Wal-Mart now in used games business Created 15 years ago2009-05-17 21:47:46 UTC by Tito

Here I was trolling on Neogaf.com's threads and I found this little bit of shocking news that should interest those who sometimes buy used console games, at least in the U.S., not sure about other countries: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362002

My personal comment: Well, the mighty Wal-Mart strikes again, now sets it's eyes on the used video games market for a total take over. I wonder how Gamestop & EB Games will fare against Wal-Mart's machine attack?

Didn't EB games or some place stop carrying used games because game manufacturers were losing sales and nobody was buying anything new? I know it's been a real problem, because games are so ridiculously priced, most people are just buying used. I know I did.

I always buy new.
With used games there's always a chance that they're scratched or the manual is missing.

You can typically determine that before you buy them. They do test everything.

Not over here.
They say they do but they don't.

Not over here.

Shop specific. I know we did at my old job.

I have not been at a EB Games store for over 3 years, so I don't really know if they still deal with used games or not, but for the times that I did go to my local EB Games when I used to live in Reading, Pennsylvania U.S., the folks at the store did inspect in front of me any used game disk that I was interested in buying.

And on top of that, I also got a store warranty to go with it. But that was years ago, things could have changed by now. As for the Gamestop stores, I have never bought a used game there, so I cant really comment on it.

In Australia, EB and our other large game retailer GAME (you probably have them as well) are still in the Used Game market. But the problem is that every Tom, Dick and Harry sell games now. I have a good friend who runs a shop and he sells games, merchandise, ect. I buy everything off him and if he doesnt have it he orders it for me. Now the problem is this, this is a small town, not so small that everyone knows everyone but the population is 30000 tops. Now he opened his store about 3 years ago, then he had minor competition such as Harvey Norman and a few other small electrical retailers sold a small handful of games. Now, three years later, he has competition everywhere. He now has to compete with Harvey Norman, Goodguys, Retravision, Sanity, and now even another game store. He is really struggling because the other stores 'cheat'. They scope out his store and lower their prices, they even allow people to buy games before their actual release date, which may not be illegal but they are selling something that shouldnt be sold yet. It just goes to show that big business will do anything to damage the local jobs.

So, does anybody here will have trouble trusting that Wal-Mart video game vending machine as seen on those posted cellphone photos from the Neogaf forum link I provided? I know I wont. Hell, I don't even trust a snack vending machine, let alone a video game vending machine.

Wal-Mart's British Sister (ASDA) hasn't done anything like this. Then again, I'm always buy new games online anyway.

On the topic of EB. They never sold used games but GAME did. Then GAME bought EB and refurbished all their stores and they don't sell used anymore. GameStation and GameStop still do though.

Call me paranoid, but I don't trust used products.

It just goes to show that big business will do anything to damage the local jobs.

They don't WANT to damage the little guys, they just wan't the upper-hand.
Damaging the little guys is just a concequence of gaining the upper-hand. one that the big guys don't care about.

As far as I know, in America, Gamestop owns EB, and 60% of all their profit is through used games. In Australia we don't have Gamestop but I never buy used games from EB because they're seriously overpriced. I usually get used games from Ebay.

You can typically determine that before you buy them. They do test everything

The shop down mine never did which worked out for me

.

EDIT: What the hell?

That was one productive post.

Like this one.

EDIT: What the hell?

What the hell....ON WHAT?

Gamestop still sells used, Wal-Mart won't be able to sucessfully buy and sell used games like gamestop does.

Walmart is full of creepy people. And a bunch of dumb people who will trample you to death the moment a new sale is announced.

I never buy used games from EB because they're seriously overpriced

Yeah, the exact reason I dont shop there...it was stupid once. I went to EB to buy 'The Path of Neo' game. Second hand, it was $80, brand new was on special at 50% off for $70...can someone tell me how that works

Gamestop still sells used, Wal-Mart won't be able to sucessfully buy and sell used games like gamestop does.

Comparing Gamestop to Wal-Mart is like comparing a Chihuahua to a Great Dane, simply no contest. Wal-Mart is just too massive, too powerful and too rich too fight off without some serious backup. Whenever Wal-Mart enters a new market, they do not aim for second place, and that's a guarantee! Hell, Wal-Mart just last year bought out the largest retail chain in China, thus becoming the top retailer in that country. Wal-Mart has the U.S., Mexico, Canada, most of the Caribbean, U.K., and about half of Europe is in their back pocket. How can you fight and compete against that?

Tito, I kind of agree with you, but how can Wal-Mart seriously hope to compete when all they've got is an automated games dispenser that doesn't work 80% of time? Just because they're offering a new service doesn't mean they're looking to outdo big vidya game retailers.

I went to EB to buy 'The Path of Neo' game. Second hand, it was $80, brand new was on special at 50% off for $70...can someone tell me how that works

As Keanu Reeves would say, whoa.