I am the Doctor wrote:I suspect that this may just be your store. I know here in the Atlanta area that GameStop is opening up several movie-only stores entitled MovieStop, most next door to GameStops. There's also nothing mentioned at all on Gamestop's website about phasing out DVDs.
You won't find it mentioned on GameStop's website. It was a Corporate decision. I know this because I work for GameStop--I've been a mgr-in-training for about 6 weeks now, and they are indeed phasing DVDs out of stores. Most mall stores have transfered their DVD titles to non-mall locations due to mall stores being generally smaller. They needed to free up the floor space for other product.
Also, there was far too much abuse when they offered cash for DVDs, and even with trade-ins only many stores were flooded with stolen DVDs because stores like Walmart have seriously lax security. Trust me on this--I've worked with three different GameStop stores, and sadly it's very true.
I had a customer Wednesday bring a game in--still sealed in the package--demanding a full cash refund without a receipt, swearing to me that his mother had bought it from GameStop, when there very clearly was a Wal-Mart price sticker on the front of the package.
And it's mostly because petty thieves like these have abused trade-in/cash back policy with GameStop that they are phasing DVDs out. Besides, GameStop does 3x (and more) volume in trades on games than they ever did on DVDs, so the decision wasn't surprising to me.
Furthermore, GameStop does not own MovieStop. It is a spin-off company but it's a wholly separate corporate entity, and only affiliated with GameStop as a "brother company", as they put it. Employee discounts are reciprocated between the two, and occassionally we have employees who transfer from GS to MS, and vice versa. GameStop has some 4500+ stores, while MovieStop's got less than 100 last I heard.
I do not know how soon it will be before GameStop completely phases out carrying DVDs. Many stores like the one I'm currently at still have a lot of product, and we still accept trades. But other stores in the same district have stopped accepting trades per Corporate and have transfered their DVD inventories to other stores.
roswellian wrote:Maybe they will put their dvd's on sale to clean out the selection.
They already have. Since February GameStop stores that do carry DVDs are currently offering "Buy Two, Get One Free" promos, and a select number of stores with excess inventory are actually offering "Buy Two, Get TWO Free".
Doctor, you said you live in Atlanta-- you should visit the store in Winder. They are one of the stores offering B2/G2 Free, and I heard from the store's mgr earlier in the week that they had "a lot of Disney titles in stock" (his own words). I'm headed over there Friday to see what they have since that store is just a couple miles from the house my wife and I will be moving into next month.
I trained at the Buford store next to the Mall of Georgia, and was recently transfered to the Collins Hill store in Lawrenceville since they're understaffed and without a mgr. If you're in the area, stop by and say hello. We've got a ton of DVDs left, although we're only doing the B2/G1 Free promo. And I helped alphabetize the whole DVD section last week, and I'd guess that there are a couple dozen different Disney/Touchstone titles available. But they're going fast. Yesterday, I rang up a customer who was thrilled to get preowned copies of "Finding Nemo", "Lady & The Tramp", and "The Incredibles" all for a total of $20+ tax.
brotherbear wrote:This actually makes me REALLY sad, because GameStop and EBGames are my #1 source to get OOP DVD's for cheap!
Not to sound cliché, but I feel your pain. I buy pre-owned 90% of the time because I hate paying retail prices (and Disney's prices are usually higher even than standard retail prices).
I was disappointed to learn about this when I first started working at GameStop, because I had bought a lot of used DVDs there as well and I was looking forward to using my employee discount.
You might check to see if there is a CD Warehouse in your area (see cdwarehouse.com for locations). About 40% of their "used" inventory is DVDs, and there are three locations within 20 minutes of where I live. I've probably bought 70% of my pre-owned Disney DVDs there, and they're nearly always in great condition--even with the original slipcovers and inserts, and most of them for 50% off and more from the original list price.
So I don't think this will effect me much..
(Unless they don't over here at the outlet mall)... 
