It’s been happening with DVD’s for ages now.

I can’t say I fully beleive they are selling at a loss, because the supermarket giants are usually poised to be able to make deals with their suppliers, making everyone a winner. So even though per unit it appears they are selling with a lower sell than cost, there will probably be a deal in place to receive some units free or even get money back from the supplier.

Guess that explains it then.

I agree that there are substantial differences between games shops and supermarkets. I’m not entirely sure a shop living off trade-ins would survive although I appreciate that service alone also encourages foot-fall.

Supermarkets generally want to sell you food, Game stores want to sell you just games. Supermarkets sell a very limited set of games. Game stores sell a large variety. Supermarkets don’t do trade-ins, Game stores do.

I’m just arguing about the use of the term bully here. Is it damaging – yes but as you said yourself it’s collateral damage. Bullying? – no I don’t see it. If a bully throws something at their target and hits someone else instead were they bullied or an unintentional consequence who got caught up in it?

There is a difference between this and other local shops where the supermarkets offering is exactly the same as the smaller shop. However as detailed above there is a ig difference between what the supermarkets offer and what the specialist game store offers. Instead of complaining about it maybe they should concentrate on their strengths and highlight those instead.

A supermarket is competing with other supermarkets AND local business. To claim supermarkets aren’t aware of the extent of their influence is to not give the people in charge due credit of intelligence. Even if this is not claimed as the intention it is collateral damage that would of course be noticed by people who run such business practices.

Its long been a problem in retail that larger companies are happy to inflict damage on themselves if it means an eventualy victory – ie they bag regular customers.

Just look at the absolutely shocking Starbucks tactic. Saturate an area with coffee shops thus robbing locals of business whilst not making enough to keep your own stores open. Then when the local competition has been choked they close the majority of their own branches and rake up the remaining business.

Similarly Asda are guilty of running ludicrous deals on food products because they can afford to which results in local grocery stores losing custom and going under.

Uuuuh, no? A shope can sell a product at end price they choose.