Editor's note: We're not calling for or endorsing a boycott by any means, but this former GameStop employee has insider suggestions for those of you who are thinking about it. (Did you know filling out those surveys may not help?) -Shoe
Recently, a relatively harmless Kotaku post showed this picture from a closed-down Game Crazy.
What followed in the comments section was the predictable angry posters talking about how much they hate game retail:
"I hate the game stores now. Their prices for used games are ALWAYS too high. They were still selling Halo 3 used for $45 two weeks ago. That's insane. I've found that half.com and/or craigslist is much better for used game prices. GC had fallout 3 for $45. I got it on half.com for $28. Game is in perfect condition. Screw these stores, their pricing, and pushy sales gimmicks." -radink
"Anyone remember FuncoLand and Rhinos? Great times. I miss those stores. :( Evil GameStop..." -Techno-Atom
In almost any post about game retail on any game-related site, you see just about the same thing -- sometimes worse.
What you do not see from all these complainers and whiners is the one thing that would be most effective at changing GameStop and other retailers' bad policies -- boycotting.
Most think of boycotting as an organized group of people who quit buying a company's product or the goods from a corporation that supports a specific thing, program, or person. The great thing is that you can have an effective boycott without having a large group of organized people.
Now, I worked for GameStop for four years and recently left by my own choice because I have a child on the way and the low pay, even as an assistant manager, is simply not enough to raise a family on comfortably. While I did not agree with many of the policies and practices -- and a ton of customers were complete jerks -- overall, I loved my job. Not the company...the job.
From my experiences working for them I know for a fact that the only three things GameStop corporate fears are sales decreases, customer complaints, and bad press.
My suggestion to anyone who hates GameStop is to do one or more of the following:
1. Tell GameStop about the policies you do not agree with.
Do you think they should cut developers and publishers in on the profits from used sales? Respectfully and courteously write them a letter explaining why you think they should do so. Do you think that $15 is way too low a trade-in price for a brand-new game, and advertising that "over 150" of them are worth that much is a complete joke? Send them a letter telling them so. If you traded it in with another company that offered a better value, then let them know this as well.
While you do have a survey that you can take on the bottom of every receipt you receive from GameStop, you should know that these only reflect upon the store you bought your item from. Even if you complain about corporate policy this way, they will simply count it against that specific shop and move on without a second thought. This is a great tool to use, however, if you like the convenience of shopping at your local GameStop but hate going there because the staff treats you poorly.I promise you if you make a regular habit of filling these out, things will change at the store you visit...eventually. It would help things move a ton faster if you would let anyone else in on using the survey as well. If a store is getting horrible feedback regularly, then one day corporate will take action.
2. Stop shopping at GameStop, and make sure to follow up with tip no. 1 above when you decide to do so.If you start with number two, then have some balls and stick to your guns. If you go back and buy a game from them after telling them you are not going to anymore, then you have become just as much a part of the problem as their bad policies and executives. You have options. Wal-Mart, Amazon, Steam...take advantage of them.
3. Tell other people about your problems with GameStop and that you will no longer be buying your games from them.
Again, just like when writing to GameStop, when writing about GameStop, be as respectful and courteous as possible. If you post "Fuck Gamestop, they can all fucking die," then people are likely to ignore your complaints.
As someone who knows what GameStop is all about, I can tell you that the problems with the company are systematic. The big wigs are highly paid non-gamers who don't give a crap about the games industry. They want to earn as much profit as they can during their tenure at GameStop so that when they move on to somewhere like K-Mart or Pizza Hut, they can get an even bigger paycheck. Most of the store-level management are underpaid laborers who have very few options other than keeping their current jobs, have few tools to improve things, and see very little personal gain by going above the call of duty to make their store succeed.
I actually think it is pretty awesome that we have a nationwide store chain that is dedicated to gaming and that is as successful as GameStop is. I just wish they would make more of their profits in a way that was not damaging to the video game industry, and that more of the employees in the company were dedicated gamers and not just used-car salesmen looking to get you to reserve a game or purchase a subscription.
For those of you who feel strongly about any of these issues, I recommend following my three simple rules. If you do, then you just might help make a stronger games industry.
