EBgames/Gamestop "Gutting" Games

[brukaoru]

I didn't know that there were so many people out there that didn't know about this, so I found this article from a supervisor at Gamestop. 28 confessions of a Gamestop shift supervisor. I will copy the 1st part of the article:

"GUTTED GAMES 1 ) First off, the biggest thing, the 'opened new games' issue. While I admit the practice is messy, I can't stress this enough; to remain a browsable, accessible small shop, 'gutting' a single copy is essentially unavoidable. As many UK commentors on such articles tend to point out, all small game shops over there have done this for years and they don't expect otherwise.

Store policy is to gut one copy for display, occasionally two or more for new releases. We're encouraged to keep as many unopened as possible, and at all stores I've worked at this is a is strongly maintained; we only gut multiples of a game if we have MANY copies to go around. The harsh side is the 'checkout' policy. Gamestop policy is, for better or worse, that employees may check out new games that are more than two weeks past their original release so long as they are returned in mint condition. I don't agree with this, personally, as many part-timers and less-dedicated employees simply can't be trusted to take decent care of products. Typically most good stores encourage employees to check out used, even though company policy gives used more weight than new.

The fact is, though, that checking out titles isn't at the top of most employee's to-do lists, and 98% of 'gutted' games have literally never been touched, only slid into a paper or plastic sleeve and put away. If you cannot tolerate an opened case, then insist on a copy in original wrap. This really is overzealous and impractical if you plan to open it yourself; the PRACTICAL thing to do is, if you see you are getting a 'gut', ask outright to see the disc first. Any decent employee will comply, and they have no valid excuse not to show you."

To be safe, last time I was in EBGames when I picked up a copy of a game, when I went to go checkout I asked if they had a brand new sealed copy of the game. I think you are safe if you do this, I do not think they re-shrink wrap games, as stated in the article.