Avoid EB Games Liverpool Store for Returns or Replacements – Unacceptable Service!

I want to share my recent frustrating experience with EB Games Liverpool store so others in the area can avoid going through the same ordeal.

On December 9, I ordered 12 “What If” mugs during EB Games' online promotion ($1 each, regular price $15). Ten were shipped to me, and two were reserved for pickup at the Liverpool store.

When the shipment arrived on December 12, I found that three of the mugs were damaged due to improper packaging (no protective materials at all). I contacted both the shipping store and EB Games' customer service, and they advised me to visit my local Liverpool store for assistance with a replacement or refund.

However, my experience at the Liverpool store was shocking:

  1. Rude and Dismissive Staff: The staff member, who identified himself as "AJ," was extremely unprofessional. He showed no empathy for the inconvenience caused and refused to apologize for the damaged items.

  2. Unfair Replacement Terms: AJ insisted I could only get a $1 refund per mug (the promotional price) or pay $14 per mug to replace them because the promotion had ended. This completely ignores the fact that I already purchased the items at the promotional price and only wanted what I was entitled to.

  3. Damaged Item for Pickup: When I tried to pick up the two mugs I had reserved, AJ intentionally handed me a damaged mug. He said if I didn’t accept it, my only option was to take another $1 refund.

In the end, I left the store with four damaged mugs and zero resolution. AJ’s behavior was unprofessional, rude, and completely unacceptable.

If you’re considering going to the Liverpool store for returns, replacements, or pickups, think twice. The staff clearly lacks proper training in customer service and seems to disregard basic accountability.

I’ve since filed a formal complaint with EB Games' customer service, and I hope they address this issue. But in the meantime, I want to warn others in the area to avoid the Liverpool store if possible.

Has anyone else experienced issues with this store? Let me know—I’d love to hear if this is an isolated incident or part of a bigger problem.

Related Stores

EB Games Australia
EB Games Australia

Comments

  • +12
    1. Okay. You're not entitled to an apology from a retail worker for an incident outside of their personal control. That doesn't make them rude or unprofessional.

    2. That's a normal returns policy for most companies. You're entitled to a refund and not necessarily an exchange or replacement. Even Amazon don't do exchanges.

    3. It's not uncommon for damaged goods to be marked down as clearance. If you don't agree with the condition, or it wasn't clearly stated as such, then absolutely entitled to a refund. It sucks, but it's not unreasonable.

    All this over $1 mugs… Having said that, you're entitled to file a complaint if not satisfied and might get some goodwill out of it.

    I have no affiliation with EBGames Liverpool, nor do I know this AJ, but have picked up items there just fine. I've also rejected open games from there because they are not 'brand new' and they've always refunded on the spot with no hassle. It's a stupid EBGames policy to open games but I'm not going to blame the retail worker there and expect them to apologise to me for it..

    • Even Amazon don't do exchanges.

      https://i.ibb.co/tZXSZSq/Screenshot-2024-12-16-140225.png

      Incorrect.

      • Click it and try it. It will ask you to choose an 'exchange' item from preset options based on your recommendations. It is not for getting a replacement of the same item or a different size etc.

        https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/255280/118431/exch.png

        Effectively it's Amazon's way to reduce refunds and costs associated with them by getting you to use the money towards buying another item instead.

    • +3

      Wrong. Australian Consumer Law states that goods must be of acceptable quality. If they are not, and the defect was such that the consumer would not have bought the goods in the first place otherwise, the consumer can elect between refund and replacement.

      See here:
      https://consumer.gov.au/sites/consumer/files/2016/05/0553FT_…

      You are therefore entitled to a replacement in most cases of defective goods.

      Further, while it is not uncommon for damaged goods to be marked down and sold as-is, that's not the case here, unless it was already acknowledged in the promotion. So it's irrelevant.

      Finally, a company deliberately marketing damaged goods under the guise of a promotion would contravene the separate law against a business engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct.

      If you don't know the ACL and remedies well, don't comment.

  • +5

    lol… the fact that you left the store with 4 'damaged' mugs tells me it wasn't even proper 'damage' in the sense the mug is unusable and its probably just a bad print or something.

  • +11

    Whoops, seems like I've logged into OzOutrageBlog again by accident…

    On point 1: These retail workers tend to react in the same way they are treated. You seldom have retail workers who are "rude and dismissive" from the outset. They are usually triggered by whom they are interacting with. Like most humans, we tend to react in kind. So, I would say on point 1, this is more a reflection of you than it is of them. Added to that, AJ didn't pack the mugs personally, so has absolutely NO obligation to "apologise", especially to someone "expecting" them to apologise.

    On Point 2: Under ACL, you are entitled to a refund or exchange. Something tell me that you are the type to go in for "cOmPeNsAtiOnZ!!1". Hand "AJ" the items and get them to refund you the $3…

    what I was entitled to.

    Oh, you are entitled alright…

    On point 3: What was this "damage" to the new ones AJ offered you? Was the handle broken off it? was the side cracked out of it? was it in 3 separate pieces? or was it simply "not the same colour/shape/size"? If it is "damaged", (or even not as described) then you are entitled to your refund, which is $1.

    AJ’s behavior was unprofessional, rude, and completely unacceptable.

    Again, retail workers are usually a reflection of their customers. If you go into a store all gesticulating and loud, you are going to get treated the same.

    I’ve since filed a formal complaint with EB Games' customer service

    Oh, you go Karen!

  • +10

    Thanks for the info.
    AJ sounds like my kind of 'no nonsense' worker.
    I'll make sure to leave him a positive review.

  • +7

    Lol. Get over it. They're $1 novelty mugs. FFS.

  • +12

    I'm sorry to hear of your harrowing ordeal. It's part of a bigger problem for sure, AJ is most likely a member of the mug refund cartel preying on unsuspecting members of the public.

  • If these are anything like the cheap novelty mugs you can get at JB then they're going to chip if you look at them the wrong way. I think all of the ones we have are chipped on the bottom in some way.

  • +1

    He showed no empathy for the inconvenience caused and refused to apologize for the damaged items.

    There's a difference between "he didn't apologize" and "he refused to apologize". The latter makes it sounds like you demanded an apology, which in the context of the situation, makes you sound crazy.

  • +1

    AJ is a legend!

  • And in world news…..

  • +6

    Good on AJ, imagine having to deal with entitled pricks like this daily. All this whining and a novella over some $1 clearance mugs.

  • +4

    Skip AJ next time..ask for BJ..you might get more satisfaction 🤔

  • +1

    Hi bx68,

    How "damaged" were these mugs? Can we get pics?

    Can we also get an MS Paint diagram of the incident?

    Thanks

  • +3

    i want to hear AJ's side of the story

    • +7

      I was trying to tell some kids about the new OLED switch, when OP can storming into the store. He had 14 novelty mugs, even though there was a 1 per person limit. He called me a filthy swine and demanded I give him a formal apology, replace all the damaged mugs, and shine his shoes while he was waiting. I explained to him that individual stores aren't in charge of what is.sent out for delivery, but he didn't care. I found the best mugs I could, there weren't many left as everyone else was just happy to pay $1 for a mug. He then spat on me and left the store.

    • +1

      Luckily for you, poor AJ’s day was filmed:
      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fS7qb6lbZuo

  • I'm still seething I wasn't level 5 so I couldn't even buy a filthy $1 mug! 😡

  • +1

    This is the one aspect I hated about retail, it's always the people who spend cents.

    I remember some angry father trying to return a "broken" $1.50 paper plane kit because it ripped lmao

  • +4

    OP after your dealings with AJ did you then go to Hair House Liverpool to get your bob touched up and re-coloured?

  • If i were AJ, id personally pay you $4 to leave the store and take all the 12 mugs + large mug with you.

  • +1

    Why the f would you expect an unrelated store employee to apologise for something that's out of his control???

  • The entitlement over $1 mugs is strong with this one.

    Where's my cOmpENSaTiOnZ???? I am logging a complaint! Your job is finished, AJ!

  • +2

    Your second mistake was coming to OzBargain and expecting people to side with you lol.

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