overall quality of game stores

[annoyed consumer]

I stumbled across this web site and I think its GREAT! Not because people are getting screwed but because its spreading awareness to everyone.
Now for people that have some experience with Comic collecting we know that we want the best quality we can get. Comic store sellers ALWAYS make sure to sell the comics at a fair price depending on condition. They also do something that game stores are refusing to do. THEY MAKE SURE THEY DONT DEGRADE THE QUALITY OF THE COMIC WITH STUPID STORE STICKERS!
I know that part of the reason why so many people are getting screwed by game stores in general is the lack of respect for the hobby. Collecting games should be considered as serious as any other hobby. My main gripes with game stores such as EBgames and Gamestop are.......

THOSE d**n STICKERS! Comic book store employees would be FIRED! for putting a messy sticker on a collectable item"How about a terrible sticker mess on Action comics #1"(Supermans first appearance worth about 1,000,000 dollars!). Most of the comics are kept as best as possible including keeping them in backer boards and making sure price tags dont ruin the quality. They are kept in safe and delicate area's to make sure its quality will not be ruined in the store.
Now lets take a look at Game stores. When you go to EB or Gamestop to look for rare treasures, I think its safe to say that the price stickers they put on their items ARE ALMOST A SLAP IN THE FACE TO QUALITY COLLECTORS! Sure mainstream gamers could give a rats, but when you pay top dollar for a rare game you expect that when you get home the condition of the game should not be hampered by stupid things. Such as price stickers.
Overall I'd say that EB games stickers ARE A NIGHTMARE! Every time a price tag is put on a game it makes finding a good condition of that collectible all the rarer. Now this may make people with mint condition verisons of the game go "Yes mine will be more desirable thus worth more dough". But this is really really really really bad for the gaming industry. I can see it now. People in the future paying 90 bucks for a genesis cartridge with sticky sticker remnants and riped off cartridge art. The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach, the lack of respect for the history of this industry. Its like putting sticky, ruining stickers on the MONA LISA! and then pass it on to the next generation with bad quality.

Rip off Trading: I can not believe how many people get JIPPED by store trading programs. I've seen the rip off several times. One kid brang several very rare games for the n64 Wipeout and wave race 64. Games I probably wouldnt sell for less than 30 bucks(I'm a collector not a seller though). Well the first thing that happens is the kid will say "well how much can I get for these working games?". The clerk will start by saying "we dont know lets check the database". What there really saying is "your cartridge is crap and were not going to pay jack for it". So how much "trading" actually happened. THE GUY GAVE HIM 2 BUCKS STORE CREDIT! Store Credit! Not even CURRENCY! But store credit. For two great games that you know the store is going to sell for 120% more than what there giving the kid, is just criminal. Now this wouldnt be so bad, but the fact remains that they are practically getting the games for free taking these gaming treasures and ruining the cartridges only to sell them at huge gains. Its good for business, terrible for collectors.

Now for the good news, I'd like to say that a legal battle has been won by the law. Gamestop used to have this really rip off scandal. first heres the low down on the rip off...

The problem starts with the return policy. It doesnt matter whether the games are opened or not you can still return them if its within 7 days of purchase. Sounds great huh? Not really, to make up for the "opened" game they just resell the "used" game as "new". Before this was stopped I purchased Ikargua new and they gave me this opened, ruined case with the game. Rip off. Well some lawyers got together and sued the hell out of them. Now they dont screw buyers.

I know most of you dont really care about the collecting part of buying games, but from reading your posts it seems that most of you got sucked into Buyrite cause they sell rare systems(or so they lead you to believe). If its too good to be true it probably is.....

Anyway how do you guys feel about the whole store product qaulity?

P.S by the way I own some of the rarest dreamcast games available. Not only is the dreamcast system one of the hardest to collect for, the amount of quality in its games are almost legendary. There is no way in HELL I'd sell this system let alone trade to GameCrap for 2 bucks!

[Realitys Fringe]

Allow me to first say that, while I respect your opinion, it seems that you have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to game stores such as GameStop.

First of all, from a "collector's" stand point; I'm not sure why in the hell you are even going into these stores anyway. There is no reason to even assume that any product you would get from these stores is even remotelt near "Collector Quality". These are mass-market gamestores that appeal to both the casual fans and true "hardcore" gamers out there. The goal is to sell the games solely for playability; not to sell them in pristine collector condition. Trying to get a "collector" quality game form one of these stores is akin to trying to find fine china in a Wal-Mart. It doesn't work that way. If you wish to have a collection, the only true way to purchase these things is M*I*N*T, and that requires an online or locally owned speciality store.

The whole collector thing brings up my next point; people who complain when their games are not worth much in credit. While I can understand the fact that you did indeed pay 50 or so bucks for it at one point; what I CAN'T understand is why people cannot comprehend that after a time they are not worth that. Videogames depreciate like cars, it's a sad fact of life yet it's an absolute truth. Trade-In prices are based not only on demand for a game, but condition, completelness, and amount we have in inventory. I don't care how much it hurts your feelings, but I'm not going to give you 30 bucks for your copy of NFL Gamecrap 99, and do you know why? We have 59 of them and no one wants ot buy that nuts! you say that you wouldn't sell Waverace 64 or Wipeout64 for less than 30 bucks? Well, guess what, we sell them new in this store for $10. These are half-hearted, mass produced, N64 games. They're as common as a cold, and I don't see why you think they're worth 30 bucks.
Another point to be addressed is your (assumed) position that stores shouldn't be allowed to markup their prices by what they want. Granted, there is a large markup on it, but you have to realize that often times we don't even sell half the games that are traded in, and do you know why? They're total crap! That's why. It's the truth. If you trade in a game for 8 bucks and we mark it up to $20, what's to say we're GUARANTEED to sell that game? We could've ended up just giving you 8 bucks in store credit for a piece of crap game that no one will buy. And as for the profit, it's not that great depending on the title. Even in your example with Waverace 64, 2 bucks in credit with a 120% markup would only be $4.40 for it used. Well below the fantasy $30 price tag you would give it.
The point is that people often times complain about game store markups without realizing target consumers and lack of inventory turnover. If you're a "collector" you have no real business going into these chain stores. The sad fact is Videogames are not investment, Mutual Funds, or hedges against inflation; they are toys. Their worth is only equivalent to their demand. No more, no less. As for your Dreamcast; we also sell those for $19.99 and games never go above $29.99.

[uhmmm bloop]

Where is your store? Does it have an internet site?

d**n, those are some good prices!

[Annoyed Consumer]

LoL, I wonder if this store employee knows that Street Fighter 3rd Strike is considered the best street fighter game ever created.

Some guy put 3rd strike up on Ebay and the winning bid was 120$

I wouldnt be surprised if this guy said that saturn games were worthless as well.

Heres a little exercise for this employee.....

Go to ebay

Search Panzer Dragoon Saga

Dont worry, ignorance is forgivable! ;D

[Annoyed Employee]

Yeah, thats because people are idiots. Some people will just spend anything to get their hands on a game. Most people that trade in stuff don't have Panzer Dragoon Saga or Street Fighter III Third Strike. If they did I would tell them to sell it on Ebay, because it's worth it. But if they are getting rid of a game that say everyone has already, say GTA or Madden or something like that, be glad you can get something for it.

[dumdum]

Well, Realitysfringe got it right, except that [glow=red,2,300]Video games are not toys!!![/glow]

Sorry, but that is a pet peeve of mine. They are an acceptable form of entertainment, like movies or tv.

Many politicians think they are "kiddy baby toys" when they are not. It's like movies. There are certain movies for certain ages. We have ratings to inform which movies/games are appropriate for certain ages. we have stuff for kids. We have stuff for adults. If consumers do not follow the ratings on these games/movies, that is their fault, not the creator aiming garbage at little kids to corrupt them.
I do not like M rated games (I will not play them), but if someone else does, that is their right. Video Games are not kids toys any more. I feel parents should monitor which games their kids are playing.

Sorry about this rambling. I just wanted to clear a misconception that is causing the Videogame market nothing but trouble.