GameCrazy is Crazy

[slip81]

I was at a local GameCrazy the other day trading in some spare systems and games I was too lazy to sell on ebay, and a girl comes in wanting to trade in the first Splinter Cell for Xbox and the clerk tells here not to bother because she would only get $.62

And I was thinking to my selft, that's crazy because they sell the game used for $10, they could at least give a few bucks. Also they only gave me $.12 for Super Mario World for SNES (I didn't realize I was getting that little or else I would have kep it).

Anyone know why they give next to nothing and charge so much? I'm not even sure if I'll go back there any more because now I know that behind just about every classic game I buy is someone getting jipped.

Also anyone know if there is a store policy that prohibits them from taking in say a bunch of sports games on one trade? Because the guy who dealt with me was also being kind of a jerk about having to process two systems and 4 games, so I was thinking about taking up a collection and getting a mess of crappy worthless Genesis and SNES games and then trading them in just so they'll have to sit there and test and process them all.

And I was all geared up to like that store too cause it's the only place in my area that still sells classic games.

[NE146]

Anyone know why they give next to nothing and charge so much?

To make PH4T L3WT

Why else? ;)

[Dangerboy]

slip81 wrote:
Anyone know why they give next to nothing and charge so much?


Easy.
- Salaries
- Hourly wages
- Rent
- Electricity
- Supplies
- Utilities
- Health care plans
- Any commisions
- etc etc etc

Splinter Cell in particular is that "Everyone had it, so most people trade it in" category shared by sports game and greatest hits. They give so little because more than likely on a company whole, they're sitting on a ton of them and can't give out any more than that or they lose big time.

They also are most likely still charging $10 because they're trying to recoup as much as possible in the trade-in dollars they gave away originally.

A few years back EB was so over stocked on pre-played Madden 2002 PS2 games they giving them away for free with system purchases.

Jason

[allsport11]

The problem with Game Crazy is that most people that work there have no idea what the market is and isn't for some games. The one by me has to have a few hundred loose SNES games (cart only) in the glass case and they are all way overpriced, like Mario Kart for $20 or Donkey Kong Country for $25. Then they will have games that are somewhat harder to come buy like complete and mint Saturn games or some of the lesser produced Dreamcast games for around $2.99-$4.99. I really don't complain because it allows me to pick up some games for far less than say Ebay. This also goes for other systems as well. I guess you just have to pick and choose what/when/where you sell certain items.

[SoulBlazer]

Not to thead jack, but....

There's a GameCrazy in this state? :eek 2: WHERE? I missed out on some really good deals cause I thought there was'nt one in Rhode Island! Is it new?

[slip81]

Not to thead jack, but....

There's a GameCrazy in this state? :eek 2: WHERE? I missed out on some really good deals cause I thought there was'nt one in Rhode Island! Is it new?

I don't know how new they are, but there are five in this area. One in Fall River Mass on 933 Pleasant Road right next to the Hollwood Video, one in Cranston on 244 Atwood ave. two in Warwick one at 320 Warwick ave and another on 1800 Post rd. and one last on in Woonsocket at 1400 Park ave.

the one I've been to is the Fall River one cause it's only about 10-15 min from my house. That's the one where the clerk was rude. They're prices on Saturn, Genny, and NES games are pretty good, but everything else is kinda high.

I didn't think about all of those factors when I initially heard the low trade in price, and after hearing it it makes a little more sense, but it still seems kinda low since even EB will give you $2 on a game they sell for $5 used.

[goatdan]

For the most part, standalone stores offer money based on a few factors that include:

- How quickly the sale of the game will be
- Is the game still available
- Is the system for the game readily available
- How many of these have sold recently
- How many of these do we already have

As someone else pointed out, they have to pay for a lot of different stuff. If you are bringing in a game like Splinter Cell, and lets say that the (whole) chain sells about 500 copies per month for $10.00, and it currently shows them with 5000 copies of the game, they probably aren't going to buy more for a high price.

From running the GOAT Store, there are some games that we carry that we sell for a few bucks, but I wouldn't even trade or buy from people just because we already have a hundred or so in stock or I know they won't sell. A perfect example is some of our Lynx games -- we have a ton of Lynx games new, and sometimes people will offer us Lynx packages to purchase. I'm not going to give someone a few bucks for a game that I've already 50 copies of... but I will give them more if I only have one or none of it.

Hopefully, that clears it up a little. Obviously, if you're only offered a few cents, take it to eBay or give it to a friend.

[long_shawn_silver]

They run the show lke a pawn shop...pay nothing..make everything.

[Promophile]

I learned long ago that trading in games sucks. I, like many others, have had to buy back games that I used to own. It stinks.

[goatdan]

I learned long ago that trading in games sucks. I, like many others, have had to buy back games that I used to own. It stinks.

Same here :) A bunch of Dreamcast titles, which I had to then hunt down later and pay much, much more for... again.

[SoulBlazer]

That's why I NEVER trade in games. I sell the vast majority of them on Amazon.

[Emily]

There is a buy one get one free sale on all used games at Gamecrazy!!
november 25-28

[classicb]

I hate game crazy because they throw away all the boxes to all their older systems. They have a bunch of Saturn games for around $2-$5 but they throw out all the cases. I keep telling the manager if they kept the boxes I would clean them out but he never listens. Keeps telling me that it saves space and that they sell the same either way.

[pookninja]

I hate game crazy because they throw away all the boxes to all their older systems. They have a bunch of Saturn games for around $2-$5 but they throw out all the cases. I keep telling the manager if they kept the boxes I would clean them out but he never listens. Keeps telling me that it saves space and that they sell the same either way.thats not true with all gamecrazy's,as the one i go to,if the game has the box and instructions, they keep it with the games and sell them complete for the same price they sell the game loose.the manager will also,if he has some extra booklets and boxes in his own collection,and the store has the game loose,he will bring his extra boxes and booklets in and make the game complete.my gamecrazy is great,and yeah,it is best,not just at gamecrazy,but any video game store,to not trade in an older,big name game like splinter cell because you are not going to get anything for it,because they have tons of copys for it.and i know for a fact that the more copys the store has,the less trade in value you get.

[Querjek]

They give you so little because they don't have to.

[Beefy Hits]

Selling games to game stores is a huge ripoff. Just ebay it.

[anagrama]

It does work both ways, though - if I tried to eBay my spare loose Mega Drives, I could probably expect to get £5-£10 each (if I'm lucky). However, I traded 3 into a local game store a while back, and got £45 worth of credit instead. It's all down to supply & demand.

[FlufflePuff]

Selling games to game stores is a huge ripoff. Just ebay it.

That's not entirely true. If stores give in-store credit it can often be better than Ebaying then. Take Super Mario All-Stars. One of my local game stores sells it for $25 bucks, so they give 12.50 trade in. If I were to Ebay it I probably could get 13, but I'd have to pay posting fees, wait 7 to 10 days. Instead, I just trade it in and get what I want. This only applies to games that I find at pawn stores and the like though. I purchased Yoshi's Island and Brain Lord from a pawn shop the other day for $4 total. Went to the game store and got $15 in store credit. I'm happy, pawn store is happy, game store is happy. Everyone is happy and Ebay doesn't profit one bit :)