With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on everyone’s minds, many retail stores have taken initiative to temporarily close their businesses in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus to both customers and retail workers. However, one business does not have any plans to close its doors soon: GameStop. That’s right - the publically failing video game retail chain has decided the ability to buy physical copies of DOOM Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons is more important than social distancing.
Well, that’s not actually what they said - but that is the implication, especially when GameStop is claiming that their business is “essential retail”, similar to groceries and pharmacies, and therefore exempt from any enforced closures. Mkay…
In a memo sent to all GameStop staff members earlier today from corporate headquarters (and obtained by fellow video game news site Kotaku), members were informed stores would not be shutting down: “Due to the products we carry that enable and enhance our customers’ experience in working from home, we believe GameStop is classified as essential retail and therefore is able to remain open during this time," it read.
“We have received reports of local authorities visiting stores in an attempt to enforce closure despite our classification. Store Managers are approved to provide the document linked below to law enforcement as needed.” The memo then went on to encourage police officers to call GameStop’s corporate headquarters if they had any further questions or issues with the policy outlined.
It appears this decision was made without consulting employees, as there have already been concerning reports from workers regarding their own fears and anxieties about coming into work during the coronavirus pandemic. These reports have included complaints about a lack of cleaning supplies in GameStop stores as well as fears of getting terminated due to the company’s strict unexcused absence policy.
Despite these concerning policies and employee testimonials, it does appear that GameStop is implementing some debatably good changes in light of the coronavirus. Earlier this week, the retail chain announced that it would be canceling the midnight release events for both DOOM Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, two highly anticipated titles that release tomorrow. These events were canceled in an attempt to keep large crowds of people from gathering outside of stores.
As an additional safety precaution, GameStop announced yesterday that they would start selling physical copies of DOOM Eternal today, a full day before the game’s official release. This decision was made in hopes of separating the crowds for both games, lessening the potential for huge crowds on Friday.
However, none of those changes really excuse the corporation’s comparison of video game retailers to grocery stores and pharmacies during a worldwide pandemic.
Source: Kotaku
