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Well gents, I just got a job at a department store (Target) I've noticed the old NGE crap boxes. And I see that they have still been gathering dust since I have shopped there. Once SWG:Complete comes into play, I'll burn every single one! MAhahwhahahahhahaha
I don't even think I'll need to. Hell, if I spot that game in the hands of a mother about to buy it. I will personally tell her how she does not want to get that game for her child.
Yeah....
Comments
Actually, Target does. Since they call their customers "guests"
To them its all about the "guest" besides, I'll make it up by telling them to pick up a copy of Battlefront, or Lego Star Wars.
LOL, now I can see Obraik being hellbent on getting me fired.
I'll start my own SWG... with Black Jack... and Hookers!!!
In fact, forget the SWG!!!!
Yes... in fact ask EB game clerks to be honest if they even have the game to sell.
I would expect that of them when I buy somthing.
See, Obriak the funny thing is that we are at the point where people make a excuse for it vs sell it.
Did you also know that SWG has a no rewrap and re display rule due to the sub info crap?
Lol - people return them and they actually do get destroyed. No joke.
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I usually picture the Career builder commercial with the room full of monkeys and upside down sales chart when thinking about the SOE/SWG decision making process.....
SOE's John Blakely and Todd Fiala issued a warning: "Don't make our mistakes." Ref NGE
Winner of the worst MMOS goes to.... the NGE and SWG..!!! http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm?loadFeature=1034&bhcp=1
I've never worked in retail so I honestly don't know :P Sounded logical to me that a store wouldn't put stuff on the shelf that they didn't want to sell, since the shelf space could have been used for something else.
As for EBgames, they're now selling SWG here in NZ and Australia. First time ever since SWG launched.
One thing you got to remember about the videogame industry Obraik is the overwhelming majority of titles for PC, and console are probabally sold on consignment. A lack of sale costs the store nothing except for a issue of wasted space.
What this means is the store never gets charged for the title. For a lack of a better term the store is chargeing the manufacturer rent. Now if the title sells the retailer gets a percentage of the profit, and the rest goes back to the manufacturer. Now if the title doesn't sell they can lower the price. Once again splitting the profit, and if that fails to work then the store has the option to send it back, ship it to a deep discounter, or actually destroy it.
Anyway stores rarely take baths on titles, because they really do not take any risk. Hell without such systems most stores couldn't afford to have videogame libraries. The prices would have to be jacked to compensate for the titles that did not sell.
That being said alot of retailers also have extensive return policies that allow the customer to return even obviously used products. For just about any reason. So it is in their best interest to not sell things that will come back a week later, and either have to be returned to the shelf a lengthy process, or have to be written up also a lengthy process. Time is money.
Not only that, but customers also rely on employee judgement. The store that often has better employee judgement does better business. The original poster is doing the right thing if they know for a fact that the product is very sub par then they should tell that to the customer. Rather then have the customer be upset with the product later on.
Anyway thats the way things usually work.
That's only 'sort of' true. I've worked for several retailers that handled videogames in the past, and there's always exceptions to the rule. Usually, it comes down to the retailer taking a hit in order to retain a customer.
I actually got permabanned for stating on the oforums that Wal-Mart ALWAYS takes back returned software if you have a legit complaint, such as 'the company re-wrote the game, and it's not the game I paid for'.
That's only 'sort of' true. I've worked for several retailers that handled videogames in the past, and there's always exceptions to the rule. Usually, it comes down to the retailer taking a hit in order to retain a customer.
I actually got permabanned for stating on the oforums that Wal-Mart ALWAYS takes back returned software if you have a legit complaint, such as 'the company re-wrote the game, and it's not the game I paid for'.
Again-- SOE SWG folks do not like facts of failure, they never will.
______________________________
I usually picture the Career builder commercial with the room full of monkeys and upside down sales chart when thinking about the SOE/SWG decision making process.....
SOE's John Blakely and Todd Fiala issued a warning: "Don't make our mistakes." Ref NGE
Winner of the worst MMOS goes to.... the NGE and SWG..!!! http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm?loadFeature=1034&bhcp=1
Bob is correct Wal Mart has a very generous return policy, and rarely refuses. Even when it is is patently obvious that the item was bought under fraudulent intentions. Perhaps NZ is a different place, but I have found atleast where I live Ohio. Probabally has a bigger population then NZ by the way. I can go to any major retailer, and expect the same treatment. I can return just about anything.
There is even a local super center Meijer that will accept returns for products from other store chains. Yes they will refund the money for the milk you bought at Wal Mart. All you need is the receipt. You can even drink most of the gallon ontop of that.
Do I really agree with this philosiphy. Personally I do not, but it seems to be something that retailers will not only tolerate, but promote. This is a up front feature they advertise, and they defer the costs to general public most likely. That means the honest consumer often ends up paying more so someone else can abuse the system.
Anyway Obraik chains like Wal Mart are endemic all over north america, and that is where the majority of SWGs playerbase now, and in the future will probabally be located. So the net result is that most people who buy SWG, and do not like it can, and will return it. Even worse is that they really do have a legitimate reason to do so. SWG is a huge compilation of bugs, and technical failings. Most companies invest in quality assurance to insure that a customer might not have such a legitimate gripe, but SOE seems not to.
Common sense would dictate that your game at bare minimum should be playable. That means aslong as people have adequate hardware, and make use of the appropriate drivers. The product should work. Now has that always been the case with the NGE.
Now in the States of course, I imagine everything is posible - just complain loud enough and as for the manager and you'll get your money back.
You know what's really funny, that I totally forgot until this discussion, was that my wife picked up my original copy of SWG back in January of 2004, right off of Wal-Marts returned item discount rack. Lucky for me the original owner never installed it, but apparently got freaked out when he found out there was a monthly fee.
Another funny aside... I did infact work at Wal-Mart in the late 90s, and once tried to turn down an open VHS return. The customer wanted to return a copy of 'Barb Wire' with Pam Anderson all busting out of her corset on the cover, the customers reason, was that she didn't think the move would be inappropriate for her small children, and upon watching it with them, realised it was not a good movie for tots to watch, so she wanted to take it back. I said no way, but she went to the manager, and while he did get a good laugh out of the situation, ordered me to refund her the money. True story.
I imagine that in the UK you can give any bullshit reason to get a refund as long as you have some form of proof of payment. Personally, I hate taking stuff back it's a load of grief and hassle.
My gf came back from the shops yesterday with about 8 items of clothing, I know for a fact that at least 6 of these will be returned by the end of the week. Women are the refund masters even if they were wearing the clothes for a week, but maybe I should give her my 2 copies of the original SWG box to see if she can work her magic with those, they're nearly three years old but I doubt she'll have a problem.