used-games

California GameStops To Warn Used-Game Buyers That "Free DLC" Isn't Necessarily Free
While some experienced buyers of used video games may know that the "free additional content" burst on game's packaging probably only applied to the original purchase of the game. But as part of a class-action settlement announced earlier today, GameStop stores in California will now alert buyers that any additional downloadable content (aka DLC) will likely have to be purchased separately. More Â»

GameStop: You've Got One Week Left To Trade In GameCube Stuff
If you've got a stack of old GameCube games you've been waiting to unload at GameStop for a tiny bit of cash or in-store credit, you'd better take care of the transaction by the close of business Sunday. Starting a week from today, the monolithic game retailer will no longer accept games, accessories or systems from Nintendo's obsolete console. More Â»

Why Did GameStop Sell Me A Used Game As New?
Patrick had a confusing experience at GameStop recently, when he bought a copy of God of War III. He asked for a new copy of the game, which was on sale, but received an unsealed copy of the game that looked more like a used game. Thanks to a sale, the price difference between new and used copies was only $2, but why did they sell him a not-so-new game in the first place? More Â»

GameStop Guy Denies My Trade, Saying 'You Might Have Stolen It'
B received the game Mafia II as a gift, but wanted Red Dead Redemption instead. Without a receipt, he went to GameStop, where it was purchased, hoping to swap games. When the clerk denied his request because it violated the store's return policy, B asked instead to trade the game in for store credit he'd apply toward the game he wanted. The clerk refused the trade because he wasn't sure whether or not B was trying to pawn off a stolen product. More Â»

GameStop Beefs Up Loyalty Program
Perhaps in response to game publishers undercutting the value of its used games by stripping them of online play, GameStop is rolling out a new PowerUp rewards card that gives customers points for used and new game purchases, giving them discounts as well as coupons for food and movies. More Â»

Walmart Giving Used Games Another Go
After trying and failing at the GameStop-dominated used games biz, Walmart is taking a mulligan and making another run and used game trade-ins and sales, partnering with Game Trade in the effort to gives you pennies on the dollar for that not-so-old copy of Mass Effect 2. More Â»

GameStop Doesn't Want You To Buy A Used Copy Of Fallout 3
Reader theSteve spotted a pricing quirk on GameStop's website that rendered a new copy of Fallout 3 cheaper than a used version. More Â»

Say Goodbye To GameCrazy, Hollywood Video
Blockbuster's main brick-and-mortar competitor, Movie Gallery, is shutting down all its U.S. stores, Reuters reports, citing the paywall-riffic Wall Street Journal. More Â»

7-Eleven Will Now Sell You Used Games Along With Slurpees
Likely looking at GameStop's profit margins and deciding there's more ways to squeeze money out of customers than by selling questionable hot dogs and Slurpees, 7-Eleven is entering the used games fray. More Â»

Man Sues GameStop For Deceptive Used Game Sales
A California man is suing GameStop because he bought a used game that lacked a valid code he needed to download contest promised on the cover of the box, IGN reports. More Â»

GameStop Opened Game, Removed Voucher For Free Poster, Sold It To Me As 'New'
Update: GameStop let Chris return the game for a refund. More Â»

Walmart And Best Buy Bail From Video Game Trade-in Market
Best Buy and Walmart have backed off on their challenges to GameStop's used game racket, both shelving their short-lived tests of trade-in kiosks, Industry Gamers reports: More Â»

Florida Used Game Shops Required To Take Traders' Thumbprints

—>If you're trying to sell or trade used games in Florida, expect to be treated like a registered sex offender or a diamond fence. The state legislature passed a law in October that classified video game trade-ins as pawn shop items, requiring businesses to take thumb prints and in-depth personal information from customers. Thew NewTimes Broward-Palm Beach reports a county sheriff is cracking down on game shops to make sure they follow the law.  More Â»

Amazon Announces Game Trade-In Program To Compete With GameStop

—>If you don't like GameStop, how about Amazon? On Thursday, they announced their new "Video Games Trade-In" program (www.amazon.com/tradeingames), where you send in your used games for Amazon gift card credit. What we like about this is you don't have to spend the money on more games if you don't want to, so you can convert old games into anything Amazon accepts gift cards for. What we don't like is you can't just get cash back—but hey, if you hate GameStop, here's an option for you.  More Â»

GameStop Takes Buying And Selling Stolen Goods Seriously
THE QUOTE: “GameStop takes this situation quite seriously,” said Rory Rhoads, GameStop’s Regional Vice President of Stores. “We are pleased to partner with the ALERT Unit and have taken very deliberate steps to improve our operations. Specifically, we have suspended our cash-for-trade transactions in Shelby County and DeSoto County, Mississippi until February 2009.”  More Â»