Media Mania — Local services in Stockbridge

This store is kind of hit or miss depending on what you're looking for. If you're looking for mangas, comics, records, CDs, or games then this is the place for you.

If you're looking for things like gaming controllers, I would suggest staying away. There is an obvious lack of authentication (and cleaning in regard to the used ones) when it comes to the controllers they sell. I've had to exchange 2 BRAND NEW Dualshock 4s that they've sold me because they were both broken (and one of them was an obvious bootleg/counterfeit but the employees there denied that it was). All I was offered for these broken controllers was store credit, because they don't offer refunds. The used controllers on the other hand are usually official ones, but they either feel like they were drenched in syrup or they're missing control stick covers and have scratched off buttons.

I hope for nothing but the best for this store, especially as they move into a new location and I hope I'll have better experiences with them in the future.

(Edit: Let me reiterate the part about the controller I was offered. The bootleg controller (a titanium blue dualshock 4) I was offered had quite a few inconsistencies from an official controller. The back label had a model number that doesn't match any model of the Dualshock 4 (there are literally only 2 models, CUH-ZCT1U and CUH-ZCT2U. The bootleg had the model number CUH-ZCTU), the control sticks were extremely stiff and unresponsive, the right trigger button does not respond to multiple inputs in a row, the Sony logo above the lightbar is a silver color instead of a dark blue logo on the official controller, the touchpad felt very loose and the Share and Option buttons both have the wrong font for the words above them. Despite all these inconsistencies, when I returned to the store, one of the employees looked at the controller for 5 seconds and said it was not a bootleg. Then another employee showed me the distributor they received the controllers from and the page listed them for 45 dollars each (significantly less than the MSRP of 60 dollars, which is an obvious sign that something is wrong). (I've added some pictures that I took of the controller (blue) compared to an official controller I bought at Walmart (red) ). Once again, I wish nothing but the best for this store, but I don't appreciate being told I'm lying about something so painfully obvious. Especially if that person who says I'm lying examined the controller for maybe...

II used to love going to this place when it was at the other location even though it was smaller you could actually get some help especially from the multi color hair girl. However since they moved I have been in a few times looking for specific things and normally when I get bad service I just don't go back but it is pretty much the only local retro store and I decided to look for something there once again but the service was horrible. Literally no acknowledgment from the staff at all and I was looking particularly for an Xbox 360. When I finally got one's attention to ask about the systems they had just sitting on the counter he acted like I interrupted his entire life and he couldn't be bothered to help me. I told him I was just curious as to what they were price-wise as they were not priced. He said something about they were waiting on controllers before they could sell them and I understand that. I asked him did he know a ballpark range of what they would run once they were complete and he said yeah probably around $200 for the standard one and 229 for the slam. For an Xbox 360? The average price on eBay for one complete was about a $100. At this point I start looking at other games and realize that they're well above eBay and even Amazon pricing as I'm checking both the apps as I'm trying to find some 3DS games for my kids. They have always been high priced but never really to this extreme and again I don't mind paying a little extra because it's there inconvenient but when you're 25% or more above the average price online that's just outrageous. Then you add horrible customer service and lackluster attitude from the employees who seem more interested in gossiping about their friends then trying to take care of the place. I have been shopping there since they opened up originally down near the bottle shop and I have followed them around as they have generally been a good company but the past couple of years since they moved to their current location it has just went downhill. I tried to go back randomly just to give them another chance but they continue to disappoint so I say either go online or stop...

I enjoyed the store and plan to be back again. That’s the quick summary review. Below I’ll offer a few additional thoughts now.

I read some of the reviews about people not being greeting when they walked in the door and I can verify that that did happen for me, too. The owner/workers were busy with other things so it’s not a big deal. Personally, that isn’t something that bothers me but I understand that it can set the tone for some people’s shopping experience. Didn’t feel pressured by anyone as I walked around and perused through the gaming collection. That alone is worth going to the store for. When I did interact with people running the shop they were great. They have a pretty large selection of games for many different consoles. Lots of duplicate games. Retro Nintendo selection was a little light compared to some other stores I’ve been to.

On to game prices.. I read comments where people complained about prices and can say that it’s not completely accurate. There are a lot of prices that are just fine. I picked up a few Sega Genesis games and was pleased with what the prices were. (Took them home and they play perfectly.) But then there are games that really are a bit over the top. I saw a Mario Cart Double Dash for $111.00. I know that game is a bit pricey anyway, but that is nearly $20-$30 dollars over what I’ve normally seen it for. I read a response they offered to someone else’s price complaint comment that they base their prices off of a couple industry sources and stated that one was DKOldies. A lot of people are already pretty irritated with DKOldies for price gouging, so my recommendation for the owners would be to take it down a notch on some of the more sought after games. It would probably serve them pretty well.

Other than some games prices that I personally thought were unreasonable, I think the store is very good. There is much more in the store besides video gaming. Lots of records, movies, music players, etc. It is definitely worth coming to the store and checking things out for yourself. I think there is something here for anyone interested in finding retro...