GameStop to increase focus on phones & tablets instead of video games
It may have "game" in its name, but retailer GameStop has announced plans to start increasing its focus on "gaming-adjacent" fields while lessening its reliance on video games.
It may have "game" in its name, but retailer GameStop has announced plans to start increasing its focus on "gaming-adjacent" fields while lessening its reliance on video games. CEO Paul Raines dubbed the initiative "GameStop 3.0," saying that it plans on closing about 2 percent of its retail locations, while opening Spring Mobile and Simply Mac stores instead.
The two GameStop-owned retail brands focus on selling AT&T-branded phones and Apple products. According to GI.biz, GameStop plans on opening over 200 Spring Mobile stores and 20 Simply Mac stores--essentially doubling the footprint of both franchises.
By transitioning away from video games, the company hopes to be like other companies that have made similar leaps. Williams-Sonoma, for example, began as a kitchen equipment retailer that now owns Pottery Barn and West Elm. Perhaps the "stop" in their name meant that they were planning to stop selling games one day?
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Shacknews
replyAndrew Yoon posted a new article, GameStop to increase focus on phones & tablets instead of video games.
It may have "game" in its name, but retailer GameStop has announced plans to start increasing its focus on "gaming-adjacent" fields while lessening its reliance on video games.-
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Radio shack was a video game store?
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Oddly enough, yes. Back in the 80s, they did carry a large selection of computer software. In the 90s they carried a huge selection via an in store catalog. While the book had recent SNES and Genesis games they even old Atari and Intellivision games. Some where never officially released any other way.
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They are going to sell used phone software?
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You officially have the cutest name on shacknews and I love you
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I dunno, every time GameStop has had stock they needed to get rid of they've had well-publicized sales of said stock. When they decided to stop carrying most fifth-gen consoles (and also Dreamcast) you couldn't enter a GameStop without the guys trying to get you to take home some N64 games or something. I picked up my Dreamcast, two controllers, two memory units, and three games for just over $20.
GameStop hasn't stayed in business by wasting sale-able stock. Anything they have that they think they can get even 50¢ for will be sold to someone, another company that plans to resell it in turn if nothing else.
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That name is vague enough to fit anything and what ever future trends. Certainly a lot better than RadioShack or TheShack which they tired to rebrand as.
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im surprised they are still in business...
Does everyone remember Electronic Boutique? -
Funniest thing about this company. You cant say a negative word about them cause every tom, dick and harry comes out of the wood work and states how much love they have for them and how they need them, and what a wonderful experience they've had with them and how knowledgeable they are and yet, two days ago I was reminded why I stopped shopping there 9 years ago.
These guys are grade A idiots.
How they've remained in business this long is one of the greatest mysteries in modern times.-
How is it a mystery? They're a specialized retailer in a growing industry and while they're not knowledgeable compared to us internet commentators, they're a lot better (in my experience, and certainly during my time working there) than any of the big box stores. Add to that they carry a wider array of games of varying ages for better prices (as most people don't give a shit about used/new, they just want cheap), and it shouldn't be surprising at all that they continue to do well.
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Has nothing to do with all that in my opinion.
Gamestops are located in either well populated malls or very poor areas. These guys are a pawn shops for video games and that's why they've lasted. People bring in there old games that they either have no more use for, they've stolen, don't want to play and put it towards the new hyped game that they cant afford to buy flat out.
Whats killing GS is that now there are alternative ways of buying and not all digital. I just bought Yaiba for 7 bucks brand new from Amazon.
GS is fucked, they know it and they can see the writing on the wall.
I also worked for this shitty organization, the manager we worked for was pretty great, he was an older gentleman and he ran his store differently.
As an older man would, not caught up in the hype or anything like that and I truly loved that about him and how he manged the store. When he retired, i left. Cause of course we got a new, young kid that did the exact opposite.
But I digress.
GS, knows they cannot compete with that kind of pressure. Even in the pawn shop business they are getting hammered they are so many options now. Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, EBay, glyde...and the list goes on. -
The experience you get wildly varies from store to store. Some will have knowledgeable people that actually like games and others will just try to push a sale. They are great if you want to get a old used title but not necessarily great for getting a new title especially if you game at all on PC.
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If you game on PC, why are you even going to a store? I mean, if you live in a place with shitty internet, I get it, but I honestly don't remember the last PC game I bought on a retail disc.
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I've taken to doing this, but with Amazon gift cards, as I buy most of my games from Amazon but still trade them in at GS.
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The experience at a big box store is much better. They don't pester you constantly and actually have new games in stock on release day without lines.
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My name is tom and i have a hairy dick and i would never say that stuff.
I work on wood for a living. -
It's not a mystery when you buy used games for $5 and sell them for $35.
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i remember years ago i went to GameStop to buy a video card from them for my EMachines computer, it was a 32mb video card....GASP :)
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I was buying Steam wallet bucks from them because they were selling them at the equivalent CAD-USD values.
But then they raised all their prices for Steam wallet bucks, and I haven't been back! -
I imagine all the free games from Xbox Gold and PSN Plus must be eating into their used game sales a bit, particularly PSN since it often includes games that were big AAA releases just months or a year prior.
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The only thing that I use them for is seeing game titles in a RELATIVELY organised manner. It helps me pick out which ones I will look for on PC, download on a console, or just research to learn more about. Also to laugh at their overpriced hardware, incompetent employees, and stupid hype. So more than one reason, but not enough for them to still have physical locations. The days of midnight releases being huge, awesome, events... Sorry GameStop, but I have that shit pre-loaded.
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