Topic: Gamestop observations

[KDR_11k]

I've looked into the local Gamestop, a few things caught my eye:

1. The Wii section was moved from the front of the store to a back corner where the Gamecube was located, only "preowned" GC games are left (in addition to the Wii stuff, of course).
2. The former Wii section is now occupied by the PSP and PS3 (about 50-50 split). The alert ones out there might notice that the PS3 isn't released in Europe. That entire shelf is filled with preorder boxes. I'd assume the PSP is there because of some deal with Sony.
3. The Xbox 360 demo kiosk was decorated with Spectrobes ads and was playing a Spectrobes trailer. Was that announced for the 360 as well or are they just using the kiosk for its HDTV?

[Adrock]

I haven't been to a Gamestop in a while, but I would guess Wii was moved to the back because they don't have any trouble selling them. People likely come in looking for one all the time. Putting PS3 in the front is Gamestop's way of increasing awareness of the product in an effort to sell PS3s. Retailers don't really make money on hardware, but if the hardware doesn't sell then the software won't either. Wii doesn't need to sell any better than it has been for them to make money on it.

And also, Gamestop sucks. What the hell were you doing in there or even looking around? Go buy a pizza or something and keep the hell away from that evil corporation before they end up buying you out and investing in your mom's stocks, effectively taking over her operations.

[31 Flavas]

The GS in my area, unless its changed in the past couple of weeks has all the Wii stuff right up front and the xbox360 games on the backwall/corner. I kid you not.

I'm guessing it depends on the manager and how well the stuff is selling at an individual store that determines placement of the systems games. But then I wouldn't be surprised if Sony delivered a Money hat to EB/GS corporate.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: 31 Flavas
The GS in my area, unless its changed in the past couple of weeks has all the Wii stuff right up front and the xbox360 games on the backwall/corner. I kid you not.

I'm guessing it depends on the manager and how well the stuff is selling at an individual store that determines placement of the systems games. But then I wouldn't be surprised if Sony delivered a Money hat to EB/GS corporate.

Same here, I was in a Gamestop about 4 days ago and the Wii section was right up front by the door (along with NDS) with Sony stuff on the side wall and Xbox stuff at the very end of the store.

[KDR_11k]

Gamestop really isn't much of a threat to anything, those cramped stores with their overpriced games have a hard time attracting people when you can go into a much bigger and cheaper electronics or department store that doesn't reserve half the shelves for "preeow'd" games or preorder boxes. Often there's so few people in that GS the employees are bored enough to talk to anyone who comes in "can I help you?".

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: KDR_11k
Gamestop really isn't much of a threat to anything, those cramped stores with their overpriced games have a hard time attracting people when you can go into a much bigger and cheaper electronics or department store that doesn't reserve half the shelves for "preeow'd" games or preorder boxes. Often there's so few people in that GS the employees are bored enough to talk to anyone who comes in "can I help you?".

Gamestop still has a good advantage in that they do have preowned games (sorry but that is a big selling area for them, even if they are overpriced) and above all else they get new games within 1 day of shipping usually, which sometimes takes other larger stores a week or more to get in. Also some of the more obscure games can be usually be found at Gamestop (Unless they are selling out), heck I haven't even seen Hotel Dusk yet in any of the big stores!

[KDR_11k]

they get new games within 1 day of shipping usually, which sometimes takes other larger stores a week or more to get in.

That's not true here and in fact I've seen other stores sell games when GS was still peddling preorders (though it's possible that other store just broke the street date).

Also some of the more obscure games can be usually be found at Gamestop (Unless they are selling out), heck I haven't even seen Hotel Dusk yet in any of the big stores!

It's rare that Gamestop even has all the titles bigger stores offer (the shelf space makes a difference), they pretty much never have anything others don't (with the exception of some old games that apparently didn't sell). Plus their annoying shelf space makes it much harder to find anything in a GS than any other store.

[S-U-P-E-R]

Does "local" mean "in Germany" in this thread?

[NWR_pap64]

So Gamestops are moving the Wii and DS sections to the back of the store...Nintendo is doomed .

[31 Flavas]

Quote
Originally posted by: S-U-P-E-R
Does "local" mean "in Germany" in this thread?

No. At least, not in my case. Local means Illinois, USA.

[NeoThunder]

The excuse they gave me at my store for the GameCube being back in the corner was it didn't sell that much.....however, the Wii is in the same spot next to the GameCube stuff.  I don't know if they can use that excuse with it or not.  

One guy claims they sell more PS3 stuff, but if thats really true it's cause thats the way they want it, not customers.

[KDR_11k]

Local means one specific store that's physically close to me, i.e. neither the whole chain nor every store in the country.

[Flames_of_chaos]

Spectrobes is a DS exclusive and I don't go to EB/GS unless they have a good deal which is rare. But I usually go to a indy gamestore called toys and gameland. I bought Crackdown from them 5 days prior to the release date since they get games from a seperate distributor and they don't need to abide by corporate rules.  

[Dirk Temporo]

Setup at the store near me is basically the opposite. The PS3 and Wii are both still situated near the door, and the 360 demo is turned off because it blows hot air on the employees behind the counter.

[Plugabugz]

There's no gamestops here. In the local Blockbuster, there is three shelves of wii games for sale. No mention of rent anywhere.

The shelves themselves are likely no wider than the monitor you're reading this on.

what fourth wall?

[capamerica]

The way my local GameStop is set up is the GameCube, Wii, GBA and DS are all located in the front of the store on the left wall and on half of the back left side wall. The PS2, PS3 and PSP section is the whole Right wall with the PS3 having a section about a quarter the size of the PSP area (The PS3 section is like 5 boxes wide and 6 rows tall). The Xbox takes up the other half of the back left side wall and the whole back wall. The Wii and DS demo units are in the front of the store. The PS3 demo unit is also in front but is hidden by a display rack except for the screen. The GameCube demo unit is right across from the PS2 in the back and the Xbox360 and PC demo unit are in the center of the store.

[WuTangTurtle]

it could also be becuase they know that shoppers will come into the store looking for the Wii, and be willing to travel all the way to the back of the store resulting in the customer seeing more of the products in the store and getting tempted to buy them.  For example it is a selling tactic for stores in the holidays, KBtoys actually re-organize there store in a way that the customers will most likely do a circle around the whole store.

That or they are accepting money hats...