Used games question

[youvalss]

When I buy a used game, let's say from Gamestop, where does my money go? Does anything of it go to the developer/publisher, or it all goes to Gamestop? How does it work?

I ask this, because there are some publishers I don't want my money to go to (though I may be fine with the developer), so I'm not sure what the situation is when I buy a used copy.

[LambertandHam]

Re: Used games question

When I buy a used game, let's say from Gamestop, where does my money go? Does anything of it go to the developer/publisher, or it all goes to Gamestop? How does it work?

I ask this, because there are some publishers I don't want my money to go to (though I may be fine with the developer), so I'm not sure what the situation is when I buy a used copy.

To Gamestop. That's one of the reasons why companies like EA, and now Ubisoft are using the "one time codes". They're loosing big money with used game sales.

[bkfount]

Re: Used games question

A person buys the game new and sells it to gamestop for a laughable trade in rate while Gamestop sells it for $5 less than a brand new copy. The developer/publisher gets nothing.

However, buying off ebay, you get games cheaper, and the money goes to a person that is probably selling games they're done with to buy new ones.

[EnigmaNemesis]

Re: Used games question

A person buys the game new and sells it to gamestop for a laughable trade in rate while Gamestop sells it for $5 less than a brand new copy. The developer/publisher gets nothing.

However, buying off ebay, you get games cheaper, and the money goes to a person that is probably selling games they're done with to buy new ones.

Well said.

And the online pass thing is going to be happening with every company from now on. Gamestop's "strong-arm" tactics to push used games over new ones (since the profits are 100 fold), then threatening publishers that get pissy with shelf space, etc because they were at one time the big cat in town is a side effect.

MSFT has been charging for their "online pass" in a way for games as a whole with Live. So people I guess will have to adjust. Nature of the economy.

[youvalss]

Re: Used games question

Thanks for the replies. And I don't buy stuff online unless there is no way to find it anywhere around and I need it so bad. That's just the way I am.

Anyway, Sometimes I'd rather my money go to the "evil" Gamestop than to a publisher I don't like.

[Mabster]

Re: Used games question

Anyway, Sometimes I'd rather my money go to the "evil" Gamestop than to a publisher I don't like.

You don't like them but you still want to, and will, play the game that is published by them? That's weird.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Used games question

I'll take Gamestops policy any day of the week. They've saved me a lot of money by being able to buy used and take it back when it sucked.
I've also saved a ton of money with the coupons and specials they run.(not just GS but other stores as well)
At the end of the day I care more about $ I can save over how much less a game company will make.

They don't care about making sure they release a top notch game every release which screws the gamer out of $ when the game is craptapulous...

[goh]

Re: Used games question

The game companies get their money when Gamestop (or whatever store) buys the game. That's why pre-orders are pushed. That's also why it's important to pre-order the smaller games. The trade-in value they give is likely $5 or $10 less than the cost they paid for the game to begin with. Buying the game new will send the message they should buy more and then the companies get more money.

A local store we used to have here would give great trade-in value,they'd give $30 and then sell it for $40,they'd only make $10 but they sold a lot more used games than Blockbuster did. Blockbuster however would sell them for $5 less than new as well. Personally I've switched to using Futureshop when they have trade 2 used get 1 new deals. They profit off that when they sell the used games which is why only some games qualify. You may only get $20 trade-in normally but there'll be 2 $20 games you can trade in to get whatever the main new game is that week. So it's like paying $40 instead of $60+ tax,then they sell the traded in ones for $40 each and get $80 instead of $60.

[youvalss]

Re: Used games question

You don't like them but you still want to, and will, play the game that is published by them? That's weird.

I respect the developer, not the publisher. The publisher, as far as I know, has nothing to do with the game.

[LambertandHam]

Re: Used games question

I'll take Gamestops policy any day of the week. They've saved me a lot of money by being able to buy used and take it back when it sucked.
I've also saved a ton of money with the coupons and specials they run.(not just GS but other stores as well)
At the end of the day I care more about $ I can save over how much less a game company will make.

They don't care about making sure they release a top notch game every release which screws the gamer out of $ when the game is craptapulous...

I've found Amazon to have a pretty good trade in rate, sometimes a couple bucks more than Gamestop.

[Ceteris Paribus]

Re: Used games question

I respect the developer, not the publisher. The publisher, as far as I know, has nothing to do with the game.

That is an odd way to see it. But buying used screws the devs as much as it does the publisher.

[Seymour Scagnetti]

Re: Used games question

If your 1 year old TV or laptop doesn't make you happy and you want a new one, try going back to Best Buy and ask them to give you a 25% to 40% trade in credit and see what they say.

I'm just happy there's a place where I can trade back a product I bought months before and get something back in return. The vast majority of consumer products don't give you that option. I don't understand the complaints that Gamestop, or wherever you go, gives you crap value for a product that you used for months and becomes obselete pretty quickly, especially sports games.

[Pete1210]

Re: Used games question

I buy, sell or trade wherever I can get the best deal. I have no loyalty to any particular store, publisher or developer. They don't give a damn about me.

I think eliminating used game sales would actually hurt new game sales. I would have less money to buy new games if I couldn't sell or trade them in.

[ScoobySnax]

Re: Used games question

If your 1 year old TV or laptop doesn't make you happy and you want a new one, try going back to Best Buy and ask them to give you a 25% to 40% trade in credit and see what they say.

I'm just happy there's a place where I can trade back a product I bought months before and get something back in return. The vast majority of consumer products don't give you that option. I don't understand the complaints that Gamestop, or wherever you go, gives you crap value for a product that you used for months and becomes obselete pretty quickly, especially sports games.

Best Buy accepts trades for all electronics if I'm not mistaken.

[youvalss]

Re: Used games question

My laptop is about 2.5 years old and I bought it outside of North America. Do you think it's still valid for some store credit? I might check it out, but then again...the laptop got some serious virus and I had to install another OS...etc...some complications...yada yada yada...it's not what it used to be.