GameStop opening new copies of Deus Ex HR, removing online coupons, and resealing

[Vampyr]

http://static.arstechnica.net/2011/08/24/deus-ex-letter-4e552a1-intro.jpg


If you purchase your copy of Deus Ex: Human Revolution at a retail store, you're supposed to receive a code that allows you to play the game for free using the online gaming service OnLive. It's a neat giveaway, and it certainly gives gamers an incentive to try the service, but a leaked memo seems to show GameStop's fear of digital delivery: employees are allegedly being asked to open every game and remove the coupon.

The e-mail came from Josh Ivanoff, a Field Operations Manager with GameStop. "Please immediately remove and discard the On Live [sic] coupon from all regular PC versions of Deus Ex: Human Revolution," the memo states. "Our desire is to not have this coupon go to any customers after this announcement." Here's a copy of the letter, with Mr. Ivanoff's contact information removed.

We contacted Ivanoff on his business line and e-mail, and he refused to comment on the memo, instead asking us to take the issue up with public relations. GameStop spokesperson Beth Sharum confirmed the practice, telling Ars that "Square Enix packed the competitor’s coupon with our DXHR product without our prior knowledge and we did pull these coupons."

Some customers are reporting that they've bought the game at GameStop and received the coupon, while others are saying the coupon was missing. A comment on Joystiq alleged that the reasoning behind this move was to avoid sending customers to OnLive, as GameStop is making a strong push into the digital market itself.

If true, this is bad news for customers: GameStop employees would have to open every new copy of this game and throw away a free copy of the game that was meant for customers to be in compliance. For now, if you absolutely must buy the game from a GameStop location, either make sure the game is sealed, or check for the coupon before leaving the location.


http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/08/report-gamestop-opening-deus-ex-copies-removing-free-game-code.ars


Facebook post admitting it: http://www.facebook.com/GameStop/posts/265828886770378


Does this mean Moogle can get free copies of Deus Ex for everyone?

[KillerGremlin]

Well, you took the high road because my post was titled "Fuck you GameStop" so you beat me. But yeah, what the hell?

This is some of the shadiest shit Gamestop has done, and they have a big dirty grocery list of shady shit.

I hope this becomes a legal issue and Square Enix craps all over GameStop.

[magus113]

Yeah, GameStop is acting like they were wronged because Squeenix didn't tell them about the OnLive coupon.

How is it any of their God damn business? How did they find out that the coupons were in there?

Come on now, this is ridiculous.

[KillerGremlin]

The question is: what is GameStop going to do with the coupons. I would think reselling them would turn this into a legal issue? I figured tampering with a product is a legal issue...

[BreakABone]

The question is: what is GameStop going to do with the coupons. I would think reselling them would turn this into a legal issue? I figured tampering with a product is a legal issue...

I assume they trash em.

From a business standpoint, I get the logic. They are essentially selling access to a competing product, but it is a shady and dirty move.

[Bond]

I assume they trash em.
This and/or the employees steal them.

[TheSlyMoogle]

This and/or the employees steal them.

Whoa hold up kids.

1st you can't steal them, they were tied to the game. Plus that shit is grounds for being fired at gamestop. About the only thing they don't care about is all the marketing stuff they release with games. Giant posters and cutouts and shit.

2nd This wasn't every gamestop. Field Operations Manager Josh Ivanoff here probably only covers about 15-20 stores out of the almost 7000 gamestops.

They're like fancier regional managers who usually cover like 2-3 regions with specific stores in mind. Like in our region, the morehead store is the only store that is PC ready. Which means we're the only store who actually stocks PC games. There are only about 100 stores in all of gamestop who are PC ready. Which basically means they get a lot of pre-orders for new PC games, or they sell a lot of new PC games when they are released.

So he probably is the operations manager over a few regions, more if he's in a larger area like say NYC, and he probably might have told maybe 15-20 stores to dump the on live thing.

I did the store closing the day before Deus Ex was released and I was there most of the evening yesterday and we never received an email about it.

However you're right, it's really shitty what they did.

Also no, I don't shop at gamestop, ever, not even with my 15% discount. Amazon still manages to beat gamestop on everything.

[Vampyr]

It must be several regions if they actually announced in on their Facebook, I would think.

I actually do shop at Gamestop... I hate the corporation, but the guys at the local one I go to are super friendly. I'm even on a first name basis with the regional manager here in Lexington - he gave me a Jack Sparrow Lego a few weeks ago. :lolz:

They're really the only reason I go there though, if it wasn't for them I'd be preordering and buying all my stuff on Amazon.

[manasecret]

They are called Game Stop.

Wait, they don't resell PC games, right? Why does anyone shop there again? Let alone for PC games?

[TheSlyMoogle]

They are called Game Stop.

Wait, they don't resell PC games, right? Why does anyone shop there again? Let alone for PC games?

Well you can't resell a PC game as they all have codes. Which is the biggest reason gamestop hates PC gamers and PC games in general.

I cannot stress enough how evil gamestop actually is.

I mean I knew it beforehand, but actually working there... Well it really opens your eyes to straight up how evil they are.

I hope they get incredible blowback from this and a lot of trouble honestly.

[magus113]

Well you can't resell a PC game as they all have codes. Which is the biggest reason gamestop hates PC gamers and PC games in general.

I cannot stress enough how evil gamestop actually is.

I mean I knew it beforehand, but actually working there... Well it really opens your eyes to straight up how evil they are.

I hope they get incredible blowback from this and a lot of trouble honestly.

I hope it's not too personal of a question, but why would you continue to work there? Security, or inability to be able to find another job?

I only ask cause I wouldn't really like to continue working for a company that's clearly giving itself a bad name now and in past incidents.

[Vampyr]

Gamestop is now pulling Deus Ex HR (PC) from shelves, and is sending them back to SquareEnix.

Not exactly a good move, but better to not sell the product at all than to tamper with it then sell it.

http://videogamewriters.com/exclusive-gamestop-recalls-deus-ex-human-revolution-amidst-onlive-controversy-21768

[Angrist]

Haha this is getting silly. :D

[Bond]

I hold Moogle, as our representative of GameStop, personally accountable for this atrocity.

Burn him at the stake!

[Blix]

Also no, I don't shop at gamestop, ever, not even with my 15% discount. Amazon still manages to beat gamestop on everything.
This. is. sooooo true! I only buy things at game stop if they have some really good and exclusive game deal. You have to make like 15k points on your reward card to get a good $10 to $20 discount on anything. With amazon, you buy something and they either give you a discount of $20 on the pre-order or $20 credit on your next purchase. Now 15k is a whole lot of money spent on games unless you buy them all pre-owned which cuts that amount by half since you get twice the points for buying pre-owned stuff. But still you save way more with amazon.

[Professor S]

People should just buy the game from Best Buy, Wal-Mart, or some other retailer. If people had a pre-purchase, they should exchange it for store credit and never buy from Gamestop again.

[TheSlyMoogle]

I hope it's not too personal of a question, but why would you continue to work there? Security, or inability to be able to find another job?

I only ask cause I wouldn't really like to continue working for a company that's clearly giving itself a bad name now and in past incidents.

Honestly because it pays well for a job around here. I get 12 dollars an hour for standing around and talking about video games and basically just organizing shelves. Well that isn't all there is to it, but it's nothing complicated or physically strenuous.

It also works really well with my school schedule. I'm always out by 9:30 every night.

[Vampyr]

Reports now coming in that Gamestop is giving customers $50 gift cards if they purchased Deus Ex for the PC.

[KillerGremlin]

Reports now coming in that Gamestop is giving customers $50 gift cards if they purchased Deus Ex for the PC.

Jebus. That must mean they took a noticeable sales blow on top of the PR blow. Right? Then again, who wants a fucking Gamestop giftcard. "Hey look, I can buy 50 dollars of opened shit that has been tampered with!"

I'd still take my business elsewhere.

[TheSlyMoogle]

Actually it's not if they purchased it for the PC, it's only if they pre-ordered it for the PC. The funny thing is even if you cancel your pre-order now you still get the 50 dollar gift card.