This is why killing the used game market is just plain stupid

If Gamestop can keep the market alive, I'm all for it even if I opt to use Glyde or eBay to buy and sell games. Buying used games at Gamestop prices is just DUMB.

Quote from godfather927 : I've always said that publishers that try to prohibit or obstruct the sale of used games are shortsighted. My personal experience shows that the finite amount of money I have to spend on game will be spent mostly on console games since there's less risk and higher probability that i can play the new game I bought, then turn around and sell it for near full-value and then immediately reuse that same money to buy yet another new game. Finally, this sort of thinking is getting a voice, and i hope the pubs/devs are listening. http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/...used-games Now, obviously gamestop is gonna say all that since this market is their lifeblood and they are obviously biased, but I really do think that what they are saying carries weight. Here's to hoping that buying and selling used games doesn't end with this current generation of consoles.

While I personally agree that it is nice for any game purchases I make to have resale value:

1. This argument does not take into account the downward movement on new game prices due to used game availability.
2. It also does not take into account the number of used game sales versus new game sales

I'm guessing that these two factors will outweigh the 17% increase in cash flows due to used game trade-in's.

If the used market dies, then the new market will have to drop prices by about half to stay alive. I rarely actually buy a game new, which means I am likely the person all of these tactics are working against.

I can see why publishers hate used games. Most of the time when I buy a game used, I turn around and sell it when I am done for the same price. In some cases, I even profit when reselling it.

Best way to avoid all of this is to simply go all digital and drop prices, much like the steam model. I don't see that happening for console games any time soon.

Gamestop is a terrible source by the way. If it is even true that many people are trading in old games for new ones it is only because Gamestop sells them for nearly the same marked up price.

Quote from Somesort : If the used market dies, then the new market will have to drop prices by about half to stay alive. I rarely actually buy a game new, which means I am likely the person all of these tactics are working against. I can see why publishers hate used games. Most of the time when I buy a game used, I turn around and sell it when I am done for the same price. In some cases, I even profit when reselling it. Best way to avoid all of this is to simply go all digital and drop prices, much like the steam model. I don't see that happening for console games any time soon. Gamestop is a terrible source by the way. If it is even true that many people are trading in old games for new ones it is only because Gamestop sells them for nearly the same marked up price.

But the problem i have with that is the prices aren't dropped enough to make up the difference. Steam prices are generally around $40 for a new game on release day but i still opt for the console versions at a much higher cost (up to 50% higher) simply because I know it will hold value and I can resell it.

Let's say I buy a console game on release day for $60, and then turn around and sell it for $40 a couple months later. That means I've sunk $20 into that game to play it for a couple months until I was "done" with it. For that same model to hold up in a market with no resale capability, that means that digitally distributed games would have to sell for around $20 new for it compete with the cost difference of those which can be resold. For me, the fact that a game can be resold effectively drives up the value far beyond the initial $20 difference in upfront costs.

Quote from godfather927 : But the problem i have with that is the prices aren't dropped enough to make up the difference. Steam prices are generally around $40 for a new game on release day but i still opt for the console versions at a much higher cost (up to 50% higher) simply because I know it will hold value and I can resell it. Let's say I buy a console game on release day for $60, and then turn around and sell it for $40 a couple months later. That means I've sunk $20 into that game to play it for a couple months until I was "done" with it. For that same model to hold up in a market with no resale capability, that means that digitally distributed games would have to sell for around $20 new for it compete with the cost difference of those which can be resold. For me, the fact that a game can be resold effectively drives up the value far beyond the initial $20 difference in upfront costs.

Exactly, for me to want to go completely digital the prices would have to be for that $20 net cost you would normally get if you had the physical copy to resell.

That, or the used market will have to completely die to remove that resell option. Much like what they have already done to the PC. At that point, a slightly cheaper digital copy would look better.

I've brought this point up in discussions about used game sales in the past but never had any numbers behind my words. I just used my own anecdotal situation as someone who buys ~90% of my games new.

If a game is $60 to buy new on release or shortly thereafter and I know I cannot resell if I decide I never will play it again...then I'm going to be a whole lot more careful about what I buy. Right now I feel comfort in the fact that I could sell it next week for ~$30 if I decide it stinks or it took me only 6 hours to finish.

If I know I'm stuck with that game forever instead...I'm going to buy way fewer games and they shouldn't want that. Or else I'll go to PC gaming exclusively and run with Steam and their awesome sales. When I'm only paying ~$5 per game I don't much care if I can resell or not.

Quote from GreggerG : I've brought this point up in discussions about used game sales in the past but never had any numbers behind my words. I just used my own anecdotal situation as someone who buys ~90% of my games new. If a game is $60 to buy new on release or shortly thereafter and I know I cannot resell if I decide I never will play it again...then I'm going to be a whole lot more careful about what I buy. Right now I feel comfort in the fact that I could sell it next week for ~$30 if I decide it stinks or it took me only 6 hours to finish. If I know I'm stuck with that game forever instead...I'm going to buy way fewer games and they shouldn't want that. Or else I'll go to PC gaming exclusively and run with Steam and their awesome sales. When I'm only paying ~$5 per game I don't much care if I can resell or not.

I probably fall into this category as well although I don't think I buy 90% new games. I would say closer to 75/25. I would definitely be more careful about the games I purchase and would probably only purchase AAA titles. It's going to kill developers and stuff to lose customers like us.

Oh, and fark Gamestop. I hope they go under regardless. There are so many better options to turning in used games than bringing them there for pennies.

Quote from SkeezaPleez : Oh, and fark Gamestop. I hope they go under regardless. There are so many better options to turning in used games than bringing them there for pennies.

Quote : GameStop says 17 percent of its sales are paid in trade credits. The implication is clear - if the games industry lost 17 percent of its sales tomorrow, that would be a bad day for the publishers and developers.

I was thinking the same thing, that 17% they are quoting is with them giving you $0.30 for a game that was released 4 months ago. Most guys that I know that actually use Gamestop just take in a stack of ~5 games they haven't touched for months and $60 cash, ready to buy a game. If they get $20 trade in, cool...if they get $1.50 trade in, whatever. They just plop down the balance in cash and walk out.

If Gamestop gave Craigslist (hell, even 50% CL) or GLYDE prices, that 17% would be MUCH higher.

Quote from Curtieson : I was thinking the same thing, that 17% they are quoting is with them giving you $0.30 for a game that was released 4 months ago. Most guys that I know that actually use Gamestop just take in a stack of ~5 games they haven't touched for months and $60 cash, ready to buy a game. If they get $20 trade in, cool...if they get $1.50 trade in, whatever. They just plop down the balance in cash and walk out. If Gamestop gave Craigslist (hell, even 50% CL) or GLYDE prices, that 17% would be MUCH higher.

IMO, if Gamestop goes out of business, it was at least partially done to themselves, the coming of the digital download/no used game era would just be the final nail in the coffin.

you know with trade-in bonuses (30% extra if you preorder so and so game) + Power up card of 10%, GS's trade-in values are pretty similar to all your other options when you dealing with trade-in credit
Just my comparisons, its basically the same as Amazon's credit value.
I myself don't deal with Glyde, so i can't state the prices. Does glyde give you more than 50% trade-in credit for a new release? Because gamestop's trade-in for a new release is about 50% without any bonuses.
Example off the top of my head: Say NCAA football that released a few weeks ago for $60
Gamestop offers i think $25.00 trade-in for it, + 40% bonus if you're buying madden (just an example) and you're looking at $35.00 tradein credit for it.

Quote from IPT : you know with trade-in bonuses (30% extra if you preorder so and so game) + Power up card of 10%, GS's trade-in values are pretty similar to all your other options when you dealing with trade-in credit Just my comparisons, its basically the same as Amazon's credit value. I myself don't deal with Glyde, so i can't state the prices. Does glyde give you more than 50% trade-in credit for a new release? Because gamestop's trade-in for a new release is about 50% without any bonuses. Example off the top of my head: Say NCAA football that released a few weeks ago for $60 Gamestop offers i think $25.00 trade-in for it, + 40% bonus if you're buying madden (just an example) and you're looking at $35.00 tradein credit for it.

Glyde is more like a streamlined no-BS version of ebay, so the listing price is completely dependent on market demand. In your example, you would almost always get more than $35 if you sold a new release on gylde after only a few weeks. The best part about Glyde is that you don't have to use the money from sales to buy a new game, you can just withdraw it as cash unlike Amazon or GS trade ins.

Why don't you use Glyde?

Quote from godfather927 : Glyde is more like a streamlined no-BS version of ebay, so the listing price is completely dependent on market demand. In your example, you would almost always get more than $35 if you sold a new release on gylde after only a few weeks. The best part about Glyde is that you don't have to use the money from sales to buy a new game, you can just withdraw it as cash unlike Amazon or GS trade ins. Why don't you use Glyde?

cause shipping/packing is a PITA
if its as streamline as ebay that is
also what's glyde's "cut" anyway?

Like i stopped bothering with ebay if i can, because urlhasbeenblocked 8% of final listing, and paypal takes close to 3%.
so you lose 11% if you sell on ebay.

*Edit*

Quote : Fees We hate being nickel-and-dimed and know you do too. Our service fees are simple. You pay nothing to list. When your item sells, we deduct 12% on the first $100 of the item's sale price and 8% on the rest. Depending on the item, it's $1.00 - $3.50 for our exclusive shipping kit. If your sale goes unfulfilled, you will be charged for the shipping kit.

so yeah they basically charge the same as ebay, really this is a deal? And the shipping kit is basically the same cost as shipping any game 1st class + envelope cost.
To pocket more than $35.00 in my example, you'd have to sell NCAA for $40 or so.

Just for example on NCAA right now, im seeing the list price at $35.00 for it used.
Your proceeds will be around $28 and change.

I dunno, again i do business at gamestop so I prob think its better to have the credits as i buy my games from them

Quote from IPT : cause shipping/packing is a PITA if its as streamline as ebay that is also what's glyde's "cut" anyway? Like i stopped bothering with ebay if i can, because urlhasbeenblocked 8% of final listing, and paypal takes close to 3%. so you lose 11% if you sell on ebay.

Shipping packing is the part that is streamlined. Gylde sends you a pre-addressed and pre-paid padded envelope so all you have to do is drop your game in and put it right back in the mailbox. They take a 10% cut of the final price, plus another $1.25 for the envelope, but even after those fees, you still usually come out ahead compared to a gamestop trade in. Plus, it takes much less time since you don't even have to drive to the store and wait in line for them to check all your games.

reply to edit:

That 12% must be different for new customers... mine is showing 10% and i just checked out the going price for NCAA and it's showing $34.75 as proceeds if i sell it at $40 which is the going rate for excellent condition. Even at 12% you're still netting $34.00 and I dont know about you, but my nearest GS is about 4 miles away so i'd basically be spending just as much in gas and extra time compared to just walking out to my mailbox. I know you're partial to GS and to each his own i guess, but you really should check out glyde if you trade in a lot of games.