Ever take back a game right away?

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VideoGameCritic
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Ever take back a game right away?

Postby VideoGameCritic » March 16th, 2014, 2:45 pm

It doesn't happen much, but there were a few times when I returned a game immediately (same day).  I'm not talking about cases where the game was defective (which is common).  I'm talking about if you just don't like the game!

The first time was with Final Fantasy 2 (SNES) - although it may have been FF3.  It was the early 90's and I had read rave reviews about the game in magazines (EGM probably) and I was really psyched.  Of course, it costed upward of $60-70 so it was a big investment.

At the time I didn't really appreciate RPGs - especially Japanese RPGs, so I really did "get" the game.  The more I played the more panicked I became, thinking I made a bad choice.  It wasn't what I expected so I took it back to Funcoland the same day.

The clerk processed my return, but he could not fathom that someone would return this game.  Over the years I started to like RPGs, and I now have these games in my collection.

Anybody else have a story to share?

Ken1
Posts: 345
Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

Ever take back a game right away?

Postby Ken1 » March 16th, 2014, 2:52 pm

Yes, Twisted Metal 3. The worst game in the series. What a piece of trash. I was mega disappointed.

Oltobaz1
Posts: 1605
Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

Ever take back a game right away?

Postby Oltobaz1 » March 16th, 2014, 3:47 pm

Nope, never happened! 

Rev1
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Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

Ever take back a game right away?

Postby Rev1 » March 16th, 2014, 4:54 pm

I've never taken back a game that I physically bought but I think a lot of that has to do with the newer policies that many retailers have when it comes to returning games. When I worked in customer service (from 2006-2010ish) the policies of returning games had drastically changed due to the newer technology. Most retailers will refuse to return a game if it has been opened and it isn't defective. This was also around the time where I started receiving a disposable income. Now, I know that companies like Gamestop will offer store credit for games that people don't like, but they also sell used games and it has to be done in a very short time frame.

BanjoPickles1
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Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

Ever take back a game right away?

Postby BanjoPickles1 » March 16th, 2014, 4:58 pm

Tomcat Alley for Sega CD. I played for five minutes, got a headache from the array of bleeding colors, and promptly returned it to KB Toys.

Edward1
Posts: 297
Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

Ever take back a game right away?

Postby Edward1 » March 16th, 2014, 6:05 pm

I don't know of any game stores around where I live that allow you to return games. its ridiculous, because games are expensive.  Therefore, i try to do research on games, and get them cheap. If I make a poor decision, at least I wont be out 60 bucks. Making games $60, not creating a playable demo for it, and then not allowing returns is obscene. Thats why I generally wait to buy games.

El_Shamro1
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Ever take back a game right away?

Postby El_Shamro1 » March 16th, 2014, 6:31 pm

I bought Mortal Kombat for the Game Boy and returned it later that week.

Rev1
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Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

Ever take back a game right away?

Postby Rev1 » March 16th, 2014, 6:40 pm

You can thank the non-returnable policies to the fact that people pirate games. Buy a game, burn it, and then return it.

Edward1
Posts: 297
Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

Ever take back a game right away?

Postby Edward1 » March 16th, 2014, 7:42 pm

[QUOTE=Rev]You can thank the non-returnable policies to the fact that people pirate games. Buy a game, burn it, and then return it.[/QUOTE]

I don't think that is entirely it. That's probably their corporate line, but I don't think its true.  If it was, it would be a limit that you can't return X amount games in x months, etc.  Pirates would be likely to buy games constantly, make copies of them, and return them nonstop. a policy like the one I just mentioned would stop that process. If someone buys 10 games in a year and returns 1 for being a terrible game that was nothing like it was advertised, odds are they are a legitimate customer. Stores could allow some returns for normal customers without enabling piracy too much.  So why don't game companies allow stores to have a return policy like that?


I think this actually comes down to the same reason that most game companies no longer make playable demos of their games.  They want people to know as little as possible about the game, and if the game is bad, they want people to be stuck with them.  I'm sure they blame piracy, but I think the real reason is its a excuse to stop legitimate customers from returning bad games. If that happens, they lose money, so they found a way to blame pirates. Besides, the type of pirate who is tech savy enough to mod a console, is probably tech savy enough to download the games online instead of going through the hassle of buying and returning them.

Wallyworld1
Posts: 488
Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

Ever take back a game right away?

Postby Wallyworld1 » March 16th, 2014, 8:49 pm

I never returned a game to the store but I remember me and my best friend renting Bo Jackson's baseball for the NES. After 5 minutes we promptly returned it to the rental store and demanded a different game.

That game was sooo bad.


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