GAME

[Jack]

I'm going to a friend's house for some LAN gaming next weekend. I was planning to get a Mario Kart LAN set up, but I need another Broadband Adapter for the GameCube to get this to work. They're currently rarer than rocking horse shit, but I thought I saw one in GameStation the other day. Anyhoo, I was in the Metro Centre today and I thought I'd have a look for one while I was there. Tried all the usual places, and didn't get anywhere. "Sorry, we don't have them in stock" after searching the computer database or the shelf behind them. Eventually I thought "I'll try GAME". I went up to the counter, and the manager was there. I asked him that I noticed they had the modems on the shelves, but not the BBAs, and did they had them in stock? The other guy on the counter (I believe his name was Graham, according to his tag) then chipped in, "Oh, they were never released in Europe because Nintendo doesn't like us". Half right then. I told him I'd got one from HMV, and I was after another for LAN gaming, and he quickly said "It must have been an American import, they're universally compatible". OK, he's partly right again, but he's still lying about the BBA. I was tempted to tell him it was definitely European, as it didn't come in a plastic case like the US ones, and it definitely didn't have Japanese text on it, but I just couldn't be arsed to raise a fuss, since I was tired.

Amazingly, something like this happened to me when they first came out. As I posted in an earlier thread:

I went into GAME in the Metro Centre and asked if they had any BBAs there (I was picking one out for my birthday, March 14th, hint hint). The guy said "No, we haven't got any, they're not coming out because Nintendo doesn't want to and can't compete with Xbox Live. Would you like to buy an Xbox, by the way?" I then went into HMV, and saw a shelf full there. We got one there, and I went back to GAME and asked the guy why he said they weren't coming out when I had one in my hand, and every other shop I went to had them. He said "Ur... Ur.... Ur... We were told that by Head Office!" and asked if I wanted to buy an Xbox.

I found out later apparently GAME wouldn't stock the network adapters, modem or otherwise, until a Nintendo rep showed them that there was an online service up and running. Modems for the GC have only been in the Metro Centre GAME since about October. No BBAs though.

This doesn't happen in any other shop that I've been to, apart from Dixons. I don't expect this from a dedicated games shop though. Surely people working in a games shop should, shock, actually know things about games and such? I don't expect to be lied to either.

Anyone selling a BBA?

[dr_lha]

Videogame store workers in "Knowing Fuck All" shock.

[Alex W.]

I demand you change this topic to "GAME employs idiots, and has liars in management". Immediately.

[toonfool]

Game should recruit on here.

[DJ Sack]

People can be missinformed you know, they hear something from a customer or another employee or a manager, and you expect them to know everything as well. Im sure they do know some things you dont about gaming, so give them a break.

[Guest Penguin_Lad]

People can be missinformed you know, they hear something from a customer or another employee or a manager, and you expect them to know everything as well. Im sure they do know some things you dont about gaming, so give them a break.

Yea. They know that GAMECUB3 SUCKS!!!!!1111111111

[Lazychu]

Actually, most of the staff in our Game know enough to get by at the least and don't tend to spout out fuck wittery like the stuff mentioned so far by Jack.

Also, I'm pretty certain that the only reason I didn't get a job at GAME recently was because I commented to the manager (who was serving me at the time) on how shit their trade in prices where compared to Gamestation and Another World.Incidently, I didn't realise he was the manager then.

[Jack]

People can be missinformed you know, they hear something from a customer or another employee or a manager, and you expect them to know everything as well. Im sure they do know some things you dont about gaming, so give them a break.

Thing was though, not once did the manager step in and say "Now look here, sonny jim, you're misinformed there". The GAME in Eldon Square (The one near the big green UFO restauarant thing) is actually quite good.

[DJ Sack]

Most likely because the manager knows even less than the staff, i know the store i worked in most of the managers knew sod all except for the xbox fan boy one, thats because they are there to manage the store, not to know about products because they spend most their time making sure the store works, not that customers are getting the right information.

[Halonic]

Most likely because the manager knows even less than the staff, i know the store i worked in most of the managers knew sod all except for the xbox fan boy one, thats because they are there to manage the store, not to know about products because they spend most their time making sure the store works, not that customers are getting the right information.

Doesnt that worry you, that senior staff in a specialist retail chain arent even aware of their own product beyond the press releases and packaging?

[Salsa Party Animal]

I would not like sale staff saying things pretending they know their stuff. If they don't know, say so. I would not work in a job selling stuff if I don't know anything about X.

If someone want a rare game, find out if you can get them, not make up stuff. going extra mile will help.

[DarthSquirrel]

Grrrrrrr! Don't start me on GAME... I had an 'issue' with them earlier today.

Me: Do you have GBA-Cube link up cables?

Game Employee 1: Yes, but why do you want one?

Me: For Animal Crossing

Game Employee 1: Whats Animal Crossing, is that on the cube?

Game Employee 2: Oh yeah, that's that American game, it's not out here.

Me: But i have it and need a link cable!

Game Employee 2: You can't own that game 'cos it hasn't been released here yet.

Me: Yes, but i have a Freeloader

Game Employee 1: Oh so its an import?!

Me: YES!!!

Game Employee 1: Well here's the link cable!

Me: Can I use this voucher?

Game Employee 1: You could...

Game Employee 2: Do you own an Xbox?

Me: No...

Game Employee 2: Have you considered getting one?

Me: Not at it's current price...

Game Employee 1: But you could put that £5 voucher toward it...

At which point I walked out, went next door to woolworths and paid £1.50 extra for their link cable! And it was worth it! Unfortunately i still have a GAME voucher lying around. I could burn it, which would be more fun than going into their shop.

[Guest Penguin_Lad]

I think you will find some are good and some are bad.

I once had a mini arguement with a manager, who was a right jobs worth. He started giving me some company line, and then I started reeling off a few facts about the games industry, sales of the last ten years etc, and he said "Well I don't know anything about that"...

Well if you are going to start throwing company policy about and make yourself look all high and mighty, you should at least know about the industry you are working in.

Pfft.

However the other guys in the shop were cool.

[DJ Sack]

Doesnt that worry you, that senior staff in a specialist retail chain arent even aware of their own product beyond the press releases and packaging?

Not really, same way as when i worked there i didnt care about how the store was run.

Managers jobs are to keep the store running and getting money in, the sales staff are the ones who need to be informed, GAME send out weekly bullitins to staff to get some reading and most staff read the game magazines on their lunch break anyways, of course your gona get some staff who dont do as good a job as others or who may specialise in pc/gba/gc/xbox stuff only (i was always known as the pc guru even though i knew about everything, i was the only one who knew a lot about PC's). You have to remember theres at least 5,000 products in the store at any one time, with hundreds of different questions relating to them, so not everyone can be spot on with their answers. for example someone in that store may have never seen a GC BB modem, so has assumed they didnt come out, maybe because other customers have mentioned not seeing them anywhere either.

[decider]

Have you tried The Next Level?

[Halonic]

Not really, same way as when i worked there i didnt care about how the store was run.

Managers jobs are to keep the store running and getting money in

Sorry not good enough. As someone that is in specialist retail, our management has to be able to do all that our sales staff can do and more. They have to be able back up all departments.

A salesman can afford to specalise in one area, a manager has to know all those areas to a practical level or, quite frankly, he isnt doing his job properly.

And this isnt some high ideal, this is bleeding edge reality. If a manger cant spot mistakes and troubleshoot problems, the shop doesnt make margin, the staff dont get the bonuses and everyone is unhappy because the manager didnt meet the challenge.

Welcome to aggressive retail, the reason that, in my industry, Digital Village and Sound Control are still growing and poor old Turnkey / Arbiter are dying rapidly

[Guest Penguin_Lad]

Not really, same way as when i worked there i didnt care about how the store was run.

Managers jobs are to keep the store running and getting money in, the sales staff are the ones who need to be informed, GAME send out weekly bullitins to staff to get some reading and most staff read the game magazines on their lunch break anyways, of course your gona get some staff who dont do as good a job as others or who may specialise in pc/gba/gc/xbox stuff only (i was always known as the pc guru even though i knew about everything, i was the only one who knew a lot about PC's). You have to remember theres at least 5,000 products in the store at any one time, with hundreds of different questions relating to them, so not everyone can be spot on with their answers. for example someone in that store may have never seen a GC BB modem, so has assumed they didnt come out, maybe because other customers have mentioned not seeing them anywhere either.

No the point is, is that he was coming over all "I know what I'm talking about", and then when I gave him a few BASIC facts and figures (nothing specific) he had to suddenly admit he didn't actually know what he was talking about.

Typical bull shitter, I'm afraid.

[SeanR]

Have you tried The Next Level?

Don't get all transindental on us...

[Kryptonian]

I had the same problem in Game in Leeds when I wanted a BBA and actually had the guy following me around the shop spouting shite. I tried politely to tell him a few times to leave me alone but he wouldn't shut up. Everything he said was completely wrong but he always had to have the last word. Topics he tried to cover involved the BBA, Zelda (this was ages before it came out) and Animal Crossing (which he hadn't heard of and was astounded that I owned an American GC)

[Paradigm]

Actually, most of the staff in our Game know enough to get by at the least and don't tend to spout out fuck wittery like the stuff mentioned so far by Jack.

Also, I'm pretty certain that the only reason I didn't get a job at GAME recently was because I commented to the manager (who was serving me at the time) on how shit their trade in prices where compared to Gamestation and Another World.Incidently, I didn't realise he was the manager then.

You don't live in Wolverhampton by any chance?

[Kryptonian]

You don't live in Wolverhampton by any chance?

He's from Leicester.

[DJ Sack]

Sorry not good enough. As someone that is in specialist retail, our management has to be able to do all that our sales staff can do and more. They have to be able back up all departments.

Game isnt a specialisted store really. they are a high street operation that sells to the mainstream. They hire staff for different roles, management to run the store, sales staff to sell products, stock room people etc etc. If it was badly run GAME wouldnt be here today, but they are. Same for the likes of comets and dixons etc et al. Its not just limited to GAME 99% of shops you enter sales staff wont know much. Go into HMV and ask if a certain album has a certain track, im sure no member of staff would know unless they liked that band.

Penguin lad, the staff in the store have to appear confidant to sell products, and the thing is many more customers come in spouting more crap than the staff.

If you both have a problem with the service, call/write to the manager of the store and complain about the sales person that way, the manager will have a word, make sure they are more trained up, meaning they give u better information, instead of moaning here, tell someone who will actually fix it.

At my store i used to get letters saying how great i was, because i gave people the right information and was a general help. The staff who got bad letters i had to train to be better, and i made sure they were better trained. So trust me, one quick call is all it takes to make your store a better place.

Also GAME staff dont earn bonus's or commission.

[Silly Killer]

for example someone in that store may have never seen a GC BB modem, so has assumed they didnt come out, maybe because other customers have mentioned not seeing them anywhere either.

I've never seen a hummingbird. Someone I know also told me she has never seen one. Therefore, they don't exist.

[DJ Sack]

The key word there is ASSUMED, didnt say they didnt exist, i said they assumed they didnt come out.

[Silly Killer]

Go into HMV and ask if a certain album has a certain track, im sure no member of staff would know unless they liked that band.

Fair enough. On the low salaries shop staff get, I don't expect expertise, although it's nice if they do know loads about what they're selling.

Honest mistakes are also understandable.

What I do dislike is the "I don't know, so make it up" strategy. I can understand why someone would do it - many people find it embarrassing to say "I don't know". But it should be policy at stores like Game, Dixons etc. for their staff to admit when they don't know something - "I don't know, but I'll find out" is surely the best possible answer? The alternative is selling something under false pretences.

[Silly Killer]

The key word there is ASSUMED, didnt say they didnt exist, i said they assumed they didnt come out.

I have never seen a hummingbird. Someone I know told me she has never seen one, either. I therefore ASSUME that they don't exist.

[DJ Sack]

dixons is a bit different from GAME staff have to make stuff up to get their sale and commision, saying i dont know i'll get someone else will lose them a sale and money.

GAME, people make up stuff i guess because they are being pressurised, its not to make commission, but i guess they'd like to appear as if they are working hard and know what they mean.

And you humming bird thing is right, its fair to assume they dont exist if you've never seen one, we only know they do exist because of books, the internet, tv etc. so we have a wide range of ways to find out if something exists, GC BB adapters are not exactly promoted and its not as easy to get information if they have been released.

the best thing to do if you know a sales person is shit, tell the manager, they wont get in trouble, and it'll make the store a better more knowlegeable place to enter.

[DoctorK]

I've never really had a problem with GAME because if I ever buy anything there (rarely) it's just "pick up and away I go" type stuff.

But it's when they try and blag it and bluff their way out of situations it pisses me off.

My sister went to get Wind Waker for my nephew for Christmas and was looking for a used copy. In GAME store number 1 in Bournemouth they said "Oh you won't be able to get a second hand copy, but we'll sell you a new one!"

She went to Bournemouth GAME store number 2, about half a dozen of second hand ones in perfect nick with the bonus disc.

Twats.

[emjay2kay]

My local GAME isn't so bad really. I never buy anything, so I don't think they like me. but generally they seem pretty decent guys, as helpful as they can be, and very rarely do I see them talking complete and utter bollocks. The GC stuff is at the back (naturally) but I never get the impression the staff are trying to hide it's existence and shun customers away from it.

It's Gamestation I can't stand. If it weren't for thier retro stuff (they had a lovely, mint, Virtua Gun + Virtua Cop 2 boxset for £20 yesterday. Shame I don't have my saturn anymore.) I wouldn't bother with the place.

[Jack]

Have you tried The Next Level?

DON'T FUCKING START.

GC BB adapters are not exactly promoted and its not as easy to get information if they have been released.

When I was in HMV, the guy simply tapped "GameCube Broadband" into the computer there, and up came a little window saying "GameCube Broadband Adapter: Stock - Zero Left". Was it that difficult for our good friend Graham to do instead of falling just short of labelling me a liar?