GameStop Sued Over Deceptive Used Game Sales
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GameStop Sued Over Deceptive Used Game Sales
Free advertised downloadable content an issue for used market.
by Jim Reilly
March 25, 2010 - A lawsuit filed earlier this week against retailer GameStop says the company is "deceptively misleading" its customers into believing a used game purchased from the store comes with all packaged downloadable content advertised on the box. This content, however, is only made available for free to those who purchase the game new, as the code to access the content can be only used one time.
This problem arose in January when plaintiff James Collins purchased a used copy of Dragon Age: Origins from a GameStop store in Hayward, California. Collins paid $54.99 plus tax for the game, $5 less than a brand new copy.
Collins states he purchased the game in part because of the box cover, which advertised that additional character and quest content could be downloaded for free upon purchasing the game. Collins discovered weeks later, however, he would have to pay an additional $15 to access the content, ultimately paying $10 more to purchase a used game with less content.
When Collins tried to return the game for a refund, the GameStop manager at the store said he could not because the seven-day return window had passed.
"GameStop, who makes more than 20% of its revenue and nearly $2 billion from the sale of used video games, is aware of this issue, and continues to fail to alert customers that this content is not available on used games," the suit states. "As a result, GameStop tricks consumers into paying more for a used game than they would if they purchased the same game from content new."
Collins is seeking restitution, punitive damages for fraud, and interest from the sale of used games that were wrongfully obtained.
IGN has contacted GameStop for comment. The lawsuit in PDF form can be viewed here:
http://ps3movies.ign.com/ps3/document/article/107/1079852/Gamestop.pdf
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/107/1079852p1.html
Free advertised downloadable content an issue for used market.
by Jim Reilly
March 25, 2010 - A lawsuit filed earlier this week against retailer GameStop says the company is "deceptively misleading" its customers into believing a used game purchased from the store comes with all packaged downloadable content advertised on the box. This content, however, is only made available for free to those who purchase the game new, as the code to access the content can be only used one time.
This problem arose in January when plaintiff James Collins purchased a used copy of Dragon Age: Origins from a GameStop store in Hayward, California. Collins paid $54.99 plus tax for the game, $5 less than a brand new copy.
Collins states he purchased the game in part because of the box cover, which advertised that additional character and quest content could be downloaded for free upon purchasing the game. Collins discovered weeks later, however, he would have to pay an additional $15 to access the content, ultimately paying $10 more to purchase a used game with less content.
When Collins tried to return the game for a refund, the GameStop manager at the store said he could not because the seven-day return window had passed.
"GameStop, who makes more than 20% of its revenue and nearly $2 billion from the sale of used video games, is aware of this issue, and continues to fail to alert customers that this content is not available on used games," the suit states. "As a result, GameStop tricks consumers into paying more for a used game than they would if they purchased the same game from content new."
Collins is seeking restitution, punitive damages for fraud, and interest from the sale of used games that were wrongfully obtained.
IGN has contacted GameStop for comment. The lawsuit in PDF form can be viewed here:
http://ps3movies.ign.com/ps3/document/article/107/1079852/Gamestop.pdf
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/107/1079852p1.html
Comments
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lol @ in hayward, damn i wish i woulda went and did that ? .
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Gamestop stay cheating ?
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Honestly though, you MUST have common sense to know that since you're getting a USED game that content has already been used. Instead of "failing to notify customers" they need to post up a disclaimer poster explaining the sell of used games w/ it's DLC.
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smh...
you got enough money to start a lawsuit against gamestop, but your a cheapass that won't spend 5 extra dollars on a new game or 10 bucks on dlc...
smh -
1st - ? Gamestop, I hope they lose
2nd - Dude should've just bought the game new -
i hope gamestop burns in hell!
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Gamestop's used game prices on newer games is pure fuckery, that's always been the case. I'd never, EVAR pay 55 dollars for some used ? ever.
I hate how they only let you put the dollar insurance policy on the old ass games too. -
I don't complain about GS. Sometimes the policy sucks, their trade in thing is pure screw you type thing but ? it.
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Yep. The Game companies trying to hurt Gamestop used game sales with these "download" codes. That hurts used games sales and piracy.
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They rip you off bigtime, on trade ins you give then like 5 or six games and they wanna give you like $7 if that. lol
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The Jackal wrote: »Gamestop stay cheating ?
^^
...Then they had the nerve to go and buy Funcoland!!
Somebody should've sued 'em for THAT ? ...SevMonic wrote:They rip you off bigtime, on trade ins you give then like 5 or six games and they wanna give you like $7 if that. lol
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And people wonder why my Collection is as big as it is--This is one reason. The ? I look like getting $10 back for a game I just bought for $60?
Que? -
This is one of many reasons I don't ? w/gamestop like that
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Never traded a game/system in in my life, I got boxes full of video games lol
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He lost for buying a USED game that cost $5 less than a brand-new copy of the exact same ?
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you ? slow,,, gamestop got the best rental service EVER!
I buy a used ps3 game ,, finish it within 7 days and take that bytchh right back to game stop for a full refund.
blockbusters ?? gamfly?? ? NO! -
? , the MAIN reason i dont buy used games from gamestop is cause they put like 20 stickers all over the box and they are impossible to get off. makes the ? look super ugly. plus games that have scratches/scuffs in them put more wear n tear on your system. makes it work harder to get the data off the disc.
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Terrorist_Jones wrote: »you ? slow,,, gamestop got the best rental service EVER!
I buy a used ps3 game ,, finish it within 7 days and take that bytchh right back to game stop for a full refund.
blockbusters ?? gamfly?? ? NO!
Not everybody have time on their hand to beat a game in 7 days -
vagrant-718 wrote: »Not everybody have time on their hand to beat a game in 7 days
i work 5 days with two days off a week,, got a 4yr , 2yr,and a newborn. most single player campaigns only 8 hours. u ? just gotta get off MW2 .. ? evil lol