Gazelle Trade-in FAQ and Discussion Thread

RedGamer

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Gazelle.com

As the weeks have gone by, I have noticed discussion of Gazelle.com trade-in's within the Amazon Trade-in thread. I have decided to take it upon myself to create a thread solely for the purpose of discussing Gazelle.com and posting information pertaining to it.

This post will be updated to look.. spiffier with a full-fledged FAQ within a day or two, when I find the time.

For now, I'll list some basic information about Gazelle.com.

Credit Increases:

+5% Amazon Gift Card TIV: When trading in at Gazelle.com, if you choose Amazon Gift Card as your payment method, you will receive 5% more for your trade-in's.

Promotional Codes (entered during Checkout) ALL CODES ARE ONE-USE PER ACCOUNT, DO NOT STACK:
gazellebonuscode.jpg

*Credit to no_exit for above picture.

Flipping to Gazelle


Flipping refers to buying items at one place and trading in or selling them elsewhere at a profit (however, sometimes it is done to transfer credit from one place into credit at another or pure cash.)

FAQ

Q) What is Gazelle.com?

A) Gazelle.com is a site where one can trade in items ranging from Electronics to Video Games to Cell phones.

Q) Are there TIV's any good?

A) Some of their TIV's are -very- good, some are average and, like any other trade-in site or establishment, some trade-in values are poor.

However, from my experience and from the experience of other CAG members, I'd say the TIV's are above-average. Especially when one takes into account promotional codes or the +5% Amazon Gift Card TIV. To note, they seem to match Amazon.com's trade-in values on video games. However, they lag behind by around a day or two. So if a value plummets on Amazon, you can still lock it in at Gazelle.

Q) Is Gazelle.com a reliable place to trade-in games?

A) Many members of CAG have used Gazelle for trading in un-needed items and have had good experiences.


TIMING

Q) How long do I have to send in my items?
A) You have 30 days to get your item postmarked according to Gazelle. Don’t always wait because they won’t want to continue to offer 30 days if everyone takes that long & your post office may not want to send your stuff out.

Q) What happens if I send the item after 30 days?
A) You get the TIV as of that day.

Q) How long does it take to ship to Gazelle?
A) From West Coast up to 3-8+ days, usually about 6. From East Coast about the same, though frequently a day or two faster.

Q) How long does it take them to verify the item’s condition?
A) A few days, but can take longer.

Q) How long does it take to receive Paypal/AMZ credit email after item is approved?
A) Usually 1-4 days, but can take up to 10.

Q) I submitted a game but it did not show up on gazelle or email me...
A) It can take up to 24 hours for it to show up, but it's usually less than a minute.

SHIPPING

Q) Who pays to ship to Gazelle?
A) Gazelle pays.

Q) Do they give you a box?
A) If you want one but only for orders that have ~3-6 games (forget exact amount), they will mail you a priority mail box (but they give you parcel post label…). The box will arrive in ~3 days-1.5 weeks.

Q) Why did I get an email saying I’ll get a box when I did not request one?
A) When you delete games from a large order it will then default to giving you a box. Just un-request it.

Q) Can I cancel a shipment after I get a box?
A) Yes, but don’t abuse this or face possible sanction.

Q) Does Gazelle insure your shipment?
A) They claim they do, but no one has run into this problem yet.

Q) Shipping label does not fit on box, what do I do?
A) Set your printer to print 5x8 postcard and this will work fine & fit bubble mailers.

Q) Should I open my games before sending in if they’re new?
A) Does not matter.

Q) Why was it delivered to Cockeysville instead of Hunt Valley, MD?
A) They get them shipped to both of these addresses, which are streets away from each other.

WHAT TO INCLUDE/CONDITION

Q) Do I need to send the instruction manual?
A) No, but again don’t send everything without manuals if you want this policy to stay the same.

Q) Can I print out my own cover art or use generic?
A) Yes, possibly YMMV, again don’t abuse, and try to send cover art that has UPC label that matches the UPC for the game. To check this punch the UPC into Amazon searchbox.

Q) Will they take games without UPC Label on artwork and still give you full value?
A) Yes, YMMV though, as 2 people had this work but both sent in sealed games.

Q) Can I use a generic case?
A) YMMV, again don’t abuse.

Q) How picky are they over game condition?
A) Less picky than Amazon.

MISCELLANEOUS

Q) If I reject the new TIV they give me who pays to ship it back?
A) You do.

Q) How does Amazon credit get sent?
A) You will get a redeemable code much like an Xbox Live or PSN network DLC code. You just redeem that as a gift card on Amazon.

Q) Can I cancel games that I submitted on their site?
A) Yes, you can cancel games individually without the values of the others affected.
*credit to J7.


TC Notes: Please post about your experiences with Gazelle or anything else you think should be added to this post, I'm always up for more information. I apologize for not keeping it as up to date as I should.

~Thanks, RedGamer.
 
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I just sent in my games in a priority box flipped inside out. Boxes at my post office was $1.75. I didn't use packing because the UPS guy told me to do this to my box that got shipped to Amazon so I tried it with Gazelle. I laid my games side by side and stacked so they didn't move sideways. Then I cut down all four corners seams until they just right above the top of the games. Pushed once side flat against the games (covering them). Did it to the opposite side and taped the overhang down. Did it to the other sides. Taped the crap out of it. Box wasn't perfectly square but the games didn't move. UPS guy said no damage would come to the games and he was right cuz it arrived at Amazon with no problem and was accepted. Did the same to Gazelle. Box free. No pack. Free tape at the post office.
 
[quote name='tranaveli']I just sent in my games in a priority box flipped inside out. Boxes at my post office was $1.75. I didn't use packing because the UPS guy told me to do this to my box that got shipped to Amazon so I tried it with Gazelle. I laid my games side by side and stacked so they didn't move sideways. Then I cut down all four corners seams until they just right above the top of the games. Pushed once side flat against the games (covering them). Did it to the opposite side and taped the overhang down. Did it to the other sides. Taped the crap out of it. Box wasn't perfectly square but the games didn't move. UPS guy said no damage would come to the games and he was right cuz it arrived at Amazon with no problem and was accepted. Did the same to Gazelle. Box free. No pack. Free tape at the post office.[/QUOTE]

Those supplies aren't free. What you've done is one of the many reasons why the postal service is constantly raising rates and still losing money hand over fist. Think about your impact on the rest of the world before you start bragging about how you got something for nothing.
 
[quote name='HisDivineShadow']Btw, does anyone have experience sending more than one of the same game to Gazelle? Any problems? Thanks.[/QUOTE]

I sent in 9 copies of Skate 2 last week and the trade was accepted yesterday (although it usually takes a two days to receive the Amazon GC).

Made about $60 on the flip which, along with some other trade-ins, I am going to use this time for a few backpacking accessories rather than more games.
 
[quote name='cheeky']Those supplies aren't free. What you've done is one of the many reasons why the postal service is constantly raising rates and still losing money hand over fist. Think about your impact on the rest of the world before you start bragging about how you got something for nothing.[/QUOTE]


The lady at the post office told me to flip the box inside out because they won't accept parcel post in a priority box. The reason the post office loses money is because everybody is going paperless and loss of institutional control. Case in point my mailman was delivering mail up the street from me when I went to the neighborhood park to shoot some hoops and I see my mailman pull up at the park next to another mail truck. Played for two hours and they were still there. Got home and showered then seen the mailman a few houses down. The point is they get paid regardless if there is no mail to deliver and they all want their hours. And the no pack method was shown to me by a UPS worker to save me money on pack.
 
[quote name='zpoor17']How long do we have to trade in games? I couldn't seem to find it in the first post.[/QUOTE]

30 days after you submit the trade, one of the best parts about Gazelle.
 
[quote name='Moravagine']I sent in 9 copies of Skate 2 last week and the trade was accepted yesterday (although it usually takes a two days to receive the Amazon GC).

Made about $60 on the flip which, along with some other trade-ins, I am going to use this time for a few backpacking accessories rather than more games.[/QUOTE]


Yeah I'm getting all amazon credit for my trades but half of it I'm using for random things like some furniture, wires, couple of other house accessories that I need. Then I'm just dumping the rest on my big game order to be used as they ship out. Pretty helpful to buy discounted items with free 2day shipping that are technically all like 50% off since it's all credit from flipping.
 
need some help please. i locked in my trades on 4/14. today i tried to ship my package out and the usps lady said i can't use the generated label because it's dated as of 4/14 and it's old. i tried reprinting, but the date is the same. is there a way ro change that date without resubmitting the games? or is the usps lady full of shit? thank you.
 
It sounds like she's just wrong. I'm no expert on the mailing system but that sounds like a mistake. If it's a paid for label that hasn't already been used, I have no idea what the problem is.

*edit*And why is my post before yours? =/
 
[quote name='cheeky']Those supplies aren't free. What you've done is one of the many reasons why the postal service is constantly raising rates and still losing money hand over fist. Think about your impact on the rest of the world before you start bragging about how you got something for nothing.[/QUOTE]

Seriously go to a fuckin supermarket and pick up one of the hundreds of small boxes they are going to flatten and throw away if you cant pull the couple $ for a box or even cheaper bubble mailer.
 
[quote name='Rob26Smith']need some help please. i locked in my trades on 4/14. today i tried to ship my package out and the usps lady said i can't use the generated label because it's dated as of 4/14 and it's old. i tried reprinting, but the date is the same. is there a way ro change that date without resubmitting the games? or is the usps lady full of shit? thank you.[/QUOTE]

I've had several USPS workers get on my case lately about using "old" labels, seems pretty lame since it's not like they lose any money if you bring it in a day or two late. Last time it happened with a Gazelle label, I just told the guy that the other company had sent me the label and I had no way of changing it, and he let it go after that. YMMV I guess.
 
Took my Gazelle priority box into the PO today and they had a little back and forth about it with each other but they decided that the 4lb Parcel Post rate more than covered 1 1/2 lbs of actual weight going via Priority. So they were going to block out the "Parcel Post" part of the label with a sticker or something. I don't know what they ended up doing for sure because they said they'd take care of it after I left. We'll see how that all goes ;).
 
Gazelle, credit meeeeeeeee.

Waiting for like 350 in credit from them for two trades. I submitted a third over the weekend but have yet to mail it out.

I started thinking about all the little crap I need around the house and added it to my wishlist on amazon. It's just sitting there, staring back at me waiting to be ordered.
 
Where in the world do I find a code? I tried tweet10, but it says "

  • Unfortunately this box is not eligible for the code you entered
 
Quick update:

Package 1 -- "mishipped" by USPS still in limbo
Package 2 -- all games verified
Package 3 -- all games verified*

*Package 3 included Rock Band 2 PS3 w/o manual. When I submitted I stated it was missing the manual and it had a value of $18. After it was "verified" the value changed to $20.
 
[quote name='Vortextk']Gazelle, credit meeeeeeeee.

Waiting for like 350 in credit from them for two trades. I submitted a third over the weekend but have yet to mail it out.

I started thinking about all the little crap I need around the house and added it to my wishlist on amazon. It's just sitting there, staring back at me waiting to be ordered.[/QUOTE]

Just email customer service and explain your situation. I had to once as I was getting worried about the quote expiring. CS personally expedited my item. Got full credit within 12 hours.
 
[quote name='h2dk']
*Package 3 included Rock Band 2 PS3 w/o manual. When I submitted I stated it was missing the manual and it had a value of $18. After it was "verified" the value changed to $20.[/QUOTE]

Question - how do you state there is no manual? All I see are options for "Disc is fully functional?", "Original Case", and "Original Artwork". Given that the manual is none of those I included a few without manuals and expect full credit.

Using their own criteria on "original artwork": "By 'Original Artwork' we mean both the front and back cover inserts."

And on "original case": "By 'Original Case' we mean the actual hard case to the disc, not a jacket or sleeve."

They used to have a condition specification ("like new", "very good", "good", "acceptable" - something along those lines). I'm glad they ditched that.
 
All of my trades have been accepted totaling around $400. Some were blockbuster preplays that didn't have booklets, where I used an original case from another game and printed the artwork off the internet. They never deducted a dollar from the original quotes.

All in all I've made most all (less 50-75 bucks) of what I've spent on the bbv sale back in gazelle-paypal money, have about 25 new (mostly decent) xbox games, 15 wii games, and around $100 in best buy credit.
 
[quote name='io']Question - how do you state there is no manual? All I see are options for "Disc is fully functional?", "Original Case", and "Original Artwork". Given that the manual is none of those I included a few without manuals and expect full credit.

Using their own criteria on "original artwork": "By 'Original Artwork' we mean both the front and back cover inserts."

And on "original case": "By 'Original Case' we mean the actual hard case to the disc, not a jacket or sleeve."

They used to have a condition specification ("like new", "very good", "good", "acceptable" - something along those lines). I'm glad they ditched that.[/QUOTE]

I took original artwork to be the instruction manual and case to mean hard case + cover. (I didn't actually read their criteria).

I guess I didn't have to be so damn picky at BBV...maybe I'll make my rounds one more time :)
 
[quote name='h2dk']I took original artwork to be the instruction manual and case to mean hard case + cover. (I didn't actually read their criteria).

I guess I didn't have to be so damn picky at BBV...maybe I'll make my rounds one more time :)[/QUOTE]

Well, it's nice to know they corrected your "mistake" and bumped the value back up. They certainly didn't have to do that. So bonus points for Gazelle!

I was just going through my Gazelle trades. Here is what I like about them vs Amazon. A few games I had locked in have actually gone up! Yeah, there are a few among the huge drops: specifically, The Bigs 2 PS3, Crisis Core FF VII and FF XII Revenant Wings. So I simply cancelled those out of my not yet mailed submissions and resubmitted them under a new trade. I can then reprint the label for the older submission without those ones (and the values of things like GH Smash Hits doesn't drop as it does at Amazon when you do that).
 
[quote name='h2dk']Quick update:

Package 1 -- "mishipped" by USPS still in limbo
Package 2 -- all games verified
Package 3 -- all games verified*

*Package 3 included Rock Band 2 PS3 w/o manual. When I submitted I stated it was missing the manual and it had a value of $18. After it was "verified" the value changed to $20.[/QUOTE]

Update:

Package 2 -- Paypal received 4/22, mailed on 4/14
Received an email from gazelle informing me that they have yet to receive Package 1...thank you USPS
 
Third trade to gazelle was a sucess (traded in 30 games or so). I just traded in three used and resurfaced games to gazelle (from gamestop.com) and they all passed inspection (granted I tried all three out before I shipped to make sure they worked, so there should be no reason as to why they wouldn't). I recommend this site to everyone. Their trade in values are similar or better than Amazon's plus you can opt to get Amazon credit at an 5% increase over cash (I choose cash though).
 
[quote name='koreysimmons'] Their trade in values are similar or better than Amazon's plus you can opt to get Amazon credit at an 5% increase over cash (I choose cash though).[/QUOTE]

Actually, they are exactly the same as Amazon, but just behind by a day or two. So often it seems they have better prices because they don't drop when Amazon does - but they catch up a day or two later. However, occasionally this means they have lower prices, too, when Amazon raises theirs. Case in point was Crisis Core FF VII yesterday: $9 at Amazon, $8 at Gazelle (and it was $7 when I checked it last week at both places).

My updates:

Package #1: Mailed via Parcel Post 4/16, delivered 4/22, no notice from Gazelle of receipt yet
Package #2: Mailed via Parcel Post 4/16, delivered 4/21, notice of acceptance 4/22, no Amazon credit yet

So, yeah, I don't get how some people have receipt, acknowledgement, and credit sent on the very same day. It seems to follow this pattern for me: they get the package (shown via the DC number) one day, acknowledge getting it the next day, and send the Amazon gift card 2-4 days after that.
 
They inspected a package from me yesterday and the day before that. So the one from 2 days ago I was credited for today(the estimate said 5/03, thank god that WAS an estimate), the second has been received and inspected and hopefully I'll be getting that credit tomorrow.

I sent out a small package to amazon the same day, gazelle was apparently behind on those two games so it was like 3 bucks more to trade to amazon. I got credit for that today too. I think I sent everything out the 16th?
 
USPS sucks. I live in Virginia, 3-4 hours away, tops, from the Maryland shipping address. They sent my packages to be processed to North Carolina then back to Maryland.

However, 3 of my packages were received and I got my Amazon giftcard emails + 5%. Only the ones that I request check payments went tp NC,, its like they know somehow.
 
Got word on $1500 in trades that I had sent to Gazelle last week, everything checked out. For those that are afraid to send in high volumes of games, I am probably not conservative enough in that regard.
 
[quote name='nixmahn']USPS sucks. I live in Virginia, 3-4 hours away, tops, from the Maryland shipping address. They sent my packages to be processed to North Carolina then back to Maryland.

However, 3 of my packages were received and I got my Amazon giftcard emails + 5%. Only the ones that I request check payments went tp NC,, its like they know somehow.[/QUOTE]

Meh, USPS may suck at a lot of things, but that is simply the way they handle Media/Parcel Post. It has to go to a regional sorting facility and then back out again. They don't hand deliver that stuff door-to-door you know. I wouldn't get all worked up over that. What you didn't say was how long the whole process was? I mail things to Gazelle via USPS Parcel Post and to Amazon via UPS. USPS beats UPS every time - by a day or two (5-6 days vs 8 days for UPS). So while the PO may send it off in an odd direction to sort, they dont sit on it as long as UPS does.

[quote name='converse']Got word on $1500 in trades that I had sent to Gazelle last week, everything checked out. For those that are afraid to send in high volumes of games, I am probably not conservative enough in that regard.[/QUOTE]

You, sir, are the Gazelle-master. I know you've traded a lot there in the past, too, so clearly they have no limits they choose to impose. Good to know. As for me, I'm still waiting on GCs and acknowledgements of packages they have received. Meanwhile Amazon hands out their credit instant-like.
 
Yeah, Gazelle bumped one of my Beatles Rockband up to the full value. Guess I met their criteria without realizing it :D Good company to deal with, I have a couple checks enroute (this before I realized I wouldn't get fee'd by Paypal)

[quote name='converse']Got word on $1500 in trades that I had sent to Gazelle last week, everything checked out. For those that are afraid to send in high volumes of games, I am probably not conservative enough in that regard.[/QUOTE]
Wow... I was passing up lots of 3-4 dollar profit flips at Blockbuster. I guess I should have went hard like you. This is good info to know for the future, that they won't ban/reject your order for being too big.
 
dont use Gazelle if your sending in expensive items...they are really screwed me over...customer service sucks...if they lose your package...might as well kiss it goodbye ...b/c they want to conduct all business via chat...and whenever you try to explain your case...they call you a liar after Gazelle's computer generated the wrong shipping kits... Ananda and Patricia are the worse managers ever!

I used to love the company...but seriously they wont fix their own mistakes...that is unacceptable to me..
 
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Explain? What do you mean by wrong shipping kits? What kind of things are you trading - not games?

Edit - Wow, I just checked tracking on a few of my packages and I can say this: if you live on the West Coast and can get your PO to mail the games via priority mail instead of Parcel Post then it is well worth it. I mailed one box on Wednesday and it already got there today (no acknowledgement from Gazelle of course yet, but DC shows delivery). The Parcel Post packages are taking 6 or 7 days.

At my PO, they aren't regenerating a new postage label for the priority shipment. After verifying that the paid for Parcel Post rate is more than enough for priority given the actual weight, they are simply scribbling over the "Parcel Post" at the top with a sharpie and then putting it in the priority pile in the back. Meh, it seems to have worked.

But, for example, my last package was paid for at 8 lbs Parcel Post but only weighed about 2 lbs 6 oz! On this one I hadn't requested a box but I just used a non flat-rate priority box I had in my office. Unfortunately the PO only seems to stock flat-rate boxes these days, but of course you can request others online for free.
 
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Happy with gazelle, though they updated everything at once. Package was delivered, 3 days later they marked received, inspected and verified in one step. 2 days after that, got my amazon credit sent by e-mail. A shame I never traded in when they had the bonus code.
 
Last shipment was just credited, same time line as my other shipment. I went crazy at amazon =) Man the printers these days are nuts! My crappy(and being thrown away) one is like 8 years old. Saving a 100 or a bit more to put towards pre-orders. Really got a lot of small pieces of furniture and other stuff I've needed. Having prime helped too, so nice.

I guess they don't really care about manuals? It's been said a few times now and one of the games I sent in had none and they didn't care. I try to get them if I can, why not, but it's nice to know they won't bump me down some credit because it's missing.

And lmao my BBV just got another copy of SFIV on 360, goes for 2 bucks on gazelle and 2.25 on amazon huh? haha
 
[quote name='io']
Edit - Wow, I just checked tracking on a few of my packages and I can say this: if you live on the West Coast and can get your PO to mail the games via priority mail instead of Parcel Post then it is well worth it. I mailed one box on Wednesday and it already got there today (no acknowledgement from Gazelle of course yet, but DC shows delivery). The Parcel Post packages are taking 6 or 7 days.
[/QUOTE]

Well, Gazelle just let me know that this was received and checked out OK! No credit yet, but that's no surprise. But that's a world speed record for me (being on the West Coast) of 2 days (and I mailed it late in the afternoon Weds) from shipment to check-in. But that's just the difference between Priority and Parcel Post and nothing to do with Gazelle, really, except that their generous shipping weight allowance means we can bump these to Priority at no extra cost if we find the right PO workers!

Vortextk - Yeah, they don't seem to care about the manuals. So far everything I've sent has had them but lots of others report them not caring and even bumping the prices back up to the full value if the CAG had marked it down as lacking cover art.
 
So, has anyone had problems with.. off-color cases?

When I bought a used NSMB Wii, it came with a black case but it had the coverart/manual. It didn't have the Red Case usually included with NSMB Wii.
 
[quote name='RedGamer']So, has anyone had problems with.. off-color cases?

When I bought a used NSMB Wii, it came with a black case but it had the coverart/manual. It didn't have the Red Case usually included with NSMB Wii.[/QUOTE]

I have sent in 360 games in black cases without any problems. CS told me they are concerned about the artwork. Must be complete and original for full TIV.
 
Sent in two packages last Friday. One was accepted on the 20th and I received my credit on the 22nd. The other one I haven't received any word on. When I check the tracking number, it says it was delivered the 20th like the first one. Not sure what the hold up is here, wtf Gazelle.
 
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I'm pretty happy with Gazelle for my first two transactions. Sent in 4 Beatles RB in one box along with some other games. 2 had manuals, 2 were missing them. I estimated it correctly ($18 for no manual, $20 without at the time) and they increased the value of my non-manual submissions to $20.

I went ahead and added insurance to the initial package I sent. was 15 games, so the $3 insurance was well worth the peace of mind.
 
Odd. Made another trade in with them earlier tonight, 9 or 10pm, but now it's...kind of gone. Can't find it anywhere on my account. Will I not be able to seeit in my transactions until they actually send me a shipping label for it?
 
Yeah, there is some lag until they generate the label. I ended up with duplicate submissions last week (both of which they sent me a box for) because I thought the same thing. Sometimes the labels come nearly instantly, sometimes it seems to take an hour or two.
 
Anyone know if platinum hits versions are fine. I would assume so. I might even take the grey cases and switch them with some green ones from my other games, I like the grey ones for some reason.
 
[quote name='V4oLDbOY']Anyone know if platinum hits versions are fine. I would assume so. I might even take the grey cases and switch them with some green ones from my other games, I like the grey ones for some reason.[/QUOTE]

Yeah they are perfectly fine , I sent in my " Greatest Hits DEAD SPACE ( PS3 ) " in and they didnt ask a single question about it
 
[quote name='h2dk']Quick update:

Package 1 -- "mishipped" by USPS still in limbo
Package 2 -- all games verified
Package 3 -- all games verified*

*Package 3 included Rock Band 2 PS3 w/o manual. When I submitted I stated it was missing the manual and it had a value of $18. After it was "verified" the value changed to $20.[/QUOTE]

[quote name='h2dk']I took original artwork to be the instruction manual and case to mean hard case + cover. (I didn't actually read their criteria).

I guess I didn't have to be so damn picky at BBV...maybe I'll make my rounds one more time :)[/QUOTE]

Paypal has been received for all 3 packages
 
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