Gamestop refuses to sell games to students with bad grades.

[benji]

"He needs to be reading a book. He knows how to play Madden before he knows how to do his ABCs and 123s - that's backwards!" said GameStop manager Brandon Scott.

Scott manages a popular GameStop in south Dallas - and started a new policy this summer on his own.

No school-age customer can buy a video game unless an adult confirms that the child's getting good grades in school.
...
And Scott has other unwritten policies.

"They know when they come in here, they do not curse, they do not use the N-word, pull your clothes up," Scott said.

He's even pledged to buy any video for a student on one condition.

"If you give me straight As with your teachers signature, endorsing it and your parent up here, I'll buy you a brand new game," Scott said.

"I was like, man he's going lose his job! But no I don't think so because I think there's got to be a point at which you put the kids and the value of education over the dollar," said Ann Fields.

Store only sells video games to kids with good grades

[J@3]

Well I guess the Asians are in luck then. Feel sorry for Joe-70IQ who can't spell his own name but set a kill record on Halo 2 on Xbox Live.

[BigKaboom2]

Well he's as good as fired - and with that I'm off to go get Skate from Gamestop. Maybe I should bring my grades

[Christopherson]

I doubt that he will get fired. Since this is a public story, the last thing a company wants is to be seen firing employees who speak out about wanting kids to get good grades. I'm sure they'll repriman him privatley as well as make a statement recinding his promises about not selling games to kids with bad grades or giving free games to kids with good grades.

[JT_55]

"If you give me straight As with your teachers signature, endorsing it and your parent up here, I'll buy you a brand new game," Scott said.

*gasp* *shreik* Is this true? See you guys in south Dallas...

[Fitzy]

thats a good incentive a spose, probably not for store profit though

[[Q]]

what's up with this trend of video game retailers becoming people's consciences? and over store profits? I understand the policy of most retailers not selling games to kids under 17, but that really needs to apply only to the GTA games. people who rate games for the ERSB are dumbasses. but for grades??? c'mon, let the kids play.

[benji]

Well, a lot of those bans against kids under 17 are state laws. Which is slightly different. Although only Wal-Mart and Gamestop adhere to it as nationwide company policy.

[JaoSming]

He got suspended

[maceo24]

I doubt that he will get fired. Since this is a public story, the last thing a company wants is to be seen firing employees who speak out about wanting kids to get good grades. I'm sure they'll repriman him privatley as well as make a statement recinding his promises about not selling games to kids with bad grades or giving free games to kids with good grades.

That's not what he said though. He said he would BUY the kid a game, which implies he would go out of his own pocket to buy the game for the kid. Which isnt such a bad thing after all because he gets a discount when he buys it himself.

I applaud the guy for having a stance and sticking to his guns. Gamestop would be shooting themselves in the foot for getting rid of this guy. Besides, the positive press this has garnered probably just ensured that he keeps this job, and his store will see a business INCREASE. People will make special trips to his store based on meeting the guy.

[cheater1034]

That's a good policy, but the company's going to make money so maybe not such a good policy.

[Andrew]

I applaud the guy for having a stance and sticking to his guns. Gamestop would be shooting themselves in the foot for getting rid of this guy. Besides, the positive press this has garnered probably just ensured that he keeps this job, and his store will see a business INCREASE. People will make special trips to his store based on meeting the guy.

I see what you're saying, but just because he has a stance and is sticking to guns doesn't necessarily make him right. I'm not sure about the store seeing an increase in business if customers are being turned away. I'm sure a lot of people are impressed with the social conscience he has displayed but I'm sure others aren't happy with the self-righteousness and will prefer to take their business elsewhere where their custom isn't conditional. I can't imagine the higher-ups would be too thrilled about that loss of revenue.

As good as his intentions may have been, the suspension is justified in my opinion. If he was running his own independant game store then he can implement any policy he wishes. However, there is a higher level of management he has to answer to and he clearly did not have authorisation to implement such a policy.

[Mazzocchi]

GameStop baby! Woooo!