It's always good times with Gamestop. If you read my blog (I think there are at least 2 people that do) then you know that I was completely flabbergasted when I tried to trade in my Nintendo 3DS a couple of weeks back. I was offered the grand total of $40! Gamestop SELLS the 3DS used for $139! Just a "small" $100 markup. But I forgave them for that. I kinda implied they were fucking crazy and just held on to my 3DS in the hopes that someday it might be worth more.
While looking up some new game releases today on the Gamestop website today I noticed that Gamestop was offering $90 if you traded in your 3DS towards a Wii U, PLUS an additional $10 if you were a Rewards member.
In fact, here is the full ad:
"Save up to $140 when you trade select systems toward a new Wii U system.
PowerUp Rewards members save an additional $10
- $90 when you trade any Original model Xbox 360, PS Vita or 3DS system
- $115 when you trade any Original model PS3 or Slim model Xbox 360 system
- $140 when you trade any Slim model PS3
- $50 when you trade any Wii system"
I was ready to make that deal. I didn't feel like messing with Ebay and I would probably never use my 3DS again now that I have a 3DS XL and $100 was decent so I took it to the same Gamestop where I had tried to trade it in previously. Unfortunately, it was the same dude, the manager, that had offered the $40 before, so I automatically had a bad feeling. There's another guy that works there that is really awesome that I enjoy doing business with but $40 Man reminds me of the gay vampire preacher from True Blood. An oily salesman.
So I'm standing in line with one person in front of me and I have to listen to the manager do his 5 minute spiel to the dude about preordering every frickin title under the sun and warranties and protection plans and any other titles you want to preorder and you know you're gonna buy the title anyways so why not put $5 down on it and are you interested in the Wii U blah blah....you know, the usual Gamestop bullshit.
So when I finally get MY turn, I tell the guy about the deal being offered on the website about the $100 trade in. He knows nothing about it. NOTHING. How can the employees of Gamestop know LESS than their customers when it comes to offers from THEIR stores? The value of the 3DS keeps coming up as $65 on his end. He's also having to look up his own store's website on his iphone because the store has no internet connections. He finds the ad then says its an additional $10 credit if you are in the PAID rewards program. He then tries to get me to sign up for the Pro Rewards program! I tell him that is not the case as he finds the ad and agrees. Still no progress. No mention of the offer in the Gamestop database. So then he has to get on the phone and call another store or higher-up or whatever. In the meantime, there's two people in line behind me now. Minutes pass by.
Then the manager tells me to step to the side so he can take care of the other two customers. So I'm gonna have to wait thru the whole Gamestop bullshit spiel AGAIN TWICE?? I'll be there another 15 minutes! Then the conversation went something like this starring Me (as me) and GS (Gamestop manager):
GS: Please step to the side. Let me take care of these customers, then I'll take care of you.
Me: Why do I have to do that? I was here first.
GS: Well, let me take care of them first.
Me: But I was here first. Don't you need to take care of ME?
GS: Come on, respect the other customers.
Me: Respect the OTHER customers??? What about respecting ME?
GS: Show a little patience sir.
Me: I AM being patient. I waited in line and now you want me to wait in line AGAIN? I'll just go to another Gamestop. I'll see you later...actually, I won't. I'll never come in here again (Exit Me)
And just to be clear, there was no yelling or anything. The above dialogue was just in normal spoken tones. I guess I do have to add that the woman and teenager behind me in line stormed out at about the time of the respect line.
There is another Gamestop less than 100 yards away (it used to be EB Games) and I went in there. There were no other customers. I explained the situation from the other Gamestop and he ran into the same roadblocks. He knew NOTHING about the $100 offer. But guess what? After seeing the ad on his phone, he proceeded to do a MANUAL input of the offer. I traded my 3DS in and got the $100 credit for it towards the Wii U. He did not try to sell me the Pro membership. He didn't have to get on the phone. He didn't tell me to wait on the side (there was someone behind me at this point). He didn't act like I was lying about the offer. He wasn't trying to get me to sign off on stuff before he had even concluded that the offer was valid. He even told me that his job was to DO RIGHT by the customer. I told him I really appreciated him going the extra mile. I told him that I would be doing all my future preorders with him. And it's true. I don't plan on ever going into that other Gamestop again.
The higher ups at Gamestop need to understand that if a trade offer is made on the website, they need to inform their employees about it. Unfortunately, it seems like I was the first customer to try to trade in their 3DS towards the Wii U at these two stores. It was a complete hassle. Hopefully, after experiencing the wonder that is ME, they will be better equipped to handle the next person that wants to do the deal.
Something else I probably need to state to Gamestop is that I could have gone elsewhere to get a Wii U. Best Buy. Toys R Us. Amazon. Walmart. Fry's. I don't NEED Gamestop. So don't hassle ME when I try to give you money. Or I will give it to someone else.
Funnily enough, as I got in my car to come home, right on cue, "Crazy" by Patsy Cline came on the radio.
Gamestop, YOUZ CRAZY!
Signed,
Disgruntled
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