Totally agree mate. I had to struggle to even find the PC section when I went to my local. And half of those are old games!

I do like EB Online though, usually always order from there. Their customer service is good and they usually offer bonuses on pre-orders. The EBgames store in my area is tiny and only seems to have console titles.

Although I will admit I have noticed a decline in PC Games at our local shop.

Everytime they re-arrange their shelves, the PC area gets smaller and smaller....

Yep.. Well I bought Battlefield 2142 at Walmart, and ordered NWN2 and Might & Magic: Dark Messiah at Amazon.com. It's crazy! Buying 3 games within a month! Why do they release all the good games all at once? ;)

Last PC Game I bought was like... Oblivion? lol...

Hmmmm... I'll check in the EB Games out here. If that's a corporate policy not to stock, they've seen my last gaming dollar. They may still see my son's Gameboy dollars, though... gotta love used games [img]smile.gif[/img]

As for BB, I boycotted them a long time ago. Not because of return policies (which can be argued both ways), but because of customer service.

I had two breaking points. The first was standing in line with a $200 VCR under my arm, sixth in line in the *one* register that was open. After standing for a few minutes, I went up to the guard at the door, showed what was under my arm, and explained that if another line wasn't open in three minutes, I was dropping it and leaving.

In 2:30, he announced that people could also check out at the customer service desk, so I did. Points to him for finding a way to resolve the problem. However, it has long been a consistent issue there, and frustrates me to no end.

Second... when I was calling in about something printer-related. I got lost in the voicemail system, transferred from department to department until I got to someone who hung up on me. Called back, and the issue was blamed "on the computer system" that controls the phones.

Don't ever tell a computer guy that it's the computer's fault unless you can back it up... 'cause no computer hung up on me.

I've only been back when I've been stuck with BB gift cards. I don't even read the Sunday circular any more... if they're giving it away for free, I just don't care. It still costs too much for me to consider.

That said, I'm going to need to get a copy of Dark Messiah.... :D

You know... it's not the retail I hate. I'm not in sales, I'm in merchandising, so most of my anger is directed towards the bratty 15 year old employees who just don't care about their job that come in at night and screw up my department. But, another thing I just can't stand is misdirected anger at something. Timber, you're wasting your time... NOONE will (at least, no smart company should) return a product without a reciept, price tag on it or not. That's just common sense.

Ziroc- I agree with you, a restocking fee doesn't make much sense for a defective product. It does still make extra work for the inventory people, since they have to ensure that everything is there, pack it all back up, change stuff on the computer, get it on a skid... I know why it's there, but I like you don't think it should be there if it's returned the next day. I don't make the policies though, so what can you do.

EBGames in Fayette Mall does not have a single shelf on the wall for PC Games. It's only a rack in the center of the floor, mixed with used DVD Movies.

Ok, as for the first part, I don't work LP (the "guard" at the door), so I'm not sure about this, but as far as I can tell from observing, there's a line limit at which he/she can call in cashiers from other departments (media, cameras, etc.), or direct them to customer service. The reason for this is that these guys have other things that they're doing. Media is busy stocking games, dvd's, movies, occasionally helping folks find stuff. Other departments are helping people with questions. The customer service guys deal with all complaints/returns/exchanges, as well as watching over the main cashiers a bit. If you start calling these people in, the service falls in other areas, so there's got to be a balancing point. Frustrate you it might, but the alternative is frustrating 5 other people.

Ok.. even I get lost in the phone system thing. As for computer system, I dunno what you guys use in the states, but there's no "computer system" that could possibly hang up on you up here in Canada. I can only assume you hit a rotten apple there, which happens at any store sometimes.

I noticed that too but i think it's a universal trend brought on by the rise of consoles and not something that's limited to the chain stores. For the last 5 years (maybe longer [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] ) i've bought games only from one store, an independant retailer, and have watched the PC section slowly die in the ass. I've not counted, but there just may be more PC games on the second hand shelf than on the new in that particular store. Regardless, i guess i'm already in on the boycott thang.

<font color=skyblue>I used to shop EB Games in the mall here in my area, but I have not bought a new game since NWN. (School started thereafter). Sometime last year, I walked in and noticed that there was a heck of a lot of console games and other junk laying about, and I could not even find a PC game for a long time as I wandered around looking in disgust at what used to be such an easy and fun store to go into. I have no idea what it looks like in there now, but since you've called for a boycott I vow to only make one more trip inside the store and when I do, I will be going in there to tell them why I refuse to buy another game from them. The two reasons are: the store no longer attracts my interest and they cannot beat the price online (Amazon.com). Its worth the time to wait for the mail to come if I save like $$$</font>

[ 10-25-2006, 11:45 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]