Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Background GameStop Corp. (“GameStop,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) is a global family of specialty retail brands that makes the most popular technologies affordable and simple. As the world's largest omnichannel video game retailer, we sell new and pre-owned video game hardware, physical and digital video game software, video game accessories, as well as new and pre-owned mobile and consumer electronics products and other merchandise primarily through our GameStop, EB Games and Micromania stores. Additionally, we recently acquired Geeknet, Inc. ("Geeknet"), an online and wholesale retailer that sells collectibles, apparel, gadgets, electronics, toys and other retail products for technology enthusiasts and general consumers under the name ThinkGeek through the www.thinkgeek.com website. ThinkGeek also sells certain exclusive products to wholesale channel customers. As of January 30, 2016 , we operated 7,117 stores, in the United States, Australia, Canada and Europe, which are primarily located in major shopping malls and strip centers. We also operate electronic commerce websites www.gamestop.com , www.ebgames.com.au , www.ebgames.co.nz , www.gamestop.ca , www.gamestop.it , www.gamestop.ie , www.gamestop.de , www.gamestop.co.uk and www.micromania.fr. The network also includes: www.kongregate.com , a leading browser-based game site; Game Informer magazine, the world's leading print and digital video game publication; and iOS and Android mobile applications. Our Technology Brands segment owns and operates Spring Mobile, an authorized AT&T reseller operating AT&T branded wireless retail stores and pre-paid wireless stores under the name Cricket (an AT&T brand) in the United States, as well as a certified Apple reseller selling Apple consumer electronic products in the United States under the name Simply Mac. We operate our business in four Video Game Brands segments: United States, Canada, Australia and Europe; and a Technology Brands segment, which includes the operations of our Spring Mobile managed AT&T and Cricket branded stores and our Simply Mac business. Our largest vendors worldwide are Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Activision, which accounted for 27% , 19% , 11% , 10% and 9% , respectively, of our new product purchases in fiscal 2015, 24% , 17% , 11% , 8% and 10% , respectively, in fiscal 2014 and 20% , 15% , 12% , 10% and 10% , respectively, in fiscal 2013 . Basis of Presentation and Consolidation Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. All dollar and share amounts (other than dollar amounts per share) in the consolidated financial statements are stated in millions unless otherwise indicated. Our fiscal year is composed of the 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Saturday closest to the last day of January. Fiscal 2015 consisted of the 52 weeks ended on January 30, 2016 ("fiscal 2015"). Fiscal 2014 consisted of the 52 weeks ended on January 31, 2015 ("fiscal 2014"). Fiscal 2013 consisted of the 52 weeks ended on February 1, 2014 ("fiscal 2013"). Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. In preparing these financial statements, we have made our best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. Changes in the estimates and assumptions used by us could have a significant impact on our financial results. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents We consider all short-term, highly-liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Our cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates market value, and consist primarily of time deposits with highly rated commercial banks. From time to time depending upon interest rates, credit worthiness and other factors, we invest in money market investment funds holding direct U.S. Treasury obligations. Restricted Cash We consider bank deposits serving as collateral for bank guarantees issued on behalf of our foreign subsidiaries as restricted cash, which is included in other noncurrent assets in our consolidated balance sheets. Our restricted cash was $9.7 million and $12.7 million as of January 30, 2016 and January 31, 2015 , respectively. Merchandise Inventories Our merchandise inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market generally using the average cost method. Under the average cost method, as new product is received from vendors, its current cost is added to the existing cost of product on-hand and this amount is re-averaged over the cumulative units. Pre-owned video game products traded in by customers are recorded as inventory at the amount of the store credit given to the customer. We are required to make adjustments to inventory to reflect potential obsolescence or over-valuation as a result of cost exceeding market. In valuing inventory, we consider quantities on hand, recent sales, potential price protections, returns to vendors and other factors. Our ability to assess these factors is dependent upon our ability to forecast customer demand and to provide a well-balanced merchandise assortment. Inventory is adjusted based on anticipated physical inventory losses or shrinkage and actual losses resulting from periodic physical inventory counts. Inventory reserves as of January 30, 2016 and January 31, 2015 were $61.5 million and $69.3 million , respectively. Property and Equipment Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation on furniture, fixtures and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives ranging from two to ten years. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred, while betterments and major remodeling costs are capitalized. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the terms of the respective leases, including option periods in which the exercise of the option is reasonably assured (generally ranging from three to ten years). Costs incurred in purchasing management information systems are capitalized and included in property and equipment. These costs are amortized over their estimated useful lives from the date the systems become operational. Our total depreciation expense was $144.9 million , $144.5 million and $152.9 million during fiscal 2015 , fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013 , respectively. We periodically review our property and equipment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable or their depreciation or amortization periods should be accelerated. We assess recoverability based on several factors, including our intention with respect to our stores and those stores’ projected undiscounted cash flows. An impairment loss would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value, as approximated by the present value of their projected discounted cash flows. We recorded impairment losses of $4.6 million , $2.2 million and $18.5 million in fiscal 2015 , fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013 , respectively. See Note 2, "Asset Impairments," for further information regarding our asset impairment charges. Goodwill & Intangible Assets See Note 9, "Goodwill and Intangible Assets," for additional information regarding our accounting policies for goodwill and intangible assets. Revenue Recognition We recognize revenue when the sales price is fixed or determinable, collection is reasonably assured and the customer takes possession of the merchandise, or in the case of commissions, when the commission-generating activity has been performed. Revenue from the sales of our products is recognized at the time of sale, net of sales discounts and net of an estimated sales return reserve, based on historical return rates, with a corresponding reduction in cost of sales. Our sales return policy is generally limited to 30 days or less and as such our sales returns are, and historically have been, immaterial. The sales of pre-owned video game products are recorded at the retail price charged to the customer. Advertising revenues for Game Informer are recorded upon release of magazines for sale to consumers. Subscription revenues for our PowerUp Rewards loyalty program and magazines are recognized on a straight-line basis over the subscription period. Revenue from the sales of product replacement plans is recognized on a straight-line basis over the coverage period. Customer liabilities and other deferred revenues for our PowerUp Rewards loyalty program, gift cards, customer credits, magazines and product replacement plans are included in accrued liabilities (see Note 8, "Accrued Liabilities"). We also sell a variety of digital products which generally allow consumers to download software or play games on the internet. Certain of these products do not require us to purchase inventory or take physical possession of, or take title to, inventory. When purchasing these products from us, consumers pay a retail price and we earn a commission based on a percentage of the retail sale as negotiated with the product publisher. We recognize these commissions as revenue at the time of sale of these digital products. Our Spring Mobile business earns commission revenue as an AT&T authorized dealer related to the activation of new wireless customers, the activation of enhanced or upgraded features on existing wireless customer plans and certain other commission incentive opportunities that may be offered to us by AT&T. We have determined that we are not deemed the obligor on the underlying wireless services contracts that give rise to this commission revenue; therefore, commission revenue is recognized at the point at which the commission-generating activity has been performed, which is generally driven by customer activation. Commissions are recognized net of an allowance for chargebacks from AT&T for estimated customer cancellations, which is periodically assessed and adjusted to reflect historical cancellation experience. Revenues do not include sales taxes or other taxes collected from customers. Cost of Sales and Selling, General and Administrative Expenses Classification The classification of cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses varies across the retail industry. We include purchasing, receiving and distribution costs in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. For the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2016 , the 52 weeks ended January 31, 2015 and the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014 , these purchasing, receiving and distribution costs amounted to $62.9 million , $50.3 million and $56.4 million , respectively. We include processing fees associated with purchases made by check and credit cards in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations. For the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2016 , the 52 weeks ended January 31, 2015 and the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014 , these processing fees amounted to $80.3 million , $66.4 million and $61.5 million , respectively. Customer Liabilities We establish a liability upon the issuance of merchandise credits and the sale of gift cards. Revenue is subsequently recognized when the credits and gift cards are redeemed. In addition, breakage is recognized quarterly on unused customer liabilities older than two years to the extent that our management believes the likelihood of redemption by the customer is remote, based on historical redemption patterns. To the extent that future redemption patterns differ from those historically experienced, there will be variations in the recorded breakage. Breakage is recorded in cost of sales in our consolidated statements of operations. Advertising Expenses We expense advertising costs for television, newspapers and other media when the advertising takes place. Advertising expenses for the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2016 , the 52 weeks ended January 31, 2015 and the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014 were $66.6 million , $64.1 million and $57.8 million , respectively. Loyalty Expenses Our PowerUp Rewards loyalty program allows enrolled members to earn points on purchases that can be redeemed for rewards that include discounts or merchandise. We estimate the net cost of the rewards that will be issued and redeemed and record this cost and the associated balance sheet liability as points are accumulated by loyalty program members. The two primary estimates utilized to record the balance sheet liability for loyalty points earned by members are the estimated redemption rate and the estimated weighted-average cost per point redeemed. Our management uses historical redemption rates experienced under the loyalty program as a basis to estimate the ultimate redemption rate of points earned. A weighted-average cost per point redeemed is used to estimate future redemption costs. The weighted-average cost per point redeemed is based on our most recent actual costs incurred to fulfill points that have been redeemed by our loyalty program members and is adjusted as appropriate for recent changes in redemption costs, including the mix of rewards redeemed. We continually evaluate our methodology and assumptions based on developments in redemption patterns, cost per point redeemed and other factors. Changes in the ultimate redemption rate and weighted-average cost per point redeemed have the effect of either increasing or decreasing the liability through the current period provision by an amount estimated to cover the cost of all points previously earned but not yet redeemed by loyalty program members as of the end of the reporting period. The cost of free or discounted product is recognized in cost of sales and the associated liability is included in accrued liabilities. The reserve is released when loyalty program members redeem their respective points and the corresponding rewards are recorded to cost of goods sold in the period of redemption. The cost of administering the loyalty program, including program administration fees, program communications and cost of loyalty cards, is recognized in selling, general and administrative expenses. Income Taxes Income tax expense includes federal, state, local and international income taxes. Income taxes are accounted for utilizing an asset and liability approach and deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that will more likely than not be realized. In accordance with GAAP, we maintain liabilities for uncertain tax positions until examination of the tax year is completed by the applicable taxing authority, available review periods expire or additional facts and circumstances cause us to change our assessment of the appropriate accrual amount. See Note 13, "Income Taxes," for additional information. We plan on permanently reinvesting our undistributed foreign earnings outside the United States. Where foreign earnings are permanently reinvested, no provision for federal income or foreign withholding taxes is made. Should we have undistributed foreign earnings that are not permanently reinvested, United States income tax expense and foreign withholding taxes will be provided for at the time the earnings are generated. Lease Accounting We lease retail stores, warehouse facilities, office space and equipment. These assets and properties are generally leased under noncancelable agreements that expire at various dates through 2034 with various renewal options for additional periods. The agreements, which have been classified as operating leases, generally provide for minimum and, in some cases, percentage rentals and require us to pay all insurance, taxes and other maintenance costs. Leases with step rent provisions, escalation clauses or other lease concessions are accounted for on a straight-line basis over the lease term, which includes renewal option periods when we are reasonably assured of exercising the renewal options and includes “rent holidays” (periods in which we are not obligated to pay rent). Cash or lease incentives received upon entering into certain store leases (“tenant improvement allowances”) are recognized on a straight-line basis as a reduction to rent expense over the lease term, which includes renewal option periods when we are reasonably assured of exercising the renewal options. We record the unamortized portion of tenant improvement allowances as a part of deferred rent. We do not have leases with capital improvement funding. Percentage rentals are based on sales performance in excess of specified minimums at various stores and are accounted for in the period in which the amount of percentage rentals can be accurately estimated. Foreign Currency Translation Generally, we have determined that the functional currencies of our foreign subsidiaries are the subsidiaries’ local currencies. The assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries are translated at the applicable exchange rate as of the end of the balance sheet date and revenue and expenses are translated at an average rate over the period. Currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. Transaction and derivative net gains are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and were $1.6 million , $2.5 million and $3.3 million for the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2016 , the 52 weeks ended January 31, 2015 and the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014 , respectively. The foreign currency transaction gains and losses are primarily due to the decrease or increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the functional currencies of the countries in which we operate internationally. We use forward exchange contracts, foreign currency options and cross-currency swaps (together, the “foreign currency contracts”) to manage currency risk primarily related to foreign-currency denominated intercompany assets and liabilities and certain other foreign currency assets and liabilities. These foreign currency contracts are not designated as hedges and, therefore, changes in the fair values of these derivatives are recognized in earnings, thereby offsetting the current earnings effect of the re-measurement of related intercompany loans and foreign currency assets and liabilities. See Note 6, "Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments," for additional information regarding our foreign currency contracts. New Accounting Pronouncements In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard addresses the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations in the new revenue recognition standard. The ASU clarifies how an entity should identify the unit of accounting (i.e. the specified good or service) for the principal versus agent evaluation and how it should apply the control principle to certain types of arrangements. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-04, Recognition of Breakage for Certain Prepaid Stored-Value Products. The standard specifies how prepaid stored-value product liabilities should be derecognized, thereby eliminating the current and potential future diversity in practice. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The standard requires a lessee to recognize a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing a right to use the underlying asset for the lease term on the balance sheet. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. The standard amends the current requirement for organizations to present deferred tax liabilities and assets as current and noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. Instead, organizations will now be required to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted this standard during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, utilizing prospective application as permitted. As such, certain prior period amounts have not been retrospectively adjusted to conform to the current presentation. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments. Under this standard, an acquirer in a business combination must recognize measurement-period adjustments during the period in which the acquirer determines the amounts, including the effect on earnings of any amounts the acquirer would have recorded in previous periods if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date, as opposed to retrospectively. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. We do not anticipate that adoption of this standard will have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Interest - Imputation of Interest. The ASU is effective immediately and clarifies that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. We do not anticipate that adoption of this standard will have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. This standard changes the measurement principle for inventory from the lower of cost or market to the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. This standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that adoption of this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This standard requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. ASU 2015-03 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early application permitted. This standard will be applied retrospectively, and we do not expect the adoption of this standard to materially impact our consolidated financial statements. In February 2015 the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The standard amends both the variable interest entity and voting interest entity consolidation models and requires companies to reassess whether certain entities should be consolidated. We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, as part of its ongoing efforts to assist in the convergence of U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 related to revenue recognition. The new guidance sets forth a new five-step revenue recognition model which replaces the prior revenue recognition guidance in its entirety and is intended to eliminate numerous industry-specific pieces of revenue recognition guidance that have historically existed in U.S. GAAP. The underlying principle of the new standard is that a business or other organization will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects in exchange for the goods or services. The standard also requires more detailed disclosures and provides additional guidance for transactions that were not addressed completely in the prior accounting guidance. The ASU provides alternative methods of initial adoption and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 one year making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017 while also providing for early adoption as of the original effective date. We anticipate that the standard will affect the way that we recognize gift card breakage and liabilities for our customer incentives. We are currently continuing to evaluate the impact that this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements as well as the appropriate method of adoption. In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08 related to reporting discontinued operations and disclosures of disposals of components of an entity. Specifically, the ASU amends the definition of a discontinued operation, expands disclosure requirements for transactions that meet the definition of a discontinued operation and requires entities to disclose additional information about individually significant components that are disposed of or held for sale and do not qualify as discontinued operations. Additionally, entities will be required to reclassify assets and liabilities of a discontinued operation for all comparative periods presented in the statement of financial position and to separately present certain information related to the operating and investing cash flows of the discontinued operation, for all comparative periods, in the statement of cash flows. The ASU became effective for us beginning in the first quarter of our fiscal year ending January 30, 2016 and will be adopted on a prospective basis for all disposals (except disposals classified as held for sale prior to the adoption date) or components initially classified as held for sale in periods beginning on or after the adoption date, with early adoption permitted. The implementation of this standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. |