Goozex: The ultimate game trading website?

[J T]

I just heard about this website called GoozEx
It sounds like a great idea. From what I understand, you put up what games you are willing to trade and what games you would trade for and Goozex helps match you up with people to make the trade while only charging a $1 service fee. On paper, this sounds much better than going to GameStop. Has anyone actually tried the service? How is it?

http://www.goozex.com

[Luke]

Wish I could tell ya.
Keep getting 404'd.

[J T]

Really? Works for me. Here is the full redirected address if that helps:

http://www.goozex.com/trading/asp/welcome.asp

[winds]

I tried it about a year ago. I can't remember if it was a promotion or the standard but when I signed up you got a certain amount of points for free. Basically you could get a cheap game for free for signing up. I made a list of the games I wanted and they put me into a "queue" for each game, since other people wanted the games as well. Once I was next in line and someone was willing to trade me the game, they would email me. I waited about a month before someone had a game I wanted, Sonic Adventure for dreamcast. The guy shipped it to me and I received it. It came in complete condition and looked prestine, but.... the game didn't work. I tried it in 2 different dreamcasts and it won't load on either. Seeing how it was free, I didn't mind or make a complaint about it. I don't know what sort of system goozex has for this sort of thing.
I haven't used the service since. Not to say it's a bad thing, I just find craigslist, gaming forums, and flea markets to be enough for me.

[ejamer]

I found the service this year, and have been using it since April.

So far, I've sent away 10 games and received 21. Of course, I'm mostly sending out newer games that have a higher point value and receiving older games that are much cheaper. Overall, I'm extremely happy with Goozex and plan to keep using it extensively for my gaming needs.

There are three steps to trading on Goozex:
(1) Earn points by mailing away your games to other people. Every game has a different point value - older games tend to be between 100 and 300 points, while brand new titles are often between 800 and 1000.
(2) Buy tokens directly from Goozex. Each token costs $1.
(3) Request games that you want. You need to "pay" one token and the correct number of points, then someone will send the game to you.


My thoughts are provided below:

-- Great way to get fair trade value for your games, and much better value than any retail store.
-- Most people there are very responsible, and take good care of their games. Of course, in any online community there are a few bad apples out there. I haven't bumped into any yet.
-- You need to be patient to use Goozex. The whole site works on a "queue" system. When you offer to trade a game, get are entered into a wait list. Once your name reaches the top of that list, you are matched with the next request and get to send your game away. (Requesting games also uses a queue, so if it's a popular game you might have to wait a while.)
-- Learn to use the system to your benefit. You can request or offer games at any time, and then place them "on hold". So requesting new games on the day of release is often a smart move if you want to be near the top of the queue.. then you can just activate the game when you are ready.
-- Older games are often cheap and available. Some obscure GameCube titles that I couldn't find for a reasonable price elsewhere took a couple of months, but ended up getting sent to me eventually for an EXTREMELY reasonable price. I was very pleased.
-- Shop around. You can buy points at a rate of $5/100pts... but it's easy to buy and trade games that offer a better return on investment if you look around.
-- Build your reputation. After sending out 6 or 7 games, you can make more trades at one time and receive payment quicker.
-- Realize that they system is more for gamers more than collectors. If the game works without problem, then it can be traded away... even if there is permanent marker writing all over the disc or stains in the manual. Doesn't happen often (in fact, you are more likely to score a new-in-shrink game than a defaced one) but it can and does happen.
-- Feedback is basically limited to: works, missing parts, doesn't work. Not a lot of middle-ground there, and something to be aware of.

[ejamer]

... Sonic Adventure for dreamcast. The guy shipped it to me and I received it. It came in complete condition and looked prestine, but.... the game didn't work. I tried it in 2 different dreamcasts and it won't load on either. Seeing how it was free, I didn't mind or make a complaint about it. I don't know what sort of system goozex has for this sort of thing. ...

If a game doesn't work, you normally leave negative feedback. Two things can then happen:
(1) The sender challenges the feedback. You then mail the game to Goozex headquarters and they will test to confirm. If the game doesn't work, you get refunded the points and token and shipping cost (shipping is refunded as Goozex tokens).
(2) The sender accepts the feedback. You get your points and token back, and are put back into the queue (at the top!) to get matched again.

They do a pretty good job with ensuring people get working discs, and have a "Goozex Guarantee" to that effect. So far I haven't had to deal with it though.


One other thing can happen (but really shouldn't). One time a guy sent me a disc that didn't work. I PMed him talking about it, and he was a totally nice guy... I didn't want to leave negative, so instead got him to cancel the trade - restoring my points and stuff - and mailed the disc back as proof I wasn't screwing him over.

[enderfall]

I've been using Goozex for the last 4-5 months and I love it. I've traded out about 20 or so games and have received at least that many in return. I highly recommend it if think you would like to trade games. There are some games that are grossly underpriced, but for the most part, they are pretty close to market value.

[noiseredux]

I tried it once. Got one game. Haven't bothered since. I should though. In theory it is a great idea, and sort of levels out prices, etc.

[Mozgus]

Dunno if they still do this but I joined when they were giving away a few points for joining. I got virtua tennis complete for DC for free. Never used the service since.

[weasels]

i have some stuff i would give but i would have a problem doing so with a certain something just because the first two disks are bad looking (but work). i wana try it out though im gonna see if i have anything i dont need.