Blockbuster selling/trading games

[GunnyMo]

Put this one into the Oddball News category. I received the following email from Blockbuster today:

It's a whole new game at BLOCKBUSTER®. Why? Because now, in addition to renting, you can buy the latest games inside our stores!

Get great new games like Madden NFL 08 (expected 8/14), Guitar Hero Encore Rocks the 80s and Mario Strikers Charged! BLOCKBUSTER now stocks the hottest new titles for PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 and PS2.

Plus, take the excitement up a level. Trade in the games you've already mastered for in-store credit good toward new games, hardware and accessories, even movies to buy or rent. The more you trade, the more you save!
It looks like Blockbuster stores without a GameRush attached to them will now be providing more video game store benefits. The little add at the end about using video game trade credit to rent or buy movies is a big item as well.

How extensive each store (without a GameRush) will delve into the world of trading and selling remains to be seen. That said, with over 5000+ stores this could be some serious competition, above and beyond GameRush, for one of Blockbuster's bigger targets in the game world: GameStop.

[GunnyMo]

I'll add that this announcement email said nothing about Blockbuster stores selling used games. I would assume trades into those stores would be sent off to bolster the used product (which is usually lacking, imho) of the GameRush stores.

[Oddmaker]

They have been selling games here at my Blockbuster for a couple of years now I'm glad its getting bigger.

[Johan]

I thought Blockbuster was a dying brand/store? I mean, when they were purchased some years back, their value fell by about half soon afterwards (not a great thing for the new stockholders/owners). Are they doing well nowadays?

[GunnyMo]

From what I've read/seen, Johan, they are killing Netflix in the online rental arena because people can turn in/exchange the online movies in the brick and mortar stores. I don't think I've seen much bad news about Blockbuster recently.

Oddmaker, mine local store, too, but I think this means that they will be stocking more games as well as adding the trade component to non-GameRush stores. Pretty big news, if you ask me.

[NightRain]

My local blockbusters have been selling games, systems and accessories for at least 8 years. The selection has grown over the last 3 years or so big time. I've also been using trade credit to rent movies/games since they first started accepting trades years ago. It is also worth noting that none of the 3 stores in my area are Game Rush stores. I just recently traded in a few things and used some of the credit to rent TMNT and Distrubia on HD-DVD on Tuesday.

[Johan]

...people can turn in/exchange the online movies in the brick and mortar stores.

I've seen that advertised, and it is an excellent feature to their service. If I subscribed to such a service (I don't), I'd be tempted by that.

[wezlypipz]

I for one am very happy that B-buster is changing there business model. I tried there online service and the speed and service were the best I've ever ecountered. Sadly they do not do online game rental, once this changes I'll cancel my Gameznflix account and get back on the train.

I hope they give Gamestop a run for their money because I cannot stand them or their employees (just the ones I've dealt with so far at like 6 or 7 different stores).

[XxSATANxX]

Blockbuster is almost out of gas. The stock has been getting killed and they have only 800 million in market cap. This company has always been too slow to smell the winds of change.

At $4 and some change I suspect they will be gone before 08. The game area should have been something big for them.

Never liked BB and do see the demise of the Walmart of DVD rental as a good thing.

Now maybe someone will figure out a simple way for us to download and own what we rent.

I agree this could have been a major cramp in the EB/Gamestop merger but the folks who run BB are just stupid and slow.

[Johan]

Blockbuster is almost out of gas. The stock has been getting killed and they have only 800 million in market cap.

Holy shit.

In 1994, Wayne Huizenga sold Blockbuster to Viacom for $8.4 BILLION in stock!!! Talk about getting out in time, eh?

Link here. (http://entrepreneurs.about.com/od/famousentrepreneurs/p/waynehuizenga.htm)

[TheFlyingOrc]

Blockbuster is almost out of gas. The stock has been getting killed and they have only 800 million in market cap. This company has always been too slow to smell the winds of change.

At $4 and some change I suspect they will be gone before 08. The game area should have been something big for them.

Never liked BB and do see the demise of the Walmart of DVD rental as a good thing.

Now maybe someone will figure out a simple way for us to download and own what we rent.

I agree this could have been a major cramp in the EB/Gamestop merger but the folks who run BB are just stupid and slow.

08? Not THAT early.

Blockbuster isn't going away until we get an infrastructure that can support all media being downloaded. But when we do - they're gone.

[carnage11]

I'd buy my games through a Blockbuster before I'd ever buy from a Gamestop.


I use Blockbuster's online deal and it's great for me, I watch probably 5-10 movies a week. $14/month I get 2 movies at a time in the mail that I can then trade into the store for 2 more movies. I also get free game rentals every month by email. I would gladly give them my video game money if they sold new games. As of right now, though, my local BB only sells used/pre-played games, and a pretty small selection at that.:(

[oldjadedgamer]

From what I've read/seen, Johan, they are killing Netflix in the online rental arena because people can turn in/exchange the online movies in the brick and mortar stores. I don't think I've seen much bad news about Blockbuster recently.

Oddmaker, mine local store, too, but I think this means that they will be stocking more games as well as adding the trade component to non-GameRush stores. Pretty big news, if you ask me.

Actually, they are slowing that promotion down. Now you have to pay extra to get the unlimited returns. I asked a guy in the store why they took the promotion away so fast and he told me that Blockbuster often times will offer a deal too good to be true then pull it when it becomes popular.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/movie-rentals/blockbuster-gimps-total-access-plan-now-only-5-free-exchanges-a-month-199-each-after-283286.php

[GrinR]

I'd rather send money to Al Qaida than send it to Blockbuster, Sony, or Gamestop.

[SolitudeSeraph]

I work at a Blockbuster GameRush and contrary to what people say the company is only going downhill and not uphill.

[Virtual Machine]

Funny - our local Blockbuster stores have been into the whole buy sell trade racket for a number of years - extensively so - and i've never heard of a Gamerush.

[kid cabelgo]

Hollywood Video has a partner store called Gamecrazy that in my opinion is far superior in every way to eb/gamestop. It's sort of what a game store should be. They actually have decent prices on used games and they give you a LOT more for your own trade-ins.

So for me, I'm happy to see Blockbuster giving eb/gamestop a run for their money, but I'm sad to see Gamecrazy take a hit from another competitor.

[LilAbner]

From what I've read/seen, Johan, they are killing Netflix in the online rental arena because people can turn in/exchange the online movies in the brick and mortar stores. I don't think I've seen much bad news about Blockbuster recently.

Yeah, that was a brilliant move by Blockbuster. Netflix is trying to differentiate themselves by offering streaming online movies, but Blockbuster just bought MovieLink, presumably to do the same. LOL.

[LilAbner]

I'd rather send money to Al Qaida than send it to Blockbuster, Sony, or Gamestop.

What a fucking asinine statement. Even if you were joking.

[GrinR]

What a fucking asinine statement. Even if you were joking.

You're new here.

[Johan]

You're new here.

He missed the memo. And the sarcasm.

[NightRain]

08? Not THAT early.

Blockbuster isn't going away until we get an infrastructure that can support all media being downloaded. But when we do - they're gone.

Blockbuster already does digital distribution in the UK. They are testing the waters with that market. I think if blockbuster continues to improve and add new services they'll be a market leader again. Buy stock now.

[GrinR]

Blockbuster already does digital distribution in the UK. They are testing the waters with that market. I think if blockbuster continues to improve and add new services they'll be a market leader again. Buy stock now.

I would rather drill holes in my dick and try to play it like a flute than give Blockbuster a single fucking penny.

[Johan]

I would rather drill holes in my dick and try to play it like a flute than give Blockbuster a single fucking penny.

Your metaphors are getting worse. Downright painful, actually!

[wezlypipz]

I would rather drill holes in my dick and try to play it like a flute than give Blockbuster a single fucking penny.

No way! That was fucking hysterical :D

[Lutheran]

BB also removed the ecoupons from their online rental plans...no more 1 free game a month to go along with all those swapped movies in store.

[mister_slim]

Too bad the Blockbuster in my neighborhood closed last year. Now it's another Starbucks (two blocks away from another Starbucks, even). And the Hollywood Video near me doesn't have a Gamecrazy, instead they have some sort of game scrap heap.

[GunnyMo]

08? Not THAT early.

Blockbuster isn't going away until we get an infrastructure that can support all media being downloaded. But when we do - they're gone.

I think they said the same thing about brick and mortar stores of all kinds about 10 years ago when the intertron took off and they are doing just fine. ;)

[carnage11]

BB also removed the ecoupons from their online rental plans...no more 1 free game a month to go along with all those swapped movies in store.


Funny....I just used a coupon yesterday to rent The Darkness (which is a surprisenly fun game) I still get my 1 free monthly rental.:confused:



On a side note. Just for kicks I called Gamestop to see how much they'd give me for my 360. The guy had to look it up on the computer...:rolleyes:and finally came back and said $100.:eek:


$100?! So they can turn around and sell it for $350?! Fucking rip off.

[fitbabits]

You're new here.

Awesome! Proof, if it were ever needed, that GrinR still has it - in spades.

[atariv8]

I hate the rental cases BB sells with their used games. I love that Gamefly sends pristine manuals and game cases when you buy used. I have a Hollywood Video/Gamecrazy here in town and the people that work at the Gamecrazy are really cool...the Hollywood Video people, not so much.

[LilAbner]

$100?! So they can turn around and sell it for $350?! Fucking rip off.

WTF buys a used 360 for the same price as a new one ($350)? Unless, of course, you're talking about an Elite.

[LilAbner]

He missed the memo. And the sarcasm.

The sarcasm was suspected in my post.

As for the memo about him being the resident asshole, I supposed I did miss that one. Duly noted.

[GrinR]

The sarcasm was suspected in my post.

As for the memo about him being the resident asshole, I supposed I did miss that one. Duly noted.

You're cute. Stay that way.

[Rock Bandit]

I'd rather send money to Al Qaida than send it to Blockbuster, Sony, or Gamestop.

New axis of evil?

[Chameleo]

they've always sold used games at the blockbusters i visited (back in the day... before the "next gen").

i think they had a few new ones on the shelves too.

[GrinR]

New axis of evil?


Asses of Evil.

[Ksy]

I swear to god I thought Blockbuster ceased to exist years ago.

[Ninjafoot]

I dont know if anyone has mentioned this in this thread, but Netflix now lets you download movies to rent and watch, which in theory is even better than Blockbuster since you dont have to even leave your house to rent.

[sgtslappy]

Woo, signed up for the forum just to post in this thread >_>

Anyway, I've been working for Blockbuster for about six months. We don't do any trades at my store because A) It's a long and complicated process and B) Our store Manager tells us not too. You guys are always better off getting more money at Gamestop or some other place.

My store manager says to avoid it at all costs since we'll most likely give you less here than at Gamestop >_>. So yeah, moral of the story, don't trade games in at Blockbuster. Evar.

[Lutheran]

Funny....I just used a coupon yesterday to rent The Darkness (which is a surprisenly fun game) I still get my 1 free monthly rental.:confused:


$100?! So they can turn around and sell it for $350?! Fucking rip off.


People who had ongoing plans during the price change didn't yet have their plans changed to the new plans..that will be happening in September or october. They are losing too much money with unlimited swaps and a free game every month..you can still get unlimited swaps with the new plans if you want but you need to pay a lot more then it used to cost. Its still a decent deal.

[Lutheran]

I dont know if anyone has mentioned this in this thread, but Netflix now lets you download movies to rent and watch, which in theory is even better than Blockbuster since you dont have to even leave your house to rent.


The selection of movies you can download is severely limited unfortunately.

[NightRain]

I hate the rental cases BB sells with their used games. I love that Gamefly sends pristine manuals and game cases when you buy used. I have a Hollywood Video/Gamecrazy here in town and the people that work at the Gamecrazy are really cool...the Hollywood Video people, not so much.

I don't get rental cases with USED games. I get whatever case was traded in with the game or whatever case came with the game originally. I do see some that have no cases traded in or lost/damaged case come in rental cases but usually they are an exception to the norm. I bought Okami the other day for $29.99 CAD and it was in MINT condition, I just had to peal off a couple of stickers and you can't even notice they were there. I also traded in World Poker Championship 2 for PSP for $15 and Kinetic for PS2 (without camera) for $20. I was surprised the trade value was so high, EB offered me $3 for Poker and wouldn't take Kinetic without the camera ($3 with camera).

Basically I traded in two games for $35 and have credit left from getting Okami. neither of the games were any where near the price I got for Credit. I bought Kinetic for $10.90 at Toys R Us with camera and paid $5 for Poker.

I guess my point is, what you get depends on the location. Just because your location gives you crappy rental cases doesn't mean they all do.

[GunnyMo]

WTF buys a used 360 for the same price as a new one ($350)? Unless, of course, you're talking about an Elite.

I believe they sell them for $299 with HDD, $279 without although I might be slightly off. GS never sold them for $350. Even so, $100 is still a rip off. ;)

[phantomhitman]

Hollywood Video has a partner store called Gamecrazy that in my opinion is far superior in every way to eb/gamestop. It's sort of what a game store should be. They actually have decent prices on used games and they give you a LOT more for your own trade-ins.

So for me, I'm happy to see Blockbuster giving eb/gamestop a run for their money, but I'm sad to see Gamecrazy take a hit from another competitor.
I usually rent movies/games from Hollywood video here. There is a drawback to every Gamecrazy store I have been in though. The stores are so small that if someone farted at least 3 people would die before you could get out.

[NightRain]

Your manager seems to be an idiot. I mean I trade games at Blockbuster all the time, once your account is setup as a trade account (about 2 mins) it takes about the same about of time to trade a game as it does to rent one.

Process is as follows (using a recent trade as example):

step 1: Me: "Hello, I'd like to trade this game in"
step 2: employee scans game and says "This game, Super Paper Mario, is worth $30"
step 3: Me: "Okay I'll trade it"
step 4: employee: "would you like the credit on your account or a gift card?"
step 5: Me: "account is fine"
step 6: employee: "okay just sign here"
step 7: Me: "ok" and signs reciept
step 8: employee: "thanks for choosing Blockbuster, have a nice day"


seriously it took me longer to type that then it did to trade it.

[GunnyMo]

Your manager seems to be an idiot. I mean I trade games at Blockbuster all the time, once your account is setup as a trade account (about 2 mins) it takes about the same about of time to trade a game as it does to rent one.

Process is as follows (using a recent trade as example):

step 1: Me: "Hello, I'd like to trade this game in"
step 2: employee scans game and says "This game, Super Paper Mario, is worth $30"
step 3: Me: "Okay I'll trade it"
step 4: employee: "would you like the credit on your account or a gift card?"
step 5: Me: "account is fine"
step 6: employee: "okay just sign here"
step 7: Me: "ok" and signs reciept
step 8: employee: "thanks for choosing Blockbuster, have a nice day"


seriously it took me longer to type that then it did to trade it.

lol nice. I know what that manager is thinking: "I don't want the extra work of processing those trades so I'll tell everyone not to take them." And I'll be he'll be having an nice talk with his District Manager when the reports come out showing his 0% trade. ;)

[ChuckSRO]

My friends and I used to trade in our games @ BB, they always gave us a lot more $ then EB/GameStop. We stopped doing business w/BB for games when they would never have new releases in on Tuesdays, instead they'd have it on the following Thursday or Friday. However EB/Gamestop would have it on the Tuesday release day. The extra $ was nice, but it got too frustrating not having the games available on release, even when we'd pre-order (100% paid) in advance.

[sgtslappy]

Your manager seems to be an idiot. I mean I trade games at Blockbuster all the time, once your account is setup as a trade account (about 2 mins) it takes about the same about of time to trade a game as it does to rent one.

Process is as follows (using a recent trade as example):

step 1: Me: "Hello, I'd like to trade this game in"
step 2: employee scans game and says "This game, Super Paper Mario, is worth $30"
step 3: Me: "Okay I'll trade it"
step 4: employee: "would you like the credit on your account or a gift card?"
step 5: Me: "account is fine"
step 6: employee: "okay just sign here"
step 7: Me: "ok" and signs reciept
step 8: employee: "thanks for choosing Blockbuster, have a nice day"


seriously it took me longer to type that then it did to trade it.

My store hasn't done a single trade in the 6 months I've worked there >_>, at least at our store it's a more complicated process than that.

[TeeCakes]

I'll add that this announcement email said nothing about Blockbuster stores selling used games. I would assume trades into those stores would be sent off to bolster the used product (which is usually lacking, imho) of the GameRush stores.

The Blockbusters in my area (Tampa, FL) have been selling their used games for years.

[TeeCakes]

I'd rather send money to Al Qaida than send it to Blockbuster, Sony, or Gamestop.

Congrats, you now have a Federal Agent browsing through all of your personal files as we speak.

[carnage11]

I believe they sell them for $299 with HDD, $279 without although I might be slightly off. GS never sold them for $350. Even so, $100 is still a rip off. ;)


Well regardless, to give me $100 for a 360 that's never been used (it still has the plastic sticker on the front!) and turn around and sell it for $299 is garbage.

I brought 3 games to trade in a while back I figured 3 games could maybe get me 1 older game. No they said they'd give me $6 for all 3!!!!!:eek:

I payed $180 for those games and they're gonna give me $6?!?!:mad:

$2 a game and they turn around and sell it for $30-40!

[Rogue_hunter]

as an ex-employee, I can say this was a LOOOOOOOOOONG time coming (was supposed to happen in 2005, around the launch of the 360).

GameRush was also supposed to be phased out in early 2006, and the online rental component was going to include game rentals as of Summer 2006.

[mister_slim]

My store manager says to avoid it at all costs since we'll most likely give you less here than at Gamestop >_>.
How is that even possible? Do you have to pay money to trade in a game at your store?

[KingGorilla]

Are they still trying to stave off elimination by Netflix, Gamefly, and the rest of the interwebs?

[Johan]

I personally never understood trading in most games. Unless it's a very new title, you get so little back it just isn't worth it. You'd get more enjoyment out of it by giving it away as a second-hand gift. Hell...take all the 'E' and 'T' titles to a local residential facility for kids and ask them if they'd like 'em. I used to work at one, and kids are kids everywhere (games are fun!).

Trading them in is just a horrible waste of money, imo.