Does gamestop charge more for rare used games than non rare?

[SuperSonic]

They used to charge more according to how old the game was and how popular. Mario games usually cost more than some other game that might be good but not as popular. However, I was on their site and I notice they are charging 69.99 for Xenoblades when they sold it for 39.99 lol? Have they been doing this for a while?

Any of you ever find a rare used game at gamestop or do the employees usually snag those?

[sparf]

I have a feeling their pricing is based on market research, though I don't know exactly where they get their numbers.

As for rare things? I've made some good pulls there. I snagged a complete set of Fatal Frame 1-3 for a song, when they started to ditch PS2 entirely. It all depends on what the employees are into. The same things that make them terrible at customer service will work in favor of someone who is looking for rare things. That is, the ones who don't know their product at all, and are only employed due to their ability to sell reservations and magazine subscriptions. The ones who have no interest in anything beyond the newest of the new games.

That's not all of them, of course. It varies store to store, so if you can deal with the annoying customer service on the one hand, you might run across something neat on the other!. :)

[sixwayshot]

Basically, if it's popular with customers, or in high demand, it'll be sold for a higher price. I don't know if particular GameStop stores do price things due to rarity, but usually the price remains high because it's an in-demand title.

[The 1 2 P]

They have been doing this since atleast last gen. I found Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 for the Xbox at a Gamestop during the height of it's popularity and they were selling it for $49.99 used, the same price it would be new. This gen, along with Xenoblade Chronicles, they are also selling Metroid Prime Trilogy for either $59 or $69 used and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D sells for $39.99 new and used. They get the majority of their money from used games so it's no surprise they are charging market value for some of the more in-demand games.

[Ze_ro]

I just bought Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (Wii) from EB Games for $14, and DBZ: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 was about the same price (but I already had it, so I didn't bother). Both go for quite a bit more on eBay... so their market research can't be all that great.

If you find either of these games at your local GS/EB, pick them up.

--Zero

[FrankSerpico]

I just bought Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (Wii) from EB Games for $14



I envy you very much right now, sir

[SparTonberry]

OF COURSE THEY DO!

Even back in like the 16-bit days, did you think they'd let Ogre Battle go for the same price as Madden? :P

[sparf]

Basically, if it's popular with customers, or in high demand, it'll be sold for a higher price. I don't know if particular GameStop stores do price things due to rarity, but usually the price remains high because it's an in-demand title.

GameStop's pricing has been centralized since they became GAmestop and stopped being Babbage's, Software ETc, FuncoLand, etc. Their prices are uniform company-wide, or at the LEAST by large regions. They get handed down their price changes through e-mail on a schedule or rather their label printer just spits out a crapton of price-change labels automatically for the manager to find in the morning.

[wiggyx]

OF COURSE THEY DO!

Even back in like the 16-bit days, did you think they'd let Ogre Battle go for the same price as Madden? :P

This.

They aren't stupid.

[needler420]

I remember ten years ago back when they still sold retro games certain stores cherry picked the expensive ones out to put behind glass.

I recall seeing Chrono trigger cart only still going for $40-50 ten years ago. This is back when some of their stores were still named babbages.


Usually they picked out the 1st party Nintendo titles because all the kids had sticky fingers. I know first hand. But I do recall seeing games like super Mario all stars still at $10-$20 dollars cart only ten years ago when I was 14-15 years old.

That's why I shake my head when people talk about inflated prices. I just don't see it. Games like earthbound I can't even attest to because I didn't even know about it's existence still getting into the collecting scene in recent years. Games like conkers bad fur day has seen inflation and other examples that is too many to name. CBFD used to be a sub $20 dollar game and is now pushing $50 bucks.

[JakeM]

Is it just me or did years ago they buy up an entire warehouse of all the Fatal Frame games and took them out of the wrappers to sell at 90% of their stores?

[Bojay1997]

Is it just me or did years ago they buy up an entire warehouse of all the Fatal Frame games and took them out of the wrappers to sell at 90% of their stores?

Sort of. A company called GamesQuestDirect actually commissioned a reprint of all three games and Gamestop bought a large portion of their extra copies that they converted to used.

[kupomogli]

Sort of. A company called GamesQuestDirect actually commissioned a reprint of all three games and Gamestop bought a large portion of their extra copies that they converted to used.

GameQuestDirect is still around. A couple of days ago I actually remembered them and checked their website out. They're even more overpriced than before.

@JakeM

Also Persona 2, Rhapsody, and Saiyuki: Journey West. I think some others, but don't remember.

[Parodius Duh!]

They definitely do research on the rarity of some titles. Thats why the original release of Dragonball GT Final Bout for ps1 was priced at $150 and theyd buy it for about $60 back in the day......But they also base prices off of popularity of a title or how in demand it is.....Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 on ps2, game was never "rare" hell I even bought two copies from Wal-Mart when it was released, but due to the popularity of the game at the time they were charging like $75 but only buying it for $10

[Gameguy]

It's not really rarity, it's more based on demand. If a game is rare but few people want it, it'll still be priced cheap. Plenty of times I've seen used copies of games priced higher than new ones, they do adjust used prices to more current values though new ones tend to stay unchanged for whatever reason.

[Greg2600]

The most ridiculous is how some newer games are only $5 cheaper used.

[Az]

I find it insane they charge $39 USD for a used copy of Left for Dead 2, when I can walk across the street to Wal-Mart and buy it brand new for $29. Same with part 1, $29 used and $19 new anywhere you look.

[SuperSonic]

The most ridiculous is how some newer games are only $5 cheaper used.

Might as well buy it used a good portion of their games are gutted and open sold as new.. I remember I ended up with a copy of Fire emblem that I bought new that was open. I was lucky amazon ran a 20 dollar extra credit on 20 dollars and I got all my money back and bought another game lol.. new not gutted.

[RP2A03]

Might as well buy it used a good portion of their games are gutted and open sold as new..

You could just demand a sealed copy...

[SuperSonic]

You could just demand a sealed copy...

If they have any.. They seem to gut the last 2 or 3 copies. I find it better to just never shop there. Only time I do is if they are running a promo trade in.

[needler420]

You could just demand a sealed copy...

I live near TC and they did the same to me. First when they offered me a gutted copy I refused and then they sent me to the next store with stock. Got to the store and they sold the last copy. I even think it was suppose to be reserved for me.

I had friends waiting to play multiplayer with me online so I went back for the gutted copy. The same girl employee laughed at me for coming back for the game then told me that's what I get for not pre-ordering. I asked them why they gut games and she told me it's so they don't get stolen.


Since that incident in 2009 I only bought from gamestop two times. Only when they have crazy insane deals.

[sparf]

I really never understand the "No gutted copies. Sealed only or it isn't new!" attitude. If you really want a sealed copy to keep sealed, it's one thing, but if you're going to be playing the game? It's not like it's been run through the dishwasher or used as a frisbee. It's taken out of its case and stored neatly away in a protective sleeve until purchased. I've bought several copies of games new that were the last copy and never ever had a problem, even with an exchange.

Although the one complaint I could see would be if the company still has checkout privileges for its employees (which somehow I doubt given how bad they were ten years ago and how much worse they've gotten since).

[SuperSonic]

I really never understand the "No gutted copies. Sealed only or it isn't new!" attitude. If you really want a sealed copy to keep sealed, it's one thing, but if you're going to be playing the game? It's not like it's been run through the dishwasher or used as a frisbee. It's taken out of its case and stored neatly away in a protective sleeve until purchased. I've bought several copies of games new that were the last copy and never ever had a problem, even with an exchange.

Although the one complaint I could see would be if the company still has checkout privileges for its employees (which somehow I doubt given how bad they were ten years ago and how much worse they've gotten since).

I think gamestop still has checkout.. Anyway.. I feel like I know you sparf. Is your AV a custom commission?

[Gameguy]

I really never understand the "No gutted copies. Sealed only or it isn't new!" attitude. If you really want a sealed copy to keep sealed, it's one thing, but if you're going to be playing the game? It's not like it's been run through the dishwasher or used as a frisbee. It's taken out of its case and stored neatly away in a protective sleeve until purchased. I've bought several copies of games new that were the last copy and never ever had a problem, even with an exchange.

Although the one complaint I could see would be if the company still has checkout privileges for its employees (which somehow I doubt given how bad they were ten years ago and how much worse they've gotten since).
Usually their gutted games have price stickers stuck on the box or case, I don't feel like paying new prices for stuff I have to clean as soon as I get home. Maybe the stickers are different in the US but here they don't just peel off clean, they're a pain to get off and I can't just use a hair dryer to make it easier as the heat damages plastic cases easily.

If the price is right I'll buy them either way, mostly if the games have been reduced cheap like games at yard sale prices. It's been ages since I've bought anything at a Gamestop though.

[wiggyx]

I live near TC and they did the same to me. First when they offered me a gutted copy I refused and then they sent me to the next store with stock. Got to the store and they sold the last copy. I even think it was suppose to be reserved for me.

I had friends waiting to play multiplayer with me online so I went back for the gutted copy. The same girl employee laughed at me for coming back for the game then told me that's what I get for not pre-ordering. I asked them why they gut games and she told me it's so they don't get stolen.


Since that incident in 2009 I only bought from gamestop two times. Only when they have crazy insane deals.

Tell me you didn't still buy it after that?

I would have told her to shove it up her ass with that sort of attitude.

[RP2A03]

I really never understand the "No gutted copies. Sealed only or it isn't new!" attitude. If you really want a sealed copy to keep sealed, it's one thing, but if you're going to be playing the game? It's not like it's been run through the dishwasher or used as a frisbee. It's taken out of its case and stored neatly away in a protective sleeve until purchased. I've bought several copies of games new that were the last copy and never ever had a problem, even with an exchange.

I paid good money for her. Why should someone else get the satisfaction of taking her virginity?

[sparf]

I think gamestop still has checkout.. Anyway.. I feel like I know you sparf. Is your AV a custom commission? Yep. It's by an artist who goes by Mary Mouse.

[SuperSonic]

Yep. It's by an artist who goes by Mary Mouse.

Do you go to FF? I have a signed poster Beyond the thunder dome from Mary Mouse.

[Mayhem]

Yes, some Gamestops price check. It explains the $20 being asked for a decent condition copy of NCAA Basketball 2003 on the Cube I saw one time, but not the $5 on a copy of Jedi Knight II for Cube in a different store.