Retro game prices too high on eBay?Gamestop thinks otherwise

[ovalwindow55]

Hopefully without being argumentative and annoying:

Kind of cool that GS is offering these retro games, even if I have all of them already and they're overpriced. I've long wished GameStop would be willing to carry classic plastic these days, even if it were at eBay prices. Retro is super in right now, and I think they'd sell way better than they think, even if they limited what titles they'd take in (AKA no sports titles other than NBA Jam basically). I won't be spending my points on these rewards, but anything to promote the hobby is good in my book.

On the issue of used game sales - I think they've gone about fighting it in the absolutely wrong way. Now when you buy a game it's not a complete experience anymore (the new Mass Effect 3 action figures being the biggest offenders thus far in my book) to the point where customers eventually are going to figure out that it's pretty much NEVER worth it to buy a game new. What they should have done is started paying attention to the used market value of their games and adjusted prices accordingly post-release. When I still would pay $60 for a game at Wal Mart that's selling for $30 used at GS, it's a no brainer. Video game prices (though admittedly dropping much faster these days) just don't drop fast enough for newer games. If there was always a $5 gap between new and used, I'll take the new game every time. When there's a $30 gap, give me a piece of that sweet used action.

[ovalwindow55]

Hopefully without being argumentative and annoying:

Kind of cool that GS is offering these retro games, even if I have all of them already and they're overpriced. I've long wished GameStop would be willing to carry classic plastic these days, even if it were at eBay prices. Retro is super in right now, and I think they'd sell way better than they think, even if they limited what titles they'd take in (AKA no sports titles other than NBA Jam basically). I won't be spending my points on these rewards, but anything to promote the hobby is good in my book.

On the issue of used game sales - I think they've gone about fighting it in the absolutely wrong way. Now when you buy a game it's not a complete experience anymore (the new Mass Effect 3 action figures being the biggest offenders thus far in my book) to the point where customers eventually are going to figure out that it's pretty much NEVER worth it to buy a game new. What they should have done is started paying attention to the used market value of their games and adjusted prices accordingly post-release. When I still would pay $60 for a game at Wal Mart that's selling for $30 used at GS, it's a no brainer. Video game prices (though admittedly dropping much faster these days) just don't drop fast enough for newer games. If there was always a $5 gap between new and used, I'll take the new game every time. When there's a $30 gap, give me a piece of that sweet used action.

[Zing]

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.

This idea could apply to literally everything sold second-hand. I personally buy used cars, clothes, furniture, and electronics, both from second-hand shops and directly from the previous owner. Are you seriously arguing that I should be buying everything new to support the manufacturing companies? Who in their right mind would support that idea?

The next time you see someone buying a used car, approach them and state that they should be buying the car brand new instead, because their purchase of a used car isn't supporting the various factory workers who rely on new car sales for their livelihood*. Be prepared for either blank stares of disbelief, or straight up laughter.

* It should be noted that the used resale value of items such as cars, houses, and yes, video games, is usually factored into purchases of new items. If there were no resale value, the quantity sold and market value of these items would drop significantly. In this regard, used sales do indeed support the manufacturers and related industries.

[Erik_Twice]

The fact that the industry makes more or less money is irrelevant. I have the right to sell what I own. Complaining about such a basic cornerstone of the economic system simply proves yourself a bad bussinessman.