The Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) has revealed the winners for its annual Retailer of the Year awards, and not too surprisingly, in the video game category GameStop (the world's biggest gaming retailer) took top honors. Amazon.com was also honored for its DVD/Blu-ray business, while Hollywood at Home was given the Independent Retailer award and Hastings Entertainment, Inc. won the Chairman's Award.
The awards are voted on by colleagues "based on business practices, operational policies, marketing and merchandising programs, customer service, and involvement in EMA."
“The award winners are recognized in the home entertainment industry as the leaders of their trade,” stated EMA President and CEO Bo Andersen. “EMA honors and commends the chosen merchants for their steadfast dedication to delivering an exceptional consumer experience and providing positive models for the industry.”
“Each of the selected retailers has distinguished itself in the marketplace and serves as an example of the best in home entertainment retailing,” added EMA Chairman Bob Geistman of Ingram Entertainment. “They are a credit to our industry.”
We're not sure if publishers, resentful of GameStop's used business, would classify the retailer as "providing positive models for the industry," but GameStop remains a major, major partner for most game companies and has done much to fuel sales for the industry as well.
4 Comments
7 months ago
This is a joke right? Gamestop is by far the worst video game retailer out there. There are many reasons for this. The customer service is horrible, they almost never know what they are talking about. I have gone in and asked for beta codes or other things that you are suppose to receive when you pre order a game, and they act all confused and have no idea what I'm talking about. Many times (atleast in upstate NY) they never get the games as early as GameCrazy.The trade in credit they give you is less then both FYE and GameCrazy. The amount they charge for used games is insane. To think they will take advantage of gamers and take a game like (just an example) MLB the Show and give me 25 bucks for then turn around throw it on there shelf and sell it for 54 dollars is just wrong. But thanks to awards like this we can never expect a change in there buisness model, because according to people in the industry they are doing a good job. How about you leave awards like this for the consumers to decide.
7 months ago
Well perhaps Hal Halpin and the ECA can do some online polling and host their own awards for consumers to decide.
7 months ago
I would agree with odiuy on this one. Here in Ireland a lot of Gamestop stores are god awful. I've been only to two Gamestop stores here in this country that are actually good, and the rest are just terrible. In the rest the staff are horrible and mean.
Not only that but you get a lot less for your trade-ins and they cost a lot more on the shelf, nearing enough to a brand spanking new title. For example:
Street Fighter IV (previously played): €34
Street Fighter IV (new): €38
A €4 difference?! Good lord, I wonder what the person received when they traded in the game!!
It's better then the rival Game, but not by much here in Ireland.
7 months ago
Apparently the EMA reps never visited Gamestop stores in this state. Otherwise the award would have went to someone else.
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