For a long time now I've generally tried to avoid these two because ever since 2005 or so they've been going down the toilet in terms of what they sell, and how they sell it with there pricing and quality control, which to me was epitomized today after a visit into town. Firstly I hit up Game station and looked at the Used PC section, what a mess it was, fucking Xplosiv/Sold out editions are like £3-£5 a piece. What a joke when I could go online and get it shipped for £2. Two titles attracted my eye, The Sims Superstar and Unleashed, both were 49p and being that I already had the Sims unleashed and was just looking for the manual I thought that wasn't too bad if it was complete, and superstar I didn't have but wanted to I asked if they were complete, the answer was YES. Later I came to get on the bus and I took off those retarded stickers they put on that come off in pieces to find Unleashed was missing the second disk, but had the manual and CD Key so I wasn't too far out there. However I open Superstar and what do I find? One disk which im unsure if there's two, but NO FUCKING MANUAL/CD Key. It was cheap enough that I don't really care as I have replacement cases, CD's and covers now and finally have a complete unleashed However I was told these were complete and thank god I don't care because it'd be £2 on the bus just to get a £1 refund. Now lets go back in time to before I got on the bus and here's the kicker. I walk round the corner to CEX and I see Five Sims games. House Party, Holiday, Hot Date, Makin Magic and Superstar, all priced at 75p,75p, 25p, £1 and 25p want to know the difference between the two companies? I took the boxes to the counter and asked if they were all complete, the man behind the counter said they were hopefully. He then goes and gets them of the wall, HP, Holiday and Hot date are all complete give or take the manual (they all have the CD Key) and I was able to verify this in the store, However Superstar they couldn't find anything for, and Makin Magic was missing disc 2 and the CD Key, so I opted not to buy these. Not to mention the staff were far more friendly and I had a nice chat about PC gaming with the man behind the counter who he, along with his coworkers seemed to be knowledgeable. I hope CEX end up buying Game and Game station and turning them into CEX stores because the quality of service is just so much better and they have a far wider collection.
At least they have a PC section. I cannot recall the last time I saw a pc game at a US or canadian based Gamestop, EB games, etc. Glad to hear that US consumers arent the only ones that get screwed though.
They put seals on the boxes to stop them from being opened. Not to mention it was packed (that game station is tiny and is always full). They even put the seals on the boxes of SNES games (the few that they have) and so the cardboard just gets knackered
1. How do they stay in business considering how OLD their stock is? 2. Why not look at it in front of the person in the store after you purchase it, and refuse to leave if the product is not in good order?
I bought a ps2 copy of prince of persia ltd edition trilogy for a bargain price in Game a couple years ago. Got home to find ONE disc inside and no instructions, even though the guy in the shop said they only accept complete games. Ever since then, I always open and check 2nd hand game purchases before I leave town!
I've never had this problem ever. Why? Because I'm a cunt or so I'm told I ask to let me check the discs for marks before I pay. The clerk usually obliges as they want/need the sale. Of course if there is anything unsatisfactory, I ask them to check the cupboards for more or don't bother buying. Easy!
I'dve probably had them check, but since just about every other game shop in town is shut these days (Game Station survived the purge, Game however didn't) It was packed and I had some woman with a screaming kid practically ramming a pram up my arse. It used to be packed before but this time it was shoulder to shoulder.
I've ended up going home with broken merchandise before, but only from Gamestop. I bought a used PS2 bundle once and the only thing that worked on the included DS2 were the L/R buttons. -_- I also bought a copy of Killzone 2 once and, despite it being in perfect condition, my PS3 refuses to get past loading screens (for both multiplayer and the campaign). It doesn't freeze, but it doesn't load any data past a certain point. I'm only guessing that it's because I have an older 60GB PS3 with the single-diode laser, but any other disc works perfectly fine with it.
once again, i do not get it. I always check used items before i leave the parking lot in front of the store. is this a cultural UK sort of thing? To assume things are all good? Because everyone i know would check it before leaving.
It's something you as a customer has to do sadly. Still quality control does need be reviewed in many retail stores in many locations, but it will never happen. -_- I'm always checking what I buy and sometimes I spend 15 minutes making sure it's alright. The only annoying thing is when you get home and notice something wrong...
