How good a deal are used games in your country?

[tiredinnuendo]

I'm definitely not going to argue that Gamestop's employee practices are awesome, but what makes you say that Best Buy is an awesome store... It's basically WalMart's electronics section stretched to the size of a store. I've never been wowed by the customer service, and all the store policies seem largely in-line with every other major retail outlet. Their selection of games is usually fairly limited, only marginally better than a Target or WalMart.

Just as an added thought, I love the idea of what digital distribution will do to these places. Unfortunately, their current power has pretty much kept that problem stamped out, except when it comes to PC games which are getting some headway.

Maybe I'm graced with having two really good Best Buys near me, customer service depends on the management of the store in question I suppose.

That said, when I can buy a game at Best Buy, new, and there's a stack of ten of them on the shelf, for $50.00; or I have the option to buy that same game, used and scratched, from Gamestop for $55.00 (and even if you combined used and new they only have maybe five copies on the shelf).... well.... you do the math.

I can go into Best Buy on launch day, or even two days after launch day, and grab a copy of the newest hot title (inluding Bioshock, Mass Effect, and Halo 3) from a stack of five or more at least. Gamestop across the street, however, assures me that there aren't any and there won't be any anywhere and I should've pre-ordered it. It's worth mentioning here that while Best Buy sells many things, Gamestop is only responsible for keeping one type of item in stock, and they can't even keep that straight.

And yeah, digital distribution would be awesome if anyone ever used it. We can pray that one day the light will be seen.

- J

 

[Eudaemonian]

Wow, your BestBuy sells things at lower prices too? What magical fantasy land do you live in and how can I move there?

 

[tiredinnuendo]

I live in Maryland, but this particular incident would be repeatable nationwide.

I was trying to buy a copy of Spiderman 3 because I liked the webswinging part. The problem is that, webswinging aside, Spiderman 3 is a terrible game. Just awful. So I certainly wasn't going to pay sixty bucks for it.

Anyway, I went into Gamestop, figuring I'd buy it used, but even used, the game cost about $29.99, which was a little steep. I asked the cashier if I could cut a deal (buy two games and get some money knocked off or something) but he said no dice. C'est la vie.

Later, I was walking around Best Buy and noticed Spiderman 3, new, for 29.99. Seeing this, and knowing that Gamestop was *literally* next door, I figured the Gamestop price must have dropped. It hadn't. I even used my PDA to pull up Best Buy's website in front of the manager, saying, "See? It's the same price new over there as yours is used." He informed me that the prices were set by corporate, and that he had no control over them. He followed this by telling me that he was aware of how high the prices were, and that he was sorry, and that he'd recommend I shop at Best Buy.

The *manager* said this.

I had a similar experience with the Orange Box, which still sells for $54.99 used at Gamestop, and right next door at Best Buy, it retails for $50 new.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8533848&type=product&id=1186008219097
vs.
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=200198

(Note: I couldn't find the used Orange Box on Gamestop's website, so you'll just have to trust that Gamestop sells it at $54.99 used near me.)

I call my "fantasy world" real life.

- J

 

[Eudaemonian]

I trust you, I suppose. I've just never had this experience. So far away as the neighboring state of Virginia, prices are pretty much universally and uniformly high, with the exception of occasional random sales.

Of course, it's possible that they might drop at different rates at different places. But I tend to buy games at either of 2 times. 1) it's at full price everywhere because it just came out 2) it's as low as it's going everywhere, if you can find it at all

For instance, I got Bioshock for 25 dollars at WalMart because it was on sale... why? Who knows, it's an awesome game that sells well...but they decieded it needed to be half off.

 

[The Irrelevant Gamer]

Used games in actual game stores are usually only five bucks cheaper in the States, which is why I never bother. I can usually go to Best Buy, or Fry's, and get the new game for cheaper than that, and I know then at least some of that money is going to the people who made the game.

Trade-ins used to make sense back in the days of Funcoland when the concept was new, and I didn't have Amazon, or eBay to sell my used stuff directly for a better price.

I honestly don't know why anyone bothers to shop at Gamestop, or EB anymore, but I'm clearly in the minority on this.

 

[Eudaemonian]

I honestly don't know why anyone bothers to shop at Gamestop, or EB anymore, but I'm clearly in the minority on this.

My priority list at this point is

1) Online digital delivery purchase
2) Cheap purchase at big box store (but given that there's only a Walmart and Target in reasonable driving distance)
3) Used purchase (if relevant) at Gamestop
4) New purchase at Gamestop
5) Anything that involves shipping


Sheer laziness combined with stinginess make up my standard operating procedure. If I can save money by going across the street, but not if I have to wait for something to be shipped, though usually the cost cancels out any savings there.

 

[Wyrmspawn]

Here in Australia, the chainstores (EB, Game, etc) pay about $25-35 for trade-ins on top-selling current games and then put them back out on the shelf at $10 off new price (so that's about $90 as against $100 for new).

Thing is, Toys'R'Us are about $20 cheaper on new games. So I can buy a game new at Toys'R'Us for less than the price of a second-hand copy from the gaming chainstores.

 

[Cooper42]

You can't help but wonder if game-only chains are on the way out.

If ASDA and Tescos are selling cheap, new blockbusters and there'll always be a handful of independent game stores selling well-priced used games (along with all the extra greatness of independent stores), both casual and more devoted game players will clock-on...

That being said, I picked up GTA: SA for £2 in Gamestation the other day.

 

[fastforward]

I'm just going to put this out there, but I hate Best Buy. No one ever helps you, when they see you coming they going running off like your infested with the plague. Ive actually gone into a best buy at opening when I was literally one of two customers in the store and they ignored me completely. When ever I need to find out when they're getting a new shipment in or whatever I have to trek over the entire store until I corner one of blue shirts and force him to help me. Its terrible.
As for used games, theres just too much of risk of getting a damaged or unreadable disk. Patience is the key. That and making a walmart run at two in the morning.

 

[ZeroAX]

and to think i used to read on blogs the sentence "i check the gamestop bargain bin for a good deal" and i thought it was actually worth it and wished that one opened in my country. good ridence small time shops FTW. they don't rip you off and are very very polite.

 

[niceguydan08]

Well I'm here in the U.S. and i've pretty much given up on Gamespot.

I live in a pretty small town, and we didn't have any game stores, only in the town across a bridge (Duluth, MN), was Gamestop. Well two guys that were 21 came and opened up their own game store in my town. It's called I play, and they do used everything, not just the recent consoles, they have NES, SNES, (systems too) and all that jazz.

But about your used prices, they pay about 30 for a brand new one, and sell it for 47, depending on the title. I go there all the time, and since i'm friends with them, i get whatever games i want for however much they paid for it. But I keep encouraging them to open something up onto the internet, as it would increase their earnings.

But they are real nice and I would say go for smaller game business', as they don't pull that Gamestop garbage of $55 for a new release used game.


-Every used game they get in they resurface, so theres pretty much no chance of it not working.
-oh and i forgot, they resurface disks if they dont' work, for 2 bucks.

 

[werepossum]

I'm just going to put this out there, but I hate Best Buy. No one ever helps you, when they see you coming they going running off like your infested with the plague.

I've had that experience at Best Buy, as well as some other stores. Sometimes it can be pretty funny; there was a PetSmart fish department clerk who made a fetish out of keeping too far away from any customers to be asked for help by dusting the merchandise. I didn't need anything, but everytime I went in I'd walk through every aisle just to run him around the department. Freakin' hilarious. Best Buy clerks just ignore you though, until you loudly say "Excuse me", point, and beckon. Then they can't ignore you. But they're so seldom helpful it's not very useful.

Second the Walmart runs. Big Lots can be good as well, almost no selection but sometimes amazing prices.

 

[AnGeL.SLayer]

Honestly Im not one to buy games used for a handful of reasons. If its PC I worry about the serial code till being in use by someone or another. If i buy the game, used or not, and the codes are all stolen or still is use by the pervious owner they are of no use to me. Waste of time, money and effort on my part. Also the games that have been traded in seem to have been used by a 3 year old with minimal motor skills. They are always scratched up to some extent. its usually to the point where im suprised it even works still. I know im not going to get a new squeaky clean disk but it bothers me when people try to sell me something that will die soon because of its past owner. What do they do play frisbee with it on the way to the store to trade it in? why not, as long as it works when the guy at the counter gives it a test run for a few seconds of the game. dosent matter if it dosent work in the middle or end of the game. *eyebrow twitches* but i have seen some used games and brand new games at half-price books that where in better shape than most gamestops in my area get. also the new games they offer on the shelfs are a lot cheaper than if you would buy them from a big retail store. Sure they dont always have a new release when it first comes out...or ever but if they have it they usually have it at a lower cost. they are worth swinging by to see if they have your game first. they also keep a nice array of never heard of games. so if your looking for something out there it wouldnt hurt to stop by and give it a look. but thats just for my local half price. i know each one operates a little differently and their trade ins and things for sell will be different for you than for me. but perhaps you should check it out if you have one in your area. ^_^

 

[Fire Daemon]

Here in AUS a current gen game can cost around 120 bucks. A last gen game can be as low as 5 bucks. And a N64/PS1 game is never over 5 dollars unless you find one in an antequie story or something.

 

[Enemy_Combatant]

OK, here's the thing:

I have in excess of 400 PC titles, 80% or more of which I purchased used at Gamestop (when they sold used) or at various other sources of used PC games. I've never had a problem with CD key issues to speak of. I NEVER (okay, very rarely) buy any title new. I have found that this is the preferable route for me to go. Additionally, I use a sub-par PC...not the blister-oozing edge of tech anyway....and the used, year or two old game buying strategy is spot-on for me!

 

[Saskwach]

Trade-ins in Australia are usually rip-offs. The only one I was bitten on (and will never let happen again) is trading in two games to take $50 off Splinter Cell 3. It was clearly a bad deal at the time but having only $50 makes you a desperate man. Now I regret my decision because although SC was fun for a while Metal Arms and Burnout 3 are just beautiful games that have no replacement.

 

[Limasol]

Here in the UK trade in prices are fairly good in most places but most shops only reduce the price on used games by about £5 so its probably worth buying new anyway.

 

[chenry]

If I buy used games, it's directly from people, not stores like EB. I got Star Wars Lego 2 for $10 on the X360.