I knew that this discussion was going to get some attention, when I originally brought the topic up on Twitter I got flooded with replies pretty quickly. However, it was at least a little surprising to see the topic become one of the most hotly discussed topics I think I’ve ever broached. Of course, people are going to have fairly strong feelings on how they spend their money and the service they expect when they hand over some of their hard earned cash.
What was perhaps most surprising was how many of you still regularly shop in a brick and mortar store. I was expecting an overwhelming response from almost everyone that they only shop online now, and rarely go into shops. Whilst there were obviously a number of you who said you do all your shopping online, it wasn’t a complete domination. In fact for some of you, such as cc_star, bricks and mortar retailers are the only place you can shop.
I can’t buy games online, I have to spend the cash in my pocket if I want games which means bricks & mortar retailers.
Therefore I have a choice of indies, supermarkets or the big gaming retailers from the GAME Group, so GAME & GameStation obviously.
There were of course a good chunk of you who also shop online, but use high street stores to trade-in your games once you’ve finished with them. However, it seems that GAME and GameStation have fallen out of fashion for trade-ins now, and CEX is king, as Death_In_Flamez detailed.
For me, it’s either CEX or the best internet site. Gamestation’s bold claim stating they have “the best trade-in prices” is nonsense and I once almost had the nerve to take one of their staff down to the CEX on the same high street and prove it. GAME has some good pre-order bonuses, but are too highly priced. In the end, the only real winners here are CEX and the internet.
Now, let’s move onto the point of this all; GAME and GameStation. It was unsurprising to find that many of you agreed with me about the differences between GAME and GameStation, 3shirts being one such commenter.
The Game and Gamestation in my town were completely different experiences. GAME sold at close to full RRP with crap trade-ins deals, overpriced pre-owned titles and moronic staff but it was big, impressive looking and thus where the parents went to buy presents. Gamestation was smaller, staffed by gamers and had good trade-ins, cool retro gear and even classic consoles and games like Megadrive, N64 and Gamecube.
Some of you went so far as to fully elaborate on what you like and dislike, with Jen A and Foxhound_Solid standing out for producing pretty detailed breakdowns. In particular Foxhound’s description of GameStation stores as ‘rancid’ made me laugh whilst recalling pretty much every visit I’ve ever made to a GameStation store.
Ultimately though it seems many of you have no real preference, and it’s all about price. That’s completely understandable, and a pretty logical way to make your choice on where to purchase from. Forrest_01 seems to sum it up nicely, so I’ll let them have the final say.
For me, it’s all about the best price – Usually online leads the way on this of course, but sometimes it’s nice to go home with game in hand. When I do get that urge, it tends to either be Gamestation, CEX or HMV that profit from it & again, whichever has the best price on what I was looking for. I do shop in GAME occasionally, but it has to be a really good offer!
jayjay119
What I always wonder is why haven’t developers and publishers or the like opened their own stores yet? Surely it would make more sense if they are trying to tackle the other markets. Sony has stores but not dedicated to games, it surprises me that witht their range of gameing products that they don’t have their own with lower prices to completely cut out the likes of gamestation.
TheDeathAvenger
Makes sense that this would be a big topic, as every gamer will have their own way of purchasing games.
The only times that I don’t shop online for games and movies (among quite a lot of other things), is either when I get a gift voucher, or on the odd occasion that there is a good enough in-store deal, that it beats the cheapest online price I can find.
I agree much of the excitement of buying a game can be lost when purchasing online. I think this is partly to do with you having the game delivered to your house (at some point, you usually don’t know when) and being able to play it there and then, rather than buying it in a store and contemplating playing it on the journey home.
I don’t mind the loss of the ‘game buying experience’ though. I mean once I start playing the game I’m not thinking about the excitement I’ve missed out on by ordering online, I’m (hopefully) too busy having a blast playing said game!
rossthebassist
i think gamestations / games trade in offer trashes CEX. CEX sale prices are rediculous, and the trade in maybe higher at cex but the gap price for buying the game is about the same.
that and gamestation will match any trade in price anyway that to me is a compelling offer for anywhere.
Forrest_01
Ah, but the good thing about CEX is that their price on their website is 99% of the time their price in-store. This means I can do my research online in work before even heading off to town to actually make my purchase & know what I will be paying for my game or receiving from my trade-in when I get to the store, which is invaluable information to have. The only thing that isn’t guaranteed is that they will actually have a copy of a game that I am looking to pick up when I get to the store. :/
The problem with Gamestations ‘price match’ policy is that (certainly where I live), they ask for a till receipt of another stores trade in value to price match against & the other stores have become wise to this & the loss of business due to their price matching & now won’t give print outs out – They will write down the trade in value if you ask nicely, but it isn’t a printout on receipt paper or whatever, so Gamestation won’t honour it.
redmik71
My local Gamestation just looks online for the Cex price then beats it by a quid. I also think their new Gamer Elite card, although very cheesy, has given me some great deals, points for first trade in, online purchase etc.
So I tend to look at Cex for trade in price then go to Gamestation and buy from them.