It's exactly what happened to Blockbuster, except instead of Netflix, it's the console platforms and Steam that killed them.
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GameStop is winding down operations in several European countries (up: Ireland closing)
- Thread starter Wrexis
- Start date
It's exactly what happened to Blockbuster, except instead of Netflix, it's the console platforms and Steam that killed them.
In Finland Gamestop was great for buying old PS2 and DS games with somewhat tolerable prices. Once they stopped that to make room for Funko Pops and brand merchandise I stopped going to Gamestops, and since they closed here already in 2020 I suppose a lot of other people stopped too, though probably for different reasons.
I also feel like they overexpanded here.
Ok? It's still a god awful garbage store chain that I passionately hate for over 15 years now with good reason.
A store chain, Mr. Job Provider Defender, that extinguished thousands of smaller local video game stores in my country over these decades when planting themselves like a virus into several cities, but hey, let's completely ignore that.
I'm glad they are gone, whoever still bought at them with their laughable "used" prices and god awful, almost scam like trade in/purchase prices of our used games is beyond me.
But hey, make sure you get their useless insurance every time you do stop there. 👍
Of course it sucks for the employees, like with every company and job in the world when this happens, I don't need to mention that, but in terms of the company itself, good f'n riddance.
all I read is "me, me, me." Sorry pal. There's worse things in the world than GameStop. This forum's weird obsession with them and the desperate need for them to go under is completely unhinged. Touch some grass.
HMV reopening in Dublin, great news!
HMV to make Irish comeback as it returns to its old home on Dublin’s Henry Street
ICONIC music chain HMV is set to make an Irish comeback when it opens its first store here in almost a decade this summer.
m.independent.ie
Same thing in Denmark. I never used GameStop much, but I did pick up used PS2 games there back in the day, as well as *gasp* physical PC games.
Their prices were just complete shit for games in the later years and I never went there. I could and can order physical games online with next day delivery much cheaper.
GameStop was wiped out here a few years ago, I don't see why anyone would shop there and most people probably didn't.
Nice one. Hoping they expand out west sooner than later.HMV reopening in Dublin, great news!
HMV to make Irish comeback as it returns to its old home on Dublin’s Henry Street
ICONIC music chain HMV is set to make an Irish comeback when it opens its first store here in almost a decade this summer.
HMV reopening in Dublin, great news!
HMV to make Irish comeback as it returns to its old home on Dublin’s Henry Street
ICONIC music chain HMV is set to make an Irish comeback when it opens its first store here in almost a decade this summer.
This is great news - though I wonder if it's going to sell games? From a skim of the article it sounds a little like it might be like the current Tower Records format - music, video, and the same merchandise stuff Gamestop pushed also... but actually games themselves?
It won't sell games. At least not initially,. No physical games are stocked in any stores. Instead, titles can be ordered/pre-ordered with free delivery to store or your home but it's essentially being fulfilled by the dot coms shared central warehouse. They're usually 10-15% cheaper than the GAME price in the UK.
Pokemon distributions.
Used games would be the only other reason if the prices weren't set to be competitive with minted copies elsewhere.
My local GameStop in Ireland has an 'Everything Must Go' adorning the window but it was translating to 10 percent off PS5 games that had no business still being fully priced. Now it's 20 percent. I wonder how far it'll go.
The one closest to me is in a mall and completely dead when I go in, every time.
So aside from Smyths and CEX is there anywhere left in Ireland that you can just walk into and buy games or is online the option now?
I was in one up in Cork yesterday and they were even selling the the shelving and game displays. Literally everything must go.
I got this email this morning, not sure if it has any new info
--------------------
Service Communication
During the month of June 2023, all GameStop stores in Ireland will be closing. The dates on which each store will be closing will be published in the coming days in store and on our website. Our website (www.gamestop.ie) and online services will be available until the closure of the final store.
As a result of these store closures, we ask our customers to note the following:
• GameStop will no longer issue Gift Cards and you are encouraged to use your existing Gift Cards as soon as possible in stores or on our website. All Gift Cards will be honoured until 24th June 2023.
• GameStop will continue to offer Store Credit in respect of certain selected goods and services. Store Credit shall be applied immediately upon purchase or as a discount on your purchase.
You are encouraged to use your existing Store Credit as soon as possible in stores or online.
• GameStop will no longer issue GameStop Pro Loyalty
Memberships. Customers with a paid membership will receive store credit to the value of €16.99. This will be valid in-store until
24th June 2023.
Any queries on this and other matters can be directed to our Customer Service Team, [email protected]
We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of our loyal customers who have supported us through the years and our wonderful staff who have made GameStop Ireland the premier shopping destination for Irish Gamers.
--------------------
Service Communication
During the month of June 2023, all GameStop stores in Ireland will be closing. The dates on which each store will be closing will be published in the coming days in store and on our website. Our website (www.gamestop.ie) and online services will be available until the closure of the final store.
As a result of these store closures, we ask our customers to note the following:
• GameStop will no longer issue Gift Cards and you are encouraged to use your existing Gift Cards as soon as possible in stores or on our website. All Gift Cards will be honoured until 24th June 2023.
• GameStop will continue to offer Store Credit in respect of certain selected goods and services. Store Credit shall be applied immediately upon purchase or as a discount on your purchase.
You are encouraged to use your existing Store Credit as soon as possible in stores or online.
• GameStop will no longer issue GameStop Pro Loyalty
Memberships. Customers with a paid membership will receive store credit to the value of €16.99. This will be valid in-store until
24th June 2023.
- GameStop will cease sales of Game Protection and customers are advised to use existing Game Protection, if applicable, as soon as possible in stores.
- GameStop will cease pre-ordering of upcoming items and you are asked to present your receipt in store on or before the date of closure to receive a full refund of the deposit paid in cash in connection with your pre-order. Customers who have paid their deposit using store credit will receive an equal value credit towards another product.
- Instructions on how customers can enquire about defective products in accordance with existing warranty conditions will be available online in order to ensure that enquiries or concerns are handled appropriately in the future.
Any queries on this and other matters can be directed to our Customer Service Team, [email protected]
We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of our loyal customers who have supported us through the years and our wonderful staff who have made GameStop Ireland the premier shopping destination for Irish Gamers.
Well, not happy for those working here, but it's what Gamestop deserves for how they did business in the last 15 years.
You can't really sell a used game for 2€ less than a new, sealed copy...plus they lost customers' trust when they started placing some random, paid services on each receipt.
This is what you get, sadly.
You can't really sell a used game for 2€ less than a new, sealed copy...plus they lost customers' trust when they started placing some random, paid services on each receipt.
This is what you get, sadly.
Saw up to 30% at my one the other day. Come on, go bonkers with the deals, already.
Same, the other one I was in yesterday was even selling the shelving, promo console signs (all partially damaged, unfortunately) and display units. The guy said they don't have a closure date but it could be in the next week or so, will need to keep an eye on how drastic the deals go.
Using this logic, no company can be scrutinized, regardless of their well documented bad practices and anti-competitive history, because they employ people. Hmmmmmmm.
Sadly Hmv are a different store now. However, if you're looking for Funko Pops, T-shirts and imported American chocolate, your luck is in.HMV reopening in Dublin, great news!
HMV to make Irish comeback as it returns to its old home on Dublin’s Henry Street
ICONIC music chain HMV is set to make an Irish comeback when it opens its first store here in almost a decade this summer.
For sure. I remember some shops in Ireland going back a decade or so now I guess but had tiny sections for new games. Second hand games had all the good shelf space, they really bit the hand that that fed them.
GAME in Spain (and I guess other similar chains all over Europe) are exactly the same. They're only worth it for the times where they have some console deals or random fire sales. They basically survive on kids buying 2nd hand shovelware and trading it back in when they get bored of it, and the way they force employees to shove preorders or insurances down your throat is very disgusting.
You'd see them in the big cities outside of the UK pretty often. I think the only UK one was in Birmingham
It's the same on the UK forums, all hating on the one specialist retailer because a bunch of faceless online retails chose to sell games at close to cost.
As a gamer it's sad that these parts of our culture and history are disappearing, just like E3 and games that score 8/10 without being berated for being 'garbage'
Same. I've never understood how Gamestop thinks it can operate in the German market. Saturn and Mediamarkt create a very competitive market and regularly have games for under MSRP on release day and their shelves are full, so you can be guaranteed to get a copy on release day even if you don't preorder. Some Pokemon game came out a few years ago and I went in on release day, thinking I'd pick it up at GS as I wanted to trade in some games anyway and the guy working the counter gave me a smug shit-eating grin and said "should have preordered." So I just went to Mediamarkt down the aisle in the mall and picked it up for even cheaper than it was at GS. And I didn't get hassled to tack on a bunch of useless services and preorder stuff at Mediamarkt either.
And they wonder why they're going out of business. Especially with their used games often costing more than Saturn/Mediamarkt charge for new copies.
I know that Gamestop has challenges that big box retailers like Mediamarkt/Saturn don't face, but their inability to adapt to the changing market was their downfall, imo. Maybe that used copy of Nioh 2 wouldn't still be sitting on their shelf if they weren't charging 55€ for it in 2023.
Even that is a bit of a scam. I haven't done any of those since Elden Ring came out. I had traded in two games months in advance and when I went to pick up Elden Ring, suddenly they wanted more than 16,99 instead of 9,99€ because the price in their system had increased. Haven't bothered with GS since.
I don't think they wonder. I think they've known that they couldn't adapt to the new reality, and been in managed decline mode, for years.
Dubliner here. One of the three Gmaestops in our city centre has closed up shop but the other two are still only up to 20% off in their "going out of business" sale.
Like, I want to be clear that they're selling the literal shelving units and walls, but the games/merch are still only 20% off. I almost admire the audacity of sticking with their scummy pricing strategies to the bitter end.
Edit: And the 20% doesn't apply to Tears of the Kingdom, Jedi Survivor or Hogwarts Legacy. Because of course not.
Like, I want to be clear that they're selling the literal shelving units and walls, but the games/merch are still only 20% off. I almost admire the audacity of sticking with their scummy pricing strategies to the bitter end.
Edit: And the 20% doesn't apply to Tears of the Kingdom, Jedi Survivor or Hogwarts Legacy. Because of course not.
The thing is that people have been discussing their problems for years, like their ridiculous prices on used games, and they still refuse to change. If your used games aren't selling for -5€ und new price, maybe price them lower. A 15€ profit on a used game that actually sells is better than a 30€ profit on a used game that sits on your shelf for years and never sells.
It's just so bizarre. I just don't believe that corporate wasn't aware that they were pricing themselves out of the market. I'm sure there are less tech-savvy people who still bought from them, otherwise they wouldn't be in business at all, but the german consumer tends to be very well-informed when it comes to prices and very few people were going to buy a used copy of a game for 54,99€ when Mediamarkt was selling it new for 53,99€ and you didn't have to fight off upsell attempts as if it was a minigame on its own.
If it's anything like the HMV here in Belfast there won't be games, just music, films and pop culture t-shirts.