There are always people complaining about game retailers, about how their trade-in prices suck, their policies are terrible or even simply about the people that work there. I work for a GAME retailer you may have STOPped in a few times in your life, and will attempt to explain the reasons for some of these actions.

Complaint: We hire nothing but fanboys!

Response: Let’s say you walk in to a game store and ask a simple question: �What are the differences between the three systems?� The person you’re talking to just happens to be a Microsoft fanboy, so of course he will tell you all about how the Xbox 360 is the supreme system, its amazing features and not hit any key points for the competition. It happens anywhere you go. There will always be fanboys because we are, of course, all human. We aren’t some sort of cyborg that will fill you with infinite knowledge and hit every key note. Most of the time it is simply because the person you’re talking to won’t know everything about each system I personally don’t know too much about the Wii. That’s where diversity of staff and gathering multiple opinions comes in handy.

Complaint: Our prices suck!

Response: I’m sure you have been into a game retailer who is in the business of selling used games and noticed that the used one is generally only a few bucks lower than the new and first thing that comes to mind is, �WTFBBQ?� or for the less internet savvy, �This makes no sense, why would I pay that?� Something a lot of people don’t know is that as game retailers, we generally make about 5 dollars profit per game unit sold on new games. Let’s say a store buys 20 copies from a publisher at 30 dollars each, spending 600 dollars. They try to sell them for $35, but only sell half the stock for 350 dollars which is a 250 dollar loss, which has to be made up for somehow. Used games are where we make profit, which keeps us in business, gives us the ability to do more promotions, have more tournaments and supply customers with more exclusive content. This also allows us to have our �if you don’t like it bring it back� policy.

Complaint: Our policies are terrible!

Response: Many times I am approached by customers who have bought a new game and wanted to return it days later claiming it sucked or they finished it and have no interest in replaying it. I generally feel terrible that I have to inform them of our policy that we do not accept returns on new items that have been opened and then have a disgruntled customer on my hand. I then have to explain how I cannot sell a game that has been played and dirtied as new and also remind them that is why we offer pre-owned copies. However, I look after my customers if I realize it was an ill decision and the customer had no knowledge of the return policy and it has only been one day and the game doesn’t look touched I sometimes will return it to a gift card or inform them to buy from our used selection because of our 7 day policy. This is a rare occurrence; I’ve noticed that the further the store is from corporate the stricter the management is, generally.

Complaint: Employees take the newest games, and when they return it, they sell it as new!

Response: An issue constantly contested in court is the fact that employees can check out new games and bring them back as sell them as new. People state that these games are used because yes, they have been played. The main thing about this is that it’s the only way we as employees can test out the games and tell you if we think they are good, do you expect us to buy every single game? Do you think we buy every game? NO! That would be a terrible waste of the little money we make selling these games and we definitely do not make enough to even attempt this. Simple fact is there is no other alternative to learning about the game better than first hand. Rules are set into effect such as we cannot use any codes to come with the game, we have a very limited time, and if it gets the tiniest scratch we must buy it. I’m sorry that I just explained how we get our superhuman ability to tell you if each game is good or bad.

Complaint: You keep bothering me with preorders and magazine subscriptions!

Response: There seems to be an ongoing complaint about our sales pitch as in, �would you like to reserve this, or, would you like to subscribe to that?� The general consensus is we are trying to make commission�. HA! I wish I made commission! This, my friend is not only something we do to try and help you out but for the most part, this is how we get our hours. Basically if you don’t get numbers (subs and res) you don’t get to work, now I know that some people tend to press really hard on these to customers and those are the people I hate. I do not like �hard sell� tactics, nor do I use them or allow anyone I work with to use them. This is the sign of a weak store, the manager, District Manager, and so forth will determine how hard pressed employees will be about selling.

Complaint: Trade-ins are such a ripoff!

Response: You came into MY store with YOUR trades. Now while you are outside these doors you realize that these are your games and you do not have to accept the offer we give you. You can take them elsewhere if you are dissatisfied with the offer. Once you step inside, hand me your games and I ring up what we are offering something happens where you don’t remember this important fact. You think that it is all you’re going to be offered or that we already own them since they are in my hand. This then causes you to complain and, moan and groan, and after all this you accept the offer anyways completely nullifying the fact that there are other places to trade-in or sell them to. We are a business and businesses aim to make profit, if we offered any more that would be bad business practice and we would never have bonus offers ever. My point is if you don’t like the value then sell it to a friend or online or something.

Yes, there are a lot of issues in the retail market but there are good reasons for some of these things. Like it or not, you’re going to keep complaining but something will always bring you back. You don’t even know why yourself, but you will.

�Haters gonna hate, and Players gonna play!�

- Anonymous