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GameStop Selling Games Played By Employees As New
Kotaku reports on a practice by GameStop which allows employees to "check out" new copies of video games, play them, then return them to be sold as new. Quoting:
"When a shipment of video games initially arrives at a store, managers are told to 'gut' several copies of the game, removing the disc or cartridge from the packaging so it can be displayed on the shelf without concern of theft, according to our sources. The games are then placed in protective sleeves or cases under the counter. If a customer asks why the game is not sealed they are typically told the the game is a display copy. The game is still sold as new. When check-out games are returned, we were told, they are placed with the gutted display copies. If a customer asks about these, they are typically told they are display copies, not that they have been played before. Since the copies are often placed with display copies, even managers and employees typically don't know which of these games have been played and which haven't."
Makes me want to work there part time, not get all upset about it.
I was wondering the same. There are actually only two reason why I would care:
First, activation / registration codes being used. I wouldn't like it one bit if a game like Spore told me I'm a petty thief (or worse) because it should be running on a completely different machine.
Second, wear, tear and damage. Some consoles are not really careful when reading their media, scratching them. Some people ain't too careful either.
Aside of that, play my game if you want to 'til I buy it. I certainly don't care.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Customer: This car isn't new!
Salesturd: Sure it is!
Customer: It has 10,000 miles on it!
Salesturd: It's a display model. Don't worry about it. Same as new!
Fact: The "demonstrator" cars you buy are actually used, and usually have a lot more mileage than they indicate - it's easier for the dealer to roll back the odometer on new cars than it was a couple of decades ago. $150 if you know the right person.
How else do you think that long-term leased car that you brought back with 50,000 miles passes through Adesa a week later with "only" 28,000 miles on the clock? And did you think you sere getting a "special deal" when the dealer said he'd ignore the over-mileage charges if you leased another car?