Mary Portas slams GAME for doing its job

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 14 February, 2011

UPDATE: Portas and GAME kiss and make up.

UPDATE: Mary Queen of Shops and GAME boss Ian Shepherd have had a natter and it seems they're best of friends.

"spoke to CEO of GAME. Impressive and bright. Agreed good customer service is worth fighting for and how tough the regulations they face are," Portas tweeted.

And, soon after, "FYI spoke to @queenofshops - age verification issues all understood, and we clearly share her commitment to great service," Shepherd tweeted.

ORIGINAL STORY: Mary Portas, the self-proclaimed Mary Queen of Shops, took to social website Twitter to vent her frustration at shop GAME for refusing to sell a 15+ rated game to her 17 year-old son without proper identification.

Telly star Mary Portas' show takes on large UK shops and their customer service – but this time her anger seemed misplaced.

Her son was recommended three videogames rated 15+ by shop floor staff at GAME's Oxford Circus, London branch but, once at the counter, staff refused to sell them to him because he didn't have adequate ID.

His attempt to use an Oyster card as proof was turned down – only legally recognised forms of ID, such as driving licenses and passports, are valid.

"STILL holding on after 8mins to spk to a human at GAME Ox st where they refused to sell my 17 yr son a 15 + game. Now they've cut me off," read her first tweet.

"So now the mngr of GAME has hung up on me after another 10min phone wait. I believe Ian Shepherd is the CEO. Are you out there? Want to talk," read the second.

"HIs 16 plus Oyster card. Plus the sales asst advised these games for him. The cashier then said no," was the response to a follower question.

"He did provide proof with his photo and name on his 16+ Oyster card!"

"Said son has returned to GAME with passport and attitude. GO son!"

Portas' tweets then called on GAME CEO Ian Shepherd to get in touch with her to discuss her son's issue. If only we could all command such attention.

"@IanAShepherd Son and I had rotten attitude from your shop today. Want to discuss. Shall we do by email?"

Then, in a revealing tweet: "he doesn't have a licence! He is 17. How many kids go out with their passport. We are not talking drink, but a 15plus video!"

That prompted GAME PR manager Neil Ashurst to get involved. "@neilashurst great. Let's speak monday. How's best?"

"He's gone back with passport to prove and speak to the manager as he didn't ask to see her first time. I am training him! Takes time!"

And finally: "My son did have valid I.D. They would not accept it. End of"

Eurogamer delved deep into the age-ratings debate last year with a special episode of the EGTV Show that explored how seriously the industry takes the issue of protecting children, from development through to retail.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (100) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • TheEarlOfZinger #1 1 year ago

    Imagine if she was your mum. *shudders*

  • Widge #2 1 year ago

    Thundercunt. End of.

    Someone trick her into tweeting the jailbreak code.

  • ubergine #3 1 year ago

    I don't know her at all but she sounds like a ridiculous, pompous bitch.

  • DonnieDarko333 #4 1 year ago

    I think shes great to be honest! Also GAME's customer service line, when using the online store..i may add is absolutely dreadful..your always on hold for at least 30 minutes..and then it cuts off!

    GAME have to realise that great customer service and competitive prices, keep your stores open! Obviously they haven't got the hang of it yet!

    Love how i'm given -1 within seconds for having a valid opinion! Grow up!
    Edited by DonnieDarko333 at 14/02/11 @ 09:26

  • Jay-ITFC #5 1 year ago

    Advice to any 17 year old. Get a provisional driving licence whether you intend to learn or not. Also don't let your Mum on twitter.

  • darkmorgado #6 1 year ago

    Utterly stupid bint. I said it in the forum thread, and I will say it again - you can damn well bet that if her son got hold of a violent game without ID that she would be the first to write an article about "irresponsible" retailers.

    In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if that is exactly what she was hoping for.

  • Lee_Morris #7 1 year ago

    This does highlight a massive problem that people of a certain age do not see video games as anything other than toys for children. Unfortunately I believe the only solution to this is time or a sudden outbreak of the plague.

  • sir_tripod #8 1 year ago

    At least it wasn't an 18-rated game for a 15-year-old son. Then she'd (rightly) have something to whine about.

  • LazyNinjaUk #9 1 year ago

    Wondered when this would break the EG front page.

    It's amusing how she assumes video games no matter what their age rating are just for kids, I'm sure she would have had a shit fit if he was sold an 18 rated film while underage.

  • GeneStarwind #10 1 year ago

    erm oyster card as valid ID? if you don't live near a tube station or have never been to london you may have never even heard of an oyster card before why would that be valid ID? Would you send your son to get a credit application using that as ID if he was over 18?

    Theres a big difference between looking for good customer service and complaining when you don't get your way because of legal obligations.

  • Ercarret #11 1 year ago

    I actually think that this could be a good thing. It goes to show that stores like Game actually follow the guidelines when it comes to age classifications. So, go them.

    I don't know what a Oyster card is, and thus not whether it should be valid or not, but what 17 year old doesn't have a regular ID? Granted, I'm 24 and I've walked without one for over a year, but that's just me being lazy when it comes to the whole renewing process. Also, it's not as important to me as it would be for a 17 year old kid, since I very rarely have to prove how old I am one way or the other.

  • infernox1 #12 1 year ago

    i just use my college id card

  • ZizouFC #13 1 year ago

    What a strong jaw she has.

  • DiamondIce #14 1 year ago

    I've never heard of her or her programme but she doesn't seem that clued up. But it's 'just' a game so who cares about age ratings?

    Edit: I never thought I would praise Game but well done. She would be the first to complain if he was sold an 18 rated DVD.
    Edited by DiamondIce at 14/02/11 @ 09:35

  • asphaltcowboy #15 1 year ago

    Normally she's pretty good, and I commend her stance on making shops not shit, but that comment about "We are not talking drink, but a 15plus video!" is fucking stupid.

  • TheEarlOfZinger #16 1 year ago

    Mary Porter: Queen of strops

  • Ranger101 #17 1 year ago

    Who the fuck is Mary Portas and why do I give a shit?

  • lordofthedunce #18 1 year ago

    Don't you know who I am?!! TWITTER RAGE!!!!

    She should have better educated her son to the requirements of buying age-restricted titles. A simple case of poor parenting.

  • Sunyavadin #19 1 year ago

    I expect the next article will be her complaining that Boots refuse to sell her heroin, then...?

    Or that the police arrested her driving with no licence, and wouldn't take her oyster card?

  • Whitster #20 1 year ago

    Between this and the Dress maker on Gypsy Weddings being investigated for benefit frued, CH4s pick of of presenters and cast aren't exacly steller recently.

  • Caimbeul #21 1 year ago

    I understand her frustration but if he looks like he may be under 15 and does not have valid ID at the time of purchase she really has no grounds for complaint whatsoever. She would soon be up in arms if he was underage and sold the games.

    Her shows are quite good but she has made herself look silly.

  • tanithfirst #22 1 year ago

    It makes a change to be honest though... I went to the midnight launch of Black Ops at my local Game and the staff there were perfectly happy selling to underage kids as long as their mum was the one paying for it...

  • handsonhips101 #23 1 year ago

    My missus is 25, was in a nurses uniform with car keys in her hand.... got refused paracetamol in sainsburys. Haha. Doesn't look 16 apparently.

  • MikkyX #24 1 year ago

    GAME do things correctly: She complains
    GAME sells him it without IDing him: She'd complain

    Mary Queen of No-Win Situations, more like.

  • roquey Verified Lead Quality Assurance Tester and Compliance Specialist, Universally Speaking #25 1 year ago

    Now who would be up for spamming her twitter feed telling her to shut the fuck up as GAME were right in all of this?

  • SilverInfinity #26 1 year ago

    Damnit ... already beaten to the best points IMO by @ubergine, @darkmorgado & @Jay-ITFC.

    Fair play to GAME for not selling an age restricted game without checking ID ... you can be sure that if he had bought an 18 rated game she would of been tweeting that they should have checked his driving licence or passport.

  • Porcupine_I #27 1 year ago

    Great job of humiliating your Son in front of the rest of the world, MOM!

  • LHH #28 1 year ago

    Wow, she's sound like a retard.

  • Harmonica #29 1 year ago

    What a dolt.

    If her kid is getting agechecked for not being over age at 17, good luck not carrying around a license or passport when he starts trying to drink in pubs, haha. @her son : grow a beard.

    No, your 16+ cards will not do you any good. Employees will not look at a card and check your d.o.b. That would require too much training.
    Edited by Harmonica at 14/02/11 @ 10:01

  • braydee89 #30 1 year ago

    What.a.cunt.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #31 1 year ago

    If I was her kid, I'd be so utterly mortified that she's now made a national issue out of the fact I look 12 when I'm 17.

  • Makeem95 #32 1 year ago

    Who the fuck is Mary Portas?

  • EVERYGAMER #33 1 year ago

    @tanithfirst

    Its perfectly legal to sell an 18 rated game to an underage child if the parent is present and gives their consent. I see it as a challenge to try and make the game sound as horrible as possible to the parent so they wont buy it (childish yes but ilike to see the dissapointment on their faces it makes the day go quicker) e.g when a child brings mum and COD Black Ops to the counter I always smile and say "you do realise that there are scenes of throats being slit and people being tortured" and they just smile and say well theres worse on TV.

  • kangarootoo #34 1 year ago

    Pathetic.


    The solution is simple. If you are over 15 or 18, but might get ID'd, get yourself one of those proof and age cards. You don't need a driving license, or a passport, just a Validate UK card or similar.

    I hope this story runs, so her "oyster card is a valid for of ID" claim is debunked for the nonsense it is.


    ... and who the hell over the age of 15 ends a sentence "end of"? That is another way of saying "I want the last word", and I guarantee she only said it as the doubt started to take hold. That the problem with twitter Mary, if you say something daft, you can't take it back.

  • kangarootoo #35 1 year ago

    @DonnieDarko333

    You are talking at cross purposes.

    Mary Portas might indeed be a crusader for customer service, and GAME customer service might also be poor.

    But what happened here is that GAME wouldn't sell a rated game without valid ID, as required by law. That has nothing to do with your love of MP, or GAME's customer service record. For confusing several issues (purposely or otherwise), your negs are well deserved.

  • Spooke #36 1 year ago

    anyone that called themselves 'The queen of shops' is clearly a vacuous moron.

  • kangarootoo #37 1 year ago

    @Spooke

    That is the name of the TV show in which she appears. Of course she didn't think of the name herself.

  • lockload #38 1 year ago

    What a moaning cow

    Unless he looked over 22 he may get carded same with 25 for alcohol

  • M_of_the_sys #39 1 year ago

    I remember trying to buy cigarettes with my NI card when I was 16 (back when 16 was the legal age). I'm 28 now and still get asked for ID...
    Edited by M_of_the_sys at 14/02/11 @ 10:47

  • homerbert #40 1 year ago

    To be fair, the ID system in the UK is shit. No one wants to carry their passport around with them as it's easily lost or destroyed and they're pricey and inconvenient to replace. Provisional driving license is great if you have one, but what if you don't want to learn to drive? Or if you're 16 and within your rights to buy a 15's game?

    Personally I reckon they should have accepted the Oyster Card. There's a chance its a clever forgery to buy 15+ games, but frankly what self respecting teen would forge an ID to say they were 17 and not 18?

    His Mum is a bit of a tool though.

  • Mark1412 #41 1 year ago

    What a cretin.

  • Mark1412 #42 1 year ago

    What a cretin.

  • Fab4 #43 1 year ago

    "Don't you know who I am!!!?"

  • SilverInfinity #44 1 year ago

    The whole proof of age thing is designed so there is a reasonable safe system for assessing people's ages, each individuals visual perception of someone's age is incredibly subjective therefore if you are the correct age for buying a product there should be no qualms with having the relevant ID.

    A provisional driving licence can be applied for at about 15/16 for mopeds, having the licence doesn't necessary mean you don't want to learn to drive. Its up to the shop to determine what proof of ID they will accept in order to protect themselves from fakeable ID's which can be obtained on the internet.

    I'm flattered if someone asks to see proof of ID these days ... although I am 27 ha ha.

  • DanWhitehead #45 1 year ago

    I was under the impression that an Oyster card doesn't have a photo, so there's absolutely no reason for anyone to trust it as a form of ID for a potentially illegal transaction, as it doesn't - you know - identify the owner of the card. You might as well just write "I AM OVER 15 HONEST" on a piece of paper.

  • FladgeMangle #46 1 year ago

    It sounds to me that Mary Portas' 17 year old son was using her twitter account in a teenage revenge tantrum.

    She herself is normally not this ignorant of simple things like facts and consumer law.

  • moonpie79 #47 1 year ago

    @DanWhitehead kids' oysters have photos so they can prove they're kids to pay kid's fares
    Edited by moonpie79 at 14/02/11 @ 10:41

  • jablonski #48 1 year ago

    I've only got half way down the comments and this woman has been called a 'cunt' by about 5 different posters.

    I'm not one to be preachy, but do her actions really justify that?

  • RandolphScott #49 1 year ago

    I think Game Oxford Street should be slammed for their customer service. However on this particular point they are 100% right.

  • HL706 #50 1 year ago

    Am I the only one that thinks she's right? How is a 15 year old, for example, supposed to prove they are 15? I wouldn't let my son wander about with his passport and he'd be too young for a provisional driving license. Surely Oyster cards were developed for this exact reason?

  • BabyJesus #51 1 year ago

    She'd be the type of muppet to blame Game for not enforcing rules if she objected to the content.

  • Phishfood #52 1 year ago

    I tell ya, I look about 30 (actually 25) and I still needed ID for 18 rated games

  • geeza2020 #53 1 year ago

    I cant stand the woman to be honest, and I feel sorry for her son who must just be thinking "for fucks sake mum, shut up!"

  • Whitster #54 1 year ago

    @EVERYGAMER

    Thats exactly the way I used to play it at Gamestation. Admittedly the majority of the unqualified baby factories gave similar responses to your example, however it was always nice to get an actual caring, but unfortunatly nieve, parent who would rethink their purchase. The scowls of little Timmys that has just been denied the latest GTA, etc sustained me.

  • Acrid #55 1 year ago

    Stupid Cunt is the only thing I can think of to describe the moronic woman.

  • SilverInfinity #56 1 year ago

    @Whitster

    " of the unqualified baby factories" - PMSL I nearly spat out my coffee when I read that, I might use the phrase myself in the future lol

  • dwalker109 #57 1 year ago

    The thing I can't stand about Portas is how her chosen crusade is something so utterly unimportant. Don't be a mouthy twat, if service puts you off, don't go back. Dead fucking simple.

  • Murton #58 1 year ago

    Daft thing is, GAME were in the right and then pandered to this silly bitch because she's on TV and could damage them. If she had been anyone else they'd have ignored her or just held their position.

    It's sad really when people will simply abandon their right to the high ground to save a little hassle.

  • coolbritannia #59 1 year ago

    1) please stop calling her a cunt children, you're doing nothing for the image of gamers.
    2) it's her job to kick up a fuss about customer service
    3) it's clear to all involved she got it wrong.

    storm in a teacup much?

  • EVERYGAMER #60 1 year ago

    @Reaver_v1

    "What a lesbo CUNT! End Of. "

    She is stupid and has made a fool of her son and her credability but you cant go branding her a lesbian just because she is a very unfeminine looking woman with a jaw that would make Desperate Dan jealous. I know some lesbians who are absolutely stunning looking girls.
    Edited by EVERYGAMER at 14/02/11 @ 11:32

  • supanova #61 1 year ago

    Rant time... I get so angry if I'm in a video game store and parents are stood by their 10 year old kids whilst he/she muses over buying Gears of War 2 or any game that is clearly not 'legal for them to buy'. Do these parents also stand by their kids whilst they flick through DVDs clearly marked at adults (Just like games are)!!!!

    Good on Game for standing tough.... Parents really need to ged a handle on what their kids are doing, playing and watching.... I think most parents are still thinking that games are like pac man..... wtf! come on... wake up!

    I'm a parent and I'm vigilant as best I can be to monitor what my kids are watching, playing and doing....

    Just to ringfence this issue... parents who are not gamers, need to educate themselves and see these 'Adult games' - they are not for kids....

  • supanova #62 1 year ago

    perhaps video games for 'Adults' need to go on the 'top shelf' out of reach of kids (but not their parents) - but then you have parents that buy Gears of War 2 for little johnny......

    Leaflets to be handed out at the till to parents!

  • ielisdave #63 1 year ago

    If she knew the first thing about customer service she'd know the legal results the employee would suffer from if caught selling an age restricted item to someone not of that age.
    One of my friends got a fine and lost his job for being lax about it.
    I hate people that moan about getting ID'd, when it's the employee who stands to loose much more than the 10 seconds it takes to show proof of age.. I applaud GAME
    for doing the right thing.

  • Reaver_v1 #64 1 year ago

    @coolbritannia

    1) Cunt - Used as a disparaging term for a person one dislikes or finds extremely disagreeable.

    2) It is her self-appointed job. The majority of bad customer service is down to companies employing teenagers who don't give a shit about the companies and only want to fund their piss up on saturday nights. Fact is, the customer is more often the problem and its people like her that empower them to be utter CUNTS! If you don't like the service they're offering,don't shop there. It is capitalism after all!

    3) And yet she advises on shopping. If she's entitled to create a storm in a teacup, then so are we.

  • Reaver_v1 #65 1 year ago

    @EVERYGAMER

    She actual is an out lesbian. I don't actually have anything against that but one will look for a chink in the armour, comes from being a gamer :D

  • Reaver_v1 #66 1 year ago

    @stalefart

    Vampire rain
    Samurai Shodown Sen
    History Channel: Battle For The Pacific

  • Vortextk #67 1 year ago

    Wish I could be unruly and utterly wrong and demand for the freaking CEO to speak to me too. Go in, buy your son the damn game or get his ass some legal I.D., christ.

  • midnight_walker #68 1 year ago

    Why not review your excellent experience with GAME here, and shut that stupid cunt up?

    http://www.maryportas.com/secretshopper/...

  • buzby_bill #69 1 year ago

    This really got me peeved. How many times do we hear the rage of parents that violent games are being sold to underage children? GAME are simply trying to prevent such things happening with this policy. They are perfectly within their right to suggest games the boy might want to play, but if he can't provide the adequate ID at the point of purchase then he will sadly have to walk away empty handed. Just because they recommended them doesn't mean they HAVE to sell them to him - the two events are mutually exclusive.

    I'm disappointed in Portas as her show is great, and she forces stores to think about how they treat their customers. I'm sure GAME could use a good customer service tweaking, but I fully support them in this scenario. And Mary Portas really shouldn't go around bullying store assistants into breaking their Child Protection Policies and thereby the law.

  • Sniper_007 #70 1 year ago

    I must admit to feeling like I wanted to rant at Mary after her initial tweets, but great that she also has the dignity and confidence to back down and acknowledge that perhaps she wasn't 100% right in her scathing attack of GAME.

    I'm not GAME's biggest fan, but when it comes to age restrictions I am the first to support any company who is willing to stand up and potentially deny a sale by asking for id for any age restricted product.

    I lose all respect for parents who buy games like Call Of Duty, Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto etc. for their under age kids. I've seen it at work, and I've unfortunately fallen out with colleagues for being the voice of reason with this so +1 to GAME this time for a store who sticks to company policy.

  • 00.00.01 #71 1 year ago

    @midnight_walker 14/02/11 @ 12:05
    :)
    :)
    Done!

  • midnight_walker #72 1 year ago

    I've only got half way down the comments and this woman has been called a 'cunt' by about 5 different posters.

    I'm not one to be preachy, but do her actions really justify that?

    You gotta call a spade a spade.

  • BuddyChrist #73 1 year ago

    She didn't mention the brutal BO smell those places have....

  • lordofthedunce #74 1 year ago

    I kind of agree that it's good to see a positive result from this story, but it does highlight a massive problem with Twitter and an abuse of power and responsibility. Ridiculous, unbalanced personal opinion could have damaged Game to some degree. Game did absolutely nothing wrong. Portas should have thought a lot more carefully before spouting off a load of rubbish.

    Still at least it highlights to many of her followers that games have age-restrictions, shame it had to damage her credibility to get there.

  • jonbwfc #75 1 year ago

    It strikes me the actual problem here is the SHOP STAFF RECOMMENDED THE GAME then when he took it to the till told him he couldn't have it. ID or no ID, that's ruddy stupid. They guy talking to him in the first place should have been smart enough to ask him if he had any valid ID, and if not said"'OK, Fubar is quite good but you're going to need some valid ID before we can sell it to you. Or you could buy KidsGame now, that's 12 rating so it's no problem".

    The majority of good customer service is thinking on your feet about what the customer wants and how to clear all the obstacles between them telling you what they want and them paying for it. Rather than being a bovine idiot in a black t-shirt who recommends Black Ops to everybody. Game largely failed to do that in all the steps before he got to the till with the game. The behaviour of the guy behind the till was fine.

    However Mary whatserface is still making a right fool of herself frankly.

  • twyford #76 1 year ago

    What I find really rather annoying about the whole thing is that the GAME CEO bothered to directly get involved. I can only assume that this was because of who Mary Portas is and the amount of media it would potentially get. I can't wait to see if I can get a personal response from him the next time I have a complain to make about GAME.

    Just goes to show how us mere mortals get one level of service while celebs, even the z list ones like Portas, are dealt with entirely differently.

  • GeneStarwind #77 1 year ago

    just like to add i have no problem with parents buying kids 18 rated games. The ratings let you know what a game contains and the reccommended age group but in the end its up to parents to make the decision if its suitable for their kids to play. I grew up playing carmaggedon doom grand theft auto mortal kombat soldier of fortune resident evil and other excessively gory games. ccording to the media i should be a homicidal murder machine. The thing is some of my fondest memories growing up are playing these games with my dad. I was 7 when mortal kombat came out and i remember having to do the test your might things cos my dad wasnt quick enough. They also let me watch 18+ movies I saw saving private ryan and lock stock and two smoking barrells when i was 13.

    The thing is you as a parent should know if your child is mature enough to handle and understand the difference between reality and a game or a movie. If you ever pick up a game for a kid and have to think about if its suitable or hesitate even a little then put the box down and go buy something else.

    The only time i would criticise what ive said is if you buy a game for a kid whos underage even if you're sure its fine for them and you let them play it by themselves for hours and hours on end. A game isnt a substitute for a parent.

    also watch this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIB3Jw6djjs
    Edited by GeneStarwind at 14/02/11 @ 13:00

  • Sodding_Gamer #78 1 year ago

    That poor kid must be rocking in the corner of his room right about now.

  • Luckyjim #79 1 year ago

    What a strange feeling: I find myself agreeing with Game.

  • Stuz359 #80 1 year ago

    The thing is it's the cashier that gets the fine for selling an age restricted item, not the store. Good on the cashier for standing their ground and shame on a supposed shopping expert for not knowing the regulations.

  • PeacockDreams #81 1 year ago

    This is blatant bullying and an abuse of her position as a TV 'expert' and consumer watchdog!

    In the end, all she has done is embarrass herself (and son) by displaying a breathtaking lack of knowledge in the area of age ratings! Did she think age ratings dont apply to games?

  • EmiliasHorse #82 1 year ago

    Seems to me like a bit of a storm in a tea cup that has only become news because Mary is a goddess of retail and customer satisfaction wibble wobble.... frankly I could not even start to give less of a shit about a 17 year old not being able to buy a game. Bring your passport or get your mum to buy it.

    I might be getting old but I rather fancy Mary Portas.

  • Darkedge #83 1 year ago

    Stupid bint

  • Timotei #84 1 year ago

    @twyford

    I was reading a thread in Digital Spy about Richer Sounds where a woman was complaining about them. A few posts later and the national manager popped up, offered his apologies and invited her to PM him. I'm a Virgin Media customer and if I ever have a problem with my services I fire off an email to the CEO's office and my woes are dealt with speedily. It's not as rare as you might think.

  • Wedge1985 #85 1 year ago

    @GeneStarwind What a fantastic video. The second part really drives home the facts. I'll have to remember it the next time someone brings up violent games.

  • Bluetooth #86 1 year ago

    Great publicity for GAME, parents would read about this (hopefully) and go "hmmm, they're doing their job"

    Portas, menawhile - self proclaimed retail expert - has egg on her face.

  • cowkiller #87 1 year ago

    What an egotistical moron this woman is.

    Doesn't matter if the staff recommend a game to him or not, they're not selling it to him there and then, they're offering advice.

    When I worked for Game many moons ago, there were several times I refused to sell a game to an adult if it was blatantly obvious it was being bought for someone underage. While not strictly illegal, Trading Standards does suggest refusing a sale if you suspect it is intended for someone below the rated age.

    Of course, this is all down to personal inclination, and a lot of staff won't care as long as the purchaser is above the rated age. I usually didn't have a problem, i mean I played GTA on PC when I was 15/16 and it had an age rating, one of the first VHS tapes I owned was The Terminator when i was about 9, but sometimes you have to draw the line and when some chav sprog hatchery thumped a copy of Manhunt down in front of me that I had seen her 4 or 5 year old son pass her about 4 feet away from the till, it wasn't hard to say no!

  • DrStrangelove #88 1 year ago

    lol. "Retail adviser"? I think not.

  • butler` #89 1 year ago

    "spoke to CEO of GAME. Impressive and bright."

    unlike you, so shut up you silly mare

  • shamblemonkee #90 1 year ago

    "i'm kind of a big deal!"

  • CrunchinJelly #91 1 year ago

    I fucking hate this woman.

  • smithdown #92 1 year ago

    If her son needs to phone his mummy to whine that GAME wouldn't sell to him, then he is clearly lacking the necessary maturity to play anything more challenging than Kinectimals anyway.

  • jbrollse #93 1 year ago

    Nice to see that we're all taking a mature approach, and not just hurling abuse.

    It's worth mentioning that there is no government sanctioned ID for people under the age of 17. The Connexions card is no longer available, and the CitizenCard is usually rejected as anyone can obtain one, regardless of their age (no checks on the applicants, no access to government resources).

    Portas (and the tabloid press) would be kicking off more if he'd been sold a game that he was too young for, so I'd agree with Game on this. If you look young, carry ID. It's not brain surgery. And as he's 17 he can apply for a provisional licence. Buy him one.

  • LiamK #94 1 year ago

    @HL706
    "Am I the only one that thinks she's right? How is a 15 year old, for example, supposed to prove they are 15? I wouldn't let my son wander about with his passport and he'd be too young for a provisional driving license. Surely Oyster cards were developed for this exact reason?"
    I'm fairly certain Oyster cards were developed to allow people to get around on public transport without having to carry money. I doubt "proving age when buying video games" was even mentioned at the pre-planning meeting.

    @homerbert
    "To be fair, the ID system in the UK is shit. No one wants to carry their passport around with them as it's easily lost or destroyed and they're pricey and inconvenient to replace. Provisional driving license is great if you have one, but what if you don't want to learn to drive? Or if you're 16 and within your rights to buy a 15's game?"
    The ID system in the UK is shit? You mean the system of carrying around something with your DOB and a photo on to prove how old you are? What do you want instead? Shops to check how old you are by referencing TV shows that were popular in 1990?

  • Craven #95 1 year ago

    Slow news day or what?

    Like many others, i strangely find myself agreeing with Game on this one. Personal feelings about Game aside, they have a job to ensure that age restricted products don't find their way into underage hands.

    I would have loved Game to have stuck two fingers up at her, metaphorically speaking.

  • gandhimaster #96 1 year ago

    people like her are why games are always blamed for the world's problems.

    well done GAME for being responsible.

    silly bitch.

  • Centrifugal #97 1 year ago

    Well, my GAME isn't going by the book then.

  • markyHD #98 1 year ago

    @Widge

    "Thundercunt"

    Best.Word.Ever!

  • Gastrian #99 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 17:56:43 13-04-2012

  • Devox #100 1 year ago

    GAME get a lot of bad press but i think this should be rightly praised. Retailer doing its Job properly. Remember, if trading standards catch you selling games to underage kids its not the company that gets done its the person selling the item. The person at the till had every right to demand proof of ID, regardless of what another sales assistant may have said as they would not be the one with a £5k fine. She is a waste of human skin.