Post by: Kairon on August 28, 2006, 03:06:28 PM
How about the bigger box retailers. Wal-Mart is an obvious no-no to any liberal ... I think. But should I feel guilty about shopping at Target, at Toys 'R Us?
How about online retailers? Like...umm... cduniverse? Are they decent places to shop or do they propogate the economic evils of a capitalistic system?
I know Mom and Pop stores are really the best, but they simply don't exist... do they?
Are there mom and pop online ventures?
Help my Politically-correct modern consumer liberal conscience!
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: ShyGuy on August 28, 2006, 03:49:17 PM
Post by: UncleBob on August 28, 2006, 04:06:14 PM
EBGames and GameStop sucks - however, I do like Game Crazy.
I think it comes down to why exactly do you not want to spend your money at a particular place? Is it because they overcharge? Have crappy serivce? Are poor employers?
Post by: nickmitch on August 28, 2006, 04:35:27 PM
Post by: S-U-P-E-R on August 28, 2006, 05:13:56 PM
However, all major video game publishers advocate the brutal murder of union labor leaders in their south american manufacturing plants, so you're out of luck if you want to spend gaming dollars "conscientiously."
Post by: Pale on August 28, 2006, 05:28:16 PM
For example. Don't buy a used title just to save like 5% when you are allowing the reseller to make a fortune by giving people crap amounts of money for trade ins.
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on August 28, 2006, 05:43:20 PM
They also have a section of GCN,PS2,Xbox games some are crappy games and a lot of them are hidden gems 2 for 18.99 but those are usually older titles.
Post by: IceCold on August 28, 2006, 08:00:06 PM
Post by: Athrun Zala on August 28, 2006, 08:24:25 PM
then I went to a EB and had it used for like $10.....
QuoteI wish, that would make for cheaper games here in the region instead of the fortune they usually cost
Originally posted by: S-U-P-E-R
However, all major video game publishers advocate the brutal murder of union labor leaders in their south american manufacturing plants, so you're out of luck if you want to spend gaming dollars "conscientiously."
Post by: Kairon on August 28, 2006, 09:13:46 PM
Okay, so what I'm hearing is to check my yellow pages for loval independent stores.
Barring that, EB and Gmestop are generally disliked, but Game Crazy is appreciated despite having virtually the same business model and outlook as those two...
How about online retailers? Yes or no?
Oh, and in truth, I really am generally screwed because the implements of my art are benefitting from child labor in a third world country.
Anything I miss?
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: Myxtika1 Azn on August 28, 2006, 09:27:55 PM
Often times I would just go there an hang out for a while and just BS about games with everybody there. We'll play multiplayer DS games, have a little LAN party after hours. We even have a little anime night. LOL. Not really, but yeah.
I'm also guaranteed the number one spot on the Wii preorder list when that becomes available. So yeah, the GC in my town is great. There used to be a hot "Gamer Gurl" that worked there, too. I admit that I fell for her "charms" when she convinced me to get a MVP card from them.
Post by: wandering on August 28, 2006, 10:12:00 PM
....a child in the third world dies?
Did you know, in World War II, only 15% of the soldiers could bring themselves to fire their weapons?
...and that, by the Vietnam War, new training techniques brought that number up to 95%?
...Modern videogames mirror these techniques.
Did you know Nintendo, and other videogame companies...
...use sweat-shop labor?
The more you know!
Post by: KDR_11k on August 29, 2006, 05:57:56 AM
I'd bring the money to Karstadt, the prices rival Media Markt lately and they have less ethical issues.
Post by: Ian Sane on August 29, 2006, 07:01:09 AM
But seriously the whole thing seems kind of a pointless. I try to avoid getting ripped off but if I thought of ethics while buying consumer products I would pretty much buy nothing. There's always some shady dealings going on. Yeah Willow Video doesn't seem to jerk anyone around but all the game companies that make the games do. Even if you like a store the product they sell may be unethical to buy if you really think about it.
I say screw it or move to Cuba.
Post by: Kairon on August 29, 2006, 07:35:40 AM
I grew up in Vancouver, Canada so I really want to be nice about this, and then I spent my teen years in San Francisco, CA so that I've been turned into a politically-conscious ethically-confused person who still doesn't want to give up on the idea of being a conscientious consumer, even if I only take baby steps in that direction.
If there was an online retailer or independent game chain that ships, I'd like to know. Otherwise I go to my yellow pages and hope I can find a ride, or I default to GameCrazy/Target.
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: couchmonkey on August 29, 2006, 08:42:00 AM
Around Calgary there are no good independent places left that I know of. The last one I went to was chargin $60 for unboxed NES games. The best deals there were like $20-$30 for Super NES sports games and other assorted junk.
It's pretty much the big retailers.Pawn shops seem interesting, they might be a little more ethical - or at least personal - than your average EB Games. They're also just about the only independent business that I can find that sells used games around here now.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on August 29, 2006, 09:04:00 AM
Give your cash to whoever gives you the best deal, until they do something to piss you off.
Post by: KDR_11k on August 29, 2006, 10:58:40 AM
Post by: couchmonkey on August 29, 2006, 11:44:26 AM
Edit: On Pro's comment, I don't think it's necessary to try and be socially conscious about all my buying decisions, but lately I've started noticing the downside of big business for the consumer. For instance, my area is filled with big chain restaurants. At a glance, it may seem nicer than a lot of other areas in the city with tiny little hole-in-the-wall restaurants, but after a while all the chains start to seem the same. I can't get Vietnamese or Ethiopian or Indian food in my area.
Post by: ShyGuy on August 29, 2006, 01:12:40 PM
Yay capitalism!
Post by: Artimus on August 29, 2006, 01:29:48 PM
