Just Press Play — Local services in York Township

I've been a loyal patron of JPP for almost a decade, since the York store opened. Unfortunately, I don't really feel comfortable with giving them my business anymore due to the prices of their TCG products (namely Pokemon) having essentially entered "scalper" territory (for lack of a better term). I do understand that it can be very difficult for small businesses to allocate product, especially in the state of this economy, however, there comes a point where the markups for brand new, just-released products are unreasonable; "Above market price" unreasonable. Additionally, with big box stores and other local card/game shops with objectively better prices, it makes shopping at JPP a less appealing option to me. I can't speak for collectors and players of other TCGs and how those products are priced, but coming from a longtime collector and fan of Pokemon, it makes me sad, not only for myself and my wallet, but also other collectors and ESPECIALLY children who don't have money of their own to treat themselves to cards.

Also, as a figure and plush collector, some prices for those items are outrageously expensive. Again, namely Pokemon items are the #1 victims of this. RE-MENT blind boxes, for example, are generally priced around ~$20 a piece at JPP - when the full box sets that include all six figurines are available from other retailers such as AmiAmi for $30 - 50 USD after currency conversions (Postage excluded... but I digress). I see a similar issue with other Japanese and Chinese goods (i.e., plushies) I see in stock when I visit. I much prefer shopping in a brick-and-mortar store as opposed to online; I don't like that in-person shopping culture is dying. However, when it's financially a lot more convenient for me to use a proxy service to purchase collectibles from Japan or China instead of paying out the butt for the same thing in person, then yeah, I'm going to buy online instead.

It's really unfortunate to see what was once my favorite store to shop at become what it is now, in particular because they are truthfully the only place in the York and Lancaster area that I know of that caters so closely to my core interests - I felt like I grew up in this store, as silly as that sounds, but really, that's how I feel. I get that times change, the value of the dollar changes, all that - but it gets to a point where it looks like to me, as a consumer, consumers aren't being put first anymore; instead, it's greed. And y'know, I get that profit is one of the biggest parts of running and maintaining a successful business. After all, without a profit, it isn't much of a business, is it?

I don't blame nor am I upset with the employees for the gripes I have with the direction JPP has gone in the last couple years. You guys just work there, and I've had nothing but positive interactions with all of you. I just hope that my perspective on this gets to a higher-up and maybe they can see where I'm coming from, as well as other people who may feel similarly as I. I don't want to stop coming here forever, I just want it to be...

This store has a good selection of retro games and systems at decent prices. The store is extremely clean and appealing to visit. They have some very cool and rare retro systems on the shelves around the perimeter of the shop that are not for sale, but are interesting to see. The staff are very nice and knowledgeable too. I would have easily given them five stars if not for their terrible return policy. If you buy a game from them and it doesn’t work, they will take it back, but they will only give a store credit or replace it if they have another of the same item in stock. This just does NOT fly when you’re selling games that can be up to 40 years old. If they sell a defective item, they need to offer your money back OR a replacement. Collectors buy these games. Individual items can cost several hundred dollars. If they sell you something that doesn’t work, even if they have another copy to give you, there’s no guarantee it’s in the same condition as the one you originally purchased. That’s very important to a collector. I don’t believe people would exploit a fair return policy to use them as a rental store because they already have a short return window. They could also just cut off repeat offenders. Collectors buying expensive games will not be spending hundreds to play a game and return it a few days later. I frequent many other retro shops and I’ve never run into a policy like this. To be fair, I rarely have to return anything, but when it’s happened I was able to get my money back. In my case at Just Press Play they kindly made an exception and gave me my money back. I rarely spend a lot of money on something expensive. However, when I do, I don't want to rely on someone making an exception. I want a fair policy that gives me the peace of mind that comes with knowing that if something doesn't work, I can get my money back. Bottom line is that if you sell 30-40 year old games (that can cost hundreds) and they turn out to be defective, you should give the customer their CHOICE of money back OR replacing the item.. Nothing against the friendly and hard working staff. This is obviously a store policy and I doubt they have any control over it. If you are a collector and thinking about buying something here, I suggest you ask them to test it if possible. If they can’t, don’t buy...

Called looking for Disney lorcana cards to play the game with my nephews, was informed they want 14.99 per booster pack msrp is 5.99 might as well pay scalpers with those prices, what a joke. Between this and them stealing/losing my original fornite disc after they told me it was worthless, then seeing them selling it on there online store. I gave you guys a chance after that but scummy business practices still seem to be going on. Avoid this place... to add to this based on. Your response I was in the store while you still had 3 boosters and a trove from your initial release and the price was the same, I will not remove this you can try and lie in regards to the transaction that took place but I'll refresh your memory, I called the store around 2016 give a year or 2 asking if you guys would purchase bulk steel books after some back and forth we agreed upon 5$ a steel book I brought roughly 40 in along with a disc version of fortnite for ps4 we made the transaction and I was informed since fornite is free to play the disc was useless and not worth anything you store kept it, 2 days later for some reason I thought to look it up on ebay and sure enough the disc version was selling for substantial more then "worthless" I called someone at the store said the lost it or its not here something along those lines. I made a big deal about it then someone at your store called the owner or another store "im assuming the same person that was spoken to in regards to accepting the steel books" you guys offered me $40 to "make it right" now you want to try and gaslight me like it never happened. Horrible...