What It's Like to Shop at GameStop

Most of the time the people at my local GameStop will stop with the upselling as soon as they get the not interested vibe. Some don't though, and on more then one occasion, I've come close to blowing my top like that.

I did appreciate one upsell though, when the clerk pointed out to me I could get Pro PowerRewards membership for like $2.00. That turned out to be a really good value, and more then paid for itself several times over.

Yeah, I hate the upselling that they try to do, but I have to admit the rewards program has been entirely worth it as long as you have the patience to by a few used games per year.

I just try to keep in mind that they're forced to do that sort of thing by their bosses and that I shouldn't take any frustration with it out on them. Working retail is a rough gig, and I don't want to make it any worse when I can just as easily shrug it off.

With that Boston accent I'm sure it isn't too difficult.

Whenever I listen to the podcast, I always remember to check if all my doors are locked.

I always troll my local GameStop. I called up the day Batman: Arkham City released and impersonated The Joker (Heath Ledger's version). I kept asking, "Do you want to know how I got these scars?"

Recording or it didn't happen!

I just don't shop there. Pretty simple solution.

Hear hear! A good plan, and one that has always served me well.

Exactly. I do my game shopping at Bestbuy now simply because of all the up selling. And now Bestbuy offers all the same deals that Gamestop does on top of there better rewards program. I also hit up Amazon when they are selling something ridiculously cheap.

You can't get mad at the employee's for doing what they are trained to do.

Unless they keep nagging of course.

Things that annoy you
N_ggers

*oops, meant "People."

Man, you hate Noggers too? Finally, someone who agrees! I mean, I love me a good cup of egg nog during the holidays, but those noggers take it waaay too far.

Maybe it's just my, "I'm going to stab you in the ear if you try to sell me sh*t I didn't explicitly ask for face", or maybe it's just the fact that they people that work at the local Gamestop just don't give a damn about corporate policy, but I never get offered the upsell stuff. I actually had to ask to sign up for their silly discount card, they never offered me one.

If corporate got their way, it would be that exactly.

Speaking as a former GameStop employee, we appreciated all those who understood we had a job to do. Now granted, some dumb pricks have their eyes set on climbing that corporate ladder, but most of us were just people who loved games and thought it would be cool to sell them. You let me ask me two required questions and weren't a dick about it? Awesome, I'll try to keep **** quick for you.

You wanted to be a prick because I'm doing my job? Wonderful. You got asked every question I could think of, my computer "froze", "sorry it took me so long to find it but that game you wanted was in the wrong place", and oh...you can see that I'm having a tough time getting this plastic change roll open even though all of my change slots are totally full? Yeah well I just like being prepared.

It's a corporation guys. As much as people think it's unreasonable for them to upsell, they are trying to meet a quota... like any other sales job. If they don't reach their goal, their job may be in jeopardy. I don't mind it because I use to do the same thing when I worked at Best Buy.

Don't be a dick to them just because they are trying to make a living and to some of them, I know it's crazy to think, it's how they feed their families. Get over it or shop online.