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LoL, I get my retro collection from pawn shops and such. I've never paid more then 10 dollars for a game, and I have a great collection
Wow. That is the most insane thing I have ever heard them try. Thank you for making me aware (usually I disregard all promotional materials in their stores and would never have seen this otherwise). I am officially no longer purchasing items from their stores.
I remember when I use to go to Gamestop and they'd have a large bin of ps1 games, and not just shovelware; the same bin would have copies of Star Ocean and some other goodies. Now I would need to have collectively spent nearly $2000 in used games to be eligible to get the original Double Dragon? No thanks.
I bought a silver membership a year ago and only got like 2 lame things from it plus 12 shitty issues of game informer. Never again.
I guess it makes people feel good to get a "free" gears of war 3 dogtag after spending $180 on videogames....or you could go on ebay and get it for like $9.
I guess it makes people feel good to get a "free" gears of war 3 dogtag after spending $180 on videogames....or you could go on ebay and get it for like $9.
I remember back in mid-2011 when I got my Slim60 from that GS trade-in deal and overhearing two employees discussing the "incentive program" and "have you gotten many reward points yet? Corporate plans to roll this out in a few months."
I called bullshit back then and have yet to set foot back in a Gamestop, I'm glad to see I made the right decision.
I called bullshit back then and have yet to set foot back in a Gamestop, I'm glad to see I made the right decision.
lol @ gamestop you could get this games in virtual console with full screen and a better controller(classic controller pro) in less than 10 bucks. FUCK gamestop. gave them a chance with Catherine and Deus Ex HR. i rather support my local retailer and amazon than this piece of shit company.
I was surprised to find out that they have Fear Effect in their vault. Thought I was the only one who remembered that game.
Anyway, yeah, their banana points system is horrid. I've had GameStop's membership card for going on two years now, and I regularly buy my new console games there, but right now I only have 15,000 points (I've spent none of them).
Anyway, yeah, their banana points system is horrid. I've had GameStop's membership card for going on two years now, and I regularly buy my new console games there, but right now I only have 15,000 points (I've spent none of them).
Since I signed up, I've earned 9,056 points without even trying. (I literally just checked; I had no idea prior to this.) That actually seems pretty decent considering I've done nothing to stray from my normal GameStop relationship in order to obtain these...
why are so many people getting on tonys case.. its not like he said all aspects of the program were dumb, and anyone that used the program was dumb as well. he said this particular aspect of the program was a rip off (and rightfully so).
i mean come on.. sure its free stuff.. but why even spend thousands of points on super mario bros.. if you want it that bad.. just buy it off vc for $5 (or ebay for some bubble gum and a paperclip).
i mean come on.. sure its free stuff.. but why even spend thousands of points on super mario bros.. if you want it that bad.. just buy it off vc for $5 (or ebay for some bubble gum and a paperclip).
I'm fine with the rewards program in general. One day I'll check my points (if I can remember how) and cash them in for a snazzy bobble head or a mario butt plug and that will be that. However, charging such ludicrous amounts for older games is rather silly. Guess someone somewhere will pay it though. I'll just stick to the Goodwill.
@Tony Ponce
I would have been upset, but then I thought about it.
In all fairness they can choose the prices, yes. However it's within my right to simply say, "I ain't using my points on this."
Besides, I don't require Gamestop to get old school games. A friend showed me an abundance of websites (and sellers on eBay) who sell quality stuff. I'll be getting a 64 soon and a collection of games I had when I was younger.
I would have been upset, but then I thought about it.
In all fairness they can choose the prices, yes. However it's within my right to simply say, "I ain't using my points on this."
Besides, I don't require Gamestop to get old school games. A friend showed me an abundance of websites (and sellers on eBay) who sell quality stuff. I'll be getting a 64 soon and a collection of games I had when I was younger.
"Fuck these guys" is damn right. It's like offering rotten gruel at the soup kitchen. Looks like it's a good thing on the surface but you're better off going hungry or walking to a different soup kitchen.
Geez talk about making a huge deal over nothing man. You know you don't have to redeem the points for that right? You also know you don't have to have a rewards card? I agree it's over priced in points but you don't need to start a war over it. Here is a easy way to avoid it, don't buy it and use your points (that is if you have any) for something rewarding. I never went to places with ticket vouchers because that was a waste of time when I could buy a game at the prices they were asking to get a shiny dildo for and now at least I can get free points for buying games for something I would of done without the reward point inventive anyway.
Geez talk about making a huge deal over nothing man. You know you don't have to redeem the points for that right? You also know you don't have to have a rewards card? I agree it's over priced in points but you don't need to start a war over it. Here is a easy way to avoid it, don't buy it and use your points (that is if you have any) for something rewarding. I never went to places with ticket vouchers because that was a waste of time when I could buy a game at the prices they were asking to get a shiny dildo for and now at least I can get free points for buying games for something I would of done without the reward point inventive anyway.
Geez talk about making a huge deal over nothing man. You know you don't have to redeem the points for that right? You also know you don't have to have a rewards card? I agree it's over priced in points but you don't need to start a war over it. Here is a easy way to avoid it, don't buy it and use your points (that is if you have any) for something rewarding. I never went to places with ticket vouchers because that was a waste of time when I could buy a game at the prices they were asking to get a shiny dildo for and now at least I can get free points for buying games for something I would of done without the reward point inventive anyway.
Geez talk about making a huge deal over nothing man. You know you don't have to redeem the points for that right? You also know you don't have to have a rewards card? I agree it's over priced in points but you don't need to start a war over it. Here is a easy way to avoid it, don't buy it and use your points (that is if you have any) for something rewarding. I never went to places with ticket vouchers because that was a waste of time when I could buy a game at the prices they were asking to get a shiny dildo for and now at least I can get free points for buying games for something I would of done without the reward point inventive anyway.
"The only people who could hope to earn enough points are the ones who live and die by GameStop's services, who trade in every damn game they ever buy as if GameStop was some glorified rental chain, or who are so loose with their money that they would gladly spend thousands upon thousands of dollars per year on games alone"
This is exactly the kind of person I imagine whenever I visit the cheapassgamer forums. Those guys are ridiculous.
This is exactly the kind of person I imagine whenever I visit the cheapassgamer forums. Those guys are ridiculous.
I like the ability to legally loan, trade, borrow, and sell products I've spent $60+tax on. I don't like GameStop. *Shrug*
I got a place in the mall by my campus that buys and sells retro software and hardware. Their prices are reasonable and I'd rather just shop there and support the local economy. I have an old SNES in my room somewhere back home, and the two other guys I'm gonna be living in an apartment with next year have a NES, an N64, and a GameCube. I imagine we're gonna be going to Jay Street Games quite a bit, lol.
I got a place in the mall by my campus that buys and sells retro software and hardware. Their prices are reasonable and I'd rather just shop there and support the local economy. I have an old SNES in my room somewhere back home, and the two other guys I'm gonna be living in an apartment with next year have a NES, an N64, and a GameCube. I imagine we're gonna be going to Jay Street Games quite a bit, lol.
I love people telling me that this program is no big deal simply because you don't have to use it. Just because something is optional doesn't mean it isn't insulting to consumers.
@Tony
I don't see it as insulting at all.
Either they have the program and sell Mario NES for $43, or they don't have it and you have no option to optionally buy a product that wouldn't have been available.
Two years ago I would have bought and traded-in games at Gamestop and gotten nothing. At this point, with the same rate of purchasing, I've gotten around $100 off in coupons. I got $100 for nothing due to this "insulting" program.
The high pricing of these retro games is stupid, but not "insulting". If I buy a video game at Amazon I get nothing -- they have no reward program other than Prime, which you pay for upfront, and don't accrue anything for.
If I buy it at a Mom and Pop video game shop I get nothing. That's insulting. On the flip side, if I bought everything at Gamestop, I wouldn't be a savvy consumer. I guess you could say all retailers are insulting because they want your money, but one isn't more guilty than the other.
I don't see it as insulting at all.
Either they have the program and sell Mario NES for $43, or they don't have it and you have no option to optionally buy a product that wouldn't have been available.
Two years ago I would have bought and traded-in games at Gamestop and gotten nothing. At this point, with the same rate of purchasing, I've gotten around $100 off in coupons. I got $100 for nothing due to this "insulting" program.
The high pricing of these retro games is stupid, but not "insulting". If I buy a video game at Amazon I get nothing -- they have no reward program other than Prime, which you pay for upfront, and don't accrue anything for.
If I buy it at a Mom and Pop video game shop I get nothing. That's insulting. On the flip side, if I bought everything at Gamestop, I wouldn't be a savvy consumer. I guess you could say all retailers are insulting because they want your money, but one isn't more guilty than the other.
To think, before this retro craze popped off(circa 2000-2001),I was able to stock up on all of the games that I missed in the NES-SNES era for around $0.10-0.50 American per game and $1-5 dollars for Playstation games including Front Mission 3,Legend of Mana and Fear Factor 1&2 in video game shops trying to get rid of their old stock to make room for the new systems and their games and Half Priced Books of all places. It was possible to build an entire library for the price of one new game in that brief moment in time.
Now that they think that there is some kind of intense nostalgia-driven demand for old games rather than just the desire to get decent games for a great price, they get silly.
Now that they think that there is some kind of intense nostalgia-driven demand for old games rather than just the desire to get decent games for a great price, they get silly.
@Chris Carter
I didn't bring up the previous reward items at all. Until I wrote this story, I didn't even know that GameStop offered coupons and shirts. I'm talking about the Retro Game Vault exclusively, which is marked as a completely separate section of the PowerUp program.
And even though 1000 points equates to a $1 with their service, you can't directly exchange money for points. You have to make in-store transactions, and that $43 game requires nearly $2000 of sales and/or trade-ins. The reward you are earning doesn't adequately reflect the investment you made in GameStop. It's not a fair system.
I don't even know why you are bringing up other stores. We are not talking about other stores. Why does another store NOT having a rewards program excuse a program that has such a high barrier for gift redemption?
I didn't bring up the previous reward items at all. Until I wrote this story, I didn't even know that GameStop offered coupons and shirts. I'm talking about the Retro Game Vault exclusively, which is marked as a completely separate section of the PowerUp program.
And even though 1000 points equates to a $1 with their service, you can't directly exchange money for points. You have to make in-store transactions, and that $43 game requires nearly $2000 of sales and/or trade-ins. The reward you are earning doesn't adequately reflect the investment you made in GameStop. It's not a fair system.
I don't even know why you are bringing up other stores. We are not talking about other stores. Why does another store NOT having a rewards program excuse a program that has such a high barrier for gift redemption?
What I was saying is that the retro system is just one optional part. If collectors want to get retro games that's kind of cool. I think it's a rip, but I don't think it's insulting.
@Chris Carter
"Either they have the program and sell Mario NES for $43, or they don't have it and you have no option to optionally buy a product that wouldn't have been available."
What does that even mean, where did $43 come from? The simple solution to "no option to optionally buy" would be to do something like....*sell* the games, you know, like they used to until they became the 360 Pawnshop?
"Either they have the program and sell Mario NES for $43, or they don't have it and you have no option to optionally buy a product that wouldn't have been available."
What does that even mean, where did $43 come from? The simple solution to "no option to optionally buy" would be to do something like....*sell* the games, you know, like they used to until they became the 360 Pawnshop?
The real insult is that I called Fear Effect Fear Factor and wasn't even corrected for such a grievous error.
It must be because I have Joe Rogan on my mind constantly on account of his being an alien. That is what causes the true Fear Effect!
It must be because I have Joe Rogan on my mind constantly on account of his being an alien. That is what causes the true Fear Effect!
As many points as I have earned in the last 2 years, it still isn't enough to buy a single damn 1600 point Xbox Live Arcade card... that's some fuckshit right there.
Yes, Gamestop point values are completely ridiculous.
That being said, you get them for games you were buying anyway. If you don't have a crazy 44k points for some $5 game, get it on ebay or Amazon. Personally I only go to GS during buy 2 get 1 free sales.
That being said, you get them for games you were buying anyway. If you don't have a crazy 44k points for some $5 game, get it on ebay or Amazon. Personally I only go to GS during buy 2 get 1 free sales.
Its hard to be surprised by this at all. The better question is this, unless they're the ONLY people selling something, why the hell do you shop there to begin with? They f***ing suck, no ifs or buts about that.
Like I've said about many other things, if people want to spend their money/points on that, they deserve it. I'm just not touching it with a ten foot pole. There are some people that like owning the cartridges more than actually playing the game. Those are the people this is aimed at... People that enjoy playing games have already discovered emulation and are quite happy with it.
yeah, this is ridiculous. AZ has a store called bookmans that sells old school genesis, SNES, & NES games for $2-$20
Yeah, that power up rewards is a money sucking joke. Buying used is nice and the discount does take care of the tax. But, the game informer magazine is so biased. They don't really give an honest opinion or keep an open mind on game reviews. Thank God we have Destructoid for all our gaming information needs. You guys and gals ROCK!
Quote: Chad Michael Myers
Yeah! Okay! Or I could just go, you know, download them. All. In 10 minutes.
Yeah! Okay! Or I could just go, you know, download them. All. In 10 minutes.
Aw, let 'em have their fun. Gamestop feels like they accomplished something, but more importantly, the local used game shops will live to see another day.
Thanks Tony, I had seen this last week sometime while checking into my points and was intriged.. then quickly turned off by the amount of points needed. Spending 25,000 points (or more) that took me like.. 2 years to accumulate.. on a $25 off any purchase coupon (using it on my Vita actually) is a lot better off then a used game from 20 years ago, no matter rare the game is.
Thats seriously giving way WAAAY to much money to Gamestop for what feels like a marginal reward. I even remember quickly saying they should just Ebay the games if they really wanted to make oodles off them.
Thats seriously giving way WAAAY to much money to Gamestop for what feels like a marginal reward. I even remember quickly saying they should just Ebay the games if they really wanted to make oodles off them.
Yes, the points are ridiculously undervalued. It's a shame that more people haven't called them out on it publicly... but it's true there isn't many options out there, GSR being the best to my knowledge outside of Club Nintendo (which, I might add, is awesome). Works for me though since Gamestop is usually the easiest way I can get games - and now I get points for playing on Kongregate.
Wish they still carried all the old stuff.
Wish they still carried all the old stuff.
This deserved a bump:
Corduroy Turtle: If you are actually purchasing things for the purpose of earning rewards points, you're doing it wrong.
Truth is, if you're looking at an item in a rewards catalog and thinking "OHMGEEEE If I spend $XXXXX, I can get something worth $XXXXX/100! I must have it; Shut up and take my money!!" then you're a fool. It funny to watch people so up in arms about it, GameStop is offering you free stuff for the sole purpose of rewarding you for what you were likely already doing.... shopping. Its an unbelievably entitled way of thinking to think you somehow deserve free stuff and that companies who are, let's face it, here to make money, owe it to you, you're disillusioned past repair.
Also, you'd think they were the first company to offer such a return rate, places like Chuck E Cheese's have been doing since forever. How many tokens did you have to buy to play enough games to win that crappy spider ring that you know cost $0.0005?
Quit whining and if you don't like the _free_ incentives they are offering for your regular business, then don't go for them... simple as that.
Corduroy Turtle: If you are actually purchasing things for the purpose of earning rewards points, you're doing it wrong.
Truth is, if you're looking at an item in a rewards catalog and thinking "OHMGEEEE If I spend $XXXXX, I can get something worth $XXXXX/100! I must have it; Shut up and take my money!!" then you're a fool. It funny to watch people so up in arms about it, GameStop is offering you free stuff for the sole purpose of rewarding you for what you were likely already doing.... shopping. Its an unbelievably entitled way of thinking to think you somehow deserve free stuff and that companies who are, let's face it, here to make money, owe it to you, you're disillusioned past repair.
Also, you'd think they were the first company to offer such a return rate, places like Chuck E Cheese's have been doing since forever. How many tokens did you have to buy to play enough games to win that crappy spider ring that you know cost $0.0005?
Quit whining and if you don't like the _free_ incentives they are offering for your regular business, then don't go for them... simple as that.
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