Walmart Takes a Second Look At Used Games

[SenseOfTumour]

I work at a small independent games store. This is a devastating blow, because my boss is a new father who struggles every month to turn a profit. Gamespot might be the only "real" competition in the market, but at least with only one big fish in the pond we we're getting by.

I urge gamers to stick to small businesses. No Walmart employee is going to help you hunt down the best game for you, no Walmart manager is going to take the time to learn your name and listen to your cool gaming anecdotes. Besides, if there's anything I hate more than corporate conformity its when corporate conformity tries to muscle its way into a business it doesn't understand.

I understand your concern, but with any luck they'll have the same cluelessness as Gamestop of offering $10 for a week old new release and then slapping it back on the shelf for $55, all you'll need to do is make sure people know your store exists and it offers far better deals!

Generally, people prefer smaller stores, it's only laziness that sends them to supermarkets, if you can offer better service and better prices, you'll be fine against them.

 

[Low Key]

Now we can get our beer, firearms, and GTA games all in one place!

(don't forget machetes, can't forget machetes)

I wish we could get beer and firearms in places other than liquor stores and sporting good stores here. Although, access to the $7 machete is pretty handy. They aren't even behind the counter.

 

[Nikolai Smirnov]

Wow we can get guns, drinks, games and weapons of any type all in one place a soviets dream!

 

[Idlemessiah]

This one of the few reasons I love the UK. You buy games from Game. They do regular and pre-owned for decent prices and are a hell of a lot cheaper than the likes of say HMV. So basically all you need is a local Game store and Steam and your gaming needs are sorted.

The supermarkets here don't really delve into games. They stick them next to the DVDs, slap an arbitrary price on it and hey ho. Although Asda is owned by Walmart so it could be interesting to see where this goes in a few years.

 

[WilliamRLBaker]

so it looks like they are leaving the kiosk idea behind and going with a full blown little kubby *you know the ones infront of the store* which is a far better idea.

 

[Brad Shepard]

My Avatar says it all.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Quick way to make money buy used game at gamestop sell it to walmart!

 

[Mykonos]

In the year 2012. All will shop at Walmart for every need. Then they will all blow up simultaneously. Thus issuing the apocalypse.

 

[chrono16]

I don't even like buying new games at Wal-Mart. The only place I get games is at Gamestop. I got screwed so many times going to Slackers that I don't even bother. You trade stuff in there and they give you USED CREDIT which is only good towards USED merchandise. Wonder if it will be the same at Wal-Mart.

 

[BlindMessiah94]

I would rather buy from WalMart though. At least the one in my city has an electronic department run by a guy who is too smart to be there, so I buy from him when he is there if the price is right. I only buy new stuff there though. I buy used at my local game store.

As for Future N00b and Radio n00b and n00b buy, I hate those stores with a passion.
I only go there if I have no other choice.
They shove warranties

Best Buy is usually my first stop when looking for a game. They're the cheapest, and most likely to carry anything. EB/Gamestop has all but abandoned PC games, and I don't like buying a product that has been opened (for those who don't know, they typically keep empty boxes on the shelf, with discs behind the counter). I typically avoid WalMart simply because I can't stand the typical WalMart customer. Fat trailer trash carting around a half-dozen welfare cheques kids, all of whom are off in their own world, oblivious to how they are blocking the lane or holding up the cashier. Between them, the screaming kids, and the unintelligible and heavily-accented yabbling over the PA system, it's too much annoyance to suffer through for a mere game.

I avoid EB games religiously. They make a habit of destroying childrens' dreams and ripping kids off.

I was in there once an a bright eyed bushy tailed kid, probably 8 years old wanted to sell an n64 and 5 or so games to buy something new.

They offered $2 each for the games and get this...

$1 for the console.

He would have received around $10 total. He was so distraught and the cashier made him feel like an idiot. As if $1 was the norm for the consoles and the kid should really have done his homework.

The kid was about to trade it in when I stepped in, scolded the cashier and told the kid to take it to a local gamestore I knew who would pay them much more than that. At worst I told him I would buy the console off of him for $20 with his his games.

They are really just the worst corporation.

 

[ThreeKneeNick]

Say what you want about Walmart, competition has never been a bad thing.

 

[Danpascooch]

Now we can get our beer, firearms, and GTA games all in one place!

(don't forget machetes, can't forget machetes)

I wish we could get beer and firearms in places other than liquor stores and sporting good stores here. Although, access to the $7 machete is pretty handy. They aren't even behind the counter.

I know right? Sick black blade too

 

[Sixties Spidey]

Whatever. Wal-Mart sucks dick anyway.

 

[GodKlown]

I agree with everyone who says Wal-Mart doesn't have the most up-to-date stock when it comes to games... let alone finding a sales associate when you actually want to buy one out of their cases. The potential bright side to this is that perhaps they will eliminate the video game area from within Wal-Mart proper to a smaller store within Wal-Mart, do away with the cases, and actually just staff the place with people of some understanding of video games instead of the man/woman who couldn't cut it the mustard in the gardening section.
I am among those who only have either Wal-Mart, the local small game store (not Gamestop), or if you are really desperate K-Mart, to shop for games at. The nearest Gamestop is at least 30 miles and a few towns away, so I'm often forced if I want to find a game the same day to travel out to Wal-Mart (they are the only ones who do sell PC games in this town). Frankly, I dislike shopping there as a general principle because of all the other people who seem to roam the aisles like zombies day in and out, and even heading there after 1 in the morning as I often do I always seem to run in to a damned crowd. I'll be willing to give this idea a chance if it takes the video game department out of Wal-Mart's hands, if only in appearance. Maybe then it won't take fifteen to thirty minutes to track down someone with the keys to open the damn display case!

 

[Pantherman]

You show them big pushy publishers who's boss Wal-Mart, really!

I still would go to a real gameshop, that's when the passionate people talk about games 24/7 and show you the latest tips and tricks. Begone Satan!

Straying Bullet, It's already too late in my town, 15 years ago was the last year that there was an independent game shop that was a Mom and Pop joint. They really did discuss games, they liked to talk about games, they would discuss games with you, you could stand there for an hour or more and talk about games with them.

After they left, EB Games, Gamestop, Meijer, Walmart, and Target moved in. In the case of ALL of them, they were only concerned about making a buck and really didn't care (or know) how to discuss the games and such.

Pantherman

 

[Pantherman]

Indeed, it doesn't diminish my game playing quality any to have this happen. It was nice though to be able to talk to people with a similar taste/like that one has. If anything it's forced me to play the game more without knowing what to expect, still a part of me kinda misses it.

Part of reminiscing I guess.

Pantherman