Another EB Games policy to "Help the Customer"

Why don't they understand that opened games are not new games

Three times in the past three months I have walked out of EB Games without the game I wanted. Despite them having it in stock. Why? Because these games came out of the back without shrink wrap. They had already been opened by a staff remember and everything had been pulled out and then put back. "Oh it must have been a display box." Great but I don't consider it new any more. Yet EB Games does. Still "new" according to their rules.

I find this disparity at EB Games ridiculous. Here I just bought this game from you, I removed the shrink wrap, can I return it? "No I am afraid that you opened it. It is no longer new." Wait... really?

Here is an excerpt from their return policies:

We do not accept returns of:

Any product(s) returned more than 30 days from the date on the packing slip.
Any product(s) that has been opened (taken out of its plastic wrap).
Any product(s) not in its original condition.
Any product(s) that is damaged, played, or is missing parts.
Any product(s) that were sold as part of a bundle, unless the bundle is returned complete.

Please do not send us product(s) that do not meet the return criteria listed above, as we do not issue refunds for non-qualifying items and cannot return the items to you.

Repeat: "We do not accept returns of Any product(s) that has been opened (taken out of its plastic wrap)." But EB Games will sell them AS NEW because that is totally different.

Wait. Why, when your staff open games, can you still sell them as new? Do your staff have magic hands? Do you re-sanctify them with special rituals in the back of the store? I have magic hands! I do! If you ask the right person...

What am I missing here other than yet another attempt by EB Games to screw the customer? Oh wait. Never mind.

Their excuse of "display boxes" wears thin when you see a ton of mockup covers for future titles. There pre-order/coming-soon shelves are full with covers of upcoming games. Why not hang on to these fake boxes and use them as display boxes? You already have a system in place for mockup covers, why not use it for all games? Keep everything sealed and leave mockup boxes on the shelves.

Unfortunately, I have bought opened games from EB Games, unwillingly supporting their poor policies. When the game is for your eight year old and he sees the game right there at the cash it is hard to explain why you are walking out. Hence Super Mario Galaxy 1 was purchased under protest.

But when the game is for me, "sorry, that is not new," and I walk out. With out the game that I wanted. Then I go somewhere else and buy it. Sometimes for more money, occasional for less.

While I am sure some of you have bought these "EB Games" new versions what is your general preference? Do you consider opened-by-staff games to still be new? I have decided to stick to my own personal policy of only buying sealed games. Similar to my previously discussed policy of only buying new games from EB Games.

And yes, I will shop elsewhere as much as possible. I can't help it but Rolly and I both like browsing EB Games. They still have great deals occasionally. If you want to pre-order a special edition they know exactly which one and let you pre-order it. And let's face it, they have pretty much everything in stock.

Once again, to end my article, I share with you the immortal words of Snuffy D:

"You are training me to shop elsewhere."

Note: for reference the three games I did not buy from EB Games were Resident Evil Revelations, X-Com Enemy Within, and (I believe) Sniper Elite V2 Silver Star Edition. Two of them I have bought elsewhere. One is still in the purchase queue.