Let’s make believe that you’ve finished GTA4, and the multiplayer doesn’t interest you. You’re done. Great time had by all. Killed all of the flying rats. Time to move on.
For a lot of gamers, this is the point in which they lemmingly trod towards their local Gamestop, knowing full well that they’re going to get “rode hard and put away wet.”
As Havok reported yesterday, Best Buy’s Canadian arm, Future Shop, is dipping it’s toe into the proverbial trade-in cesspool. Yep! Soon Canadians will get to pick their rapist.
I’ve stopped trading my games altogether at retail stores, because I’m not made of money and I like keeping as much of mine in my pocket as possible. Here’s a quick lesson in how to get screwed, or more importantly, how to get LESS screwed when parting with your unwanted console games.
So Dave and I set out to see just how screwed we could get with copies of Grand Theft Auto 4 and Metal Gear Solid 4
. I was really anxious to see what happened when I put Gamestop up against Microcenter, who has a great reputation for trade-in value.
Store GTA4 MGS4
Gamestop $30.00 $30.00
Gamefly $31.62 $31.62
Microcenter $23.20 $31.90
Ebay $42.50 (approx) $41.00
Goozex $50.00 (1000 pts) $45.00 (900 pts)
Just like driving a car off the lot, if I walk out of Gamestop, and open a copy of GTA4 and then walk right back in, its somehow less valuable now right?
I could see if the game ran slower, or needed maintenance, the older it got, but a used game in good condition delivers EXACTLY the same game experience as its new counterpart. So why are these companies turning in record profits off of these trade-in practices? Complacency.
As gamers, we’ll get riled up about anything, as long as it doesn’t ACTUALLY get to be INCONVENIENT. When we’re done with a game, we need it GONE right then and there, and waiting to complete a transaction online is just unfathomable.
Rather than anticipate our desire to get rid of a game and sell it for BIG bucks, we hop in the car and drive mach-2 towards these loan sharks.
It’s like a payday advance when you trade with these companies. You’re paying them almost HALF of YOUR MONEY for the PRIVILEGE of supplying them with inventory that they will sell for prices close to “new”.
Mmmhmm..
That used copy of GTA4 you take to your local Gamestop is going to get jacked up to about $55.00 (5 bucks less than a new copy) when it hits the store shelf about 10 minutes after you kiss it goodbye.
I know these guys are in it to make money, but I am so embarassed how much money I just literally GAVE to Gamestop before I wised up. A Gamestop employee with whom I spoke today, told me they pay a quarter for some 360 titles. A fucking quarter. Then they turned around and priced it at $5.00, selling MOST used inventory within 30 days or less.
For the statisticians among us, that’s a 2,000% markup. TWO THOUSAND PERCENT!!!!!!!!!
A few months ago, we ran across the guys from Playswitch who sponsored a couple of our podcasts, and I began my career as a game trader. At the time, I’d been trading in my games to afford new ones and never had more than 4 or 5 games in my posession at a given time, oblivious to the abuse I was being dealt by Gamestop.
I thought I’d give it the old college try, so I logged on and traded Orange Box, Halo 3, and Frontlines Fuel of War. I also invested less than ten bucks in trade tokens. (Other than that I have not spent a SINGLE PENNY) Now, I have more than 16 games in my library.
Along the way, I found out that game trading… is a game in and of itself.
I bought Command and Conquer 3 for the 360 for about 24 Sbucks, played it for a couple of days, and traded it away again for 26 Sbucks. I just had to be willing to wait for a buyer who was eager enough. Even at that price we both got a MUCH better deal than we would have at Gamestop. I am MAKING MONEY instead of handing it to a multi-million dollar company. What a concept.
The idea is to be patient. Wait for an offer that’s commensurate with your expectations. What YOU feel it’s worth. Sometimes its an even swap for a game. MOST OF THE TIME, I traded for games AND money, meaning I gave them my game, and they gave me money and a game from their library. After a few trades I had amassed enough money in my account to outright BUY a couple more titles.
It’s all about who wants it more.
So, class, let’s review.
- Set your own prices
- Stop letting retailers bend you over the counter
- Don’t be in such a frickin hurry to give away your money
You’re essentially handing Gamestop about 20 bucks to keep for themselves, instead of a measly dollar you’d pay for a transaction with a trading site.
Since I’ve only used Playswitch as my game trading platform, I can’t speak as to the effectiveness of other platforms. I’d love to hear from those of you who’ve tried other systems. Here are some sites I’ve heard great things about.
Playswitch – Goozex – Nintari
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Dude, when was that pic of Gamestop taken? Gun came out like 3 years ago. lol I think I even see a couple of Gamecubes in the window
Okay, this time I actually read it, and man what a shocker. I mean I knew I was getting hosed, but never this bad. I tried to use Playswitch about a month or so ago, but it said that it didn’t work for non-US residents
I have to say, that the Xbox 360 is my first consol. And when I found out how much I was not going to get on atrade in, well I just never bothered. I decided that I would rather keep the games, but I have a good job, so I can afford it. Although still scary when I open the draw and see how much is in there…. But I feel sorry for those that can’t do that and need to trade. Perhaps you guys should start another rampage online like you did for Bad Company (even though Lono paid for the extra weapon!!!)
I actually hold on to my old games now. My copy of Suikoden 2 keeps increasing in value!
Even if I were to sell my old games, it wouldn’t be to GS. Honestly, it may be better to just rent at those prices.
Besides, If I’m going to be bent over a table, I’d rather it be by a cute girl than some idiot at Gamestop.
@ Slashlen
A cute girl? I am not disagreeing with you, but I just don’t see how it’s possible.
Anyway, I never trade my games either. I would rather keep them for a rainy day than have to accept $1 and change from Gamestop (in store credit nonetheless).
The only game I’ve traded in this generation has been GTA4. There was 2 copies in the house and neither me nor my brother enjoyed the multiplayer so I decided to exchange mine at the local game (equivalent to the US Gamestop)
Traded it in probably a month after I bought it. Paid £40 for it, got £30 back in trade in value. So that makes it a 25% loss. I believe US games are $60 and with the trade in prices you got back, a loss of 50%. Man, I thought trade in was pretty bad over here but you guys are getting an unlubed shaft over there
One minor comment: Rape is forced. As far as I know, noone is forcing anyone to trade stuff in at GS or EB or anywhere.
I agree you can usually make lots more money/credit on Ebay, on Amazon, Goozex, Playswitch, Craigslist, etc. But there are advantages to trading with EB/GS as well, the main one being ultraconvenience. Is it worth it? To me and many “gamers”, no. To Mom and Dad or Joe Madden, sure.
I like competition, I’m getting credit for old games that are worth virtually nothing thanks to Goozex. But I also don’t see the total hate on GS/EB, especially now when there *are* so many other alternatives.
You will almost always make more money when selling “peer to peer” than to a company. This goes for video games, cars,college textbooks, dvds, houses, etc. As always, try to be an educated consumer and get the best (legal)deal for yourself-but keep in mind, that’s what they’re trying to do as well.
I used to trade to gamestop, but now I go with Ebay. They would buy a used original DS for $20, and then they would sell it for $80. On ebay I can sell it for $80. I gain $60!! My cousin sold his guitar hero 3 for the PS3 to Gamestop. He got $20 for the guitar and $10 for the game!!! They make way too much money off of kids and adults alike!!
P.S. You shouldn’t use bad language mister. Tsk Tsk *shakes finger*
Great article doc i checked out all 3 of the sites but i think playswitch is the simplest one which do you recommend ?
I would recommend playswitch myself. I’ve traded a lot of games on that site (approx 20 or so). I’ve only had a single incident where someone tried to screw me by not sending the game I bought. The playswitch guys dropped his rating, returned my Switchbucks, and made everything good.
@dtcarson
It used to be keep or trade-in…
And the real reason P2P is efficent and cheap is because hardcore gamers aren’t into Playswitch to screw other gamers necessarily, while EB and GS just try to make some easy money.
You should try a Play N Trade. They give $25 for a brand new title and sell it for about $50. They sometimes give you less than half for a game. So you’ll get less than $25.
@Havok Saunders
You must be new to the internet. There’s all kinds of things that can happen in that position.
I have boycott Gamestop for the past 2 years now aside for a few must get games and I never get that screwed feeling anymore.
Like you said, gamers have no patience when it comes to getting a new game or less money so they are the fools giving this monster its unfair share.
So, do like I do and boycott the sonofabitch and hopefully they will go away.
I don’t understand? Why would you ever try to trade your games in? If you beat it, then you put it back in its box and store it with the rest of your collection. Then, in five years, you can play it again and it will seem fresh and fun. I still have my snes, and I still play it often. You shouldn’t buy games expecting to just turn around and sell them. And yes, after you open a game it IS worth less. Anything not in shrink wrap is worth less. /rant
There’s only one thing I can think of here that you didn’t say, is that these but humping wallet-rapers have a lot more power over the kids, the ones that are old enough to goto the shop and make a “trade” in but not old enough to start up an account on a website and do all the transactiony stuff, jeez, theyre really getting a rough ride.
I’m also big on keeping my games. In fact, the reason I keep games in my collection even after I finish them is the only thing leading me to buy them in the first place.
If you’re the type of gamer who trades in a game after you finish it then I’d recommend skipping the purchase and head to your nearest game rental store. $5 or so bucks for the weekend….and even if you have to rent it a couple weekends in a row you’re still much further ahead financially then if you bought it for $50.
You use the word rape, and yet you list the fact that their are numerous options through which you can rid yourself of games for additional value, and information is readily available for you to make an informed decision beforehand.
Rape – I do not think you know what this word means.
GameStop does it and they make crazy money. Why stop? I totally agree, but really it’s smart business. Jut a small note: if you ever trade in, be nice to the employee helping you. I get so many people personally blame me for their crappy trade-in values. Smile, make a joke about the apparent retail-rape, and move on.
Thanks. <3