MYSTERY SHOPPER SUMMARY: LIVERPOOL
POPULATION 435,500
KEY GAME STORES
GAME, Gamestation, Grainger Games, CEX, HMV, Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Blockbuster
WHAT DID WE DO THERE? We visited Liverpool on the launch day of FIFA 11 to find out more about EA’s new football title, and whether we should wait for next week’s Pro Evolution Socceror not.
CONCLUSION
HMV's customer service may have been lacking, but overall the retailers in Liverpool were top of their game. From Grainger Games' opening day activities to HMV's in-store execution, there was certainly plenty to like. But it was Gamestation that impressed the most, with its excellent customer support and pricing.
“ HMV SCORE:
HMV’s in-store execution was by far the best. The store’s games range was as large as any of its rivals and there were even FIFA-branded football kits for sale. There were also multiple Gamerbase areas filled with customers playing FIFA. Unfortunately, that’s where the plus points end. Although there were plenty of staff manning the tills, there was only one solitary person on the floor, and he had no interest in giving advice. When I approached him he instantly admitted “I don’t know games.” And when I asked him about FIFAhe merely said “Yeah it looks good.” “So should I get it over PES?” I ventured. “I have no idea,” came his reply.
6/10
www.mcvuk.com
Gamestation was up to the challenge posed by its new rival, Grainger Games.
Gamestation
GRAINGER opened practically next door to Gamestation, but the latter rose to the challenge.
SCORE: 9/10
There were no models or orange trucks, but there was a lot of knowledgeable staff encouraging people in store to have a go on the game. They even cut the price of FIFAto £29.99, which the shop assistant called ‘the cheapest in town.’ The employee I spoke to was certainly well-versed on the game, and even ran me through a demo so I could appreciate all the new features. But is it better than PES? “Pro Evolooks like it is getting better,” she says. “But according to the critics, FIFA is still the king.” Final score, 2-1 to EA.
October 22nd 2010 97
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