[Update: It looks like this video has been pulled from YouTube with the quickness. But trust me, it was shocking. Info below.]
Depending on your level of "germophobia," you may want to look away from the above video. What you're seeing is "spy cam" footage of the inside of a GameStop employee restoom, and yes, it looks like it's where they store some of their consoles.
Disgusting? Maybe. Depends on how much faith you put in the ability of a GameStop employee to not miss the bowl, I suppose. Here's a news flash, though -- an endless warehouse does not lie beyond the metal door that sits at the back of most retail stores, GameStops included. Considering the number of SKUs being dumped onto retail, space for storing inventory is a precious commodity. And have you seen the size of the box that Guitar Hero World Tour comes in?
Engadget writes: "On a serious note, we're telling ourselves that there's just no way this happens in even a meaningful amount of GameStop locations." Well, as someone who worked for the specialty retailer at a number of locations for more years than I'd like to admit, this is more common than you'd like to think.
So is something like this a deal breaker? I mean, between the fact that they sell people used games as new (arguably not the case) and won't leave you alone about their discount card, will you never step foot inside a GameStop again?
Contest:
12:05 PM on 09.28.2008
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GameStop is not the only retailer that pushes membership-like cards on its customers - you see it at FYE, Saturday Matinee (same company), American Eagle, Aeropostale, Pac Sun, RadioShack, Stop n Shop, Starbucks, Big Y, just to name a few. It's a common practice in the retail business to give loyal customers a break.
The majority of new games that are sold are still shrink-wrapped from the factory and the few that aren't are opened because it was the last copy and the case was used as a display - but the game has never been played.
Plus - used games are cheaper, so why drop more money at a department store (which, by the way, supports them in underpaying and taking advantage of its employees. It's a stab at Wal-mart.) I don't get why there's all this hating on GameStop, it's actually a good deal.
In my opinion, I didn't see it being that bad; so long as the games are not propping the toilet up and we assume the employees have a certain level of hand-eye coordination.
I don't mean to preach GameStop, I just think it's unfair to shine this spotlight on them since this happens with every major retail chains.
And Falinter - the storage space only happens during major launches/holidays so it would actually cost more to rent this out year round than to suck it up for a few weeks.
A. customers deserve to be given a product that hasn't been stored in a place designated for SHITTING and PISSING.
B. game store staff deserve toilet facilities that aren't full of xbox 360's.
I'm not upset by the practice of membership cards it's that the Edge card is totally worthless. You need to spend $200 to recoup $5 from the cost. I'm gonna spin into a rant if I go further.
"The majority of new games that are sold are still shrink-wrapped from the factory and the few that aren't are opened because it was the last copy and the case was used as a display - but the game has never been played."
That really doesn't matter. I buy a new game so that I don't have stickers and shit all over my case. I like my games pristine and as long as the game is guaranteed to work I don't mind in the end but it cheeses me off to have to spend 20 minutes peeling a sticker off so that I don't have glue rectangles all over my game.
"Plus - used games are cheaper, so why drop more money at a department store (which, by the way, supports them in underpaying and taking advantage of its employees. It's a stab at Wal-mart.) I don't get why there's all this hating on GameStop, it's actually a good deal."
It's not. If I want used games I'll go to eBay and get it for half the price. ANY online store will offer cheaper prices than Gamestop. I used to buy from Gamestop to support game companies that deserve my money but since used games offer no support at all I may as well get a credit card (a piece of plastic with actual usefulness) and save not only about 40% off the New price but another 15-20% off the Gamestop price.
And picking at Wal-Mart is like saying "at least we aren't Nazis". Everyone already hates them and thinks they're the worst thing ever so to say you're better than the worst isn't saying anything at all.
BLASPHEMY.
Tip to get stickers off - hold a hair dryer to the sticker. It loosens up the glue and it comes right off.
Sure, buying from eBay or half.com is cheaper, but if you end up getting scammed or being sold a game in shoddy condition, you won't be able to get it replaced. And how does getting a credit card save you 40% off the new price?
The initial point I wanted to get across was that it's unfair to give the sole credit of bathroom storage to GameStop as any retail store does things like this, especially during major launches, holidays, and sales. And I will end my discussion with that point.
Ira Flatow made the same mistake.
"I'm not upset by the practice of membership cards it's that the Edge card is totally worthless. You need to spend $200 to recoup $5 from the cost. I'm gonna spin into a rant if I go further. "
The card is 15 dollars I believe....you save 10 percent on used products. You spend 150 dollars in the entire year and you saved 15, spend any more and you are saving money. L2Math.
Cost of Card: $15
10% of 200: $20
Savings of $20 - $15 cost = $5 recouped.
L2Read.
@ zgehard
Because eBay is about 40% cheaper buying from there saves you a massive percentage.
The magazine that comes with Edge card is just as bad. It's literally about 50% ads. I'd cut it slack for not being totally cutting edge because the internet outclasses all other media in speed (if not accuracy) but it's not only irrelevant, it's a rag.
The argument about getting scammed of eBay is so tired and worthless. Only stupid and careless people get ripped off on eBay. "Wow, Gears of War for only $3?! All I have to do is send my credit card to a P.O. box in Nigeria? Sign me up!" Any remotely credible person will offer a refund on broken games and shipping insurance is an extra few bucks at most. I've bought close to a hundred items off eBay and the worst thing that has happened to me over the past 5 years is that one guy took a picture in such a way that it hid a scrape along the top of the game label. I've never not received an item, received a broken game, received the wrong item, or had my information compromised in any way. Like I already said, stupid and careless people are the only ones who get scammed on eBay.
cwutididthar?
To put in a meaningful topic response:
4 gamestops in my city. All of them, including mine, use bathrooms for storage. None of the employees use the bathrooms; they're too cramped. The toilets are always lid-down and stuff is stacked on top of it.
That being said, we do use the sink and there's a first-aid kit next to it, but nobody actually uses those bathrooms.
Bottom line, not shocking and certainly not something restricted to Gamestop. More of an industry wide trend.
Do you really think your disgruntled, underpaid employee isn't pissing carelessly in there?
Not hard shit. And lots of people actually buy it like that.
You sir are correct, as it leaves the body Urine is sterile. The problem is once its outside bacteria begins to feed on it, bacteria which just happens to be harmful to humans. Also fecal matter has a tendency to escape the toilet when its flushed if said toilet is one of those quick flushing ones they use in many public restrooms. So while you may not pee or poop on the boxes that in no way means urine and fecal matter is not making its way onto said boxes.
I dont care how much storage space a store may lack. This is a health concern. I worked at an EB in a mall a few years back and we had a incredibly small backroom. We however never used the bathroom. We got creative and made use of what we had. These stores should consider doing the same.
If you bought a car and someone said "Hey thanks for the $30,000. Since you're an auto-club member here's $100 back." Would you feel like you saved ANY money at all? It shouldn't be a question of whether or not it's easy to pass the threshold but whether it's even worth it. Rounding up, after spending $200 you've saved 3%. After you make back your first $15 you need to spend $50 to get another $5. In your first year of Edge card ownership you need to spend $900 to get a new 360 or PS3 game on saving alone. If you shop there exclusively and very frequently, you may as well get one since you're already pissing your money away but there is really absolutely no reason to own an Edge card.
I understand that there is a slight health concern (but truth is, the packaging coming from these things never go into your mouth - but your toothbrush does - and are usually promptly thrown away), it's not such a raging health concern that people should feel alarmed.
But yes, all retail stores cramped for space should definitely get creative. They should not be using the bathroom, but not everyone has the creative capacity to figure something else out. Frankly, I think the stores who do this, their district managers should be more on top of it. Oh well.
The retailer does offer a number of services that many consumers and gamers could find useful. That includes, but is not limited to the "rip off" discount card people cry about. The fact is, if you do buy used games at GameStop (forget for a second that maybe you can get them cheaper on eBay, Craigslist, Goozex), you're going to save money. Additionally, I think anyone who is going to slag on Game Informer is ignorant -- because of their size and circulation, they get plenty of exclusive screens and game info before it even hits the net (the info hitting message boards the second it hits the printer, notwithstanding). Besides that, the magazine is high quality in terms of content and material, so I don't really get the hate there.
There are a lot of arguments for not wanting to shop at GameStop (or any retailer, for that matter), and I could make plenty of them myself. But most the ones I'm seeing are pretty weak.
doorhandles are cesspools of filth.
I prefer to shop at Best Buy, but sometimes GameStop is the only option, and even sometimes it's the best option. So yeah, don't go there if you don't want/have to.
Besides, if they didn't offer things like used games and all, they'd have been put out of business by Best Buy a long time ago. Then many people would have no Video Game Specialty stores anymore. I can't say I blame them.