GameStop Wants Employees to LIE?

I think this calls for some real investigative journalism, because that seems to be several layers of wrong for consumers, publishers and employees.

I went to two different GameStops recently to find the RWBY PS4 port, but they did not have them. Now I know why. 

To hell with GameStop. There are about fifty different ways to get games and consoles just as cheap either new or used that dosnt require me to gamble my time and money with shady buisness practice.

Being the assistant manager of a GameStop, I can say this is sadly true for some employees, especially the part timers who only have one shift a week. What I hate about the COL is the "zero 0%" policy in which any employee who hits zero percent on any given week gets a coaching the first week, verbal the following, written the following and so on and so forth. So a lot of employees resort to whatever they can to help their numbers. One thing that this article fails to explain is that the vast majority of us (GameStop employees) DO NOT lie to you. We are sincerely trying to help you the best we can, and yes, we do push the preowned and reservations, but only because it is part of our job. I know most people reading this will not believe me, but I do hope it helps explain what it is we go through. Power to the Players

This seems to be a classic "rewarding A while hoping for B" situation. I understand that benchmarks and targets are good for a company, but forcing employees to hit them? They were hoping for more used game sales and in turn profit; what they rewarded are shady sales and marketing tactics that still fill out the bottom line, AND even punishes those who simply don't bring in money.

I don't care if people give me shit for this, but used copies don't actually take away from the developer. There was someone who already gave them money since it has to be new at some point (unless it's a stolen copy, then shame on the person who actually took away from the developer). Gamestop is taking a gamble on if someone will buy the license for that game again, which is what a used game is, a license. Selling more used copies of games makes sense since they'd be out a ton of money if they only ever sold new but still bought used copies off of people. Rewarding people for selling more used games than new is a bad tactic and some of the ways the employees go about keeping up the numbers is shady, but if people would actually buy used, this wouldn't be an issue. There will never be more used copies of a game than there were new sales. One game can be sold multiple times, but each person that bought that specific copy isn't playing it at the same time as anyone else who has purchased that exact one. If a person sold it, then they get some of the money back for what they've invested into, but they also had play time in it (presumably) so they don't get as much of a return. The next person covers that return by investing in it themselves. That's why the developer/publisher isn't losing out on anything. And no, I don't work for Gamestop, I just have a better understanding of logistics and can see the bigger picture than those who simply think "This company is ripping people off." With that, I would appreciate it people stopped bitching and moaning about how used sales are hurting developers.

I don't get it. If they want to focus on used stuff, then just sell used stuff and stop caring new. For all of us that haved worked in retail, we all know corporate comes up with some goofy ideas. You just roll with it until the next goofy idea.

Why even buy new shit from Gamestop anyway? Amazon sells new games for 20% off.

I get it, Gamestop makes practically all of its money on used sales. It makes sense that they would want to push that. But in order for something to be traded in for them to sell it used, a new copy has to be sold. If they discourage so heavily selling new games, then they won't get as many used games in stock to resell. They are also pushing all of their potential customers even more toward digital distribution. Which, if/when, enough people use often enough, sends Gamestop out of business. 

Basically, Gamestop NEEDS to sell new games to stay alive

This absolutely happened to me a few years ago. Went to buy a new copy of Halo 3 and they gave me a used copy in a new case.