Why You Should Trade GameStop For Best Buy

Posted on Friday, March 30 @ 10:09:06 Eastern by Anthony Severino

If you are a regular listener of Game Revolution Radio (you really should be, you're missing out if you aren't), then you know how we feel about used games... We hate it, but we know it's a necessary evil. This past week up until tomorrow, GameStop has been holding their "biggest trade-in event ever", for once giving you somewhat fair market value for your games. Because of this, I've actually been encouraging people to go and take full advantage of this extra 50% in trade-in, in-store credit value.

Last night, I caught wind that Best Buy was matching GameStop's trade-in credit offer. 50% extra. Now, I've never traded games at Best Buy before, so I was skeptical. But after some reading, I saw that the general consensus was that Best Buy generally gave you more trade-in value compared to GameStop. And since I wasn't interested in buying more games, I went with Best Buy.

The trade-in process was longer than GameStop's, but that was partly due to me being a new trade-in customer, and having to enter my information into Best Buy's system. They also ask many more questions, even some that I don't see how they pertain to game trades, but whatever. They asked for my hair color, my race, my height and even my weight (I guess they don't want women to trade games in). Within 5 minutes or so, I left with a Best Buy gift card for damn near $100 - which was shocking considering how old the games I traded in were. But the very best part of it, was that I wasn't stuck only buying games or accessories - I had my pick of anything in the store. Sure, I could still buy games if I wanted -- even used games -- but, I was like a kid in a candy store. I could buy gadgets, music, movies, and more. Shit, if I wanted to throw in some extra dough, I could have bought a TV had I wanted.

I've been trading in games since way back when GameStop was Babbages, Software Etc., and FuncoLand. For most of my life, though, there has really only been one option in trading in games, and that's GameStop. But today, I've experienced a new option first-hand, and I don't think I'll ever be going back to a GameStop to trade games ever again. The freedom of having more choices at Best Buy, coupled with the fact that I actually got more value than what GameStop would give, has completely sold me.

If you're like me, and can't stand GameStop's business practices, or how bad they rape you on trade-in prices, definitely give Best Buy a try.

Just for the sake of being unbiased, you should know that I couldn't give a shit about Best Buy as a store, and the one near me is a fucking shithole filled with the most-useless and rude employees I've ever come across in my life. I hate that place. But for this freedom, I'll deal with it. However, the dude who helped me today (Dante, I think his name was) was super helpful, a gamer himself, even attending PAX East next weekend (an event I'll be covering for GR). Best Buy, if you are reading this, give that dude a raise and hire more people like him. And fire the manager there.

Tags: Best Buy, GameStop

Comments

Ivory_Soul
Joined: Nov 2005

Posted: Mar 30th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
You probably only got a lot of dough for those games because Best Buy doesn't have a surplus of used games yet. I used to trade all my games in on Amazon because you could get mega cash for them. Now you get jack crap for games that are older than a year. This will probably happen to Best Buy soon to.

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LawnGnome
Joined: Apr 2007

Posted: Mar 30th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
I still say Amazon is the best place to trade-in games. I've actually made a small profit on a few games from what I originally bought them for, plus Amazon credit goes a lot further.

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Rinnon
Joined: Nov 2005

Posted: Mar 30th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
I feel bad for you guys. I am fortunate enough to have a Local Video Game store in my area that is still around. They sell used Movies and Video games in addition to renting out Movies and Video Games. Locally owned and operated. Not only are the used games there CHEAPER, they give you more for your trade ins! And the people there are upfront about their business choices and generally treat you like a real person.

I hope there is a store like that in everyone's neighbourhood just waiting to be uncovered!

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Jobin_Wendy
Joined: Mar 2012

Posted: Mar 30th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
I just found an independent, locally owned game store near me that seems pretty legit. I haven't traded yet, but that's definitely where I'll be heading when it comes time.

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TurinAlexander
Joined: Sep 2006

Posted: Mar 30th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
Honestly, I don't trade in my games. The only game that I ever traded in was a copy of Fallout 3 because I got a copy of the GoTY edition for my birthday. Which means I really don't have a pony in this race, but I'll toss in my two cents anyway. Basically, I go to Gamestop because it's on the way home from work, I drive right by the place. The nearest Best Buy is is thirty miles away in a town that I rarely go to. Just the gas savings alone would make up for any discrepancy in pricing.

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tinymhg
Joined: Jun 2011

Posted: Mar 30th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
I loved Game Crazy until they went out of business. :-(

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Ivory_Soul
Joined: Nov 2005

Posted: Mar 31st, 2012 at 1:14 am
I agree! They felt like a local game store instead of a corporate chain. They all knew me by name and would set things aside like stands and posters for me. They would even knock prices down on some used stuff just for the hell of it. Too bad they're gone :-(

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Lethean
Joined: Jan 2001

Posted: Mar 31st, 2012 at 3:40 pm
How many games and how old are we talking? I have a few older titles I never play and Black Ops. I'm either going to go to bestbuy or use goozex.

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Lethean
Joined: Jan 2001

Posted: Apr 1st, 2012 at 12:40 pm
So apparently I'd get like 34.50 if I did my math right and the BB site told me the correct trade in values. Black Ops would get me 15 bucks....Tempted to just trade that in at Goozex for the 750 points.

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schimmel
Joined: Nov 2005

Posted: Apr 1st, 2012 at 6:15 pm
I've been trading at Best Buy for about seven months now and I'm much more satisfied with them than I've ever been with GameStop. And their midnight releases at least near me have been much cooler than recent GameStop ones. Plus if you subscribe to their magazine you get coupons every month for different things.

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Thirdman
Joined: Feb 2013

Posted: Feb 17th, 2013 at 8:24 pm
Best buy was GREAT... At first. Now they are Garbage!!! Rocksmith-$0.25, Black Ops 2-$17, Dead Island-$3, uncharted 3-$3!!! Gamestop will give you at least $5 unless the game is crazy old and terrible. Also, $110 for a new PS3 console?!? At Gamestop it's $75, BUT, you get $50 added and $75 of you put it towards the new ps3. Now, if best buy will match GS's deals, I will f[_] ( |< with them again. Best buy left a bad taste in mouth a while back. I bought Seven Psychopaths on Blu ray, opened it and NO DISC!!! I returned to the store and they said 'that's terrible! We can't do anything about it, sorry.'cuz after being a loyal customer for years and earning points through their rape machine 'reward zone', I'm gonna pull a fast one on them. What a barrel of a$$hole$!!! When did they become Wal mart?

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