GameCrazy Shuttering 30% of Stores

Iron Past · 09-29-2009, 06:49 AM

If Joystiq can be believed, then GameCrazy will be closing down 200 of its 680 locations by the end of October; but they should be believed. I can personally attest that when hopping on the weekly conference call yesterday in lieu of a perpetually missing manager (we've been without a proper one since ours was axed a month and a half ago), the 'extras' on the call were asked to leave as only a handful of people were supposed to be on the 'confidential' call.

What I heard in the few minutes I was there sounded suspiciously like closing stores, but now that's been confirmed, though I had no idea the extent. Personally, I think the recent move to create an extreme high-pressure sales environment for both customers and employees (complete with add-on crap that most people don't want) was a sign of desperate times, and probably hurt them more than anything else.

mightbe · 09-29-2009, 07:26 AM

That sucks. I recently started using the one in my area and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. I hope it's not getting axed.

Iron Past · 09-29-2009, 08:07 AM

Hmm, it seems much of the problem is shoddy management with the bigwigs trying to divine (unsuccessfully) which way the wind would blow. Instead of using preorders as a method of discerning allocation (which is what they're for), it looks like corporate blew its wad early and didn't make the money back, meaning they don't have the funds to properly support as many stores as they have for Q4. Again, I can tell you that even though we only had about four preorders on Fight Night R4, they pushed it too hard and sent us about 30 copies--two dozen of which are still sitting on the shelf--but short-changed us on our ODST shipment, not even giving enough for preorders.

I have a hard time believing our store isn't on the chopping block; due to our location, we're simply not very profitable, even if our productivity usually holds out well. Guess I'll see in a few weeks, since they probably won't tell us anyway (many Hollywood Videos that have been closing are receiving twelve-hour notices).

Edit: Our store got quite a few empty boxes along with packaging tape and blank shipping labels delivered this morning...

Hey, maybe they want us to throw a robot party with homemade costumes!

Kielaran · 09-29-2009, 12:01 PM

Well that sucks. Good luck looking for a job now, it sounds like it would probably be the best course of action. I hope everything works out for you.

Iron Past · 09-29-2009, 06:37 PM

There it is, official word. That's okay, I can ride out the next month and hide any good games till clearance hits 80%

.

That's at the end of October, by the way. Starts off at 30%, and doors close by Oct 27. Most of the really good games will be shipped to other stores, though.

mightbe · 09-29-2009, 06:48 PM

Sorry bout cher luck. let us know where you end up!

MagGnome · 09-30-2009, 07:21 AM

Sounds like I'll be hitting up Game Crazy for some deals, if there's one in my area.

Sorry to hear about your job Iron Past. I wish you the best of luck!

Iron Past · 10-01-2009, 07:29 AM

Is it stealing if I help the store DSi, um... find a new home? Not the DS kiosk, mind you, a DSi the Nintendo rep gave the store.

*Sigh* Yeah, it probably is.

09-29-2009, 06:49 AM	#1
Iron Past A Scientist Salarian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,180 Blog Entries: 11	GameCrazy Shuttering 30% of Stores If Joystiq can be believed, then GameCrazy will be closing down 200 of its 680 locations by the end of October; but they should be believed. I can personally attest that when hopping on the weekly conference call yesterday in lieu of a perpetually missing manager (we've been without a proper one since ours was axed a month and a half ago), the 'extras' on the call were asked to leave as only a handful of people were supposed to be on the 'confidential' call. What I heard in the few minutes I was there sounded suspiciously like closing stores, but now that's been confirmed, though I had no idea the extent. Personally, I think the recent move to create an extreme high-pressure sales environment for both customers and employees (complete with add-on crap that most people don't want) was a sign of desperate times, and probably hurt them more than anything else.

09-29-2009, 07:26 AM	#2
mightbe Won PAX Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio. Sure. Posts: 1,291	That sucks. I recently started using the one in my area and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. I hope it's not getting axed. __________________ gamertag/steam/psn: mightbe

09-29-2009, 08:07 AM	#3
Iron Past A Scientist Salarian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,180 Blog Entries: 11	Hmm, it seems much of the problem is shoddy management with the bigwigs trying to divine (unsuccessfully) which way the wind would blow. Instead of using preorders as a method of discerning allocation (which is what they're for), it looks like corporate blew its wad early and didn't make the money back, meaning they don't have the funds to properly support as many stores as they have for Q4. Again, I can tell you that even though we only had about four preorders on Fight Night R4, they pushed it too hard and sent us about 30 copies--two dozen of which are still sitting on the shelf--but short-changed us on our ODST shipment, not even giving enough for preorders. I have a hard time believing our store isn't on the chopping block; due to our location, we're simply not very profitable, even if our productivity usually holds out well. Guess I'll see in a few weeks, since they probably won't tell us anyway (many Hollywood Videos that have been closing are receiving twelve-hour notices). Edit: Our store got quite a few empty boxes along with packaging tape and blank shipping labels delivered this morning... Hey, maybe they want us to throw a robot party with homemade costumes! __________________ GamerTag: Iron Past, PSN: IronPast, and Twitter, too Would you kindly? Last edited by Iron Past; 09-29-2009 at 11:37 AM..

09-29-2009, 12:01 PM	#4
Kielaran Stealth Boomer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Washington, PA Posts: 1,405 Blog Entries: 55	Well that sucks. Good luck looking for a job now, it sounds like it would probably be the best course of action. I hope everything works out for you. __________________ civil, civiled, civiling - verb: to rain bad cosplay pictures down from the sky upon

09-29-2009, 06:37 PM	#5
Iron Past A Scientist Salarian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,180 Blog Entries: 11	There it is, official word. That's okay, I can ride out the next month and hide any good games till clearance hits 80% . That's at the end of October, by the way. Starts off at 30%, and doors close by Oct 27. Most of the really good games will be shipped to other stores, though. __________________ GamerTag: Iron Past, PSN: IronPast, and Twitter, too Would you kindly?

09-29-2009, 06:48 PM	#6
mightbe Won PAX Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio. Sure. Posts: 1,291	Sorry bout cher luck. let us know where you end up! __________________ gamertag/steam/psn: mightbe

10-01-2009, 07:29 AM	#8
Iron Past A Scientist Salarian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,180 Blog Entries: 11	Is it stealing if I help the store DSi, um... find a new home? Not the DS kiosk, mind you, a DSi the Nintendo rep gave the store. Sigh Yeah, it probably is. __________________ GamerTag: Iron Past, PSN: IronPast, and Twitter, too Would you kindly?

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