Yeah its happened to me a few times. Even worse is when they give you an opened copy put a sticker on it and try to sell it like new. I hate how they act like its no big deal. My brother bought a "new" opened copy of starhawk and the online code was used.
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Ready at Dawn boss: Gamestop exploiting devs and consumers
- Thread starter shinobi602
- Start date
In my experience, you're talking about just a few bucks. eBay and PayPal aren't worth the hassle.
Let your shit get taken one time by a scammer through a PayPal dispute and you'll be running to GameStop from that point on. Having something in your hand at the end of the day is better than having nothing at all.
eBay and PayPal almost always side with the buyer in a dispute, and after getting burned more than once, I am done with them forever. eBay is great for buying, awful for selling.
Isn't the problem then that the consumer does not understand the value of new vs. used, not that Gamestop and other outlets sell pre-owned games? Or that the consumer don't see a difference at all other than the price? Sorry, I don't see why the only options to "solve" used video games is either killing them or double dipping on resale. Sure, blame everyone except themselves.
SEGAvangelist
Member
But do they have a stash of used copies of it in their inventories?
captmcblack
Member
Gamestop doesn't do anything that other second-hand retail outlets or pawn shops don't do. They are definitely getting over on the cost of used vs. the cost of new...but only because we allow them to do so. And devs/publishers are in cahoots with them anyway with exclusive DLC, pack-ins and whathaveyou, so I don't feel any sorrow for them at all.
The publishers have to facilitate the different price levels. The developers need to facilitate it. That's not Gamestop's, or eBay's, or Amazon/Half's, or Best Buy's, Gamefly's, or Goozex/CAG/GAF's, or the pawn shop's problem. In addition to that, if they want people to buy those games, they need to actually make real effort and real content for these games at lower price points. Just because it's a cheaper game doesn't mean it should be a bad game, or an incomplete game.
The publishers have to facilitate the different price levels. The developers need to facilitate it. That's not Gamestop's, or eBay's, or Amazon/Half's, or Best Buy's, Gamefly's, or Goozex/CAG/GAF's, or the pawn shop's problem. In addition to that, if they want people to buy those games, they need to actually make real effort and real content for these games at lower price points. Just because it's a cheaper game doesn't mean it should be a bad game, or an incomplete game.
SUPARSTARX
Member
I don't buy too many new games or buy used games at all. Help me understand why do devs feel they deserve used sales? This doesn't happen in other industries.
mr stroke
Member
Krusenstern
Banned
You people are talking about Gamestop like they are some powerful force in this industry. I don't get it. I've never set a foot in a Gamestop and bought/sold something there.
shinobi602
Member
I'm sorry...what?
thekonamicode
Member
Sold out! Probably because we have it marked used for $15 and not $40.
i think the re-sale side of video games is just more prominent than in other industries, like clothing. im sure if more clothing retailers had a huge emphasis on consignment, we would see designers and stuff complaining about it
Sir Qweirdy
Member
Somewhat same thing happened to me - only difference was the guy tried to sell it to me as a new copy. I flipped out. He tried to justify it but ended up giving me a sealed/new copy. I have never been to a Gamestop since then.
SEGAvangelist
Member
Because the product doesn't depreciate in quality. I buy a car. 5 years from now, that car is worth less because it won't function as well for the next person who owns it. A video game doesn't have these problems. I get it.
While I do believe most of the retail corporations are greedy to the point of being evil, the gaming industry - who is no angel either - is partially to blame. Developers and publishers need to find a way to incentivize new sales, whether it be flexible/cheaper pricing, games with more content, or some sort of non-Orwellian DRM.
The $60 price point is why we are in this situation. With a sluggish economy and safe decisions being made by both consumers and the industry, creativity and taking risks are not being rewarded. Solid developers and niche markets are dying.
I buy all my games new, and I never trade them. While entering online passes is annoying, it's a minor inconvenience. I'm willing to put up with if it and similar ideas if they can help developers thrive and be more creative. As long as they're not being greedily abused.
The $60 price point is why we are in this situation. With a sluggish economy and safe decisions being made by both consumers and the industry, creativity and taking risks are not being rewarded. Solid developers and niche markets are dying.
I buy all my games new, and I never trade them. While entering online passes is annoying, it's a minor inconvenience. I'm willing to put up with if it and similar ideas if they can help developers thrive and be more creative. As long as they're not being greedily abused.
This kind of reminds me of people blaming McDonalds for obesity and Wal-Mart for the death of the mom and pop store.
Plus, I don't buy the argument from devs that there will be 'less games overall'. There are more games than ever (*across all platforms) and selling used games has been going strong for quite awhile. So many new games, that your average person could never even hope to try them all.
Plus, I don't buy the argument from devs that there will be 'less games overall'. There are more games than ever (*across all platforms) and selling used games has been going strong for quite awhile. So many new games, that your average person could never even hope to try them all.
outunderthestars
Banned
Why? Traditional retail is holding back truly variable pricing of games. This week I bought fallout 3, New Vegas, and Deus Ex: HR for less than $8 combined via Steam. Gamestop charges $29 for the same three games, while giving nothing to the publishers.
Console online stores are forced to appease B&M retailers, leaving DD prices for console games way too high. it is time for this business model to either fundamentally change, or go away.
SEGAvangelist
Member
It's not a conspiracy, though, lol. Gamestop takes used game trade-ins. They have a stock of this game used. Why on Earth would they buy new copies to sell?
Duxxy3
Member
TheBioLover
Member
Off topic kinda, but plz show The Order: 1886 gameplay, Mr. Weerasuriya.
What the hell are you talking about?
sometimes i game
Member
To be fair, they want you to join their rewards program so it comes out to more like $10 off, with the option of returning after 7 days. And if you trade in during special promotions it's not a bad value to avoid all the online sales drama.
Darklor01
Might need to stop sniffing glue
That doesn't explain why games found through XBL often remain $60 much longer after retail stores have already lowered the pricing on new copies to $45 or less.
Avallon
Member
Maybe you're right, but I have had nothing but positive experiences through selling over $1,500 worth of games.
thekonamicode
Member
It's actually worked out quite well for my stores regionally. People come in all the time complaining about their used games costing more than our new games.
In my experience, one of the most fair and well-regulated game/device trading sites has been glyde. They also make the process as easy as possible (they mail you an envelope which contains an envelope with the recipient's address on it, you put the game in that and drop it in the mailbox), and they don't always take the side of the buyer and the buyer alone by default, which is nice for traders. I VERY MUCH prefer glyde to Gamestop.
Also, Gamefly's used game sales are often quite good, but rather sparse, so they're more of a pleasant surprise than anything to rely on.
Also, Gamefly's used game sales are often quite good, but rather sparse, so they're more of a pleasant surprise than anything to rely on.
eBay is perfectly fine for selling games, but it definitely requires more effort than driving to Gamestop with your games in hand and getting credit toward something you walk out of there with immediately following the transaction.
You lose monetary value and gain convenience. It's simply a trade-off many people choose to make.
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Where are your stores? I just checked Best Buy and they don't even offer the 360 version new. It's not in print, so your store must be sitting on a bunch of old copies clinging to price consumers don't wish to pay.
Pops Maellard
Member
No, eBay does indeed take a "cut" of the item price, regardless of how much its sold for. It's a "final value" fee and it's absurdly high, almost 25%. I sold a PS3 for $99 last week and ebay's cut was $23.
"If it's the same thing, you can give me a sealed copy for the used price."
So when are Ready at Dawn opening their own nationwide chain of bricks and mortar, since its so f**ing simple and risk free?
"I walked into a GameStop, asked for a new copy of a game and without telling me he tried to slip me a used copy and wanted to sell it to me for $5 less."
Why are you supporting Gamestop at all, if you find their practices so objectionable?
"I don't think we should stop used games, but we should do something about getting part of the revenue back from GameStop and places like that. That's not penalizing the consumers; they'll still get what they want. But I don't know who's going to address it."
You. You are making the deals with this store to provide them with stock. You will have to address this problem. It has been created by you, and your ilk. The games industry watched and supported the development of Gamestops near monopoly of specialist game retailers. The games industry financially offers a pittance to the retailer on new copies sold. What did you expect them to do? Act as your wage slaves indefinitely? Of course they are going to double down, again and again, on the one thing they make decent cash on. You have a profoundly unhealthy, abusive relationship with your retailer, game developer. You need to fix it through some concerted, direct action. Your consumers cannot do it for you.
Any attempt to get revenue back from Gamestop will not impact Gamestop. It will be passed on to customers. You will be reducing trade in value, or in some other way feeling your way into your customers wallet and oh so gently extracting a few notes. But it's OK!!! It's just a wholly predictable outcome of your attempts to penalise Gamestop! It's not really what you meant to do, cause you loooove your customers, so it still gives you some warm fuzzies about what a stand up guy you are.
"I walked into a GameStop, asked for a new copy of a game and without telling me he tried to slip me a used copy and wanted to sell it to me for $5 less."
Why are you supporting Gamestop at all, if you find their practices so objectionable?
"I don't think we should stop used games, but we should do something about getting part of the revenue back from GameStop and places like that. That's not penalizing the consumers; they'll still get what they want. But I don't know who's going to address it."
You. You are making the deals with this store to provide them with stock. You will have to address this problem. It has been created by you, and your ilk. The games industry watched and supported the development of Gamestops near monopoly of specialist game retailers. The games industry financially offers a pittance to the retailer on new copies sold. What did you expect them to do? Act as your wage slaves indefinitely? Of course they are going to double down, again and again, on the one thing they make decent cash on. You have a profoundly unhealthy, abusive relationship with your retailer, game developer. You need to fix it through some concerted, direct action. Your consumers cannot do it for you.
Any attempt to get revenue back from Gamestop will not impact Gamestop. It will be passed on to customers. You will be reducing trade in value, or in some other way feeling your way into your customers wallet and oh so gently extracting a few notes. But it's OK!!! It's just a wholly predictable outcome of your attempts to penalise Gamestop! It's not really what you meant to do, cause you loooove your customers, so it still gives you some warm fuzzies about what a stand up guy you are.
SEGAvangelist
Member
Good for those companies, then. Still doesn't answer my question, though. It really just doesn't make sense financially for Gamestop to order new copies of Left for Dead 2 at this point. It's not a conspiracy to force people to buy used.
Omegasquash
Member
Yeah, the $5 off thing has happened to lots of us, as well as the "sell you the open copy and try to charge full price for it" sleaze move.
I don't shop at Gamestop anymore because of bad experiences I've had. I'll browse it, but they're basically my Amazon/EBay show room. Nothing against the folks that work there...they need to get paid too, I just don't feel comfortable with the experience there anymore.
I understand the plight of the developer, but I also feel like once they've sold a physical copy of the game, they've sold a physical copy of the game. That particular item has fulfilled its purpose, and there's lots of hating on the fact that they're not going to make any more money off of it. So, looking at it like that, I don't really see it as a plight. I see it as a refusal to understand the basic principles of ownership. Want to avoid it? Go digital. Hell, I own two or three copies of games across Microsoft, Sony and my PC in some cases. I'm sure that devs get some cash off that, FWIW.
I don't shop at Gamestop anymore because of bad experiences I've had. I'll browse it, but they're basically my Amazon/EBay show room. Nothing against the folks that work there...they need to get paid too, I just don't feel comfortable with the experience there anymore.
I understand the plight of the developer, but I also feel like once they've sold a physical copy of the game, they've sold a physical copy of the game. That particular item has fulfilled its purpose, and there's lots of hating on the fact that they're not going to make any more money off of it. So, looking at it like that, I don't really see it as a plight. I see it as a refusal to understand the basic principles of ownership. Want to avoid it? Go digital. Hell, I own two or three copies of games across Microsoft, Sony and my PC in some cases. I'm sure that devs get some cash off that, FWIW.
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Meanwhile this guy's publisher worked with Gamestop to provide an exclusive preorder bonus.
thekonamicode
Member
I just wonder how well it actually sells for them used at $40. This game in particular has been more expensive used at Gamestop than comparative new copies for years now. I think it's fascinating, lol.
Sorry, it's in print. My shipping hub in Memphis has over 130 copies in stock for about $16 wholesale. Best Buy doesn't sell new copies of Final Fantasy X on PS2 either, but that doesn't mean it's no longer in print. Hell, Final Fantasy 9 on PS ONE is still in print.
3rdamention
Member
Heck, I have had them sell me the open "Display Copy" cause they were "out of 'new' ones" and still charge me full price. Now as many of us know, the Display Copies are usually what the employees take home and play for a bit before returning it. So it is a used game.
So it was either you buy this open copy, that has the game disc shoved in a paper sleeve for god knows how long and where its been, or you do not get the game at all. I NEVER trade my games in at Gamestop, ever. I cannot remember the last time I did. 90% of the time I sell on Ebay, the other 10% or so is when I trade in at Best Buy because they have better trade in deals in my opinion.
Retail doesn't determine its own prices, the publisher does, and retail reacts by measuring current market value on certain used games. Also, there isn't one single industry where content makers and distributors are entitled to the profit of a resale. What makes the game industry so special?
Also, just because you prefer getting your games on the cheap with a side of soft DRM, doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to play disc-based games anymore. There is a middle ground the gaming industry could meet with retail, but they can't see the forest for the trees right now.
The Elite
BOSS
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!
eBay comes with its own set of problems.
Honestly, I have no issue trading in games at gamestop/future shop etc. Yeah, they don't give as much as when you sell it yourself but I barely ever buy a game at full price these days so it balances out nicely.
Fuck these devs man. No problem with Gamestop pushing those pre orders tho eh? Or pre ordering season passes sight unseen?
Or exclusive pre order bonuses that are different at every fucking retailer? How about when I sell some old games to fund purchases of your new game day 1? That's all good the problem only comes in when I want to get the game used. And let's not kid our selves here he may have only mentioned gamestop but he feels this way about used games in general.
These devs can fuck off there are plenty of other options for them to go. But they want to stick to the same archaic model but want us to give up our rights. Fuck em!
Or exclusive pre order bonuses that are different at every fucking retailer? How about when I sell some old games to fund purchases of your new game day 1? That's all good the problem only comes in when I want to get the game used. And let's not kid our selves here he may have only mentioned gamestop but he feels this way about used games in general.
These devs can fuck off there are plenty of other options for them to go. But they want to stick to the same archaic model but want us to give up our rights. Fuck em!
Bony Manifesto
Member
It's a total asshole maneuver. As if the guy working minimum wage at the counter is stealing money that, if this world was just, should be in his pocket. By all means he can be miffed at Gamestop's business model freezing him out of revenue he feels he should have a cut of, but taking customer-facing employees to task for it exhibits a colossal lack of perspective.
Yeah, Gamestop is the only way to reshare games.
Mr.Wreckless
Banned
Name another industry where you can go buy a product used for 5 bucks cheaper within a week of its initial release......nationwide.
And it's more like 10 bucks cheaper when you use the power up rewards card since it gives you 10% off used games.
Naked Prime
Member
While I dislike GameStop for a different set of reasons and I can understand the guy being upset at his experience k can't agree with GameStop sticking it to devs. There is nothing mandating you sell used over new. Even more so if the customer asks for a new copy. That was a choice made by the shady clerk. GameStop doesn't force anyone to trade games there. They annoy you about it sure and you can choose to go else where and not be bothered but a lot of people don't. Lots of titles go not of print and being a game store GameStop will likely sell through its allotment before Best Buy, Walmart, etc. So those other stores often ha e more back stock of these titles after they are out of print. Given supply and demand they are gonna charge $40 for Pokémon heart good or $80 for Xenoblade or Metroid Prime Trilogy. And between the Dev and GameStop exists the publisher. They set the Msrp, what goes on sale and when and the allotment. Why do you think Walmart, GameStop, Best Buy and TRU all run the same or similar sales within a few weeks of each other? Again the GameStop has some shity problems and doesn't do enough for gamers considering its a specialty shop IMO. But no Dev went out of business or couldn't hit payroll because of GameStop.