>friend’s birthday is coming up
>decide to buy him a game
>due to overstock and low demand, prices on new, sealed copies are lower at Gamestop
>grudgingly go to Gamestop
>ask clerk for a new copy
>”Sure, let me check the back.”
>”Only one left is the store copy.”
>clerk picks up case from shelf with “New” sticker on it and pops a disc into it
>tries to sell me “new” game that’s not new, sealed, or wrapped
>refuse to buy “NEW” game that’s opened
>”but no one’s played it; this is the store copy”
>implying that’s the point
>go to nearest other Gamestop, about an hour away across a bridge
>get there, ask clerk dude for a new copy
>”it’s cheaper used”
>ask for a new, sealed copy SPECIFICALLY mentioning it’s a birthday gift for a friend
>”I can shrinkwrap a used copy”
>SPECIFICALLY ASK FOR A NEW, SEALED COPY
>dude tries to push “protection plan”
>say “no”
>dude continues his “protection plan” spiel
>say “no” again
>dude won’t shut up about the “protection plan”
>SAY “NO” ONE MORE GODDAMN TIME
>dude slips flyer into the bag about trade-in bullshit
>take bag and leave before he can ask me about preorder crap
>go to Future Shop
>find a game I’m looking for on the shelf
>game’s priced higher than the store’s website says it is
>ask a clerk about it
>she looks it up and tells me that yes, I’m right
>tells me that it’s actually supposed to be on liquidation, so she’ll give me 25% off the lower price
>smile and thank her
>continue browsing while she goes to speak to the cashier
>proceed to checkout
>tell cashier that the clerk told me it’s 25% off
>cashier says, “I can make that 50% if you’d like”
>gladly pay up
>thank her
>be glad I went to Future Shop
>would — make that WILL — gladly return to Future Shop later
>will keep giving Future Shop my business
FUCKING GAMESTOP

Seriously.  I mean, I enjoy fraudulent business practices as much as the next guy, but this is completely ridiculous.  I’m irritated beyond reason right about now.  It annoys me to no end that, here in Canada, Xenoblade Chronicles will ONLY be available at Gamestop.  I would really rather not give them my business, but damn, I need those Chronicles.  Their pre-order artbook’d better be good.