Game Crazy?

With the closing of the Game Xchange in Champaign, Illinois, I thought I had been reduced to pawnshops, rental shops (which I hate), ebay and other online retailers for my used gaming needs.

But, a little bit of research has uncovered a tiny speck of hope in my otherwise dreary future.  I have found a Game Crazy in Champaign.  My question is, does anybody know anything about Game Crazy?  I've never been in one...never even seen one.  Are they reputable? 

Thanks for any wisdom you may impart.

Never mind...I just found out that they're an offshoot of Hollywood Video...immediately raises the warning antenna.

Lock and let die, please!!

I can't take you people complaining about a store that I'd have to drive for 5 hours to get to. BTW, the second closest one is 4 states away. I'd have to take a plane or boat. driving would take too long. I'd give my left foot to have a Game Crazy close to me.waflerevolution

Um...I wasn't complaining...I was asking if it was a decent store. :|

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"]I can't take you people complaining about a store that I'd have to drive for 5 hours to get to. BTW, the second closest one is 4 states away. I'd have to take a plane or boat. driving would take too long. I'd give my left foot to have a Game Crazy close to me.jollyroger78

Um...I wasn't complaining...I was asking if it was a decent store. :|

[QUOTE="jollyroger78"]

[QUOTE="waflerevolution"]I can't take you people complaining about a store that I'd have to drive for 5 hours to get to. BTW, the second closest one is 4 states away. I'd have to take a plane or boat. driving would take too long. I'd give my left foot to have a Game Crazy close to me.waflerevolution

Um...I wasn't complaining...I was asking if it was a decent store. :|

Mine also has a number of ... Dreamcasts and PS1s in stock. I'd say it is worth checking out ...usagi704

I will head over there tomorrow and report back.  Thanks usagi.

I have a GameCrazy near me. Most of the time when I went there at first, their prices where never very good, but my local store has gotten quite a bit better in recent months as far as prices are concerned. They still remind me of EB/GS as far as inept employees and not having a game in stock that even though the box is on the shelf. Mine also has a number of Xboxes, Dreamcasts and PS1s in stock. I'd say it is worth checking out because they are at least a little bit better than EB/GS. My local store has had some decent used stuff that I have never found at an EB/GS.usagi704

[QUOTE="usagi704"]I have a GameCrazy near me. Most of the time when I went there at first, their prices where never very good, but my local store has gotten quite a bit better in recent months as far as prices are concerned. They still remind me of EB/GS as far as inept employees and not having a game in stock that even though the box is on the shelf. Mine also has a number of Xboxes, Dreamcasts and PS1s in stock. I'd say it is worth checking out because they are at least a little bit better than EB/GS. My local store has had some decent used stuff that I have never found at an EB/GS.jollyroger78

12.4 milesGameCrazy - 7 W RIDGLEY ROAD, LUTHERVILLE, MD 21093(410)308-0274

13.16 milesGameCrazy - 211 REISTERSTOWN RD, PIKESVILLE, MD 21208-5310(410)486-4368

14.05 milesGameCrazy - 468 RITCHIE HWY STE A, SEVERNA PARK, MD 21146-2911(410)544-4051

14.33 milesGameCrazy - 6459 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, BALTIMORE, MD 21228-3904(410)788-8415

The stores nearest to me, but man "they picked 4 out f the way, or no one knows where they are or difficult to locate" places. If they would replace the hollywood video near me, right there would be a perfect (and profitable), spot. :P

If I ever get some decent time off work maybe'll track one down. 14 miles don't seem too bad, depends on where I gotta go to get there. It's just work is hard with ten hour days, and 6 days a week (yeah I'm on 6 days this week). I haven't even had a time to open the games I got from the buys earlier this week. xD

Man, I hope I get that vacation in April.

I just got back from my local Game Crazy, my first visit there.  What follows is true for my experience in one store.  I do not know if this can be applied to other stores.

- I have more games than they had in stock.  This is not an exaggeration.

- They had 14-24 Genesis games for $1.99.  All sport titles, all loose.

- They carried only PS2, XB, GC, 360, PS3, Wii, GBA, PSP and about 7 DS games. No OGB.

- The clerk was very knowledgeable about games, publishers and developers.  She knew about games that were out of date far before she was born.  I know this because I had to listen to an A-grade moron bore her to death for the 15 minutes I was in the store.

- All of the used games were smothered with at least 2 large stickers.  Most of the covers and instruction manuals I looked at were in poor shape, so I am guessing the games are post-rental.

I just got back from my local Game Crazy, my first visit there. What follows is true for my experience in one store. I do not know if this can be applied to other stores.

- I have more games than they had in stock. This is not an exaggeration.

- They had 14-24 Genesis games for $1.99. All sport titles, all loose.

- They carried only PS2, XB, GC, 360, PS3, Wii, GBA, PSP and about 7 DS games. No OGB.

- The clerk was very knowledgeable about games, publishers and developers. She knew about games that were out of date far before she was born. I know this because I had to listen to an A-grade moron bore her to death for the 15 minutes I was in the store.

- All of the used games were smothered with at least 2 large stickers. Most of the covers and instruction manuals I looked at were in poor shape, so I am guessing the games are post-rental.

aspro73

I had been meaing to start a thread about Game Crazy and what others had experienced. 

For the record there is a Gamecrazy in Arlington Mass.  Thats about 30-40 miles from Weymouth.  So no more excuses Wafle.

They used to have a fairly good selection of classic stuff but it seems like they have gotten rid of most of it.  Apsro is right in that most the genesis, SNES stuff is crumby sports titles.  Their used prices tend to be a bit better than Gamestop/EB. 

The first time I ever went there I picked up Growlanser Generations that they had new in the box.  Then about 1-1/2 years ago they had a huge clearance.  I picked up a bunch of good PS2 RPG's for about $10-$20.  I got Shining Tears, Stella Deus, and Shin Megami Tensei:Nocturne.  That was the last time they had anything relevant.

The employees are super inept and not really helpful at all.  They are always playing games even when there are customers roaming roaming around the store.  They will ask you if you need help, but then immediately go back to playing.  They never know about sales promotions and never really update the pricing on the games.  The very last time I was there they tried to get me to sign up for their MVP card.  It's their version of the EB edge card.  It comes with a magazine subscription so I chose the Official Playstation Magazine with the demo disc.  After I got signed up the kid told me that OPM wasn't available anymore even though they had a huge sign with the available magazines.  I chose not to sign up since I couldn't get the magazine and he got upset with me. 

The biggest positive for Gamecrazy is they usually have Old stock that is hard to find at other stores.  They have brand new copies of Disgaea 1 and as I mentioned before that had Growlancer when everyone had been sold out for a long time.  So if you're looking for something obscure you may be able to find it there.  Just don't expect to be treated to kindly.

my dealings with GC have been mixed.

There is one from me about 30 miles away that I used to go to all the time.  Some of it was from hollywoods rentals, lots of others were from trade-ins.  And I did find many a good deal there: new disgea (after it was impossible to find) for $19.  Growlanser (the collection box) for ...$39 I think it was?  I know it wasnt full price...and I had lots of fun browsing their NES/SNES/GEN/DC titles. :)  And while most of the staff was fairly inept when it came to games at least they made an attempt to help, and there were 2 employees that were an absolute joy to talk to about games - so overall it was usually a good experience, even if they didnt have what I was looking for.

Then came the day....about a year and a half ago...

Someone WAY up the food chain decided that 'old games' were taking up too much space at this particular store, and not worth the effort.  They stopped taking anything older than PS1 games (at THIS particular store) - and to add insult to injury, they started throwing away cases and manuals for PS1 and DC games. I couldnt bring myself to go back after that.

HOWEVER...my kid brother and I hit up a GC in houston when I was visiting over the holidays - just a few months ago.  The guy there was a little...over-enthusiastic (my brother swears he was actually hitting on me, but I missed that bit somehow) but he knew his games, and they still had a decent selection of retro games (I think that was where I got my light gun for my genesis - the 'Menacer' I think its called?)

So, I'd just go check it out.  Every GC I've been in has been a little different - some were great, some not so good.  your local store might be one of the good ones, you never know....if they still accept older games as trade ins, thats a very good sign...