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.
