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Zuldane
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 4057
Location: At sea.
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 Posted: 06/24/03 - 20:25 Post subject: What's it like to work at a video game store?
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A new Babbages is opening up tomorrow less than a mile from where I live. They're going to be hiring some people, and I've always wanted to work in a game store. Is it everything you hoped it would be? Or is it just like any other job.
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Paden
RealPoor Master of Posts
Joined: 23 Oct 2002
Posts: 9362
Location: North CAROLINA!
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Posted: 06/24/03 - 20:30 Post subject:
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i wanna work at a game store to DAMN IT!
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Docter
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 21 Oct 2002
Posts: 3420
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Posted: 06/24/03 - 20:30 Post subject:
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Just like any other job...sounds nice for the first few weeks, then it gets boring as Hell.
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Nictathan
RealPoor Master of Posts
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 5531
Location: here... where I am... not with you
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Posted: 06/24/03 - 22:23 Post subject:
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I used to work at EB and it was fun it really was... there's really nowhere to go within those companies alot of times though.
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Akronn
RealPoor Master of Posts
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 8752
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Posted: 06/24/03 - 22:23 Post subject:
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Nothing spectacular, I sold games from '96-'01 and kind of saw the bottom drop out as far as perks go. I used to get tons of free games, shirts, accessories, etc. from vendors weekly... but I believe the internet killed that. People can get their info much faster online, and in many cases, they just get their software online too. There wasn't much in the industry that escaped me then, perhaps other than excitement 
My dreams of being like Tron's Flynn were dashed very quickly!
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Kin
Luke Warm
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 388
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Posted: 06/24/03 - 22:26 Post subject:
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It sucks balls
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Okami
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 2242
Location: The new board
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Posted: 06/24/03 - 22:28 Post subject:
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At babbages, it's just like any other job. You get to be around games, but you are selling, cleaning, or stocking the entire time, or standing around talking with friends when the shift manager isn't around. Unless its talking with them.
If you want to work for a fun video game store, work at Game Crazy. They are attached to most Hollywood Video stores. It's a buy/sell/trade buisiness, but they encourage playing any game you can get your hand on, so that their people are knowledgeable. They have several tv's and systems set up so even customers can try out games before they buy them.
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Ciladar
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 15 Oct 2002
Posts: 3765
Location: Northern New Jersey
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Posted: 06/24/03 - 22:57 Post subject:
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Working at an EQ sounded appealing to me, until I was shopping around in one awhile back and there was a fat guy disussing like the entire making history of the chrono series religiously. Dealing with fanatics like that doesn't seem to appealing...
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compusmack
RealPoor Master of Posts
Joined: 15 Oct 2002
Posts: 6354
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Posted: 06/24/03 - 23:24 Post subject:
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Just like any old job as others have said. Probably the only thing you might get that's worthwhile is a discount.
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Banzai
Guest
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Posted: 06/24/03 - 23:34 Post subject:
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Shit pay, cool work and fringe benifits.
Not worth it in the long run. Better to get a decent temp job and buy all the games full price and still have cash left over for hookers and booze. besides, in a better job the quality of woman around it is much better than the best day in a video game store.
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Yabden
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 13 Oct 2002
Posts: 2485
Location: Ohio
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Posted: 06/24/03 - 23:34 Post subject:
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work sucks. THAT IS ALL.
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Tamena
RealPoor Sensei
Joined: 13 Oct 2002
Posts: 1764
Location: New Joisey!
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Posted: 06/25/03 - 07:31 Post subject:
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Gaming store or no...
IT'S RETAIL!!!
if you can't stand going into a newbie zone and dealing with the whining/begging/rude behaivor/idiots...then this job is NOT for you
If you like to be off on holidays (except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Years Day and Easter) forget it..cause you're gonna be working
A really fun one to think about?
The day after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday" cause traditionally it is the day that puts the retailers "in the black" for the year...and most retail places open at some ungodly hour that morning cause ppl go SHOPPING for Christmas...power shopping...and they're insane btw.
Take it from someone thats on the streets by 4am and purchacing by 5 on that day LOL ...it's nuts and working during the chaos should qualify you for a bronze star.
The upsdie to Retail? uuummmm....getting bigger discounts on stuff ya wanna buy, pretty good job security cause no one wants to work, hours out the wazzoo cause no one wants to work
The downs? Shit pay for the most part, crappy hours (say bye bye to your weekend's off unless you get in first and get your pick of hours above others with more experience) Dealing with the general public. (see the newbie zone comment) and major abuse....
It takes a different type of personality to work retail for very long...ya gotta like helping people and be cheerful about 99% of the time..
Besides working some type of retail for most of my life (either that or customer support/service) I've also been hired as a "secret shopper" which is one of those "stealth shoppers" that goes in and basically tells your home office everything you're doing wrong while at work. Once in a blue moon I actually had an excellent experience doing a shop of a store, but that didn't happen often trust me.
On the other hand if you're good at it and find you enjoy it you can make a career out of it...
sorry for the novel here...just some stuff to think about
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Akronn
RealPoor Master of Posts
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 8752
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Posted: 06/25/03 - 08:38 Post subject:
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Secret Shoppers can die in a fire
I totally agree about the hours issue. Working nights and weekends gets old after a month, I'd only recommend retail if you're going to school and can't work during the day.
Depending on where you work, though, the discount can be awesome. I've got family coming in to pick up a 42" plasma TV (just started carrying them), and it's only going to run them $2,200. Damn thing retails for $3,999. That ain't too bad!
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Vio
Toomuchtimeonhands
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 977
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Posted: 06/25/03 - 08:44 Post subject:
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I USed to manage 3 stores.
Nothing special really but it was nice going to all the E3 shows I attended and yes tons of free shit and the like but in the end it is a s****y retail job
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redlover
Luke Warm
Joined: 06 Nov 2002
Posts: 141
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Posted: 06/25/03 - 09:18 Post subject:
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Trust me. I used to work retail for 8 years myself. No amount of money is worth that headache.
When you get promoted from store peon to Asst. Manager (Bigger Peon), you get more headaches and more responsibilites for a whole whopping $1.00 more an hour.
When you get the Head Peon Job (Store Manager), you run the whole show and are salaried (WHOOPIE) but that means you have to cover everyone else's sorry ass when they call in sick, and have to be there near 24/7 without getting paid Overtime. AND you have to worry about the District Manager (Head Peon in your area but is essentially a Nazi-like a*****e) getting on your ass to make more sales or you are out of a job. Yeah ..... like you can MAGICALLY make people come thru your doors and buy the shit you are selling hahah.
My advice is to NOT repeat NOT go into retail. 
Red
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compusmack
RealPoor Master of Posts
Joined: 15 Oct 2002
Posts: 6354
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Posted: 06/25/03 - 11:32 Post subject:
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About the only thing i liked about retail was the flexibility with days in my schedule.
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Akronn
RealPoor Master of Posts
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 8752
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Posted: 06/25/03 - 11:33 Post subject:
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| compusmack wrote: | | About the only thing i liked about retail was the flexibility with days in my schedule. |
To this day, I'd still prefer to work sundays and have like a wednesday or friday off. I'd actually get something done during the week then.
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Silvermouse
RealPoor Jedi
Joined: 12 Oct 2002
Posts: 11015
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Posted: 06/25/03 - 11:39 Post subject:
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I can imagine an exciting day at Babbage's. It involves these two questions repeated hundreds of times by hundreds of teenage boys:
1. When does (random game) come out?
2. Can I try this game?
Between that and parents asking you what video games their kid would like since his birthday is coming up, I'd go crazy.
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Akronn
RealPoor Master of Posts
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 8752
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Posted: 06/25/03 - 11:46 Post subject:
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The worst, Silvermouse, is when they ask 'what's your suggestion? what's the best game out?'
I absolutely HATE those questions 'cause they always have something in mind already and are just waiting to start shit with you.
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