wretched?
Am I wretched if I write a ranting message to Gamestop… complaining about something that happened to me today… but also mentioning that it’s bad enough that they “practically rape their customers on trades” and other stuff about their “shady business practices”? I’m seriously fed up with them… maybe I shouldn’t have written all that other stuff. But I have to admit… I felt better afterwards. I’ve heard there’s another game store around… I’m going to check it out (I told them that, too!)
Edit: I also want to say that I am quick to point out excellent customer service - I wrote a note to the Texas DPS office about the wonderful lady that helped answer a bunch of questions for me (after I’d been brushed off by our closest office, but I didn’t mention that part. I just wanted them to know that this lady had gone above and beyond). I received a reply that the sergeant in charge of that office would be hearing about this outstanding employee.
I can let stuff go for awhile but I think today with Gamestop I just had hit the breaking point. My son found a couple of other stores we can try out. Yay!
This sounds like capitalism at it’s best!
I used to work in sports memorabilia (cards, autographs, etc.) and lots of folks would get upset over “rape”–(as an aside, that’s an INCREDIBLY strong word) on trades. But there’s a reality: The value book might say a card is worth $50 and a kid would come in and want $50…but, first you have to assume that’s a card we want. If it was, keep in mind we could only sell it for what the market would bear: $50. So, in order to make a profit (which is what businesses do), we’d only be willing to pay $25. And that would be for a card we knew we could sell…like Nolan Ryan or Roger Staubach. And if we had a glut of those type cards, we’d only go $20. If it was another type player, we might only offer $10. They’d get bent out of shape and leave in a huff, too. But, it’s really a supply and demand thing. Of course, if we needed to replenish our stock, we’d offer $30 or $35, too.
What I’ve noticed is that the same is true for an type of trade-in business. Gamestop. Half-Price Books. CD Warehouse. They’re all the same. I could take in every Stephen King book I have and they’ll only give me about $1 a book in trade or $0.50 in cash. Because they have 50 already on the shelves. That doesn’t make it a shady business practice at all…just supply and demand being what it is.
The beauty of it is that there are other stores your son can try and he might get better deals or get treated better, too. Supply and demand works in the customer’s favor, too!
Comment by Brent — January 1, 2008 @ 9:25 am
They lied to me (whether on purpose or not, I don’t know) but that lost one of my children $10 and I was very ticked. The thing that I consider “shady” about those places is when you bring in a stack of items they come back with an offer for the lot. They don’t tell you that for some of those items, they’re giving you nothing. Then they turn around and sell at infinite profit what they stole from you. If they aren’t giving me anything for something they should give it back. But I realize that’s just my opinion.
I don’t care that they give less for some items than others, but they aren’t being fair when they take your stuff in a lot and some of it you’re getting zip for. An employee basically told me this once (Gamestop).
I have no problem with capitalism and supply and demand. I do have a problem with dishonesty.
Comment by
morethanfine — January 1, 2008 @ 10:20 am
And yes, rape was too strong a word. I admit it - I am wretched! And just being real about my failure on that. I should have let my anger cool before I sent them the message.
Comment by
morethanfine — January 1, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
Not to beat a dead horse, but when people presented us with entire card collections as a “lot,” we made an offer on that entire lot. Sure, there would be cards we didn’t want/need, for which we were paying nothing, but the set was offered as a “lot.” We’d bid on the lot. The customer was free to accept or reject our offer.
So, I’d suggest in that sense that it is “fair,” and not dishonest. The customer presented the stack as an entirety, an offer was made. If that offer is accepted, it’s an agreement for the entire lot, which the customer offered.
Really, I get what you’re saying. I get the shaft every single time I go to Half-Price Books (who, are surprisingly fair, even when they’re giving me the shaft). I take in all sorts of books that I think they’re dying to take, only to browse the store and see two or three on the shelves of various books I brought in. So, I view what they give me for my books (for which they’re paying me “nothing” on the ones they don’t need) as a “lot”…and accept the reality that they’re more or less taking those books off my hands and helping me with my clutter on some they don’t need.
I just get both sides of this argument, having been on both sides.
And, I never said you were wretched. I just said you used a strong word!
That doesn’t make you wretched. That makes you passionate.
Comment by Brent — January 2, 2008 @ 8:03 am
I see what you’re saying, too - personally, though, I’d rather give my stuff to a nonprofit if I’m giving it away… so if they’d just be upfront and tell me which stuff isn’t worth anything, I’d like that. Then I can take it to CCA or somewhere that it might help someone. I’m not offended if my stuff isn’t valuable to them. I can handle that, but maybe I’m weird! (wait, I *know* I’m weird!)
Comment by
morethanfine — January 2, 2008 @ 10:41 am
Update… the district manager called today, and as soon as he said his name and that he was calling from Gamestop, I stopped him and told him that I wanted to apologize for my angry message.
Then he told me there was a misunderstanding in our situation and he was going to get us the $10 - I’ll have to go in for it, but we have a bad memory card, too, so I have to go in anyway. He also offered me 10% off a future purchase but I told him that wasn’t necessary, and that fixing the $10 for my son was all I wanted. So if I can do this without any problems, I’ll be satisfied with the resolution of this incident. I’m still taking a break from GS to check out the other places.
Comment by
morethanfine — January 2, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
At least you got a response to your letter! AND even better that they are going to rectify the situation. The same type of thing happens when you trade in your car - they seem to give you a fabulous deal on the new car, but practically nothing on your trade-in that you know is worth more. It’s all a game, isn’t it?
Comment by Lori — January 4, 2008 @ 8:51 am
And, no, you are not wretched. You’re a mom and I know how easy it is to feel strongly about situations involving your kiddos.
Comment by Lori — January 4, 2008 @ 8:52 am