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GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'
- madhadron 7y agoGameStop is going out of business. This is a last ditch attempt to fend that off. And I would hope that any cop in an area with lockdowns in place would simply say, "Nice piece of paper. You're closing."
- LinuxBender 7y agoThat is exactly what will happen. If the county or state order businesses closed as non essential, remaining open would be a misdemeanor. I have to wonder if Gamestop will pay the legal fees for the employees that are arrested.
- bitxbitxbitcoin 7y agoI imagine corporate have to pay legal fees would accelerate their shuttering permanently.
- urthen 7y agoBahahaha that's about as likely as pigs flying. "You were instructed to keep the store open, but were unable to perform your job-required duties because you got arrested attempting to do so, therefore you are fired. Request to pay your legal fees is denied."
- xnyan 7y agoAnd you were fired with cause so no unemployment insurance because America is barbaric.
- toomuchtodo 7y agoDue to current circumstances, I believe it unlikely unemployment insurance claims will denied in this situation. If you work at GameStop, call the local authorities, get a copy of the police report, go home and file for unemployment.
- gambiting 7y ago>>unemployment insurance What's that? Is that a thing people have in US? I'm honestly curious, never heard of such a thing, outside of a context of mortage insurance which can cover you temporarily if you lose your job.
- toomuchtodo 7y agohttps://www.dol.gov/general/topic/unemployment-insurance https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/unemployment-insurance
- BoogieWoogie123 7y agoPersonal legal fees? What minimum wage worker would defy a police officer's order to close? I highly doubt they arrest on site....
- benatkin 7y agoI have no love for GameStop, but I really liked Thinkgeek, which got bought by GameStop. GameStop already ruined it AFAICT so I don't mind if GameStop goes out of business...
- mywittyname 7y agoThinkGeek will be the asset to emerge from the ashes of GameStop. It was a smart acquisition by GS executives. Unfortunately, they weren't smart enough to manage the brand as well as they should have. The parent company should have inverted to become ThinkGeek immediately after the acquisition because it's pretty obvious to even layman that the retail market for video games is dead within a generation or so, while the market for pop-culture tchotchkes is evergreen.
- happycube 7y agoYup... they bought something they could've switched a ton of (far too close post-retail-apocolypse) stores over... and then all but shut it down.
- rideontime 7y agoWhat even remains of ThinkGeek, apart from name recognition? At least before the GameStop acquisition they sold some unique products. Now, as far as I can tell, they just sell the same fandom merch you can get anywhere.
- zentiggr 7y agoHad GameStop management not neutered it, there would still be lots of unique things going on. Turning an already online platform for truly cool items, into a side counter in only a few core stores, just goes to show how truly clueless GS management really is. Yeah, I'm bitter. Wife and I gifted each other lots of TG stuff over the years.
- toomuchtodo 7y agoLet’s band together and buy it in liquidation :)
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- cbsks 7y agoThey are going down and dragging their minimum wage employees with them.
- cryptoz 7y agoMultiple GameStop employees at different locations across the bay area openly mocked me / laughed at me for trying to buy a used GameCube in ~2016. Haven't set foot in a store since. Good riddance.
- VectorLock 7y agoThats incredibly strange especially given how retro gaming is a huge thing, and isn't buying/selling used games and equipment kind of GameStop's thing?
- zenexer 7y agoYes, that's quite odd, especially given GameStop's notorious Circle of Life (CoL) philosophy.[1][2] That being said, GameStop employees are often gamers, and gamers are often opinionated about platforms and companies--just like any other enthusiast. [1]: https://kotaku.com/we-are-all-scared-for-our-jobs-gamestop-employees-talk-1791963185 https://kotaku.com/we-are-all-scared-for-our-jobs-gamestop-e... [2]: https://kotaku.com/sources-gamestop-changes-their-controversial-circle-of-1792735813 https://kotaku.com/sources-gamestop-changes-their-controvers...
- catacombs 7y agoLet GameStop run out of business. The company has had it coming for years, and I'm hoping coronavirus is the reason it finally dies.
- ComputerGuru 7y agoApparently from their corporate call they’re concerned that closing now would be permanent for them.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- klmadfejno 7y agoThis comment reads to me as a sort of spiteful anti-capitalist view. But... Gamestop is _already_ living paycheck to paycheck and they could actually just run out of money and need to close shop. Does that excuse trying to stay open right now? No. But let's not pretend they're not already dying.
- urthen 7y agoGood. Failing businesses should fail. That's Capitalism. And that's exactly why we need social safety nets for their employees.
- Noos 7y agoThe problem is that failing now empowers Wal-Mart, Amazon, and Steam. There are no small chains that can seize the opportunity to fill the void. We're going to end up with defacto monopolies I think; maybe only Walmart for people to get new physical games.
- Karunamon 7y agoI don't think Gamestop really qualifies as a small chain. Besides, the retail market for games will be dead here before too long, everything's going digital. It won't be Steam and Amazon, it'll be Steam and Sony and Microsoft and Epic. Actually I think at this point there are more competitors in the digital space than physical...
- kazagistar 7y agoWe can solve that too by reinforcing the old antitrust regulation.
- jacknews 7y agogaming the system?
- Pfhreak 7y agoThis is reprehensible. Under no reasonable definition are they essential retail, and they are putting human lives in danger.
- dantillberg 7y agoIn a sense, this rings true in this pandemic, right? Many people are relying on video games for entertainment while confined to their homes. ------- Edit to reply to the comments below: A lot of good replies, thank you. I've largely been on the "doom and gloom" side of this COVID-19 debate, so I'm surprised by the other angrier replies, but here's my thinking: - People that download games aren't going to GameStop anyway. - As some comments pointed out, you can't download consoles. You also can't have anything shipped to you if you don't have a credit card. - GameStop transactions don't require close personal contact (unlike e.g. tattoos or massages). - GameStop must discourage congregation of groups in their stores. I imagine very low foot traffic. - GameStop must provide staff with appropriate cleaning tools. If they can't, then they should not remain open. - I do really like the idea to transform the store into a local delivery service, or to offer pick up only. - I have no connection to GameStop nor have I been to one in over a decade.
- keymone 7y agoOnly if you live in previous century.
- ssully 7y agoIn no sense is this true.
- pwthornton 7y agoYou can download digital games. There aren’t many people who buy modern consoles and PC games who need physical copies. And then other retailers like Target will remain open because they sell medicine and food — and physical video games. There is no reason for GameStop to remain open.
- ceejayoz 7y agoHell, I can get any game I want off Amazon, too. It'll just show up on my doorstep a few days later.
- bootlooped 7y agoEntertainment is not really essential though.
- RegnisGnaw 7y agoTin-Foil-Theory: They are trying to keep open to today for the release of DOOM Eternal and Animal Crossing.
- LeftCorner 7y agoAbsolutely. There is not a Switch in 200 miles of my house and most retailers I spoke with agree it is because of Animal Crossing. I suspect this weekend will be huge for GameSpot sales on these titles alone.
- fishiecracker 7y agoA lot of Gamestops were letting people get them yesterday
- XaspR8d 7y agoThat's my foil-free theory; those are two very large releases! Regardless of sales, not being able to fulfill all the customer preorders would probably tank their remaining brand confidence irrevocably.
- SAI_Peregrinus 7y agoAnd with a shared fanbase. Somehow DOOM and Animal Crossing go together.
- RegnisGnaw 7y agoI got Doom Eternal for myself, Animal Crossing for my wife. All online though.
- cmrdporcupine 7y agoIt's not tin-foil. That's exactly what EBGames here in Canada is doing. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/03/18/toronto-employees-are-being-told-to-work-in-the-face-of-covid-19-and-theyre-angry-and-scared.html https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/03/18/toronto-employee... Awful. You can just download Animal Crossing anyways...
- gunshai 7y agoWhen does their stock hit a price of 0? Currently trading @ 3.95~
- kmlx 7y agowhen they close for covid19. standard catch 22.
- sschueller 7y agoThese executives are showing their true selves in this crisis and it is absolutely disgusting. From Elon Musk to Jeff Bezos, these are not idols, they are parasites on our society.
- uxcolumbo 7y agoI probably missed a few news cycles, but what Musk and Bezos do you would class as disgusting during this crisis? I heard Tesla is going to produce ventilators?
- jrimbault 7y ago> I heard Tesla is going to produce ventilators? I think the quote was something more like (from memory so meh) : "Going to produce ventilators if there are shortages."
- sb8244 7y agoActions like https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/17/tesla-keeps-fremont-factory-open-amid-covid-19-shelter-in-place-orders.html https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/17/tesla-keeps-fremont-factory-... are not a good view. It is worth noting that this plant will close on March 23 after the backlash, but probably only because of the backlash.
- mellavora 7y agoElon Musk is apparently pushing bullshit cures, specifically chloroquine This is a malaria drug. Also, it can be fatal if not properly dosed. It is especially problematic that Musk is promoting this, given that part of his reputation is that he gets his science right; he is bold, takes risks, but he at least has science/facts/truth/math on his side. https://decrypt.co/22946/elon-musk-shares-coronavirus-cure-pushed-by-bitcoin-fans?amp=1 https://decrypt.co/22946/elon-musk-shares-coronavirus-cure-p...
- brink 7y agoIt's not proven to be bullshit. The evidence we have is suggesting otherwise.
- Havoc 7y agoConsidering shorting that stock...no way this ends well
- asdfman123 7y agoFalse. There's always Steam and Xbox Live. Otherwise, I would argue that video games are necessary for the lockdown.
- Vysero 7y agoWait... GameStop stays open but my local library has to close? This really is the end times.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- ihuman 7y agoHN post for vice's version of this story: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22631264 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22631264
- KingMachiavelli 7y agoAt least working at a GameStop in 2020 is pretty close self isolating. TBH I don't quite understand the outlash against some business deciding to stay open. A GameStop doesn't take more than 1 or 2 people to run, especially right now, and transactions are pretty simple and inovlve minimal contact. And they have a point about selling products people may want during this time. As far as I know, Walmart will still sell video games despite only being exempted because they sell food & essential supplies. It's probably more dangerous to have to go to a Walmart either food or video games compared to going to a GameStop given the # of people typically at Wallmart.
- thaumasiotes 7y ago> It's probably more dangerous to have to go to a Walmart either food or video games compared to going to a GameStop given the # of people typically at Wallmart. This might be a reasonable point, except that there's no reason to leave your house at all if the only thing you want to buy is a video game. (And of course, if you need food and video games, making an additional trip to Gamestop can only hurt compared to getting everything at Walmart.)
- barbecue_sauce 7y agoAnd, though Walmart is likely to have a higher number of customers present, the concentration of people can be much lower in a 150,000 sq ft warehouse store then a 300 sq ft Gamestop (provided people are following proper social distancing).
- dustingetz 7y agoGamestop is staffed by Gen Z gamers who have been refreshing reddit for covid info since late Jan
- mikestew 7y agoSince things started shutting down here in WA, and I’m kind of house-bound due to recent surgery, I’ve managed to not only buy video games but an entire console (finally bought that Switch), all without leaving my house. And, no, of course I didn’t buy it from GameStop. They’re still in business? Frankly, this comes off as pathetic regardless, they can do what they want. But essential? I can’t download groceries, but name me a game platform that requires physical media.
- AdmiralAsshat 7y agoHopefully there's a class-action lawsuit on behalf of any employees who become sick as a result of this decision. But then, this company is clearly on its way out. I'd be very suspicious at the moment that the execs are finding ways to funnel remaining funds to their golden parachutes before they declare bankruptcy.
- Exmoor 7y agoI'm assuming you meant, "against Gamestop by any employees who become sick.." ?
- AdmiralAsshat 7y agoEdited to clarify. Thanks!
- opwieurposiu 7y agoThe government does not have the legal authority to quarantine people that that are not sick. Thus they have no legal basis to shut down gamestop. Gamestop is calling their bluff.
- braythwayt 7y agoYou did not begin your comment with the disclaimer that you are not a lawyer. So, are you a lawyer? Are you familiar with the authority municipalities, states, provinces, and entire countries have under normal circumstances? How about when there is a state of emergency declared? How about when there is a public health emergency?
- kazagistar 7y agoThe government is legal authority.
- ceilingcorner 7y agoAnd modern people wonder how the witch-hunts happened in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The mob-like response to this is sad and deranged... Many companies will go out of business as a direct response to these closings. Millions of people will lose jobs. Before throwing out insults, consider that GameStop probably has to try and stay open, or they'll go extinct. Considering that a retail employee that sells video games isn't exactly an in-demand profession, you're also looking at the livelihoods of 16,000 full-time and 23-45,000 part-time people. Corporations aren't just faceless bogeymen.
- dvtrn 7y agoThey already are going extinct, without the help of COVID-19. Let it die, I say.
- neuronic 7y agoDoesn't change the vile and egocentrical nature of this business decision. There are many reasons why GameStop should finally die. Exposing their employees to the current danger in order to remain operational to continue selling games is just one more.
- ThrowawayR2 7y ago> "Before throwing out insults, consider that GameStop probably has to try and stay open, or they'll go extinct." At the potential risk of human lives? Even if we say that customers are coming in voluntarily, it isn't the executives at GameStop manning the counter at these stores; if it were, people would have less objection. Those staff are ordinary people like you or I.
- ceilingcorner 7y agoThis is a short-sighted view. If GameStop closes, they will go out of business. If they go out of business, these employees will lose their jobs. I see no reason why a GameStop employee can't just quit or refuse to come to work if he/she fears getting infected.
- 7y ago
- throwawaysea 7y agoDifferent people will have different needs and circumstances. What’s essential shouldn’t be dictated centrally - I think that’s too draconian. Instead focus on the parameters - reduce max gathering size, require businesses to implement max customer limits, cleaning procedures, and queueing procedures that include distancing. We don’t need to be perfect about this, just good enough. In the case of GameStop - mental health matters to people, and games are an important outlet especially if they live alone. The alternative is that they will violate guidance on gatherings. And GameStop also sells equipment you can use to work from home. I don’t think it’s just groceries or healthcare that should be allowed to operate. People who fear what’s coming next might want to shop camping/outdoors stores, or maybe they need to get their car fixed up if they need to leave, or whatever else. I understand the logic behind it, but I feel a blanket rule banning most businesses from operating isn’t the right move.
- cmrdporcupine 7y agoSame crap from EBGames here in Canada: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/03/18/toronto-employees-are-being-told-to-work-in-the-face-of-covid-19-and-theyre-angry-and-scared.html https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/03/18/toronto-employee...
- umvi 7y agoHere's a crazy idea: In order to speed up this quarantine, we should ask for "herd immunity volunteers" who basically volunteer to get infected (healthy young adults only). They would go into their own quarantine until they are no longer infected in which case they can be released into society, and since they are now immune, may be suited for certain jobs that require contact with infected.
- ativzzz 7y agoYes, we should do this and send them to the essential jobs to keep society afloat, like working at a GameStop store.
- ebrenes 7y agoSomeone with a bit more knowledge, but isn't this basically correct, despite how moronic it sounds. Yesterday I was looking at California's critical sector list[1] and it seems stores like GameStop would be covered as critical infrastructure at a first glance. And it listed the following: Retail (e.g., retail centers and districts, shopping malls).[2] [1] https://www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors https://www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors [2] https://www.cisa.gov/commercial-facilities-sector https://www.cisa.gov/commercial-facilities-sector
- barbecue_sauce 7y agoIn PA, the governor published a spreadsheet that covers all infrastructure sectors and sub-categories with a clear "Yes" or "No" cell to indicate whether they were permitted to stay open. This is specific to COVID-19, however. The CISA guidelines seem very general and not even cognizant of this type of situation (even if you go to the section about COVID-19). California should (if it doesn't) have its own plan that is possibly informed by CISA but enacted by its governor.