Retro game prices too high on eBay?Gamestop thinks otherwise

[GameMasterGuy]

've long wished GameStop would be willing to carry classic plastic these days, even if it were at eBay prices.

Except it's not eBay prices; as I posted in the original post, SSW, for example, is over eleven times what it goes for on eBay.

[DonSilvestre]

've long wished GameStop would be willing to carry classic plastic these days, even if it were at eBay prices.

Except it's not eBay prices; as I posted in the original post, SSW, for example, is over eleven times what it goes for on eBay.

Yeah I know, I get that. Like I said, they're way "overpriced" - though again, I think it's kind of nifty that they're offering them at all. The fact that they're overpricing them via their points system, rather than through actual cash makes it a little less egregious IMO. But yeah, obviously you can get the $10 coupons etc. that are a much better value, and could in turn put that $10 saved towards much cheaper copies of these games.

The other question I have is where are these carts coming from? I would imagine limited inventory on their end probably affects the way they perceive the value of these prizes. Or does Gamestop still have a giant warehouse full of retro stuff from when they stopped selling it? Are they secretly the reason Earthbound now commands an arm and a leg? I DEMAND AN ANSWER!

[sabrage]

And piracy isn't the same as buying used either, piracy is a straight crime, buying used isn't. Combating piracy I feel is perfectly legitimate and I support. But combating piracy doesn't have anything to do with used sales.

And the comics, come on. I wouldn't be surprised that those titles would get cancelled, they aren't exactly their best stuff; Hawk & Dove in particular has the fan-hated Rob Lifield doing the art which is just asking to get cancelled. That's like pointing out Mega Man Battle Network as if it's representative of the whole Mega Man series. On the other end of spectrum, Justice League #1 is in it's 6th printing; and Detective Comics #1, Batman #1, Action Comics #1, and Superman #1 are all in their 5th printings. That's a huge deal. But nonetheless, my order forms still show those books you mentioned coming out as far as comics are solicited to (which is April), no indication they are being cancelled. I'd imagine Diamond Distributors (who we order through, and all comic shops order through) would have taken these out of their order form books if they were cancelled. Unless this one of those ridiculous explanations where they're all like "We told the story as we intended to do. There's nothing else left to tell."

I can fully admit that they're losing money on used sales, that's not my argument. My argument is that they need to suck it up, stop blaming the consumer, and deal with it because it's something that always has been around, and always will as long as the consumer has a say in it. And we're not doing anything wrong by buying used. The other industries have accepted this.

And I'm sure a good 90% of Racketboy members are gonna agree that used games are a great thing, because our buy/sell/trade thread and great deals thread are quite popular.

As far as the cancelled comic books on your order forms, I don't know anything about that. A quick google search will tell you that they're being replaced with another Batman, Inc. reboot and some other less-noteworthy titles.

I definitely agree on the consumer-demonizing tactics; that's the only reason I give a shit about used sales at all. I'm saying that the retailers who are increasingly pushing used sales (because they make far more money off them than a new sale) are hurting the industry to a measurable degree, and Gamestop needs to start representing the publishers that supply them product rather than their stockholders. This antagonistic relationship that exists between publishers and their single biggest distributor (and many others as well; Best Buy is beginning to sell used games, GAME in the UK) is only going to end badly for us.

But from a consumer's perspective, I find that patience pays off far better than getting a snot-soaked manual in a second hand box. That's just preference. I have no qualms with buying games that are unavailable new second-hand, not least of all because the original publisher usually has no way to profit off it anyways (and the Wii Shop is a damned joke.) Also, while, yes, game publishers complain the most about used sales, you also don't see widespread used stores for any other product but video games. Sure, ebay, flea markets and thrift stores are everywhere, but Gamestop is a specialized, national chain with consistent stock and prices.

[SuperAnthony64]

I buy the bulk of my games from Amazon/digital distro like Good Old Games and Steam, and I never have any problems. When it comes to new releases, I never buy used because you are directly screwing the developer when you do.

So you are telling me that the developers never saw money from these used games? Dont they have to be bought new to be used? You arent screwing anyone over buy doing this.

People act like there are hordes of used games of every title at every gamestop and thats whats killing their sales. Whats killing the sales? 7 hour single player games at $60 that are mediocre at best.

[sabrage]

I buy the bulk of my games from Amazon/digital distro like Good Old Games and Steam, and I never have any problems. When it comes to new releases, I never buy used because you are directly screwing the developer when you do.

So you are telling me that the developers never saw money from these used games? Dont they have to be bought new to be used? You arent screwing anyone over buy doing this.

People act like there are hordes of used games of every title at every gamestop and thats whats killing their sales. Whats killing the sales? 7 hour single player games at $60 that are mediocre at best.

I'm telling you that thisis a major problem.

I do like one thing about Gamestop's used games though: you can return them for the original price you paid within a week. Free rentals!

[aaron]

I buy the bulk of my games from Amazon/digital distro like Good Old Games and Steam, and I never have any problems. When it comes to new releases, I never buy used because you are directly screwing the developer when you do.

Thank god we all have enough cash to drop $60 every time a new game we want comes out.

No... We have patience and an eye for deals.

or just buy less games in general. less is more.

[ATARI800XLfan]

I buy the bulk of my games from Amazon/digital distro like Good Old Games and Steam, and I never have any problems. When it comes to new releases, I never buy used because you are directly screwing the developer when you do.

So you are telling me that the developers never saw money from these used games? Dont they have to be bought new to be used? You arent screwing anyone over buy doing this.

People act like there are hordes of used games of every title at every gamestop and thats whats killing their sales. Whats killing the sales? 7 hour single player games at $60 that are mediocre at best.

Yes they never say the money. If a person buys a used game instead of new from the developer the only money the developer sees is the money from the initial purchase. Not from you as all of that goes to the store. So instead of seeing the money from 2 games purchased they only see 1 though 2 people have now bought and enjoyed there game. One person paid them the full amount they deserved while the second person did not pay them at all. It might be seem like much but if for example a 4th of the people that have owned a certain game bought it used then the developer looses a 4th of there profit. Say a game is played and owned by 1 million people. If only 3/4 of the people bought it new at 60 bucks then the company lost 15,000,000 is money.

[GameMasterGuy]

Thank god we all have enough cash to drop $60 every time a new game we want comes out.

No... We have patience and an eye for deals.

or just buy less games in general. less is more.

If less is more, picture how much more *more* would be!

[BurningDoom]

How about this solution, it could please everyone. Why not there be licensed retail stores that sell used games from the gaming companies? Much like a used car lot that's licensed. That way the game companies get a piece of the pie, and budget gamers don't get screwed.

[sbk]

How about this solution, it could please everyone. Why not there be licensed retail stores that sell used games from the gaming companies? Much like a used car lot that's licensed. That way the game companies get a piece of the pie, and budget gamers don't get screwed.

This sounds expensive. You are cutting into profit margins by spreading it out. Which in turn will make them charge more. Most likely.