Is GameStop Still Selling Unsealed Games as New? #SHORTS

In this #Youtube #Shorts Video, we share whether our local Gamestop is Still Selling Unsealed Games as new, after our experiences with their Delivery @ Door Program.

See part one of this series here:
https://youtu.be/uAtjCIBt4MA

See part two of this series here:
https://youtu.be/xbJkTCz3Zwg

See the final part of our series here:
https://youtu.be/CjInXIjso0k

Backstory:
In May of 2022, GameStop launched their annual Star Wars sale for May the 4th. I had been on the fence regarding whether or not to get the 2-pack of Star Wars Episode 1 Racer and Star Wars Republic Commando, but for $20 I decided to give it a shot. The thing was they only showed 2 in stock on the website and I was at work. Reluctantly, I decided to order online and hope I'd get a sealed version of the game.

Why was I reluctant? Well On 4/7/20 I decided to take advantage of @GameStop sale on Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze. I ordered online, selected the new version, & picked up at the store. What I received is not a new copy. New copies have shrink wrap on them. This did not. This copy had a piece of clear tape keeping the 2 halves of the case closed. The price stickers were directly on the case itself. I selected NEW at checkout. By any definition, this is not a sealed copy. This is not new. This is resealed. This is unacceptable.

While Gamestop continued to ignore my attempts to contact them via Twitter, Facebook, and Email, I actually called them several times to seek a resolution. I spend over 5-hours on 3 occasions waiting on the phone to try to get a resolution. On the first call, I had spent an hour waiting on hold and was disconnected because it was after 5PM, tough luck if you were in the queue before closing time. A second two-plus hour call actually got me to a representative who was supposed to help me and never did. A final two and a half hours call later, I dealt with a rep that I recorded who, while friendly and empathetic, ultimately couldn't resolve the situation.

Since my local store had been closed due to the ongoing health situation, I decided to try other Gamestops in the area, and I was able to get in touch with someone at a store about an hour away from me in Decatur, IL. I explained the situation to the manager on duty, who initially just brushed it off. Then I made the point that if I were to take this game and try to re-sell it myself as new on eBay that I would get negative feedback because the game was, in fact, not sealed and shrink-wrapped. I also explained that, to a collector, having the goo and gunk on the plastic on the game case, really reduces the value. She totally got it at that point and offered to order a replacement for me. This was all I wanted. She explained it could take 2-3 weeks to get something from the warehouse, which I mentioned I was fine with.

A few days later and I had a missed call and voicemail. It was the manager from the Decatur store letting me know that my copy of Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze had arrived! I was shocked! This whole avoidable situation was finally resolved, granted it meant a 2 hour round trip car ride, but it was good to get out of the house!! I am very thankful for this manager helping out and being totally understanding of where I was coming from.

So what did we learn?
- If you are in-store shopping, make sure you are getting what you are paying for. If you bought new, it needs to be new and still shrinkwrapped.
- If you are using Gamestop's Delivery @ Door, inspect your items before you leave. I didn't. I failed the "Trust but Verify" test. I won't make this mistake again.
- If something like this happens to you, don't be a jerk. Call the store, explain what happened, and give them a chance to make it right.
- Keep some perspective. We're talking video games here. Yes, no-one liked to not get what they paid for, but don't go ballistic on the staff. Work with them, be a better human.

#GameStop #Fraud #SellingResealedAsNew

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107