GameStop Manager: Bad Grades, No Games
A Texas GameStop manager has been suspended for enforcing an unconventional policy: If you can't prove you're doing well in school, then you can't buy games. Brandon Scott's "games for grades" policy was something he decided to do on his own; basically, he chose to stop selling video games to school-age customers unless an adult could attest to the student having good grades. However, once the corporate heads caught wind of Scott's policy, they suspended him and gave a written statement:
"GameStop is learning about and evaluating Mr. Scott's concept. As always, GameStop maintains its corporate commitment to assisting parents and other consumers in making informed choices."
Meanwhile, Scott is making national headlines and defends his position:
"This is a socially acceptable, responsible thing to do. ... These kids, they are our future, especially if you sell products to kids ... I wouldn't say rebel, but I can be rebellious. I can fight for what I believe in," he said.
According to the article on WFAA.com, Scott refused to sell 24 games. From a business perspective, this is obviously detrimental; the kids could simply purchase their games at another retail outlet. But this situation also raises another question: Is it the social responsibility of GameStop to make sure its customers get good grades in school? While it's sort of touching that he cares so much about his young customers, I don't think it's his right to decide what's right for them. Thoughts?
[via MaxConsole]
Lazy Panda
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 15 September 2007
· Comments (17)
Other stuff like this: gamestop manager, parenting, policy, social responsibility, texas
I've been in many a gamestop, and I have to say some part of me is happy some of those retarded patrons are getting turned down for being too dumb. :x
Hm... Well, my business brain says this is horrible. But my socially responsible brain says way to go. Maybe a reward program for good grades instead? Good grades = discount on used games? That would keep the company in business AND promote good grades for the kids because they'd want to succeed to get their games.
What an arrogant policy. Does he ask for references from the employers of adults? This man is trying to be these kids' parent. If he wants to help kids do better in school, he should find a positive way to do it, one that respects the autonomy of humans, even ones who happen to be under 18.
Honey, Vinegar and all that.
I'm with Jurinet, why not offer a (minor) discount to school aged kids who can prove they're doing well in school.
I definitely think that a reward program for good grades would be a much better alternative. Just have the kids bring in their report card/transcript and they get a 10% discount or something for getting a certain grade point average. Reward > punishment.
When I was a kid, arcades would give out free tokens for A's and B's on report cards, usually something like 1 for a B and 3 for an A. For a few years there, that was the one and only thing that motivated me to do well: that hour or so worth of free tokens in each arcade at report card time.
I think that if Gamestop adopts any kind of good-grade-promotion policy, it'll be closer to mine -- costing a couple bucks per good student, maybe given as a discount or a free renewal of their Gamestop cards and Game Informer, which would fatten their mailing lists too -- than his, which costs 60 bucks or more per student who can't document that he's doing well.
The other part of the story was that he wouldn't let kids walk into the store with their pants slung too low, presumably with a couple inches of underwear showing as seems to be the style nowadays. This would have been like those arcades from my youth having a no-jeans rule. Some malls have that kind of rule as an anti-gang strategy, but then, Gamestop doesn't exactly have a customer base as varied as that of a mall.
I'd love to make such a rule about backwards baseball caps, but then, I'm not the manager of a retail store with Wal-Mart, Target, etc. breathing down my neck....
anyone refusing someone to shop at gamestop is a good thing
Wait arent we all forgetting that its the parents responsibility to make sure to take away the video games and tvs when they are bad or have bad grades. LOL thats the modern day punishment. I remember when a punishment meant hiding under the bed so you dont get beaten with the belt, but alas liberals dont like actual discipline. Cant we bring that back. STop crying before i give you something to cry about
Actually I agree with the rewards program idea. But frankly I don't care if a company says a kid has to show their report card to buy a game, I mean if my child got turned away and I wanted them to have the game I'd just go in and make the purchase. But frankly I would rather kids under the age of SEVENTEEN not be allowed in Gamestop without a parent/guardian or some other adult. Kids are so annoying at any place of business...why I don't ever go to malls except weekdays during the day.
he needs to mind his own business. Being rewarded for good grades is cool but you're going too far if you think you have the right to stop me or anyone from buying a game because of my grades or any other reason.
Wow, Micheal-sama, so since you had an abusive childhood you think others should go through that as well? That's pretty messed up.
Not all that messed up from a business sense - only refusing 24 games, but if it gets parents warming towards gamestop, when christmas comes around where are they going to go?
Ultimately however I have to say he was wrong though - it isn't his shop, he is just a cog in the machine of gamestop. They don't employ people like him to think, there the hierarchy make decisions (more efficient in most cases for these cookie cutter stores - just like McDonalds they spent a lot to find the best way of doing things).
I do however think it isn't a bad idea - rewards for good students. Do well in school and get a 5% discount may work well. Game stores would like it because it increases business, looks good in the press and they don't lose much (and probably make a gain with increased sales because parents like gaming more).
There used to be a laser tag arena near my house that would reward you with a discounted game if you had good grades; you got a free one if you had all A's. Personally, I think this guy's heart is in the right place, but what he's doing is certainly not the best of ideas.
Now, if GameStop instituted a policy of rewarding good grades with a discount of some kind... man, can you imagine the good PR that would come from that?
Yeah, I agree that a reward program is a better idea than turning away customers who can then just walk down to Target and buy the game there instead.
Or another good idea would be to donate money to local schools to make sure that all the kids get textbooks and computers to learn with.
I think some of the other suggestions made here are great, but still, LAZY, you don't know much about business in a small town. It is good business to be a good citizen in small towns. The short-term loss of 24 game sales is more than offset by parents coming in to buy birthday presents and Christmas presents because they're impressed with the guy looking out for the best interests of their kids.
Hi Iam a high school student in Maryland. And I say it is GREAT that you are doing this. I am not a great student but I get my work done. I get C and
B only sometime A. I see why you are doing this because I see the bad in the games everyday. Teacher tell the kids to put there PSP,cell phone, and anything you can play games on. It gets vary old haering them say it maybe 4 time in one class and sometime more them one class. Iam going to see if my whole school can give you there feeling.
Hi Iam a high school student in Maryland. And I say it is GREAT that you are doing this. I am not a great student but I get my work done. I get C and
B only sometime A. I see why you are doing this because I see the bad in the games everyday. Teacher tell the kids to put there PSP,cell phone, and anything you can play games on. It gets vary old haering them say it maybe 4 time in one class and sometime more them one class. Iam going to see if my whole school can give you there feeling.