What's up with the post-holiday buying sprees?

[digitalpress]

I was expecting a big lull after the holidays (which I was kinda hoping for, even, so I could do some upgrades to various areas of the store in the "downtime") but it's been insane. I figured January was nuts just because kids had money after the holidays and picked up stuff they wanted but didn't get for Christmas - and this kinda played out, because PS2, XBox 360 and Wii games sold like crazy... but here I am a few days into February and it's STILL nuts.

I'm trying to get a handle on what people are buying and when I can, WHY. It's all over the place though. New stuff, used stuff, old classic stuff. I attribute some of it to the store's natural growth but my trade-ins haven't grown proportionally. They're about the same as they were in the last quarter of last year.

Is it possible that the economy is doing that much better? Are those of you at Gamestop/EB/GameCrazy etc seeing this as well? My local Gamestops say yes even despite a typically tepid new release schedule. What do you think is going on? I'm trying to gauge better so I'm more prepared for this next year but I'm hoping it's NOT an anomaly.

[RadiantSvgun]

Here in Alabama, every game store is full of people. I've been all over the state looking for deals, and I find people crowding the stores looking for Wii and Wii related products. People still don't have what they want! I have yet to find a 2nd Wii mote since December. Also, Gamestop/EB has done some price inflation on the Gamecube titles. Oh, its tax return time too, so prepare for more business. I hope I can eventually take a road trip to the Digital Press Store and see what you guys have.

[Half Japanese]

It's not just the game stores. I work at a record store that sells mostly CDs/DVDs/LPs and while it sort of lulled right after the holidays (even fewer big releases than the game industry) the last two weekends have been just, for lack of a better term, busy as shit. I'd say last weekend we were even busier than Christmas Eve. I dunno what the deal is, there still haven't been any huge releases in the music world yet this year, but today was a full house too.

[Dangerboy]

Hey Joe,

I can't speak for any other businesses, but the simple fact of 2 new machines on the market since November is the main culprit.

We still get floods of hopeful Wii customers, and a lot of people who got older systems as hand-me-downs or are just now upgrading to that generation are doing some hardcore bargain hunting.

We've been selling XBox 1 games like crazy since the 360's finally hit the steady flowe pace, and our PS2 wall always had holes to restock every hour on the hour.

And seeing how March is going to unleash at least 60 games just between the 3 main consoles, you're gonna be flooded for a while.

Zee business, it is booming!

Jason

[zer0cool]

My guess would be because the wii was just released...some people still havent been able to get one.But why anyone wants to buy a xbox 360 is beyond me:P

[cyberfluxor]

Out my way it's been quite busy too. I went to several places today and they were a bit more full that usual, even for a Saturday! This has been going on for awhile now though. I'm going to be cutting back on my spending because the federal goverment decided to raise commission taxes from 10% to 25% starting new years and it's starting to take a pounding into my checks since most of it is commission. Don't expect the new taxes to slow down the buyers though because if you've been looking at the market outlooks Americans are spending their money again!

[GuyinGA]

My guess would be because the wii was just released...some people still havent been able to get one.But why anyone wants to buy a xbox 360 is beyond me:P

Because stupid teenagers like their shoot-em-up graphic demos?

I would be tempted to get a xbox 360 for Viva Pinata and LOTR: Battle for Middle Earth II alone. And a little game called Blue Dragon.

[Diatribal Deity]

As blatantly obvious as this sounds...I would say it's the weather and drop in television viewing. The demographic buying games no longer watch television as much anymore. The weather here in the Northeast has been consistently cold for awhile now and even some snow has started to fall. This combined with the fact that you run such a great operation will keep things buzzing throughout the first quarter. Summer is when things will slow down a bit (summer camp, vacations and whatnot). Then again, the last years I was managing a store it seems like it never let up especially once you begin to retain that core group of customers and word of mouth starts to spread (as I guess you and your staff have already begun doing in spades)...

THESE ARE PROBABLY THINGS YOU ALREADY DO, BUT THESE TACTICS ENSURED FULLY STOCKED PRE-OWNED SHELVES IN MY STORE BACK IN THE DAY.

To promote trade-ins kiddingly suggest to everyone that comes in that you "expect" them to have some type of trade the next time they return. Make it the last thing you say to them. Bag stuffers can also be effective especially when it is extremely busy and you may not have the opportunity to talk to everyone. Someone calls up...remind them to bring in their trades...make it the primary thing they think of as they are about to leave the house. Going over a wait list? Tell everyone your calling to bring in their trades. Give trade-in quotes over the phone (some have suggested this is not as effective as just telling the person that they have to come in) but in my experience you are providing them a disservice by not telling them.

Trading in games becomes an addiction for many and eventually becomes the primary way many will fund new purchases. If you are able to provide a little more value or promotional incentives (trade-in 2 or 3 get 1 free) your newer pre-own inventory will grow. Some people feel cheated bringing newer games back and getting half of what they paid, but let them know that it will only lose more value over time and if their not going to play it again, why not? Give them a little extra, some type of discount or even just a genuinely friendly and memorable experience and they will be yours. Oh, and remember names. Nothing draws a customer back like a staff which knows the customer on a first name basis and can remember certain tastes, likes and dislikes. Able to keep a relational database? Let customers know when games come in that suit their wants beyond a general reserve list.

AGAIN, THESE ARE PRETTY GENERIC SUGGESTIONS (retail 101 or maybe 102), BUT IMPLEMENTED CONSISTANTLY WILL REAP RESULTS!

[heybtbm]

As blatantly obvious as this sounds...I would say it's the weather.

Exactly what I was thinking. There's not much to do outside when it's zero degrees. Even your average winter activities are turned into endurance sports when it's this cold.

[zemmix]

I say its the Wii. Myself I haven't been on the board here or into gaming much at all for the last few years. But since I found a Wii i've been back on a gaming binge and have been hunting down some gamecube games I always wanted.

[Kroogah]

I'd have to agree with zemmix.

I walked into an EBGames to return a game, and by pure coincidence I got there right after the UPS truck did, so I ended up walking out of the store with a Nintendo Wii. Didn't have to search, wait in line, nothing. I took it as a sign from God, and I'm collecting Nintendo once again. LOL

[JerseyDevil65]

Some people feel cheated bringing newer games
back and getting half of what they paid,

I think most people would be OK with getting half of what they paid in trade. Most stores (Gamestop, Game Crazy, EB) will give closer to 10-15% of their re-sell price. Why bother when you can get more on E-Bay?