Gamestop

Dyr

Apologies if this has been covered before but:

Is it just me or do they play it fast and loose with consumer rights?

I dont buy stuff in there often but the few times i have ive been left wondering about their policies.

When i bought The Witcher there, the guy on the desk made a big deal about making sure my machine met the minimum specs. He said this was because they couldnt accept returns on PC games due to their use of serial keys. To me that not only rides all over retail laws, it's simply nonsense in an era of copy protection. I pointed out that The Witcher doesnt appear to have any serial key in the first place and he kinda hummed and hawed and said it was just their policy. I was going to actually bring The Witcher back just to see what they'd say (with justification too, the damn thing is a nightmare on Vista ).


Recently and more shockingly, the brudder in law couldnt get his hands on a DS for one of his kids at christmas so he bought her a gamestop DS voucher instead. When they went in to claim their DS he was told that gamestop would'nt honour the voucher for a DS unless he purchased a gamestop gamepack as well so he had to fork over an extra 50 quid or so.

Are these practices legal? It strikes me that something about them stinks.


edit: i just noticed i titled this thread gamesworld, the ould age is showing lol

Stephen

Their vouchers have always been the most worthless pieces of crap with so many terms and conditions attached :mad:

They will accept returns on PC games but only in the case that there's something physically wrong, like the disc was broken when you took it out of the box or something. If it doesn't work on your PC then tough look as far as they're concerned!

Zillah

Legally, unless there is something genuinely defective about the product then you have not a leg to stand on. If a shop ever allows an exchange for any other reason then they're doing you a favour.

Mossy Monk

Avoid like the plague.

Canis Lupus

Yeah, I buy everything I want from play.com tbh. (when I actually buy stuff that is....cough....splutter).

Zapp Brannigan

the shop is under no obligation to take back a game if your PC is not good enough to run it. If the disc is faulty, there's never a problem. But shops aren't accountable for idiots who buy the latest games and expect them to run on there Windows 2000 laptop.

johnny_ultimate

Yarr Gamespot are a bunch of morons. They always seem condescending and their prices are a joke.
Much prefer Smyths or online for my gaming needs.

Although I agree on the whole telling people about the minimum specs thing. Otherwise you'd have loads of people just coming in complaining that their copy of Crysis isn't working on DOS.

CiDeRmAn

The whole DS thing is a fair enough critism, I don't understand the practise of forcing bundles on people, smacks of cash in.
In all other cases however the word is to just shop around, this is easier if you have a selection of actual shops to choose from, Smyths, Xtravision, Game and Gamestop all seem to have good deals and bad ones so, really if you only go to one of the above and get caught for an extra 10 euro on a a game thats cheaper everywhere else, consider it a tax so as you don't have to drive anywhere else or a punishement for not shopping arround more.
PC games have always been a dog, really the PC requirements are all over the base of the game, usually, so no excuse for buying it in error, also why would they give returns on non damaged software when most folk would habe gone and got a crack for it and dumper it onto their hardrive?

super_furry

Of all the major game-store chains, Gamestop seem to consistantly the most expensive and offer the least amount on trade-ins. I usually go out of my way to avoid them, but occasionally the odd bargain - like Scene It on the 360 - forces me in there and only then do I realise just how out of sync their prices are with everyone else.

Canis Lupus

When I used to buy games physically back some 5 years ago I always bought in game. On new releases they were always at least a fiver cheaper than game. Once I figured that out I never went back to Game. I don't like purple either

Keith C

got €80 vouchers as present, tried looking on their website to see their prices but they have none displayed for games

Or am I looking in the wrong site? http://www.gamestop.ie/

Its a pity game, smyths etc arent like the pizza places "we accept out competitors vouchers"

yoyo

If you wish not to accept to a term in the EULA (End User License Agreement), arn't you legally allowed to return the item? This is only viewable once the disc is inserted either through the setup or license.txt?

Nick

Jack Sheehan

I always buy my games in Game simply because they are decent nice guys. They generally refund things aswell.

-annex-

I avoid Gamestop like the plague. Absolutely terrible service. I recently bought a second hand ps2 off them for a pretty cheap price actually, for once. It was one of the old big ones and covered in dust. When I got it home the disk tray would always jam and the whole thing sounded like a pack of drowning children. I brought it back to them looking for a replacement but they said they couldn't do anything about it because they had no more second hand models in stock and I'd have to wait anything up to a few weeks. I told him that was unacceptable and he actually said "that's not my problem". I couldn't believe it. I demanded a manager who they eventually found, threw some laws in his face, and bam, came home with a brand new slim ps2. A good day I suppose but I haven't been back there since.

Zonda999

Jack Sheehan wrote: »

I always buy my games in Game simply because they are decent nice guys. They generally refund things aswell.

Totally agree.A few years ago GS(Or gamesworld in the beginning) were cheaper than GAME but now thats reversed.The staff in game are always willing to discuss a game or console and say about its pro's or cons. Also Game's reward card scheme is pretty good when you're short a bit of cash.Oh ya GS's prices are ridiculous.e'g Gears of war-70euro????.Full price for a year old game????And another thing, their recent "Sale" was pathetic.Had a look yesterday, not a single reduction on any PS3 game.The rant continues, On all the X360 chart games there are stickers sayin that its only a tenner when you trade in any two 360 games.Go up to the counter and they'll tell you that the games have to reach 40euro combined trade in value and only the chart games could actually reach that value- Absurd altogether

ShaneU

Yep the place is a rip-off, I'd rather order a game online for €25 - €35 cheaper and wait for it to get here than hand over €75 to these fleecers.

Fnz

Bambi wrote: »

Recently and more shockingly, the brudder in law couldnt get his hands on a DS for one of his kids at christmas so he bought her a gamestop DS voucher instead. When they went in to claim their DS he was told that gamestop would'nt honour the voucher for a DS unless he purchased a gamestop gamepack as well so he had to fork over an extra 50 quid or so.

Now that doesn't sound legal - unless it was made clear at point of purchase that ridiculous conditions would be attached to usage of said voucher.

Reminds me of tales I heard - told on nerdy podcasts - of lawyers "calling bu115hit" on store policies that forced customers to pay for extended warranties when buying consoles.

You could ask the helpful people over on the Consumer Issues forum for their opinion of this practice. [Link]

Zapp Brannigan

Jack Sheehan wrote: »

I always buy my games in Game simply because they are decent nice guys. They generally refund things aswell.

i hope you shop where I work. Its always nice to know that some customers appreciate staff, makes our job just that little less crap

jonski

I have always found the guys n' gals in Game in Limerick to be good and friendly , and they always price match aswell .

Jack Sheehan

Zapp Brannigan wrote: »

i hope you shop where I work. Its always nice to know that some customers appreciate staff, makes our job just that little less crap

In Dawson St? For example I was in there with a friend yesterday buying Guitar Hero 2 ( Incidentally Game was the only place we could find it) and the guys there were all pleasant and talked about GH2 being better than 3 because it had freebird etc.

Personally I'm willing to pay a bit more if the people are friendly and approachable.

Kess73

-annex- wrote: »

I avoid Gamestop like the plague. Absolutely terrible service. I recently bought a second hand ps2 off them for a pretty cheap price actually, for once. It was one of the old big ones and covered in dust. When I got it home the disk tray would always jam and the whole thing sounded like a pack of drowning children. I brought it back to them looking for a replacement but they said they couldn't do anything about it because they had no more second hand models in stock and I'd have to wait anything up to a few weeks. I told him that was unacceptable and he actually said "that's not my problem". I couldn't believe it. I demanded a manager who they eventually found, threw some laws in his face, and bam, came home with a brand new slim ps2. A good day I suppose but I haven't been back there since.

I have found the service and knowledge levels in most GameStop stores to be pretty poor.

One exception to this is their store in the Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick, there are two guys working there who are always very helpful and don't come out with the same bs that some of the Gamestop stores do.

The store in the Parkway is the opposite. Really poor service, staff are often on their mobiles laughing and chatting with people waiting at the tills, and if you ask them about games, you normally get a blank look.

Would agree with the poster who said the staff in Game on Cruises street are friendly.

5uspect

jonski wrote: »

I have always found the guys n' gals in Game in Limerick to be good and friendly , and they always price match aswell .

I've found the folks there good too. I often pick up good deals on older games Tho I find that Smyths out on Childers Rd can be up to €10 cheaper for new releases. Crysis and World in Conflict recently for example €45 vs €55.

dmigsy

I'm not one to get in the way of of a good rant but I have had generally a very positive experience of Gamestop (Just the one on Liffey st btw). Being the closest game shop to where I live I tend to stick my head in for a look round quite often. I've bought a DS, a 360 and two ps2s there along with far too many games.

Only one bad experience which was actually with a manager who I had to bully to get the console deal they advertised!

Usually though, the staff are sound and once you don't buy games in the first week they're out (€75 :eek:) you can find some decent deals.

Let the rant continue!

Dman001

I don't know why people buy new games in Game or Gamestop or Vigin Megastores. Argos and Tesco are usually cheaper and Xtravision is usually cheaper than Gamestop for secondhand games.

jonski

5uspect wrote: »

I've found the folks there good too. I often pick up good deals on older games Tho I find that Smyths out on Childers Rd can be up to €10 cheaper for new releases. Crysis and World in Conflict recently for example €45 vs €55.

Agreed on the Smyths thing but I am a pc gamer and their pc games section is getting smaller and smaller by the day .

Zillah

yoyo wrote: »

If you wish not to accept to a term in the EULA (End User License Agreement), arn't you legally allowed to return the item? This is only viewable once the disc is inserted either through the setup or license.txt?

Nick

Thats interesting...

Anyone got an informed response to this? What exactly does the EULA represent legally?

-annex-

Zillah wrote: »

Thats interesting...

Anyone got an informed response to this? What exactly does the EULA represent legally?

Apparently this exact situation has been brought to the courts in the US. Check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eula

Scroll down to "Shrink-wrap and click-wrap licences".

5uspect

jonski wrote: »

Agreed on the Smyths thing but I am a pc gamer and their pc games section is getting smaller and smaller by the day .

Me too, took me 10 minutes to find it!:o

Mikeyt086

What people said about the Game staff being nicer? Definatley true.

I remember buying FIFA 07 on release in dawson street and the guy and myself had a chat about FIFA vs PES for about 20mins and then i mentioned being the FIFA Champion of Ireland and i ended up with the guy on my Xbox Live friends list!

In contrast when i went to trade in Casino Royle on Bluray in Gamestop, i got offered €2 and he said "Is that the one you got free with the console yeah?", i said "Yeah." and he said "Well, cya later then." So f*** that, fair enough if he can only offer €2 but he didnt need to be a dick.

Mark Hamill

Zonda999 wrote: »

On all the X360 chart games there are stickers sayin that its only a tenner when you trade in any two 360 games.Go up to the counter and they'll tell you that the games have to reach 40euro combined trade in value and only the chart games could actually reach that value- Absurd altogether

I really really hate this kind of thing. They're advertising these games as sale items, when they're not actually on sale. Its the equivilant of saying:
"get this game for one 5 euro note!*"
"(*as well as a 50 euro note)"

Its false advertising and shouldn't be allowed. For something to be "on sale" it has to be for sale at a higher price in one of their stores for at least 30 days (actually it could be longer than 30 days, I cant remember the exact length of time)

Ivan

A week before Christmas, my brother and I went into Gamestop in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, looking for a game for me for Christmas that my brother had so generously offered to pay for.

I was torn between World in Conflict and Supreme Commander. Initially going with World in Conflict, I changed my mind just after he had scanned it.

I said, I'd prefer Supreme Commander and the sales clerk said no problem. My brother was quick to point out the 15 euro difference between World in Conflict and Supreme Commander. World in Conflict being €30 and Supreme Commander being €45.

I said I would pay the €15 difference but when the guy scanned it he said, "Oh, yeah, Supreme Commander is actually the same price, €30". I thought sound, thats great news. We'll take Supreme Commander.

3 Days later, the Friday before Christmas Day, 4 days to Christmas, my mother was looking to buy me a Christmas present when my brother suggested to her, "well you could get him World in Conflict".

We met up with her later for some coffee and she said she'd picked up the game, but it wasnt €30 like we had said it would be. I checked the receipt and they had charged her €45. I was shocked and just a little pissed off.

I said, "I'm taking this back" they charged you too much, hell it even said on the package €29.99 in quite clear advertising. Its illegal to advertise something for X and then claim you are selling it for X+15 at the point of sales.

I went back to the store with the game in my hand, and advised the sales staff that I wanted to return the game. She asked me why and I said, "Well, it was sold for more than it was advertised for. Which is illegal." She said, "thats not true, what if some kid came and changed the price tag then we would be forced to sell it for cheaper than it should be". To which I replied, "That is your responsibility". Secondly, I said "I had been in not 3 days ago and the game was on sale for €15 less. How could she explain this?" To which she replied "that they go by the price on the system".

Basically, 3 days before Christmas they hiked the prices of the game up so as to make more profits on late shoppers. Bloody ridiculous in my book and a definitive reason to never shop there again. In the end we went over to tescos and got the game for €45 but it was the best €45 I have ever spent

Kess73

Ivan wrote: »

A week before Christmas, my brother and I went into Gamestop in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, looking for a game for me for Christmas that my brother had so generously offered to pay for.

I was torn between World in Conflict and Supreme Commander. Initially going with World in Conflict, I changed my mind just after he had scanned it.

I said, I'd prefer Supreme Commander and the sales clerk said no problem. My brother was quick to point out the 15 euro difference between World in Conflict and Supreme Commander. World in Conflict being €30 and Supreme Commander being €45.

I said I would pay the €15 difference but when the guy scanned it he said, "Oh, yeah, Supreme Commander is actually the same price, €30". I thought sound, thats great news. We'll take Supreme Commander.

3 Days later, the Friday before Christmas Day, 4 days to Christmas, my mother was looking to buy me a Christmas present when my brother suggested to her, "well you could get him World in Conflict".

We met up with her later for some coffee and she said she'd picked up the game, but it wasnt €30 like we had said it would be. I checked the receipt and they had charged her €45. I was shocked and just a little pissed off.

I said, "I'm taking this back" they charged you too much, hell it even said on the package €29.99 in quite clear advertising. Its illegal to advertise something for X and then claim you are selling it for X+15 at the point of sales.

I went back to the store with the game in my hand, and advised the sales staff that I wanted to return the game. She asked me why and I said, "Well, it was sold for more than it was advertised for. Which is illegal." She said, "thats not true, what if some kid came and changed the price tag then we would be forced to sell it for cheaper than it should be". To which I replied, "That is your responsibility". Secondly, I said "I had been in not 3 days ago and the game was on sale for €15 less. How could she explain this?" To which she replied "that they go by the price on the system".

Basically, 3 days before Christmas they hiked the prices of the game up so as to make more profits on late shoppers. Bloody ridiculous in my book and a definitive reason to never shop there again. In the end we went over to tescos and got the game for €45 but it was the best €45 I have ever spent

The price that an item scans at, at the point of sale is the price that a store is obliged to honour, not the price on the tag on the shop floor, regardless of whether that price is higher or lower.

Ivan

I was under the impression that it was illegal for shops to advertise in their front windows that an item is on sale at X price and then charge people X+15 when they come to buy it, as many people would just pay the difference rather than be seen to be kicking up a fuss.

But you may well be right, in any case it doesnt change the fact that they deliberately raised their prices over the course of 3 days so that
A) They could make more money over the last few shopping days before the Christmas Period
-and-
so that they would not be breaking the law when they began their "sale" and started to sell the games at a lower price.

This, in my mind, is totally substandard behaviour and not acceptable if they wish to keep my business, which let me tell you... is quite alot

Jack Sheehan

While it may not be strictly illegal it is still poor practise, I mean they are selling your chances of ever coming back for 15 quid for christ's sake.

jonski

Ivan wrote: »

I was under the impression that it was illegal for shops to advertise in their front windows that an item is on sale at X price and then charge people X+15 when they come to buy it, as many people would just pay the difference rather than be seen to be kicking up a fuss.

That is completely different from having a price x marked on the item and charging price y at the till .

If it is advertised anywhere in the shop at x price , except on the item itself , then it is my understanding that it must be sold at that price . In other words anything that couldn't be tampered with .

Tusky

Kess73 wrote: »

The price that an item scans at, at the point of sale is the price that a store is obliged to honour, not the price on the tag on the shop floor, regardless of whether that price is higher or lower.

Dont think thats correct. If they have 19 games all at 20 euro & one at 10 euro. Then fair enough, its probably been tampered with and they dont have to honor it. If all their games are marked at 15 euro though, they have to honor that price. You cant display something at one price and charge another.

Kess73

Tusky wrote: »

Dont think thats correct. If they have 19 games all at 20 euro & one at 10 euro. Then fair enough, its probably been tampered with and they dont have to honor it. If all their games are marked at 15 euro though, they have to honor that price. You cant display something at one price and charge another.

The law on it states the price that comes up at the till is the price that is to be offered to the potential customer.

In this country people have been going to counters and swearing blind that the law says it is the price tag on the item that has to be used by law, which is incorrect. The shops do not by law have to honour the price that is on the item on the shelf, but they have to inform the customer of the till price. At that point the customer has the choice to either say no or buy it at the till price.

Some shops will honour their mistakes and sell at the marked price, but they are not obliged to do so.

The store is obliged to rectify the mistake and correctly reprice the items.

Here is a link to legal answer for whether a shop has to give it to a customer at the price on the pricetag in this country. http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/Get_Your_Rights/Prices/Misleading%20prices/The%20Question.html


For more info on this or any other issues on shoppers rights, use www.consumerconnect.ie or LoCall 1890 432 432. I have found them to be very handy for getting correct info on what my rights are in shops. They also have a complaints phone number if a person has been treated wrongly and illegally by a store, where the person can call and check the legalities and report that store.company.

mikemac

Kess73 wrote: »

The law on it states the price that comes up at the till is the price that is to be offered to the potential customer.

In this country people have been going to counters and swearing blind that the law says it is the price tag on the item that has to be used by law, which is incorrect. The shops do not by law have to honour the price that is on the item on the shelf, but they have to inform the customer of the till price. At that point the customer has the choice to either say no or buy it at the till price.

Some shops will honour their mistakes and sell at the marked price, but they are not obliged to do so.

The store is obliged to rectify the mistake and correctly reprice the items.

For more info on this or any other issues on shoppers rights, use www.consumerconnect.ie or LoCall 1890 432 432. I have found them to be very handy for getting correct info on what my rights are in shops.

This man speaks the truth!
The price you pay is the price at the till.
However, if the sticker price is incorrect it they are supposed to immediately fix it. Consumer Information Act 1978.
There seems to be a lot of people abusing customer service staff about their "rights" when they have no idea what they are talking about. I'm glad I don't work in retail

I remember buying Stranglehold for the Xbox360 in game.
The massive poster in the window showed €45 but the stickers on the case showed €60.
They sold it to me for €45 after the assistant checked with the manager. They didn't have to do this but they'd have lost a sale and pissed off a customer. Sure the main reason I went into Game was the poster in the window showing €45.
And they immediately repriced all the games on display. Fair play!

Mark Hamill

Kess73 wrote: »

http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/Get_Your_Rights/Prices/Misleading%20prices/The%20Question.html

If you read this link it says:

This may be a misleading price claim by the trader and this practice is prohibited by consumer legislation (ie illegal).

I think what they mean is if you go into a shop and 10 items on a shelf are priced €45 and one is €30, then its probably a mistake and so tough luck the item is €45. However if you go in and all the items are €30 then thats what you should get if for.
Remember all shops are supposed to advertise the prices of their produce before you get to the till, and while there is leeway for the shop in case someone is playing silly buggers with the stickers, if they have it advertised at a price (eg like a big poster they put up in their windows) then thats the selling price.

Master-Decoy

I find it pretty rich when people dicuss staff! ^^ To be honest no matter where I am, the staff are the leats if my concerns, if it doesn't say service with a smile above the door I don't expect any more than a simple transaction. also, I reckon that if any retailer lets me know of any conditions when I purchase the it(i.e no returns for some reason) then fair enough. It's kind of abusrd to think that some age old rule applies that any retail item can just be returned and that no special circumstances apply."The customer is always right" is a figure of speech like! Thankfully I got out of retail 2 years ago,but I always relate to their standpoint, and the difference between consumer awareness and consumer ignorance is the biggest problem. The retailer knows where they stand on most if not all issues, the consumer is the one that seems baffled. It's insane the amount of people who don't know the difference between a warranty and a guarantee!

Jack Sheehan

Master-Decoy wrote: »

I find it pretty rich when people dicuss staff! ^^ To be honest no matter where I am, the staff are the leats if my concerns, if it doesn't say service with a smile above the door I don't expect any more than a simple transaction. also, I reckon that if any retailer lets me know of any conditions when I purchase the it(i.e no returns for some reason) then fair enough. It's kind of abusrd to think that some age old rule applies that any retail item can just be returned and that no special circumstances apply."The customer is always right" is a figure of speech like! Thankfully I got out of retail 2 years ago,but I always relate to their standpoint, and the difference between consumer awareness and consumer ignorance is the biggest problem. The retailer knows where they stand on most if not all issues, the consumer is the one that seems baffled. It's insane the amount of people who don't know the difference between a warranty and a guarantee!

The retailer may know where they stand but that does not always mean they will obey this.

stev2604

Is this not a case of an invitation to treat which is perfectly legal?

Zapp Brannigan

stev2604 wrote: »

Is this not a case of an invitation to treat which is perfectly legal?

Yup. Price displayed is not a contract, it is simply an offer to buy. Whatever the till says is the price and that is when the consumer enters into the contract. not when Jo Public picks the item from a shelf or sees an advertisement. (that's my understanding of the situation)

Kess73

Mark Hamill wrote: »

If you read this link it says:



I think what they mean is if you go into a shop and 10 items on a shelf are priced €45 and one is €30, then its probably a mistake and so tough luck the item is €45. However if you go in and all the items are €30 then thats what you should get if for.
Remember all shops are supposed to advertise the prices of their produce before you get to the till, and while there is leeway for the shop in case someone is playing silly buggers with the stickers, if they have it advertised at a price (eg like a big poster they put up in their windows) then thats the selling price.

Nope, the till price is the price and that is what the store is obliged to offer it to you at. In some cases like in that of the poster who got the game at the price it was displayed at in the window rather than the till price, it will be the store showing goodwill for their own error. But they do not have to do this under any law.

The customer has to be informed of the full price at the till, and the customer then has the choice to say know, and the option to report any issues to the NCA if they think underhand selling methods are being used.

Below is the legal standing on it.




http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/Get_Your_Rights/Prices/Misleading%20prices/Your%20Rights.html

Consumers are entitled to accurate & truthful information about prices in order that they can make an informed decision about what they buy and where they buy it. The price displayed should be the price charged. However, you are not automatically entitled to the product at the lower price if a higher price registers at the till. As long as the seller informs you before he takes your money, you have the choice of walking away from the deal. You should complain to the seller and also report the matter to the NCA so that we can investigate.


Some shops operate a "no-quibble" refund policy in the event that you discover that you have been overcharged. You should complain to the shop and, if they do not deal with you satisfactorily, complain to the NCA.


Previous prices
Under consumer legislation it is also an offence to give a false or misleading previous price. For example, if the retailer crosses out one price and replaces it with another for the sales, that older price must be accurate. Unless otherwise indicated, the goods must have been on sale in the same place at that previous price for a reasonable time.

The National Consumer Agency keeps an eye on advertising and other information about goods and services, to ensure that it is not false or misleading. If a shopping chain or a business with more than one outlet advertises goods at a certain price, that price should apply in all its outlets where the goods are sold - unless the advertisement makes it clear that the price applies in certain outlets only.

Finally, remember that a Recommended Retail Price (RRP) is just that, a recommended price, and the seller can charge a higher price as long as that higher price is displayed.