How do I know it's never been played!?

[kiokushitaka]

Being that where I live happens to be rather low class and thus, full of shoplifters and scam artists... it's a good thing our store "guts" at least one copy of every game we have in stock in order to have a display copy. All our games and systems are kept under lock and key at all time to prevent shrink, etc.

This happens to be a can of worms all on it's own, in a sense. Since some people are really weird about the condition of their games (be it for a gift or just because they're nerds or whatnot). Mostly because our return policy for new items states that they cannot be opened in order for a return, but eh... corporate seems to not have the gutting concept down..? I had this woman come in, and the scene played out a little like this:

ME: *rings up her purchase, goes to retrieve the game from the glass case. It happens to be the last one, meaning it's the gutted copy. Opens the case brought up by SC and starts to put the game disc inside*

SC: That's the new copy?

ME: Yes.

SC: But it's open. Don't you have any wrapped ones left?

ME: Unfortunately, since our games like to wander off without being bought first, we have to have empty display cases... well, you're getting the very last copy of this game that we have...

SC: It's never been played?

ME: No. It's brand new. We just had to open it to have a display copy.

SC: But how do I know it's never been played!?

ME: You'll have to take my word on it.

SC: >:\

ME: If you want, we have a shrink wrap machine in the back. I can go wrap it for you in case you're worried about being able to return it.

SC: What does that matter? I'd have to open it anyway to find out if I don't like it. Whatever. I'll just take that one. >:[

ME: Okay~

Seriously, it was a sports game and none of the people at our store really like sports games. And a new copy would have only been played by an employee who checked it out... the disc was perfect and scratch-no, FINGERPRINT free! I don't know what this lady's deal was.

[Samaliel]

She must have been afraid you smeared logic-germs when playing it.

[tamezin]

And a new copy would have only been played by an employee who checked it out... the disc was perfect and scratch-no, FINGERPRINT free! I don't know what this lady's deal was.

Honestly, I wouldn't like this situation either. I probably wouldn't have made the purchase. Not your fault obviously...but I am one of those picky peoples. If I am buying a new game/movie/whatever...I want to be the first one to pop the seal on the item. Anything else just isn't the same.

[Imogene]

She must have been afraid you smeared logic-germs when playing it.

Then, she was afraid she'd realized she bought a sports game?

[Apathy]

Honestly, I wouldn't like this situation either. I probably wouldn't have made the purchase.

And that's perfectly acceptable. You know, as long as you didn't imply that the clerk helping you was incompetent/rude/lying to you.

That's what I don't get (among other things). No one's forcing these morons to buy these products. If you don't like the situation/service/quality of product, you're free to leave and go somewhere else.
I know, I know, they've already driven all the way there, horror of horrors indeed, but again, these douchebags need to - say it with me - DEAL WITH IT.

[edicius]

Yeah, I don't dig that situation either, but it's not the employee's fault. If a store has a policy like that, I just don't shop there and move onto the next place (or, more likely, just buy my games onlines).

One instance of that kind of policy (sort of) that REALLY bugged me was one time I went to buy a game at Gamestop and it must have been re-shrinkwrapped or something, because the price sticker was actually on the case insert - not on the clear plastic outer, but the actual art underneath it! Didn't discover it until after I purchased it - and promptly went and returned it, because I'd rather not have a huge price sticker permanently stuck to the box art.

[crazylegs]

Yeah, I don't dig that situation either, but it's not the employee's fault.

Seconded (thirded...?)

As long as the actions of the person (no longer) purchasing the game can't be perceived as rude/annoying there isn't a problem with saying at any time during a purchase like this "I'm sorry, I've changed my mind", it may be griefy getting a supervisor to void it but other than that...

[powerboy]

Mostly because our return policy for new items states that they cannot be opened in order for a return

I never did like that policy. If it was a brand new game and I never played a demo. How the hell am I suppose to know, if I like it or not. I understand the policy, but come on.

[Mamadrae]

Mostly because our return policy for new items states that they cannot be opened in order for a return.

Only once did I ever shop at a store with this policy.

My husband was rabid for an MMO he'd been hearing about. So I got it for him for his birthday, got myself a copy to so I could play with him. Ironically enough his brother also got him a copy.

I was set to take the brother's copy back when we had a problem with the copy I bought. It had installed fine, but apparently the CD key was IN USE. This game had been in wrap and everything.

Now the store didn't have a sign about their policy. They didn't even tell me about it till I came back in with it. I made it a point not to ask for a refund because I had opened it but I did ask for a trade. They kept refusing me and saying they couldn't because the game was open.

Now I might have just chucked it up to a bad experience if it hadn't been for the kid's attitude. He had this "Hurry up and leave" kind of look of annoyance as I told him the situation. He didn't even seem to be listening to me at all and just kept saying "You can't return that". Even after I told him how the game they sold me was in use by someone else.

I told the guy I was talking to I would wait for a manager since that's what I needed to talk to. He kept telling me the manager was in a meeting and not due out for at least an hour. I told him it was fine and I would wait.

Now I'm irritated from the attitude and pissed off at them trying to con me out of 50 bucks for a game that doesn't work. I am however behaving and not screaming or throwing a fit.

I was however standing to the side of the register.

I had at least 5 people ask if I was in line. Everytime I told them I was waiting for a manager. Of course their next question was "Why?". I had zero qualms with telling them exactly why I was waiting. Every single one would kinda glare at the guy and one sale was lost because the guy was buying and mmo and did not want to get screwed.

Manager showed up real quick after that. Proceeded to argue with me again about I couldn't return the game because it was open and giving me an even worse attitude them the cashier had. I finally asked if they really wanted me to sit at an outside table in the restaurant next door tell every single customer that walked up that they sold bad games.

Manager had a refund out in 5 seconds flat.
Only time I recall ever being a really really bad SC. I confess.

[Samaliel]

I don't know if the policy was for every game or just MMO, but for MMO, it's perfectly understandable that they can't take it back once opened, because of the very problem you experienced.

How can they know you didn't install it, thus rendering the CD key unusable ? Most likely, in your case, the shop couldn't do anything, and didn't have anyhting to do with the issue you encountered. I think some dude downloaded the game with a key generator which, unfortunately, gave him your key.

You should have contacted the manufacturer of the game, provided proof of purchase with date, and ask them to give you a new CD key. With any chance, the CD key in your box was in use before you even bought it, proving the one using it was a fraud.

But I can understand and sympathize on why you were upset.

[karath]

Well played, mama...there definitely are sucky csrs and managers (that's why we have those oft-used cursing out coworkers and morons in management sections of the forums)...and I find it very interesting that they wouldn't have a sign about that. With an MMO it's a bit more understandable, but still odd.

And on the main subject...I never buy a game unless I've spent about a week pondering the decision and have checked the 'web and my friends for opinions on the game, so the policy wouldn't have bothered me at all. I can see how it might be frustrating...but given the neighborhood's apparent penchant for the old five finger discount, that's perfectly understandable.

[symposes]

I subscribed to gamefly just to combat that bad game phenomenon.

I absolutely hate shelling out 50-60 bucks for a brand new game, only to not like it enough to play it more then once.

Hellgate London anyone? hehe played it for 2 hours, and was dissappointed to say the least.

As far as pc games, if i cannot get a demo or atleast some way to get a good feel for the game before i buy it. I wont buy it.

[Cyphr]

I subscribed to gamefly just to combat that bad game phenomenon.

I absolutely hate shelling out 50-60 bucks for a brand new game, only to not like it enough to play it more then once.

Hellgate London anyone? hehe played it for 2 hours, and was dissappointed to say the least.

As far as pc games, if i cannot get a demo or atleast some way to get a good feel for the game before i buy it. I wont buy it.

I tend to like all games to some degree or another so i've rarely been screwed the only real one was dead rising because you cant do survival mode till you beat story mode and story mode is boring

[powerboy]

I tend to like all games to some degree or another so i've rarely been screwed the only real one was dead rising because you cant do survival mode till you beat story mode and story mode is boring

Story mode on Dead Rising, sucked.

[Samaliel]

Hellgate London anyone? hehe played it for 2 hours, and was dissappointed to say the least.

I'm impressed you survived playing this long. Seriously, every and each review of that game I read said it sucked big time. Wonky colors, mediocre texture art, gameplay glitches... It's just sad, the trailer was so impressive, I was so looking forward to this game...