Nintendo selling refurbished portables below GameStop rates

Nintendo is now selling refurbished 3DS and DSi XL portables through its online store, with offers beginning at $99 and scaling to $170 for software bundles. Notably, Nintendo's prices are as much as $30 below what GameStop charges and are only available in the United States and Canada.

The secondhand units come with a one-year warranty and have been cleaned, tested, and inspected to "meet Nintendo's high standards." They are sold directly through Nintendo and are guaranteed to be fully functional, though "minor cosmetic blemishes" may exist.

Available refurbished units include $99 Metallic Rose or Midnight Blue DSi XLs, or in the same colors with Mario Kart DS packed in for $130.

Those in the market for a 3DS can grab an Aqua Blue or Midnight Purple system for $130, or a bundle with the same color units and a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D for $170.

The prices Nintendo is offering are below what GameStop charges for refurbished units. The retailer's price for a standard refurbished 3DS unit is $160, while DSi XL units go for $110.

A GameStop representative was not immediately to comment.