TheTruth: As now Ex-Gamestop Employee let me make this clear. Those games can be new or used. We are required to “gut” a copy to put on the shelf and put the new disc in an envelope locked up behind the counter. HOWEVER, employees are allowed to “Check out” or as you would say “rent” any gutted game. We have to sign a form with the game you checked out, your signature, employee ID number and date. You’re allowed to “rent” said game for free for up to 7 days, and only one game at a time. This policy goes for any used and all new Gutted games with the exception of PC titles that use a Serial Key.Sometimes the employees take good care of the games, sometimes they don’t. If it’s a cartridge based console like DS, lots of times there will be employee save files still on the carts for example.The moral of this story:
If the game is lame, it’s probably still new but just opened. If it’s a very popular or just simply a good title, you probably only have a 50/50 chance *if that* that the gutted new copy is actually NEW.
Gamestop isn’t going to stop the gutting, but someone needs to start a petition to end GameStop’s policy of allowing employees from checking them out and taking them home.Next time GameStop tries to sell you a gutted game, be sure to ask the employee what guarantee do you have that the “New” game hasn’t been checked out by an employee.? Just wait to see the tomato on their face then…  

Thanks for explaining that to everybody. I dealt with this a few days ago. I went to pick up the original Monster Hunter for ps2 and they said they had 1 but couldn’t find it so it must have gotten sold. I said the computer said you have it and I drove out to the particular store to obtain it. Low and behold guess where it was? The employee check out drawer. The guy couldn’t find it because he was going to check it out. Only when the manager heard me did he decide to look there. Im completely aware of this and was the whole reason of the article. They are indeed selling used as new and we shouldn’t be forced to pay full price.

Sometimes the employees take good care of the games, sometimes they don’t. If it’s a cartridge based console like DS, lots of times there will be employee save files still on the carts for example.

The moral of this story:
If the game is lame, it’s probably still new but just opened. If it’s a very popular or just simply a good title, you probably only have a 50/50 chance *if that* that the gutted new copy is actually NEW.
Gamestop isn’t going to stop the gutting, but someone needs to start a petition to end GameStop’s policy of allowing employees from checking them out and taking them home.

Next time GameStop tries to sell you a gutted game, be sure to ask the employee what guarantee do you have that the “New” game hasn’t been checked out by an employee.? Just wait to see the tomato on their face then…

Markus: lol, I really don’t think this is a “haters gonna hate” scenario  

Thanks for the back-up Markus.

Al: This is nothing new at all. My solution, if you don’t like it, there are 1001 other places that sell video games. While I may not exactly like the idea either, I do understand the reasoning behind it. In order for you to know they have a game available, they have to display the game on the wall. So they will take the game, “gut” it by removing the product inside putting it in an envelope and putting the envelope in a secure area. This way they don’t encourage stealing. If there are at least 3 copies of the game left, you will get the sealed and wrapped one. If they are down to their last copies – aka the “gutted” ones, you will get those. Now, GameStop does have a right to do this as this is their property. The sale’s lady was even offering you a kindness by giving you the used price. She could have refused completely and given you an ultimatum – “Get what we have at the price we have it, or get out.” This is an expanding business that has been around for years. Get over it. I dont exactly love GameStop, I would rather get my games from Amazon first, but sometimes they do have good deals. I go wherever the best bargain is. I think it is unfair to put the ladies name and ID up as well. She was doing her job according to company policy. She doesn’t make the rules and especially in this economy people need to take any job they can get even if they dont like it. Maybe she hates the idea just as much as you, hell she gave you the lower price. Anyway, maybe you should grow up and see that the world doesn’t revolve around you and there will always be things we dont like. Deal with it and dont cry like a baby.