of it