GAME in serious trouble

Beefy78

cloud493 wrote: »

I work in a HMV. Why would you pay 35 for one game, when Game themselves were selling the game in question for 11.99?

You obviously wouldn't. You as a consumer will go where you can get the best price. Big companies with large buying power know this so price things, even at a loss, to get the business themselves and drive competitors out of business. It's why the supermarkets have systematically destroyed small retailers across the Western World.

Rynndar

Rynndar wrote: »

You do know the difference between "GAME" and "GameStop", yes? The people you are complaining about still have a job. Enjoy shopping with them.

Well aware of the difference, was just giving a general example of how little the staff in these shops know. If you want so about Game employees, well there was the time I went in or pre-order Uncharted 2 and was ask on if I wanted it on PlayStaion or Xbox. The girl was convinced it was on both consoles, as was her manager. Or the time a non-gamer friend went in to get a PS3 as he had played Ratchet and Clank on mine and liked it so much. Game were all out of PS3 consoles so the friendly staff suggested he get the 360 and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts as it was the same game only re-branded for the Xbox.

Now I know that not all staff are like that but from my experience and from what others have posted on here and in other threads it would seem that the average employee of a store selling games is not a gamer.

I have a lot of sympathy for Game staff, many of my friends worked in the various stores and the manner in which they were let go is disgraceful. But that does not mean that Game should be excused for many of the dishonest things they have done over the past week or think that hiring staff with no interest in gaming was the way to go. Game and it's administrators have know about the store closures for a few days before doors closed. yet they still took in trade ins often for far more than they would normally putting the credit on Game cards which are now completely useless. This is a business who would give people 20 something euro for a game and then sell it for 45 preowned on the shelf.

It's not an ideal situation for any specialist store when bigger chains can undercut their prices but it seemed that Game never even tried to compete. Sure they had a good few deals in there from time to time and many of their preowned games were cheaper than anywhere else but as a friend said. When you can pick up Mass Effect 3 for the same price new as you can for the preowned copy in Game then you know that something is seriously wrong.

I've said it before in this thread but I will miss Game, the shops were also big and clean unlike the dank, cluttered hovels that are Gamestop stores.

Mr Blobby

Meesared wrote: »

I used to work in GAME Monaghan, I would safely say there wasnt a better run GAME store in the country

I really liked GAME in monaghan the people in there where a laugh and would happily have a chat with ya.........

noodler

Deleted User wrote: »

Well aware of the difference, was just giving a general example of how little the staff in these shops know. If you want so about Game employees, well there was the time I went in or pre-order Uncharted 2 and was ask on if I wanted it on PlayStaion or Xbox. The girl was convinced it was on both consoles, as was her manager. Or the time a non-gamer friend went in to get a PS3 as he had played Ratchet and Clank on mine and liked it so much. Game were all out of PS3 consoles so the friendly staff suggested he get the 360 and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts as it was the same game only re-branded for the Xbox.

This isn't a personal attack, but I think we, as gamers, probbaly expect way too much of people who work in these stores for minimum wage and in many cases on a part-time basis.

I mean, I used to work in XV and the amount of people who would turn their nose up because I hadn't seen a particular a film was laughable - I mean I was in college 9-5 and then in there 6-11 and usually doing remedial tasks like serving, cleaning, stocking, merchandising etc.

I know this isn't a precise comparison but I wouldn't hold it against the part-timer in McDonalds who didn't know a great deal about the food he was serving or the girl in Champion Sports who couldn't say which Astro Boots would be better for a sand-based Astro Park etc etc.

Most of these retail workers are just there to do very basic jobs and, in my experience, requiring speicfic knowledge of the industry is a bonus rather than a necessity and not relevant for 90% of your tasks.

Procrastastudy

Part of GAMEs demise was that it lost its gamer employees. When times where good you could carry one or two gamers on a shift because they'd chat away and generally, but not exclusively, be bloody useless at tasks.

Fast forward to 2008 when it started to go to crap it became more and more about targets and budgets. The "Gamers" were generally the weakest at sales / tasks so off they went.

Stev_o

noodler wrote: »

This isn't a personal attack, but I think we, as gamers, probbaly expect way too much of people who work in these stores for minimum wage and in many cases on a part-time basis.

I mean, I used to work in XV and the amount of people who would turn their nose up because I hadn't seen a particular a film was laughable - I mean I was in college 9-5 and then in there 6-11 and usually doing remedial tasks like serving, cleaning, stocking, merchandising etc.

I know this isn't a precise comparison but I wouldn't hold it against the part-timer in McDonalds who didn't know a great deal about the food he was serving or the girl in Champion Sports who couldn't say which Astro Boots would be better for a sand-based Astro Park etc etc.

Most of these retail workers are just there to do very basic jobs and, in my experience, requiring speicfic knowledge of the industry is a bonus rather than a necessity and not relevant for 90% of your tasks.

In all my experiences with Game over the years (mainly the one in Liffey Valley) I have never had a problem with the staff in there. They were friendly and most of them were gamers who would understand some of the questions you were asking them. Did the PC selection diminish? Yes of course it did but that's more of a reflection of the industry rather then some of Games policies.

It's pretty **** business for those loyal employees who won't get squat.

Stev_o

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

Part of GAMEs demise was that it lost its gamer employees. When times where good you could carry one or two gamers on a shift because they'd chat away and generally, but not exclusively, be bloody useless at tasks.

Fast forward to 2008 when it started to go to crap it became more and more about targets and budgets. The "Gamers" were generally the weakest at sales / tasks so off they went.

At the end of the day there is a big snug in certain sales departments over people with a knowledge of the subject over those who are just sales people. I remember going into PC World one summer looking for some part time work while studying for Computer Science and the manager looked at me and laughed said that such a degree wouldn't be much use here.

LoganIn

Its certainly a fall from grace...

- I remember going into GAME on grafton street and seeing 'Greatest Heavyweights of the ring' for the megadrive being played on the tv ... got it later that year for christmas :pac:
- remember getting MGS2 at like 9am in my local game.
- remembering doing the exact same for vice city.
- remember getting the dreamcast from said local game.

all the console generations and games that GAME has been around for. Clearly being sucuessful for so many years... and for what? for it to shut its doors. It just shocks me when long established companies go under.

Stev_o

LoganIn wrote: »

Its certainly a fall from grace...

- I remember going into GAME on grafton street and seeing 'Greatest Heavyweights of the ring' for the megadrive being played on the tv ... got it later that year for christmas :pac:
- remember getting MGS2 at like 9am in my local game.
- remembering doing the exact same for vice city.
- remember getting the dreamcast from said local game.

all the console generations and games that GAME has been around for. Clearly being sucuessful for so many years... and for what? for it to shut its doors. It just shocks me when long established companies go under.

I remember the mayhem of trying to secure a launch copy of Vice City or San Andreas on release day

noodler

noodler wrote: »

This isn't a personal attack, but I think we, as gamers, probbaly expect way too much of people who work in these stores for minimum wage and in many cases on a part-time basis.

I mean, I used to work in XV and the amount of people who would turn their nose up because I hadn't seen a particular a film was laughable - I mean I was in college 9-5 and then in there 6-11 and usually doing remedial tasks like serving, cleaning, stocking, merchandising etc.

I know this isn't a precise comparison but I wouldn't hold it against the part-timer in McDonalds who didn't know a great deal about the food he was serving or the girl in Champion Sports who couldn't say which Astro Boots would be better for a sand-based Astro Park etc etc.

Most of these retail workers are just there to do very basic jobs and, in my experience, requiring speicfic knowledge of the industry is a bonus rather than a necessity and not relevant for 90% of your tasks.

I have no problem with nongamers working in game stores but I would expect them to educate themselves a little about what it is they sell. A friend who works in Game had to accept a return of an 360 a few weeks back as it didn't play Blu-Ray. When begin sold it the Game employee assured him that it did play them. I worked in a music store a few years back and while I had no interest in any of the chart stuff that we sold each week I would make a note of what was popular and selling well so when people came in I could help them out a little. If a nongamer is working in a game store then they should take a little time to familiarize themselves with the products they sell and the differences between consoles.

PseudoFamous

jpcarlow wrote: »

Drawing of the blue angry bird with this handwritten underneath it

"Thanks and best wishes to all our customers over the years from all at Game ILAC. We only want WHAT WE'RE OWED! #OCCUPYGAMESTREET"

I didn't get a picture, but there was a guy in there (store was obviously shuttered) who was wearing an SS hat who would occasionally begin goosestepping around, knocking things off shelves, and pushing displays over.

rainbow kirby

Worked for them for 4 years while I was in college, first in Tallaght and later in Dundrum. Sad to see them go, and disgusting to see how the staff are being treated in terms of their redundancies.

Orim

Andy!! wrote: »

You just gave us a number of reasons why they didn't beat the others hands down...

And regarding your other point, no. GAME should have honoured the warranty.

For staff knowledge they did, which was my point. Although I left out the word staff And that's to my experience of course.

And I've already accepted that they should have honoured the warranty but not based on the information we had at the time. With further information, it appears that they did honour the warranty as best they could on a discontinued product.

Celly Smunt

The amount of damaged pre-owned games i have got from game with no return policy is enough to allow me to say good riddance.

Stevo105

chrislad wrote: »

In all fairness, what's the ratio on piracy of PC games to console games?

That old myth has never been proven. I and all of the players in the clan im involved with all buy our PC games and have for years. There are a few kids on my street that can copy a wii game in 5 mins withut swaping of files or muching about with reg keys/ serial keys. Consoles are way easier to pirate than PC games today.

Procrastastudy

pmcmahon wrote: »

The amount of damaged pre-owned games i have got from game with no return policy is enough to allow me to say good riddance.

Is this a lie or are you just pretending to be stupid?

Say what you want about pricing - there are some valid critisms here.

For every 10 delighted customers with the customer service there is 1 that got a raw deal - same as anywhere else.

But making stuff up about any retailer doesnt help anyone. Even if it WAS true why would you go back after the first or second time.

Andy!!

Orim wrote: »

Andy!! wrote: »

You just gave us a number of reasons why they didn't beat the others hands down...

And regarding your other point, no. GAME should have honoured the warranty.

For staff knowledge they did, which was my point. Although I left out the word staff And that's to my experience of course.

And I've already accepted that they should have honoured the warranty but not based on the information we had at the time. With further information, it appears that they did honour the warranty as best they could on a discontinued product.

Staff knowledge in any GAME I've ever been (about 5 branches) had been appaling... Whereas the GS boys at least know their stuff, and most if not all are actual gamers.

Procrastastudy

GS defo had more of a gaming staff.

Whether or not GS Ireland has yet made a profit I'm not sure. I know a few years back (during the good times) they were loss making.

Pacing Mule

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

GS defo had more of a gaming staff.

Whether or not GS Ireland has yet made a profit I'm not sure. I know a few years back (during the good times) they were loss making.

I don't think anyone but Gamestop can really answer that but most people in the industry are of the opinion they are being subsidised by the parent co.

Kinski

This is just the inevitable happening really, isn't it? Won't miss the stores, but I'm very sorry to see the staff losing their jobs.

jill_valentine

tonydude wrote: »

Passed it this morning, was in there Sunday and a guy was buying a preowned xbox, fair enough but then he came out with ''do you supply console insurance'' i wanted to tell the customer but i was in shock to see the prick manager take his €30 knowing well it was dead money. Delighted to see Game gone.

Some disgruntled employees seem to be protesting over there redunances now
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-27-game-ireland-staff-launch-sit-in-protest-over-redundancies

First off, the arrangement with the insurer still stands.

Second, and the basis for this whole dispute, the manager did not know that the stores were going to be closed on Monday. They all opened and even did a few hours of trading before they were instructed to shut up shop and hand over the keys, and told they wouldn't get another penny.

Copper_pipe

I always enjoyed going into GAME in Limerick. Staff were sound and the security guard was a nice bloke aswell. Sad to see them go

James Howlett

Andy!! wrote: »

Staff knowledge in any GAME I've ever been (about 5 branches) had been appaling... Whereas the GS boys at least know their stuff, and most if not all are actual gamers.

Staff knowledge is going to go up and down depending who is employed at a given time, in any shop, in any industry. I was in a q in GAME last year and my phone went off while at the counter. The Sales Assistant then commented on my choice of having the double dragon theme as a ringtone. Hats off to him.

Andy!!

James Howlett wrote: »

Staff knowledge is going to go up and down depending who is employed at a given time, in any shop, in any industry. I was in a q in GAME last year and my phone went off while at the counter. The Sales Assistant then commented on my choice of having the double dragon theme as a ringtone. Hats off to him.

Thats a rare pokemon indeed.

Rynndar

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

Yes they did. It was Henry St. Then Ilac briefly then it moved to Dawson St. I don't understand the ins-and-outs of company law but they were more seperate that you lead people to believe in your post hence PWC can just cut them loose.

I do understand the "in's and out's" of this company.

The addresses you list all belonged to stores, not single-purpose administrative premises. These addresses were used to report sales figures, which were reported from Basingstoke. Those figures require a "primary place of trading", which was attributed to said addresses. "Trading"... not "administration". The company was not [and is still not] run from Ireland.

This is not something I am "leading you to believe". It is a fact from someone who *is* informed on a matter you confess to *not* being informed about.

Feel free to ignore it as you have already.

Cherry_Cola

The picture from the Monaghan store has made the front page of reddit.

LoganIn

jill_valentine wrote: »

First off, the arrangement with the insurer still stands.

Second, and the basis for this whole dispute, the manager did not know that the stores were going to be closed on Monday. They all opened and even did a few hours of trading before they were instructed to shut up shop and hand over the keys, and told they wouldn't get another penny.

Thats the thing that is annoying. Managers and staff didnt know that yesterday was the end but Head Office/Corporate knew the last few days, even the last week I reckon (who knows maybe even more)

But lay it on to the employees one monday aternoon and basically tell them to "sod off" with regards to redundancey money... I'd be real interested to know about the higher ups. Bet they didnt get shafted.

LoganIn

You know those "thousands of games slashed" sign cutouts that GAME had in their shop windows recently?

Well in Game Blanchardstown someone wrote "JOBS" over the games part and stuck it back up ... :pac: will try to get a picture tomorrow.

**edit**
Just seen that the Monaghan store did the same thing.

Rynndar

LoganIn wrote: »

You know those "thousands of games slashed" sign cutouts that GAME had in their shop windows recently?

Well in Game Blanchardstown someone wrote "JOBS" over the games part and stuck it back up ... :pac: will try to get a picture tomorrow.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/in-pictures-irish-game-sit-in/093419

Jesus Shaves

Blowfish wrote: »

Given that Gamestop reported in their Q4 results about a week ago that they plan on closing more stores than they open this year and that they are pulling out of the UK, NI and Portugal completely so they can focus on competing digitally, I'd doubt they'd be interested in a buyout.

Personally I think it'd be a very very bad move for them.

It would be very sill seeing as they are both owned by the same people:p