Gamestop & EB Merge!

[Chris F]

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050418005419&newsLang=en

 

Would you like a strategy guide with that?

[Romier S]

Considering I have a complete distaste for how Gamestop handles thier preorders, store functions (computer systems, actually keeping thier preorders, dealing with used games, ridiculously short supply of lesser known titles etc.), and just the general atmosphere of thier stores in my area, I really dislike the news of this merger. I've been a loyal EB shopper for years now for that very reason. There is no solid details on whether current EB stores will be converted to Gamestops or if they will change in function and operation either. (I would imagine this will happen, though I hope not).

[kelley]

Hopefully they will take the best from each company when they combine.

[secretvampire]

Hmmmm...honestly, I can only see bad things coming from this. Reduced competition is bad, as is reducing the number of locations (if they do).

[dogbert]

From what I'm hearing, it's not so much a merger as a buyout of EB by GameStop.

 

Are GameStop still owned by B&N, or did they spin it off?

[Calvin]

Considering I have a complete distaste for how Gamestop handles thier preorders, store functions (computer systems, actually keeping thier preorders, dealing with used games, ridiculously short supply of lesser known titles etc.), and just the general atmosphere of thier stores in my area, I really dislike the news of this merger. I've been a loyal EB shopper for years now for that very reason. There is no solid details on whether current EB stores will be converted to Gamestops or if they will change in function and operation either. (I would imagine this will happen, though I hope not).

 

Hate to disagree with you,but I feel almost the exact same way about EB Games.I've been loyal to my local Gamestop for years because of the practices of EB (I can't remember the last game I bought there,other then Spikeout Battle Street).It could be a local store issue,but I'm more than happy with our local GS.

 

Hopefully Kelley is right & they will take the best from both stores. I don't see how they could not keep from consolidating some stores,though. (In one area of a 1/4 mile there are 2 GameStops & 1 EB,though at least 8 other stores in another 1/4 radius sell games,so maybe they can stay pat.)

 

Time will only tell...

[splunk]

GameStop split off from B&N

[Romier S]

Hate to disagree with you,but I feel almost the exact same way about EB Games

 

Disagree all you like. I can only speak on my experience with the Gamestop chain stores (several, not one) that I have frequented and how they go about running thier business. Gamestops around here work on some archaic "slip" system with thier preorders that they input into 20 year old computers that can barely keep track of what a game costs. Come release day, you'll be lucky if they even set your preorder aside. I go to EB and put down preorders on 15 games all of which are tied to my phone number. No slip needed, no bullshit. I give em my number, get my game and I'm home playing. I go into an EB here and I'm asked if I want to preorder something which is common practice. I say "no" and I'm left alone. I walk into a Gamestop and I'm hounded constantly to preorder every game under the sun every five minutes by 3-4 different employees. Shit, I even call a Gamestop here to ask for a game and they won't even bother to look unless they interject the word preorder into the conversation. I don't even bother calling a GS around here for a limited release game like Spikeout or Phantom Dust because they don't even order them unless you go in and preorder the title. It's rare for them to ever get a copy of anything unique. No such issues at EB for me.

 

Again, I can only convey my experience with Gamestop and thier shit service in my area. I've wanted nothing to do with them and have been an EB shopper for years now. It looks like I'll be finding a new store in my area to do my preordering at if the EB's around here are converted into Gamestops and they follow the same type of lousy service/customer badgering I've grown accustomed to from them.

[JFo]

Gamestops around here work on some archaic "slip" system with thier preorders that they input into 20 year old computers that can barely keep track of what a game costs. Come release day, you'll be lucky if they even set your preorder aside.

 

Just wondering, when was the last time you preordered a game from GameStop? I ask because the ones around here abandoned that slip system a while ago in favor of a more up-to-date computer database system. I'd be surprised if the ones in your area didn't do the same. I also have yet to walk into the store on release day and not walk away with a copy that I preordered.

 

As for me, I frequent the GameStop in my area. If there's a game that I'm interested in picking up, I usually try to buy it from them, because I've received some pretty good service from them in the past. I guess it just depends on who runs the store and who works there. I should note that I haven't received any "bad" service from the EB down the road. I just haven't purchased from them nearly as much as GameStop.

[Josh]

I think they all suck. There are plenty of GameStops and EB Games here in the city, and every single one of them sucks in every way possible. They all smell like high school locker rooms - I'm not sure why, and I don't want to know why. They're all pretty filthy. When I go home from one of those places I was my hands. The games are not organized at all. In fact, what they have in the shelves is in no way indicative of what they actually have. You have to stand in line and ask for what you want. They may have it. They may not. It may be $54.00. I might be $19.99. They don't bother to update prices- they're still trying to sell used copies of Rainbow Six Three for $34.99. They won't answer your questions unless you get in line, regardless of whether that question is "I want to buy X game" or "When does X game come out?"

 

I have the luxury of going to a couple privately-owned shops in town where the staffs are both knowledgeable AND they mean it when they say they'll hold on to a game for you. I refuse to go to the EB's and GameStops in the city. Icky places.

[Calvin]

Guess it really all depends on where you live. The best place to buy games that I've been in is a chain in Texas called GameFellas.Awesome stuff.

But I digress...

 

Hopefully some good will come out of this merger.That is all I ask.If not,well another reason be happy about Al Gore creating the internet :tu

[Romier S]

Just wondering, when was the last time you preordered a game from GameStop?

 

Tried to preorder Guild Wars two weeks ago to get a second preorder box and exclusive weapon. Same slip system still in affect. Left the store before I even got the preorder in.

 

I'd be surprised if the ones in your area didn't do the same.

 

Come to PA and be suprised. There is one Gamestop over in the Capital City Mall that has only been around a little over a year (ie it's new) that has the updated systems you are talking about Jeff. For crying out loud we still have a Babbages here!

 

I have the luxury of going to a couple privately-owned shops in town where the staffs are both knowledgeable AND they mean it when they say they'll hold on to a game for you.

 

A luxury it is in fact. EB and Gamestop *IS* a specialty store here.

[Chris F]

My Gamestop stopped using the slip system a few months ago. Now I just go in, give them money, they take my name & phone number, give me a reciept, then the day before a title I've preordered comes in, I get an automated phone call reminding me that it's coming in.

[Romier S]

I'm glad you guys have had good experiences with your local Gamestops. If EB's in my areas convert, it gives me a minute sense of hope. Does little to change the horrible experiences I've had in the past nonetheless.

[Carlucci]

then the day before a title I've preordered comes in, I get an automated phone call reminding me that it's coming in.

 

Works that way for me too. I always enjoy picking up the phone to hear "Erin", the gamestop auto-call girl!

 

I tend to stick to Gamestop, just because I've gotten to be friends with the manager.

 

Carlos.

[Chris F]

Works that way for me too. I always enjoy picking up the phone to hear "Erin"' date=' the gamestop auto-call girl!

 

I tend to stick to Gamestop, just because I've gotten to be friends with the manager.

 

Carlos.[/quote']

Heh, I thought her name was Aeris. And the manager at my Gamestop knows me so well, it's like Cheers when I walk through the door.

 

Me: "Afternoon everybody."

Them: "Chris!"

[EnemaEms]

I have a bunch of EBs and Gamestops in my area. Never have had a bad experience in either store. One gamestop,Babbages actually, has some pretty dickweed sales people. As does the EB games right above them in teh mall. I rarely get anything from those stores anymore.

 

The one thing that sucks about this isno more competition.:scream

 

-Dean-

[splunk]

Everyone should be getting the automated calls now. The slip system he is referring to is probably still in place at most Gamestops. You go in, preorder the game and take your receipt. The computer doesn't put your preorder in a database at the store, it prints out a store credit slip that is filed away and retrieved and redeemed when you come back to get your game. Most stores have no computer database for reserves or even their own inventory. I've heard of how good EBs computers are. The DB sounds great, keeping stuff on file per customer, including their discount card subscription. It will be a welcome addition when Gamestop moves up to something similar.

 

The reason some of you get bombarded so much about reservations and subscriptions...they're basically how Gamestop ranks its employee performances. Doesn't matter how good you are at helping customers, if you do not meet a certain percent of Res/Sub:transaction ratio, you get reprimanded etc...it's crappy. You can go to http://www.gamestopfeedback.com and give them your views.

[foogledricks]

God, Adobe buys Macromedia. EB and Gamestop. All these mergers are very harmful for our country.

[Orpheus]

I hope that the merger results in a change of gamestops policies with stocking lesser known titles although I realize that is very unlikely. My local EB (which only opened in the last year) always has a copy or two of the lesser known games. Often when I've gone to gamestop, they tell me it doesn't exist, even if it's been out for a while (Carve was a perfect example). Add in that horrible handwritten reserve ticket system and lousy database (that the pimply faced employee can't find anything in) which they still use here, the awful stench of theplace ( it does smell like a locker room in ours as well), and annoying employees, well, I just don't give em much of my business anymore, even if the EB is more of a nuissance to get to. At least they usually have what I want in stock or will actually order it for me, the store is clean, the staff is nice and knowledgable.

[JoeyN]

Gamestop here switched from that dumb reserve system where you held onto the slips a while ago. I always get a call when a preorder is in, unlike the eb's here which dont call and then sell my preorder i paid in full for. I just hope the lesser known titles are in stores , as i usually go to EB to pick them up

 

capt

[GreenMonkey]

Ordering games from EBgames.com is really one of the few good gaming deals out there. As the cheapassgamer frequenters know, EB has some good coupons (basically 25 or 26% off and free shipping for used games). Plus if you order pre-owned PS2, Xbox, GC games they are guaranteed to be complete - no such guarantee with Gamestop. That's the reason I will occasionally order from ebgames.com and never from gamestop.com, whatever the price.

 

Over at cheapassgamer forums everyone is basically saying the same thing. Why couldn't it be the other way around?

 

HEHE: funny picture they had over there. Don't really agree but it is funny.

 

[secretvampire]

As the cheapassgamer frequenters know, EB has some good coupons

 

No kidding. The EBGames.com website with the coupon/Edge card discount is the greatest ongoing deal in gaming. It has saved me so much cash it isn't even funny. I'm going to be very sad if it disappears.

 

The other HUGE difference between their websites? EB promises games will be complete with case and manual (for current gen systems), Gamestop does not. For an anal collector like me, this is a huge deal! Not to mention, a disc only game usually hasn't been taken care of well if the owner couldn't even be bothered to hang on to the original case. For this reason, I never buy used games from the Gamestop site.

[Camp]

Looking at this from a glass half-full perspective:

 

Game Crazy went from the #3 specialty gaming retailer in the nation to the #2 position in one day.

[Jon W H]

Game Crazy went from the #3 specialty gaming retailer in the nation to the #2 position in one day.

 

The jury's still out on that chain as far as I'm concerned. There's one right across from the street where I live, which hasn't been pleasant in terms of pre-order ('you should pre-order 10 to 14 days prior to release, we cut them off after that'), but another location I went to a year and a half ago seemed pretty pleasant.

 

I think shopping experience varies wildly from store to store in all these retail chains.