You’re doing it wrong
Originally published at Disjunction. You can comment here or there.
Being a regular reader of several gaming sites, I get my daily fill of horror stories related to GameStop/EB Games. They all basically start with, “I went in to buy X”, then include “only had pre-orders”, and invariably end with “across the street and got it at Wal-Mart/Best Buy/Circuit City”. These are always posted by people who have done this several times and haven’t been able to make the decision to just not go to GameStop first.
I don’t really have any GameStop horror stories because I use them for two purposes: saving a few bucks on a used game and pre-ordering niche games or those that will be hard to find. If those are your only expectations for the level of service at a GameStop, you’ll be a happy customer. If you expect to walk into a gaming wonderland full of rainbows and lollipops, well, I can see how you would walk away disappointed.
The reason I’m bringing all this up is that a GameStop employee has posted the inside scoop on how GameStop operates and why. He also offers tips on getting the most out of your GameStop experience.
GameStop serves me quite well, allowing me to purchase locally the games that the big box stores just won’t carry at release. Pre-ordering gets me a guaranteed purchase on day one with none of the hassle of shipping. It doesn’t hurt that GameStop is located right along my commute.
If you’re intending to buy a game that everybody is going to carry, don’t go to GameStop. It’s that simple. Go to a retailer who will offer a better price, better release swag, et cetera. But if you’re intending to buy a game that nobody knows about, pre-order at GameStop. It’s a fairly painless process. Yes, they will ask if you wish to pre-order anything else. Politely say “No thanks”. It’s that easy.
Having said that, I find it shocking that even their online site has no listing for Ace Combat: Skies of Deception for the PSP. It was released only a year ago! Game sales are a fickle beast.