Best Buy tests selling new games at used prices

Competition has begun to heat up in the used-game business this year, as specialty retailer GameStop has seen its empire challenged by the likes of big-box shops, such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy. Both retail giants introduced game trade-in kiosks in test markets that let consumers drop off their used wares. Once the game is determined to be functional, Wal-Mart customers would receive a payout to their credit cards, while Best Buy gamers would be offered in-store credits.

Now, it appears as if Best Buy is testing out a way to more aggressively undercut GameStop's used game business. As spotted by a Cheap Ass Gamer forum user, Best Buy has introduced a new price matching initiative that lets gamers buy new games at the same price that GameStop and Game Crazy are selling them used.

"Best Buy now price matches NEW video games at USED prices from GameStop or Game Crazy," reads an in-store sign spotted by the CAG forum users. (Emphasis in original.)

It is unclear in which regions Best Buy is testing the price-matching initiative, with the forum user snapping a photo of the sign at an outlet in West Jordan, Utah, about 20 miles south of Salt Lake City. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that Best Buy is testing the initiative in a relatively small market, as GameSpot's local San Francisco Best Buy wasn't aware of the program, and multiple CAG posters reported that their preferred stores had no knowledge of it either.

Best Buy had not responded to GameSpot's request for further clarification on the program as of press time.