How GameStop Screws You on Video Game Trade-Ins

From the featured PlanetXbox360.com editorial (written by a GS employee):

"I think the used game market should hang around as long as it can, and I think you should have the right to do whatever you want with something that you have purchased. However, I have never and will never trade any of my games in. No matter which way you look at it, you shouldn't have to trade in over five popular old games just to buy a new one. I can't justify that in any way, but I also can't speak for everyone. So my only solution to the unfairness of trade prices is for you to just not use the GameStop service. This article will focus more on how GameStop is helping to kill the used-games market; even though that’s the exact opposite result they are seeking."

[LaurenKB123]

I stopped trading in there a while back, there are much better places to sell used games, or just keep em... $25 for a game that came out a week ago and then they mark it up to $55 right then and there; I heard they gave $75 for a Vita and then listed it for $229....crazy!

[xPhearR3dx]

I saw a guy the other week selling his iPhone. He actually sold it for $125 store credit. Meanwhile, his exact model was on display right next to him for $369.99 USED.

Smartest way to sell something quick and get the most money. Search every big site (Amazon, Ebay, Craigslist etc) and list yours for $15-$30 less depending on how much it cost and you'll usually sell it the same day. I've done it hundreds of times. Of course the easy way out is going to Gamestop, but you'll get so much more money doing it the way I listed above.

[Army_of_Darkness]

I stopped selling my games after getting ripped off when I was 14 yrs. old. I remember trading in 5 games plus $20 on top of that just to get a new copy of streets of rage 3!!
Now, if I ever want to sell my games, I do it on Kijiji ;-)

[guitarded77]

To get the most for your games, bundle about 5 of them together... 1 good game and 4 crappy games. Post an ad on Craigslist at $10 more than you want and put OBO in the listing. People will bite because it looks like an excellent deal because you have 5 games there even though 4 of them may only have a trade in value of a couple bucks each. On average you can get 4-5x what gamestop would give you in store credit. I know, I used to do this with games, DVDs, CDs, etc. People see what they want to see, and they feel they're getting the better deal, so it works best for you and the buyer.

[SnakeCQC]

@army of darkness *desperate

[KrimsonKody]

Let me guess;
Funcoland did it to you, huh?
Smh

[MostJadedGamer]

Thats way too much trouble, hassle, and risk, and if everybody tryed to do it most people would actually get less money.

At this point Gamestop is the best way to trade in games for most people. That is a simple fact.

Yea it would be nice if they offered a little more on there trade-ins, but you have to take what you can get.

[LackTrue4K]

ya me too. i wont renew my sub with them anymore. they wanted to give me 5 for the sony headset (the first model) and 2.50 for Metal Gear Solid 4. i turn around and gave them as a gift to a good friend in mexico instead. (true story too, lol...)

[wnek9]

they screw everyone over on accesories, but your mgs4 is only 8$ used so 2.50 is about right.

[Double_O_Revan]

I got MGS4 Limited Edition Used from them a while back for $8! Because they don't differentiate between regular and limited editions. I can't Believe someone traded that in for $2.50! It's going for $60 at the cheapest on Amazon.

Then I went back 2 days later and returned my original edition as if it was the one I bought because, again, they sell them as the same sku. Free upgrade.

[wnek9]

the 229 vita is a referbished 3g model, the 200 one is wifi referbished, if they only have used a 3g would be 200 and a wifi 180

probably for a wifi only vita but the 3g vita they give like 130 and with the trade in bonus and powerup card they give you 188.50 and a 8GB memory card is 15 so essentially you can get 203.50 on something you coulda bought used there with memory card for 280 after tax. but on craigslist the asking price for a vita over all 3g or wifi is 180-200 including a 4-8GB memory card atm so with bonus's your not really getting screwed.

you actually get screwed moreover on older hardware like 360/ps3 wii and games though. unless you trade in this week where games get you 50% more trade in bonus with a powerup card. then you will get right around what you would get on craigslist.

of course the difference is at gamestop u only get instore credit to only spend on more games which is what i would spend it on anyway. while on craigslist you would get cash to spend anywhere.

[joab777]

Yeah, it's crazy to try and make a profit. They should give you $150 for a used vital and sell it for &175. Cmon! It's supply and demand. If there is demand, the price is up. Remember, it's a store that must have a minimal stock just to open it's doors. They are battling the new market everyday, as well as digital. But, they are a store u can walk in and buy whatever u want. And u can trade in games u r done with. They have a rewards program and deals all the time. I sell games on eBay and trade in. Many times I get more from Gamestop because they are offering more to restock. It's like everything else. Shop around. They are not the only option but they are a great option to have. Are they trying to make money? Yep. I wish gamers could get a look at it's numbers...the money going out and coming in. I am a chef and make menus etc. This year we have had to raise prices more than ever. Patrons are already hurting because of the economy and they can't understand why prices need to raise. What they don't know is that the price increases are actually lower than they should be to account for our business expenses, but we can't raise them any more. When you are paying 30-40 more for a ribeye, how much do you raise the price of a delmonico? If you get 10-12 cuts, That's 4-8 more per steak. But, can I raise the price $6? No. It isn't as simple as noticing that a business changed a price one day while u were not looking. If u don't like Gamestop, don't use it, but I am tired of every article being about how every company is greedy and trying to rob us. Who should determine prices? The market should and it is. Most times your problem is with the economy and crushing government regulation and taxes, not corporations. Are they shady sometimes? Yeah, because they are always trying to stay profitable.

[hoopstar13]

Gamestop is greedy. Point blank. There is no excuse for selling an inferior product at increments of $5 discounts I could justify if they gave better compensation for trade-in value but, any trade conducted with them is the buyer seldom made whole. As far as raising prices inflation is largely a parlor trick to justify overpaying people who don't deserve as much as they receive like bureaucrats, stock brokers and corporate CEO's.

[torchic]

I traded Portal 2 this January for like €12 and Dead Space for €8! I never ever went back to Gamestop. if I don't have enough money for a game I tough it out and wait for a price drop.

[LastDance]

You all have no idea what you're talking about.

Work in a game store and then comment about prices. You're just making your ignorance shine.

What are you expecting for your used game? 60-75% of the resale price?

Learn business and economics.

Just because they resell it at an "outlandish" price does that mean it SELLS? NO

Does every game that appears to be in good condition even WORK!?!? NO

Do video game stores have sales on where prices are reduced or buy 1 get one free offers are in effect? YES - Oh but we cant do that coz we paid 40 dollars for this 50 dollar pre owned game

Do stores price match other stores??? YES ...Oh Kmart have it for 35 dollars?..we paid 40 for it sorry cant match that...better go there.

Do game prices reduce over time? YES - ohhhh ..this game is now 40 dollars new...but we paid 40 for this second hand version...Oh wellllllllllll

Do you think the 15-20% (sometimes less) mark up on NEW games pays the bills? NO

[admiralvic]

The problem is too many people look at things from 1 side. For instance I had Resistance Burning Skies and traded it in for 27 dollars (meaning I paid 13 for it). Despite losing money, who is going to buy a used copy of Resistance Burning Skies for 37 dollars (my trade in price + online pass price)? The same can be said about a lot of games, which is why people trade things in to begin with. For a long time I dealt with private sellers and they're far worse than any of these companies. Many times I got offers that were below what was POSSIBLE to get from a place like Gamestop. Due to this many people just ignore whats going on and simply trade things in. Additionally a lot of people forget about sales, which often times kill TIV's.

Some recent deals were XIII-2 for 15 (traded in for like 20), Batman AC for 10 (Traded in for 25 or something like that), Deadliest Warrior 0 (traded in for 10), etc. There are plenty of people who snag things for super cheap and flip them at Gamestop or something. This naturally drops the price and creates stupid posts like this... It's all supply / demand, though I guess it's not really worth talking about.

[MasterChief3624]

It's called business sense. Those margins are pretty damn good.

[showtimefolks]

hate on gamestop is like hate on call of duty is a fashion thing everyone is doing it.

Gamestop usually give you good money if you trade 3-5 games and than either buy a used game and get extra 30% trade in plus 10% as a pur member so on top of your trade you can get 30-40%.

gamestop in a given years give one billion in store credit and that one billion goes towards buying a old game or buying a brand new title you would have not otherwise bought if it wasn't for the game credit.

not every single game is gonna be in your collection simple as that i rather sell/trade games i know i won't play again. Just to keep em is useless

http://www.gametrailers.com...

watch the video don't just think its patch and he is a dumb ass and all. He explains everything and how gamestop makes a huge profit but they also provide the chance for many people to experience newer games they otherwise wouldn't be

hoopstar13

you name a business in gaming that does a better job?

[Torkith]

There's a small local video store where I do my trade-ins. They'll give $30 for a new title and resell it for $45. Very fair imo.

[UltimaEnder]

Couldn't agree more

[Summons75]

I understand there a business and need to make money, but they are so unfair to the customers, it's ridiculous. I stopped trading games in when I realized that doing that was just a waste of money and I felt bad when someone would buy me a game and I'd trade it in 6 months later.

[KidBroSweets2]

I'm curious as to how you used "there" in the wrong context and then one comma later, you used "they are" in the correct context.

[Summons75]

lol I don't know. I write all day, I'm half asleep and half drunk by the time I get to relax. I don't really care for grammer outside of work lol

[StrawberryDiesel420]

LOL quite observant there aren't you, @ above, that's grammar.

[SilentNegotiator]

Unfair? They don't give you much, but you get credit/cash instantly and the game might rest on their shelves for months/years. That's the pawn industry for you.

Don't like it? Pay eBay's/Amazon's fees and sell it at a price you think is fair. Either way, unless you go craigslist/garage sale or open your own video game store, SOMEONE is making money off of your sale.

[Rubberlegs]

Yeah Gamestop isn't the only place that does trade-ins. If you compare Amazon, Best Buy and other places they aren't any better. Same with Gamefly but they have better pricing for used games.

The only way your actually going make money back is craiglists or ebay.

[C-Thunder]

It's the customer's responsibility to decide what's fair or not. If they think it's unfair, they shouldn't make the deal. Right now, their price structure is working, for them and their customers. When it stops, they will adjust their pricing.

[NegativeCreep427]

They gave me $150 credit for it, and I purchased my current Slim 120gb PS3 at half price. Have no regrets for it. With regard to games trade-ins, especially towards newer titles, I don't think it is a reasonable consumer decision.

[Soldierone]

It's a business. I get so tired of hearing it. They ARE going to sell your game for MORE than what you trade it in for. Why? So they MAKE MONEY, the exact reason you are trading it in. Its at a low price because that 55 dollars eventually goes DOWN, and this gives them room to work with.

They are NOT going to sell a game for the same price, there is no point, and they will only lose money. You go to Gamestop for the convenience of it, and nothing more. You dont like the prices? Then go deal with Ebay, Amazon, or Craigslist and competewith other sellers and stop complaining. Honestly Gamestop has come out and said it so many times that they prefer it if you did that, and people still use it against them.

[xPhearR3dx]

Here's the problem. They'll give you 1/3 of what they'll sell it for in store credit, not even cash. If you buy a game brand new off the shelf for $59.99, and simple remove the cellophane and try to trade it back in, you're not going to get more than $20 in store credit. After they sell your game, they're making close to triple the profit. Not only that, if someone traded in Black Ops 2 the day it came out but only had the game disc, they'd still charge their customers $54.99 for just the DISC.

Obviously they're goal is to make money, but ripping off their customers is just wrong. They get away with it because aside from mom and pop stores, they're really the only "Video game only" stores around. You no longer see Gamecrazy which was about the only other video game store left.

EDIT: @laxbeav

My mistake, I meant to say close to double the profit with tax. Lets be honest here though. It really doesn't matter where the game was originally bought, it's the fact they're making close to double the profit and that's just a common example. That doesn't include system trade-ins or older games. They barely give you anything for old games. A couple of bucks at most then turn around and sell them for $15-$20.

My biggest complaint is not lowering the price of a damaged used product or missing contents. If I buy a used game off Ebay or something without a case or booklet, the seller will listed for lower. Gamestop doesn't.

[laxbeav]

They don't make triple the profit. Do the math. For arguments sake they buy a game from you for $20 and then sell it for $54.99. Subtracting the cost of buying it from you, the profit is $35, not even double what they paid you. And what if they didn't sell the game originally? They had no original profit from the game. Most of what Gamestop buys from people probably wasn't bought there.

[Soldierone]

Not all of those games sell. They put it on the shelf for 55, doesn't mean it sells for 55. Plus Rewards members get it cheaper, let alone any deals they have. Eventually the prices come down, and they are able to lower it down to 25 dollars without losing money.

However newer games, with rewards, are normally around 30 to 35 dollars for trade in. I got 38 dollars for the crap that was Raccoon City....Older games are worth less so they work with it. Honestly who wants older games at a high price? They need to look out for customers too, and you won't be getting a lot for old games elsewhere either.

Like I said its a business. You can go to Bestbuy, they will do the exact same thing because its convenient. No store is going to say "here is 3 dollars less than what we will sell it for" unless you handle most of the work. Watch Pawn Shop shows. They say "oh its worth 5000 dollars, I'll sell it for 6000, but I'm only buying it for 1000" Its a business. You want full profit? Open your own store or sell it yourself then.

[dotwithshoes]

Ever take into consideration the costs involved in taking that trade as well? Those "profits" you say they earn for each game partially goes to paying for the costs of running the store.

GameStop isn't buying the contents to the preowned game, they are buying the GAME itself. The game itself does not include the box, manual, or anything else.

With all this being said, I don't trade stuff in anymore either :)

[ABlack]

Damaged used items are often sent in for refurb and also are typically returned anyway (it's not like they are forcing you to take them). Also your paying for the game, not the case or the booklet, which in most modern games consist of nothing more than 4-6 pages of useless information and legal jargon.

Finally there is no money in new games or consoles. Gamestops profits on new titles is about $5 for 50-60 dollar games and less for cheaper releases. $10 on guides if the sell. $0 on new consoles. The only real money from new releases is ad-revenue and warranties (like any retailer in electronics).

So how do they stay afloat, used games. That's it, that's their big money maker. And you know what, they are not holding a gun to your head to use them, they are just convenient for a lot of people that's all.

[xGrunty]

They are taking a cut for being the middle man. I see nothing wrong. If you're to lazy to sell your game for the price you want, then that's your own fault.

[Kaizin514]

I have never traded in any game nor do I ever plan to. I have this thing about me where I feel that after I trade, I would want to play the game again, so I don't want to take that chance.

Also, given that Gamestop does run a business where you put hard earned money on games you can, honestly, get cheaper elsewhere (online), I will not buy or trade in a game to them. I can't stand the fact that they buy back a $60 for less than a third of the price only to sell it back basically at full price again. I understand it is a business, but it still sucks. I also understand that most people who buy used (newer games, as in, less than two weeks old) are more inclined to not understand that spending that extra $5 is worth it.

But, hey, to each his own, this is why I do not buy from Gamestop. I do like that they are a business catering only to gaming, but with a lack of sales on many games plus a rather bad used game market, I will take my money elsewhere like many people. I feel I should also say I do NOT hate Gamestop, but rather just disagree with the way things are handled as a whole, but again, it's just business.

[Dms2012]

Sadly that has happened to me recently, I wanted to play Dead Space 2 again and then realized I had traded it in, same with a few other games.

[laxbeav]

I have no problem with what Gamestop does. A lot of the time the games they buy back from people were not bought at Gamestop. They didn't make the profit from selling it new, so they need to recoup the cost of buying it. It's a video game pawn shop.

[FarCryLover182]

I remember being an idiot back in the day. in 2004, I was like 11 and I wanted the Spiderman 2 game but I didn't have enough cash. So, I decided to go to Gamestop and sell like 25 PS1 games in order to have enough. I got like 25 cents per game and I barely had enough at the end. Dumb decision and that's what I never sell games anymore. I keep games because someday they might be valuable or fun to replay and worth more than that literal pocket change that you will get for them.

[Bobertt]

When i was in Gamestop once there was a guy who had gotten 5 games for his birthday but he didn't want them for whatever reason and decided to trade them into gamestop. The games were unopened and still in plastic and they gave him $60 for all 5 games! If he had bought those games from gamestop and returned them in that condition he would have gotten all his money back. I rarely buy from there anymore only when they have preorder incentives.

[ABlack]

First, they can't take sealed new items (it's a company policy to coincide with many states' laws on pawning goods of non-business licensed individuals). Secondly if he wanted to return it I know Walmart and a few other retailers have a once per year no receipt for store credit policy on items, probably should have done it through them.

[InklingGirl]

www.eStarland.com

They give you the best prices out of anyone including GameStop, Best Buy and Amazon.

[Brownghost]

best buy has better deals especially the 100% extra credit goin on for weeks

[floetry101]

I work at a Gamestop subsidiary and would NEVER consider trading in unless the games I hard were mild curiosities or completely awful. In fact, I don't even purchase my own games there. Smart gamers buy and sell online. At the end of the day, it's a business, and a thriving one at that. Why? Because we target mothers and impressionable kids to pre-order, trade, purchase add-ons and give them reasons to come back.

Yes it's pushy and some customers are made uncomfortable by the very nature of it, but we've been trained to work this way. If we don't, they won't give us shifts to work. It's a vicious cycle.

[optimus]

I never trade games at gamestop (or anywhere for that matter)...i mostly buy used games that are under 20 bucks. I buy new on occasion from them. Just this week i bought arkham city game of the year edition for 40 brand new, i calculated how much it would be getting the game used and paying for all the dlc and it would have been well over 70 bucks so in this case it was a good deal...

oddly enough they had the regular version for 34.99 but the game of the year for 40?? All i can say is that when it comes to gamestop i tend not to question their stupidity, i just buy and run out the door. ;p

[A LIVING LEGEND]

If you haven't figured this out until now.....Gamestop makes a profit on used games.
Try trading in those digital copies.... they aren't worth the bandwidth spent dl'ing them.
unless of course,you claim to be within that 1/32 that simply enjoys good downloads.
get serious.Gamestop,however annoying,remains relevant in coming years.Abolish overseas manufacturing movement also clamouring for end to used games industry.
Not anytime soon

[thybrutalthrone]

Listen to this: I walked into Gamestop on two occasions trying to pick up a used copy of Portal 2. The first time it wasn't available because wasn't in stock. So I literally went back yesterday to try again only to be denied by the manager saying "I literally just lent the only copy we have out to an employee employee, I'm sorry but I just rent it out to them" I was absolutely livid, I know they have a top secret employee rent program cause I have friends who work there but come on I've waited to purchase this game only to have this manager Denny me a sale just for her employee to play the game for free! Terrible customer service, I work customer service in a local meat department in a supermarket and if I took the last steak knowingly kept it aside for no customers to purchase I'd be written up. Its just a half assed system that's unfair to paying customers, you better believe my buddy caught some flak after that. Unbelievable!

[wollie]

tl;dr

*whine*

[thybrutalthrone]

You kidding me dude? That's not how you conduct business, you wouldn't know tho by the sound of it you probably don't have a job or at least held one for more than 6 months. Shut up before you make an even bigger fool of yourself. Everyone except a complete idiot like yourself agrees.

[wollie]

OK kid. What ever helps you sleep at night. The big bad gamestop has it out for you. Never shop there. Its a travesty, they let there employees rent game for free instead of letting you buy them. The Horror.

[xGrunty]

I work at GameStop as an Asst. Manager. You should complain to the DM. Checking out the last copy of a game, is against the rules unless verified by a DM, and my DM never let's us do that.

I do my best to keep my customers happy at my store, but there are a lot of things that could result in termination. Just like any other job, it's best to follow the rules.

[thybrutalthrone]

Deny*

[gamer7804]

This is news? I really don't agree. You only trade to gamestop when there is a promotion to combine with your powerup rewards membership.

[supersonicjerry]

The only time I trade is when they have promotions and I even check bestbuy to see how much I get from them and up how much all together. I got $120 at gamestop for trading in 7 games with the promotion and the powerup rewards. I checked how much I would get at bestbuy and it was only about half maybe a little more. It just depends on what you're taking back and when you take them back.

[Megaton]

Proud to have never done any business in a GameStop. The one and only time I've even been inside one is to get Kojima's autograph. A worthy sacrifice.

[SSKILLZ]

Craigs list is your solution if you you want more money i get $40 on all my used games compared to gamestops $17

[hellvaguy]

Im sure its a good idea to have grown men coming over to buy used stuff from 11 year kids during the middle of the day when thier parents are at work. Nothing could go wrong there.

[Midori]

What does age have to do with anything? In a scenario where you go to GameStop to trade in your games, you need to have ID on you that proves you're 18 or older. Otherwise, you can't trade anything.

If your point is that GameStop is better for 11 year old kids, that isn't the case since it relies on adult supervision for any transaction to occur. It's equally possible for a parent to negotiate a Craigslist meeting rather than the child. Adults are present in both hypothetical scenarios.

[wollie]

gamestop trading is easy, thats why you get less. Your paying for convenience. If you want more go to amazon or craigs list. Good Lord, people will complain about everything.

[t0mmyb0y]

We need an article to tell us Gamestop rips us off???

[DivineAssault]

ill buy a used game if i missed out on it & its a good deal but i wont even buy a game unless i do a full background check on who developed it & what metacritic has for it.. Now when i have games that sit & collect dust & i have no interest in them, i will trade em rather than it take up space.. Nintendo 1st party games hold their value pretty good but i usually keep those.. This is why i really want to get Gaikai whenever sony puts it out.. Id rather pay a service charge & play whatever whenever & only buy physical copies of 1st party titles & exclusives.. AC revelations is only $20 NEW!!! i feel bad for whoever bought that game when it launched lol.. Gamestop will give u $3 for it

[Father Murder X]

What exactly are the qualifications for something to be sold as being "refurbished"?

[oldfriend86]

For Gamestop, basically the system is checked to be in working condition. It must play games/blueray, the controllers need to link up, and hard drive cannot be corrupted. The console itself could be scratched to hell, but it'll be sold just the same as an 'excellent' condition used console.

As for games (depends on how vigilant the employees are), if they are in such bad condition, they are sent out to be re-surfaced. Again, that's IF the employees pay attention. Even though top quality disc repair machines are expensive, I think Gamestop should opt in for that kind of service in the store. Gamestops are easy to find and the service would be in such high demand, the machine would eventually pay for itself. Course, Gamestop would jack up the price to something like $7 per disc.

[cedaridge]

I just think it SUCK'S that you can't get a discount on NEW games with the POWERUP REWARD PRO card. I Buy more new titles than used and how GameStop get u with that is making you Pre Order so u won't be left out of whatever Bonus the game has.

[Double_O_Revan]

I don't think any game I've listed on Amazon has lasted more then a week. And I've made no less then double what GS would've given me. Put in the effort and get the money you really deserve

[oldfriend86]

I don't understand why people do trade ins at Gamestop. Even if you're doing the trade three games, for one new game deals. It may be easy, but the mentality of "meh, at least I'll get 'something'." is idiotic. For a new game, you'll pretty much get half for store credit and even less if you want cash. Unless your a kid, you have no excuse to be doing trade ins, even if your desperate for money.

And nevermind trade ins, we should be talking about how Gamestop sells used games as NEW. When Gamestop 'guts' the new games and puts the empty boxes on the shelves, there's a little more than plastic wrap missing from your 'new' game. Gamestop allows their employees to check out the games, so they would know about the game and be able to make suggestions during sales. Those same games are put back into the new games pile. Several of my friends who are employees have found slight scratches on the discs and they would still be sold as NEW. Sound illegal? That's because it is, though this isn't the first illegal practice from Gamestop.

[Old McGroin]

When it comes to trading in games it's completely up to the customer if they want to go ahead with the trade. You bring the game in to them, they give you a price and it's your own decision whether to accept it or not, no one has a gun put to their head. People complaining about having been ripped off only have themselves to blame as the game store does not force you to complete the trade. They are under no legal obligation to give you what you consider a fair price. They are a business and businesses only have one purpose - to make money.

[ChunkyLover53]

If you are foolish enough to trade games in, you deserve what you get. Nobody forces you to trade in games. I never have and never will. Those people will never get my sympathy.

[MaverickStar7]

First, Gamestop does not screw you. It is completely up to you to accept that trade in value or walk out. If you don't like the trade in value but accept it anyway, then you are the one screwing you. Second, used games are like any other second hand market. They have to get the product at a price that they can still make money off of later. They also have get it low enough that in case they are stuck with it awhile and the market for that product goes down and they have to lower the price, they are still not losing money. Go in to any of the stores and you will see tons of used games on the shelf that are not being sold. Because they are willing to take everyones crap in, they have to take a loss on some items in order to make money on others. Its common business practice just like any other used item market. Once again the anti-Gamestop articles are tired and uninformed.

[KurdGamer]

EB games I only good for trade ins towards other games, thats the only time you get a good trade in deal. but they are not as bad as this pawnshop in my area, these guy wanted to give me $4.50 for the witcher 2 for 360. $2.50 for zelda OOT 3D. and $2.00 for street fighter x tekken. now that a rip off. only good thing is these guys sell all game new or old @ $8. the had skyrim weeks after release for $8.

[ACEMANWISE]

I went to Gamestop last week to buy some games.
I wanted a used copy of Sniper Ghost Warrior for PS3.
A copy was available for 29.99.
I walked over to Walmart and found a new copy for 19.99.
I checked the Gamestop website today and it is listed used for 17.99.
Based on the information above I would have gotten ripped off regardless of the reasoning behind this.

Anyway I have had many experiences with GameStop over the years (ever since they opened). They bought used games from me at an average 17 cents per game. That was the last time I did that. Then their used games were always 54.99 for at least a year after that. The pricing structure almost makes it a worthless alternative to get a game early. So basically you might as well wait until the new price drops, which in turn makes GameStop drop the price 5.00 under the new price.

The addition of Online Pass is going to cause inflated prices just like the situation I experienced above. They are going to overprice the non-Online Pass used games to try and recoup losses on the games that have Online Pass and need a price drop. People will never pay more than 44.99 knowing that an extra 10.00 is required to play online.

All I can say is GameStop is not going to last 3 years. All they have left to offer is customer service (some places still have it), membership benefits, and return policies. Yet the extra financial strain is going to diminish these as well (i.e. lower wages, less membership benefits, and likely rogue return policies).

[jagstatboy]

I traded LBP2 to Gamestop for $21 due to extra %30 trade-in cuz I used it to reserve Borderlands 2, and an extra %10 for Power reward member, Amazon offers $7 for the same game. And, I still have the game on PSN cuz I'm a PS+ subscriber. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

Gamestop does have some lame trade-in values but I always maximize it when they have a trade-in special. And I don't have to buy a box, go to the post-office and mail it.

[violents]

Gamestop used games are a ripoff anyway. Go look at their shelves if the new copy is going for full price still then the used copies are going for only 5 bucks off. If all im saving is five dollars whats the point of buying used at all? I think they should sell used for half of what a new one is then i might be worth it.

[acemonkey]

keep your games...if u dont wanna spend money rent

[MasterD919]

I've started trading to Best Buy instead. When they first started the 100% bonus trade-in you would get a hell of a lot more credit than Gamestop would ever give you. They have toned down the trade-in prices a bit, but it is still worth it.

Gamestop's idea on how to match BB? 50% extra-credit trade in...Nice try. Not.

[ziggurcat]

it seems to me like you whiners just aren't trading in the right games.

i've gone in there countless times trading in games that have an $8 trade-in value and getting $25 of store credit for each of those $8 games (for those of you not good at math, that's, say, 4 x $8 trade-in value game = $100 in store credit).

there are also websites that give you a rough estimate as to the trade-in value for the games you are thinking about getting rid of, so none of you should be shocked when they offer you a low price on a game that's well over 4 years old or on a piece of garbage game you got suckered into buying in the first place.

so quit your complaining. either educate yourself on what the trade-in value is before you go, or do as other people have suggested and go elsewhere to sell your used games. crying isn't going to solve anything.

[Elvis]

I've never been screwed by GameStop.

[TruthbeTold]

lol @ all of this attempted GameStop justification, when the bottom line is that regardless of how much they buy a game for, sell a game for, or how much profit they make off of a used game, they are re-selling a product that they didn't make or buy from the creator/developer/manufacturer for more profit per disc than the creator/developer/manufacturer gets.

'Boo hoo! Sometimes they don't sell those games for months, or years!'

So what? If it was truly bad, then they would have more strict guidelines as to how much inventory they take in. They don't have to worry much about that though. When you have idiots giving you a product worth $50-$60 for 20 or 30 with a regular and substantial customer base, and you pay your employees a quarter over minimum wage, you're doing just fine. There's a reason why they are expanding into ipod's, ipad's, etc. They've got a sweet deal going.

Poor Game Stop my ass...

[slugg]

Don't trade there. But if publishers had their way, you would never be able to get any money back for a game you bought from them, ever. You would not be able to sell it at all. That is why they are pushing for a digital-only distribution model-- so you pay, download it once, and the only way you or anyone else EVER plays that game is on your system. You can't let a friend borrow it, or sell it in any way. You buy into the hype, pay full price for Call of Duty 9, and it sucks. Too bad, sucker. Then, the next step is paying for a game only gives you the right to play it for a year. You want to play it after a year is up, you have to pay a licensing fee for another year of access. That is the way high-end production software like AutoCAD works now. So, complain about Gamestop all you want, but the alternative is far, far worse.

[TruthbeTold]

Developers/publishers wouldn't (and never have) had a problem with taking a game to a friends house to play. It's most often very beneficial to them. However, since there is now such a large market for reselling games, the days where we CAN take a game to a friends house may be numbered. The problem being that allowing a game to be played on multiple consoles now leaves them open to the GameStop business model, which cuts into their ability to make profit off of the product that they bring into existence.

So yes, if publishers had it their way it would be as you say. But ONLY because of the reselling of games on such a large scale.

[slugg]

Is that with no used market and digital distribution, publishers will have complete control over pricing. Look at the older full retail games being offered on Live and PSN, vs. the same game used at Gamestop (or Best Buy, or Hastings). Purchasing these games as digital downloads is usually 3 to 4 times the price of buying the same game used. Since the publishers get ALL the money from digital downloads, why so much? And what is their incentive to lower download prices when they have no used-market competition?

[DontBanMeBro]

Anyone who trades at GameStop deserves what they get

[Morgue]

Has this author been living under a rock?

[andrewsqual]

Hint* you, the customers, being complete retards has something to do with it.

[SnakePlissken]

Whatever you do people, DO NOT trade your games in to these crooks! They make a frikin killing off used games. Sell them on ebay or craigslist if you have to.

[jjb1981]

I hate how I get stupid emails 2 weeks after.... I said 2 weeks after i bought a game for which I stood outside at midnite for to get a trade of $12. I never traded afterall. No more gamestop, they drove me to just keep my games. Nostalgia is worth more than 12 bucks... Muthaf*ckas!

[DwightOwen]

eBay is a GREAT placed to sell your older games, ESPECIALLY if you take excellent care of them.

[avengers1978]

dont think that your going to get top dollar, and really look at there inventory if your trading in something they have a shit load of then you probably wont get much....Most the time I feel there trades are worth while, I usually wind up with 12 to 17 games a year I wouldn't have played because of trading in.

[shammgod]

I like turtles

[braydox21]

im from Australia so as far as i know we do not have game spot here but We do have EB games their trade prices seem fair i got a descent $100 or so from about 10 ps2 games and 3 ps3 games, however they do rip you off big time i payed a $110 dollars for my copy of skyrim this was just a normal copy nothing special about it and my friend had got for $60 dollars you'd thinks stuff would be cheaper seeing how the Australian dollar is at a good spot now (as far as i know) i understand where everyone one else is coming from to be honest i think its sucks that a paind an extra 50 dollars for skyrim that was probabaly one of the biggest rip0offs i have had.

[StrawberryDiesel420]

I have only one problem with Gamestop, that's when they sell the last copy of a game as new when it's been opened for display. Now I can understand opening the game for display purposes, but it's not brand new once it's been opened so it should be sold for the used cost. As for the amount they give for used games, it's due to the fact that they're in business to make a profit. They give gamers a place to buy, sell, and trade at any time, so it becomes a matter of conveniece as oppposed to selling something online, waiting for payment, mailing it out and so forth. Not saying I think the prices they offer for cash trades are good, especially if someone buys a new game for $65.16(the price for a brand new game after tax)and sells it a week later when the game is still retailing for $59.99 and they receive only $25 cash from Gamestop, and it's then resold for $54.99. That's BS, but at the same time it's a matter of convenience and no one has to go there if they don't want to or don't like Gamestop's trade in prices. So, at the end of the day, go elsewhere if you hate Gamechop or shut up and take what they offer.

[ncstatefan953]

I didn't realize GameStop put a gun to anyone's head and said, sell us your used games or we will blow your brains out. Why offer more when people are crazy enough to sell their games so cheaply? Doesn't sound like GameStop's problem. Sounds like a customer issue.

[Crazay]

WHo knew we needed a whole article to explain it all...

Step 1 - Offer users the ability to trade
Step 2 - Offer insultingly low trade in values
Step 3 - Resell at insultingly high profits while pretending buyers are getting a sweet deal

Rinse Repeat..