Don't Stop at Gamestop

*sigh* The last straw has been broken. I will officially never shop at Gamestop again. They are either the single worst organization I have ever seen, or they simply want ME specifically to bend over (see picture).

So let's begin with the very first issue I've had with them.

Story #1: Used Games pt.1

Used games. They guarantee them to work right? Yeah I thought corporate policy was the truth once...once. The year was 2001 (I think), I had never in my life owned a Playstation, but had recently acquired a Playstation 2 via Christmas and awesome parents. The PS2 game lineup at the time was less than impressive and so I went on a hunt for Playstation games I missed out on.

Topping my list was Chrono Cross, it would also be the last game I found. I of course found it at a Gamestop, used, and not in its original case. But so what I think, no biggie it'll work. Half a year passes before I actually start playing Chrono Cross because I was playing various Gamecube, and other PS1 titles I got. I made it through the first disk of Chrono Chross, no problem. Keep in mind though, it took me about two months to get through the first disk, (I work, had school, life). I start the second disk, it freezes on the very first cinema you come across. Of course I worked diligently to remedy this shocking problem. To no avail, not even the prestigious toothpaste trick worked. I was thusly screwed having owned the game longer than Gamestop's return policy allows.

Furthermore, it wasn't my fault. I'd like to reference the time it took me to get through disk 1! Considering normal people do not whiz through games JUST to see if they work to know if they have to return them or not, I blame Gamestop for not checking disk 2!

Story #2: Used Games pt.2

So from the first incident I learned never to buy used games that are disc based. Problem solved right? Wrong! I attempted to hunt down a copy of Metriod Zero Mission for the GBA since I somehow missed it previously. It was only like a year but seriously, you couldn't find a single new copy of this game anywhere for some reason. So I resorted to using Gamestop's used games guarantee thinking Nintendo's game cartridges would defeat their so called guarantee regardless. WRONG AGAIN! The cartridge I received would not save my game, and had clearly been inflicted with an action replay device as the game stored on it was beyond human playing possibility. Never the less, it was relatively clear the battery was dead....

Ahem... HOW DID THIS HAPPEN??? I can only blame Gamestop for this, not Nintendo. Why do you ask? This is why. I own something in the neighborhood of 400 battery based games dating back to Nintendo's very first battery based game that actually required you to hold "reset" and push "power" otherwise the save didn't work! Weird, I know. But that game folks, still works, and still saves my game files. Gamestop fails again.

Story #3: The Mouse and the Trap

Okay, this is less a personal incident rather a store policy of Gamestop's that makes me hate going there period. I can't just walk in and buy a game from Gamestop. No, I can't, and you probably can't either. Nope, you have to listen to their 20 minute long lecture about how you should reserve games, trade in your used games, sign up for their reward program and online store, BECOME A F$*@ING TOOL! Admittedly this is normally a 3 minute affair at best. But I ran into one manager that would literally not let me leave. I paid him for the game, he had it in the bag, and did not hand it to me before his lecture.

The first five minutes I was polite. The next 3 minutes I found myself arguing why I do not reserve games, (simple answer: because I can get them ANYWHERE I WANT). The next 7 minutes he spends convincing me that I should reserve games, telling me fables of misfortune gamers who didn't reserve a game, (and *gasp* if I had met that poor fellow I bet he drove across the street to Wal-Mart, bought the game and played it that night!). The last 3 minutes I was asking for my game which he was still holding (if you're wondering it was Mega Man ZX Advent). But no, I wasn't yet convinced that he was right. So instead of like saying 'no you can't have the game yet' like a normal ass, he instead just ignored me entirely and continued his rant. He was absolutely positive he could get $5 from me on some random game. I of course stood my ground, and he eventually relinquished the game without any bloodshed. But of course, I never went back there ever again. 20 minutes I'll never get back.

*interesting note, this Gamestop was located in a mall that got torn down the following summer, revenge!*

A tidbit side story: Once when buying Street Fighter 4 (Best buy didn't have them in yet) I was asked if I wanted to reserve a copy of God of War III. Really Gamestop? Really? That game isn't due out until 2010 or more. I respectfully declined holding back a snicker. Then he suggested that I should reserve Final Fantasy XIII. I couldn't contain my laughter....that is the end of that story.

Story #4: The FINAL STRAW

So here it is, what will permanently keep me away from every Gamestop ever. Three weeks ago I tried my hand at getting the Madcatz TE Fightstick ($160 purchase, nothing to sneeze at). The Wiialert told me Gamestop had them in stock on their website. I acquire one with wizard-like speed and am very pleased with myself as this is about as rare an item as one can actually buy in the game world right now. Days pass, my order remains "pending" instead of "shipped." I email and ask wtf???? only nicer. They respond with "we are currently out of stock on this item and will ship it when we get more in." NO NO NO! I bought it! Why would you let me buy it if you have none!?? That's like if I sold you, the viewer a calculator, you hand me the money, and I say "nope, we're out of stock, fu!"

So ok, whatever, it's a rare item I'll just squat on it. One mere day later a friend of mine tells me I can order them through Best Buy, not online mind you but through their warehouse at their store and do an in-store pickup. Wonderful news, and I do just that! Immediately I cancel my order with Gamestop and receive a confirmation email. Read at your pleasure:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for contacting us.

In response to your request we have cancelled your order.

As a reminder, your payment method was never charged for the canceled items. Any related authorization hold on your credit or debit card account will be released in accordance with your financial institution holds policy. Please contact your financial institution for more information. For Barnes & Noble orders, refunds are processed within 3-5 business days. If your order was placed with a GameStop gift card or Edge Card, please note that any related authorization hold on the card should fall off within 3-5 business days.

Also, please feel free to check out our new website features for your future cancellation needs as we are now offering customer self-service options, like canceling your own order/items.

We value your business and hope to see you again soon!

Best regards,

Tim Customer Service Agent

Original Message Follows: ------------------------
I would like to cancel this order.
PS3 Street Fighter IV Tournament Edition Fight Stick

Thank you!

Ryan Porter
Order Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxx (as this is still an ongoing matter the order number has been blacked out)

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Ok, so I'm good right? WRONG! WRONG WRONG WRONG! Today, I got an email telling me they have shipped the item! WTF?? I already have it because Best Buy is a retail demi-god and you suck dildo. So what do I do? I don't want it. So I tell them just that, and even copy paste the original cancellation email thinking this is their problem not mine. Here's the response:

Dear Ryan,

Thank you for contacting GameStop.com.

Upon review of your order, there are no records of any attempt to cancel this order either from our customer service department or by our Gamestop.com website. We do apologize for the confirmation that you received as it was in error on our part.

You will receive an email from UPS with a printable shipping label. When you use this label, you will not be charged for shipping. Instructions on how to complete the return are also in the email. Please use this label to return your package to us. Once received you will be issued a refund for the item, as we have also requested a refund on the shipping to be processed as well.

No record? I have a record and I'm no retail giant! I sent you the record! So ok, they send me a UPS label and junk so I can send it back when I get it, no skin off my back. Except the projected HOUR it will take me to gather this together and send it back, not to mention they won't release my credit card payment on the item UNTIL they get it! IT WAS THEIR FAULT 100%. Not to mention I use FedEx and have no clue where a UPS store is in my area, this whole process is foreign to me since I KEEP WHAT I BUY.

I am beyond frustrated with this company, its practices, and it's current domination in my favorite industry as a retailer. I urge all of you reading this today to not support them if you can avoid it. Send your used games to Amazon, they are a reputable business. Buy new games from Best Buy. Don't stand for Gamestop's crap!

*I am too angry to post something here*