tradein - Kotaku

posts about #tradein more →
Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
HMV Launches Used Game Initiative
Bass Pro Shops Wants Your Video Games
GameStop Offering 360 Elite Trade-Ups
Gamestop Offers $50 Gamecube Trade-In
EB/Gamestop Offers $100 PS2 Trade-In Credit
Trade-In Pre-Order for Wii/PS3 Real (Sorta)

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SigmundTheSeaMonster
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
wtf?
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Acorn Pop
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
So the machine has something stuck in the slot and scratches your disk. Then it rejects it for damage and give it back to you broken. Then we have to try to explain to a machine that it damaged it... no thanks.
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jayntampa
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
Wait until all your games are download only, then the debate about whether you're getting your money's worth or not will be moot. Everyone wants to complain about getting some worth back, well, soon your problems will be solved and you'll get nothing. ;)
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dirtface
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
The kiosk pictured is just a prototype.

The field model will have a curtained-off robot-dildo stall, so Hellmart can physically as well as metaphorically fuck you in the ass.
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Tenshigure
05/18/09

@dirtface: Great, now the creepy guys in trenchcoats will exponentially increase around the store... >.>;;
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Lupich
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
We need pizza vending machines in North America first. :D
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WhitePoop
05/18/09

@Lupich: No, beer vending machines first, like the ones the rest of the world has had for decades.
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gunluva is prepared to drop.
05/18/09

@WhitePoop:

Yes! Promote liver disease everywhere there are vending machines!
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Grumpz®, knifin' around... cut cut cut cut cut
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
Most games have at least 2 different barcodes... and some like GH that comes in an instrument package don't have a barcode at all.

Also there will be a line of idiots scanning games and inserting them slowly that will back up worse than the dvd rental kiosks at supermarkets.

bad idea.
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WhitePoop
05/18/09

@Grumpz®: Internet Guardian Angel®: Walmart Supercenters are open 24hrs. Go another time.
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Tenshigure
05/18/09

@WhitePoop: Newsflash: As shocking as it may sound, there are parts of the world where Walmarts actually CLOSE.

...I wish I were kidding, but when I was shopping in Gatineau and heard around 4:30 that the Walmart was closing, I certainly was stunned. No 2:00 am hungover fun times at that store to say the least.
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ZombiePuppy
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
I could see a bunch of kids "borrowing" games for some quick credit with this thing.
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John_Norad
05/18/09

@ZombiePuppy: My thoughts exactly. Reminds me of the corpse buying service, in Tik-Tok ( [en.wikipedia.org]) ).
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John_Norad
05/18/09

@John_Norad: (Well, let's try this way : [miniurl.com] )
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Takamofo
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
Credit = Wal-Mart coupons.
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Mike Fahey
05/18/09

@Takamofo: Not according to the kiosk manufacturer it isn't. Credit = charging money back to your credit or debit card.
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Takamofo
05/18/09

@Mike Fahey: Ya I know. It's a feeling my Wal-Mart would try and rip me off like they have before ;)
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konexile
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
Seriously, these guys will try anything. pretty soon i'll be driving my wal-mart brand sub-compact to my wal-mart brand 1 bedroom studio apartment.
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subnet6
05/18/09

@konexile: And if you're lucky, you'll save enough money to pay for a vacation cruise on the S.S. Walmart Princess! ;)

I actually like Walmart. I buy groceries there. It's insane how much cheaper they are. I bet I save $50 a week on groceries by shopping there, which is enough to buy a new game every week!
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Kobun
05/18/09

@subnet6: Yeah, Wal-Mart gets too much unwarranted flack from Whole Foods yuppies and those expecting nothing short of absolute perfection within this singular corporate structure. I actually went grocery shopping at a Rouse's on a whim the other day and found myself spending about 50 cents to a dollar more on basic stuff like bread and meat. Tthree pounds of turkey for $21!? I could have got that plus some cheese and Cookie Crisp from Wal-Mart for about that much.
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expansionsss - the jaded gamer
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
How easily will someone cheat the system with blank DVD's with legitimate looking cases / covers on them ?
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Kobun
05/18/09

@expansionsss: The contract worker inside the machine is trained to identify phony packaging.
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Tenshigure
05/18/09

@Kobun: Unless they're planning on doing an MD5 hash check on the data on the disk itself (which even that is easily circumvented), I don't see that being a good enough security measure.

My guess at this point is that they'll have employees (or kiosk owners) daily clean out the stock in the machine and verify the integrity of the games before issuing credit.
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octaslash
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
I think I'll be sticking to gamestop. Sure most of the time you get ripped off, but they have some occasionally have some good trade-in deals toward other games.
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Rompehamster
05/18/09

@octalass: they wanted to pay $5 for my copy of Warhawk!!

FUCK DAT.
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(Zombie) Jölan
05/18/09

@Rompehamster: ! got 15 +10% +10 dollars for trading in 3 games. The keys to trading in are A) get a membership, B)Print out email coupons, C)wait for special deals, D) Timing is everything.
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Ryan_Long
05/18/09

@octalass:

how about just scanning the box for, like, RE5 collector's edition but then sticking in Madden '02 disc? or even a blank CD-R?
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subnet6
05/18/09

@Ryan_Long: Thats why they will only pay you via reimbursing your credit card. If they have your credit card information and you screw them, they can get the money back pretty easily.
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jayntampa
05/18/09

@Rompehamster: Considering I picked up Warhawk for $19.99 new, that's a pretty good deal. People forget that if you sell them a game that doesn't work, they have to eat the cost, meaning they're out $5 plain and simple. A new game, they can return to the manufacturer. So, GameStop has to cover their costs plus losses from defective games, then still make a profit -- then they actually have to sell the game. Ever seen how many copies of Warhawk they have stacked up on their shelves?

I wish people would try to comprehend how the business actually works ... $5 for an online only game that is in the greatest hits category isn't bad. As well, as another post mentioned, you can stack it with multiple trade in deals ...
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subnet6
05/18/09

@jayntampa: "I wish people would try to comprehend how the business actually works"

Nope, this is the internet. Understanding anything is not allowed, only bitching, whining and griefing are allowed, haven't you heard?

But seriously, my questions about this kiosk is, what's in it for Wal-Mart? If it's not store credit and the credit isn't issued immediately, what does walmart stand to gain? They MUST have something to gain or they wouldn't do it. (Not that that is a bad thing)
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jayntampa
05/18/09

@subnet6: I'm sorry :( I get confused sometimes ... it won't happen again.
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styl3s
05/18/09

@jayntampa: hi gamestop employee
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subnet6
05/18/09

@jayntampa: Don't sweat. BTW, Love the avatar. :)
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jayntampa
05/18/09

@styl3s: Umm ... no, I'm a property manager, I worked several Christmas' at stores, once for the discount and extra money, and another to help out a manager friend that had cancer. I haven't worked for them in years, but I do know a lot of people that do.

I also happen to have a little knowledge (graduate level, thank you) about how business and commerce works ... and I tend to think about problems rather than responding with an emotional, petulant outburst.
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jayntampa
05/18/09

@subnet6: lol thanks, it's my gf, she'll appreciate the comment
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Tenshigure
05/18/09

@subnet6: Easy, it's called customer traffic. If you add yet another feature to your store that reduces the number of different stops you need to make (in this case, game exchange), you have the ability to have sales for other items.

Hell, they've already got RedBox kiosks, this wouldn't be any different really.
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subnet6
05/19/09

@Tenshigure: Good point!
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ReidP
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
I'd like to see how this actually works. How well does it check for damage? Where does it go to be sold without a case or booklet...and how does it know what game it is, scanning the top or the little barcode on the inner circle? If that is the case, how long before people start trying to print out disc art and slapping it on top of a blank CD-R?
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roq
05/18/09

@ReidP: I'm wondering how it can even tell if the game disc is in the box. Unless I'm missing something it seems like you could just scan a game box and drop it in empty.
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jayntampa
05/18/09

@roq: You insert the disc seperately, then drop the box in another slot.
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ogt462
05/18/09

In reply to Wal-Mart Launching Video Game Trade-In Kiosks
agreed. If I can wait a few days for the money, I might as well put it up on ebay, I'll get more for it anyway
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SeattleTed is proud to like Robert Zimmerman
05/18/09

@ogt462: I've left ebay behind for the fee-less and stranger meeting fun that is Craigslist. I got Fallout3 and Guide for $40. I guess I should quit while I'm ahead; I'll be the videogame l33t slaying before long.
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Sachin Agarwal
05/18/09

@SeattleTed is proud to like U2: There's [www.dawdle.com], which is upfront-fee less and has none of the stabby stabby stranger fun.

[Yeah, I'm not just the President, I'm a client too.]
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