Unless they've changed their practices radically and recently, (within hours) I worked for Gamestop myself, also know as Babbages/Software Etc and a few others and we did no such thing. I'm not calling you or him a liar, just misinformed. I still maintain several contacts within the company to this day, throughout the country (U.S.).
Now some independent local stores(who have felt the wrath of flash cards) with a conscience, MAY update to prevent piracy, but it is not a corporate-wide/mandated practice.
In fact I've worked for several and (presently) have close friends on the inside at (throughout Fl., Tx,. Az.,N.J. right now) that say (as of this week), they do no such thing. What WE did (and they're doing) was check system slot for a game, delete games presently downloaded, delete names from the system and put right onto the shelf. no battery charge, no sticker or system cleaning nothing. period... THAT"S all there was/is to refurbishing, that refurbishing is the biggest lie in electronics today. The only thing being refurbished is their cash flow. There is nothing known or technically being refilled, restored, reconfabulated or otherwise being magically returned to a previously used state.
It IS what it IS, USED. Millions in marketing dollars tells (Gamestop CEO's) them 'refurbished' items sell faster than used items. That's why you're not buying your used games from Goodwill on a regular basis. It's simply 1st Year College Economics 101.
Now some independent local stores(who have felt the wrath of flash cards) with a conscience, MAY update to prevent piracy, but it is not a corporate-wide/mandated practice.
In fact I've worked for several and (presently) have close friends on the inside at (throughout Fl., Tx,. Az.,N.J. right now) that say (as of this week), they do no such thing. What WE did (and they're doing) was check system slot for a game, delete games presently downloaded, delete names from the system and put right onto the shelf. no battery charge, no sticker or system cleaning nothing. period... THAT"S all there was/is to refurbishing, that refurbishing is the biggest lie in electronics today. The only thing being refurbished is their cash flow. There is nothing known or technically being refilled, restored, reconfabulated or otherwise being magically returned to a previously used state.
It IS what it IS, USED. Millions in marketing dollars tells (Gamestop CEO's) them 'refurbished' items sell faster than used items. That's why you're not buying your used games from Goodwill on a regular basis. It's simply 1st Year College Economics 101.