Bowser's Basement Video Game Store — Attraction in Taunton

*This review has been edited below the original review (I'd like to inform you of the changes unlike the owner of this store does)

One of the worst stores and I'll probably never return. They finally opened after the Covid lock down and I was excited to go and check out their new location and hopefully buy some games. After shopping I had a handful of various games and there was a sign on one of the glass cases that said "prices are subject to change." The guy proceeded to look on eBay for everyone in line for each and every game they were going to buy to change the price. When I got to the front of the line I asked why, the guy said "The prices have changed during the lock down." Well the prices were already marked, why are you changing it in front of your customers? You were closed for 2-3months, you could've used that time to do your job and manage your store. If you were aware of the price changes then you should've done your job before opening the store. I dropped my games and left. I'm probably never coming back after this terrible experience.

*EDIT: Attached are screenshots of owner's initial and current reply, I'm responding to the initial reply before he changed it

You’ve been awaiting my review? Maybe instead of sitting by your phone watching your Google reviews try doing your job updating your prices in your store. If I was the only person that “couldn’t seem to grasp supply and demand” Why are there other reviews here with similar takes? I understand what supply and demand is, you seem to have 20,000 games (which somehow doubled from your first reply) so you have plenty of supply, and all I wanted to do was to buy some games for my collection. You’re over here saying “Its business” but you seem to have no idea how to run it. Prices of games fluctuate constantly, it’s your job to maintain your business and keep your prices up to date, not change them in front of customers. That same day I went to a good amount of other game stores and almost every single store told me that “game prices are all over the place now, we spent the past few days updating our prices before we opened this week” and the stores that didn’t say anything along those lines HONORED THEIR MARKED PRICES! I follow your Facebook page and saw a post that said your store would be closed for store maintenance on June 22nd and I sincerely hope you were closed to update your prices! You even knew there was price inflation, the least you could’ve done before reopening was update the games in the case and behind the counter because that’s where the most of my games that I was going to buy came from. As for the $150 game that you had priced at $15 (Evolution Snowboarding), I honestly thought the other game in the series (Evolution Skateboarding) was the more expensive one of the two. However, when you found out it was worth that much you seemed to rub it in my face then you literally tossed the game to the ground behind the counter, what a great way to treat your inventory let alone a $150 game. Going on the topic of “you attempted to take advantage of a small business during a pandemic” all because you didn’t know the prices your inventory and didn’t do your own job on updating them is not taking advantage of a small business. You probably took advantage of a customer, giving you the benefit of the doubt (which I shouldn’t do), you probably gave that customer $5-7 credit for that Evolution Snowboarding and happily put your own $15 price tag on it to sell some day. Knowing that, it probably sat in the case for months before the pandemic and now that you’re going to put a $150 price tag on it it’ll just sit longer. With the amount of games both my friend and I had in our hands to buy you would’ve made about a $200-$250 sale, but you had to be greedy and throw them on the ground after being “amazed” about their new prices. I hope you learn some customer service skills, how to properly run your business, and how to treat your inventory. As you say...

I've been following Bowser's Basement on social media for quite some time since I don't live locally. I've had the pleasure of visiting them several times over the past few months and these are my honest thoughts.

They have a really terrific selection of games and some really amazing prices for the common games that they have in stock. They also have various other game related items that are well under market value for sale. However, anything that is uncommon or desireable is going to be close to market price, or, in most cases, higher.

As is with most retro gaming stores, you're going to be lowballed if you try to trade anything in as this is how these businesses survive. You're always better off selling your games online if you want top dollar, but you will have to sit on them until you find the right buyer. Personally, I like trading old CIB games that I don't want anymore for other games that I do want. Therefore, trading is only really beneficial for me personally if the shop has something that I really want, and are willing to cut me a good deal since I'm trading for their current stock. I didn't feel like it would have been worth it for me at Bowser's Basement despite the quality of my trades, but you're experience may be different depending on what you're looking for and what you are trading in. Minus one star.

The employees that I spoke with here the few times that I visited were very nice and polite. However, they were unwilling or unable to haggle even when purchasing several games and items which was a bit disappointing. There is also no benefit to paying in cash versus card which is fine. Not every place has a "cash discount". Minus one half star.

There are absolutely no returns, only exchanges, so if you don't live locally it's best to make sure that you test everything before you walk out the door. I was told that people abused the return policy in the past, so that's why the policy is currently exchanges only.

Current retro gaming stores can be broken down into two main categories, people doing what they love, and people out there to make money. The vibe that I got at Bowser's Basement was much closer to the "making money" side than the "people doing what they love" side. Other local stores like Emporium of Retro and Interesting Collectables in South Easton, Second Chance Games in Lynn, and Sudden Impact in Winthrop are much closer to the "doing what they love" end of the spectrum, so if that's more your thing you should definitely check those places out.

Final Verdict is 3.5 stars, but since I can't give a half star on Google I'm rounding up to 4 stars.

I wanted to like this place more, but I feel like a bit more leeway with trading and haggling would make this place better. I'm not a reseller, just someone who enjoys playing retro games that I played during my childhood, so collecting is pure nostalgia for me.

Response to Owner 10/9/22 10:30am: I appreciate your reply. However, I'd prefer to remain semi-anonymous so that my reviews remain unbiased. When I visit again if my experience is better or worse I will surely update my review as needed. Have a wonderful...

Lots to say here. Went in to see if they had a specific Pokémon game for Nintendo DS and they had it at a very reasonable price for a very rare item.

But more importantly, this place is cool. You walk in and it’s actually very clean. The decorations actually create a nice fun atmosphere. They have a great variety of goods to choose from. Got extra stocking stuffers too.

The games are organized in a very logical manner, and they are even alphabetized.

Also had the experience of witnessing another customer who bought a game the day before: a 300lbs, 6’2, 40-year-old man who left his daughter in the car because the super Nintendo legend of Zelda game was glitching on a load screen. The guy wanted a refund, but the clerk told him there are no refunds. The man then proceeded to use his white outrage and ask what kind of business this is and then took out his phone to film the employee. The employee did not give permission for him to film him. The large man perhaps unknowingly was using his physical intimidation and mocked the clerk for not looking him in the eye.

The man failed to realize that it is a used game market after all, and there’s no reasonable expectation of guarantee for a game cartridge made 30+ years ago to immediately work correctly straight from the purchase. All sales are final is not a new concept. It’s not a new car covered under the lemon law.

Still, the clerk remediated the problem and cleaned it properly and then tested the cartridge and verified that it is working. It just needed a spot cleaning.

The burly man stormed off and promised bad reviews of the store. If that comes up, ignore him. The store is a true hidden gem, and I look forward to buying from here...