So I go into Gamestop with friends today and I try to sell them some games. I'm only 17 and I was pretty sure 18 was the age to trade in (as stupid as that rule is), but I tried my luck anyway. Sure enough the guy wouldn't let us, so instead I browsed the used games. I decided to pick up both The Orange Box and the first Condemned because they were cheap. So I go to check out and the guy tells me "Oh no no, 18 low. You stay". So I say "...what?". I have no idea what the man was trying to tell me but he wouldn't let me buy the games without a parent even though I was 17. On the box it says M 17+, so shouldn't he have sold me the games?
So I go into Gamestop with friends today and I try to sell them some games. I'm only 17 and I was pretty sure 18 was the age to trade in (as stupid as that rule is), but I tried my luck anyway. Sure enough the guy wouldn't let us, so instead I browsed the used games. I decided to pick up both The Orange Box and the first Condemned because they were cheap. So I go to check out and the guy tells me "Oh no no, 18 low. You stay". So I say "...what?". I have no idea what the man was trying to tell me but he wouldn't let me buy the games without a parent even though I was 17. On the box it says M 17+, so shouldn't he have sold me the games?
I can't recall, but I think I tried to buy Bioshock from Bestbuy when I was 17. The employee refused to sell the game to me. But maybe I was 16 at the time.
Game labeling never fucking make sense to me. At tournaments I think you need to be 18, even though the rating is 17+.
Yeah, almost couldn't buy the first Mass Effect because the clerk wouldn't let me as I was 16. Waited several minutes for another dude who didn't seem to care at all and bought it that way. It's getting more strict from what I remember in the past, but I think that it's better that way. Although the guy in your situation was kinda stupid as, if you had proof you were 17, you should have been able to buy it.
I used to work at Gamestop years ago, so unless it has changed it is a COMPANY policy not to sell Mature rated games to anyone under 18. Target was the same way when I worked there. Target would even swipe/scan your ID. Certain places won't card you at all, others are really particular. It isn't a LAW not to sell M rated games to minors, it's just a suggestion. The way he spoke to you seems shitty though.
P.S. I can tell you from experience that it is for the best that they don't allow trades under 18. There would be parents coming into the store pissed as fuck because their 16 year old just traded in the game that the parent just spent $60 on a month ago. The suggestion I can make to you though if you don't like their trade-in policy is trade your games elsewhere. Gamefly and other websites do trades if there aren't any other brick-and-mortar stores in your area.
@Meteora: No. I don't think there's a trade in age rule because I was never condemned for that. If there is then my gamestop people suck but the fact that he's 17 and cant buy M games is kind of over bearing unless he had no ID with him to prove it.
" So I go into Gamestop with friends today and I try to sell them some games. I'm only 17 and I was pretty sure 18 was the age to trade in (as stupid as that rule is), but I tried my luck anyway. Sure enough the guy wouldn't let us, so instead I browsed the used games. I decided to pick up both The Orange Box and the first Condemned because they were cheap. So I go to check out and the guy tells me "Oh no no, 18 low. You stay". So I say "...what?". I have no idea what the man was trying to tell me but he wouldn't let me buy the games without a parent even though I was 17. On the box it says M 17+, so shouldn't he have sold me the games? "
Yes, you need to be 17 and older, but.... how do you prove that? That is the problem, a 15 year old could walk in and say, I am 17 mister game seller, please let me buy this game here. Do you have an ID saying you are 17?
There is an age restriction on selling games? I have been selling games at Gamestop since i was maybe 9-10 years old. That is some weird as shit there.
I've sold games to gamestop since I was twelve, although then it was EB games (they're the same, right?) I guess it just depends on the store, maybe it helped I went to school with some of the guys who worked there. But it says M 17+ on the game, and tweens always find ways to get them anyway. Doesn't make since if you had a driver's license or something to prove your age.
it really sucks. you should try to find a guy older than you that is just buying a video game and ask him to buy it for you. my gamestop is near a bunch of other stores so there are a lot of people that walk by.
I work at Gamestop and I sell M games to 17 year olds... Its been the policy (around here in the suburbs or Chicago anyway) to sell to 17 year olds as long as they have an ID. You have to be 18 to trade in games for CASH, but anyone of any age can trade in a game for store credit, always. Company policy. You don't even need as ID for that.
One time I tried to buy the original Flatout game at a Fred Meyer (northwest US store) and the guy wouldn't let me even though I was 14 at the time, and for anyone that doesn't know, that game is rated T.
Youu have to be 18 to sell games at gamestop because it is considered pawning. You must be 18 to sell something at a pawn shop. Technically speaking, gamestop is a pawn shop. Don't be mad at the store, they'd love to buy you're games but legally they're not allowed to unless you are 18.
@angelfan91: That's not what I was complaining about. I knew about that rule and that was just me trying my luck. But what I'm saying is he wouldn't let me BUY an M rated game, even though I am 17.
Trading age is 16 here in Australia. I've gotta ask all the kids how old they are and usually hit them with "what year were you born" trick to see if they are legit or not. If you can pull out a fake birthyear on me on the spot then you've earned the right to play that game. That being said, they usually say "i dont know" when i ask them how old they are.
In Denmark the age restriction isnt a restriction its more like a guide line for parents but you can allways buy games even if you arent the age required, also ive sold games to Gamestop and they accept it even if i were only 16 or even lower
EDIT: @ZeroMission: Yep i rage at it too, fucking annoying
" In Denmark the age restriction isnt a restriction its more like a guide line for parents but you can allways buy games even if you arent the age required, also ive sold games to Gamestop and they accept it even if i were only 16 or even lower
EDIT: @ZeroMission: Yep i rage at it too, fucking annoying "
I live in Sweden and it's almost the same thing here. Selling games, that's a thing everyone can do, but buying 'em is another thing. If you look to young (about 10 pr something), they ask for your parents. Though I've never had any issues with selling or buying when I was not of age for the games.
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