When a Game is released, it costs a lot of money to buy ($50 or even $60). Within about a week, a used copy of the Game is available for purchase at a savings of $5. It's not much of a deal, but $5 is $5 and the Game is in excellent condition. Gamestop (or what-have-you) will have no problem selling this copy quickly.
Why it irks me: It bothers me that the game company who spends millions developing and marketing the Game recieves no revenue from this new customer who has purchased their new hot release (tee hee - hot release) only a week after it hit shelves. It is also likely that this person will sell back the game to GameStop to be sold to a 3rd customer, further costing the developer deserved revenue. GameStop's profits on reselling used games is higher that if you buy a new copy. So much so, that pressure is applied to the customer to do buy and sell used games in the form of programs like their club card and a focus on suggestive selling. Ever call them on the phone? walk into the store? What do they say?
Let it be known that I shop at GameStop. Their locations are convenient (there are 10 locations within a 20 minute drive from my house). And they have a decent selection of games and systems. I just never buy anything used anymore. When I buy Shadow of the Colossus, I'll be paying $20 -not $18- because it is worth $2 to me to tell the developer in my own monetary way that he did well, and that I might be interested in more.
My solution: You can't stop people from buying and selling used games, nor do I think you should. Instead, I think that a business that buys and sells used games should owe a percentage of that sale to the game developer. That's all. If they have to offer less money to the customer selling their used games back to the store in order to maintain profit margins, well yeah that'd suck... but at least game makers would be rewarded for making games. More money to the developers means more money spent on development, which means better games.*
If a dude sells another dude his game, then oh well. There's no way to track that kind of thing.
That's a horrible idea. It would basically mean that once you bought something (in this case a game) you didn't actually own it. You only purchased the license to use it, and any transfer of the license would cost you a fee. Lame.
I work at GS 1 day a week (sundays) and all the money I make there feeds my habit.
Your thinking is mostly correct from what I've seen, but there is something you aren't FULLY grasping. You spending $20 on the new copy doesn't do anything for the developer. Those games aren't being sold on consignment, they're already bought and paid for.
And unless the new product constantly sells out; odds are they won't get more new of a product in unless it's new/fresh/fly whatever.
If it's older and on the new shelf, it probably won't be replaced from what I've seen because of exactly what you said, the emphasis on used.
But I pride myself on not pushing anyone any direction. If I know they're on a budget, and the computer prompts me that we have a used copy in stock, I ask once and once only if they are interested in a used copy. If no, I don't push the issue.
Honestly, I see so many people buying the used, I can't help but tell them about the card so they get more trade for their buck and save on the used; it's a no-brainer for most people.
And no, I'm not a walking Gamestop fanboi. But I live in a really remote BFE-type area, and it's all we've got; so I'd rather see it stay than see it go.
I'm super pissed because I had my PSP slim that I had on reserve ganked from me because someone higher up 'wanted it.' There will be words with the manager when he returns from Vegas; I'm super hot about it. I had to spend $40 in gas, and half of my day off to drive 3 hours there and back to go get it from the next closest GameStop. Pissed much? Yes, please.
Yeah, preowned games are awesome, unless you have a salery, in which case, there's no excuse not to purchase the game new from the shop. The best way to get around this of course is to offer things in the new game that you won't get as soon as it's sold to someone else, such as a free trial or something consumable; a disposable camera perhaps. Or just make the game so damn good that no-one wants to take it back... :D
Sadly, we don't all have a salary. The johns aren't paying much these days. :(
But seriously, I work on a wage system like a lot of younger guys, and as much as I like a new (unscratched, unregistered) game every once in a while, sometimes all that's feasible is a to buy used. Which helps, at least in it's part.
And he's right about the consignment. It would be a waste of manpower and freight to re-ship however many copies of a game are sold every week-ish.
Some great responses here. Thanks for the insider's veiw balth.
Corncob, let me reiterate/clarify my idea. A business that buys and well I guess just sells (but how can you sell without the buy) would have records of that transaction, and also charge sales tax for that sort of thing. That sale price would have a percentage that would go to the game's developer, or however that happens.
You could sell your game to your friend, and he could play it like it was his, 'cause it is. That wouldn't change.
Everyone hates Gamestop apparently. Me, I like it, but that's because I spend almost no time there. I go in once or twice a month to pre-order a game, and once or twice a month to pick up the game. That's it. And I'd never even think of trading in a game, I'm too much of a collector.
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about me
I've got a backlog (games I have that I still need to beat). Everybody does.
BioShock and Portal are some of my favorite games.
I love the SNES. So many great games Pilotwings, SMW, F-Zero, UN Squadron, FFIV & VI, Secret of Mana, Super Mario RPG, ActRaiser, Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: a Link to the Past... the list goes on.
I love playing the Xbox 360. I enjoy the Wii just fine, but I LOVE the 360.
Iplay Rock Band the most (probably) at parties, or in my Rock Band band Blargg with Dexter345.
Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press living the dream since March 16, 2006
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it's ok to hate gamestop.
Well, maybe the used games aren't bad. But you should still hate Gamestop. It's in your blood (Luke).
Also, cocks.
That's a horrible idea. It would basically mean that once you bought something (in this case a game) you didn't actually own it. You only purchased the license to use it, and any transfer of the license would cost you a fee. Lame.
I work at GS 1 day a week (sundays) and all the money I make there feeds my habit.
Your thinking is mostly correct from what I've seen, but there is something you aren't FULLY grasping. You spending $20 on the new copy doesn't do anything for the developer. Those games aren't being sold on consignment, they're already bought and paid for.
And unless the new product constantly sells out; odds are they won't get more new of a product in unless it's new/fresh/fly whatever.
If it's older and on the new shelf, it probably won't be replaced from what I've seen because of exactly what you said, the emphasis on used.
But I pride myself on not pushing anyone any direction. If I know they're on a budget, and the computer prompts me that we have a used copy in stock, I ask once and once only if they are interested in a used copy. If no, I don't push the issue.
Honestly, I see so many people buying the used, I can't help but tell them about the card so they get more trade for their buck and save on the used; it's a no-brainer for most people.
And no, I'm not a walking Gamestop fanboi. But I live in a really remote BFE-type area, and it's all we've got; so I'd rather see it stay than see it go.
I'm super pissed because I had my PSP slim that I had on reserve ganked from me because someone higher up 'wanted it.' There will be words with the manager when he returns from Vegas; I'm super hot about it. I had to spend $40 in gas, and half of my day off to drive 3 hours there and back to go get it from the next closest GameStop. Pissed much? Yes, please.
that is all.
Yeah, preowned games are awesome, unless you have a salery, in which case, there's no excuse not to purchase the game new from the shop. The best way to get around this of course is to offer things in the new game that you won't get as soon as it's sold to someone else, such as a free trial or something consumable; a disposable camera perhaps. Or just make the game so damn good that no-one wants to take it back... :D
I can't hate preowned games too much...I picked up a first run copy of Rez at Gamestop for $40.
Sadly, we don't all have a salary. The johns aren't paying much these days. :(
But seriously, I work on a wage system like a lot of younger guys, and as much as I like a new (unscratched, unregistered) game every once in a while, sometimes all that's feasible is a to buy used. Which helps, at least in it's part.
And he's right about the consignment. It would be a waste of manpower and freight to re-ship however many copies of a game are sold every week-ish.
Some great responses here. Thanks for the insider's veiw balth.
Corncob, let me reiterate/clarify my idea. A business that buys and well I guess just sells (but how can you sell without the buy) would have records of that transaction, and also charge sales tax for that sort of thing. That sale price would have a percentage that would go to the game's developer, or however that happens.
You could sell your game to your friend, and he could play it like it was his, 'cause it is. That wouldn't change.
Everyone hates Gamestop apparently. Me, I like it, but that's because I spend almost no time there. I go in once or twice a month to pre-order a game, and once or twice a month to pick up the game. That's it. And I'd never even think of trading in a game, I'm too much of a collector.