This post has not been edited by the GamesBeat staff. Opinions by GamesBeat community writers do not necessarily reflect those of the staff.
Dear Gamestop… no, it is not funny when I ask one of your associates for a new, sealed copy of a game that you make a joke about "sealing this one in the back for ya" or "mind if i crack this open". Your humor is not appreciated, and I alternately pity the awkward young "new clerks" and loathe the socially oblivious obnoxious ones that you employ… but I digress.
You wouldn't call an open copy of a game new, and neither will I. I do not appreciate that when you do keep "new" copies of the game in stock, in some case as many as four or five, that all of them are "open" or "display" units. When I resort to bringing in my pristine, scratchless disks to your fine megacorporation, I merely ask for you to take only an arm OR a leg from me (but not both – I need those), and in return for you to produce the same quality discs for me. Instead, I get cajoled about it by your "professional" staff who then pester me incessantly for reserves and that I have "valuable chances to win" if I fill out your surveys about my "experience" today. Last I checked, the key to a successful business was as simple as well lit and clean stores with professional, unobtrusive, knowledgeable people behind the counter, not pandering or bombastic PR speak about creating "a memorable experience" that bloats a 30 second transaction into a 15 minute ordeal.
Of course, we all know it doesn't matter, because you will continue to dominate and strangle the used game market until brick and mortar stores go extinct. Of course, I can always pine away for the day when some bright new young things come along and realize that if you treat your customers with respect, give a fair wage to quality employees who sell something worth buying, that we can all get back to the business of selling and buying games. Until then, good luck with developing the gamestop "experience". I'm sure it impresses the snotty kids and clueless, haggard parents who choke the sales floor every time I'm forced to come in.
Sincerely,
your dwindling customer base