The Video Game Critic

As has been previously pointed out, this is an interesting thread, one in which I have been following silently until now.  Just a few thoughts on this subject follow.

Overall, I am not impressed with GameStop (GS).  I have two (2) stores located by be within less than 1 mile of each other and have visited many others.  I guess I am one of the lucky ones that have associates working at these two locations that do care a great deal and demonstrate not only the required common courtesies but also ask me if I need any help.  I do admit that this has not been my experience at the majority of the GS stores that I have visited.  I have experienced the same items that have been described previously: unfriendly, talking with each other and not to the customers, playing the demos, etc.  My comments are not a blanket statement at all  - it is just recognizing that I too have experienced the same at some point with GS.  Regarding customer service, GS does overall fall short in this area as a whole.  As with any large franchise (or any business for that matter), the tone and standards set\maintained by the GM\Store Manager.  Look at my online name - believe this to be true from my personal experience (GM for a Marriott hotel).

The second issue seems to lie within the organization\inventory of the store, both maintaining the order as well as the New vs Used games.  Opened = Used - period.  I have found the maintaining of the stores to be rather adequate, though not great.  There is room for improvement here but in the stores I have frequented I have not found this a big issue (and I have a big OCD problem).  I can understand not carrying games for systems beyond the previous generation of consoles.  Space is an issue and revenues must be maximized - those dollars come primarily from sales of current games - not from multi-generational gaming aficionados like ourselves.  Funcoland - oh how I do miss thee so...

Lastly, I agree that none of us should be judged by how we make a living to support ourselves or family.  We all come from different backgrounds, ages and have different skill sets - what brings us here to VGC is our mutually shared loved for video gaming - both the classic as well today's current generation.  Though the original poster did leave himself wide open for a bit of a beating (and rightly earned by the OP), an industry or field of work should not be be categorically bludgeoned as a whole.

GS, if you happen to be reading this, please pass on learnings from this thread - have friendly people who are helpful and maintain the order/organization of their store(s) inventory.  Also, do not forget about us older gamers that appreciate the classics - though not the rule, we usually have more disposable income to invest in gaming that do others.

Thanks for the time all and I hope my take did not take too much time away from your gaming.  See you on COD4!

Terry
a.k.a. Marriott_Guy

[QUOTE=Funkmaster V]

[QUOTE=MigAlley]
The bottom is if you don't like it then don't go.
[/QUOTE]

LOL! I dont! They suck!

And if a guy gets bent out of shape b/c people are giving him heck b/c he sucks at his job, QUIT or DO BETTER. Let me tell you two words,you entitled POS, and all you weirdos defending Gamestop employees and their whines:

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Look it up. You are a retail sales agent, not a local video game diety.

Funkmaster V
[/QUOTE]

No Atari, this looks right. If he doesn't like serving customers, do something else. It's that simple. This guy came on here slinging a bunch of BS, and I slung some perspective his way.

My job(s)? Musician, Pro Wrestler, Lanlord, Independent sales. Never attended more than a year of college. I've worked hard for everything, been lucky, and I strive to be the best, and do everything on my own. I don't have an ego, and I don't expect period face to have one either.

Funkmaster V

There is 1 gamestop in my area. The employees are nice but the store has zero organization. I have bought a "new" copy of raiden 3 there but I'm pretty sure it was used. I don't go there much because I've bought used games there that the employees told me would work but they didn't.  It's annoying  because, well the employees flat out lied to me and all of the "guaranteed to play" signs that are plastered all over the store. It's kind of pointless to shop there because there are 3 way better local shops around town and they all sell classic games. This one store I go to knows me by name and orders/holds games for me. And whenever I buy a game system they always throw in freebies like games, memory cards and extra controllers Actually thats 2 of the stores. You just cant  get that kind of service at a international corporation. Just saying.

I think the problems at Gamestop are reflecting a general downward trend in customer service in most of the lay industries.  For example, we have about 4 Taco Bells in my area.  I will only go to 2--the others are consistently rude, open late, mess up orders, dirty, and will make you mad some way every time you go. 

At the local Walmarts (we have 4), employees act like they could care less if you shop there or not.  It's like the figure that nobody has money and people are going to shop there whether or not they get good customer service.

It's sad but true:  In America, people consistently choose a 'free, poor quality service' over 'costly, high quality service'.

Of course, Gamestop employees are often video game nerds, which usually means the time they were supposed to be developing social skills (necessary for the job) was spent staring at a TV.

Here's a complaint, this time against customers....

More than once, I've seen a family stroll in--dirty clothes, car that is about to fall apart, horrible manners, obvious that no one has a job--come in and spend $400 on video games.  What's up with that??

I disagree with some of the more recent posts. I not only speak from experience at other stores but also from my own personal work experiences as a teenager and in my early 20's. While times have changed, I think basically people are the same. I go to Best Buy and it seems like every other person asks me "Can I help you find something?". I can't imagine them making THAT much more than a Gamestop employee. Same with places like the previously mentioned Taco Bells. While there are always going to be bad stores with rude employees, basically, everyone says "Can I help you?". One of the problems I have at Gamestop is that they don't even do that if you have something in your hand and you are standing in front of the counter. I should not have to say "Excuse me" to get service. I can appreciate the changes in behavior overall since I was a kid (and I am one of the older people on this board from what  I can tell) but it appears to me that Gamestop is at the lower end of Customer Service - exceptions to that will always exist.

I had 2 experiences yesterday, good and bad.

The first was at Walmart.  I asked an employee (who looked bothered) for something.  They said they didnt have it.  I walked away and another one came up and said that they thought it was in a certain place.  We searched and lo and behold, found it!  Good job!

After that, I went to Burger King drivethru.  As I pulled up, the cashier through the speaker mumbled something, so I said I wanted a burger and coke.  Next I heard was "Nobody even said nothing...hang on!"  I got my food, and the cashier said nothing, so I said 'you're welcome' and left.

Guess it all goes back to the indiviudal people, but it seems some of these duds make managment and hire similarly minded people.

I am pretty satisfied with Gamestop overall. The membership card gets me 10% off, and there are many local GS stores. With my card, they often have the best prices when it comes to recent games. Also, the area I live in has hardly any other game stores. It's actually pretty convenient that they have so many locations.

Their used game section is a total mess, and the "new games being already opened" policy is irritating, though.  I suppose GS can still profit well even if they neglect certain things. If you want to pay for better service, some small game stores may suit you better.