Topic: Where can I conscientiously spend my consumer gaming dollars?

[Kairon]

For example, we already know that we don't like GameStop and EB. Does Game Crazy fall into this category of unlikable specialty stores as well? What else falls under this catregory of contemptible sales practices? FYE? Software etc.?

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

[ShyGuy]

*Reported to the thought police for being political.

[UncleBob]

I haven't seen a mom-and-pop store that sells new video games in ages.

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?

[nickmitch]

I really don't care where my games from, as long as I get 'em. I don't see why I should care. I don't feel like I've ever been dis-serviced by an EBgames, but I don't like price stickers directly on the box. Wal-Mart is actually my friend.

[S-U-P-E-R]

Mom and pop stores DO exist and whenever I come across one, they completely rock. Pawn shops are pretty much the same thing, and you can haggle at them sometimes, especially if you buy there a lot.

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."

[Pale]

Don't worry about where you shop.... just how you shop.

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.

[Flames_of_chaos]

Well in 1 town over theres a indy gamestore called Toys and Gameland its cool because for new releases well most of them they take 2 dollars off (newly released xbox360 games are 57.99 instead of the usual 59.99) and another cool thing is that they are located in a NJ enterprise zone so instead of 7% tax its 3.5% and they give you a card where when you present it you get 3.5% of the balance on that card that you can use toward future purchases if you ever wanted to.

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.

[IceCold]

Superstore.

[Athrun Zala]

when I went to the US last year, in a FYE they had a sealed Baten Kaitos copy (which was precisely what I was looking for)....but it's price was $64.99!!! oO

then I went to a EB and had it used for like $10.....

Quote
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."

I wish, that would make for cheaper games here in the region instead of the fortune they usually cost

[Kairon]

Isn't Superstore a Canadian version of "Target?"

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

[Myxtika1 Azn]

I actually like the employees at my local Game Crazy.  I started going to them instead of EB and GameStop because I likethe atmosphere at GC.  Over the years, I've became friends with all the employees there.  The manager even allowed me to open up a DS Lite so I can check for dead pixels before buying it.  

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.

[wandering]

Did you know every time you buy a videogame....
....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!  

[KDR_11k]

Wandering: According to military officials videogames don't prevent the "first kill shock", they merely make you postpone it until you are out of danger. Probably because your instincts don't realize that you are in danger if you haven't played games representing that situation and learned that bullets are unhealthy.

I'd bring the money to Karstadt, the prices rival Media Markt lately and they have less ethical issues.

[Ian Sane]

The only place to buy videogames that hasn't pissed me off at some time is Willow Video which is a local chain that has like five locations in British Columbia and nowhere else.  Fortunately their largest store is in my hometown.  So it's basically sheer luck that you'll find someplace that isn't "big business".  After all the big companies are the only ones that are going to be available everywhere.

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.  

[Kairon]

Do any of the local stores where you guys are at ship?

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

[couchmonkey]

I was at Media Markt, it was just like Future Shop, right down to the colour scheme.  The only difference was everyone spoke German!

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.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Oh come on, people.  We're in capitalist systems (i believe).  Profits don't exist without someone or something being exploited.  Can't get significantly ahead without pushing someone back.

Give your cash to whoever gives you the best deal, until they do something to piss you off.

[KDR_11k]

Couchmonkey: But the guy who founded Future Shop is from Iran, no doubt they're financing the Terrorists! Be a good sheeple and buy at Wal-Mart, 'k?

[couchmonkey]

HA HA HA HA, tell me about it!  It doesn't matter anyway, Best Buy owns them now, so we can safely change Future Shop's name to Patriot Land.

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.

[ShyGuy]

I buy what I like where I like. If enough people do that, the market shifts accordingly.

Yay capitalism!

[Artimus]

I just get the best deal...