Will game shops close this year? - Gamestop UK abandons stores

Kiith

That's a massive move from them if true. I suppose it was only a matter of time, as everything is going online anyway, but it seems pretty sudden. Does anyone remember this announcement 6 months ago?

Glico Man

The one in Belfast is gone entirely. Went in yesterday to trade in MW3 but all that's left is two posters on the shopfront saying they've relocated their operations to their website. Never cared much for the shop but sucks major ass for their employees

ShadowHearth

that is mentioned in "
Will game shops close this year? " thread.

shocking, ireland next . please dont close my local gamestop!

Retr0gamer

I'm a dope, I merged threads and changed the title, think this is massive news.

Mr Trade In

Shame about the Belfast store it was great for rare DVDs and weird stuff, nice staff too. I can see at least 1 of the 3 city centre stores closing in Dublin, I would guess Stephens Green due to the rent issues, if they do decide to hit the Irish stores.

Mr.Saturn

I think the bury-all title of 'Gamestop leaving UK' is a bit disingenuous, and overstated. I mean, they've never really had all that pronounced a presence in the UK to begin with.

Mr Trade In

There were two stores to my knowledge on mainland UK. The Bullring centre in Birmingham and one in Stockport.

ShadowHearth

so gamestop is more popular here, then uk and north?

Helix

really hoping gamestop goes under, and takes game informer with it

*crosses fingers*

cloud493

Yep. I lived in liverpool, and the northwest generally, spent a few months in london, never once saw a single gamestop there. Few in the north though aren't there?

Cherry_Cola

Well there were no Gamestops in Newcastle anyway.

I think Gamestation and Game have the UK well sewn up, plus there are indies like Grainger games which have a few stores in the North East and they had great prices. Not to mention the various supermarkets that carry games there too.

ShadowHearth

well gamestop has a big share of market in ireland. would they really go as far as pulling out of uk and ireland?

Temptamperu

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/115457-GameStop-Abandons-U-K-Stores

The U.S. based retail chain closed its last stores in Northern Ireland this weekend.
Until recently, GameStop had quite a few stores in the United Kingdom but the retailer is closing up shop. Customers dropping by stores in Newry and Belfast this weekend saw shutters closed and flyers redirecting them to the GameStop UK website for all commerce from now on. GameStop representatives have gone on record saying the closures were all part of the plan to serve British customers via the online portal only. Apparently, that plan doesn't include stores in the Republic of Ireland, as all of those stores are unaffected.
"We are transferring all of our UK business on-line," the flyers all read. "We will honor all outstanding deposits and gift cards."
GameStop said that the closures are a calculated move. "The recent store closures in Northern Ireland are part of our plan, announced six months ago, to exit the UK market from a brick and mortar perspective," said GameStop's commercial director Michael Finucane.
"We started this process last year closing our Birmingham, Stockport and Belfast locations," he said. "Correspondingly, we have experienced tremendous sales growth on our UK ecommerce site. Our go forward plan is to serve the UK market with enhanced digital and online offerings."
I'm not sure if there are political motivations behind this withdrawal, but the borders seem to suggest something going on behind the scenes. Why would GameStop abandon one territory when it is clearly successful in Ireland already with 20+ stores? Why stop at the border?

This is some shocking stuff going completley online would definitley loose me as a customer considering I refuse to get a PayPAl account or a credit card and it is really hard to simply browse on the net considering if you go into a store its all there to pick up and read.
Anyway just thought I would share. Thoughts? Worrys?

ShadowHearth

Temptamperu wrote: »

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/115457-GameStop-Abandons-U-K-Stores



This is some shocking stuff going completley online would definitley loose me as a customer considering I refuse to get a PayPAl account or a credit card and it is really hard to simply browse on the net considering if you go into a store its all there to pick up and read.
Anyway just thought I would share. Thoughts? Worrys?

old news is old news m8.

Mr E

Threads merged.

ShadowHearth

Mr E wrote: »

Threads merged.

third time

Helix

Temptamperu wrote: »

This is some shocking stuff going completley online would definitley loose me as a customer considering I refuse to get a PayPAl account or a credit card and it is really hard to simply browse on the net considering if you go into a store its all there to pick up and read.
Anyway just thought I would share. Thoughts? Worrys?

jesus

you're going to hate the future