I have ALWAYS hated GS (going back to Funcoland). When I lived in NYC (1992-95) there were a number of small gameshops and that is where I started buying used games (for the SNES). Most of these shops were run on reasonable principles. Used games came with a good discount (a $60 new game was, say, $40 used) but if it were cart-only, then it was much less (say, 20-25).
Likewise, these places gave you decent money for a used game . . . a game that sold for $40 used would get you $25 back. So, you could pick up a $40 game . . . play it for a few weeks and trade it back in for $25 in credit.
When I moved back to Wisconsin, I went to my first Funcoland . . . I was horrified by: 1) the prices 2) the condition (all cart only) and 3) the trade-in values. I still blame Funcoland for the loss of millions of boxes and instructions over the years. If they had given even $1 more for complete games, then people would have taken more care. Once people learned that all they needed were carts, then that's what they brought in. Don't give me any crap about "inventory" problems to do this . . . Games were the only
ing thing that Funcoland/GS did/does . . . DO IT RIGHT!
Fast forward to 2004 and when I started to learn about EB (through CAG!). EB made sure current gen games were complete (esp. in trade-in deals) GS still dosen't
ing care. At least 4 things separated EB from GS:
1) Trade-in deals . . . EB would run deals were you could get $10-12.50 for (non-POX) many titles. Buy a $5 game, play it for awhile, and get $12.50 credit for it. If you could swing it, (YMMV) you could return the sealed game you got in the trade for store credit.
2) Online deals (sometimes instore). EB would run great clearance deals where you could get some good games for cheap. GS never (almost never?) does this.
3) Morning update. Here is where EB really shined. Rather than the
ing crap that GS does . . . listing tons of old school games as back ordered. EB would only list games in-stock. If you could manage to be online when they updated their site (about 7am EST) one could often scoop up cool games . . . but you had to order very quickly. It was very, very cool.
4) Stackable codes . . . used stuff could be ordered for 25% off with free shipping. So, newer games that might be $40 used were actually shipped out at $30 with free shipping. Add to this the fact that they came complete . . . GS sucks so badly in comparison.
Add it all up: one could (at least) double their money on cheap games (get $10 credit (or more) for a $5 (or less) game) . . . then take that credit online to buy complete games (or cool old-school stuff) for 25% off with free shipping.
Damn, I miss EB.