GameStop CEO Michael K. Mauler Quits Job After Only Three Months

The CEO of video games retailer Gamestop, Michael K. Mauler, has officially resigned from his position after only three months on the job due to "personal reasons, effective immediately".

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Ouch

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

I'd laugh if it turned out that he was just as disgusted with the way the business has been ran as some of the employees and consumers are.

Again, and I really stress this; Gamestop needs a real game-focused competitor, out here in the states, to help them shape up.
They keep doing so badly because they've got no one around to push them to do better.

[porkChop]

"They keep doing so badly because they've got no one around to push them to do better."

That's not true. Best Buy, Wal Mart, and Amazon have been kicking their ass when it comes to games. They don't need a game-focused competitor because they have bigger, more important competitors already.

GameStop's problem is their top execs, and the culture and way of thinking those people have bred into the company.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Yeah, but those three don't really specialize in games.
When I say a competitor, I mean one that focuses especially on gaming and gaming-related electronics/merchandise, not just having it as one aspect of their wide sales business.

[Notellin]

Ever since Gamers Club Unlocked was available I can't remember the last time I've bought a game anywhere else but Best Buy.

And before that I bought them from Amazon because they used to give 10$ certificates with basically every pre-order.

No reason to use GameStop outside of their exclusive games.

[rainslacker]

Who is going to get into the game retail business when the profit margins are so low? They'd end up having to do the same thing that GS does to stay open, then everyone would hate them too.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

I don't agree with that. I mean, Gamestop's way can't logically be the ONLY way to do it, let alone the right way.
At this point, GS is just steadily creeping towards financial difficulties that might end up with them closing up shop entirely in the next decade or two.
There's got to be a better way to run a games-focused business chain than the way GS is doing it.

[rainslacker]

Think of it this way.

GameStop can buy games at distributor pricing. That means about 39-40 per copy. They sell them for $60. That amounts to about a 33% markup.

They don't have a lot of high profit margin items that sell regularly like most retail outlets do to make up the difference in the rather low profit margin that you see from new games.

Given the size of GS, along with the cost of having to run a retail outlet, it's just not possible to sustain itself with selling only new games. GS can barely hang on with their used game sales.

What can other companies possibly do to make a profit where GS can't? It's not like GS hasn't had years trying to figure it out. Look at what they're already doing....focusing on things that aren't gaming related, or trying to push upsells, or selling more high profit margin items that really aren't selling enough.

A new competitor may not be as abrasive as some people find GS now, but I think a person's experience varies based on location and who they get as their sales man.

[OffRoadKing]

Per the article, "Mauler has been with GameStop for 16 years".

Did he just get disgusted in the last three months?

[WickedLester]

I miss back when it was Electronics Boutique and they sold software of all kinds, not just games. They sold productivity software, educational software, PC accessories and hardware components, etc. The employees were way more professional and looked professional, not like they just crawled out of their mom's basement.

[chaosblades]

It was a joy to browse PC section during E.B era - now it’s just console and funko pop stuff :/

[AngainorG7X]

That escalated quickly

[jokerisalive]

uhhh......thats not good.

[TheColbertinator]

Gamestop traded him in and got $6 credit

[remixx116]

Colbert

You are a man among men

[KillZallthebeast]

You two dating?

[remixx116]

Guess i gotta be careful who i give compliments to

[KillZallthebeast]

No just less I want to touch your gentleman sausage

[FITgamer]

I proudly haven't spent a dime at Gamestop since 2011.

[NarooN]

Same. Last thing I ever got there was a copy of Saints Row The Third at its release.

[Kabaneri]

Gamestop is the next Blockbuster.

[jjb1981]

I've been in several gamestops where some of the employees know nothing about the games they sell. They probably pay them crap wages too.

[Eidolon]

Pretty bare minimum in everything for a company like that. pay, benefits, vacation/sick leave and perks.

[Sam Fisher]

I used to work there (assistant manager), garbage wage, slavery and push you to harass customers.

[jjb1981]

That's a shame for such a big company. The manager at my local gamestop is a good guy but he always looks stressed.

[NovusTerminus]

Wonder if his severance package was as bad as the trade in deals.

[HonestGamer5]

Gamestop's is becoming a victim of digital and streaming era that we are in. Just like blockbuster. Its unfortunate but I dont see them lasting that much longer. Especially if the next gen consoles coming are gonna push digital content more. Also there's so much other places to buy video games like bestbuy and Amazon with good deals.

[MetroidFREAK21]

Lol goodbye GameStop... You haven't been good since you removed retro games from your stores in the mid 2000's 💁

[DEEBO]

Yes GameStop is in trouble unless they can find a different source of income other then games.
But they have been buying up AT&T stores to move more into that direction.
Been looking into their stocks but I don't think that's good idea.
Time will tell.

[chris235]

he realized that retail is already out the door

[OnDec76]

Good , FU Gamestop!!!!

[jokerisalive]

Honestly, they are horrible in so many ways. Especially the way they rape a customer on trade ins. They lower the prices of games for trade almost every day and have the balls to try and give someone 0.50 cents on some games that are actually from this gen....then they try to sell them for $15 to $20........thats ridiculous and imo one of the main reasons they have lost so many customers.People want to feel they get a good deal not screwed trying to make a purchase. They need to revamp there trade in program and give more money for trade ins. Period. That would be a good start.

[Yohshida]

Cant save a dying business I guess

[keegamer80]

Maybe he wanted to trade in some games and realized how bad the trade in value was!

[quent]

Probably went to work for Amazon insteadn cant really go lower then Gamestop, well maybe going to work for EA or Actibliz

[Sirk7x]

Say goodbye to any retail that isn't Walmart or Amazon within ten years.