UK retailer, GAME, have admitted to directing staff to buy Nintendo 3DS units from Tesco to then sell them in-store as pre-owned stock.
This is failry common practice for independent game stores, who use the grocers as a cheaper alternative to mainstream distribution channels.
Tesco offered a competitive rate for the 3DS at launch, with a price of just £175 when bought with a game. A document sent to store staff regarding the matter read “whilst we are unable to competitively match this offer in terms of a mint price, it offers a great opportunity to gain 3DS consoles and games for your store’s pre-owned stock.”
£1049.50 was authorised for removal from GAME tills per trip to Tesco; the equivalent of five bundles. “Your store can do this trip multiple times,” said the document.
A GAME spokesperson said: “Some of our stores wanted to move quickly last weekend to build their pre-owned stocks of 3DS at the same time as their local competitors, so we gave them a process to do that. It was not mandatory, and happened in small volumes.”
Cheeky, cheeky.
Thanks to CVG for the info.
