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[Allforce]

I think with digital releases we are seeing more dynamic pricing, but the retail side is ridiculous. There are niche games and good mid-tier titles that are failing just because of this "60 bucks or bust" model.

40 bucks is my limit when it comes to new boxed retail purchases, and 20 is about my digital limit. A tiny bit of patience allows me to play nearly everything I want nowadays for those prices, but these games could be getting my money in those crucial first weeks if they'd just price it dynamically based on the market from the start.

 

[botty]

Anti-consumer disgusting trash.

 

[Snuggles]

Love how the pre-owned one has "Add to Cart" in striking red and the new one has "More Info" in boring grey.

Looks like the new one is out of stock. Otherwise it would have the same Add to Cart icon.

 

[RedNumberFive]

ITT: we pretend that GameStop is the only choice for consumers.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

I'm going digital for Wii U, Xbox One, and PS4 now. Fuck Gamestop. I don't want to pre-order anything dammit. I don't want stupid strategy guides. I also don't want any used games, and no, I don't have anything to trade in.

 

[entremet]

Devs really hate used games, eh?

 

[jgmo870]

Devs need to look at how they are spending money making their games before judging how other companies do their business.

What's wrong with how RaD is spending their budget?

 

[thekonamicode]

Love how the pre-owned one has "Add to Cart" in striking red and the new one has "More Info" in boring grey.

They won't even let you add the new copy to your cart online. You can only purchase the pre-owned copy.

 

[jWILL253]

If you want more pricing options, that starts with the publishers. They are the ones that recommend the retail prices for these games. GameStop is just trying to minimize its losses.

Also, since GameStop and all retail is some sort of evil, you better have a viable digital market with reduced prices. Because all this sounds like is whining about not getting 100% of the profits of a used game sale.

 

[.la1n]

I understand where he is coming from and the argument for pricing tiers is a valid one. Not sure I grasp the anger story, getting upset at someone making barely over minimum wage who is told by corporate to push used sales isn't winning any battles. It also comes off childish.

 

[Mael]

Gamestop provides a valuable service but they aren't alone. Amazon and Best Buy do the same thing. When people bitch about Gamestop, what they really hate is consumer rights.

And just like that the thread is over.

 

[Dave Long]

Gamestop employees switching a used for a new without telling the customer are not doing their job correctly. That's not policy as far as I am aware. So yeah, that's wrong.

As for selling used games, that's not. This industry is not different than any other. Once you sell it to me, it's no longer yours to make money off of through my resale. It's also not yours to make money off of when someone like Gamestop resells it. Period. Fuck off.

 

[Neuromancer]

I agree Gamestop sucks but restricting used games across the board is not the answer. Also for all the shit Gamestop does they sure also sell a fuck ton of new games. Don't bite the hand that feeds you, developers.

 

[Birathen]

It's also standard practice at Gamestop.

My local gamestop/eb games never done that, to me atleast. I asked about the price for a used copy of a fairly fresh release and they told me the difference was so small I might as well go with a new copy.

 

[bill0527]

Seriously... if people would start using this service, they would have more money and GameStop would have less. GameStop is for the lazy. I was almost lazy over the weekend, and GameStop was offering me $91 for about 10 or so (with the 60% extra!) So far I've sold just one of those games on eBay for $23. Don't be lazy!

Wrong.

eBay fees, PayPal fees, and a constant never ending stream of scammers.

GameStop is great for trade ins if you are a power up member (extra 10%) and hit them up when they are running trade in deals of an extra 30% or more. You'll make just as much, if not more than what you would make on ebay with a lot less hassle and you eliminate the chance of some scammer getting your shit for free through a PayPal dispute.

 

[Duxxy3]

Sooooo... stop selling games to gamestop in the first place.

 

[anexanhume]

ITT: we pretend that GameStop is the only choice for consumers.

It's the defacto choice for a lot of people who don't care to educate themselves otherwise (e.g. parents with kids).

 

[Pound_lb003]

Another great point from me - Make games that aren't linear story games.

Make RPG's, make open-world games, where there is more (if less honed) content, that it takes longer to access.

 

[Bubble Metropolis]

Seriously... if people would start using this service, they would have more money and GameStop would have less. GameStop is for the lazy. I was almost lazy over the weekend, and GameStop was offering me $91 for about 10 or so (with the 60% extra!) So far I've sold just one of those games on eBay for $23. Don't be lazy!

It's probably the best option, but I sold a game last week for $56 ($3 of which was shipping) and after eBay and PayPal fees I think I came away with around $48 ($45 after shipping). That's a pretty substantial chunk, particularly considering that you're being hit up twice by the same company. This, plus the absolute disdain with which eBay treats sellers in favour of pleasing buyers, makes me wary of selling anything through them.

 

[Neuromancer]

"There are developers out there who are making games for [years] and some of them will go down purely because the revenue stream is basically flawed and creating this place where developers don't see even a little part of it," he said.

I'd love to see the evidence he has for this.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

They won't even let you add the new copy to your cart online. You can only purchase the pre-owned copy.

It's because they don't have new copies in stock.

 

[outunderthestars]

Can't wait for the end of disc based games and, by extension, Gamestop.

 

[pa22word]

The problem with his reasoning is that budget isn't intrinsically tied to game length. Ie an 8 hour game can cost exponentially more than a 16 hour game to make, and trying to base tiers around game length rather than game quality (which is pretty much what we do now) just leads to padding.

 

[alr1ght]

I'm going digital for Wii U, Xbox One, and PS4 now. Fuck Gamestop. I don't want to pre-order anything dammit. I don't want stupid strategy guides. I also don't want any used games, and no, I don't have anything to trade in.

So....don't shop there?

 

[jgmo870]

If you want more pricing options, that starts with the publishers. They are the ones that recommend the retail prices for these games. GameStop is just trying to minimize its losses.

And the publishers most likely "recommend" higher prices to get more revenue on each new copy since they know retailers are going to push used copies instead.

 

[Kimawolf]

Gamestop provides a valuable service but they aren't alone. Amazon and Best Buy do the same thing. When people bitch about Gamestop, what they really hate is consumer rights.

Bingo, hit the nail on the head. They provide a service, rather you like it or not, point is they provide one that's wanted, i.e. trading your game in for other games, now if you don't like it, find another way to trade it, all the "gamestop is evil" blah blah is silly. No one forces you to trade your games in to them or buy their "overpriced" used games.

This all comes back to you owning a game you paid for and if you have a right to sell it without interference. Sorry developers but you shouldn't get a cut of a game I sell used because I already paid you for it once, I shouldn't need to pay you for it twice.

 

[thekonamicode]

It's because they don't have new copies in stock.

They don't carry the new copy online period. You can however go to a local store and pick it up.

 

[Darklor01]

Here's one idea. Why not include in the terms of ownership or whatever documentation, that there is no resale of the item allowable without the express concent of the company. Then there would have to be some sort of retail resale consortium which states some portion of the profit would be given back from retail to the company which all retail resellers would have to agree to.

It would have to be strong enough of a consortium that retailers would want to join in, rather than they just decide not to carry a particular product.

 

[Avallon]

Wrong.

eBay fees, PayPal fees, and a constant never ending stream of scammers.

GameStop is great for trade ins if you are a power up member (extra 10%) and hit them up when they are running trade in deals of an extra 30% or more. You'll make just as much, if not more than what you would make on ebay with a lot less hassle and you eliminate the chance of some scammer getting your shit for free through a PayPal dispute.

GameStop is running a 50% extra promotion (60 with card) and those prices still unacceptably low. eBay and Paypal fees are negligible by comparison to the "value" Gamestop quotes you.

 

[Silver_DNA]

As has been said man times before, the problem with Gamestop isn't that they sell used games it's that they push used copies of new games.

The industry has a problem with games sales in that all advertisements and the vast majority of sales occur in the first week or two. There are a handful of titles that sell for a while, but that's all based on word of mouth. I don't think I've seen a post release advert for anything, even a greatest hits collection, in a long time. The only thing close to it was the sweet Sony ad with game characters cheering for the player.

So I think that publishers should try to lengthen the time where major sales occur through advertisements. Sales and discounts would be nice too. A gentleman's agreement with Gamestop to hold off on pushing used new games for a week or two might alleviate some of their problems, but I doubt that is something that will ever happen.

But that's enough of my ignorant armchair analysis.

 

[Dunkers92]

It's 100% do-it-or-we'll-find-someone-else-who-will-do-it-practice at GameStop. Don't offer used to a customer? Enjoy unemployment.

Exactly. This guy is a bit of an asshole for raging at the employee. It is not the guys fault, he HAS to do this, otherwise his job is in jeopardy.

And plus this ridiculous argument that they shouldn't offer a used copy of a new game for $5 cheaper. Nobody in their right mind will take the used copy. Game UK also do this and out of tonnes of transactions where we offered a used copy, 95% of the people took the new copy even when the used copy was £15 cheaper

 

[Neuromancer]

Can't wait for the end of disc based games and, by extension, Gamestop.

Interesting. See, I'm not looking forward to the end of being able to own my own games.

 

[Knuf]

It happens all the time. They pay $35 in store credit for a newly released game and sell that game used for $55, the new one for $60. But I think it's kinda strange to complain about it now. Sony and Microsoft had the chance to change it, Sony blew it by making Microsoft look stupid.

DAT spin.

 

[SmokedMeat]

But we were feeling sorry for GameStop when xbox one wasn't going to play used games.....

No, Gamestop was the ONLY known company to be in bed with Microsoft's Azure trade in system.

We felt sorry for the consumer who was now losing the ability to sell a game privately or via ebay, Craigslist, etc.

 

[Himself]

GameStop's policies are so damn slimy I fell like I'm dealing with a strip club or something. I loathe stepping into a GameStop and avoid doing so at all costs.

 

[AEREC]

Seriously... if people would start using this service, they would have more money and GameStop would have less. GameStop is for the lazy. I was almost lazy over the weekend, and GameStop was offering me $91 for about 10 or so (with the 60% extra!) So far I've sold just one of those games on eBay for $23. Don't be lazy!

Everytime I think I want to sell something on eBay I remember thier fees and change my mind.

 

[Palette Swap]

So, let's say he's right and GS only sold only new hardware/software, how would their profita look?

I'm asking because I remember a number of local independent shops mentioning a few years ago they could never have made a living without second hand sales. And I was under the impression the big retailers and the publishers essentially killed off these little guys together.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

So....don't shop there?

That's what I'm doing?

 

[Somnia]

Love how the pre-owned one has "Add to Cart" in striking red and the new one has "More Info" in boring grey.

Because the new copy isn't available online.

The reason you see pre-owned higher than new sometimes is when GameStop cuts new games prices for like a week long sale, they focus on selling those copies and just those. For the longest time when I worked there we had to remove those games used copies from the floor till the new sale price was done. I don't know if they still do that.

 

[Dave Long]

These guys who rail against used also really have no clue how many of their games would be failing if it weren't for the trade-ins that fuel their pre-orders.

I almost want them to fuck it all up so they find out first hand just how many people were only able to keep up with the AAA-Treadmill because they could trade in the last 8 hour special they blew through in a weekend.

So, let's say he's right and GS only sold only new hardware/software, how would their profita look?

I'm asking because I remember a number of local independent shops mentioning a few years ago they could never have made a living without second hand sales. And I was under the impression the big retailers and the publishers essentially killed off these little guys together.

Gamestop would have maybe half the stores they have now. The local guys were telling you the truth. The margins are so low on new games and hardware that they couldn't afford the rent in all these strip malls they're located in. It's a fact.

 

[Torraz]

The one big advantage of gamestop (and similar stores) is that you can return used games within a week or so...

 

[SEGAvangelist]

They don't carry the new copy online period. You can however go to a local store and pick it up.

Why would they order new copies of the game to sell for an old game like Left for Dead 2?

 

[CassiusLonginus]

Seriously... if people would start using this service, they would have more money and GameStop would have less. GameStop is for the lazy. I was almost lazy over the weekend, and GameStop was offering me $91 for about 10 or so (with the 60% extra!) So far I've sold just one of those games on eBay for $23. Don't be lazy!

QFT. And I would add Amazon and Craigslist here.

 

[Avallon]

Everytime I think I want to sell something on eBay I remember thier fees and change my mind.

Their fees are nothing compared to the amount of money you lose selling your games to a retailer. Don't worry about the fact that there are fees, worry about how much your game will sell for when all is said and done; nine out of ten times you will make significantly more on eBay.

 

[Trogdor1123]

Isnt that what a company is supposed to do? Make as much money as possible? Also isnt half of this cause the pubs have for years made retails portion of a game sale so incredibly small that they caused this themselves?

 

[Dunkers92]

So, let's say he's right and GS only sold only new hardware/software, how would their profita look?

I'm asking because I remember a number of local independent shops mentioning a few years ago they could never have made a living without second hand sales. And I was under the impression the big retailers and the publishers essentially killed off these little guys together.

They wouldn't survive. Essentially, dedicated games retail is pretty pointless to enter into without second hand sales being there.

Publishers love selling their stuff through GameStop etc, but give them no incentive whatsoever to push the new copy over the used. GameStop is in it to make money, and new games is not the way to do that

 

[SmokedMeat]

I'm going digital for Wii U, Xbox One, and PS4 now. Fuck Gamestop. I don't want to pre-order anything dammit.

Go right ahead. I just bought a new copy of ZombiU for $22 (tax included) at Gamestop. Feel free to spend $50 for a digital copy that can't be resold, and didn't cost a dime in manufacturing costs.

 

[Shaffield]

the particular experience the dev had is pretty scummy, but, believe it or not, trickery and deceit isn't really their business model. i might be naive, but i doubt the average employee is going to pull shady shit like that

they push used games because they make their only real profit on them. if you don't like the trade-in values and resale prices, put your stuff up on a service that doesn't operate 99% on used video game sales and thus can afford to take a smaller cut

 

[jWILL253]

Can't wait for the end of disc based games and, by extension, Gamestop.

What the fuck? No. None of this shit...

 

[thekonamicode]

Why would they order new copies of the game to sell for an old game like Left for Dead 2?

My stores (not gamestop) sell new copies of Left 4 Dead 2 ALL THE TIME. There is a demand out there for cheap catalog titles.