To highlight why I enjoy Gamestop.


Two days ago I walked into Gamestop and traded in my PS3 copy of TLoU, got $25 and put that towards TLoUR for PS4. Then I paid the remaining $25 to pay it off and also bought my daughter Minecraft for PS3 (Which will be upgraded when it drops for PS4). The clerk was the nicest guy and the shopping experience was great.

The next day I leave work, go to Gamestop and the same guy is there. As I walked in he says "Here to pick up The Last of Us?"


That is awesome. The benefits of not being a jerk and being polite to your store clerks. They remember you, which helps to make all future visits a pleasant experience.

But we know he licked your daughter's Minecraft PS3 copy...

GameStop is pretty terrible. I still shop there for exclusives and hard-to-find used games, but in general it's an unpleasant experience. The staff are usually good people who work hard, but they're constantly selling and up selling and, in some instances, judging customers' purchases. The worst offense is that games are treated so poorly, taken out of boxes and slapped with stickers (I can't tell you how many used games I've received, directly or indirectly from GameStop, with stickers affixed beneath the plastic covering on the spine of the actual box art).

And here's an anecdote that sums up the GameStop experience perfectly. I found a copy of Prince of Persia (2008) used for a few dollars and brought it up to the counter. The clerk took the game out, placed it in a generic case and set the original case (with box art and manual) aside. When he brought the generic case back to the counter, I asked politely if I could have the original case I picked out. He agreed, acting as if he was doing me a favor.

As a video game player and collector I still frequent GameStop -- I found a nice copy of Fire Emblem for Wii the other week -- but it's not a place that celebrates games and gamers. It's a place that celebrate corporate partnerships and bottom lines, and it shows.

So just say "No thanks" instead of letting it get you all worked up for no reason at all. Their jobs states that they have to ask that. You say "No thanks" and just carry on about your business. 

Some of the people working there are in fact avid gamers, so why not pick their brain if you're going to be wasting time anyways. Maybe they suggest something, you give it a look at it looks to be something cool. It is how I found Nier last gen. It was recommended before I read about so many people here on VGC loving the title. Plus it was only $12 at the time, which is why it was suggested. I told him I needed a good game and I was on a tight budget.

Your last point just sounds like you being paranoid. I doubt they spend their time staring at you. If fact you need to be staring at them to even notice, so maybe they are looking because you're bugging the hell out of them.

it was sealed, so I hope he enjoyed that plasticy goodness.

my latest experience at gamestop. and this isnt even a joke.

me: im here to pick up tlou:r, heres id/edge card.
clerk: okay let me see, oh you got destiny preordered, did you wanna order the expansion packs.
me: No i just wanna get tlou, thanks.
clerk: okay ill just ring that up. Did you wanna preorder far cry?
me: i dont want far cry...
clerk: oh well okay, here check this out (hands me a binder with a list of games and release dates..)
me: can i just get my game please. I not only know what games are coming out, i can point to games on that list and tell you which dates are place holders, i just wanna get my game.
clerk: Okay sign here.. Oh and did you wanna buy a TLOU guide? (putting a stack of books on the counter)
me: No thanks,(signed, grabbed my game and made a break for it before he could try to get me to take out a mortgage)

I would chalk that experience up as fine.

I am sure basic procedure would have them want a proper shelf copy, but the fact that you asked for it and he obliged, I would take that as a good thing.

As for the stickers on the inside of the case, on the actual paper covering, that just outright sucks. I have yet to run into that one and if I did I would just refuse the purchase or even ask for a further discount since they are technically selling you a damaged product. Not sure how it works at Gamestop but it works everywhere else I shop.

By the way, those stickers can still come off without causing damage, but you need to do it EXTREMELY slow and carefully.

You ran into a clerk who went too far. It happens.

I always get the same response when paying for stuff. "Anything you would like to preorder at this time?" and I say "No thank you" and it ends there.

I must be lucky. 

sometimes i wonder if they get commision or some kind of perk points for getting preorders lol   The manager there is really good, one of the reasons i still go there..  but yesterday this clerk guy was a bit funny how pushy he was lol

I went to pick up TLOU yesterday with my friend and cousin and they pissed me off. They kept shoving Far Cry down our throats and even after we said no thank you they kept bugging us and telling us how great it is and how we should change our mind and pre order it right now.