Where to sell back your unwanted video games
Poor Aunt Myrtle. She tried. She really did. But despite her best efforts, there's just no way you can work up excitement over Just Dance 2016 when you were hoping for Just Cause 3.
The goood news? Once she has toddled back to Cleveland and you don't have to worry about hurting her feelings, you have plenty of options when it comes to getting rid of the game and getting what you really wanted for Christmas.
Of course, in the best of all worlds, your present came with a gift receipt, letting you return it with little to no hassle. But if not, there are still a number of different ways to get cash or credit for that unwanted title. Getting the most take a little work, though.
GameStop: Still worth it?
When it comes to game trade-ins, GameStop is the big fish in the slightly-larger-than-it-was-a-few-years-ago-but-still-pretty-small pond. You can get cash for your old games, but it's a sucker's bet. The smarter play — assuming you intend to purchase another game at some point — is taking store credit.
To get the most credit, though, you'll need to complete two steps. First, spend the $15 to join the store’s PowerUp Rewards program (you'll also get a subscription to Game Informer magazine, so it's not lost money). Then, scan the store circulars and online ads, along with the forums of deal-centric websites like CheapAssGamer.
PowerUp Rewards members get more for their trades, sometimes several dollars per title. And in the post-holiday period, GameStop typically offers extra in-store credits for hot titles. Get rid of some biggies and you can potentially earn nearly double the credit you normally would.
Curious about how much you'll actually receive for your title? GameStop lists what it offers for hot titles and hardware.
Great deals at other retailers
Competition has driven up the trade value of several titles. Many big box retailers that sell games also accept trades-ins as well. The good news with these outlets is you can also easily see who's paying what (for in store credit, as none offer cash) before you bring your games in. Just head to the websites of WalMart. Best Buy, and Target to get a pretty reliable estimate.
As an added bonus, you can also use the credit you get for games for any items sold at those stores, so if you're in need of a spare controller — or even a new TV — those unwanted games can help offset the cost.
If you're a little more patient on when you actually receive the credit, Amazon's trade-in program is an option worth considering. The service is pretty straightforward: Enter the titles you want to dispose of on the site and you’ll see their trade value. Assuming that’s acceptable to you, you print out a free shipping label, box them up, and drop them off at the nearest UPS location. A week or so later, your Amazon account will receive a credit in that amount — which, as with the brick and mortar kings, you can use on anything \ the site carries.
Another delayed gratification option is eBay. And, frankly, if you're looking for cash, this is your best bet. You have the ability to set minimum pricing and can even dictate the terms of payment. The risks, of course, include failing to find a buyer or being forced to accept a bid for an amount lower than you were hoping for.
So who's paying what? Prices vary frequently, so you'll need to do your homework. Here, however, is a look at what a few retailers were paying out for a handful of hot titles one week before Christmas:
Call of Duty: Black Ops III (PS4)
GameStop: $20 cash/$25 credit ($22/$27.50 for PowerUp Rewards members)
WalMart: $25.59
Best Buy: $27
Target: $25
Amazon: $23.77
Fallout 4 (PS4)
GameStop: $20 cash/$25 credit ($22/$27.50 for PowerUp Rewards members)
WalMart: $30.55
Best Buy: $29
Target: $25
Amazon: $26.55
Super Smash Bros. (Wii U)
GameStop: $20 cash/$25 credit ($22/$27.50 for PowerUp Rewards members)
WalMart: $23.60
Best Buy: $27
Target: $25
Amazon: $23.87
Halo 5: Guardians (Xbox One)
GameStop: $17.60 cash/$22 credit ($19.36/$24.20 for PowerUp Rewards members)
WalMart: $29.15
Best Buy: $25
Target: $25
Amazon: $19.67
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