>>12164336
Basically if the disk/cart has (supposedly) never been played they consider it "new", even if it's missing it's case and (back when games still had them) manual. I remember once I tried to buy a Sonic game new, a GameStop I went to said they had it... then the employee comes holding a loose cart. I would not have bought it like that even used, but he actually insisted that it was "new" and never been played despite missing everything and wanted to charge me the "new" price. This is even more absurd if you are ever stupid enough to buy a game listed as "new" on their website, because that policy is still in effect on their online store. It's a complete crapshoot if you get an actually never opened game or just a disk in a loose paper sleeve.
At least when you are in their physical store you can see if the game is opened or missing anything before buying it, even for used games you could request if they still have the case and manual and say no if they didn't, but on their site even a "new" game can be less complete than used and there is nothing you can do about it. ANY other major online store, when you buy a game listed as new you are getting a sealed unopened game, NOBODY else pulls that stunt, even if they also sell used games like Amazon does (not counting resellers trying to rip people off).
There is of course also no distinction in prices for how complete a used game is, a loose disk costs the same as a game with the disk, manual, case, and even anything else it may have come with. You have no control or say in what they send you online, or recourse if they screw you over, I can't imagine how horrible a state some used consoles they ship out online for the same price as a near-pristine used console must have arrived in... for the same price.
For YEARS people complained about this and GameStop basically just refused to acknowledge the complaints or do anything about it, it's an insane policy that I am shocked has not gotten them sued by now.
