Do Sealed Games Have Higher Trade In Values?
No.
Not only do sealed games have the same trade-in-value as opened games, they present additional problems.
- An influx of sealed copies may alert businesses that their customers are acquiring said games somewhere and potentially making a profit. A large supply of games being traded in sealed of the same copy may reduce the-trade in-value.
- If you're unsatisfied with the fact that unsealed copies do not deserve a higher value, think of it this way: You're trading in a game. Not returning it.
If you insist on trading in sealed games, at the very least, take all price tags off.
What's This About the Minimum EB Games Trade In Value being $9?
Unless otherwise stated, the minimum trade-in-value required to meet eligibility requirements for promotions at EB Games is always $8. In some circumstances, such as trading games to receive credit on consoles (and even then, only sometimes), games require a minimum trade-in-value of $9. If you are denied, politely ask if they are certain - after all, if they believe this to be true it doesn't matter what you say. Simply try tomorrow or call another store to verify.
Why Can't I Trade in Computer/PC Games?
Opened computer games, while similar to console games in the fact that they are all contained within the Federal Copyright Legislation, provide two exclusive problem:
- The home computer is generally a non-proprietary gaming device, and as such any Digital Protection can be more so circumvented than console games, which require specific hardware that the average consumer does not have access to.
Due to the obvious ability for regular people to pirate copies of games, used computer games are not a lucrative business. I spent around an hour actually trying to track down which law this fell under, but couldn't - however, having spent a few years working on the retail edge of this argument, I can attest to its accuracy. - Additionally, many computer games are now being shipped with one-time use serial numbers which can not be redeemed upon a second use. Retailers can simply not risk that you did not use the number while you had possession of the game.
How Often Do Trade In Values Change?
For the most part, trade-in-values are updated either
a) When the store powers down their systems for the day, or
b) When the store powers up their systems for the day.
While we are not certain which retailers operate either way, it is irrelevant - either way, this means that the values can change on a daily basis.
However, these retailers are not blind (although sometimes you've got to wonder) - certain situations can cause internal messages and shuffling and cause locks on accepting certain games or simply relaying a decreased value if they become aware of something that could directly influence the supply of a specific used game.
Why Didn't Blockbuster Video/EB Games Take My Game?
Although the trade-in-values for retailers are Nationally consistent, store stock is not. Blockbuster Video and EB Games can and will deny a trade on specific titles if that store has ample stock. Additionally, all retailers reserve the right to deny any trade at their discretion.
Can I Trade in Duplicate Titles?
That depends what you're trading in for.
If you're simply trading straight across for credit, each retailer has different regulations.
Future Shop: 3 of the same title per transaction
EB Games: Unlimited
Blockbuster Video: At store discretion
If you are utilizing games for promotions, such as a Trade x get y free/reduced event, Future Shop is the only retailer that will allow the transaction to occur using duplicate titles. If you are trading in duplicates for EBs T3G1F, only one title may be used for each set of three. For example, if you have two copies of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, you will have to trade them each in separately, with four other games, totaling two sets of three.
What's With all the Abbreviations?
Abbreviations allow us to quickly relay what we want to say. Here are the most common ones, in alphabetical order:
BB
Best BuyBBV
Blockbuster VideoEB
EB GamesFS
Future ShopNFR
Not for ResaleRCSS
Real Canadian SuperstoreSDM
Shoppers Drug MartT3G1
Trade 3 Get 1 (free)TIV
Trade-in-valueTSCC
The Source by Circuit CityWM
Wal-Mart
What Does 'Minimum Trade In Value' Mean?
Individual retailers have their own promotions, usually resembling a deal wherein you trade a pre-determined number of games with a minimum trade-in-value and receive a brand-new game for free (or a nominal charge depending on your provincial laws).
The minimum trade in values are:
- EB Games: $8
- Future Shop: $9
Where Can I Find Cheap Games?
This is the holy grail. There's no point in trading in big games like Call of Duty, Halo 3 or Metal Gear Solid to put in towards a promotion - it simply isn't worth it. When you take advantage of the trade promotions, each game is effectively "bumped" in value to be one-third of the cost of the new game. That said, here are a few common places to find cheap games:
- Rogers Video used games (and the 2/$40 sales)
- Blockbuster Video's used game section
- Pawn Shops
- Wal-Mart Bargain Bins
- The Source
- EB Games
What is a 'Bumped' Value?
A bumped value is an inflated trade-in-value that represents what you received for the game, and not it's standard trade-in-value.
For example, if you have 3 (three) $8 (eight dollar) games and are utilizing the T3G1F for a new, $69.99 game, each game will have a "bumped" tiv of $23.33 to cover the cost of the game. Trading these games in for credit would have only netted you $24, while the T3 gave you $70.
EB/BBV/FS Wouldn't Honour a Promotion?
Employees are not in charge of corporate decisions - if you happen to find one who is unfamiliar with a deal you may have read online, politely ask them to check their email binder or staff messages to double check that the promotion you're trying to redeem does exist. Starting your question with "A friend of mine said he..." instead of "What the hell you're stupid" may prove beneficial.
Should I Get the EB Gameplay Guarantee?
That is totally up to you. It would be morally presumptuous of me to tell you what to do, so here's the rundown.
The Gameplay Guarantee used to cover pretty much anything that could happen to your disc. Now it simply covers standard wear-and-tear. Sure, most scratches are covered, but if it's in pieces you may as well throw it out. As the majority of people reading this tend to be mildly OCD about their collections, you probably won't be scratching up your games. The ones you don't care about probably won't be in your collection long - if you've got kids or retarded room-mates you may want to give it a second look. At $2 bucks a pop it can add up, especially when you're flipping games!
What's EB's Gaming Guarantee?
The gaming guarantee is a promotion that happens generally every two-to-three months where they commit to endorsing a game that is likely to sell well in the sake of convincing you to pre-order. It essentially works like this:
- Pre-order game.
- Pick up game within seven days of release date.
- Return game, opened, within seven days of the date you picked it up, with the pick-up receipt, get full refund on an EDGE Card (EB Games Store Credit) on opened game and free 1-week rental.
Can I Change My Pre-order?
Yes.
In fact, this is fairly common for securing credit while games you own are above the magical minimum-tiv line. Nothing you currently want to play? Use the T3G1F to trade for a game that isn't due out for a few months, and then swap it over to something else should it strike your fancy. If there isn't anything coming up, just rinse and repeat. Additionally, you can pre-order something that will be released relatively soon, and then just not pick up your pre-ordered game. After a week or two they'll have sold it and issue you an EDGE card with the credit.
When you swap a pre-order, you're essentially refunding the credit on the first game, and putting it towards the new game. With this in mind, it is in your best interest to pre-order the most expensive game available (or simply utilize all $69 worth of the promotion). If you swap to a more expensive game, you've got to pay the difference. Likewise, if you swap to a cheaper game, you may receive the difference back in credit, provided you did not use the T3 promo to pay for it initially.
How Does Tax Work?
EB Games
At EB Games, there are two different types of credit issued. The first is store credit, and is issued in the form of the EDGE card. The second, which is purchasable, is a gift card.
EDGE cards are non-taxable. Gift cards are.
If you're purchasing a $70 game and have $50 on your EDGE card, you will pay:
$70 - $50 * 1.(your tax)
In this scenario, only the balance due after store credit is applied is taxable.
If you use a gift card, you will pay:
$70 * 1.(your tax) - $50
In this scenario, the entire purchase is taxable.
Future Shop/Best Buy/Blockbuster Video
At Future Shop/Best Buy/Blockbuster Video you get taxable trade credit, so it's just like a gift card. When you use the credit, you still have to pay tax on the full amount.
Rogers Plus/Video
If you use the credit in the same transaction as a trade in, the credit is deducted before tax is applied, so the credit is non-taxable. However, if you get the credit on a gift card or star rewards card, it will be taxable when you use it later.
What Do I Need to Trade in Games at EB Games?
EB Games requires a valid photo driver's license as its sole requirement. If doing a pre-order, a valid telephone number, while not required, will allow them to contact you when it has arrived. EB Games only collects the rest of your personal information for tax purposes.
What Do I Need to Trade in Games at Blockbuster Video?
Blockbuster Video requires valid government-issued photo identification as well as an initial signed video-game trading contract to identify that you accept the terms laid forth by Blockbuster Video. For the official documentation, check out Blockbuster Video's trading terms.
What Do I Need to Trade in Games at Future Shop?
Lots of patience.
Although nothing is signed at the point of sale, and no identification is required, the process is easily the longest of the Canadian retailers, consuming on average 15-20 minutes, assuming you find an associate who knows the routine. For Future Shop, unlike BBV and EB, you head to the gaming department, and not customer service as you might expect.
What If I Don't Have Enough Games for EB Games Promotions?
If you've already scoured high and low and can't find any other games to use, EB Games has a nifty little thing going for them - they will bump games to the full value you'd acquire were you to Trade-3-Get-1-Free ($23.33 on a $69.99 game) if you trade in a game with a qualifying minimum value towards a pre-order.
Do I Need a Manual/Case/Cover Art to Trade in Games?
EB/GameStop
For just credit, you only need the disc (no manual, case or cover art required).
For trade promos such as Trade 3 Get 1 Free (T3G1F), or Trade 2 + 9.99, etc., you need the complete package (including manual, case and cover art).
Refurbishing fees may apply if the disc is severely scratched ($3 deduction).
Futureshop/Best Buy
For all trades, only the disc, case, and cover art are required. Manual not required.
Blockbuster Video
For all trades, generally disc, case and cover art (no manual) are required, but requirements may to vary from store to store. Some stores may accept games without a case.
Rogers Plus/Video
For all trades, you need the complete package (including manual, case and cover art). Also they tend to be the pickiest when it comes to the condition of the disc (anything not marked as mint on the system will have deductions) and they also check for an English manual.
What About 'Not for resale' Games?
No store has a published policy regarding accepting NFR games, but generally EB/GameStop/Futureshop/Best Buy will accept them, while Blockbuster will not.
What exactly is a T3G1F?
T3G1F refers to a promotion that is essentially on on-going promotion at EB Games. The promotion nets you credit towards a game of your choice to a maximum of $69.99 and relies on two things:
- You give them three qualifying games.
- To qualify, the games must be $8 or above (or any of the rows in yellow on the site, which correspond to qualifying EB Games trade in values).
There is usually a sign overhead of the main counter listing 6-12 games which are currently available - I believe the official documentation is that you can trade 3 get 1 free for any pre-order of the games on that sign, or for any game still in the display case (generally released in the last 2 weeks). However, some EB Games will let you pre-order anything in their system, and every now and then they will let you do trade 3s for any game in stock.
