Taking your games in to the local Gamestop is a lot like being on an episode of Pawn Stars; you aren't going to get anything near the price you were hoping for, you'll be surrounded by fat guys, and there'll probably be some Subway nearby.
Now, however, it seems that Gamestop wants to do a little something about that first thing.
KotakuGameStop is overhauling trade-ins and launching a new program that will wind up giving people more money for the games they sell, Kotaku has learned.
The new initiative, which will launch on August 18, will simplify GameStop's trade-in structure, reducing the complexity of what has become an unnecessarily obtuse service. No longer will you have to put your money toward pre-orders or promotions in order to get the most bang for your buck; instead, any games you sell to GameStop will come in at a flat rate, only varying if you want cash instead of credit, or if you're a member of their subscription program.
...As a result of this change, GameStop will now offer more money for games you sell them. Starting August 18, the retailer will bump up the "average base value" of games they buy by 20%, according to documentation I've obtained.
[prebreak]Continue Reading[/prebreak]
Give them credit: Gamestop recognize game.
Personally, I've never had a huge issue with Gamestop's trade-ins. Sure, you don't get a lot of money out of the deal, but that's the price of convenience. If you want more from your games, you could always sell them yourself; eBay and Craigslist are always there. Also, you could just not sell your games, but hey, whatever. This is a nice enough gesture, I suppose.
With the increasing shift towards digital distribution on the console end, and Gamestop's own move away from games and stops, it seems they're doing their best to cling to their customers.
Huh. So the best way to inspire loyalty is to become more trader-ous. Who'da thunk?