Beware! GAME no longer issue refunds

Ellie2758

Took a game back to the Game store today as hubby bought the same one that I had already got for son for christmas pressie. Noticed as they were selling stuff to peeps that they were asking them if they had checked their systems were compatible as they didnt give refunds. When it came to my turn I explained the circs and, yep you guessed it, no refund only other goods to the same value. Now, I know nowt about computer games/gamecube games etc, I just buy what people ask for. So I said I didnt want any other goods today. In that case, replied assistant, I could have it as a credit note.:mad: Reluctantly took credit note.

Went back to shop later on with son to seek his advice on possible pressies for hubby. Found something called Stronghold and took it to till. "have you checked that your system will support this?" asked assistant. Well, we've got windows xp I reply. Oh, but there's a lot of graphics on that one, he said. Computer is only a year old, says I. Oh they can be out of date after 6 months, jokes laughing boy. Have you got a blahdy blah de blah??? !!!!!!??? How do I know how much bloody megabites we have on the graphics card and whether we have a processor speed of 1.4 gigahertz or 256 Ram? I'm just a bloody customer not a computer expert! Not wanting to end up with another credit note I left the store. IN A HUFF:mad:

Hubby's fault for buying son's pressie there - I already had it for £7 cheaper from Play.com. Asked hubby this evening if he was warned that they did not give refund when he bought it a fortnight ago and he says not. Grrrrrrr.

Ellie

intel

I will say I think you might have recourse under some kind of goods act..

As for game asking what your PC specs were, well thats good of them
as most stores dont even bother thus leaving you in the doo doo.

Ram and Processor Speed and Hard dive space are the Basics of computing.

Ram and CPU Speed = Right click My Computer Icon, Chooses Properties.

See Image Below for result...



How to Find Disk Space...

Double Click My Computer Icon, Then right Click Local disk ( C: ) Choose properties.

Graphics Card

Right Click My Computer Icon, Choose Properties, Hardware,
Device Manager, Display Adapters.

HTH

GibsonSt19

Game stopped giving refunds on PC titles maybe 18 months to 2 years ago.

As far as I'm aware, this still offer the 10 day returns period for console games.

Please don't take this the wrong way, however I think that if you buy a PC you have a certain obligation to know what's inside it (at least basica anyway).

It would be foolish to go to a petrol station not knowing what type of fuel your car took, and although there are generally quite a few variables with PCs, the idea is similar.

Ellie2758

I dont think the idea is similar at all. Petrol is ONE thing to remember. This guy wanted to know the processor speed, how much RAM was on the Graphics card (I only know this now as I have asked hubby to translate), how much RAM there was in general. Hubby had to check regarding the Graphics card question and he works in IT so it is pretty obviously NOT the kind of thing that the man/woman in the street knows. Also, the way the assistant advised me to check my system was complete bollox, according to hubby, as was his assumption that a computer that was a year old would be out of date since it turns out we have TWICE as much RAM as was required and a processor speed twice that of the requirements of the game I was looking at.

I guess I havent shoppped there for over 2 years after my last bad experience with them when my son's Gameboy Advance booster thingy stopped working and they refused to replace it.

Ellie

Bossyboots

intel wrote:

I will say I think you might have recourse under some kind of goods act..

There is no obligation on the store to give a refund because the customer has changed their mind about wanting the product. They didn't even have to give a credit note. There are offered by retailers in addition to statutory rights but they don't have to do them.

intel

Bossyboots wrote:

There is no obligation on the store to give a refund because the customer has changed their mind about wanting the product. They didn't even have to give a credit note. There are offered by retailers in addition to statutory rights but they don't have to do them.

Here's some reading for you..


http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/facts/salegoodsact.htm

Teerah

intel wrote:

Here's some reading for you..


http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/facts/salegoodsact.htm

I assume you are just confirming what bossyboots has already said

intel

Teerah wrote:

I assume you are just confirming what bossyboots has already said

Yes you assumed correct as I take it that you read it aswell. :T

MoneyMonkey

I appreciate that the store is not obligated to provide a refund, but that's really poor for a large chain of shops. Assuming all the packaging was intact, there is no good reason not to provide a refund.

I have to say, I would have kicked up a stink at the height of Saturday morning shopping. Perhaps embarrass them into providing a refund. Typically store managers have the power to circumvent their policies, just to maintain the peace! They just rely on people not making a scene.

MM.

Threadhead

this is a wee bit off topic, but since we are moaning about GAME.....

My son was given £25 (£20 & £5) of GAME vouchers for his birthday and we happily trotted off to GAME to spend them. The stuff he chose came to £23.98 and he handed over his £25 vouchers. The sales "boy" told me he couldnt give us change, and the lowest denomination of voucher available was £5. So he took the £20 voucher and I had to give him the rest in cash. How crappy is THAT, for the sake of a quid out of his till?

I was so surprised I didnt even question him (but have been looking for every opportunity since to run GAME down).

shopbot

MoneyMonkey wrote:

I have to say, I would have kicked up a stink at the height of Saturday morning shopping. Perhaps embarrass them into providing a refund. Typically store managers have the power to circumvent their policies, just to maintain the peace! They just rely on people not making a scene. MM.

I am a Store Manager (not with Game). I can honestly say that as soon as someone makes a 'scene' just to get something they are not entitled to then the barriers go up and I will stick to my guns for as long as it takes. If on the other hand you approach me with a more reasonable & respectful attitude then I probably will use my discretion to help you. The person who makes the scene just to get their way when they have no rights in law is probably not someone I want return. However the more honest customer who says 'look I shop here often and I've made a mistake' will get a better hearing.

It may not be immediately obvious why Game have this policy. However there are usually good reasons behind it. For example I know of prolific shoplifters who will hang around outside stores and pick up receipts that customers have dropped. They will then go into the store and steal the item on the receipt and attempt to get a refund on it. Games refund policy would prevent exactly this sort of thing.