The “Break it Down” Blog

I was reading rumors about this 2 or 3 years ago, and then in the last year seeing more and more stories about this popping up on Digg and other sites about GameStop selling open games as new. Some show all the new games to you in the case, but when you ask for it, they reach down into the drawer in front of the cash register and pull out another copy that they scan and hand to you. These are also sometimes simply rewrapped in the back using the machine, so as the purchaser you are none the wiser.

Looks like they are still doing this as Joystiq reports:

“I’d like a new copy please.”

The clerk looked up and said, “This is new. We just take the game out of the box.” He then closed up the case and pointed to the front of the box where the sticker said “New: $49.99.” He continued to tap the word “new” on the front of the box as if that somehow made this an unopened product. There was no mention of a 10 percent discount for selling an open package, nor was there warning that I’d receive an open package. Meanwhile, there were clearly unopened God of War II games in the security case.

It’s moments like this where you think you’re dealing with a Ferengi, or imagine channeling Sheneneh from the show Martin and saying something like, “Oh, no you di-in’t.”

After twenty seconds of truly stunned silence, we walked out of the store, drove to Best Buy and got a new copy of the game. Which wasn’t just in its factory-sealed box, but in a second security case.

Update #1: Nice, looks like they are selling used XBox 360s as new also.