Retailer GAME has cut staff working hours following a company-wide operations review.
Edge-Online was contacted by a number of employees claiming to have had their hours reduced, and received the following comment from the retailer:
"Over the last month we have been reviewing the shift patterns and rotas in our stores to ensure we have the right number of people in place to serve customers throughout the day. We're still going through the review process with our teams in each store, and this week have shared details of the new proposed hours for each store.
"For the overwhelming majority of employees, there has been no or very minimal change to the amount of hours in their contract. However for some, there may be more change, and we are working closely with everyone to support them during this process and period of change."
In February, the store said that it was shut a number of its UK GAME and Gamestation branches, affecting 247 employees.
Earlier today, we reported that GAME has begun placing warning stickers on its pre-owned titles, alerting customers that they won't receive the same DLC bonuses as those who buy new games.
Last month a disgruntled US buyer sued GameStop after realising that the free DLC advertised on his copy of Dragon Age wasn't actually included.
Instead of punishing their staff they should drop their stoopid prices. Then more people with half a brain would shop there and they'd make more money. Boo GAME, boo!
Another company to jump on the 'recession' bandwagon. I have a friend who's been working with GAME for several years, worked his way up the ranks to now be told the same work is expected with less paid hours. Despite this, the game industry is still booming and sales haven't dropped at all. It is incredible that a thriving company like this can claim to be suffering so.
i work for game and as the poster above said it's true they want the same amoutn of work for less pay and it's less about helping people and more about ripping them off or forcing stuff on customers they just don't want like extra warrentys and extra accesorys and what gets me is they expect us to work from minimum wage and less hours and do this all with a smile
I'm curious about how well GAME is actually doing. I never shop there anymore, ever. I either buy all my games via digital distribution, or I buy second-hand (and for second hand games, CeX is way better on price than GAME, with free delivery).
How long is GAME going to remain a viable business model? They surely can't stay alive on the basis of hardware sales alone.
This is probably the last gen of consoles that will have games sold on disc.
If On Live is even partly successful, and given that you can already by games via digital download on WiiS360 it's not a huge jump to assume that retailers will be cut out all together with the next console generation.
Also M$ $ony and Numpty don't like the fact the retailers make huge amounts from games re-sales with nothing going back to the games makers, publishers etc.
So if you work at Game enjoy your time working there it won't last 5 years.
And ever since their acquisition of Gamestation, they've totally screwed them over by 'making' them offer crap trade-in prices and pricing new copies at damned near full RRP.
They hardly ever gave me any hours anyway; they give everyone s**tty little part time contracts like 4 hours or something a week so you're lucky if you get more hours than that, better off on the dole the majority of the time. Although it's funny because I was stuck with four hours a week for a couple of months, (which effectively put me on half the money I would have got on the dole, minus travel costs and with all the fun of actually working, albeit only for four hours) which is apparently my contract hours but I remember signing a slightly better contract of 8 hours, requested to see a copy of the original contract and I'm still waiting to see it. It's all b******s. So glad I went to university!
They hardly ever gave me any hours anyway; they give everyone s**tty little part time contracts like 4 hours or something a week so you're lucky if you get more hours than that, better off on the dole the majority of the time. Although it's funny because I was stuck with four hours a week for a couple of months, (which effectively put me on half the money I would have got on the dole, minus travel costs and with all the fun of actually working, albeit only for four hours) which is apparently my contract hours but I remember signing a slightly better contract of 8 hours, requested to see a copy of the original contract and I'm still waiting to see it. It's all b******s. So glad I went to university!
That's like my contract which is with one of the biggest clothes retailers in the country, it's just good buesiness sense as it saves money, I wouldn't say it's a sign of them going under.
I cant see how Game are doing so bad my local one is alway busy and so is gamestation which i use alot to buy new games as they offer a 10 day exchange!
That's like my contract which is with one of the biggest clothes retailers in the country, it's just good buesiness sense as it saves money, I wouldn't say it's a sign of them going under.
Didn't say it was, mate. But it is a pain in the bottom.
Staff at game are given four hour contracts then targeted like sales staff, They have to offer all the bulls**t at the tills, extra pads blah blah. Just try and buy a console and listen to the sales pitch about extended warranty cover (which is targeted at 40%). Staff are treated like s**t, paid buttons and then expected to smile and offer great customer service, its no wonder the company finds itself in the position it is in.
They do this every few years. I worked at a GAME for 3 years, ended up leaving back in 2007 and left right on the cusp of them doing exactly the same thing. Eventually they'll raise the hours back up, realise they need to cull staff/save money then repeat the cycle.
What's worse is one of the guys I worked with had been there a few years longer than me, great employee but was constantly rejected for management training as they wanted to keep him as a grunt, for no real reason despite the fact he could run the shop better than most the management that is left there now.
They do this every few years. I worked at a GAME for 3 years, ended up leaving back in 2007 and left right on the cusp of them doing exactly the same thing. Eventually they'll raise the hours back up, realise they need to cull staff/save money then repeat the cycle.
What's worse is one of the guys I worked with had been there a few years longer than me, great employee but was constantly rejected for management training as they wanted to keep him as a grunt, for no real reason despite the fact he could run the shop better than most the management that is left there now.
You won't just find these problems in just Game, but a large amount of employers these days.
I see it time after time, the best workers are left to work hard and the laziest people seem to just progress on and on. I don't know how they do it.
If just a few of these lazy people actually wrote a book 'The secret of their success' they'd be rich, but I guess they're too lazy for that.
I have a senior position for a retailer that also operates within the games industry. And the only thing I can say on this subject is as follows. If you think the games industry is booming like is was 12-18 months ago- then you are clearly a f**king idiot.
I worked for GAME for a number of years as a store manager. I recall every year I worked there they reduced the man hours budget. This is nothing new, GAME were and will always be about running each store at the absolute minimum staffing levels whilst selling its product at maximum margin. Not a great deal for the customer.
I work in GAME and we found out about the cuts about 6-7 weeks ago. Once we were told 4 people quit, one being the store manager! Right now we haven’t got enough staff but can’t hire. Also, we haven’t got enough hours and so I have to work tons of freebies. Today, for example, I was paid 9-6 but worked 8-7:30 just because there was too much to do, any we didn’t even have any marketing for new releases to do. We get set up for a full at GAME, giving OOT targets that we won’t hit and if we get near they change them again, paid minimum wage (less when you think of all the free hours) and treated like crap in store by customers. The only reason I haven’t walked out of my management training there is because I need the job, can’t find another and 3 of my brothers and tons of mate are unemployed.
GAME sucks!
(And stop coming into my store trying to give me your CV! I don’t want it! There is no work in GAME!)
GAME. Oh the memories. To be honest, they were getting people in on some days for 3-5 hours back in 2003, so I wouldn't be surprised if they took it to the next level - excuse the pun.
I hope the people who suffer find their feet. A lot of people will hopefully realise that their work is more important than a lame 35% discount - putting the price between online and a sale!
Anyway, I think they'll die out in the next 4 years. Unless they really change things up, technology will get away from them. Initially I was wary of Steam type stuff where you don't get a box to hold and stack on your shelf with all the other gay s**t you collect as a nerd... but Steam rocks.. Shame none of the savings are passed on! (I guess they could be in terms of convenience)
Today, for example, I was paid 9-6 but worked 8-7:30 just because there was too much to do, any we didn’t even have any marketing for new releases to do. We get set up for a full at GAME, giving OOT targets that we won’t hit and if we get near they change them again, paid minimum wage (less when you think of all the free hours) and treated like crap in store by customers. The only reason I haven’t walked out of my management training there is because I need the job, can’t find another and 3 of my brothers and tons of mate are unemployed.
GAME sucks!
(And stop coming into my store trying to give me your CV! I don’t want it! There is no work in GAME!)
Keep a record... and get someone to sign it. Either they pay you or give you lieu days,.. or you burn the f**ker to the ground after swiping a few PS3s!!
There's a staff helpline, I think.. so you might be able to phone that and see if you can get some help... Or speak to your regional manager? Mind you, our regional was a bit of a pretentious c u n t, so perhaps you'd be best taking the consoles! That, or close early and go on strike... lock yourself in with some beer and playboy... maybe get some crack-hookers and live the good life.
When I first started working for GAME (2006) it was actually a decent job, but it's just went slowly downhill as things like GAMECare have been introduced. I'm on an 8 hour contract, haven't had my meeting to discuss any possible changes to my working hours yet and I'm not too optimistic. It's just a sign of the general economic climate but if I happen to find a better job then I'm out of there.
Awful news guys, I know exactly how you feel, I did some part time work for Woolworths before it closed down (not on account of me... well maybe a bit)- the manager was never there and seemed to leave all the work to the duty manager who was about 19. He didn't have a clue what he was doing. I quit 3 months later.
Sorta makes me glad they went under... Hopefully those people went on to find something better. I hate all these big faceless companies dumping all over the 'little guys'.
I fact I'd better stop there or I'll end up ranting all night. Bas*ards the lot of them.
Today, for example, I was paid 9-6 but worked 8-7:30 just because there was too much to do, any we didn’t even have any marketing for new releases to do. We get set up for a full at GAME, giving OOT targets that we won’t hit and if we get near they change them again, paid minimum wage (less when you think of all the free hours) and treated like crap in store by customers. The only reason I haven’t walked out of my management training there is because I need the job, can’t find another and 3 of my brothers and tons of mate are unemployed.
GAME sucks!
(And stop coming into my store trying to give me your CV! I don’t want it! There is no work in GAME!)
Keep a record... and get someone to sign it. Either they pay you or give you lieu days,.. or you burn the f**ker to the ground after swiping a few PS3s!!
There's a staff helpline, I think.. so you might be able to phone that and see if you can get some help... Or speak to your regional manager? Mind you, our regional was a bit of a pretentious c u n t, so perhaps you'd be best taking the consoles! That, or close early and go on strike... lock yourself in with some beer and playboy... maybe get some crack-hookers and live the good life.
Best of luck!
I know you mean well but it is a waste of time. The company don't care and know they can replace me 10 times over if they wanted to.
We get set up for a full at GAME, giving OOT targets that we won’t hit and if we get near they change them again
Yes mate, gamecare going up from 33.3% to 40%, accessories going up from 12% to 20& just because by some miracle you were meeting the insane target they had set before...then you'll have a deputy manager jumping on your back about your acc percentage when you've only been in for an hour...give me a f**king chance, dickhead...
@FASELI. I take it that comment was directed at me. A bit harsh don't you think?
I was stating that based on my local GAMES' sales haven't slowed throughout the economic crisis. I would like to have seen you back up your statement before calling me a f**king idiot.
Granted the GAME I am talking about is one of the more successful stores due to it's location. But as far as I can see, there are more games being released then there has ever been(Especially through this first quarter), consumers are more likely to stop in than go out so a cheap night in with a game seems to be the 'norm' as of late, and with the widespread audience from the birth of the Wii surely this evidents a booming industry.
Maybe my statement is untrue in your opinion, but please back up your statement before dropping vulgar accusations like that.
Today, for example, I was paid 9-6 but worked 8-7:30 just because there was too much to do, any we didn’t even have any marketing for new releases to do. We get set up for a full at GAME, giving OOT targets that we won’t hit and if we get near they change them again, paid minimum wage (less when you think of all the free hours) and treated like crap in store by customers. The only reason I haven’t walked out of my management training there is because I need the job, can’t find another and 3 of my brothers and tons of mate are unemployed.
GAME sucks!
(And stop coming into my store trying to give me your CV! I don’t want it! There is no work in GAME!)
Keep a record... and get someone to sign it. Either they pay you or give you lieu days,.. or you burn the f**ker to the ground after swiping a few PS3s!!
There's a staff helpline, I think.. so you might be able to phone that and see if you can get some help... Or speak to your regional manager? Mind you, our regional was a bit of a pretentious c u n t, so perhaps you'd be best taking the consoles! That, or close early and go on strike... lock yourself in with some beer and playboy... maybe get some crack-hookers and live the good life.
Best of luck!
I know you mean well but it is a waste of time. The company don't care and know they can replace me 10 times over if they wanted to.
You say you're on management training? Does that mean you're on a salary, i assume? In which case the unpaid hours and overwork are just part of the fabulous world of retail management! But in all honesty this is just retail as I know it in any big brand store. Raising targets (Or what they would call Key Performance Indicators) and lowering the staffing budget isn't unique to GAME. At the end of the day retailers just want the most out of their lowest level staff. You'll find it anywhere, its not necessarily a sign of doing badly; just that they think they can do as well or better more economically.
I used to work for Game a long time ago and even then I saw the signs of a greedy and inept company. The team I worked with were on the whole, great. So were my managers. But the powers above didn't have a f**king clue. And I'm glad I jumped ship when I did.
For me, retail in this field - games, DVDs, etc - is finished. It was finished then as far I was concerned (end of 2006). I hated being made to go confront customers as soon as they walked in. I'd studied customer service for over three years as part of my course and that was NOT the way to do and even now, most of Game's drones do it. Online shopping has none of that bullshit and is cheaper to boot. Plus retail looks cheap these days. The decor and everything. It depressing!
Game are a sorry company and while they do have a few good staff at the lower levels, the people in charge are greedy retards so I do hope they go bust.
I do find it funny how we were always told we were going to get bought out by a supermarket and then Game buy out Gamestation
Staff at game are given four hour contracts then targeted like sales staff, They have to offer all the bulls**t at the tills, extra pads blah blah. Just try and buy a console and listen to the sales pitch about extended warranty cover (which is targeted at 40%). Staff are treated like s**t, paid buttons and then expected to smile and offer great customer service, its no wonder the company finds itself in the position it is in.
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