Posted by Kouppa on November 23, 2009
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Not The Only Game In Town?
Categories: Gaming News | 6 responses
Many think that when it comes to the used game market, their only choice is GameStop. And while it’s true the brick and mortar retailer may be the Apple of the used game market, that doesn’t mean you don’t have options as a consumer.
Case in point, my favorite used game retailer,Game X-Change.
Last week was a downer for me. My local Game X-Change, which had only been open for 3 years, and provided excellent service and deals, shut down. There’s a few more around the Shreveport area, but they’re all a pain to get to compared to this location. I’m sure the usual culprits can be blamed- the economy, the proliferation of online renting and trading services, etc. But I really think the biggest reason is lack of awareness. I think if the average consumer would take a better deal if they knew about it. This is where Game X-Change falls short. The brand awareness of Game X-Change is virtually non-existent. The only reason I knew about my former location was dumb luck- glancing over at a
strip mall I never really paid attention to, and suddenly noticing something different.
strip mall I never really paid attention to, and suddenly noticing something different.So, why the big deal over a chain of stores that hardly anyone knows about? Game X-Change is individually owned and operated. The money generated stays entirely within your community, and contributes to local economic growth. Also, being locally owned means no set retail prices, no set trade-in prices. My first visit, I received an extra $10 for what I was trading in just because the owner and I got to talking, and he dug on the fact that I was a comic artist.
Short of this becoming a big fluff piece for Game X-Change, let me get to the point: if you find a local retailer, or even a small online retailer, that treats you good, and offers great deals, spread the word. The little guys need all the help they can get, and their continued success comes back and benefits you in the long term.
Off the top of my head, here are some smaller retailers and trading services that could benefit from some extra business…
While I’m indifferent towards GameStop, I’m a big fan of competition and healthy business. Don’t just settle for what you know- get out there, and do a little digging. It may end up benefiting you in the end.
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6 Responses to “Not The Only Game In Town?”
Not to mention, the even smaller known stores, pawn shops. And check music stores, too. A lot of local music stores also sell and buy games at good prices. I personally like to goto this store called Mega Media Xchange. a little slow on getting newer titles (they only deal with used sales) but when you can find what you want, you’ll be getting it cheap. Also, the smaller stores more than likely will carry old school stuff, imported stuff, and games that you don’t always hear about being released.
yea, I typically won’t trade in a Gamestop unless they have a trade in deal going on like an extra 30% for 3 games, or towards a new game I want, and I’ll only use that credit towards new games, not used games, because I refuse to support their used game business due to the way they run it. That is, not giving fair markey value for the games, then turning around and selling the game for only $5 less than new.
I used to LOVE EB and Gamestop’s trade in games when they were giving fair market value, which was half of whatever they sold the game for, and they were selling the games usually for $10-15 cheaper than new. I would usually get $22 for my games, that’s without any bonuses, and they’d sell it for $44. That was great. How it is now, is just rediculous. Now they give…..for example, I got Soul Calibur 4 on launch night, it turned out I hated it online, which was why I bought it. It was a total cheap spam fest where the cheapest player wins…..so I went to trade it in a week later, and they said they’ll give me $15 for it not icluding the 10% members bonus, and the they’d turn around and sell it for $55. That’s outrageous and unacceptable.
I havn’t tried them yet, but I heard Best Buy is starting to take used games, so I’d like to hear what they are offering compared to what they sell for. For some reason, I’ve also never tried FYE to see what hey offer, but I know they sell for very little under new retail, and they are slow to bring down their prices regardless of retail. I’ve seen them still selling greatest hits titles for $60.
that Play N’ Trade looks awesome
Toys R Us is taking used gmes too. I went there instead of my local Gamestop and got like $40 off of the games I traded in. The cool thing about the Toys R Us used game program is that tey accept games from older consoles so I was able to unload some of my original Playstation (PS1) games.
I used to go Gamestop too, but I realized that they were buying great games off me for a small amount of money. That’s why I decided to go to Game Crazy instead. They have better deals, even though the difference is just five bucks, but it is still something.
I know alot of Gamecrazys have shutdown I know that one where I live in Texas shutdown a few weeks ago. Gamecrazy is pretty good compared to Gamestop I remember trading in some games and getting cost to $54 for them while at Gamestop I would of gotten less and ended up getting Smackdown! 2010 and only paying $7 difference. Still Gamestop does have good deals like trade in 2 games and get a $60 game for $20 thats how I got L4D2. I never trade in my games to Gamestop as the last time I did I got $18 for Uncharted in 2008 and it was $60 brand new. The only thing I hate about Gamecrazy/Gamestop is that they sell brand new games that are opened as new.