Game stop really taking the piss with their monopoly

meoklmrk91

Went into GameStop this morning to pick up the last of us, was going to get a used copy save myself a few bob. The guy behind the counter said he had no used copies but there was only a fiver in the difference. New copy €55, used €50. That is €50 of pure profit for GameStop. Even though I had a voucher for the price of the game I walked out, €5 in the difference between new and used is ridiculous, they used to nearly always give a €10. I'll be waiting until it comes down in price. They really seem to be enjoying their near enough monopoly which is why I nearly always buy online now.

Wossack

gamestop in used games gouging shocker - more at 11

Myrddin

I never pay any more than €10/€15 or so for a used game, after that I'd rather just pay the extra & buy it new

TrustedApple

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

Went into GameStop this morning to pick up the last of us, was going to get a used copy save myself a few bob. The guy behind the counter said he had no used copies but there was only a fiver in the difference. New copy €55, used €50. That is €50 of pure profit for GameStop. Even though I had a voucher for the price of the game I walked out, €5 in the difference between new and used is ridiculous, they used to nearly always give a €10. I'll be waiting until it comes down in price. They really seem to be enjoying their near enough monopoly which is why I nearly always buy online now.

And winner for a post that no one cares about is ...........

padz

http://www.ie.wowhd.com/games/last-of-us-the-playstation-3/dp/32058889#bc=ecce

get it new here for 44.99, also buying new you get the online pass code the online its pretty fun

Grumpypants

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

Went into GameStop this morning to pick up the last of us, was going to get a used copy save myself a few bob. The guy behind the counter said he had no used copies but there was only a fiver in the difference. New copy €55, used €50. That is €50 of pure profit for GameStop. Even though I had a voucher for the price of the game I walked out, €5 in the difference between new and used is ridiculous, they used to nearly always give a €10. I'll be waiting until it comes down in price. They really seem to be enjoying their near enough monopoly which is why I nearly always buy online now.

What is ridiculous is that people will buy the used version to save a fiver and cut out the people who make the games. Then the same people will moan and whinge if anything goes wrong or the game doesn't get patched.

Penn

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

Went into GameStop this morning to pick up the last of us, was going to get a used copy save myself a few bob. The guy behind the counter said he had no used copies but there was only a fiver in the difference. New copy €55, used €50. That is €50 of pure profit for GameStop. Even though I had a voucher for the price of the game I walked out, €5 in the difference between new and used is ridiculous, they used to nearly always give a €10. I'll be waiting until it comes down in price. They really seem to be enjoying their near enough monopoly which is why I nearly always buy online now.

It's not €50 of profit for Gamestop. Considering it's a fairly recently title, they likely gave between €25-30 to the person trading it in. Not only that, but in order to get rid of trade-in stock or even normal stock which went unpurchased, the deals they need to offer to get rid of that stock may sometimes be at a loss or very little profit, so they need the recent trade-ins at a higher price to compensate.

I'm not saying €50 is a price I'd expect anyone to pay for a second hand game when a brand new copy is only €5 dearer, but it's unfair to suggest they're running a monopoly and making huge profits off trade-ins. Some profit, yes of course. They have to. They're a business. But not huge profits like you're implying.

ShadowHearth

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

Went into GameStop this morning to pick up the last of us, was going to get a used copy save myself a few bob. The guy behind the counter said he had no used copies but there was only a fiver in the difference. New copy €55, used €50. That is €50 of pure profit for GameStop. Even though I had a voucher for the price of the game I walked out, €5 in the difference between new and used is ridiculous, they used to nearly always give a €10. I'll be waiting until it comes down in price. They really seem to be enjoying their near enough monopoly which is why I nearly always buy online now.

50eu pure profit? WOW! :eek:

Gran Hermano

GBP 37.99 on Amazon UK with free delivery. i wouldnt even bother considering Gamestop at EUR 50-55.

Mickeroo

My brother picked up Bioshock Infinite yesterday after trading in a few old games. They asked him if he wanted a used copy instead to save a few bob and he pointed out the used copy was €5 more expensive than the new one so he'd rather the new one. A used copy of Tomb Raider was €10 more expensive than a new one also.

I think it's because there's a sale on at the moment but it's pretty daft in fairness.

meoklmrk91

Wow some really unhelpful replies here, very unfriendly forum. GameStop are usually the most expensive for games before Game and HMV but today was the first time I had seen a used game only have a discount of €5, it used to be €10. I have no problem buying new games, I have near enough 50 titles, many of which were bought brand new, but on this particular occaision I was going to buy used, I don't think thereis anything wrong with that, it's m money, I am not doing anything illegal, I can spend it how I wish. Thanks to those who posted helpful comments, same to those who disagreed with me but did so in a respectful manner. I'll just pick it up on Amazon, much better price and much better service too, thanks Gran Hermano.

VinLieger

1. Your buying from gamestop and expecting sympathy for high prices
2. Your buying in a brick and mortar store and expecting sympathy for high prices

See where you went wrong?

Zero-Cool

50 quid for a 2nd hand game with an online pass code is mental. What is more mental though is Xtravision telling me they didn't have any of copies of The Last of Us left for PS3 but they had some for Xbox :pac:

Daemos

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

I don't think thereis anything wrong with that, it's m money, I am not doing anything illegal, I can spend it how I wish

Well, that escalated quickly

snausages

F**KING GAMESTOP

danthefan

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

That is €50 of pure profit for GameStop.

What now? They don't grow the used copies out of the ground. People trade them in and get cash/games/store credit in return. I got €35 store credit for mine I think which is €35 less in cash they're going to get out of me when I buy my PS4.

GameStop don't really have a monopoly anyway, they've a ton of online retailers to compete with. I might buy 2 games a year from GameStop, if even.

bizmark

Grumpypants wrote: »

What is ridiculous is that people will buy the used version to save a fiver and cut out the people who make the games. Then the same people will moan and whinge if anything goes wrong or the game doesn't get patched.

Maybe the game devs should start compete on price instead of trying to stifle competition to justify their massively inflated budgets for boring risk less games

tbh

Sycopat

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

Wow some really unhelpful replies here, very unfriendly forum. GameStop are usually the most expensive for games before Game and HMV but today was the first time I had seen a used game only have a discount of €5, it used to be €10. I have no problem buying new games, I have near enough 50 titles, many of which were bought brand new, but on this particular occaision I was going to buy used, I don't think thereis anything wrong with that, it's m money, I am not doing anything illegal, I can spend it how I wish. Thanks to those who posted helpful comments, same to those who disagreed with me but did so in a respectful manner. I'll just pick it up on Amazon, much better price and much better service too, thanks Gran Hermano.

I don't think the used game discount has been 10yoyo for quite some time. Not for new and popular games anyway. I stopped buying used "new" games a long time ago because I figured it wasn't worth the risk/not supporting the creators (I'll still buy used when they are less than a tenner, but that's usually a year or two after release) and I don't trade in games so I won't get that credit back later anyway.

VinLieger

bizmark wrote: »

Maybe the game devs should start compete on price instead of trying to stifle competition to justify their massively inflated budgets for boring risk less games

tbh

You can hardly blame developers for either the pricing or boring risk less games that is all down to the publishers

super_furry

The answer is simple - ensure people don't want to trade you games in. Nintendo first party games, constantly updated and supported games like Borderlands 2, Battfield and yes - even CoD - all retain a premium trade in value because people buy them and keep them.

Azza

Why do people keep Nintendo first party games?

super_furry

Because who wants to get rid of a Zelda or Mario game? They're games you'll always go back to and play over and over again.

MadYaker

Why do people still buy games in brick and mortar stores? Gamestop and their ilk have been extorting us for long enough. It time to progress to online and let them die.

gizmo

super_furry wrote: »

The answer is simple - ensure people don't want to trade you games in. Nintendo first party games, constantly updated and supported games like Borderlands 2, Battfield and yes - even CoD - all retain a premium trade in value because people buy them and keep them.

The problem with these examples is that they all feature strong multiplayer components which can be supported with relatively cheap DLC to extend their lifespans. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for more traditional story-based single player games and the result of trying to combine the two has led to a slew of games where multiplayer modes have been shoe-horned into designs in which they do not belong.

viclemronny

Azza wrote: »

Why do people keep Nintendo first party games?

I'd say it's a combination of demographic and the product itself.

Demographic: Younger children and nostalgic people are less likely to trade in games. Not that these are the only people who buy Nintendo first party games but they buy more Nintendo games than games on the other consoles.

Product: Nintendo games have a huge amount of polish. I loved Skyrim for example but it was buggy as hell. Assassin's Creed 2 and Brotherhood, fun but control system is annoying and has issues frequently enough to be worth mentioning. Super Mario Galaxy, Mariokart Wii, etc. are all much more polished.

Secondly, the games are very easy to put in and play. I was curious and Mario Kart Wii from turning on the console and television to racing was less than 90 seconds. It's much easier to dip in and out for a few minutes here and there. Also, games like mario galaxy have a structure that lends itself to this too, in that it is level based.

Finally, they're usually very very good with a great replay value due in part to the above two constraints but also to the excellent level design, difficulty curve, inclusion of secrets/other ways of attempting levels, multiplayer nature*, etc.


*2 player split screen seems to have been in decline for the majority of this generation on the Playstation and Xbox platforms and I hope that trend reverses itself in the next one.

Grumpypants

bizmark wrote: »

Maybe the game devs should start compete on price instead of trying to stifle competition to justify their massively inflated budgets for boring risk less games

tbh

Why not just buy the exciting and interesting games with sensible budgets instead of the boring ones.

bizmark

I do im a pc gamer i have no second hand market to exploit .....only steam sales and key selling sites

danthefan

bizmark wrote: »

Maybe the game devs should start compete on price instead of trying to stifle competition to justify their massively inflated budgets for boring risk less games

tbh

The developer will rarely, if ever, set the price of a console game.

Gran Hermano

I pick up a couple of titles a month and only ever order online.
This site is useful for checking pricing http://www.gamestracker.com
Set country as Ireland or UK for more options but check postage rates.

C14N

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

Wow some really unhelpful replies here, very unfriendly forum. GameStop are usually the most expensive for games before Game and HMV but today was the first time I had seen a used game only have a discount of €5, it used to be €10.

Don't get so defensive, only one person was being unfriendly to you.

I've seen the €5 price difference ever since the Wii came out and SSX was €50 used or €55 new. The thing about used games is that they aren't like a used car or used phone; apart from the games with an online pass, you lose nothing by buying the used copy. The information is all still there on the disc and Gamestop will still let you return it if it doesn't work (and you can still take out their €1 disc insurance) so for a lot of people, €5 can be a justifiable difference in price.

VinLieger wrote: »

You can hardly blame developers for either the pricing or boring risk less games that is all down to the publishers

I don't blame the publishers either. Let's all just get used to the fact that publisher's #1 goal is to sell games. With that in mind, they're going to devote resources to the games that sell the best and they'll pander to what most of us want. The consumers vote with their wallets. The gaming press doesn't help either by frequently putting these titles as some of the highest-scoring games of the year which almost ensures good sales but at the end of the day, we are the ones who cause them to keep making safe games.

Retr0gamer

super_furry wrote: »

The answer is simple - ensure people don't want to trade you games in. Nintendo first party games

This is not the reason Nintendo first party games retain their prices. When a game drops in price the seller negotiates a deal with the publisher to reduce the credit they owe for the stock so they can clear excess inventory. Nintendo on the other hand will only do this if the game is a total flop.

Doctor DooM

*Doom walks into Gamestop

Dubstep BLARING

Looks at injustice

60 first hand, 55 second hand

16 year old staff comes over and talks to me like I'm a grand dad looking for a game for his son

Walk out instead*

You know what? I've no problem paying day 1 prices for day 1 games. I go out of my way to do so for franchises and companies I enjoy.

The last time I tried to buy a game in Gamestop, I was met with a blank face because it wasn't some generic FPS I wanted, and was basically told the game I was looking for didn't exist (I then walked over to the XGC and played my friends copy). Amazing product knowledge! Good thing HMV had it.

I'm not an unreasonable person. I've been a retail manager for 4 years. When I walk into a shop I am observing with that knowledge. I understand it's a difficult market. But shopping in gamestop is by and large an unpleasant, difficult experience and they're not far off walking into Tesco and checking the top 10, tbh, save for the second hand games.

I'm actually being driven to buy online.

C14N

Doctor DooM wrote: »

*Doom walks into Gamestop

Dubstep BLARING

Looks at injustice

60 first hand, 55 second hand

16 year old staff comes over and talks to me like I'm a grand dad looking for a game for his son

Walk out instead*

You know what? I've no problem paying day 1 prices for day 1 games. I go out of my way to do so for franchises and companies I enjoy.

The last time I tried to buy a game in Gamestop, I was met with a blank face because it wasn't some generic FPS I wanted, and was basically told the game I was looking for didn't exist (I then walked over to the XGC and played my friends copy). Amazing product knowledge! Good thing HMV had it.

I'm not an unreasonable person. I've been a retail manager for 4 years. When I walk into a shop I am observing with that knowledge. I understand it's a difficult market. But shopping in gamestop is by and large an unpleasant, difficult experience and they're not far off walking into Tesco and checking the top 10, tbh, save for the second hand games.

I'm actually being driven to buy online.

I think it largely depends on the shop you go into. I've gone into various Gamestops or even the same one at different times and gotten different experiences with the staff. Sometimes I've gone in looking for a game they don't have and they're basically looking at me like "I don't care if you get your game", other times I've actually had the staff call up other shops nearby to check if they have it and hold a copy for me there. Other times they even recommended I check Game or HMV. Sometimes the staff will even have a friendly chat about the game I just bought which is nice.

By the way, what was the game you were looking for?

johnny_ultimate

Let's never forget the role gamers play in both encouraging and maintaining these practices, especially a widespread perception of games as products rather than something of actual cultural worth. Really, demanding developers make their games worth holding onto (whatever that means) or it's an insta-trade-in is the kind of attitude I'd take with a washing machine, not a piece of entertainment or art. Gamestop are responsible for some regrettable practices, but the consumer partially sustains it.

Sure, gaming is a damn expensive medium to be a fan of. Yes - hands up - I refuse pretty much point blank to shop in Gamestop. I am not supportive of their 2nd hand policies which I think hurt both developers and the quality of games overall, and I think their ridiculously high mark up compared to competitors is largely down to taking advantage (if commercially sensible advantage) of more casual consumers who will wander. That, and the attitude of the workers in my local store is absolutely appalling. But I have long-since grown to simply not buy there. I also realise several of these policies are what's allowing them to survive in a harsh retail world (except the rudeness, but that's a specific branch problem) - that's not to mention the people here whose livelihood depends on them. Personally, I choose not to support them, which is my right as both a consumer and gamer.

It's a shame there's so few high street competitors these days - I work on the Southside of Dublin city centre, and a Gamestop is basically the only shop within reasonable lunchtime walking & browsing distance. But there are still options, whether that's Smyths (who, alas, have recently got rid of their loyalty card scheme ) or more frequently online. I don't feel I have to endure the high prices as I will rarely have to wait longer,except for certain premium titles, to get it cheaper - whether that's Playstation Plus or an online sale. I'd love to support but can't realistically afford every single day one title I'm interested in (I still do whenever I can, especially for smaller titles), so rather than buy it for an outrageous but slightly cheaper second-hand price I'd rather wait a few weeks and still have some chunk of my cash go in the general direction the production team. A great game - whether that's a short single player one or a constantly changing online epic - is always worth buying new.

returnNull

The only reason I'd use gamestop,hmv,game would be for the the impulse buy(I want the game and i want it now dammit!:) ) apart from that it'd be online

C14N

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Let's never forget the role gamers play in both encouraging and maintaining these practices, especially a widespread perception of games as products rather than something of actual cultural worth. Really, demanding developers make their games worth holding onto (whatever that means) or it's an insta-trade-in is the kind of attitude I'd take with a washing machine, not a piece of entertainment or art. Gamestop are responsible for some regrettable practices, but the consumer partially sustains it..

This is true and without really thinking about it, I realize it's actually the reason I never trade in. A lot of people (and even worse, critics) tend to factor in the length of a game in their judgement with the mind of "this will keep me entertained for more hours, ergo it is better value" and this is a really bad way of looking at it imo. I've never heard anybody thinking a film was better because it had a longer run time or a book was better because it had more pages. Nobody says "if this play isn't at least two hours long, there's no chance I'll pay €30 to see it" or "I'm not spending my money on an album shorter than an hour long".

So why is it that we say that if a game can't keep us going for long enough, we'll be sure to trade it in while the price is high? Why does it need longevity in the form of shoe-horned in multiplayer to make us hold onto it? Also, here's an idea, get some longevity by it being a good game that's worth playing through again. If I buy an album that's good, I listen to it loads of times. There's plenty of films good enough that I've gone back to sit through them again and even with games, I've gone through some a second time because they were good enough to warrant a repeat play.

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

gaming is a damn expensive medium to be a fan of.

I think this can vary a lot between people and it also depends on what you're comparing it to. The start up cost is relatively high, around €300 I think would generally be an average console price. Once you've gotten past that though, I don't think it's particularly expensive. Amazon day one prices are generally €50 at most and if you want to be a little thrifty and wait just a few months, these drop quickly. I have maybe 30 games on PS3 and maybe 150 on PC and out of those, I think I could count on one hand the number of times I've spent over €30 on a standard-edition game; I'm sure the median is about €10-15 at most. Consider that compared with music or film, you'll probably be buying far fewer titles too, and I don't think it's that expensive in comparison.

Grumpypants

The costs of games is high but I do think it is usually pretty good value. 5 trips to the cinema would get you around 10 hours of entertainment for the same kind of money that you would spend on a game and most games have at least 10 hours entertainment value. Games with multiplayer like BF3 has hundreds of hours of entertainment.

It is rare that I will trade in a game as I like to collect them. Usually it has to be a pretty poor game that I have zero interest in holding on to.