WTF....GameStop Now Fingerprinting People

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Some GameStop stores in Philadelphia are now requiring that people who trade in games provide a fingerprint scan for "certain transactions," CBS Philadelphia reports today based on conversations with the retailer, local government, police, and shoppers.

According to GameStop, it is following a local law that says the retailer is allowed to collect thumbprints. These scans eventually make their way into a database that helps law enforcement nab thieves who seek to use GameStop as a pawn shop of sorts to unload their goods.

Philadelphia city solicitor Shelley Smith says that GameStop is not required to collect the thumbprints to abide by the city's pawnbroker order. "What GameStop does doesn't meet any of the elements of the definition in the code, so the pawnbreaker ordinance doesn't apply to GameStop," she said.

The Philadelphia Police Department, on the other hand, tells CBS Philadelphia that GameStop is being proactive by obtaining customer fingerprints and uploading them to a database known as LeadsOnline.

Still, GameStop shoppers outside of a store in Philadelphia's Center City district are not too pleased about the new policy. "I really don't appreciate it," one person said. "You fingerprinted me like I'm in a police district. No, I'm at a game store." Another shopper said, "I think it's an overreach. It's going too far."

GameStop's fingerprinting initiative is currently only underway in Philadelphia itself, but not the suburbs. We have reached out to GameStop for further clarification about this new policy for Philadelphia and will update this story with anything we hear back.

UPDATE:
GameStop has issued a statement on the matter, saying the initiative was implemented at the request of local authorities and has been in place since the beginning of July.

"It's a process that we've recently implemented (starting in early July) in Philadelphia area stores at the request of the Philadelphia police department," the GameStop representative said. "[It] is a practice we've also put into place in other parts of the U.S., depending on local or statewide second-hand dealer or pawn broker laws. However, at this time we are reviewing the process to determine if it's one which should be continued in Philadelphia."
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That is just crazy, IMO.
 
LOL. My fingerprint in the police database, how cool is that.

Why not go a step further & take mug shot of my mugface while we are at it.

Just to make the cop job easier when inevitably my finger print will show up at a robbed apartment downtown.
 
sharkboy1200 said:
Title is a bit misleading. More like Gamestop co-operating with local police force.
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I disagree. Look at the update, they have implemented it in other parts of the US( no mention of police request) based on pawn broker laws, but the lawyer just stated that gamestop are not obligated to do this.
 
It's Philly.
Have you guys been to Philly?
It's like Camden, but Philly.
 
This reminds me of shopping at places like Lowes and them ask for your phone number when making a purchase. "I am not giving you my phone number."

Only reason I shop at GS sometimes is to get used games cheap I never got around to playing and it not too far from where I live. Best Buy and other places are further. They start finger printing here I will go elsewhere.
 
I guess I'm fine with taking a look at a driver's license in case the s*** is reported stolen but finger printing? lmao Oh well haven't shopped there in at least 5 years.
 
They've been taking my fingerprint for years. I thought it was standard for trades
 
Yeah, I had to do one of those fingerprinting deals there too. It said "EA Research Inc." on the fingerprint scanner.
 
VaLLiancE said:
They are talking about it in parts of NJ as well.
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I wouldn't be shocked. I'm on my phone, which might get jacked at any moment, but it makes sense if people know the area. Stolen iphones on the subway was a big problem as well in that area and I think Gamestop buys those now.
 
I don't see the big here. I'm not a criminal and I don't try to trade in stolen merch, so I've nothing to worry about.

Doesn't matter to me anyway, the only time I go to gamestop is to get my free $50 steam card once every 3 months.
 
Yeah, i'm just about done with GameStop. I'll still go in when it's convenient but i try and get my gaming goods elsewhere. I almost laughed out loud one time when the manager was telling a family to avoid Walmart and buy all their games at GameStop.
 
IdleHands said:
I don't see the big here. I'm not a criminal and I don't try to trade in stolen merch, so I've nothing to worry about.

Doesn't matter to me anyway, the only time I go to gamestop is to get my free $50 steam card once every 3 months.
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Oh, yeah?

How do you go about that?
 
pravus said:
Oh, yeah?

How do you go about that?
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a while back I got invited to e-rewards for buying something @ gamestop and since the invite came from gamestop I get their gift card cheaper (I get it for $50 credit, others pay $75 in credit). So when I'm somewhere like a doctors office in the waiting room I load up their app on my phone and do a survey or two. I do this on two accounts and since you can only claim the gift cards once every three months I only have to do a few a week before I have enough credit.

Honestly, it's really not worth the time:reward but since I'm sitting waiting anyway I may as well pass the time getting free games instead of playing more candy crush.
 
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Wait until the bread lines start....
 
This is discrimination against people without fingers/hands.
 
If I went to CEX to trade some games they would give me 49p credit for and they presented an ink pad, this would be the fingers they would get...

13824233081367309540.GIF
 
Lol, what freedom was taken? Its a business, Just don't shop there- the Government is the only thing that can do that.
Beyond that, it sounds to me like theft is an issue in that area, and these are measures to fight the Resell of hot goods. Much like pawn shops have to hold items for a time before they can sell them in case the item turns up stolen.
I personally don't like this finger print thing, but you have the freedom to not give them your business.
 
Best thing about PC gaming is that you never have to set foot in a Gamestop.
 
I might go to GameStop just to have this done. Sounds fun.
 
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