   New vs. used games -- is this a swindle?
  I went to GameStop today to shop for Christmas presents, with the intent of buying a new copy of DDR Max Extreme 2 for one of my older brothers. He's a partner in law firm focusing on corporate tax law, but for some inexplicable reason is insanely good at DDR (he also does wushu and teaches a salsa class on Sundays, so maybe that's a contributing factor).Anyway, there was a copy on the shelf, so I just grabbed it and headed over to the desk. The clerk looked at it and said, "Would you like a used copy instead of a new one? We have them in stock now for $27.99." The new copy is $39.99. In addition, the return policy is more lax with used games than new ones. After I said no, he tried to sell me a GameStop member card, which costs $25 and gives you 10% off all games for a year. After I said no to that, he asked me if I wanted to reserve any games. I also said no. He asked me to wait a minute and went to the back of the store to fetch the DDR disc.I started getting suspicious that the used-game thing was some kind of a quasi-scam, so I pretended to be getting an important cell phone call and excused myself, telling him I'd come back later. So, am I missing something? Is there some kind of advantage to GameStop to sell me an identical but cheaper product over the new one, or am I getting way too cynical?   
  I like new games, over used, but thats me. Now of days a lot of people see no real difference, so yeah probably why.   ;  Of course there's an advantage to them. They got the used game for cheaper than they get the new game. Probably more than $12 cheaper.   ;Quote:Is there some kind of advantage to GameStop to sell me an identical but cheaper product over the new oneYes, profit margin.  On a new box they make maybe 5%, on a used one which they probably paid some kid $10 for they make 200% profit.I worked in a Game store in the UK one christmas a few years ago and they were constantly telling us to sell people the used copies first.Alan   ;Quote:Original post by SneftelOf course there's an advantage to them. They got the used game for cheaper than they get the new game. Probably more than $12 cheaper.That seems to make sense, except that I've sold them games several times for $20, $25 apiece, only to see them reappear on the shelves days later for $29 or $35. Is the profit margin on new games really that razor-thin?   ;  I was at a mall one day and saw a kid take a game into one store and ask what the trade rate would be then he went to EB where I happened to end up being. They told him that it would get him the same price as the other store. I don't think you can really make much off of trading games anymore. There was also one time where somebody wan't to trade in a bunch of Playstation 1 stuff but the price they offered was insanely low. I can't remember the exact details though. I do tend to buy used games if I shop at places like EB. Unless it is something that I really want to play then I'll just get a new copy.   ;  So what happens when they've sold all the used games and then someone comes in and wants a used copy? Do they have to give them a new one? The main game stores I go to  - Game & Electronics Boutique (RIP) - have 'pre-owned' bins where you can grab a box with a sticker on it saying it's been used, although the actual game is stored in the back room. I am still dubious about the whole untrusting sales method though, I prefer to see a shrink-wrapped box rather than a shrink-wrapped manual & cd in a new-looking box.That said, I've bought a few used GC games for under a tenner (or less without a manual - 5 quid for Metroid Prime!) and they work just as well & are generally well-looked after. Though normally these come from amazon.The only game I've bought from these places that has problems & crashes my cube is Time Splitters: Future Perfect, but I'm pretty sure that's a new copy given that it seems to be in limited supply at the moment (amazon again)   ;  Usually, they buy the used games for very low prices or as "trade ins" and then sell them back at near-full price.  For new titles, the difference is usually $5.Heres the problem: they make ALOT more money on it, because they don't have to buy it from the publisher.  Which means the publisher makes NO money on it.  So the whole used-game thing is driving down sales numbers and taking money out of developers pockets.This is why I don't buy a game used unless it is already bargain-bin.  Saving the $5 really just means that I'm not paying the people who worked so hard to make the game for me.Of course, when I tell that to the GameStop employee that's trying to hard-sell me, they get really worried that I'm about to explode on them.  It's kind of funny :)   ;Quote:Original post by JBourrieHeres the problem: they make ALOT more money on it, because they don't have to buy it from the publisher.  Which means the publisher makes NO money on it.  So the whole used-game thing is driving down sales numbers and taking money out of developers pockets.The developers already got their money when someone bought the game new.  You could say the same thing about any product that is sold used.  Books, cars, furniture.  The people who originally built the product arent getting any money from the subsequent used sales, which is how it should be as far as I am concerned.   ;Quote:Original post by JBourrieHeres the problem: they make ALOT more money on it, because they don't have to buy it from the publisher.  Which means the publisher makes NO money on it.  So the whole used-game thing is driving down sales numbers and taking money out of developers pockets.This is why I don't buy a game used unless it is already bargain-bin.  Saving the $5 really just means that I'm not paying the people who worked so hard to make the game for me.I'm not sure I can agree with that reasoning. Do you also refuse to buy:-- used cars, since the engine manufacturer doesn't get his cut?-- cups made from recycled paper, since you're depriving the lumber factory of revenue?-- refurbished laptops, since the hard disk drive manufacturer has already been paid?   