Buyerbeware
Midvale,#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, June 19, 2009
Gamestop is an excellent place to purchase video games. I have bought over 400 games from them over the last 3 years. If you buy ANY of their games that are marked used you have 7 days to play it and bring back if you don't like or just wanted to play for free for 7 days. Alot of gamestops open the games when they arrive and store the disc behind counters due to theft. If you are a consumer it is your responsibility to ask questions and find out about return polices before buying. Most companies can post their policies and customer's still don't read them or they feel like they should not have to comply. I don't understand this, if you don't want to follow the companies set policies, then don't shop at that particular store. Go find a store that is willing to accept your new changes to their already existing policies. I have bought a couple games at Walmart and they will not allow you to return it for anything other than the same title. So returning a game back to Gamestop that is brand new and them offering to buy it back is pretty fair. I agree with the person that suggest that you actually ask questions of the store attendants as to if the game is easy to play or suitable for your young kid. While the game might say rated for everyone, obviously, everyone's intelligence, likes, dislikes are not the same and as a parent it is up to you to ask all the important information. I would recommend only buying used for your 7 year old, this way he can try it for 7 days to determine if the game is right for him. If it is not, then you can return it for 100% of your money back.
Ashley
Springfield,#3Consumer Comment
Mon, June 01, 2009
No company is required to take a return on a product just because you didn't like it. If the game was defective they would take it back, but NO COMPANY will accept a return on opened software. You can dispute it with your credit card but that won't work. Video taping yourself returning it by leaving it on the counter won't matter either. Every company is allowed to set a return policy. They are not even required to HAVE a return policy. Their return policy could simply be "No returns" You want them to take back a video game that has been opened and used, because its too hard for your son? So this company now has to sell this game as a used video game and lose money because you bought a game that was too hard for your son? How does that make sense? You also mention target has a better policy: "A receipt dated within 90 days is required for all returns and exchanges. All returns and exchanges must be new, unused, and contain all original packaging and accessories. A form of personal identification may be required. Some items cannot be returned if opened, including music, movies, video games, software and collectibles. Other restrictions may apply." Notice that target will not let you return an opened video game either. I challenge you to find a retailer that WILL take back an opened video game.
ReactorCore
Victoria,#4Consumer Comment
Mon, June 01, 2009
This kind of return policy has been the de facto standard for YEARS in retail games stores. It's far from an unexpected policy and it's not unfair either. It's there to prevent both the store and teh producer of the software from getting ripped off themselves by discouraging people taking the game home, burning an illegal copy (or in some cases, a game will run without the CD or a "No-CD crack" can be applied), and then returning the game to the store with a lame excuse, getting their money back AND getting a free game to play to boot. If you want to get a 7 year old a game, take them with you and see what they may actually be interested in. Alternatively, get hold of a sales rep and ask questions. Ask if they'd recommend it for the age group, what the overall learning curve is etc. Also, Sim Roller Coaster is one hell of an outdated game. Paying $20 for it, new, is the real rip off here. You could at least have picked him up a cheap, second hand copy of Halo, which IS drop dead easy to play.
Lana
Milwaukee,#5Consumer Comment
Mon, June 01, 2009
I bought this 2 disc game for my daughter, from Walmart. I get home and open it, and the 2nd disc was missing. I went back to the store. I was told I could not return it because I opened it. I raised a stink and then they gave me a new game. I really could not believe they did this at first. How could you know the problem if you do not open it?
Robert
Irvine,#6Consumer Comment
Mon, June 01, 2009
"..Game stop had already opend the game and had the disk in a drawer behind the counter..." - They also probably put a seal or sticker that had to be broken to install the actual disk(not necessarily just the box). "..The Game turned out to be too hard for him too play (Sims roller coaster)..." - The only way he would have known that it was too hard was if either you or him opened and installed the game. "..Told them I would video tape my self returnig the game with a copy of the receipt and just leave it on the counter. Then I would dispute the charge with my credit card compant knowing the credit card almost always sides with the card holder. From my own experince as a auto repair mananger. Wheather the card holder is right or wrong..." - Great lesson you are teaching your 7 Year Old. "..Target has a far better policey as well as wallmart.." - Since it was opened by you or him they would have told you the same thing. That is that you can only exchange it for the same title, and unlike GameStop they don't buy back games.
Striderq
Columbia,#7Consumer Comment
Mon, June 01, 2009
if it was a $20 game, I doubt it was new.
Edgeman
Chico,#8Consumer Comment
Mon, June 01, 2009
When it comes to video games, Target and Wal-Mart's return policies aren't much different. They will accept a return for an unopened game but if it has been opened and played they will only accept a return if the game is defective and even then you will only be able to get a copy of the same game. They won't even offer to buy the used game from you. It is not GameStop's fault that you bought a game that was too difficult for your son to play.