Video game retail company GameStop will be closing their store interiors to the public and moving to a digital and pick-up system only. This news comes after multiple reports have surfaced indicating GameStop is handling the current outbreak of coronavirus in a less than ideal manner, culminating in a leaked audio clip which appeared to show GameStop executives forcing their stores to stay open and ignore their government's recommendations.
As the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak continues to make its way across the globe, many industries and businesses are experiencing losses of both income and employees. In California earlier last week, GameStop attempted to keep themselves open while most of the other entertainment-related stores in the state shut down, with the company stating they didn't need to close because it considered itself "essential retail." Now, however, it appears as if GameStop's executives are trying a different approach.
According to a news release on GameStop's official website, the company will immediately begin initiating a system which will "close customer access to U.S. storefronts and will process orders on a digital only basis." This not only applies to GameStop stores which are currently under quarantine but to all locations in the United States. The new rules will allow players to drive up to the store to pick up their games, but the orders must be processed online. GameStop's CEO, George Sherman, states that "We believe it is prudent to institute further safety protocols while meeting this increased demand through curbside pick-up."
Players can still purchase games via GameStop's online website or their mobile app, but they will either have to pick up their products outside of the store or have them delivered to their home. The company also announced that GameStop "will pay all U.S. employees whose hours have been eliminated an additional two weeks at their regular pay rate" and that they will also "reimburse all benefit eligible U.S. employees one month of the employee portion of benefit expenses." The company statement ends by saying that they will provide additional details and information about how operations will continue moving forward when the 2019 fiscal year and fourth quarter reports are released on March 26th, 2020.
While all of the actions taken by GameStop here are important for the health and well-being of their employees and customers, not to mention those people's families, it's hard not to feel like these motions are too little, too late from the company. No matter why the decisions were ultimately arrived at, it strongly appears to the public as if GameStop only decided to start caring about the safety of their employees and customers after being called out for their dangerous practices, and the fact that they waited until after the releases of both DOOM Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons only adds credence to such a theory. Hopefully, the ire that GameStop has received from fans will serve as a lesson to other companies during this coronavirus pandemic, and no one else will try and stay open until the last minute just to make a little bit more money.
Source: GameStop