GameStop offering compensation after Deus Ex coupon fiasco

Last week, GameStop made headlines by pulling coupons for a competitor out of boxes for Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

Square Enix, the company behind the game, had placed vouchers for a free OnLive version of the game worth $50 in every box sold but GameStop, who has a competing cloud service, pulled the vouchers before selling the PC game.

Today, as a compensation to angry gamers, GameStop is offering a $50 gift card and a "buy two-get one free" offer on all used games.

Square Enix, for its part, has also apologized, stating that they did not tell GameStop of the vouchers in advance and the company will remove the coupon in all unsold copies and future shipments.

Says GameStop CEO Paul Raines (via PCW):

We regret the events surrounding this title release and that our customers were put in the middle of this issue between GameStop and Square Enix, the publisher of this game. And for this, we are truly sorry.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Aug 2011 15:25

ROMaster2

>used games.

NO

28.8.2011 15:56 #1

dab0ne

Originally posted by ROMaster2: >used games.

NO What does it matter if its used games? The voucher is free and so is the gift card. Gamestop will not be making any money if you spend $50 or less and if you put that towards a new game its going where it belongs. I think Gamestop has every right to sell these used games. When Gamestop buys a game from me they take a risk and bet that they will sell the game for more than they bought if from me for. If they dont do this then they take a loss. If the developers and publishers want to see a percentage of Gamestops used games sales they should insure Gamestop (for a fee) for the difference of any loss made. When Gamestop buys a new game from the developers there isnt anything said of Gamestops loss if the game does poorly and must be sold new at a marked down price of $19.99 even though Gamestop bought it direct for $50. Either way Gamestop takes a risk but the only difference is the Devs and Publishers dont get money for Gamestops risk the second time around.

28.8.2011 16:18 #2

DVDBack23

Originally posted by dab0ne: Originally posted by ROMaster2: >used games.

NO What does it matter if its used games? The voucher is free and so is the gift card. Gamestop will not be making any money if you spend $50 or less and if you put that towards a new game its going where it belongs. I think Gamestop has every right to sell these used games. When Gamestop buys a game from me they take a risk and bet that they will sell the game for more than they bought if from me for. If they dont do this then they take a loss. If the developers and publishers want to see a percentage of Gamestops used games sales they should insure Gamestop (for a fee) for the difference of any loss made. When Gamestop buys a new game from the developers there isnt anything said of Gamestops loss if the game does poorly and must be sold new at a marked down price of $19.99 even though Gamestop bought it direct for $50. Either way Gamestop takes a risk but the only difference is the Devs and Publishers dont get money for Gamestops risk the second time around. Fact of the matter is that GameStop and others will take your brand new game and buy it back for 1/3 of what it's worth and then sell it at its market value to the next guy.

There is little to no risk at the prices they buy the games back at.

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28.8.2011 16:36 #3

dab0ne

Originally posted by DVDBack23: Originally posted by dab0ne: Originally posted by ROMaster2: >used games.

NO What does it matter if its used games? The voucher is free and so is the gift card. Gamestop will not be making any money if you spend $50 or less and if you put that towards a new game its going where it belongs. I think Gamestop has every right to sell these used games. When Gamestop buys a game from me they take a risk and bet that they will sell the game for more than they bought if from me for. If they dont do this then they take a loss. If the developers and publishers want to see a percentage of Gamestops used games sales they should insure Gamestop (for a fee) for the difference of any loss made. When Gamestop buys a new game from the developers there isnt anything said of Gamestops loss if the game does poorly and must be sold new at a marked down price of $19.99 even though Gamestop bought it direct for $50. Either way Gamestop takes a risk but the only difference is the Devs and Publishers dont get money for Gamestops risk the second time around. Fact of the matter is that GameStop and others will take your brand new game and buy it back for 1/3 of what it's worth and then sell it at its market value to the next guy.

There is little to no risk at the prices they buy the games back at. That is true and with that as the fact of the matter I should be the one who is mad not the Devs and Publishers. As a rule of thumb I always try to sell my game on craigslist first just so I don't get screwed over by Gamestop. Even though there may be little risk there is still risk. It may not seem fair but it is. I don't have to sell gamestop my game at such a crappy rate and I don't have to buy a used game either. I like having the option to do both. If GS doesn't have a price I'm interested in (buy or sell) then I go on to the next person/company who does.

28.8.2011 17:16 #4

Mysttic

Yea it really tees me off that when I go to look at used games they are only $5 less than the retail new. There's is absolutely no reason for that absurd margin; which is why i go to pawn shops for used games and never Gamestop.

Quote:Maybe if most of you weren't either too stupid or too young to understand how economics work, you wouldn't be bitching about selling used games to places like gamestop. I agreed with most of what you said up until this point. Gamestop caters to kids, these very kids that go back to trade in or sell their used games in hopes of moving on to something better. I not saying they should give the shit away for free, but I've seen gamestop management mark up games bought back from kids by 5 times their value. That's robbery, I don't care what else you have to say on it.

Fact of this matter tho, you nailed it; you don't have to use gamestop to sell your games, especially if you want a higher investment of return; however, when they start doing it to 10yo and under, then it's just gripes me, hence I rarely myself go there to shop, and I educate my kids to avoid the same b.s. Ignorance doesn't = stupidity; it only means the knowledge of how to do it better was not passed on, so there's no need to start insulting people here because you have an inferiority complex.

28.8.2011 19:15 #5

Xplorer4

Originally posted by Mysttic: I agreed with most of what you said up until this point. Gamestop caters to kids, these very kids that go back to trade in or sell their used games in hopes of moving on to something better. I not saying they should give the shit away for free, but I've seen gamestop management mark up games bought back from kids by 5 times their value. That's robbery, I don't care what else you have to say on it. Exactly, some of us understand the economics of it. You have to spend money to make money, and you have to make money to stay open. However, there is a difference between making a profit and being down right greedy. In most cases it wouldn't kill Gamestop, or similar retailers to give you just a bit more for the game. They still make enough profit to cover things like utilities,employee wages, and other expenses, while those at the top still make a nice chunk of change year in and year out. They may even make more money in the end. By upping the pay out, when words gets out, you will likley start attracting customer who would have likley went else where.

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29.8.2011 05:06 #6

DVDBack23

Originally posted by Mysttic: I agreed with most of what you said up until this point. Gamestop caters to kids, these very kids that go back to trade in or sell their used games in hopes of moving on to something better. I not saying they should give the shit away for free, but I've seen gamestop management mark up games bought back from kids by 5 times their value. That's robbery, I don't care what else you have to say on it.

Fact of this matter tho, you nailed it; you don't have to use gamestop to sell your games, especially if you want a higher investment of return; however, when they start doing it to 10yo and under, then it's just gripes me, hence I rarely myself go there to shop, and I educate my kids to avoid the same b.s. Ignorance doesn't = stupidity; it only means the knowledge of how to do it better was not passed on, so there's no need to start insulting people here because you have an inferiority complex. This is exactly right, the average AfterDawn user sells their games on ebay or craigs, but GameStop isn't marketed to the average ADer. It is aimed at mothers and young kids, both of which do not have the means to trade their games otherwise or cannot be bothered to do so.

It is still outrageous that a company like GameStop can take a brand new game that they JUST made full margins with selling at $60 and buy it back off a kid/mother for $20 just to turn around and sell it at $45-50. $20 is nowhere near fair market value, so from a business standpoint it is the same as printing money, it is that lucrative.

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29.8.2011 10:56 #7

LordRuss

I'm shocked that someone is actually getting $20 for a $60 game at Gamestop... Truth be known, even if GS bought a used game for $20, the resale value is nowhere near being within 10% of an unopened game. Its sale is nothing but pure gravy for GS, so even to double the price is fair margin for a resale (a somewhat basic economic principle that resale shops use).

It's just like everyone has been saying, pure & simple greed. They're just taking advantage of kids who really aren't experienced or have the means to get a better deal.

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29.8.2011 13:18 #8

Azuran

Originally posted by DVDBack23: Originally posted by Mysttic: I agreed with most of what you said up until this point. Gamestop caters to kids, these very kids that go back to trade in or sell their used games in hopes of moving on to something better. I not saying they should give the shit away for free, but I've seen gamestop management mark up games bought back from kids by 5 times their value. That's robbery, I don't care what else you have to say on it.

Fact of this matter tho, you nailed it; you don't have to use gamestop to sell your games, especially if you want a higher investment of return; however, when they start doing it to 10yo and under, then it's just gripes me, hence I rarely myself go there to shop, and I educate my kids to avoid the same b.s. Ignorance doesn't = stupidity; it only means the knowledge of how to do it better was not passed on, so there's no need to start insulting people here because you have an inferiority complex. This is exactly right, the average AfterDawn user sells their games on ebay or craigs, but GameStop isn't marketed to the average ADer. It is aimed at mothers and young kids, both of which do not have the means to trade their games otherwise or cannot be bothered to do so.

It is still outrageous that a company like GameStop can take a brand new game that they JUST made full margins with selling at $60 and buy it back off a kid/mother for $20 just to turn around and sell it at $45-50. $20 is nowhere near fair market value, so from a business standpoint it is the same as printing money, it is that lucrative. If consumers weren't feeding their business they wouldn't do it. That is the REAL economics behind it. Don't blame Gamestop. If I gave you $20 to jump 10 times would you refuse and say "I'm not greedy, I'll jump for $5"? Maybe a couple of you, but most of you would take the $20.

29.8.2011 23:25 #9

Mysttic

Quote:If consumers weren't feeding their business they wouldn't do it. That is the REAL economics behind it. Don't blame Gamestop. If I gave you $20 to jump 10 times would you refuse and say "I'm not greedy, I'll jump for $5"? Maybe a couple of you, but most of you would take the $20. You really did miss the point didn't you? I don't care if they do it to adults who have the means to understand the value of a game but don't take advantage of it. They deserve to be treated as idiots. Whether they find out from a friend, or internet, or other sources.

What I mad at is when they take advantage of kids *in mind mind kids are 10 and under anything higher is teens, and usually they have the knack to research on the net either at home or at school*. Where they *Gamestop, EB *now gamestop*, Microplay etc, can go, oh yea we can give ya something; here's $5 for Infamous 2, or trade it in for $10 value.

Then when the kid no longer in the store, shelves it to sell for $50 when new copies go for $60. I seen that happen, I stay in games stores a lot as I am a collector, and I never know where I gonna find something rare even at Gamestop. Now take the same scenario and adult who knows how to barter even a little, can get $20 out of that. You deem that fair game do ya? Do you like stealing suckers from babies too?

It may be real economics, but its' hardly necessary and its damn right insulting. Like others say, it's just gravy on the train. It's also why game stores fear the process of digital era ever 100% taking over sales; cause you can't rob people for their used game installed on their HDD now can ya.

29.8.2011 23:58 #10

Azuran

Originally posted by Mysttic: Quote:If consumers weren't feeding their business they wouldn't do it. That is the REAL economics behind it. Don't blame Gamestop. If I gave you $20 to jump 10 times would you refuse and say "I'm not greedy, I'll jump for $5"? Maybe a couple of you, but most of you would take the $20. You really did miss the point didn't you? I don't care if they do it to adults who have the means to understand the value of a game but don't take advantage of it. They deserve to be treated as idiots. Whether they find out from a friend, or internet, or other sources.

What I mad at is when they take advantage of kids *in mind mind kids are 10 and under anything higher is teens, and usually they have the knack to research on the net either at home or at school*. Where they *Gamestop, EB *now gamestop*, Microplay etc, can go, oh yea we can give ya something; here's $5 for Infamous 2, or trade it in for $10 value.

Then when the kid no longer in the store, shelves it to sell for $50 when new copies go for $60. I seen that happen, I stay in games stores a lot as I am a collector, and I never know where I gonna find something rare even at Gamestop. Now take the same scenario and adult who knows how to barter even a little, can get $20 out of that. You deem that fair game do ya? Do you like stealing suckers from babies too?

It may be real economics, but its' hardly necessary and its damn right insulting. Like others say, it's just gravy on the train. It's also why game stores fear the process of digital era ever 100% taking over sales; cause you can't rob people for their used game installed on their HDD now can ya. You are overstating the effect of child exploitation on the used game industry as most states (including mine) have laws that prevent such activities. In fact I remember last time I traded a game to Gamestop that I couldn't sell on craigslist; I had to show ID. Not to say that it never happens, but not enough to piss and moan about either.

30.8.2011 00:43 #11

DXR88

ya'll are just mad you didn't think of the Highway Robbery scheme aimed at kids and mothers.

think of the effects on market if these types of places didn't exist. the next time you buy that 2 week old game off ebay for 35 bucks thank gamestop for being the crooked slimy bastards they are.

30.8.2011 03:03 #12

Mysttic

Quote:You are overstating the effect of child exploitation on the used game industry as most states (including mine) have laws that prevent such activities. In fact I remember last time I traded a game to Gamestop that I couldn't sell on craigslist; I had to show ID. Not to say that it never happens, but not enough to piss and moan about either.
And you are missing the fact that Gamestop is not just in USA, but also Europe and Canada, where their laws differ.

Quote:ya'll are just mad you didn't think of the Highway Robbery scheme aimed at kids and mothers.

think of the effects on market if these types of places didn't exist. the next time you buy that 2 week old game off ebay for 35 bucks thank gamestop for being the crooked slimy bastards they are. I see your work-around-point here. If gamestop didn't rob people, others wouldn't need to post on ebay or goto other pawnshops to find good-rare deals that we who know better do. In that sense I can thank gamestop, I still don't have to like it.

30.8.2011 14:03 #13

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