Written by ExplictGamer.com

When you open your game out of that shiny new plastic wrap it decreases in value much like a car. It is one of the few things that you can buy that can’t be brought back if it isn’t what you expected. What are your options, though? We all know about trading games in at Gamestop, Game Crazy, EB Games, etc. Have you ever stopped to think about what kind of deal you’re actually getting when you trade in your games? In this article I am going to talk about a few of the well known, and not so well known methods to get the most for your games without feeling ripped off.

Gamestop/EB Games:

The gaming juggernaut! Most of us have visited there a few times or so and know what they are about. They have over 4,500 stores worldwide and they want our used games! Sounds like a good idea, right? You trade in old stuff that you don’t play anymore towards the purchase of a new game. Have you ever really thought about how much you are losing in these tradeoffs? Just the other day my brother bought Mass Effect 2 ($60) beat it in 4 days, turned around and traded it (He got $35 in store credit, also used my “Edge” card) and bought M.A.G. ($60). In breaking it down mathematically he spent over $95 dollars to walk away with one game. That’s not to mention that if you brought in 3 games that at one time cost you $60 dollars apiece and traded them in at $20 dollars in trade-in-credit for 1 game…that would be as if you spent $120 for the new one. Just unbelievable! Another thing to note is how much you get back if you are trading in games for cash. I understand times are hard and even I have had to go this route before to pay a bill. Let’s take that new copy of Mass Effect for example.  Store Credit will get you $35, however if you are trading in the game for cash they shave an extra 20% off, making the game only worth $28, a game at that point was less than a week old.

The Upsides:

Yes, this is not the best route to go, but there are some things that Gamestop/EB does right. They offer an “Edge” card for around 14.99 that gets you a modest 10% off of used games and accessories while netting you an extra 10% in STORE CREDIT towards your next purchase. You also get a year’s subscription, to what in my opinion is one of the best gaming publications out there, Game Informer. There is also the convenience of one of those places being within 20 minutes of your house. They have a policy on their used products, so if they don’t work you can always bring them back in and swap them out for one that does. Gamestop and EB also let you pre-order games. A lot of places do that now, so it isn’t that new of a concept, but they are getting a lot of the game companies to throw in extra incentives for pre-ordering it there. Gamestop may offer to give exclusive in game content, a shirt or a figurine to pull you in.

E-Bay/Craig’s List:

By far the best alternative when it comes to naming your price. You are able to scroll through hundreds of listings hoping to find the best price. In the case of E-bay however you have to be willing to bid against other people around the clock. There is no resting easy, even to the very last minute someone can overtake you by pennies. The nice thing though is that there are customer reviews, so you know if you are dealing with a reputable seller, or if you have someone who is sketchy at best. You also have the protection of “Pay Pal” that will help track down your money if you don’t receive the product. In Craig’s Lists case, you can really negotiate. Most people put games up there because they are in dire need of the money and don’t want to deal with all the paper work and shipping costs that come along with E-bay. Now, I have been rather lucky with the Craig’s List option, but I have heard horror stories, and dealing with expensive electronics you never know who you are actually going to be meeting. You are putting a lot of trust in a person you know little about.

The Upside:

I talked about all the types of protection there is with E-bay, but Craig’s List has its upsides too. Make sure to meet at a neutral meeting area.  Like I said, you don’t know these people, and they aren’t the type of user reviews that there is on E-bay. However, like I said earlier, I have had nothing but great things happen through Craig’s List. I have made double what places like Gamestop would have netted me, and it was instant cash. People want to meet up and make the transaction as soon as possible. It is the same type of instant gratification you get with Gamestop, but you have the ability to double your profit.

Video Game Trading Sites:

The nice thing is that you can trade a game for a game. Say you hate Modern Warfare 2 now and want to get a copy of Assassin’s Creed 2, if there is a game out there offering to accept that trade the cost is minimal. In reading a few of the sites FAQ’s, I saw that it would cost you shipping and a few bucks to the site. If these sites work as well as advertised, then this might be the best route to go. You get the game you wanted for a game you didn’t want. 1 for 1, a “fair trade”, and it only could cost you a few dollars.

After looking through these options every one of them still have their perks. What it all comes down to is patience. If you are impatient, then Gamestop might be the only way to go. You can get in your car on a whim and trade in all your games for whatever you would like, but you are going to take a hit in value. The best option in my opinion is Goozex.com. You are trading a single game that you no longer want for a game that you do want.  All it costs is $1. I personally signed up to dive a bit deeper into the site and was impressed with the fact that they have podcasts and an active community on the forums. Also their suppot was great at explaining all the things I was not grasping. Yes, you have to put the work in and actively roam for the game that you want, but that time will save you money in the long run. With all of our wallets getting a little tighter, it is never a better time to make sure that you are getting the most out of your games.