Gamestop store closing tracker

[Teh_Lurv | 254]

http://gsclosing.blogspot.com/

Handy webpage someone linked over on the CheapAssGamer forums. It has a list of the current Gamestops scheduled to be closed within the next few weeks that are running liquidation sales. The list isn't complete, it includes the Brockton, MA store but not the Taunton Galleria mall or Bridgewater locations which are also shutting down. YMMV of course on leftover inventory and current mark-downs.

[Startyde | 175]

My GS of 14 years in Woburn MA is closing. When I was last there in Dec, they proudly advertised a corporate award for excellence on the front door. I went there this weekend, place is in shambles and the owner looks catatonic. It's a damn shame.

[Teh_Lurv | 254]

I overheard the cashier talking with a regular; he mentioned he's quitting the company once the store closes, he doesn't expect Gamestop as a whole to last too much longer.

[Startyde | 175]

It's definitely in a death spiral. It's like those pop up Halloween Stores that show up around Oct, GS is a seasonal entity, and the season of buying nearly full priced used physical games is coming to an end. They may be able to survive as a more intimate retro game store with a much smaller footprint, but I don't know.

Edited January 6, 2020 by Startyde

[Link | 2,768]

The two stores I used to hit regularly both closed. I had little enough reason to go there when they weren’t out of my way. Now it’s rare for me to go even once a year. 

Edited January 6, 2020 by Link

[PineappleLawnchair | 88]

Amazingly, only one store in my entire state has ever been closed according to that entire blog. Meanwhile the state next to it has tons of closings all over. Man though, i'd hate to see my local GS close, it's practically the only place in town where i can find used games at decent prices, though the prices for new games suck ass.

[jonebone | 1,307]

I'm an actual investor in Gamestop stock with more than I care to admit this point and the store closings are long overdue.  It's merely consolidation and the company still has a very strong financial sheet with tons of liquid cash.  They aren't in danger of going entirely under and with the release of PS5 / next gen Xbox that are both physical and backwards compatible, I believe they easily make it through the next generation at least.  Now 5+ or 10+ years?  That could be another story I agree.

The latest earnings report reiterated two points:

1) Close down unprofitable stores or stores that are minimally profitable with overlap.  (I.e. if two stores in a 5 mile radius that are minimally profitable, close one and force traffic to one location).

2) Reduce inventory on hand.  Effect of this should be more frequent sales and boosting revenue to help buy time for next 3-4 quarters until next gen is here.  This one I agree is a bit risky... it gives you an illusionary effect of higher revenue but will barely impact profits.  If you're blowing out $10 games at $5 just to sell them it also eliminates inventory that you can sell later.

Time will tell, but I don't see the death spiral as imminent. 

[Romiked2689 | 120]

Mine just closed down but they have had rumors for the last year at least of closure. The store was usually empty.

[CodysGameRoom | 2,009]

I like buying pop culture novelty items there. Not much going on game-wise that pertains to my interests though.

[Silent Hill | 276]

Nothing has closed or is set to close in the Columbus as of yet. Kind of surprising since there are so many around, but perhaps they are all doing well enough. 

[TDIRunner | 2,791]

Nothing close to me, and only two in the St. Louis area on the entire list.  

 

So I'm curious, when the close a store down, are the clearance sales any good, or do they just ship the good inventory to the remaining stores and just discount the stuff no one wants anyway?  

[Teh_Lurv | 254]

5 minutes ago, TDIRunner said:

So I'm curious, when the close a store down, are the clearance sales any good, or do they just ship the good inventory to the remaining stores and just discount the stuff no one wants anyway?  

It could be different with Gamestop, but typically the store sells off it's current inventory. Store closing sales typically aren't where you get the best deals at first. The store will jack everything back up to full price before applying the store-wide discount. You usually need to wait until the store has raised the discount, but by then most of the best stuff is gone.

[arch_8ngel | 1,597]

Just now, Teh_Lurv said:

It could be different with Gamestop, but typically the store sells off it's current inventory. Store closing sales typically aren't where you get the best deals at first. The store will jack everything back up to full price before applying the store-wide discount. You usually need to wait until the store has raised the discount, but by then most of the best stuff is gone.

It also depends on vendor contracts, like when Toys R Us went through their closing of all stores, their hands were tied for how deeply they could discount certain brands (LEGO, for instance).

[TDIRunner | 2,791]

Just now, Teh_Lurv said:

It could be different with Gamestop, but typically the store sells off it's current inventory. Store closing sales typically aren't where you get the best deals at first. The store will jack everything back up to full price before applying the store-wide discount. You usually need to wait until the store has raised the discount, but by then most of the best stuff is gone.

More or less what I expected.  It's been a long time since I've found a good deal at any store closing liquidation sale.  

[silverjazzzoo | 1]

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf1Wt2HEllOSeQzKz2-GNDA

 

This guy is being threatened by GS management.

[BouncekDeLemos | 82]

I used to work at a game store, but I lost that job now that things are like they are. However, I'm currently working at a liquor store which got me thinking... What about a game store that sells something that would make people want to get off their butts? Coffee? Alcohol? Lottery?... Hookers? I think Gamestop's tried something like that by making lounging areas, but I don't know how successful they are.

Worked for arcades, now called "barcades" or "beercades" and they've seemed alright.

I've joked about this before, but how about a game store that delivers pizza? Buy SMB3, a large pizza, and get a free 2 liter Coke. 

I've got dreams, man.

[MrWunderful | 2,927]

4 minutes ago, BouncekDeLemos said:

I used to work at a game store, but I lost that job now that things are like they are. However, I'm currently working at a liquor store which got me thinking... What about a game store that sells something that would make people want to get off their butts? Coffee? Alcohol? Lottery?... Hookers? I think Gamestop's tried something like that by making lounging areas, but I don't know how successful they are.

Worked for arcades, now called "barcades" or "beercades" and they've seemed alright.

I've joked about this before, but how about a game store that delivers pizza? Buy SMB3, a large pizza, and get a free 2 liter Coke. 

I've got dreams, man.

Theres your million dollar idea!

[BouncekDeLemos | 82]

3 hours ago, MrWunderful said:

Theres your million dollar idea!

That I just squandered posting it up out there for the world to see. lol

If I only had the startup.  hahaha

[darkchylde28 | 1,546]

10 hours ago, BouncekDeLemos said:

That I just squandered posting it up out there for the world to see. lol

If I only had the startup.  hahaha

A friend suggested something similar to me several years back, floating the idea of a general restaurant/hang out spot that featured video games to play (or buy) as well as space for other types of gaming as well.  Nothing ever came of it, but so long as the prices weren't crazy, I'd definitely spend time becoming a regular at a place like that.

[Makar | 1,964]

Welp I guess the days of getting cheap DS games is coming to an end. Hate GameStop all you want; their pre-owned prices for a lot of games were cheaper than eBay and Amazon. 

Edited January 9, 2020 by Makar

[Inzoreno | 102]

It's really going to depend on if I am able to finally get me a better job this year. I really want to get into collecting CIB SNES games, as it's my favorite retro console, but that just depends on if things improve this year. If not and I'm still stuck at my sucky job, then it's just continuing with PS4 and PS3 collecting. 

[arch_8ngel | 1,597]

So their big story today was that 2019 holiday sales dropped 27%+ from 2018.

Brutal.

[a3quit4s | 4,140]

People saying that GME stock will bounce back but I don’t see it. Can’t make money reselling games if physical games aren’t going to be a thing anymore. No one is buying enough yoshi dolls and think geek crap to keep them going. 
 

Investors putting in money now for when they have a short term surge when next gen consoles release and sell The stock before its falls down again and GME won’t recover again after. 

[Astor Reinhardt | 199]

Oof...I gotta poor one out for my local store that closed at the start of last year...I'd been going to that place since I was a kid. I was kinda sad to see it go...end of an era you know?

It's freaking weird how the one nearby in the local mall stayed open though The mall isn't exactly jumping with people...and neither is that tiny Gamestop...

[captmorgandrinker | 1,651]

I'm still shocked that there's two stores a literal mile apart near me and the smaller one hasn't shut down.   It must get enough traffic to justify staying open.