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Target Launches Used Video Game Trade-in Service
by Colette Bennett [PC, Console/PC]
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August 25, 2010
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Major U.S. retail store Target has announced that its retail locations and online webstore will now be accepting trade-ins of used console and handheld video games, following similar moves by other big box retailers such as Best Buy.
The program launches today in Northern California and will be available in more Target locations by next month, with 850 stores planned to offer the service before the end of the year. The Target website will also accept trade-ins of used electronics and DVDs.
Store credit will be issued for the trades, which also may include used iPhones, iPods and cell phones in addition to video games. All items will be evaluated at the Target Mobile counter inside Target stores -- often located directly next to the video game section -- and any credit issued can be used immediately.
With used games bringing high margins to specialty retail stores like GameStop, other retail chains are looking closely at the practice. For example, electronics retailer Best Buy launched a similar program in June of last year, offering kiosks in its retail stores that allowed customers to trade in games for store credit.
However, GameStop's CEO Paul Raines recently commented that "we simply have not seen an impact." Raines noted that some big box retailers have only announced plans to start dealing in used games, while others have started used game businesses, but on a very limited scale.
The announcement by Target comes as it has been concentrating on improving its video game offerings, revamping its electronics departments and adding 30 percent more floorspace in an effort to create a better shopping experience for video game buyers.
Target spokesperson Joshua Thomas told Gamasutra during a May interview discussing their video game department that Target "does not have any plans to go into the used game business" -- but the firm has evidently changed its mind since then.
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Imagine now I can turn in a game for $40 dollar credit so I can shop for groceries and clothes.
Perhaps that is yet another reason for extending out the life of this generation...a prayer that 5-8 years from now, every house will have that 3D TV and an inexpensive T1 hookup.
Comcast has a 200 GB cap. That is GENEROUS. Other ISP's have MUCH LESS. Some like Cox have as small as 5-10 GB PER MONTH. SEE THE PROBLEMS HERE? What are your customers supposed to do when they want your newest game, it is 15-20-30 GB's in size, and their monthly cap is all GONE? O.O
The ''conveinience fee" of selling to a reseller, is one many are willing to pay to get everything sold in one place and at one time. You also don't need to worry further about added costs such as shipping, trips to the post office or the random customer service issue or challenge. Further, if you stack the right promos and deals, it is not that hard to get $30+ or more trade value for the top titles. That certainly is in the ball park of the top value you would be reselling that $60 title for.....unless you also are asking your customer to shell out $55 for that near new title.
From a buying standpoint, you are getting known quality (you can check the disk and case quality) at a known price. Your may be paying $50-55 for a great looking disk, but that the same 'price' (or cheaper in a customer's eye) to a $30 game, +$10 shipping for a disk that comes marked up. You also know who you are dealing with, which is usually not known perhaps at all through ebay or craigslist.
Not saying all transactions through these are bad, or that if you are knowledgeable you can't get ahead; just showing why that mother of 4, or why a guy in a neighborhood might choose to walk into their corner GS.
Been saying this for years and on forums. I just can't understand it. Gamers are either ignorant and/or lazy. Why else would they GIVE away money like that?
I don't know know enough legalise to know if this is possible or not. Anyone one?
I like getting cheap games as much as the next guy, but not if it keeps my favorite developers from making their next game.
DCL is going to get a major push from this.
anywho I agree i don't like to see my favorite developers die off but have there been any concrete examples of a developer dying due to a surge in used game sale as opposed to just not getting game sales period ?
And there are other differences. Outside of wii shovelware and a handful of absolute stinker failed titles, it is hard to find a new price point lower than $29.99. Ps1 and Ps2 generations all had those $14.99/$9.99 bargain bins where one COULD find a gem that sadly had gone under the radar. To find those price points this generation, one pretty much is limited to old used.
If the companies really want to engage the customer, take those long paid off and cost accounted for back titles, print em up on the cheap and let a customer buy a new $10 XB360 or PS3 game.
Sometimes it takes a cataclysmic event to usher progress. If more brick/mortar stores push for used game sales then the business has to adapt. A good section of the casual game business is already doing digital distribution.
Me thinks the industry is already adapting...
like payment on your target card or even cold hard cash. The target near me is going to remodel after christmas so by this time next year eletronics will be on the other side of the store and it's a pardon our dust remodel so not when it's closed.
Supposedly dec 26th-may timeframe.
I wonder how far we are from a ps,xbox,wii cloud system and i wonder if it could be a ps,xbox and wii cloud box as no discs,no dl only profile and game data so i could in theory have 1 box with live,psn and wii because it'd all be on their servers so no conflicts with channels,xmb or dash because i'd simply connect to all of that and would only need 1 gateway not 3 it's a brave new world in the clouds....
Sony's Hirai: we're over 10 years away from disc-less PlayStation
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/08/sonys-hirai-more-than-10-y ears-away-f
rom-digital-playstation.ars