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Thread: GameStop's Rental Program, "PowerPass"

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    Default GameStop's Rental Program, "PowerPass"

    GameStop PowerPass is a program launching November 19 that lets one play as many used games as one wants for six months. For $60, one can pick up any used game and return to the store to exchange it for a different one as often as one prefers for a period of six months. At the conclusion, one can choose any used game to keep. PowerPass can also be bought as a gift, though the recipient will need to have a (free) PowerUp Rewards account already. I believe this only applies to the brick-and-mortar stores and (though I don't know for sure) one might need to keep returning to the same store. More details will be available soon, I'm certain.

    Source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ga.../1100-6454493/

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    When the rental service has almost ended, rent a $55 title or a Nintendo title for the resale value. This might end up only costing $20-$40 overall after your six month period has ended.

    I'm not fond of Gamestop but I'll be giving it a shot. New games won't be available for atleast a couple weeks to a month after release, but since I usually wait until most AAA games drop in price or get a GotY version until I purchase them, then this will allow me to play them before that time. Sure, there's always Gamefly, but Gamefly is also $16 per month and you don't get anything at the end. Any money I save by not purchasing a game I don't like by using Gamefly as a service, I've already put back into using Gamefly and then some.
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    Lovely, Gamestop already has problems of so many used game scratched discs. This will be made worse thru the rental market by customers who do not care. I suppose this a reaction to the increased competition market of download games.
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    Quote Originally Posted by CRTGAMER View Post
    Lovely, Gamestop already has problems of so many used game scratched discs. This will be made worse thru the rental market by customers who do not care. I suppose this a reaction to the increased competition market of download games.
    They've made a statement that if the game is damaged you'd be charged for the game. I'm not sure how much damage is considered damaged, but at least that's going to be brought up in the rental process and likely keep people from mistreating games. I will state though that games seem to generally be in better condition than they were 20 years ago. People seem to take a lot better care of their games, including ones they trade in, something I thought would have gotten worse seeing as how gaming has become much more popular.

    I can say I've never seen anything on any recent system in close to as bad of a condition as I've seen used PS1, PS2, and Gamecube games. The other disc based consoles I just haven't seen very many used games, or every one I've seen has been in good condition.
    Last edited by kupomogli; 11-04-2017 at 10:40 AM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by kupomogli View Post
    They've made a statement that if the game is damaged you'd be charged for the game. I'm not sure how much damage is considered damaged, but at least that's going to be brought up in the rental process and likely keep people from mistreating games. I will state though that games seem to generally be in better condition than they were 20 years ago. People seem to take a lot better care of their games, including ones they trade in, something I thought would have gotten worse seeing as how gaming has become much more popular.

    I can say I've never seen anything on any recent system in close to as bad of a condition as I've seen used PS1, PS2, and Gamecube games. The other disc based consoles I just haven't seen very many used games, or every one I've seen has been in good condition.
    I think they've just gotten pickier over what they take as trade-ins now. Too many people like me who won't buy their scratched up shit and who cares if the scratched disc has a return period if they don't have another one in stock.
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    60$ seems like alot... its an interesting idea but I kinda feel like 60 bucks is too expensive.
    Basically its 2.50$ per game if you rent one per week, before travel costs.
    Might seem like a good deal but most people would probably use the subscription only a few times.
    Plus if you find a game you really like you will probably want to spend more than a week playing it. In otder to really get your moneys' worth you would have to rent alot of games..

    Also, just something kinda sleazy about a company renting out their merchandise.

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    I haven't bought anything from a Gamestop in years. I don't see why I should change that anytime soon.

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    Blockbuster did this a few years before they imploded, I think it was $19.99 per month. Problem was all the really sought after games were constantly rented out, but it was great if you were after the weird stuff.

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    While at the store, I saw an official confirmation in their holiday catalog with the full details. The PowerPass program begins November 19th.

    I'd like to try this program. If nothing else, you get to keep a game after the six months.

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    Not on topic but I love how the Power Up $30 a year program can ship games to PR for free yet I can only sign up in store...but they left PR two years ago! 😤
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    I guess it is time for a trip to Florida then, eh?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dealerscope
    In October, we talked about our excitement for the launch of the PowerPass program from GameStop. The program, which was expected to launch November 19, wouldve given Power-Up loyalty members a used game rental option at GameStop and seemed to be a solid strategy for driving in-store foot traffic.

    But earlier this month, just days before it was set to officially become available, GameStop very quietly canned the program. Though the company said it was due to program limitations, several reports cited issues with the GameStops point-of-sale system being able to actually support PowerPass.

    The program had been in a soft-launch phase where certain consumers and employees were putting it through a test run.

    We have elected to temporarily pause the roll out of the new PowerPass subscription service, based on a few program limitations we have identified. We feel this is the right thing to do for now to ensure we are able to provide our guests an exceptional service, a GameStop spokesperson told the website Kotaku. For those guests who have already purchased the service, we will allow them to bring the pass, and video game they have checked-out, back to receive a full refund. In addition, we will allow them to pick out any Pre-Owned game for free.

    The company has asked staff to get rid of the stores Holiday Guide and asked them to replace a weekly ad, both of which had promotional material around the shuttered program. GameStop hasnt left any hints as to whether PowerPass could return in the future.
    Source: http://www.dealerscope.com/post/two-...rpass-debacle/

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    Translation: Rolling out the program at the same time you will already have the holiday stampede of nutballs filling up the store and leaving you with a customer-to-associate ratio that could be optimistically 25:1 was a bad idea. Throw in the inevitable hiccups of a new program and a ridiculous potential for abuse, fraud and outright theft.
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    They'll probably roll it out on February, and they'll probably rethink their stance on keeping the last game you're renting. They'll probably limit it to the cost of a game that's $40 or less so people don't take advantage of it and scoop up all the newer releases.
    Everything in the above post is opinion unless stated otherwise.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nz17 View Post
    GameStop PowerPass is a program launching November 19 that lets one play as many used games as one wants for six months. For $60, one can pick up any used game and return to the store to exchange it for a different one as often as one prefers for a period of six months. At the conclusion, one can choose any used game to keep. PowerPass can also be bought as a gift, though the recipient will need to have a (free) PowerUp Rewards account already. I believe this only applies to the brick-and-mortar stores and (though I don't know for sure) one might need to keep returning to the same store. More details will be available soon, I'm certain.

    Source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ga.../1100-6454493/
    That sounds like a pretty good deal, something I never thought I would say involving GameStop. It kind of pales in comparison to things like EA Access put its step in the right direction.

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    Quote Originally Posted by DaringDirk View Post
    It kind of pales in comparison to things like EA Access put its step in the right direction.
    In a way that's true. However, with the PowerPass program, people would procure physical product.

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    That's true, and if they stay with the "any used game" at the end of the 6 month period then you could end up getting a special/limited edition. I have gotten a couple of them from GameStop that even have the codes for weapon skins still unused.

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