Gamestop Overhauling Its Trade-In System, Offering More Money

[Gahars]

Taking your games in to the local Gamestop is a lot like being on an episode of Pawn Stars; you aren't going to get anything near the price you were hoping for, you'll be surrounded by fat guys, and there'll probably be some Subway nearby.

Now, however, it seems that Gamestop wants to do a little something about that first thing.

GameStop is overhauling trade-ins and launching a new program that will wind up giving people more money for the games they sell, Kotaku has learned.

The new initiative, which will launch on August 18, will simplify GameStop's trade-in structure, reducing the complexity of what has become an unnecessarily obtuse service. No longer will you have to put your money toward pre-orders or promotions in order to get the most bang for your buck; instead, any games you sell to GameStop will come in at a flat rate, only varying if you want cash instead of credit, or if you're a member of their subscription program.

...As a result of this change, GameStop will now offer more money for games you sell them. Starting August 18, the retailer will bump up the "average base value" of games they buy by 20%, according to documentation I've obtained.

Kotaku
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Give them credit: Gamestop recognize game.

Personally, I've never had a huge issue with Gamestop's trade-ins. Sure, you don't get a lot of money out of the deal, but that's the price of convenience. If you want more from your games, you could always sell them yourself; eBay and Craigslist are always there. Also, you could just not sell your games, but hey, whatever. This is a nice enough gesture, I suppose.

With the increasing shift towards digital distribution on the console end, and Gamestop's own move away from games and stops, it seems they're doing their best to cling to their customers.

Huh. So the best way to inspire loyalty is to become more trader-ous. Who'da thunk?

 

[FAST6191]

Replying mainly so I have something to search for when I feel like taking in some whine.

Anyway I have never had a great problem with a lot of what gamestop do (about the only thing would be that removing game download codes thing, which they mostly sorted), now I would probably not use them because I have a functioning internet connection and do not mind spending 20 minutes going to the post office but it is good to see improvements.

 

[WiiUBricker]

I call bullshit. This is just a PR gag to win gamers back they lost while in truth prices will remain basically the same. Common sense says you can't trust a company that sells a used copy of a game for the same price you would pay for the game new at another retailer.

 

[FAST6191]

Common sense says you can't trust a company that sells a used copy of a game for the same price you would pay for the game new at another retailer.

Why? It is not like the bits on a DVD suddenly degrade for having been read a few times.

 

[WiiUBricker]

Why? It is not like the bits on a DVD suddenly degrade for having been read a few times.

I'm not sure what to say honestly other than it's just common sense that a used item has less value than a new one.

 

[FAST6191]

If that used item has less lifetime or is functionally degraded then sure. Now we are all on optical media, or better yet downloadable games, I am not seeing the issue.

Equally scarcity can inform perceived values for things. In game world see how many people are paying way over new price plus inflation for certain titles.

 

[FireGrey]

Colour me impressed, a whole extra $2 for every game that you trade in.
They even made it simpler by only having:
Cash
Credit
Member + Cash
Member + Credit

 

[WiiUBricker]

If that used item has less lifetime or is functionally degraded then sure. Now we are all on optical media, or better yet downloadable games, I am not seeing the issue.

Equally scarcity can inform perceived values for things. In game world see how many people are paying way over new price plus inflation for certain titles.

The first degration of value starts with removing the seal. With the seal removed, you never know really what the seller did to the item even if it's in good condition. Other than that, usually used games have some signs of wear and dirt on the disc, case and manual which further degrades the value. They may even smell because the seller didn't bother to clean them properly. There are games that come with codes to unlock DLC or earn points. Naturally you have to expect that those have been redeemed already. Bottom line is, nobody in their right mind would buy a used copy of an item for the same price they would get the item brand new elsewhere.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Meh, I get more money selling shit on eBay than I do from Gamestop, an extra 20% isn't going to make much of a difference either way.

 

[FAST6191]

The first degration of value starts with removing the seal. With the seal removed, you never know really what the seller did to the item even if it's in good condition. Other than that, usually used games have some signs of wear and dirt on the disc, case and manual which further degrades the value. They may even smell because the seller didn't bother to clean them properly. There are games that come with codes to unlock DLC or earn points. Naturally you have to expect that those have been redeemed already. Bottom line is, nobody in their right mind would buy a used copy of an item for the same price they would get the item brand new elsewhere.

"With the seal removed, you never know really what the seller did to the item even if it's in good condition"
Surely that is bordering on being an oxymoron. Equally having been through a few DVD pressing/boxing plants and warehouses in general I am not any more inclined to lick a new DVD than I am one from the second hand shop, indeed if the second hand shop has a nice disc washing service I would probably consider that beforehand.
This says nothing of the option some gamestop employees have for a trial run at home- shrink wrapping not exactly being a task renowned for its difficulty.

As for having scratches/dirt/whatever then that would be a sign of a degraded item and could be treated accordingly.

DLC stuff would be a more modern thing, and not a universal one at that. However as points mean prizes

As for "in their right mind" I fear you seriously underestimate the power of laziness, not to mention if the apparent cost is less because I can trade things towards it (though most shops with anything resembling a game stock do seem to be getting in on the trading games in err game).

 

[The Catboy]

Ew, Kotaku.
Moving on!
I am pretty sure part of the reason they are doing this is because of the WalMart trade in. Which actually offers a lot more for your games (even if it is just in-store credit.)

 

[dragonblood9999]

I remember going to gamestop/ebgames to ask hom much they would give me for my copy of beyond two souls, its $60 new and they were offering me $12 for the game WTF

 

[codezer0]

How is this any different than what they've already been doing? Of course they want you to pay for membership to get an illusion of a better deal. But then they also obnoxiously hike their prices to still screw you out of anything resembling a deal.

Nevermind the lack of decent inspection or cleanup of optical disks... let's talk about the utter lack of quality control for their second-hand systems. Or the fact that their stores are obnoxious for inconsistent policies. Sorry, but I only go into a gamestop anymore if I have to, and at no other time.

 

[WiiUBricker]

You speak as if used games usually are sold in excellent condition, which is not the case from my experience.
About the DLC/code stuff, since the GBA all Nintendo published games came with VIP/Club Nintendo codes to redeem for points. I wouldn't say this is a modern thing.
I fail to see the relation to laziness between the choice of buying a used or new item for the same price.

There is one thing I missed to point out. The producers wouldn't see a dime if I buy a used copy. So really there is no logical reason to get a used copy of an item over a new one if both have the same price.

 

[FAST6191]

Sounds like you have had unfortunate experiences with second hand games, can't say mine or those I tend to speak to have had any real differences beyond doing risky things.

If I can get a functionally identical item with equal projected lifetimes (possibly modified by DLC in the modern world or codes most people did not care about in olden days -- outside Japan the Club Nintendo stuff was a running joke and maybe sent you some stickers, which came for free with dead tree magazines a lot of the time) then what does it matter if it is nominally new or nominally second hand?

The producers/publishers got paid for the sale of the original copy, if they wanted money for the second hand item they would invest in gamestop/similar or offer the service themselves. They do not so clearly they do not want it or care.

 

[codezer0]

Sounds like you have had unfortunate experiences with second hand games, can't say mine or those I tend to speak to have had any real differences beyond doing risky things.

If I can get a functionally identical item with equal projected lifetimes (possibly modified by DLC in the modern world or codes most people did not care about in olden days -- outside Japan the Club Nintendo stuff was a running joke and maybe sent you some stickers, which came for free with dead tree magazines a lot of the time) then what does it matter if it is nominally new or nominally second hand?

The producers/publishers got paid for the sale of the original copy, if they wanted money for the second hand item they would invest in gamestop/similar or offer the service themselves. They do not so clearly they do not want it or care.

Unfortunate doesn't even begin to fully describe it, FAST.

It's also obscenity-inducing when a game I'm even halfway interested in ends up getting some kind of "exclusive" preorder DLC for those who buy from gamestop.

 

[DoctorAmazing]

eBay is your friend

 

[Redhorse]

The time to ask for the life preserver (to save the lost customer) is before the rescue ship is out of range not after. it's hit shore and headed home for a warm meal after a hard days work... too little far too late. They are what drove me into flash carts in the first place. Heck now I buy my neighbors [used] games from them, for cash, and pay THEM more than Gamestop does, and make a profit selling them on Ebay.. They loved me for it. That money paid for my habit.

I became tired of trading in a game that was just one day old from new to get less than the gas to drive there to trade it in... and on release day, this particular store (pre-ordered or not) could never seem to have your pre-ordered game ready ..on release day. 'Oh,the truck didn't arrive", our stock isn't in yet, the manufacturer changed their mind blah blah blah... Yet Wally world (Walmart) had it on their shelves two days before release date.. eventually driving me to just get them from Walmart, then a flash cart then... well.. BUH Bye from Gamestop to GameNOT.

Oh, and they NEVER had the promised swag for a pre-ordered (promised) it either... this was before they started with the disclaimer about limited supplies blah, blah blah... (Funny but the guys working there always got their swag!?!?!?!) even when/if the customer did not... hmmm suspicious..

I won't get into the half a dozen bootlegs I've bought from them unwittingly... Thier manager could only argue how they couldn't be bothered to start-up check a GBA card but they would repeatedly try and RESELL that same bootleg several times until someone stopped returning it. Pft
I apologize for the wall -o -Text guys... (ok, time for me to shut my trap now....)

 

[WiiUBricker]

In my 20+ years of gaming experience only once I got a used item like in new condition. It was Resident Evil 5 from ebay. All other games were never in the condition of a brand new item. Last time I bought a used game was a couple of months ago from ebay. Even though the description said the condition is like new, when I received it it was nothing like new. I guess you were lucky if you had other experience.

It doesn't matter if Club Nintendo was a running joke for you. Bottom line is, you could get exclusive items there like the Zelda collector's editions or the Zelda statue. Fact is, missing or redeemed code does mean less value.

I do not care that much if producers don't get money from a used copy. All I pointed out is if you are in a situation where you can decide between a used or new copy for the same price, there is nothing wrong in considering supporting the ones that made the game. In fact, you can twist it all you want, it just doesn't make sense to choose the used copy here (unless for some reason you want to support the second hand retailer).

 

[codezer0]

eBay is your friend

Not when they want $200 for a broadband adapter for a system, or $70 for the box of a game, much less the actual game itself.

Nevermind the listing fees ebay and paypal charge to even put an item up for sale.

Even if I somehow get past that, there's still a fundamental lack of trust I can never get past with on ebay. And before you say "just buy from a trusted seller"... that doesn't really work. eBay has no system for checks and balances to even reasonably assure that you're getting what you're buying on there. If Amazon can so gloriously fuck it up for me when trying to buy from them, what hope does eBay have when their entire system is based on user-sold merchandise?