• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

How often do you buy used game?

D

Drkirby

Corporate Apologist
Just wanted to ask a few small questions for the rest of GAF. How often do you buy used compared to new? Got any rough rules to which you buy? Where do you get most of your used games?

For me, I will only buy used if its at least 33% cheaper then a new copy, and there is a fair chance it will be in good shape. Used games tend to make up the bulk of my purchases for non-clearance games since I am also very cheap.


I would put about 50% of my current used collection being from Goozex, 30% from Gamestop, and the last 20% from Ebay, Amazon, and other miscellaneous sites.

Here are some rough counts of my New to Used Ratio by a few systems.

Of the 26 DS games in front of my, 13 were bought new and 13 are used, making a even 1:1 ratio.

For PS2, 9 out of the 19 games on my shelve are new.

For the 360, 15 out of my 21 games were bought new (I will also note that 14 of those new games were bought 4 days ago for about $55 combined, 4 taking up the bulk of it coming to $43)

A bit of my own surprise, 15 out of my 16 Wii games were bought new, the only used one is my imported copy of Captain Rainbow.

Of the 12 gamecube games, 2 were gotten new, 10 of them used.

Every Saturn and Dreamcast game I have were gotten used, and the bulk of PS1 and GBA games were gotten used as well.


So, how about the rest of you GAF?
 
If it's out of print or it's super cheap I'll buy it used.
Otherwise, I'll buy it new (for games I really want) or buy it on some kind of clearance/sale (if I only kind of want it).
 
Every time i can. New current-gen games here cost around 150+usd, and i dont support that.

Used or import.
 
Depends on lots of things.

Mainly if I got the console at launch or midways through its life.

My DS and My Wii were bought at launch. I bought most games as soon as they were available to me.

My Cube and my PS3 were bought later in their lifes. I bought a lot of used games for them, cause I was in no hurry to catch up with the new releases.

There are other factors.
 
Since I delve into games from previous generations a lot, I buy used often.
When it comes to current gen games though, I tend to buy new.
 
SolarPowered said:
Only if it's out of print or wildly popular. The exceptions to that rule are Nintendo games for me.
Click to expand...
So if you didn't own a copy of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance for the Gamecube, you would pay $80 for the marked up new copy?
 
I can't see myself ever buying a used game when Amazon is available.

err
Used game bad deal when Amazon love so ready.
 
Probably a couple times a year, when Gamefly has a big sale, I'll buy 2-4 games.

Generally though I wait until new games hit low prices/bargain bins.

The last $60 game I bought new was Forza 3 and that was probably a mistake, since they are coming out with a version bundled with all the DLC...but I knew it was going to happen (since it almost always does).
 
Nearly all the time.

In Australia new games cost upwards of 100 bucks. I can find the used version for half that, and 99% of the time there is absolutely no difference.

The only reason I'll buy something new is if I'm buying the game when it comes out. If I'm waiting, i'll be getting it used.
 
Only when a games pretty old and unable to be found for new. Mega Man Powered Up is my example from this year plus $10 was a great price. Before that was some years ago with MGS VR Missions and Saturn games. Can't really be helped with games that are 4-5+ years old!
 
Very rarely, and only from gaffers whom I trust took care of their shit in the buy/sell/trade thread. The garbage that's hocked at Pawnstop almost always looks like it was tossed in a blender, spent a day in the middle of a freeway, passed through a cow's digestive system, and finally wiped clean with the store manager's ballsack.
 
I almost always prefer buying new to used. That doesn't, however, extend to GameStop's gutted "new" copies - I'm packrat collector who can be somewhat obsessive-compulsive when it comes to certain things, so I always prefer to have the new-in-shrink-wrap copy.

In cases where both new and used copies are available, I will go with the used if it's cheaper by a significant margin (I'd say probably at least 30% or more) and in excellent condition. If not though, I'll almost certainly buy the new copy - albeit possibly at a later time, since usually much-lower used copy price indicates that it's likely the new copy will drop in price as well.

And if there's only used copies available... well, I'll buy it if it's in good/excellent condition.

All my games are packed away at the moment in preparation of a move, but I would guess at least 70% were bought new. Though that might be skewered by my purchase of a lot of last-gen games during the past few GameStop B2G1 sales.
 
The OP lacks the dual question.


How often do you sell your games?



Personally, I only sell my games if I really really hate them, and am 100% sure I will never ever going to want to play them again.
 
I buy used games from people in our buy/sell/trade forum once in a blue moon. Other then that, never. I will deal hunt and buy games I don't "need to have day 1" on sale when I can though.

I hate Gamestop for what they do and hardly ever buy any new games there. Amazon and Best Buy for me most of the time. If we had a local store I would support them instead.

As far as selling my games go: I don't unless I bought a game I thought I'd enjoy but really don't like it. I'm a collector as much as I'm a "gamer", I display them on a shelf along with my books.
 
I rarely buy used, but when I do it's usually an impulse buy of a game that's been out for awhile that I'm not sure I'll like. Genarally it would have to be $40 or less. Even in that case, if a new version is only five bucks more I'll buy new. For example if a used copy is $25 but new is $30, I'll buy new. Consider it charity. If used is at least 15 or 20 bucks less than new, I'll buy used in that scenario.
 
I pretty much exclusively buy used games unless it's a new game I really want or it's offered new at a low price (example: Darksiders for 20 bucks)
 
Snaku said:
Very rarely, and only from gaffers whom I trust took care of their shit in the buy/sell/trade thread. The garbage that's hocked at Pawnstop almost always looks like it was tossed in a blender, spent a day in the middle of a freeway, passed through a cow's digestive system, and finally wiped clean with the store manager's ballsack.
Click to expand...
I must just get lucky, because when I go to Gamestop I can usually find the game I want at the price I want in good shape. It sometimes may take a few stores, but more often then not the first store I will stop at will have a near mint copy that the only flaw is Gamestop put some stickers on it. Swap out the case and its a good as new (Or you could put in some elbow grease to clean it too, but I tend to just swap them out if I have anther case on hand)

I mean, you don't have to take the first copy you see. Shop around, beats doing something like paying $30 on Amazon for a used cart only copy of Etrian Odyssey that takes a week to get there over checking out the shape of the $10 copy at Gamestop. People are just bad shoppers.
 
90% of the time. Gaming is a fun hobby, but I have other priorities that prevent me from dropping 60 on a game that I could get for 20 if I get it used/later. I often times buy old games that I haven't played and I just pick off the newer games when they drop in price.
 
ShockingAlberto said:
Me buy used game when new game cost heap 'em big money and is not a good value proposition.
Click to expand...

:lol

I'm laughing at this far harder than I should be.

Also, damn near every game I buy is used. Cory Ledesma hates me. :D
 
Unless it's a small developer that I really like, I always buy used games even if they're just a $1 cheaper. Save for big releases (ie. SC2).
 
I never understand why people buy/sell used games at Gamestop. They only offer 10% less than a fresh new copy. Even sale tax cost more than that in some cities.

And if they care to look, people can easily find a new copy on sale for much much more than that in store like Target and Bestbuy.
 
All the time.


I troll ebay/craigslist constantly for great deals. Just picked up Shiren the Wanderer for 5 dollars. Might and Magic: COH DS for 9 dollars and a 4 pack of Gamecube games (SSBB, Animal Crossing, SMS and Monkey Ball 2) for 24 dollars.



seady said:
I never understand why people buy/sell used games at Gamestop. They only offer 10% less than a fresh new copy. Even sale tax cost more than that in some cities.

And if they care to look, people can easily find a new copy on sale for much much more than that in store like Target and Bestbuy.
Click to expand...


They are overpriced on the popular games, but you can still find good deals. I picked up Rondo of Swords (Atlus DS title) for 9.99 a month ago.
 
Generally only when a new copy is no longer available from a retailer MSRP or less. Exceptions made for particularly crappy games or extreme discrepancies between new and used prices.
 
Almost never. Unless things have changed, used games are only like five bucks cheaper than new and they are usually in terrible condition too.

I buy my games new on Amazon and you usually always get at least ten bucks off - with certain games (Halo Reach) you get 20 bucks off. Also no sales tax etc.. So I feel like I get a pretty good deal already that I don't need to buy used.
 
It has to be a pretty old and insanely cheap game for me to buy used. I was recently in a Gamestop and a lot of the older used games were more expensive than I thought they were going to be. To the point where I would just rather buy new at the reduced price. Like Eternal Sonata for 360 was I think 25$ or 30$ used. I was really expecting that to be the new price(they didn't have any in stock) and the used to be 10-15$. It's a pretty old and sort of an unpopular game. I just really prefer new discs, new booklets and all that stuff.
 
seady said:
I never understand why people buy/sell used games at Gamestop. They only offer 10% less than a fresh new copy. Even sale tax cost more than that in some cities.

And if they care to look, people can easily find a new copy on sale for much much more than that in store like Target and Bestbuy.
Click to expand...
I buy used copies for price discrepancies like this:
ex1.png



I'll sell some stuff to them that I can ether explode their promotions to get more then selling it online.

And I do care to look. I got the Children's Mirical Network 3 pack, Brutal Legend, Matt Hazard, Golden Axe Beast Rider, The Last Remnant, Pinball Hall of Fame, and Red Faction for $10 combined. Brand New. Most people would take getting a single one new for $10 as a great deal.
 
Only when a game is out of print or hard to find typically. I think I have bought around 80 games this generation and only two of them were used.
 
If I don't buy it within a couple of weeks or a month of it's release, I'll buy it used. I care about Mr. PXG's money before Mr. Sony's, Microsoft's or Nintendo's.
 
Sean said:
Almost never. Unless things have changed, used games are only like five bucks cheaper than new and they are usually in terrible condition too.
Click to expand...

Well yeah. That's why you don't buy a game that just came out used.

I can't speak for the rest of the thread, but when I say I buy most of my games used, I mean games that have been out for long enough that it's a much better deal to buy them used than new. Most recent example I can think of is Just Cause 2. Got it from a local indie game store for $40, when it still retailed for $60. Bayonetta, $25 used about two or three months ago.
 
Seraphis Cain said:
Well yeah. That's why you don't buy a game that just came out used.

I can't speak for the rest of the thread, but when I say I buy most of my games used, I mean games that have been out for long enough that it's a much better deal to buy them used than new. Most recent example I can think of is Just Cause 2. Got it from a local indie game store for $40, when it still retailed for $60. Bayonetta, $25 used about two or three months ago.
Click to expand...
I tend to think of games at least 6+ months old, usually older. Its why I own so few current gen used games, but the bulk of my last gen stuff is used.
 
I stick to new, but wait until it's heavily discounted. Around 50% and I'll bite. Amazon has spoiled me so much. Less than 10% of my purchases for games are used. Heck I wouldn't have bought any when I was shopping for a psp, but then the seller offered his 8 games, 2gb memory stick, and carrying case. Thank you ebay! :D Hard to say no to that. I don't usually sell games, unless I have lost interest in an entire platform. I will buy used if it's harder to find that game or ridiculously expensive as new.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

  • Poll
How many games do you complete?
46
375
Fermbiz replied
  • Poll
PC Gamers, How Do You Play First Person Games?
2 3
122
483
rodrigolfp replied
How clean do you keep your systems?
2
51
558
ReasonBeing replied
How often do you replay games?
2 3
134
5K
StueyDuck replied
You are Asha Sharma. How do you save Xbox?
2 3 4 5
248
3K
Sid replied
Top Bottom