JediMB said:
GameStop had this ad in a video game magazine I read a while back.
"Same experience, lower price."
To me, that really hit the proverbial nail on the head. They're not selling discs in fancy packaging; they're selling experiences. So you buy the game, get the experience, and then you sell the disc back while still keeping the experience with you.
You can't compare that to cars, computers, etc., since those are bought for their practical functions.
Bull crap. There is just as much unique "experience" to driving any number of cars, reading any number of books, using any number of computers, or utilizing any of the examples you mention in your post. If you want me to elaborate on a particular example, please ask; there's far too much to write the varying experiences in each of those, and it's getting late.
JediMB said:
I don't know about you, but I've never seen any dedicated retailers that encourage their customers to trade in their newly bought books, DVDs or CDs a week later.
YOu must not have looked very hard. Allow me to help you there:
- Netflix (trade in or watch whatever movies you want whenever)
- Blockbuster (rental is borrowing a used copy)
- eBay (there's bound to be someone out there who wants to buy your broken crap)
- used book stores (every town has at least one)
- public libraries (almost always looking for donations)
- used car lots (every city has at least one)
- any private trade between friends (if I lent you my favorite CD or DVD)
Honestly, what makes gaming so exceptional? The only thing I can see that differentiates digital media from *any* of your examples is the issue of digital piracy.