(B Bretz)
Last week, we learned that at least one Gamestop employee won’t even sell to you unless you sign up for a rewards card. Why might that be? Reader Dragonfire81 has mysterious inside knowledge, and warns all good Consumerists to stay far, far away from the new rewards program that Gamestop is pushing.
Firstly, the program rolled out nationally just last week, so every Gamestop employee in the country is under orders to sign up everyone under the sun for the program. The company expects that with the rewards program being available in a free option that they can get 90% of customers signed up for these cards.
If you go into any Gamestop between now and Christmas (and probably beyond) you can expect to be badgered mercilessly about the card and given the stink eye if you don’t want one, even a free one.
Secondly, the program is not a very good deal anyway. You get points on every purchase (10 points per new dollar, 20 per used dollar) than can be redeemed on the poweruprewards,com website. That sounds cool, until you realize the breakdown is roughly 1000 points = 1 dollar on most items.
A 3 month Xbox live membership that costs $20 will cost you 20 000 points to get through the rewards program. Do the math on that and you’ll realize you have to buy either $2000 worth of new stuff or $1000 of used stuff just to get a “free” 3 month card. Point being, very few consumers spend enough money at Gamestop to get much out of the card.
Lastly, when you go to activate on-line, you can’t do anything until you answer a slew of questions, including your age range, number of people in your household, gaming preferences and a whole section about how often you preorder games, buy used and trade in. You have to cough up a lot of info just to get the 250 bonus points for “activation.”
The easiest way to avoid being signed up for the program (aside from saying no course) is to NOT give your e-mail address to any Gamestop employee who asks for it. An email address is required to sign up for the program. If you don’t give them one, they can’t sign you up. If they try to do it anyway (which some managers encourage), make a complaint to a manager or district manager.
Good to know. This situation raises an interesting question, though: with the proliferation of retail rewards programs, are there any that are worthwhile?
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A few weeks ago, I was at my local GameStop ( Lancaster, PA). When I found what I wanted, I proceeded to the cash register. The lady was very polite, however she pulled out a membership card (which I had not asked about), and set it directly in front of me. When she asked if I would like to sign up for a rewards card, I politely declined. She then became noticeably much more (for lack of better words) bitchy to me, in saying, “Well, it’s free, so I don’t understand”. I declined once again, upon which she became a complete iceberg to me, and when I checked out and thanked her, she replied with “Hm”. Needless to say, If I go into that store again, and she is working, I will walk right back out the door.
2 grand for $20 of rewards? Damn…I don’t think I’ve spent that in like 5 years worth of gaming, INCLUDING the system.
I stopped buying at Gamestop year’s ago. I don’t trust the company, their business practices and policies, and certainly not the employee’s.
Only reason I walk in to the store is if I happen to pass it in a mall want to get an idea of what’s about to be released or newly released. If I see a game I like, I walk out and buy it at another store.
I’m pretty sure this site hates everything.
Simply point: Best Buy Rewards
1 point per $1.00
Anything you buy, no matter what.
250 points – $5.00 gift card
500 points – $10.00 gift card
1,000 points – $20.00 gift card
If you add in gamer’s club,
every $150 you spend on games nets you 500 points in addition to the point per dollar. Worth it, i think so.
ProTip: Don’t shop at Gamestop. Honestly, I try to avoid every single retailer that pushes memberships, credit cards, and “rewards” programs.
I had on experience where I asked the employee at gamestop if I could use the gamestop git card to buy online from the online store. He said yes and thus I put money on it and tried to use it online. Sadly apparently the card wont be accepted online. Take this logic: the Gamestop gift card cant be used online, you must physically go find a gamestop to buy a game with it.