Gamestop's Refurbished System

[pocky]

Have any of you ever bought any refurbished stuff from Gamestop? I noticed that they had the Refurbished Pikachu XL on stock, which I've been wanting for a long time (but is extremely expensive on eBay, Amazon, etc.) The thing is that the word "refurbished" makes me nervous.

Like I'm afraid that I'll pay for something that will be badly scratched, not working, etc

 

[Karminny]

Same. I want to buy a normal 3ds so tht when my mom takes away my Mickey mouse XL, I can still play ac, but Im not sure...

 

[porinium]

i've bought refurbished games and an entirely refurbished ps2 from gamestop. i never had a problem with anything i bought, i'm still using the ps2 today and it's several years old. a friend of mine even got a refurbished psp awhile back--no problems either!

 

[daniduckyface]

I bought my XL refurbished and have had no problems. Yes there were a few scratches on the outer casing but the screens/buttons were fine. Came with the stylus, charger and some freebies like a screen cleaner wipe, protectors and headphones. The scratching was not unbearable by my standards but if you're uncertain maybe find a store with it in stock and ask to see it before you buy?

 

[MrPicklez]

I've had two 360's from there and a Wii. The 360's red ringed on me and the Wii was completely fine up until I sold it. They're good if you don't buy a pre-owned 360.

 

[Beardo]

Ooh, I love my Pikachu XL. Hopefully the one you want is still in good shape.

 

[pocky]

I bought my XL refurbished and have had no problems. Yes there were a few scratches on the outer casing but the screens/buttons were fine. Came with the stylus, charger and some freebies like a screen cleaner wipe, protectors and headphones. The scratching was not unbearable by my standards but if you're uncertain maybe find a store with it in stock and ask to see it before you buy?

I dont mind a few scratches as long as its not like SUPER scratched. But I mean, tiny scratches are meant to happen

 

[daniduckyface]

I dont mind a few scratches as long as its not like SUPER scratched. But I mean, tiny scratches are meant to happen

My top casing has 2 tiny scratches and one near the camera but other than that is perfect. Mine is red/black btw. I would see why one with a pattern is something you'd want less scratches of. You could always send it back if you're dissatisfied

 

[ObeseMudkipz]

I doubt you'd be able to do this but maybe ask if they could show you the XL and check if there were any scratches and that?

 

[pocky]

I doubt you'd be able to do this but maybe ask if they could show you the XL and check if there were any scratches and that?

Well I'd have to order it online so idk if I'd be able to see it in person to check for scratches. Though I guess I could always just return it.

 

[PlasmaPower]

I'm going to trade my Blue 3DS XL in for the New 3DS XL.

I bought it when around when ACNL came out.

 

[Dasbreenee]

Here's from an employees perspective.
Gamestops refurshiped items can basically mean used.
Sometimes when we get a system in we have to add a refurb fee when people trade it in. This is ALL up to the employee and whether or not they think an item needs it. If I see a game that is too scratched I will add the fee so that it will be shipped to the warehouse and buffed.
Same for systems. That system may have come in and the employee thought it was just a little too scratched or needed a polishing and they sent it in.
With buying used items you get 7 days or your money back. If you don't like it. Take it back.
30 days if something goes wrong. If something doesn't work. Take it back! They will replace it.
If you get gamestops warranty, if you get one year, take it back in pieces, with water damage, broken screen. ANYTHING. They give you a new one no questions asked.

 

[pocky]

Here's from an employees perspective.
Gamestops refurshiped items can basically mean used.
Sometimes when we get a system in we have to add a refurb fee when people trade it in. This is ALL up to the employee and whether or not they think an item needs it. If I see a game that is too scratched I will add the fee so that it will be shipped to the warehouse and buffed.
Same for systems. That system may have come in and the employee thought it was just a little too scratched or needed a polishing and they sent it in.
With buying used items you get 7 days or your money back. If you don't like it. Take it back.
30 days if something goes wrong. If something doesn't work. Take it back! They will replace it.
If you get gamestops warranty, if you get one year, take it back in pieces, with water damage, broken screen. ANYTHING. They give you a new one no questions asked.

Thank you, your advice has been very useful One question though: if I buy a refurbished system online and I end up wanting to return it could I return it at a Gamestop Shop or do I have to mail it in?

 

[Dasbreenee]

Thank you, your advice has been very useful One question though: if I buy a refurbished system online and I end up wanting to return it could I return it at a Gamestop Shop or do I have to mail it in?

You should be able to just take it into the store.
Everything online comes from a warehouse in Texas.
So if you take it back and say you don't want it, the gamestop you take it to should just put it up for sale.
If you say something is wrong with it, they'll defect it out and send it back to the warehouse. :3

 

[pocky]

You should be able to just take it into the store.
Everything online comes from a warehouse in Texas.
So if you take it back and say you don't want it, the gamestop you take it to should just put it up for sale.
If you say something is wrong with it, they'll defect it out and send it back to the warehouse. :3

Awesome! That makes things a lot easier I think I'll give it a shot

 

[Dasbreenee]

Awesome! That makes things a lot easier I think I'll give it a shot

No problem. ^^
PM me with any other questions if you'd like!

 

[Tao]

I've had two 360's from there and a Wii. The 360's red ringed on me and the Wii was completely fine up until I sold it. They're good if you don't buy a pre-owned 360.

There's probably a good reason the 360 red ringed.

It was pretty recently discovered that Gamestop had been buying red ringed 360's in bulk and essentially doing 'the towel trick' to fix them. 'The towel trick' has never been a permanent fix and they shouldn't have been doing it/selling them in the first place since they were guaranteed to break again.

It's something that has somehow been sweeped under the rug though.



That's the kind of thing that makes me weary of buying refurbished products from anybody but the actual manufacturer. I would rather just buy stuff preowned since it's likely only been sold because the owner got bored with it rather than it being faulty.

 

[n64king]

My friend got two 360's "refurbished" and they red ringed and then another friend got a Wii and then it somehow died. Just death. It was the one and only Wii I've ever heard of irl of dying or any condition. LOL So anyone I know steers clear. Probably just really bad luck though, but why would you get a used Wii anyway, they were always cheap and hello WiiU now.

Also just feel like adding, anytime I've EVER seen a DS or 3DS for sale in there, even refurbed it always looks trashy and scratched. It just looks used... I mean if that's fine with you then ok.

 

[xTurnip]

I don't normally buy refurbished things, but my boyfriend has bought a few things from Gamestop, and he's never had an issue with them. As far as a 3DS, I'm not sure if I would buy a refurbished one, but I would consider it if they had the color/style/whatever I happened to be looking for.

 

[Dasbreenee]

The thing about gamestop buying 360s with red rings is false. GameStop, but policy. Can NOT take in a game system that is not in at least working condition. We even check the power cords. If the power chord blinks anything but green we won't take it because the power chord is not good.

The good thing about buying used is that if something happens or you just don't like the way it looks. Take it back. They can't question you unless you don't have the receipt. If the gamestop had the ds your looking for in store, which they don't since you're ordering it online, they will GLADLY take it out of the box and show you.
I once took a 3ds back because I decided I didn't like the color

Gamestop does what they can to make the customer happy. Most customers think it's better to buy new. What happens when it breaks? You're screwed cause nintendo/sony/Microsoft will only fix so much.
If you buy used. You take it back in 7 days and get your money back. Or take it back in 30 days if something goes wrong for a new one.
If you buy the warranty you can bring it back in pieces and we will gladly give you another one.

- - - Post Merge - - -

Also. Again. Refurbished and used almost ALWAYS mean the same thing.
If someone brings in a 3ds and there's just ONE scratch on it. I can charge a refurb fee just for that one scratch if I want to.
That meaning it's stickered and sent into the warehouse for that scratch to be fixed. Refurbished is never internally but aesthetically. We can't take anything in that has interal issues because that means it doesn't work. And we don't fix systems. Nor does the warehouse. They only fix aesthetic issues like scratches.
Also. I have a coworker who will refurb almost everything. She will send in games that definitely don't need buffed.
It's up to the employee. The manager has no say over what the employee decides to do in their transaction.
I can add a refurb fee to a game that someone opens right in front of me brand new.