Shoppers in Albany Mall were spotted queueing outside, with about 50 people in line to browse the sale.
News of a 50% off closing down sale also attracted bargain hunters to downtown Whangārei, where the queue to enter EB Games went from the store’s front door around the corner to Rathbone St.
The Northern Advocate understands people were being let inside in small groups.
Similar scenes were spotted in Auckland’s Newmarket, Cuba Street Mall in Wellington, and The Palms Mall in Christchurch.
At the retailer’s Gisborne store, Wairoa residents Sarah Hayden and her son Oliver, 15, travelled more than an hour to catch the sale.
Sarah and Oliver Hayden travelled an hour to reach EB Games’ Gisborne store. Photo / NZ Herald
“We’re going to catch the sale here and hopefully catch the sale in [Hawke’s] Bay as well,” she said.
“I’d say it’d all be sold out by the time we get there. It’s a shame it is closing down.”
Hayden said she wasn’t looking for anything in particular in the sale, but Oliver hoped to grab PlayStation 5 games before they disappeared.
Two other shoppers, Ryan and Josh, said they had been waiting in line for about 20 minutes. They were halfway along when they spoke to the Gisborne Herald.
However, the pair were already out of luck as a sign on the door said all consoles, controllers, headsets, keyboards and mice, mousepads, new games and joysticks had sold out.
The queue outside EB Games in Newmarket. Photo / Hugo Reade
Ryan said he shopped at the store once every two weeks and was disappointed it was closing.
“I feel for the staff more than anything. As a gamer you kind of knew it was coming with all the digital sales and the move away from physical media. It is not surprising, but it is disappointing.”
Emily Hanson, who lives in Hastings, said she joined the line about 1pm on Thursday after hearing about the 50% off sale.
“EB Games is closing down in New Zealand forever, so I thought I’d come and check out what stock they have left,” she said.
“I’ve shopped here quite a bit over the years. I’ve bought various different games throughout my life at EB Games. It’s kind of sad that they’re going.“
Hanson said she was hoping to pick up trading cards but wasn’t sure it would be worth the one-and-a-half-hour wait.
“I honestly don’t know, but I may as well try because I’ve come this far,” she said.
Te Maari MacGregor started lining up at 12.20pm and left the store after 2.20pm.
“It’s a bit sad that they’re closing down,” she said.
“They have really cool stuff in there … I came to catch a bargain.“
MacGregor said she bought about 15 items, including games, card games, drink bottles, socks and T-shirts, for about $150.
“With 50% off, it makes a huge difference,” she said. “It was worth the wait.”
A long queue formed outside the Hastings store today. Photo / Rafaella Melo
Customers were surprised by the turnout, with some questioning whether the store needed to close at all.
“EB Games will have an opening sale tomorrow at this point. Imagine closing down a store that can make bigger queues than an iPhone launch at an Apple Store,” one online post said.
“Unless you reaaaaaally want a bargain, maybe avoid Queensgate this afternoon as EB Games has just announced 50% off at all their stores, and quite the line has formed!” another comment said.
“The EB Games thing, while not surprising, is such a bummer. Always kind of had that vision of having my own game on the shelves of the childhood games store. Wasn’t quick enough.”
While the wait times in person fluctuate across the country, delays to accessing the store’s online site have grown significantly since 1pm.
The Herald joined the queue to enter the site at 1.10pm but is still yet to access it after nearly an hour, with the estimated wait time ballooning to more than three hours before gaining access.
Customers visiting EB Games’ online store also met queues, with some forced to wait about three hours before gaining access. Photo / NZ Herald
Kiwis online shared their frustration with queue times.
“EB Games NZ website is the first website I’ve ever seen a queue time going up instead of down haha it said 9 minutes about 10 minutes ago… now it’s 25 lmao,” one online comment said.
Other customers who gained access online said the wait time wasn’t worth it, citing a lack of products available.
The chain has been facing stress for some time, including closures of stores in Australia and New Zealand.
In the earlier letter, Stockwell described the New Zealand business as no longer commercially viable, with a “multimillion-dollar loss during the 2024 fiscal year”.
The company said there may be opportunities for New Zealand employees to relocate and take up work in the Australian EB Games operations.
Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.
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