We Gamers NEED to educate one another regarding pre-played game sales and who actually wins and loses. I recently searched for reasons why a few of my Favorite games Never had follow ups and found something VERY disappointing! I, like so many other gamers, used to Always walk right past all the New copies of the game I was looking for straight to the pre-owned ones. What was SO alluring about saving 2 or 3 or 5 dollars At MOST?? IT Almost ALWAYS Costs MORE for the Fuel used to get to the Game Store & Back than the 2-5 dollars saved by using your EDGE Card getting the game used!! We somehow convince ourselves that this is a GREAT bargain! Well, a recently published magazine article on Game stores that specialize in pre-owned game sales REALLY woke me up to say the Least!! EB and Game Stop are the two main stores in our area that fit this profile. Typically when you enter EB you are helped out nicely. I am almost always asked if I am here to trade in and Before I leave if I have any Games that I "Forgot" to pre-order!! Here's why! The math is seemingly obvious but I will recap anyways. My brother-in-law is the Perfect example! He pre-orders a game he "Knows he will Love". His game releases on its date and he HATES it! He proceeds to EB, Trades it in for 15-20 dollars trade in credit TOPS towards another purchase. And this is the amount payed out THE DAY THE GAME RELEASED!! OK so my fool brother just threw out 40-45 bucks!! GREAT! I go in and see customer B Buy the game He JUST TRADED IN for $55 to save a whopping 5 bucks! WOW! EB made a profit from the initial sale. Then $40 more The Same Day! Customer B gets home & it is NOT what he expected either! He comes in the next day for $15 & game store turns the game out that day for another $40! Again WOW! How does this Keep us from enjoying our favorite games you ask? Here is how. ONLY the game store profits off the pre-owned game sales! The developer gets NOTHING! Not even an accurate number of units played! So you or I just "Saved" 5 dollars, two other gamers lost 40 EACH!! And EB pocketed 80 in 2 days! PLUS whichever developer ONLY got credit from the INITIAL sale and their SEQUEL gets DENIED or CANCELED!! Who saved? Not Us! Who Lost? We the gamer lost out on what might have been!!
I am NOT in the game industry in Any capacity other than as a consumer. As a lifelong gamer of over 25 years My experience has shown me the light. I and others like me have a voice! We vote for the games we love by purchasing NEW! Our vote is cast each time we make that choice to buy new or "SAVE" 2 bucks!! I am NOT at all against EB, Game Stop or companies like them. I actually LOVE them! I just HATE what happens when games get traded and re-sold!! After all No One is being Forced to trade or buy Used! Of course if used is the Only way to find that hidden gem you heard about and Must try get it. Think first though. Your decision affects MORE than that single purchase but possible future ones as well! I for one have NEVER been Unable to locate a game that I wanted on day of release because I did not pre-order. This is how I have Not found myself in the possession of a game I hated. OK so what to do if you Did pre-order or got a gift? Well the latter you could Not control unless asked first. Then that would fit the RARE occasion that I'd see having to walk in with a $60 game in hand and out with either a & 15 trade credit or shelling out $40-$45 IN Addition to get a different title!!
One other thing I would like to point out is a sad fact. MOST people are Hard to convince and do NOT care!! This is why I am reaching out for our community to help itself! Look at some of the negative comments I am Sure will follow this post! All I am trying to do is Share my wisdom! A Bunch of people will make ridiculous responses to this post then continue to pre-order games, Hate them, trade them in for Crap credit, complain about it, rinse and repeat! WHY? I welcome all to share their opinions on this matter. Please, feel free to add your thoughts. I know Many employees will Hate this seeing it as a threat to their lively-hood! That is NOT the intention. In fact, it is just the opposite. What do you think?? Let me know!
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