Gamecrazy Special Ordering

[grimbal]

I couldn't find a thread about this so I thought I would share with everyone that may not know this:

Gamecrazy will allow you to special order games for almost any system as long as the game title is in their database. They can also do this with game systems like the Saturn.

They do have a list of games and systems that they currently cannot get. Mostly consisting of NES and SNES RPG games and the NES top loader.

I've managed to get copies of Aero Fighters and Fun 'n Games for the SNES this way. :)

You have to put down $6 dollars up front which covers the shipping charge if they find it. Then someone at the home office searches through the chain's inventory to find it.

If they find the game at more than one location they will go with the copy that's in the best condition. Then once it arrives you pay the regular store price of the game.

I payed the following for each:

Aero Fighters - $1.99 plus the shipping.

Fun 'n Games - $9.99 plus the shipping.

Right now I'm waiting to see if they are able to find Flintstones: Surprise at Dinosaur Peak on the NES. If they do I will get it for only $11-$12 after tax. As the actual game price is only $4.99.

I look at it as an alternative to Ebay. Most shipping charges are around the $5 range for a single game on Ebay anyway. Plus, with Gamecrazy, I'm not obligated to buy it if I'm not satisfied with it's condition and on top of that it comes with a guarentee. If they don't manage to find the game then they refund the $6 to me or I just choose another title and they roll the payment over to it.

While it does take something away from the actual thrill of the hunt it helps the poor souls who can't game hunt more than a few times a month (like me).

Good luck to those who have a Gamecrazy close to them and decide to try this.

[Promophile]

Don't have a game crazy near me sadly. Thanks for posting though. You must be a super awesome person to actually post this here though. Probally cut your chances of getting rare games by 90pct LOL .

[AlexKidd]

Sounds like a good idea. Thanks for posting this,now I can actually find some saturn games.

[ubersaurus]

Oh yeah they've had this going for a long while. I used it to get a copy of R-Type III, and I've already ordered a copy of Panzer Dragoon Saga, just in case one ever shows up, I'm on the list.

[FlufflePuff]

They got me a copy of Snow Brothers and I'm on the list for Bonk's Adventure (NES). Sadly, they cancelled my order for Little Samson when it got moved to the restricted. list. *sigh*

[Vectorman0]

This thread makes me want one near me. I don't have one even within a rather large driving distance.

[InsaneDavid]

Fair warning, if a special order game happens to come in with the box, original case, original docs, etc. the clerks at the store where your placed your order will usually keep them for themselves and give you the game loose. They do this to complete loose copies of games (they bought at their own store or had before) for free.

In other words if you want docs MAKE SURE TO REQUEST THEM, and that they put it on your special request. That way if they do come in the manager (most of the time) will not let employees take the extras.

[Pop Culture Portal]

Fair warning, if a special order game happens to come in with the box, original case, original docs, etc. the clerks at the store where your placed your order will usually keep them for themselves and give you the game loose. They do this to complete loose copies of games (they bought at their own store or had before) for free.

In other words if you want docs MAKE SURE TO REQUEST THEM, and that they put it on your special request. That way if they do come in the manager (most of the time) will not let employees take the extras.

I agree...the first time I tried special ordering something, they actually asked me if I wanted the game "complete," or at least as complete as possible. AND, I request "completeness" on everything I order from them. I tried ordering a Famicom system, but I gave up after a year of waiting. It would have cost me $15. Didn't expect to get it, but thought I'd give it a shot. I've gotten several games from them this way and it's always worked out great.

[roxybaby]

This thread makes me want one near me. I don't have one even within a rather large driving distance.

I live close to where you are. There's one in New Haven and one in North Haven. Not especially close but not super far.

[Crush Crawfish]

Oh yeah, I always saw this option but I never tried it. I think I'll see if they can get me snow brothers, Ninja warriors, aero fighters, and maybe even flintstones. It's a bit of a crapshoot, but it sure beats paying ebay prices! :D

[MegaDrive20XX]

Fair warning, if a special order game happens to come in with the box, original case, original docs, etc. the clerks at the store where your placed your order will usually keep them for themselves and give you the game loose. They do this to complete loose copies of games (they bought at their own store or had before) for free.

In other words if you want docs MAKE SURE TO REQUEST THEM, and that they put it on your special request. That way if they do come in the manager (most of the time) will not let employees take the extras.

As an employee of GameCrazy, the man is right.

Employees will take the box, hell they'll throw it away. (I saved a box of Sonic Advance 3 with the manual) this way, because one moron didnt give a crap.

[KirbyStar27]

yea...its a good deal they have going. I ordered dr franken and four other ones...dr franken and this other one came complete!!! I was happY :D
-Robert

[DragonMaster Sam]

There isn't a Gamecrazy close to where I live.

[Slate]

There isn't a Gamecrazy close to where I live.

I hear that a lot.

It's the same with me.

I think there are some GCs 50 miles away, though... :/

[Saabmeister]

I just requested a copy of Aero Fighters. I didn't know I needed to request box and manual. Shit :angry:

[InsaneDavid]

I just requested a copy of Aero Fighters. I didn't know I needed to request box and manual. Shit :angry:

You may luck out and if it does come complete the clerks at your store may ask you if you want them. Really though with a company as screwed up as Hollywood Entertainment is up top you never can tell. (which be why I arranged my departure with them last year)

[poopnes]

Just a heads up, you can't order Stadium Events. I know, because I tried. ;)

[SRC]

There definetly some great deals to be had, Aero Fighters for $8.50 is great :-P. I wonder how many requests they get for rare games, they must have a few people who are unhappy about never receiving Stadium Events...

[poopnes]

There definetly some great deals to be had, Aero Fighters for $8.50 is great :-P. I wonder how many requests they get for rare games, they must have a few people who are unhappy about never receiving Stadium Events...

I wasn't unhappy about Stadium Events, in fact I only "waited" on the list for a month when the manager told me he couldn't get it. What did bother me is that he couldn't find the Power Pad in their system to order me one. For some strange reason I can't find one here in my area.

[grimbal]

Each store should have a printout of items that they cannot special order. The manager at my store was nice enough to let me look it over when I first started ordering stuff.

BTW they don't have either the Donkey Kong or Starfox comp. carts in their system. ;)

[googlefest1]

ive never used the system

ive always felt that if a rare game came by the clerks would snatch it up. often times i meet a colector of games working at a game store like game crazy and they all say when things come in they snatch them and thats why they work there.

also part of the trill of my collecting is getting items cheap - and for the known rare items their prices are not cheap also add the 6$ and the final price is even higher

i like the idea of the option being there - but i havent been desperate enough to try it yet

[TurboGenesis]

Oh yeah they've had this going for a long while. I used it to get a copy of R-Type III, and I've already ordered a copy of Panzer Dragoon Saga, just in case one ever shows up, I'm on the list.

I've been on the list for over a year for PDS. I've been planning to take my name off and put my $6 on another game. So that will help bump you up.

[bizbiz]

The program is way overhyped. I ordered Flintstones Surprise At Dinosaur Peak last year and was told after a month of waiting that I was #10 on the list and the guy who was #1 in line has been waiting for 4 months. I should get it before April, 2056. Plus, I tried about 20 items over a period of a year and got so far 2 of them, neither which were rare! On top of that, many rare games get zilch for trade-ins. For example, Action 52 has a trade-in value of 1 penny. And the do-not-order list has almost all the hard-to-find sought after games. The system works well on games such as Marble Madness or Sonic 3D Blast, but beyond that, I have had very little luck.. 2/20 is a 5% average succeed rate. I stopped using the program because I was sick of getting a voice mail from the local manager of my GC store saying, "We were unable to find your game. You will be put on a waiting list..." ... I'd rather go to my local GC and see what fresh trade-ins have arrived rather than play this game. I only collect older stuff (NES, Genesis, etc.) so I have no idea how newer systems fair in this program (I am guessing pretty good though!)

[Nirvana]

Hmm...I never knew that, and GameCrazy is my primary gaming store. What do I do, just ask them to order a game for me?

[grimbal]

Yep. They can tell you right then if it's something they can or cannot order.

From personal experience they were able to tell me within a week if the game was found or if I was on a waiting list.

Most NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, N64, and Dreamcast are fair game.

[Nirvana]

Awesome. Thanks for the information...hopefully I should be able to get some rarer games...

[drummy]

A game I know for sure is on their "black list,' which is the "cannot be ordered" list, is Shining Force III for the Sega Saturn.