Why do people buy used games?

I'm a cheap bastardasphaltmedic

I usually ask to see the back of the CD when I buy it at gamespot or EB... that and they tell if it doesnt work you can bring it back and because I'm a cheap bastardasphaltmedic

It has nothing to do with being a cheap bastard...its smart. Why pay full price if you can get the same exact game for cheaper. If it doesn't work you can just bring it back and get another. I want to know why someone would want to pay full price if you can get it cheaper. And if it has to do with OCD...then thats your problem and you need to loosen up.

the best thing to do is to have a friend who works at bestbuy or EB any game store and get the employee discount.ZX88

Nope, Never, not once.

Now I admit that I am biased, but as I have learned more, I have become very disenchanted with the whole "used" game phenomenon.  EB Games and Gamestop have created a cottage industry of used game sales.  Owing to the fact that they deal in volume, and can easily store the merchandise, they buy for little (unless you trade for store credit) and sell at a tremendous profit.  THis is actually a more significant portion of their net profits than new game sales.  The problem?  The VG companies don't see any of that money.  So, theoretically, If I buy "GeOW" new at EB for $60, EB makes about $5 in profit.  Now, I play the game for a while, then sell it back, for say $20 (since its a popular game) and the turn around and re-sell it for $40.  Then this disc is brought back a month later and at this time they buy it for $10 and sell it for $35.   At this point, They have made $50 on this game, the same profit as the publisher.  The difference is, The publisher has layed out significant capital to fund the development of the game, paying progrmamers, artists and devlopers salaries for years while the game came out.

For popular titles, the resale business generates almost as much revenue as the actual game during its original run.  This is why companies have started to get into the resale business.  How you ask?  The "Greatest Hits" series that you have seen become common place in the last 10 years are a direct attack to capture some of those "lost profits" to the industry.

Simply put, VG are a hobby of mine.  They have brought me a tremendous amount of fun and entertainment for over 25 years.  I would rather my money go to the people who make the games I love, not the people who sell them.  I guess to me this is like the paying the doctor.  I don't mind paying the doctor and nurse who take care of me, but I hate having to foot the bill for some administrator who runs the hospital or inusrance company to to drive a BMW. 

These people (in all industries) are vampires.  They carve out an existance by abosrbing some of the profits of the actual talented artisans who do the work. 

If I can afford it, I buy games when they first come out, to support the industry, even If it will be a while before I play it.  When I can't, I wait for the greatest hits release and buy that.

I don't judge anyone who uses Gamestop/EB Games or others to buy and sell games.  I understand the financial impact.  I only encourage everyone to consider who you want to enjoy your money, Tim Schaffer, or Gamestop.

well I never had any problems playing used games so thats the main reason I still continue to buy em today andyboiii

I am at work and bored, but I have a question. Do most of you buy used games? If so, why? I don't because I partially have OCD and because I hate the fact that someone has handled either properly or improperly what I am buying. You guys dont care about the condition of the game? Just as long as it works? This is just really a conversation starter, its nothing personal.AP11689

Depends the price. At EB and Gamestop I never do....they're $6 less(omg so much money) and sometimes dont have manual or casejet2892

Whenever I buy a used game I will actually clean the game and the box with alcohol on the end of a tissue to wipe up the any grimy kid grease that may be on the box or the disk.dreamscott

well I never had any problems playing used games so thats the main reason I still continue to buy em today andyboiii

used = cheaper, and for a gamer with the prices of consoles rising, as well as the prices of the accessories cheaper wins the match.  but I have a friend who is OCD as well, and he refuses to buy anything used.  I bought him a pair of underwear at the good will for his birthday just to see him freak out.