Video game retailers

[wev]

Our local Game closed over the weekend. The manager who's been there years was nowhere to be seen when I popped in on Friday, seemed to have been switched with one of those arse licking "relief manager" types that spend all their time in the phone to the regional manager as they can't make a decision for themselves (and thus climb up the company chain coz they're good at arse licking)

[Down by Law]

1 hour ago, SozzlyJoe said:

Losing credit support pretty much means you're done for, right? Isn't that what happened Maplin too? (And the previous incarnation of GAME)

 

Yep, they will probably be in administration next week. A shame, I always wanted them to expand down south as there is zero competition to Game here. 

[Down by Law]

1 hour ago, wev said:

Our local Game closed over the weekend. The manager who's been there years was nowhere to be seen when I popped in on Friday, seemed to have been switched with one of those arse licking "relief manager" types that spend all their time in the phone to the regional manager as they can't make a decision for themselves (and thus climb up the company chain coz they're good at arse licking)

 

Ahh, the 'area floater' an appropriate job title for an arse licker. 

[RadgyAdgy]

I went in CEX the other day and saw they had a copy of Kingdom Come on the PS4 for £55! It's only £43 in Argos. 

[MattyP]

21 hours ago, GMass said:

The York Grainger has been closed for a while and is now a Humpit. It had been in decline for a while before that point though.  Cex have changed their business model it seems so not worth shopping there and Game has split the store into an online gaming section and overpriced retail.   A sad time for shoppers in York. 

 

 

In fact York is a right mess - loads of empty shops and far too many cafes and restaurants which are struggling anyway. 

 

 

Noticed that last time I went in... in particular Coney St... lots of closed shops. Shadow of its former self.... Grew up there and left a good while ago. Too many cafes and food places these days..... Guess its like most city centres TBH.  

[ontwofronts]

The high street is in turmoil at present and when there is a run on confidence it can drag down businesses before they can address any troubles.

 

Almost unique to the gaming market, and stores like Grainger, is that as digital sales grow in significance then their trade in business loses supply and demand.

 

 

[Transient Curse]

1 hour ago, ontwofronts said:

 

Almost unique to the gaming market, and stores like Grainger, is that as digital sales grow in significance then their trade in business loses supply and demand.

 

 

One need only look to music sales for a preview of what's to come. 

 

I assume the only reason games are taking longer to leave the high street is that file sizes are so much larger. 

 

Game should be championing any software that's larger than 100GB on the basis that some will find it takes too long to download. 

[cubik]

In five years time all shops will have their floors 90% filled with funko pops. The HMV effect. 

[Super Craig]

6 hours ago, Wahwah* said:

One need only look to music sales for a preview of what's to come. 

 

I assume the only reason games are taking longer to leave the high street is that file sizes are so much larger. 

 

Game should be championing any software that's larger than 100GB on the basis that some will find it takes too long to download. 

 

I'd aim for lower than that. A 50GB download after an install from a 50GB disc isn't even remotely acceptable.

[gossi the dog]

8 hours ago, Wahwah* said:

 

I assume the only reason games are taking longer to leave the high street is that file sizes are so much larger. 

 

 

Trade ins.

[gossi the dog]

On ‎15‎/‎03‎/‎2018 at 10:43, Gloomy Andy said:

 

I've been emailing them for a while after a similar issue on their website. 

They've acknowledged that there was an issue and I've been affected and that they need to refund me the credit. 

Of course that was days/weeks ago and I've heard nothing since. 

Need to give them ANOTHER chase.

I think I mentioned at the time I've used the last of my credit with them and won't be using them again. 

I "only" lost a fiver, £30 I'd be spitting and definitely on at them all day everyday until resolved. 

 

Much to my surprise I've been refunded my £30. Took a week from when they said they'd refund me. Yay!

[Sabreman]

I was just in Grainger, and although there are no outward signs of trouble in terms of what the shop looks like, the staff were in conversation with a customer and the topic was basically doom-laden. What happens to credit notes, how the staff feel at the moment, etc. Looks like they already know the score even if the signs aren't up yet.

[Lothar Hex]

I live in a small town in the North East. It has a Grainger. I have no idea WHY it has one as our town is one of those "go anywhere else to do anything" places. You know the type of place that has five charity shops in it's town centre?  If it goes I'll still be sad for it despite that as was nice to walk in while doing my banking or supermarket shop and pick something up...but it can't beat online and I barely trade games now.

[Flub]

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-03-28-grainger-games-tells-21-shops-not-to-open-they-are-being-closed

 

Grainger Games tells 21 shops not to open, they are being closed

But discussions with "potential bidders" are underway.

 

The shops instructed to close are Worksop, Northwhich, Sale, Breeston, Salford, Altrincham, Widness, Stretford, Whitley Bay, Wakefield, Castloeford, Selby, Dewsbury, Hyde, Oldham, Thornaby, Huddersfield, Durham, Washington, Billingham and Chesterfield. That's 21 shops of Grainger Games' 67 total.

[Digfox]

Not good news, but inevitable I guess. I can't see anything on them being in administration yet though? But their Twitter isn't nice to read as apparently they are trying to avoid refunds etc. Surely it's only a matter of time until the business is wound down and closed.

 

Regarding GAME it looks like they announced their half year results, and profits are down roughly a quarter: Link. They do seem to want to diversify into e-Sports more in the long term tho. 

 

I actually went into my local GAME store at the weekend for the first time in a long while, and it wasn't a pleasant experience. Was trying to trade in an old console, but it was a waste of time given they can't read their trade-in SKU's properly.

[bumgut]

Went into GAME in Lincoln today to get Ni No Kuni 2. Asked for standard edition, was told “ooh dunno think we might be out of stock of those”.  

 

He then fishes in the drawer for a second, pulls out a £80 special edition and offers that.  I ask “so you don’t have any standard editions?” just to confirm, fully intending to look elsewhere.  He immediately pulls out a £50 standard edition.

 

Fucking lying cheating cunt tried to bilk me out of £30 on a tat edition of the game!

Just no shame whatsoever on his face.  I said nothing of course.

 

 

Edited March 28, 2018 by bumgut

[Broker]

1 hour ago, Mgear said:

They do seem to want to diversify into e-Sports more in the long term tho. 

 

I’ve hard this idea before but I don’t really understand what it means. Are they planning to try to revive the LAN arena model, with places to go rent time on a gaming PC and tournaments and stuff? Esports that you view as a spectator doesn’t exactly lend itself to taking place in a chain of shops, unless they’re trying to establish a UK league I guess? I’ve never really seen any English people competing at a high level in any of the games I watch, it doesn’t seem like there’s much of a scene in the UK.

[Flub]

1 hour ago, bumgut said:

Went into GAME in Lincoln today to get Ni No Kuni 2. Asked for standard edition, was told “ooh dunno think we might be out of stock of those”.  

 

He then fishes in the drawer for a second, pulls out a £80 special edition and offers that.  I ask “so you don’t have any standard editions?” just to confirm, fully intending to look elsewhere.  He immediately pulls out a £50 standard edition.

 

Fucking lying cheating cunt tried to bilk me out of £30 on a tat edition of the game!

Just no shame whatsoever on his face.  I said nothing of course.

 

 

 

You still bought it though right?

[deerokus]

They aren't just planning to do that, they already have! It seems popular enough from what I've seen when I have popped into the shop part of the one in Glasgow, but it's definitely not for people like us. 

 

The staff at the Glasgow one used to be really nice but have had a couple of total cunts recently, so I just go to G-Force now. At least you expect a grumpy bastard there. 

[Digfox]

59 minutes ago, Broker said:

 

I’ve hard this idea before but I don’t really understand what it means. Are they planning to try to revive the LAN arena model, with places to go rent time on a gaming PC and tournaments and stuff? Esports that you view as a spectator doesn’t exactly lend itself to taking place in a chain of shops, unless they’re trying to establish a UK league I guess? I’ve never really seen any English people competing at a high level in any of the games I watch, it doesn’t seem like there’s much of a scene in the UK.

 

Yep, it feels a bit that way. It's being stated that they want to move into more higher margin experiences, and use their BELONG store/tie-ins/brand to essentially open up events and paid public gaming sessions. What I'm not sure is the impact on their existing stores - i.e. will this take away existing shelf space from stores. However they have stated that they are closing some stores in addition. I suspect in reality this is more about using their existing brand and assets, at least in the the short-term, to try and offset the decreasing revenue from declining sales of their retail chain. They appear to be making a small profit from this 'sub' brand and maybe in the long-term they see more profits if they can lead in this area. It does overlap with some of their other businesses too (Multiplay).

[Lothar Hex]

Yep thats the shop in Billingham closing. As I said earlier I had no idea why the hell it was opened anyway. Sorry for the blokes in there as were good for a bit of banter. Hope they land on their feet.
 

Quote

Staff in your stores will be paid for all hours worked through until Sunday 31st of March and we require you to assist us with this shutdown process using those hours.

 

Honestly? I'd be tempted to just lock up and shove the keys through the door with that ...

[dumpster]

I think that all the stores that can be converted to Belong (big city stores, Trafford Centre's that kind of thing) are having the conversions done, and the regular stores (Kendal) are closing down when the leases are up for renewal.  It's a shame, but irrespective of whether Game is a good shop or not, that's the high street for you .  If you are not selling ultra-high margin (mobile phones and coffee), you haven't got a chance because the landlords charge too much for the rent. The landlords do not care what your market is, and can't understand why, if you can't make the margins on videogames, you don't just switch and start making coffee.  Electronics Boutique were a greeting card company before they moved into games, and the businesses that work that way have a good chance of making it on the high street - just shift to wherever the money is.  Whatever the high street is in 5 years time, i hope it will be interesting.  But it won't be shops.  

[Digfox]

I'm not a retail industry analyst, but I don't think shops as a concept is dead. Even if retail is struggling there is still a market for things you need now, or be part of a multi channel business. That's why we still see so many supermarkets, charity shops, discount shops, bookies, specialists, manufacturer shops or restaurants amongst other things.

 

Also landlords can and will adjust rents - if it's in their interests (i.e. New Look renegotiating some rents recently). Ultimately their rent will be driven by demand and if not I suspect they would just sell up or convert into office or residential property. 

 

A risk for GAME might be that BEYOND shops on their own are unsustainable, that actually need to sell second-hand goods and games to be viable. In this sense I'm not sure GAME will abandon the core of its business just yet.

[Broker]

5 hours ago, deerokus said:

They aren't just planning to do that, they already have! It seems popular enough from what I've seen when I have popped into the shop part of the one in Glasgow, but it's definitely not for people like us. 

 

Who is it for? Kids? 

 

5 hours ago, Mgear said:

 

Yep, it feels a bit that way. It's being stated that they want to move into more higher margin experiences, and use their BELONG store/tie-ins/brand to essentially open up events and paid public gaming sessions.

 

How much does that that type of thing cost? What kind of events?

 

2 hours ago, dumpster said:

I think that all the stores that can be converted to Belong (big city stores, Trafford Centre's that kind of thing) are having the conversions done, and the regular stores (Kendal) are closing down when the leases are up for renewal.   

 

I wonder what will happen to the Nottingham stores, no sign of a conversion here.

[Digfox]

18 minutes ago, Broker said:

How much does that that type of thing cost? What kind of events?

 

I'm afraid I don't know about costs but according to their website they host a number of large UK gaming events already; including Insomnia and Minecon. 

 

This quote probably sums up the overall revenue atm: '‘The agreement with Sports Direct is a key strategic and financial step,’ insists Liberum, adding that ‘the latest performance of the arenas suggests they could generate up to £13m-£15m of recurring earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) per annum on a long-term view, if management’s roll-out target of 100 is achieved.'.  So the revenue from this initiative (at least on the store side) may only be accounting for only a very small fraction of their overall revenue. It also sounds like the majority of their 299 UK stores won't be part of this BELONG initiative. And also according to the Guardian they did manage to save £800k by renegotiating 23 store's leases.

 

My local GAME is also still a secondhand and games store. No eSports in there, but tbh it's a bit on the small size anyway.

[SMD]

6 hours ago, bumgut said:

Went into GAME in Lincoln today to get Ni No Kuni 2. Asked for standard edition, was told “ooh dunno think we might be out of stock of those”.  

 

He then fishes in the drawer for a second, pulls out a £80 special edition and offers that.  I ask “so you don’t have any standard editions?” just to confirm, fully intending to look elsewhere.  He immediately pulls out a £50 standard edition.

 

Fucking lying cheating cunt tried to bilk me out of £30 on a tat edition of the game!

Just no shame whatsoever on his face.  I said nothing of course.

 

 

 

They already charged you more than you'd pay on Amazon so why not go all the way.

[deerokus]

41 minutes ago, Broker said:

 

Who is it for? Kids? 

 

 

 

People who have the time to go into town to play multiplayer games for ages. So pretty much kids, I suppose. 

[dumpster]

I was at my mother's house the other day and her DVD player had broken.  She ordered a replacement one from Amazon at 10pm that night, and it arrived at 2pm the following morning.  She would have gone into Curry's for that when she last needed a DVD player.  No-one can compete with that level of service, and she has a right to return if she changes her mind.  The high street will exist but it's going to be service based, not product based.  Game recognise this with their Beyond gaming centres.  I wouldn't like to guess whether they will do well with Beyond, but they will do better than the shops they have at the moment.  A quiet shop in a quiet street, trying to compete when you can buy the exact same product cheaper at the supermarket whilst you do the rest of your shopping?   

[SeanR]

8 minutes ago, dumpster said:

I was at my mother's house the other day and her DVD player had broken.  She ordered a replacement one from Amazon at 10pm that night, and it arrived at 2pm the following morning. 

 

AM, day, or afternoon?

[dumpster]

2 minutes ago, SeanR said:

 

AM, day, or afternoon?

 

She had a lie-in.  It was morning in her head, and afternoon in her real-life.