Internet mega-retailer Amazon.com is the latest company to make a foray into the pre-owned games market, following in the footsteps of Toys R Us with the beta-test launch of its Video Games Trade-In service.
To promote the service's launch, Amazon is currently offering a 10% discount on a single video game or accessory purchase to users who trade in a game before March 19th. For the gist of Amazon's new trade-in service, see the graphic above or check out the Video Games Trade-In page
Could Amazon be poised to break GameStop's stranglehold on the used game market? It will likely depend on the ease-of-use of Amazon's trade-in/mail-in process and the rapidity with which funds are deposited into user accounts. Whereas Amazon users must wait for their games to ship and be processed before receiving compensation, GameStop provides the instant gratification of in-person transactions at hundreds of brick-and-mortar shops worldwide. However, GameStop's customer service is notoriously both boon and bane for the retailer.
In an interesting side note, Cheap Ass Gamer reports that games traded into the Amazon.com service are actually purchased by third-party merchant NorAm International, a wholesale group specializing in media sales through online storefronts including Half.com, Amazon.com and Alibris.com.
[via Cheap Ass Gamer]
Thu, Mar 5, 2009
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