GAME Australia Goes Into Administration

[News Portal]

You may recall that GAME in the UK recently went through some financial difficulties and were then bought out. Many wondered what this would mean for the Australian arm of the retailer, but were reassured that they were seeking 'viable alternative options'. Finally, though, the hammer has fallen this morning, with GAME stores around the country receiving emails stating the company had gone into administration. While the news is confirmed, there are no further details, apart from the fact that the stores will not be receiving their copies of Diablo III due to payment issues.

Source: Kotaku AU

Read full article by GON News

[PalZer0]

RIP games retail competition in Australia.

Better get to my local store quickly to use the credit on my rewards card.

[Chucky]

EB are going to lap this up

My local GameTraders closed on the weekend as well. According to the salesman it is just that store, but if GameTraders go out of business as well, EB will price hike everything.

[Jimmah]

RIP games retail competition in Australia.

Better get to my local store quickly to use the credit on my rewards card.

Retail competition only works when it is sustainable.

GAME had absolutely stupid operating procedures - loss leading trade-ins, crazy sales and so forth. Trying to buy customer loyalty in an industry which basically has none is ridiculous. Add to that having JB & BigW coming in with their market muscle and selling things barely above cost...

Jimmah

[Jimmah]

EB are going to lap this up

My local GameTraders closed on the weekend as well. According to the salesman it is just that store, but if GameTraders go out of business as well, EB will price hike everything.

Most GT stores are franchises so an individual store closing isn't necessarily any indication of the overall market - if it was in a Westfield it would probably simply be because of the hikes in rent.

EB only competes on certain items anyway - most titles in EB are full RRP whenever I go in there - all it will lead to is people shopping more online/at JB or BigW.

Jimmah

[Chucky]

if it was in a Westfield it would probably simply be because of the hikes in rent.

Indeed it was at a Westfield, so you could be on the money.

EB only competes on certain items anyway

They have always priced matched on everything I have ever asked them to? IF GAME, GameTraders, JB, BigW had a sale, they would match the price if you asked.

[Jimmah]

Indeed it was at a Westfield, so you could be on the money.

EB only competes on certain items anyway

They have always priced matched on everything I have ever asked them to? IF GAME, GameTraders, JB, BigW had a sale, they would match the price if you asked.

Rents at Westfield continue to go up even when retail sales are down. In the last five years I know of one store that has had its rent go up ~60-70k.

That's true - I was referring to general shelf pricing. Personally I never shop at EB simply because they don't give good pricing unless you price match.

Jimmah

[neferseki]

You might not like it but try shopping online from now on instead of at EB games.
Dunno bout you but if i were to $100 on each new game id have to wait maybe 2 weeks to save up enough money to buy a new game. Or i could buy online for $30-40 and get the game in 1 - 2 weeks time anyway only i've saved $60-70.

[Chucky]

I do shop online, actually generally a day doesn't go by where I don't buy something from somewhere in the world

But occasionally I impulse buy, so I might be at EB's or any of the game related stores where I just want something now, So I buy it now

That's true - I was referring to general shelf pricing. Personally I never shop at EB simply because they don't give good pricing unless you price match.

Yeah that is a fair call, TBH, I rarely find EB's are competitive on anything unless I get them to price match.

[CJGordon]

Never liked game, only ever went into the stores when I browse other stores nearby, and when I do go in the guys all seem to be up themselves and treat customers like a burden they just want to get rid of, from my experience with them.

On a good note, the gametraders here is awesome, even if I don't go in to buy games etc, they are great for anime and/or collectibles and replica items.

And like Jimmah said, Gametraders is a franchise, so if one gets hurt and flops all the others would be fine.

[debri]

They're pc game's section (like most retailers) was a joke. I can't speak for the console side of things.

[Matty]

They're pc game's section (like most retailers) was a joke. I can't speak for the console side of things.

It was like everyone else really.
Except recently when they couldn't get copies of new release games because they couldn't pay for it.

[nafem]

They're pc game's section (like most retailers) was a joke. I can't speak for the console side of things.

It was like everyone else really.
Except recently when they couldn't get copies of new release games because they couldn't pay for it.

No point keeping PC titles on shelf, not with steam etc, either preorder special prices or online discounts.

Retailers dont give discount for preorders, its probaly a flaw in retail system, they should be offering discounts for preordering, maybe more people would do it then.

Dont see why u would preorder for normal price to see it in a specials catalog on release day for cheaper (consoles), its not like you will miss out buying the game, always enough copies around. dont understand it to be honest, collecters edditions etc i can see why as its limited.

havnt brought PC game for years from retail, if its a good game i preorder on steam and lap up the discount or on cd key sites. i look for best price, which in return means i can buy more and more games.

[XViper]

The only time you can get a decent price at EB is when they price match.
When there are no other retail stores at which to price match, EB games will just continue to exploit those willing to pay the high $.

Too bad they'll never get a cent from me. Retail game industry in Australia = fail.

[Ivan]

I have an online pre-order of the CE Diablo III

I got up this morning and checked and the status of the order now says “packed” so i guess this is good news, though i’m still waiting to see if it will move to “shipped” or “posted” i haven’t done an online order from GAME before so i don’t know if you normally get a “posted” or “shipped” update, or if they even post it the day before release in order to secure delivery for the actual day of release or if they post in on release day and you get your copy a day or two later (which would suck)

Reason i did it this way was because most of the CE editions were gone when i decided to buy this last month and this was one of the last options to still get it, now i’m nervous even though it says packed.

Can anyone else verify the order the the “status” updates? which one is next and by previous experience, when should it arrive if trading was normal? Also with online ordered, who can i call to verify?

I also got a tax invoice emailled to me, more good news? but my VISA card has yet to be charge beyond the initial $10 deposit.

Ivan

UPDATE 1: For anyone else happy to stick to the topic and looking for info, i got this reply on another website:

"I also have never bought online through GAME. My CE order also says “Packed” and on their website they do state preorder any game and recieve it on the day it is released. I called the head office and they told me Diablo 3 online orders are all going out, Max Payne order might have problems.

Take that as you will."

UPDATE 2: Now moved to shipped, oddly though, Shipping date has been backdated to the 11th May (Friday) so i might see it today? I feel a little better that preorders may still be honored despite what some websites are saying about online orders.