Gamestop buys Electronics Boutique

Hey ; I just read this in the "subscriber" section of the WSJ, so I can't link to it.

Basically, the new chain will operate under the Gamestop banner.

Will this matter to any of us Gamer's out there?

Probably it will mean less good promotions in terms of preorders, if they feel like they don't have as much competition in terms of getting them (places like Wal Mart etc might keep this trend in check).

I'd also think the prices they offer on most preowned stuff couldn't get any lower, so I'm not worried about that :).

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Originally Posted by BC_Gambit

Hey ; I just read this in the "subscriber" section of the WSJ, so I can't link to it.

Basically, the new chain will operate under the Gamestop banner.

Will this matter to any of us Gamer's out there?

Probably it will mean less good promotions in terms of preorders, if they feel like they don't have as much competition in terms of getting them (places like Wal Mart etc might keep this trend in check).

I'd also think the prices they offer on most preowned stuff couldn't get any lower, so I'm not worried about that :).

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I work for EB.
THAT IS BS
never heard shyt about that.

Well, you can see the link to the article if you look near the bottom of this page:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

you have to be a member to see that :( but this sucks because gamestop sucks :mad_2:

You can't display the article without Wall Street Journal site access, but if you check the actual WSJ site, it is a valid listed header. :eye:

Seriously if thats true that will suck.

Yep, it's right on there all right- "Gamestop to acquire Electronics Boutique"

Not done yet, obviously, but must be happening pretty soon. That's really too bad; competition with EB was the only thing that made Gamestop try hard most of the time.

Shit like this should be illegal.
Got to love the american corporate monopoly.

gamestop retail>eb retail

i just hope they don't just change the EB sign to a gamestop one and that's it, cause if they still keep the shitty eb retail practices and asshole managers i won't go to either store.

Called my buddy at EB and there is a conference at 1:00....

Incredible. Both Gamestop and EB have their problems, but I've always prefered EBgames. The sign will change, but most of the employees will still be there, to try and convince me to buy a Players Guide.

Doh!
damn that sucks that means we will have to bug you about PREORDERS :( I hate bothering peeps :(

I don't think I have a favorite between the two. They're both pretty much the same: new games=good, old games=bad. I know its how you have to run a business. I just hate how the people in there act like dreamcast is sooo oldschool. Corporate buyout does suck for obvious competetive reasons. I don't think I'm really gonna miss EB.

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Originally Posted by CurtWRX

Incredible. Both Gamestop and EB have their problems, but I've always prefered EBgames. The sign will change, but most of the employees will still be there, to try and convince me to buy a Players Guide.

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Same here.

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Originally Posted by ORPHEUS

Shit like this should be illegal.
Got to love the american corporate monopoly.

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You're looking at this from the wrong perspective. The business model of the "specialty" game store is a dying one.

Game prices won't rise as long as Wal-Mart is around to set the tone in pricing for the majority of the market... It isn't doomsday for gamers when you consider Game Crazy, Game Rush, Sam Goody, KB Toys, FYE, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, Futureshop, J&M, CompUSA are around, not to mention Amazon.com and the 5,000 other places you can buy games online.

They aren't combining to create a monopoly in retail gaming market...they're consolidating just to survive in the face of competition from retail monoliths like Wal-Mart and Target. Even excluding electronics retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City who usually have (in my area at least) a better selection than either EB or Gamestop and sell games for $5 to 10 less.

This will spell certain doom for some friends of mine.
GameStop is fucking clown shoes. It really sucks how few companies in the video game industry are willing to actually compete, everyone just wants to gobble the competition EA-style.

I was told that if Gamestop Employee's do not get a certain amount of pre-orders, they get the axe. :mad:

i just quit my job at EB a week ago too! hahaha they are so gonna close the store down that i work at now because its so low volume. haha fuckin assholes. that job sucked, they treat their employees like shit.

Here's a link to a news story about this that actually works.

Copy and pasted for lazy bastards:

Video game retailer GameStop has agreed to buy rival Electronics Boutique Holdings for $1.44 billion in cash and stock.

The acquisition, announced Monday, is meant to help GameStop enter new international markets.

Shareholders of specialty chain store Electronics Boutique will receive $38.15 in cash and the equivalent of 0.78795 shares of GameStop Class A common stock for each Electronics Boutique share, the company said. That is a premium of 34.2 percent, based on Friday's closing prices for the stocks.

GameStop said it expects the deal to add significantly to its diluted earnings per share in the second half of its fiscal year 2005 and in 2006. It also expects "meaningful" pretax savings, beginning in fiscal year 2006.

Once the deal closes, GameStop Chairman and Chief Executive Richard Fontaine and Chief Operating Officer Daniel DeMatteo will retain their roles at the combined company.

Shareholders representing about 47 percent of Electronics Boutique's voting shares have already pledged their support for the deal, GameStop said.

Hmm. It's only a matter of time before every single one of us all work for the same company. Yep, it's good to see Bush's grand economy plan is still at work.

"This just in, everybody's merging. Expect layoffs at 7."

"When the PR representative were asked about the recent mass-merging, they replied"

"Well, everybody seems to be doing it. Seemed like fun, and the corporate shareholders really liked the idea."

"Any ideas on how this will affect the common worker?"

"Common worker?........What's that question again?"

"Thank you for your questions. Next up. Is Capitalism failing? Why some people feel corporations are heading towards a Communist environment."

I guess this means that I'll spend 5 minutes less in the mall as they'll likely close either one of the gamestop or EB that's there. I mean, why have 2 of the same store in the same mall? lol. So you can rip off the same idiot twice?

I could also mean that they do a more regionalized pricing aspect. So you'll have to leave a whole mall to find the one that charges 5 dollars cheaper than the inflated price, the other one sells at. Of course, they may take advantage of rising gas prices to keep the customer paying that extra amount. Thank goodness there's still other retailers that sell videogames, the bad part is, very few of them have good exchange policies or trade offers of any kind.

And that's why you should buy all your domestic games from me now on :D

I offer great service with none of the "I swear its new, even though its been gutted" bullshit.

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Originally Posted by slerch666

The acquisition, announced Monday, is meant to help GameStop enter new international markets.

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Does this mean we'll have Gamestop around here now? We got Starbucks just like 3 years ago... The end of the world is near... :crying:

And this firmly tacks on another reason why I've become totally fed up with pretty much anything new in gaming. I think I'm gonna go mainly retro sometime very soon. There's a huge backlog of great stuff I never got to. Seems like now is a good time to get to all of it.

Actually I do see a difference in how the two stores are ran. I worked for the Pre-EB owned "Game World" stores in San Antonio, and I've shopped with them enough since the change off and on to see differences... then worked the floor Christmas 2004 for Game Stop. For the most part they're the same, but a few differences. On one hand, Game Stop still gives cash money for games, whereas EB (at least where I'm at) would only to store credit. With the merger, GameStop/Babbages INC. might not see any reason to continue giving out the Cash $MONEY at all. Not that it was huge amounts or anything, but if a dude needed some quick "Steak Money" one could get it. **Guess there's always "Half Price Books".

On the other hand EB to this day still carries Sega Genesis, SNES, games and other stuff, usually w. the original box in the Genny department, along with the loose carts. When I worked at GameStop we had a nice selection of both. Now there's like two stores in the whole damn state that carries the old stuff, and soon when the Corporate Brass decide they can't move the remaining stock, they'll just bulldoze it probably. But they won't even buy the stuff back for .25 cents anymore. Meaning other than the internet, you've got to hit up flea markets and shit, and most of the time it's crap goods. EB also IMO, generally didn't push the "Pre-Orders" in the same manner, and once the staff saw you two or three times they simply didn't bother you anymore with needless adverting. But unless it was my personal droogs at Game Stop, I'd get the freckin' sales pitch every damn time. With the death of the mom & pop owned game stores that would even stock "Import" and modded systems, and the gamer owned franchises like Die Hard Games and Game Tronix, sadly everything that has been great in the last fifteen years is not down the toilet... it's in the freckin' sewer.

Bottom line I got only one thing left to say:

http://img120.echo.cx/img120/7576/crazynigga9xd.jpg

"This is mutha' fuckin' BULLSHIT dawg. I've been gaming for over 21 fuckin' years... you know what I'm saying? FUCK THAT SHIT nigga! Where the fuck did the love go huh... where the fuck did the love go? I grew up playing ATARI 2600 and evolved on up through the systems, then these johnny-come-latelys with their GTA and over glossed crap. They ain't the real deal, it's straight up gangsta' in this mother fucker for reels dawg. Ain't no virtual AK-47 up in this bitch, I got the real steel, bro. Commie red center fire with a Goddamn 100 round drum clip! All these mainstream bitches done helped the industry degenerate into what it is. Fuckin' hijaked the REAL gamer's turff. This is MY TURFF! ...been my mother fuckin' turff for over 21 years! METRO can't keep me of this mother fuckin' turff nigga! METRO can't keep keep me from burnin' them all down. Check this out... Imma' show your ass something!"

What we're headed towards is a corporate communism, where instead of the government controlling the means of production, a very small class of the uber-wealthy will control the government AND the means of production, and will distribute wealth according to what is profitable for the ruling class. Worst of both worlds? You betcha! You can either slave away at any three shitty low-wage jobs of your choice, which will simply enable you to buy DVDs and Cheetos at Wal-Mart, or join the military to fight in the overseas corporate interest war of your choice.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

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The acquisition, announced Monday, is meant to help GameStop enter new international markets.

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aka... They're going to put as muh of their company in coutries where the labor is dirt cheap, and they'll still raise prices... Outsourcing sucks.

Good fucking riddance. Who gives a shit about EB anyway? Wasn't there just a thread listing the reasons why this place is so shitty? Why all the sudden support for this dung heap?

I haven't dealt with Gamestop all that much, but from my limited experiences they've been better than EB. I'll miss them like I miss my last case of jockitch.

Because, as the norm for any Capitalist organization, monopolys formed where there once was not always suck. This could very well mean a drop in quality for every one of their stores instead of just one or the other. Like it or not, they still provided competition with each other, and in most cases you have one area where Gamestop seems better and another area where it was the opposite. Normally, a buyout like this means, the combination of the two will all suck and viable choices will be more limited. I'll be very surprised if any of the worst aspects of the two corporations don't become all inherited into the merged one.

I'll be finding a hat to eat if they, by chance, alleviate them.

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Originally Posted by galfordo

Good fucking riddance. Who gives a shit about EB anyway? Wasn't there just a thread listing the reasons why this place is so shitty? Why all the sudden support for this dung heap?

I haven't dealt with Gamestop all that much, but from my limited experiences they've been better than EB. I'll miss them like I miss my last case of jockitch.

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The thing here is that there SHOULD be multiple game specialty chains, if we were reduced to nothing but Wal-Marts and Targets for game shopping, there's a lot of releases that would be nigh impossible to find, shit like Phantom Dust or Castle Shikigami 2. With GameStop controlling ALL of those outlets, there's little doubt in my mind the quality, selection and service will take a dive. Remember what happened to Capcom after SNK bit the dust...we get things like Capcom Fighting Jam (Evolution).
The same parallel is true...

I have friends at a local EB and they're very good to me, so unfortunately I can't comment on the situation other members encounter at their stores. All the local GameStop locations are quite ghetto, staffed by spikey-haired Oompa Loompas who aren't big enough to ride the Ferris wheel, let alone hassle me about buying a fucking strategy guide.

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Originally Posted by stuffmonger

aka... They're going to put as muh of their company in coutries where the labor is dirt cheap, and they'll still raise prices... Outsourcing sucks.

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I'm just wondering if there's any sense in this. It's not like these companies actually produce something or can have their employees somewhere else, like cloths/cars/electronics/whatever manufacturers. You mean to put shops in countries were the employees get paid dirt cheap? Then buyers won't really have money to buy videogames either.

I think they just want to put shops in countries with high income, for example the EU.

Got off the phone with my DM it's true.
Name change within 6 months-to a year.
:( have to shove Brady game books to everyone now :(

Our GAME store chain ate EB over here a few years ago :crying:

Now I only have 1 speciality game shop near me to buy games from. They're practically right across the street from each other.

Does this mean Gamestop will start gutting their games and selling them as new too?

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Originally Posted by GregN.

Now I only have 1 speciality game shop near me to buy games from. They're practically right across the street from each other.

Does this mean Gamestop will start gutting their games and selling them as new too?

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LOL start? Gamestops around here have been doing it for a while now.

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Originally Posted by Kaede's Disciple

LOL start? Gamestops around here have been doing it for a while now.

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Hell yeah, man. They don't do it to as many copies as EB does, but they sure as hell gut games (and often try out the gut, kind of like a 30 minute free rental, at least if they're anything like my local GS) and then sell them as new.

http://gamecrazy.com/
Thank god for them....

It sucks because most malls have an EB and a Funco. That's half as much competition and half as much time to waste while my Girlfriend runs through Claire's. While new game prices will stay pretty steady (with major retalers and electronic stores near most locations), Used game prices will probably rise...

The two companies suck for differnt reasons. Gamestop has no classics and never has good trade in values. EB Has good trade in promoitions but have overpriced used shit. The prices for classics just started to fall.

Personaly, I'll just keep going to gamecrazy....

It was only a matter of time. It was annoying with Gamestop and EBgames always right near each other. There are actually 3 EBGames by me. One down the street, one up the street and another in the mall around the corner. It's rediculous. With Rhino Games and Hollywood and Blockbusters game stuff I thought it was only a short time before somebody joined together.

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Originally Posted by Loopz

This will spell certain doom for some friends of mine.
GameStop is fucking clown shoes. It really sucks how few companies in the video game industry are willing to actually compete, everyone just wants to gobble the competition EA-style.

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Well, I hate to shoot down LOOPZ, certainly not something I'm out for, but Gamestop has openedover 200 locations int he last year alone, and has a ton of cash onhand and is opening tons more locations.

Gamestop isn't a dying business at all. It's definite monopoly-style eating here.

My favoirite part of visiting EB is listening the empoyess talk about the Gamecrazy across the street.

But I can never get the Gamecrazy employees to talk shit about EB......

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Originally Posted by GregN.

Now I only have 1 speciality game shop near me to buy games from. They're practically right across the street from each other.

Does this mean Gamestop will start gutting their games and selling them as new too?

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I really hate defending corporate America, playing devil's advocate goes only so far, but...


JESUS H. CHRIST THAT IS STUPID

Nono, I don't mena the companies. Whining about the gutted games is stupid. In every fucking business in the world except

-whiny comic book collector markets
-Oh wait, that's the only exception

Floor product has been opened. Usuaully one per product per store.

It's still called "new" when it's sold, possibly shopworn.

Walk into a fucking Radioshack or really any store and let reality clue you in.

If the floor copy doesn't look good, don't buy it. It's fine to complain if the salesman harases you to buy it excessively, but this particular line is stupid, always was. Basically, the only way they can please folks like you is to hide the new games behind a glass counter like Wal Mart. Then, of course, you can't look at the new game without gfighting through the crowd. Brilliant fucking idea.

P.S. Gamestop already guts one copy per store anyway.

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Originally Posted by jethrek

Well, I hate to shoot down LOOPZ, certainly not something I'm out for, but Gamestop has openedover 200 locations int he last year alone, and has a ton of cash onhand and is opening tons more locations.

Gamestop isn't a dying business at all. It's definite monopoly-style eating here.

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Not yet.

But the combination of Wal-Mart and consumer electronics stores like Best Buy and Circuit City= Hulk Smash.

They don't want to be the next Toys R' Us is what this is all about.

Having worked for both Gamestop (King of Prussia, PA) & Electronics Boutique (Quakerbridge Mall, NJ), as much as the gutting aspect sucks, EB has a much better distribution system and computer point of sale system than Gamestop.

If I had to work at either again (if at gunpoint for example) I would choose EB.

Gamestop is the suck and this just helps solidify my desire to not shop retail for games any longer.

I've had better service with EB than with Gamestop. Whenever I preordered a game from Gamestop, then would never call me back when the game came in. I preorder RE for the GC, those bitches never called me at all, I got the game from them about 2 weeks after the game came out. I preordered games from EB, then they would call me the day when it came in. So, I prefer EB's service over Gamestop.

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Originally Posted by Jedite

I've had better service with EB than with Gamestop. Whenever I preordered a game from Gamestop, then would never call me back when the game came in. I preorder RE for the GC, those bitches never called me at all, I got the game from them about 2 weeks after the game came out. I preordered games from EB, then they would call me the day when it came in. So, I prefer EB's service over Gamestop.

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appreantly gamestops phone service for pre-orders is automated...not sure what that has to do with your problem...

Gamestop > EB

Before this happened I have a feeling a majority of the board would agree. Most of us ride EB's nuts all day long until now when they've been bought out.

When I go to Gamestop (which is out of the way, but I go there anyways) I always find the game I'm looking for and I never hear shit about pre-orders or magazine subscriptions from the employees. They let me get in and out of there.

Then again, it could just be that the employees there are better to deal with than the ones at the EB's I've been too. EB will push pre-orders on you than won't even give you the extra shit that's supposd to come with it unless you fight them for it.

And oh yes, this clearly means Gamestop intends to gain a video game sales monopoly. You'll never be able to get a lesser known title again if Gamestop has their way! Oh wait, the only place I could find Phantom Dust was at Blockbuster. :kekeke:

It's only a matter of time before Gamestop dies as well. They offer little more than Wal-Mart does, so what's the point?

And to the person complaining about outsourcing...What's Gamestop supposed to outsource? Am I going to go into a store and buy a game over video conference from a guy in India named Bob?

GAME STORE merger??
Like people really need video games???
This merger marks the beginning of the end for these particular chains.
I smell another market CRASH
-BB

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Originally Posted by jethrek

Nono, I don't mena the companies. Whining about the gutted games is stupid. In every fucking business in the world except

-whiny comic book collector markets

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What are you talking about? It depends on the store mainly, but most stores have the comics themselves on the shelves. When you get to the counter you get them bagged and boarded then. Others do it as soon as they get them to prevent people from flipping through them in the store. No one is particularly anal about it unless they plan on getting them graded. Which would piss me off if it got docked some points for something I never even did.

Hm... What is this Game Stop you speak of? I wonder if it will happen here in Australia? Game Stop is unheard of, so to us it makes absolutely no difference. EB's are set up all over the place, their main competition at the moment has been a franchise known as Games Wizards which offers loyalty reward points on games, giving you 10 - 50% off your next game within 3 month periods.

meh...