Hidden "treasures"

Entry posted by H.E.R.O. August 2, 2010

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EB Games was famous for taking trade-ins (at usually sucky prices for mad markups later) and a big trade-in item was the Playstation 2. As many know, there was a space inside to put a hard drive. After one particular experience where the customer asked for the system back for a moment, opened the door on the back and grabbed something out of it, I made the crew start opening the door to check for anything we probably would not want other customers to have before resale. Here is the top ten list in no particular order.

1. new condoms

2. used condom (we all skeezed on that one and refused to take the system. The person called the corporate office and they said he was sick. We laughed.)

3. 2oz bag of pot (and they came running back next day)

4. small bag of cocaine (never came back. We sent that crap down the toilet)

5. $1000 in cash (Them I called and they came in and gave me $100 of it for my honesty, which then I distributed amongst the crew...they made sucky wages so why not)

6. pictures of a naked woman (who apparently ended up being his mom and he was selling the pics at school)

7. cheat sheet for a calculus exam

8. half a PB&J sandwich (We didn't ask)

9. report card (while the system was checked, the mother was standing right there. Fail (in more ways than one))

10. pair of women's panties (Older woman in her 60's said for my employee to "keep those as a bonus"...he ran in the back room screaming and then dry heaving).

And now, the 3 best and worst companies for free swag at EB manager conventions!

BEST!

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1. Microsoft - Free Xbox one show, free multiple games every year and bonus swag, sent us Xmas presents. God bless their hearts

2. Sega - Free Dreamcast one year, multiple games, cool doo-dads every show

3. Nintendo - Free GBA with multiple games one year and free N64 and Gamecube games

WORST

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1. Sony - Nothing except some 989 sports the final show I was there. They said we didn't deserve free PS2's so they were pariahs at the vendor show until EB forced managers to go to the Sony booth

2. Acclaim - The gave lots of games (in store as well) but it was all crap. Lots of Mary Kate & Ashley GBC games, BMX XXX and just a whole lotta suck

3. EA - Copies of Sims which by that point everyone who wanted it had it. Never anything else any other show.

I can't ever complain about the shows themselves. Free rooms and food at the MGM Grand and Bellaggio in Vegas is nothing to sneeze at. Florida was cool as well staying at both Disney hotels, the Swan and the Dolphins. We had one show in Philly to see the corporate office and we were all pissed because we missed a Vegas turn. Worse was the 1st Vegas show I would go to was a month or so after 9/11 so people were scared. Some managers didn't even show for the flight. The DM asked if I was scared and I said "Yes...scared I won't have enough time at the blackjack tables!". All anyone ever looked forward to was the vendor show and classes for the free swag. I remember when Sony said "no free PS2's" but Sega gave us Dreamcasts and games, every class would chant "SEGA SEGA SEGA" and the Sony reps would look sooooo pissed. No company more than Sony treated us like were less than crap and honestly, the sales reflected that. A little respect from them and things would probably have been better and they learned than next show around (my last and worst show ever). Nowadays, Gamestop brings people to either Texas or Florida and from what I understand, people can't even leave the hotels they stay in. Pretty ridiculous.