Game Rave-Toy Rave — Local services in San Diego

This may be the most bizarre experience I have had in a store.

-Large store but you can only explore about 10% of it. It is an absolute cluster and a shell of what looks like it could have been a cool place years ago. -Owner talks like he was some Hollywood star, all while having a large food stain on his shirt and a strong odor. Weird narcissistic rhetoric for literally no reason at all, not like anyone asked his opinion on anything… I simply asked for a price of something and down the rabbit hole I went. -Blatantly price gouges, he is well aware of it as he will get mad if you look up prices for comparison sake. Forgive me if I’m trying to see how much you are trying to fleece me for. Also I understand how hard it is to keep a retail shop running, I wouldn’t have minded paying an inflated price… not a 40% increase though. If you don’t want repeat customers that’s one way to do it. -The rhetoric that comes out of the owners mouth is amusing due to how bizarre it is but definitely not customer service worthy. -The box of cards I was trying to buy went from $120, then he changed his mind and said $130 and at cash out it miraculously went up to $140 before tax… for a box of pokemon cards that is $80 on eBay. A $60 gouge is absolutely crazy, unfortunately I was in a pinch and had to take it on the chin. According to the owner everything on eBay is fake, he has the real deal stuff and doesn’t weigh his packs. It’s almost as he gets off on lying and is so narcissistic he doesn’t believe you can see right through his BS. -Sir if you have to tell a customer you don’t weigh your packs over a dozen times, I’m starting to think you might weigh your packs. I never even asked nor cared as I am not a pokemon collector so not sure why it was repeated so much. Now that you made sure to show me your guilty conscience, I would assume you are doing some shady things other than price gouging.

To be clear I really wanted to support a local shop, now I understand why this place has a 2.7 rating, do you know how hard it is to get a sub 3 star rating on google?! You blatantly have to try and be that bad. The entire vibe of the shop is just weird and not in a good way. This place...

I am an actual customer here at GameRave (mom and pop store) and ongoing for more than 8 years. I've witnessed many so called "customers" walk in this establishment, ask for prices of a popular game or gaming accessories. They do not buy anything, but later on post a review on google or yelp about a far-fetched version of their extensive knowledge in the pricing of the products. Including that the owner does not have control over his business on google, the comments and remarks are opinionated. Ask for a price of a game and don't buy it because they want it their way. I'm sorry but this is not burger king, or some random person at the swap meet trying to sell product (using online pricing to gauge their Inventory) The real reason why I personally wrote this review is because the defamation of my character. My photo was taken without my permission inside the store. And yes I was sleeping in the photo, but to include that I take several medications prescribed from my doctor for my disabilities and health problems. Which results in me being drowsy and incapable of staying awake. Accused of being called a drug addict on this site proves it not a credible source. A spiteful relative to the store owner (Happy Productions) is one example of this. Harassing this mom and pop store and customers for years now, changing the username on the account (Happy Productions). Posting pictures of this business and somehow using them for its website? Not a owner, nor a customer. Its the perfect example for anyone anywhere to rate and comment about a business, depending on their mood that day or exposing family drama in public and disturbing the peace. Consistently coming back and expecting different results is the definition of Insanity. Google plus Yelp, allowing these individuals to post lies and deceive the everyday American consumer. Google and Yelp does not remove the lies and deception, but the wonderful comments rated by REAL customers is tossed no sooner...

I am genuinely posting this 1-star review from a strange space. I am doing it with actual love and the hope the owner/management is willing to listen/consider a new direction from the current track of this store.

REVIEW: If you go here, and have been to any other modern contemporary gaming store, this will shock you. Of the total retail space, about 10% of it is "mostly disorganized but passably acceptable as a gaming store". The rest of the 90% of the space is either highly disorganized (at best) or, in the majority of the case, appears to just be the refuse of a hoarder. Piles of empty and semi-empty cardboard boxes overflowing roughly 60% of the space. True chaos. The most disorganized retail store experience I have had in at least 20 years... and I thrift shop.

The present state of the store will genuinely shock anyone.

With that said... underneath all the chaos, trash, and disorganization.... there is still the lingering potential of a REALLY GOOD gaming store! there is a play area in the back that could be amazing , receptive, and welcoming. There's a PC gaming set of stations that look fun. So many of the pieces of what a shop could be are there... but somehow they got lost over the years. A employee I spoke with while there alluded to some major shift in the store occurring during Covid.

I don't know one way or the other, but I genuinely do wish the best for the owner and their employees... but you NEED to get...