GameStop to warn customers of pre-owned online pass

by Ben Salter Featured 10 Comments 16 Votes 658 Views 11/04/2012 Back to News

US retailer GameStop will need to inform Californian customers about online pass fees associated with pre-owned games before they make a purchase.

GameStop stores will need to place signs on pre-owned shelves with all of the online pass information for at least the next two years.

The new rule is the result of a class action lawsuit that alleged GameSpot was misleading customers to maximise profits by not warning them about online pass fees, reports Kotaku.

"We are pleased that as a result of this lawsuit, we were able to obtain complete restitution for consumers, with actual money paid out to people who were harmed by GameStop's conduct," commented prosecuting attorney Mark Pifko.

"The in-store and online warnings are an important benefit under the settlement as well, because if GameStop discloses the truth to consumers, it is unlikely that they will be able to continue selling used copies of certain games for only $5 less than the price of a new copy."

A similar ruling could soon be made in other US states.

By Ben Salter - Tweet @Ben_Salter

Link to us http://360.mmgn.com/News/GameStop-to-warn-customers-of-pre-owned

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GameStop to warn customers of pre-owned online pass Comments

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Kudos: 35,205

Tyrus

Seems logical. Don't know why Gamestop would bother as a collective to go through a class-action law suit just to inform customers of online-passes. It's not that much of a hassle.

11/04/2012

Senior Games Writer and Reviewer for MMGN and GamesFix. Twitter: @nathmisa.

Kudos: 15,186

Loupek

Tyrus said: Seems logical. Don't know why Gamestop would bother as a collective to go through a class-action law suit just to inform customers of online-passes. It's not that much of a hassle.

Really?

Did you read the article?

GameStop were the defendants in the class action and have been ordered by a court to provide the details

11/04/2012

Canberra, ACT

Kudos: 186,102

Heller

@Loupek is back!

HELL YEAH [MOG]

11/04/2012

Melbourne, Victoria

Kudos: 540

PS3sR2Dear

Umm, what's an "online-pass" ?

11/04/2012

Australia - In my TARDIS.

Kudos: 84,356

renagadez

I think it's referring to DLC. As in the pre-owned games that are advertised with a free DLC. In most cases, the DLC code has already been used so it's misleading for the consumer who thinks it will come with free DLC.

11/04/2012

Sydney, New South Wales

Kudos: 15,186

Loupek

Heller said: @Loupek is back!
HELL YEAH

Haha, kids are sick so I'm home to look after them

11/04/2012

Canberra, ACT

Kudos: 35,205

Tyrus

Loupek said:
Tyrus said: Seems logical. Don't know why Gamestop would bother as a collective to go through a class-action law suit just to inform customers of online-passes. It's not that much of a hassle.

Really?
Did you read the article?
GameStop were the defendants in the class action and have been ordered by a court to provide the details

I did read the article, I just probably didn't word my comment properly. I meant why would Gamespot bother going through/defending themselves in a class-action law suit against doing something as logical as informing consumers of used online-passes in their pre-owned games.

They should have just did it in the first place when people started complaining and the online-passes started becoming commonplace. They could have avoided all this mess. Well, the Californian branch, anyway.

11/04/2012

Senior Games Writer and Reviewer for MMGN and GamesFix. Twitter: @nathmisa.

Kudos: 49,906

SevenII

It is pretty messy. I guess it could be seen as a good thing, it serves as a reminder to other companies not to try the same.

I'm not sure if I've ever been warned over the counter from one of our local stores either, now that I think of it. :S

11/04/2012

Far side of the world... (Sydney)

Kudos: 10,983

tommo47

Tyrus said: ]
I did read the article, I just probably didn't word my comment properly. I meant why would Gamespot bother going through/defending themselves in a class-action law suit against doing something as logical as informing consumers of used online-passes in their pre-owned games.
They should have just did it in the first place when people started complaining and the online-passes started becoming commonplace. They could have avoided all this mess. Well, the Californian branch, anyway.

The reason they didn't do it is because then people wouldn't buy pre-owned, hence GameStop don't make money. Seems rather black and white.

11/04/2012

MMGN.com - how else did you expect this post to have got here?

Kudos: 36,084

Rashy

SevenII said: It is pretty messy. I guess it could be seen as a good thing, it serves as a reminder to other companies not to try the same.
I'm not sure if I've ever been warned over the counter from one of our local stores either, now that I think of it.

JB has signs up stating that DLC may have been used. They're the only store I've seen do this though.

12/04/2012

Sydney

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