Gamestop pulling a fast one?

Mal-Adjusted

I was in the Gamestop in Ennis yesterday browsing through the PC racks when i came across an interesting looking game. It was called Tabula Rasa and passed itself as a sprawling sci-fi epic, ala Advent Rising or Mass Effect.

I'd never heard of it and was a bit disappointed when i saw that it was an MMO. I figure most P2P MMO's are doomed to failure and it might have gone F2P but when i looked it up i discovered that the servers had peen pulled since 2009 or so due to low subscriptions and the game was completely gone.

So why the hell are GS selling it? The online content is gone. Is there any offline content on the disk itself? If not, they're charging €15 for a nice looking box.

:mad:

Krieg

Ive heard this same story posted here a couple years ago. AFAIK there is no offline content
I personally think gamestop are a greedy company that will do anything for profit

wadacrack

gamestop will always try pull a fast one. A pre played game was on display for 50e the same as a new copy. Ridiculus

Kiith

Buy it, than go back and demand a better/more expensive game in return for all the trouble. They really should have removed it from the shelves a long time ago.

Grumpypants

Or it's been sitting on the shelf since 2009 and the staff do not know the server status of every obscure pc mmo out there.

Rosedust84

wadacrack wrote: »

gamestop will always try pull a fast one. A pre played game was on display for 50e the same as a new copy. Ridiculus

I've seen used games more expensive than the new copy

Falthyron

There is also a copy of Star Wars Galaxies for sale in GameStop Blanchardstown... :P

dazftw

Some hassle trying to return a PC game to them. No returns on PC games as far as I know.

wadacrack

Rosedust84 wrote: »

I've seen used games more expensive than the new copy

Yeah it is a joke tbh

Myrddin

dazftw wrote: »

Some hassle trying to return a PC game to them. No returns on PC games as far as I know.

Goods should be fit for purpose, in this case they wouldn't be. Even a modicum of consumer law knowledge would sort this one out

K.O.Kiki

Who still buys PC games in a store??

Mal-Adjusted

dazftw wrote: »

Some hassle trying to return a PC game to them. No returns on PC games as far as I know.

EnterNow wrote: »

Goods should be fit for purpose, in this case they wouldn't be. Even a modicum of consumer law knowledge would sort this one out

In fairness when I returned my new copy of Alan Wake to them (because someone had already used the steam key) they gave me my money back. apparently, it had happened to several copies of it.

jill_valentine

EnterNow wrote: »

Goods should be fit for purpose, in this case they wouldn't be. Even a modicum of consumer law knowledge would sort this one out

In theory. In practice, Gamestop are notorious obstructive to returns and they're infamous for selling MMOs that have been shut down. Plenty of people would just not be bothered with the hassle once they realised, so it's worth GS's time to give it a try.

The previously noted Star Wars Galaxies is the best example because you can find a copy of it in almost every GS in Ireland, and they've been informed over and over.

Gunmonkey

dazftw wrote: »

Some hassle trying to return a PC game to them. No returns on PC games as far as I know.

Mainly because, as a guy I knew in college explained (with a big grin on his face), people would buy the game, rip the files off it and return the disc for a refund 3 or 4 hours later saying its defective or it wont work on their computer (its why you also get asked a lot if a game your buying will wotk on your PC, means they are covering their arses).

No SWG in my Gamestop, but they did have Tabula Rasa for a while. Also saw Gamestop selling the Warhammer online pre-order box (which grants early beta access and 2 items I never used in the game) for the low, low price of €15.

Though they must be learning, The Old Republic is down to €10 after going FtP, The Secret World is still €30 on sale even though it offers more as a FtP game.

Reekwind

Grumpypants wrote: »

Or it's been sitting on the shelf since 2009 and the staff do not know the server status of every obscure pc mmo out there.

In which case the charge is gross incompetence rather than outright dishonesty. If there's been no review of the stock on display for 3-4 years then it's no wonder that high street PC sales are dead

Chavways

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

Who still buys PC games in a store??

People who don't have fast internet speeds and huge download limits that allow them to download tens of gigabytes per month but who still have an interest in PC gaming.

N64

Slightly off topic but don't gamestop Ireland now sell steam gift vouchers?

Myrddin

jill_valentine wrote: »

In theory. In practice, Gamestop are notorious obstructive to returns and they're infamous for selling MMOs that have been shut down

They can object all they want, because all the objecting in the world doesn't change your statutory rights as a consumer. If you buy something that isn't fit for purpose, in this case the purpose is actually using the product, you have certain legal rights.

danthefan

EnterNow wrote: »

They can object all they want, because all the objecting in the world doesn't change your statutory rights as a consumer. If you buy something that isn't fit for purpose, in this case the purpose is actually using the product, you have certain legal rights.

Absolutely. Could it be the case though that you'd need to go to the small claims court or something in order to avail of your rights? It wouldn't really be worth it financially in that case.

Myrddin

danthefan wrote: »

Absolutely. Could it be the case though that you'd need to go to the small claims court or something in order to avail of your rights? It wouldn't really be worth it financially in that case.

For the principle alone it'd be worth it, nothing like wiping the smug grin off a store manager who thinks he/she is above the law

v3ttel

I always wonder how Gamestop do any business. They are so much more expensive for new games than HMV. In the Crescent, HMV is literally a couple of doors down, and you can say somewhere between €5-15 on every new game.

You'd have to wonder how they survive? Even for second hand games which is a large part of their business, they sell for €2 or €3 less than a new copy (which often, needs €5 for an online activation key), or in some cases, the new copy is the same price as the second hand one

Cionád

Seems as though this has been going on for years.
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/150/view/forums/thread/289089/page/1 Post #3 mentions a store rhyming with LAME TOP.

blaa85

Rooney10 wrote: »

I always wonder how Gamestop do any business. They are so much more expensive for new games than HMV. In the Crescent, HMV is literally a couple of doors down, and you can say somewhere between €5-15 on every new game.

You'd have to wonder how they survive? Even for second hand games which is a large part of their business, they sell for €2 or €3 less than a new copy (which often, needs €5 for an online activation key), or in some cases, the new copy is the same price as the second hand one

There isn't a HMV in every town in Ireland. Looks like gamestop nearly has! Just had a look at both store locators. If there was a HMV in Waterford, I'd never be in gamestop.

danthefan

EnterNow wrote: »

For the principle alone it'd be worth it, nothing like wiping the smug grin off a store manager who thinks he/she is above the law

That's why I specifically said "financially worth it". Couldn't agree more.

Krieg

N64 wrote: »

Slightly off topic but don't gamestop Ireland now sell steam gift vouchers?

Yup they do, I received one as a gift this xmas, best gift you can give a pc gamer

Banjo

Krieg wrote: »

Yup they do, I received one as a gift this xmas, best gift you can give a pc gamer

My wife tried to buy me one for Christmas but was told by staff that the codes don't work yet and won't till new year. Any one use one successfully?

Zillah

EnterNow wrote: »

Goods should be fit for purpose, in this case they wouldn't be. Even a modicum of consumer law knowledge would sort this one out

It makes me kind of angry when I see people failing to realise the difference between a store's discretionary returns policy ("if you don't like it you can bring it back") and their statutory obligations ("this product does not work, you are legally obliged to refund me"). Doubly so when you see people not only falling for it but actually then passing this false information on to others.

jill_valentine

Zillah wrote: »

It makes me kind of angry when I see people failing to realise the difference between a store's discretionary returns policy ("if you don't like it you can bring it back") and their statutory obligations ("this product does not work, you are legally obliged to refund me"). Doubly so when you see people not only falling for it but actually then passing this false information on to others.

I'm not saying people don't have a right to a refund - I'm saying that, in practice, many or even most people won't pursue the dispute beyond a store manager level. Gamestop store managers are a particularly unhelpful animal to deal with, so if the customer doesn't get any joy there, more often than not, it winds up sitting at home somewhere gathering dust and the store gets away with it. Or, if you're lucky, they'll give you a refund and then put it right back out there until somebody else picks it up. Although the store is quite wrong, the hassle of actually having them acknowledge it is to their advantage.

In other words, yes, Gamestop is pulling a fast one because the likelyhood of a customer actually going as far as the small claims court over a 10/15 euro game is so slim that on balance, it's in their interest to act the twat about it and take the gamble.

And as I say and as you'll find from googling, they are notorious for doing this in the case of extinct MMOs where there was no buy back facility provided by the supplier. The fact that they still sell SWG, after the considerable amount of coverage the closure of that game got, would seem to my eyes to back that up. I know for a fact there have been complaints made at store level, and yet, there it is - still on the shelves.

TheDoc

Grumpypants wrote: »

Or it's been sitting on the shelf since 2009 and the staff do not know the server status of every obscure pc mmo out there.

HQ sends daily updates in regards to pricing, issues with current games and all that jazz.

Not knowing a game that is no longer active, yet stocked on the shelves, is horrendous management from the centralised HQ.

Although does not suprise me in the slightest.

Was in Stephens green today nearly getting sick at the price of stuff they were charging : /

ShadowHearth

I don't really think its the GameStop as companies fault, it's more of the staff, which does not have a fecking clue about games.

I don't think that Gamestop staffeven knows that they have PC shelf somewhere in a shop. So they did not even bothered looking at its content.

Reekwind

ShadowHearth wrote: »

I don't really think its the GameStop as companies fault, it's more of the staff, which does not have a fecking clue about games

Which makes it entirely GameStop's fault... unless somebody else hires, trains, advises, managed, etc their staff. This doesn't seem to be an isolated incident that can be blamed on a few individual staff members

Either GameStop simply doesn't care about having obsolete PC games on display (or PC games in general) or there is something badly wrong with its stock control/display procedures and store management processes in general

Myrddin

Zillah wrote: »

It makes me kind of angry when I see people failing to realise the difference between a store's discretionary returns policy ("if you don't like it you can bring it back") and their statutory obligations ("this product does not work, you are legally obliged to refund me"). Doubly so when you see people not only falling for it but actually then passing this false information on to others.

How do you mean?

PseudoFamous

Has anyone actually brought it up with gamestop yet, or are we just sitting around trying to allocate the blame?

noodler

Who gives a ****?

Banjo

Banjo wrote: »

My wife tried to buy me one for Christmas but was told by staff that the codes don't work yet and won't till new year. Any one use one successfully?

Feels weird quoting myself

Bought one to test, worked. Bought from the same store that told my wife they weren't live yet, this time no warning and the guy on the till had no idea how to ring it up

They give you a receipt with a code on it and instructions for redeeming it. I found logging in to the site and then typing in the direct link worked better than the instructions.

In case you're wondering, a 20 euro code costs 20 euro, and you can pay for them with gamestop tokens

Sierra Oscar

If I came across this situation I would mention it to the staff, assuming that it is a case of them not being aware of the situation they will probably be thankful towards you for telling them.

TomCo

I bought a copy of chromehounds a few years ago, same problem

Varik

EnterNow wrote: »

How do you mean?

Hear it all the time, people get it in their heads that as shop A has a certain return policy then it must be law and they demand it of shop B.

The one I hate is when people think that if a shop has miss-priced something then they have to sell it at that price usually because some other shop operates that policy in it's stores.

Myrddin

Varik wrote: »

Hear it all the time, people get it in their heads that as shop A has a certain return policy then it must be law and they demand it of shop B

But if a shop sells a product that has no way of actually being used anymore, surely thats exempt from any policy the store may have & the consumer is protected no?

VinLieger

EnterNow wrote: »

But if a shop sells a product that has no way of actually being used anymore, surely thats exempt from any policy the store may have & the consumer is protected no?

Exactly the product is no longer fit for the use in which it is being sold, it is in essence out of date

Varik

EnterNow wrote: »

But if a shop sells a product that has no way of actually being used anymore, surely thats exempt from any policy the store may have & the consumer is protected no?

Yes

My point was that people make the assumption that return policies are also laws , they think that advantageous policy are laws and try to force them on shops who don't have them and at other times ignorantly do as the shops policy says when they really do have some recourse that actual laws allow them.

Awhile back I picked up a copy of a game game that was similarly no longer playsble as I wanted to write a piece on how GameStop continued to sell titles such as this which given that the servers are gone are pretty much shiny coasters. Bought the game and got the usual, "will this run on your machine" crap. I told them it would be fine but what happened if the game wouldn't work for some reason, if the disc was faulty or the severs weren't online anymore. Was told by a manager that it was all good as "the servers can't go down, they're stored online". I spent a few more minutes asking stupid questions as he fed me a line of crap and it was clear he hasn't a clue what he was talking about.

Anyways, I left and headed back in a few hours later to explain to the bimbo of the week the issue. Told her that the company who released the game took down the servers and as such the game was useless. She told me how "you can still play it without going online as all those type if games don't need Internet". I tried to explain to her how it was an MMO but it was like talking to a half broken concrete slab. One if the other staff came over and offered their assistance and he pretty much told me the same crap. I asked for my money back as the game was missold and not fit for purpose. They argued with me for a bit before telling me to come back the next day to speak to the manager.

When I went back in the next day I had to deal with the manager who is one of the biggest tossers I've ever met. He's just a useless, lying fit who told me a number if times that I obviously had no idea what I was doing as he played the game all the time. I was civil and polite at all times even when he got aggressive and quite nasty. I mentioned how he'd told me that servers can't go offline. He denied saying any such thing and in front of customers called me a four letter word. I took from my pocket a voice recorder and played him back the conversation from when I bought the game and he still continued to deny saying anything. In the end I was barred from the shop for causing a scene. Ended up emailing GameStop to ask them their policy on selling such games and was told its up to stores to remove titles no longer playable. Which was the very opposite to an email a store manager I know showed me, it pretty much told managers to leave stock on shelf and if bought and a return is sought do everything in you're power not to refund the customer.

Will up the audio when I get a chance to look for the recorder. It's In a box somewhere at home so ill take a look this week while in there.

jill_valentine

So there you have it. Great post Darko.

Jelle1880

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

Who still buys PC games in a store??

Exactly.

Online sales like Steam, GOG (Often cheaper than Steam these days), Amazon,... are the way to go.

I only walk into Gamestop for second hand console games, and even then I rarely buy one due to their ridiculous pricing policy.

wes

That is pretty bad form from Gamestop. Stopped buying new stuff from them ages ago. Always more expensive than HMV, and only really good for trading in unwanted DVDs etc nowadays.

CiDeRmAn

Name and shame the branch, hit the FB page with posts on the subject, contact consumer groups, heck rung Joe Duffy and the various tech slots on the papers and on the radio, also email irish tech blogs.
Be proactive people!

RobertFoster

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Be proactive people!

Purchase the stock of dead MMOs and then pick a specific time for everyone to return them at once? Or just avoid Gamestop, they're usually the most expensive anyway.

delta36

It's threads like this that make me miss Game. You couldn't go wrong with two games for €25. Also if anyone has seen my posts in the Guild Wars 2 thread about pre-ordering from Gamestop, the hassle I went through trying to do that would more than make me happy to never go into one again, if there was actually a good alternative that wasn't online.

BlitzKrieg

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

If I came across this situation I would mention it to the staff, assuming that it is a case of them not being aware of the situation they will probably be thankful towards you for telling them.

Thats what I did a few months ago when I found a few copies of star wars galaxies on a store shelf. They thought I wanted to buy them all and were thrilled seeing me walking with them.

But I handed them over and explained that the games will not work anymore and they need to take them off the shelf.

They actually argued with me a bit over it, until I got them to look it up on the internet.

Potential-Monke

Should some of the blame not fall on the consumer too though? I mean, on the back of the box it usually says online only, or something like that (unless they don't do that anymore). So, should the consumer not have researched the game a bit before spending money on it?

I agree, GameStop should also be proactive on this, and it's more than likely down to pure greed for profit, but i still think some of the blame lies with the consumer.

As for the fit for it's purpose debate, i think selling the game when the servers are gone is still selling the game fit for it's purpose. It's not the shops fault that the servers are gone. The game is still fit to be played, but can't due to the developers pulling the servers. There's no fault with the game, the activation code would still work had the servers stayed up, it's not directly GameStops fault.

I'm not defending them, nor do i work for them but they are my No. 1 choice, partly due to the fact that the majority of the staff in Waterford are gamers themselves, manager included, and partly due to the fact that i like walking into a brick and mortar shop and bringing home a copy there and then.

Also, @Darko, in case you were thinking of using that recording for any legal proceedings, you can't. It's illegally obtained recordings which won't stand. As for educational or documentary intentions, i'm pretty sure it's ok to be used.

hooradiation

Deleted User wrote: »

Anyways, I left and headed back in a few hours later to explain to the bimbo of the week the issue.

You're a class act.