*NOTE* Will be adjusted as needed with other retailers/information*
Basic Ideals
1. Smart Phones – This will be your best friend when looking for deals. Whether it’s to check the forums for updates on a particular deal, to price check a certain game to determine the value of the deal or to check a value to flip a game you found this is the must have in order to stay efficient and on top of your game.
2. Price – Paying full retail, well just isn’t what this is all about. Never accept paying full price for anything, some exceptions may apply, but if you play your cards right you can get it for a discounted price.
3. Patience – Concerning price and full retail value, game prices fluctuate quite often and quite quickly. Even a little as a week after a game’s release the price can drop so learn to determine which games have potential for sales shortly after their release. ALSO note that while paying full retail isn’t suggested, waiting for particular sales or saving enough flipped credit to purchase one is all part of the strategy. Example – Game A comes out, next week a store hosts a Buy 1 get one 50% off sale.
4. Plan your attack – While it’s fun to hop place to place blindly its best to have a game plan. Know what you’re after before you head towards it and how your deal plans to go. Bring all necessary coupons, information etc. with you to make things hassle free and prepare yourself to defend your deal if things at the store don’t go according to plan.
5. Know Policies – This includes all stores purchase guidelines, as it concerns what deals will stack with sale items, current promotions etc. Also know all stores return policies, sometimes it might take returning an item to get the best deal which will be discussed further. Link - http://wiki.cheapassgamer.com/index.php/List_of_store_return_policies
6. Maximize Your Deal! – Planning is everything like mentioned above; however it’s always good sense to get the most bang for your buck. Examples– Buy 1 Get 1 Free: Purchase a 20$ game, why get a 5$ game free when you could get a 20$ game for free.
Common Terminology –
YMMV – Your mileage may vary, meaning that while this sale may be found in one location it might not be at all. This includes certain stores selling an item for a particular price as well as participation in a sale/price change or price match. Best way to look at it, it’s worth a shot but not a guarantee.
B&M – Brick and Mortar, The actual physical store. Example – Best Buy B&M (usually means sale doesn’t reflect online as well)
TIV – Trade In Value, what an item trades in for at a particular retailer
Flip/Flipping – This is when an item is purchased at a certain value, usually cheaper than what it normally retails or trades in for, for the sole purpose of getting rid of for profit beyond your initial purchase price. Games/Items are flipped when they are bought cheap to sell/trade in else ware to make more money. Example – Purchase Game A at store for 10$, “flip” it to another store for 20$ credit.
BB – Best Buy
TRU – ToyRus
GS- GameStop
OP – Original poster, the person who created the thread or posted the deal.
B1G1/B1G1 50% off – Buy one Get one free or Buy one Get one 50% off
Courtesies –
Being a CAG means having respect. While we are all after the deal it’s important to consider all those involved.
• Stand Your Ground - It’s ok to be firm with a stores employee, but be polite for this in many cases will be the only reason you end up getting a deal. Stick to your guns but don’t act an ass and ruin any chance for you and future customers of getting something for a certain price or deal.
• POST IT! – If you find a good deal, share it, if it weren’t for others doing the same you wouldn’t have as much success with this site.
• Share it – Share your experience good or bad, how the transaction went, certain methods used to ensure you received the deal as well as rough prices/locations you received them. Also, try and keep CAG deals on CAG forums only, posting on other deal sites (i.e. Slickdealz) can cause too much unwanted attention.
• Respect – These forums are used to help all CAG share and post deals they found or for others to take advantage of. Thank OP’s for their finds and congratulate those who scored on deals. A little courtesy goes a long way and it what goes around comes around.
• Don’t Be A Hoarder – No one likes that person who buys out a store’s inventory of a particular deal just because it’s good. While flipping is encouraged please be considerate of others who might want to partake in a deal. If you post that you “purchased 20 copies” of a particular item don’t expect praise in return. It could happen to you.
Retailers
Amazon- Probably the most popular and arguably the best as it concerns online deals. Amazon features just about any product your looking for as well as favorable discounts and third party retailers. Link – http://www.amazon.com
Pros
• Amazon doesn’t charge tax (In most states) However this is a grey area, as you are still required by law to state tax free online purchases on your taxes, Keep this is mind.
• If shipped and sold from Amazon or one of its partners it ships free if order is over 25$. However with amazon prime you get free two day shipping on all orders under the same criteria no matter the price. Below is link to Amazon Prime student which is free if you have an .edu email address as well as regular amazon prime signup.
Student – http://www.amazon.com/student Prime – http://www.amazon.com/prime
• Amazon will match all competitor prices in many cases. If they haven’t already, simply submit a lower price by doing so on the product page or speaking to with online chat help.
• Amazon in most cases offers a lower price on new retail items, add this with no tax or shipping charges and can easily be the best deal
• Amazon also has random “Gold Box Deals” which can offer nice savings on several games and related products. These are deals on a set timer for individual products as well as daily personal deals.
• Amazon on most items allows for Trade In’s. In many cases the trade in values can be much more than an item is purchased for a trade values can be locked in. Trading in gives amazon credit which can be used on any item sold on the site. Shipping on trade ins are paid by Amazon and are able to print a shipping label.
Cons
• If you’re not a fan of purchasing online or having items being shipped or unable to receive shipments this is their only method of purchase.
• Requires a credit/debit card to make purchases. Some may be uncomfortable with this or do not have such methods available to them.
Tips –
1. Price Match Policy , learn to use it if you rather purchase from Amazon to save on tax this can be quite helpful
2. Amazon sells used products too! – If you’re not concerned so much whether a product is brand new or not, in many cases Amazon will have used copies available for in most cases a much cheaper price. This includes games, accessories AND systems.
Best Buy – Best Buy is mostly known for their consumer electronic sales but also boasts as one of the major video game retailers. Their prices are usually on par with that of other competitors but sometimes online prices can be lower or certain deals can be found.
Pros
• Best Buy offers in store pickup or shipping on most the items they sell. This is good for many times a sale is only contained online yet instead of paying for shipping you can pick it up or get it shipped to your local store for free.
• Like mentioned above, sometimes deals can be found online only and can be a sure way to get your deal early.
• Best Buy will price match any advertised competitors ad, which can be helpful if it is more convenient or only source available to you. Making one trip to one store beats going to a few for the same deal.
• Best Buy offers purchase deals quite frequently such as B1G1 50% or a free game with the purchase of another. Many weeks can offer nice sale prices on a certain games so keep an eye for sales ads.
• Best Buy also offers trade ins. They usually offer more than other retailers as well as great promotions on items towards future purchases.
Cons
• Most cases Best Buy doesn’t lower prices regularly and can be the most expensive for regular priced games. They are usually the last to drop prices to match other competitor’s non-advertised products.
• In store pickup can be very YMMV, many cases an order can get cancelled at last minute or you have issues picking up your item due to inventory shortages.
Tips -
1. Best Buy offers price guarantee meaning if you purchase an item and it drops in price shortly after purchase you can return with your receipt and receive the difference.
2. Best Buy also has their own gaming magazine, Go Gamer, which every issue has coupons that can offer substantial discounts on current product. These coupons WILL stack with sale prices and in several cases can make a game/items price next to nothing. This magazine can be purchased in store for 5$ or a subscription (which can also be purchased in store) for 15$
3. YMMV sales are usually on an individual store basis but can offer some great deals such as 30% off all already clearance items.
GameStop – The king of video game retailers, love them or hate them they can offer some
nice savings as well as certain perks. Link – http://www.gamestop.com
Pros
• Reservations – When reserving a game/item this can be treated like layaway. No fees for doing so and can continue to put any amount towards the current reservation at any time. If you wish to cancel the reservation all current credit is refunded no harm no foul
• Power Up rewards card – Offers 10% off all used items (except consoles) and gives 10% bonus to all items traded in. Purchased in store or online. $14.99 per year and comes with the subscription to Game Informer Magazine.
• Usually the best place to find used, current generation games
• Promotions are what make GameStop still a viable option for CAG’s Link to current TIV and promotions - http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302004
• Trade in promotions – Usually offered on up and coming titles, this is a great way to unload games towards the reservation or purchase of a new/unreleased game. Standard is 25% extra towards these titles which can be stacked. Also trade promotions can be offered when trading in a certain number of games whether its extra % or a straight value added to trade in credit.
• ALL trade in items, which nets store credit, is used and does not charge tax. For example if you trade in 59.99 worth of items to purchase a new game, your total is 59.99. No tax is applied
• Often, GameStop will offer B2G1 or similar sales on used items. This could include a particular platform or all used items. This is a great time to maximize a deal and can be used to buy used accessories as well. Example Buy 2 PS3 Controllers (with 10% discount from power up card) get a third free. Usually equates to substantially less than retail.
• Orders can be purchased online and picked up in store if option is available and the store has the item in stock.
Cons
• GameStop will NOT price match other competitors and due to such is usually the most expensive
• Sales rarely happen. Some games will be 20$ or cheaper else ware but GameStop will not budge.
• If you’re a stickler for new games being sealed. GameStop “guts” or opens one or several for display purposes. Sometimes the only available copy is that of a gutted one. No discount will be applied for it being gutted.
• Disc conditions may vary from great to horrible, pay attention to any item you purchase as in most cases the disc was not checked upon trade in
• Low trade in values – GameStop is notorious for offering weak values for games they sell for quite a lot. Prepare to be next to insulted for what they are prepared to offer.
• Original Packaging – GameStop does not require trade ins to come complete with original case or manual. Majority of the time the only used games available will not include either. This not only makes the value seem less but also a turn off for many collectors/gift givers
• Purchasing Used online – This is EXTREMELY YMMV – Many cases a game purchased online will be disc only, no original packaging and in horrible shape. While some may get lucky understand that majority of the time this is the average condition
Tips-
1. Use promotions to your advantage! Trade in promotions can actually be quite nice which stacking games towards something. Can easily turn a few weak trade in values into quite substantial ones. This also includes B2G1 and similar promotions.
2. Return Policy can be your best asset. GameStop offers one of the more lenient and hassle free return policies of any retailer, especially concerning used items. 7 days no questions asked for full refund, 30 days to exchange for defective.
3. If looking for a particular game, you can check store’s inventory online. Always call ahead and ask whether they have it IN HAND as well as the condition (if gutted or if used not in original case). Many cases they will hold an item for you until you come pick it up.
4. Tons of locations can be beneficial for several reasons. Using the return policy to your advantage as well as promotions can net you positive results. For example, you’re looking to purchase B2G2 free but have only found say 2 games at one GS. You want to take advantage of this deal so you purchase them at the one GS, browse at another and find the other 2 games for your deal. Return the 2 you currently have and re-purchase all 4 to get your 2 games for free.
5. GS in most all cases does NOT differentiate used prices from regular or collectors editions, be on the lookout for used copies or collectors editions. These will be sold for the regular editions used price. *Note* - This may be frowned upon but due to such, there is nothing in their policy that prevents you from purchasing a used collector’s edition and returning (if already owned) the regular edition of that game and getting money back. Essentially netting a free upgrade to the collector’s edition.
Target – Not the biggest player in the video game market however Target can offer nice weekly advertised deals as well as regular exceptional deals on clearance priced items. Link – http://www.target.com
Pros
• Weekly advertised deals in most cases are actually quite substantial and can offer prices much lower than other competitors as well as frequent B1G1 50% and similar sales
• Not an overwhelming selection – Can be good if looking for a certain title and can be easy to find in the store as well as see any and all copies available due to layout.
• Arguably one of the better atmospheres for customer service, not crucial but some prefer to shop in more comfortable places
• Target regularly clearances out items in their store, including games and accessories. These continue to drop in price until they are sold. While extremely YMMV the prices some items can be found at can be quite staggering and offer “can’t pass this up” type deals as well as great flip items. Below is the link to the current thread where you can view clearance prices as well as check store inventory.http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=277184
Cons
• Selection is limited versus that of other retailers. Best way to look at it is, if it’s new, popular or was a good seller, they will have it in stock. Target fluctuates inventory quite often so something that has been out a few months may or may not be available.
• Prices are usually slow to drop and most cases only full retail price games are even
kept in stock due to fluctuating inventory.
• Store availability and inventory vary greatly from store when looking for certain items, especially that of clearance.
Tips
1. Targets layout their stores all similarly, meaning clearance items, video games/accessories for example will most cases always be in the same general area. This will be found on one of the end caps facing the wall of the store and will be clearly marked. Check all surrounding areas for items that may have been moved.
2. When purchasing clearance items, be sure to check the forums for the current lowest price seen. Many cases stores are late to make these prices changes or did not sticker them. Use price scanners to check all clearance items for some cases the actual price might be much lower.
3. If you’re willing to take the time , as all stores do price changes different, one clearance item you may find at one store might be out of stock at another. Using your smart phone, purchase the game/item and put a picture of or use a barcode scanner to get an image of an items barcode. Check other stores by scanning the barcode in the price scanner and in some cases the lower price will be found at that location. Simply return and re-purchase to receive the difference.
Walmart – Not the best source for finding good game deals, however one of the better retailers for Black Friday and random online deals.
Pros
• Walmart will match any other retailer’s advertised prices. Meaning if its in the current sales ad, Walmart will adjust the price at the register to match the competitor.
• Some cases Walmart will have certain bonuses or versions of a particular game for their company only
• Locations just about everywhere
Cons
• Walmart doesn’t carry a large game inventory and like most tend to only carry the new or most popular games per system
• Prices rarely, if ever drop until way after other retailers do making deals on their end just about impossible
Tips
1. Seeing as Walmart matches anyone elses prices it can sometimes be used to your advantage to either cut down travel time/expenses but ALSO many deals go out of stock at other retailers and can use Walmart’s inventory to your advantage.
2. Walmart is one of the better retailers for Black Friday, they tend to have some of the better overall gaming deals so be on the lookout for these each year and plan accordingly
K-Mart – Probably the dark horse of video game retailers K-Mart offers quite substantial video game deals and usually some of the best Release-Day deals. The link provided is that of the K-Mart forum located here and shows all off the current and future promotions/price drops. Link – http://www.kmart.com
Pros
• K-Mart offers in most cases with the purchase of certain new games, a printed credit or in the form of points (see Shop Your Way Rewards Link – http://www.showyourwayrewards.com )this can be used towards the purchase of future merchandise and can be used on future titles that offer similar promotions. Example – Purchase Game A and receive 20$ for future purchase. Purchase Game B, use 20$ credit and receive ANOTHER 20$ credit. Link to Kmart Gamer - http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295648
• K-Marts tend to keep their inventory on hand, which can include much older games which can be great for finding older, harder to find games
• In weekly ads K-Mart can often times have substantial deals on certain games, much much lower than that of other retailers. Being as they are a bit more scare in terms of locations, due to others price matching you can often score good deals at other places simply due to K-Marts advertised deals.
Cons
• Location and lack thereof can be few and far or non-existent
• Most cases K-Mart’s as it concerns video games, can be quite unorganized or uninformed on many deals. Don’t be surprised if you show up to purchase an item on release day and the item aren’t even on the sales floor yet.
Tips
1. Keep informed on the K-Mart thread for current promotions and prices, future promotions are usually shown here well before an item goes on sale.
2. When using the future credit receipts or points, maximize your potential by using them on items that offer more credit/points in return. By doing so you can essentially get games on release day for a fair bit off retail price constantly.
3. Be prepared to speak – Like mentioned above some K-Marts can be misinformed of behind so be ready to push for your deal or to get a certain item, politely of course
Toys’R’us – Many forget that at one time, TRU was the main place to go for video games, which times have changed they still boast one of the better selections of current video games and quite often, exceptional deals. Link – http://www.toysrus.com
Pros
• TRU Have been around forever, which means, lots of locations.
• TRU offers in store pickup like many other retailers, this can be crucial when trying to get in on a deal without having to worry about online availability as in many cases the online deals will be allowed for store pickup, assuming it’s in stock.
• Quite often does TRU offer B2G1 or similar sales as well as weekly advertised deals. In some cases these can be extremely good in terms of pricing or extension of deal.
• TRU carries a large selection of games marked $19.99 or under as well as clearance and used titles.
• TRU offers great deals on pre-ordering titles, in many cases a great discount on the game before it even comes out. For example – Game A releases next month for $59.99. however TRU will offer this game for $45 total if pre-ordered.
Cons
• In store promotions or sales can be very YMMV and may not extend to other stores
• Due to some deals being quite exceptional, inventory can deplete extremely quick and in most cases sold out before getting a chance to even loot.
• A lot of prices remain high even on older titles.
• Customer Service as well as matching advertised online/similar promotions in store can often pose problems
Tips
1. Check forums for TRU deals regularly. Most cases these deals are beyond exceptional and can sell out/become dead quickly unless your able to jump in on it quickly.
2. In many cases an advertised deal may not be advertised in store, in most cases these sales are company-wife so be prepared to check prices at the register or a price scanner to ensure they are correct. Many cases they won’t be discovered until rung up and totaled out and promotions apply.
3. Like mentioned above, TRU carries a surplus of titles $19.99 and under as well as clearance titles. While in most cases these are not good prices for a game, when stacked with promotions or discounts they can actually be quite good.
Other Retailers
Blockbuster – While video game sales aren’t actually their forefront of the business model, they do sell them. Check the following thread for some exceptional video game deals from time to time http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295416
Sam’s Club – Sam’s carries quite a few video games however selections can vary or be limited in certain areas. However they do often clearance out older games for some great prices so keep an eye out. Link – http://www.samsclub.com
GameFly – While known for their Netflix-type game service, GameFly also sells used games at a largely discounted price. These almost always come in their original cases/manuals due to the discs only being shipped for their service. The disc and case/manual are always in exceptional condition as well and in most cases free shipping is provided. Link - http://www.gamefly.com/Store/
Auction/Trade Sites
Ebay – While Ebay isn’t what it used to be, it can still be a great place to purchase or sell video games and related items Link – http://www.ebay.com
Tips
1. Always check prices for similar items. Keep in mind the cost of shipping and handling times. While one item might sell for cheaper the shipping cost and or time can be substantially higher
2. Always read descriptions. Don’t buy an item based on picture alone. In some cases the description can be for something completely different or in a different condition than that of the picture.
3. When flipping – Consider Ebay’s seller fees. This includes posting costs as well as Final Value fee’s (13% currently on video games) Also consider than of shipping costs if you intend to ship for free or what to charge the customer.
Goozex – A great trade site that allows for people to purchase and trade games (and movies) based on a point system. The seller selects an item they have for trade, the condition in which it is in, and pays to ship the item. Once received the purchaser leaves feedback which in return gives the points to the seller. All games cost points to purchase as well as 1 Trade token per item purchased (roughly $2 per token) This can be a great place to flip games as many offer point values that are substantially higher than purchase price. *NOTE* Goozex trades games from all generations, so this can be a great place to unload or purchase retro games Link – http://www.goozex.com
Tips
1. Starting off can be slow as it takes a few transactions to build up your feedback score. Your feedback score dictates how many Offers (games you have for trade or currently in middle of trading) and Requests (games you want or currently in middle of purchasing) based on this feedback score.
2. Be aware of the three condition types when trading or purchasing items, Complete – Full original case/artwork, manual and game, Disk+Manual – Disc or Cartridge with manual and Disk Only – Simply the disk or cartridge only. This will determine what people are requesting as well as what you’re looking for. Availability is determined on these conditions and you can only be in que for one of them, as well as offer the game for trading in that condition you select.
3. Understand how the Queue works – Not every game is available at all times, meaning you can request a game and condition and be put in line for when it comes available. As each person before you gets that item you move up until it’s your turn.
4. Know the restrictions – Not having enough points or tokens on hand for a particular item your requesting will mean you’re restricted from getting it. You will not lose your spot in line however will be skipped in the event the trade becomes available and your next to get it due to lack of points or tokens. When you meet the requirements you will return to the queue to your position in line.
5. Flipping – This can be a great site to flip games to purchase others. Like mentioned in many cases the purchase value is much lower than Goozex point value and can be used to get a more expensive item in return
6. When Offering items it’s up to the seller to pay for shipping, that being said you can purchase shipping labels online and use own envelope/mailer to ship. By far the cheapest of these options is PayPal Shipping (around 2$ per package, Choose Parcel Post) this also ships fairly quickly in as little as two days to destination. Link - https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now
Craigslist – While the deals and availability can completely be random and dependent on your areas, there are deals to be found here. Keep in mind craigslist is simply everyday people listing items for sale. These is no paper trail and no fees for doing so however comes with the cost of actually have to contact and physically meet someone to complete the transaction on your own. Link – http://www.craigslist.org
Tips
1. Being it not a retail store or a restricted site, craigslist can be a gold mine in terms of deals. Many cases items are listed much lower than average value
2. Be VERY careful when contacting and meeting someone for purchase. Try to meet in public locations and make the transaction quick.
3. Ensure all items are in condition stated and work, test the games/consoles if able before leaving. There is NO return policy.
4. Again, being it as Craigslist doesn’t follow rules and restrictions of other places you can often times haggle a price down even more than its original offer. There is no harm in trying to get the better deal for yourself and in most cases if reasonable the seller will accept. Suggest if purchasing multiple items a lower “group” price for the entire lot.
Cheapassgamer – While many use this site to find deal it also offers a very robust marketplace as well. Users can trade or sell items using the marketplace tools to search, list and purchase games. Link - http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/trade.php
Tips
1. Feedback Score – Much like eBay a feedback score and transaction history is kept per user. Keep this in mind when buying or selling games
2. Your Collection – If you manage your collection well you can not only keep track of what you own but also what you have to offer as well as what you’re looking for. This will help the system and those searching for an item you have for sale or trade contact you in order to set up the deal.
3. Follow the rules – There is a method of each transaction and the steps necessary on both ends to complete it. Educate yourself first on how to use it that way things go smoothly.
4. Most cases when looking for a game that a user might have for sale, they might have a suggested price or be taking offers. Feel free to offer what you feel is fair to the seller. In many cases the seller will accept if the offer is fair or counteroffer until a decision is met.
Links (Again)
GameStop - http://www.gamestop.com/
• Current Trade in Value/Promos thread - http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302004
Best Buy - http://www.bestbuy.com/
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/
• Amazon Prime – http://www.amazon.com/prime
• Amazon Prime Student – http://www.amazon.com/student
Toys’R’us - http://www.toysrus.com/
CraigsList – http://www.craigslist.org
Goozex – http://www.goozex.com
eBay- http://www.ebay.com
Target – http://www.target.com
• Target Clearance Thread - http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=277184
K-Mart – http://www.kmart.com
• K-Mart Gamer Thread - http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295648
Paypal Shipping - https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now
Basic Ideals
1. Smart Phones – This will be your best friend when looking for deals. Whether it’s to check the forums for updates on a particular deal, to price check a certain game to determine the value of the deal or to check a value to flip a game you found this is the must have in order to stay efficient and on top of your game.
2. Price – Paying full retail, well just isn’t what this is all about. Never accept paying full price for anything, some exceptions may apply, but if you play your cards right you can get it for a discounted price.
3. Patience – Concerning price and full retail value, game prices fluctuate quite often and quite quickly. Even a little as a week after a game’s release the price can drop so learn to determine which games have potential for sales shortly after their release. ALSO note that while paying full retail isn’t suggested, waiting for particular sales or saving enough flipped credit to purchase one is all part of the strategy. Example – Game A comes out, next week a store hosts a Buy 1 get one 50% off sale.
4. Plan your attack – While it’s fun to hop place to place blindly its best to have a game plan. Know what you’re after before you head towards it and how your deal plans to go. Bring all necessary coupons, information etc. with you to make things hassle free and prepare yourself to defend your deal if things at the store don’t go according to plan.
5. Know Policies – This includes all stores purchase guidelines, as it concerns what deals will stack with sale items, current promotions etc. Also know all stores return policies, sometimes it might take returning an item to get the best deal which will be discussed further. Link - http://wiki.cheapassgamer.com/index.php/List_of_store_return_policies
6. Maximize Your Deal! – Planning is everything like mentioned above; however it’s always good sense to get the most bang for your buck. Examples– Buy 1 Get 1 Free: Purchase a 20$ game, why get a 5$ game free when you could get a 20$ game for free.
Common Terminology –
YMMV – Your mileage may vary, meaning that while this sale may be found in one location it might not be at all. This includes certain stores selling an item for a particular price as well as participation in a sale/price change or price match. Best way to look at it, it’s worth a shot but not a guarantee.
B&M – Brick and Mortar, The actual physical store. Example – Best Buy B&M (usually means sale doesn’t reflect online as well)
TIV – Trade In Value, what an item trades in for at a particular retailer
Flip/Flipping – This is when an item is purchased at a certain value, usually cheaper than what it normally retails or trades in for, for the sole purpose of getting rid of for profit beyond your initial purchase price. Games/Items are flipped when they are bought cheap to sell/trade in else ware to make more money. Example – Purchase Game A at store for 10$, “flip” it to another store for 20$ credit.
BB – Best Buy
TRU – ToyRus
GS- GameStop
OP – Original poster, the person who created the thread or posted the deal.
B1G1/B1G1 50% off – Buy one Get one free or Buy one Get one 50% off
Courtesies –
Being a CAG means having respect. While we are all after the deal it’s important to consider all those involved.
• Stand Your Ground - It’s ok to be firm with a stores employee, but be polite for this in many cases will be the only reason you end up getting a deal. Stick to your guns but don’t act an ass and ruin any chance for you and future customers of getting something for a certain price or deal.
• POST IT! – If you find a good deal, share it, if it weren’t for others doing the same you wouldn’t have as much success with this site.
• Share it – Share your experience good or bad, how the transaction went, certain methods used to ensure you received the deal as well as rough prices/locations you received them. Also, try and keep CAG deals on CAG forums only, posting on other deal sites (i.e. Slickdealz) can cause too much unwanted attention.
• Respect – These forums are used to help all CAG share and post deals they found or for others to take advantage of. Thank OP’s for their finds and congratulate those who scored on deals. A little courtesy goes a long way and it what goes around comes around.
• Don’t Be A Hoarder – No one likes that person who buys out a store’s inventory of a particular deal just because it’s good. While flipping is encouraged please be considerate of others who might want to partake in a deal. If you post that you “purchased 20 copies” of a particular item don’t expect praise in return. It could happen to you.
Retailers
Pros
• Amazon doesn’t charge tax (In most states) However this is a grey area, as you are still required by law to state tax free online purchases on your taxes, Keep this is mind.
• If shipped and sold from Amazon or one of its partners it ships free if order is over 25$. However with amazon prime you get free two day shipping on all orders under the same criteria no matter the price. Below is link to Amazon Prime student which is free if you have an .edu email address as well as regular amazon prime signup.
Student – http://www.amazon.com/student Prime – http://www.amazon.com/prime
• Amazon will match all competitor prices in many cases. If they haven’t already, simply submit a lower price by doing so on the product page or speaking to with online chat help.
• Amazon in most cases offers a lower price on new retail items, add this with no tax or shipping charges and can easily be the best deal
• Amazon also has random “Gold Box Deals” which can offer nice savings on several games and related products. These are deals on a set timer for individual products as well as daily personal deals.
• Amazon on most items allows for Trade In’s. In many cases the trade in values can be much more than an item is purchased for a trade values can be locked in. Trading in gives amazon credit which can be used on any item sold on the site. Shipping on trade ins are paid by Amazon and are able to print a shipping label.
Cons
• If you’re not a fan of purchasing online or having items being shipped or unable to receive shipments this is their only method of purchase.
• Requires a credit/debit card to make purchases. Some may be uncomfortable with this or do not have such methods available to them.
Tips –
1. Price Match Policy , learn to use it if you rather purchase from Amazon to save on tax this can be quite helpful
2. Amazon sells used products too! – If you’re not concerned so much whether a product is brand new or not, in many cases Amazon will have used copies available for in most cases a much cheaper price. This includes games, accessories AND systems.
Pros
• Best Buy offers in store pickup or shipping on most the items they sell. This is good for many times a sale is only contained online yet instead of paying for shipping you can pick it up or get it shipped to your local store for free.
• Like mentioned above, sometimes deals can be found online only and can be a sure way to get your deal early.
• Best Buy will price match any advertised competitors ad, which can be helpful if it is more convenient or only source available to you. Making one trip to one store beats going to a few for the same deal.
• Best Buy offers purchase deals quite frequently such as B1G1 50% or a free game with the purchase of another. Many weeks can offer nice sale prices on a certain games so keep an eye for sales ads.
• Best Buy also offers trade ins. They usually offer more than other retailers as well as great promotions on items towards future purchases.
Cons
• Most cases Best Buy doesn’t lower prices regularly and can be the most expensive for regular priced games. They are usually the last to drop prices to match other competitor’s non-advertised products.
• In store pickup can be very YMMV, many cases an order can get cancelled at last minute or you have issues picking up your item due to inventory shortages.
Tips -
1. Best Buy offers price guarantee meaning if you purchase an item and it drops in price shortly after purchase you can return with your receipt and receive the difference.
2. Best Buy also has their own gaming magazine, Go Gamer, which every issue has coupons that can offer substantial discounts on current product. These coupons WILL stack with sale prices and in several cases can make a game/items price next to nothing. This magazine can be purchased in store for 5$ or a subscription (which can also be purchased in store) for 15$
3. YMMV sales are usually on an individual store basis but can offer some great deals such as 30% off all already clearance items.
nice savings as well as certain perks. Link – http://www.gamestop.com
Pros
• Reservations – When reserving a game/item this can be treated like layaway. No fees for doing so and can continue to put any amount towards the current reservation at any time. If you wish to cancel the reservation all current credit is refunded no harm no foul
• Power Up rewards card – Offers 10% off all used items (except consoles) and gives 10% bonus to all items traded in. Purchased in store or online. $14.99 per year and comes with the subscription to Game Informer Magazine.
• Usually the best place to find used, current generation games
• Promotions are what make GameStop still a viable option for CAG’s Link to current TIV and promotions - http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302004
• Trade in promotions – Usually offered on up and coming titles, this is a great way to unload games towards the reservation or purchase of a new/unreleased game. Standard is 25% extra towards these titles which can be stacked. Also trade promotions can be offered when trading in a certain number of games whether its extra % or a straight value added to trade in credit.
• ALL trade in items, which nets store credit, is used and does not charge tax. For example if you trade in 59.99 worth of items to purchase a new game, your total is 59.99. No tax is applied
• Often, GameStop will offer B2G1 or similar sales on used items. This could include a particular platform or all used items. This is a great time to maximize a deal and can be used to buy used accessories as well. Example Buy 2 PS3 Controllers (with 10% discount from power up card) get a third free. Usually equates to substantially less than retail.
• Orders can be purchased online and picked up in store if option is available and the store has the item in stock.
Cons
• GameStop will NOT price match other competitors and due to such is usually the most expensive
• Sales rarely happen. Some games will be 20$ or cheaper else ware but GameStop will not budge.
• If you’re a stickler for new games being sealed. GameStop “guts” or opens one or several for display purposes. Sometimes the only available copy is that of a gutted one. No discount will be applied for it being gutted.
• Disc conditions may vary from great to horrible, pay attention to any item you purchase as in most cases the disc was not checked upon trade in
• Low trade in values – GameStop is notorious for offering weak values for games they sell for quite a lot. Prepare to be next to insulted for what they are prepared to offer.
• Original Packaging – GameStop does not require trade ins to come complete with original case or manual. Majority of the time the only used games available will not include either. This not only makes the value seem less but also a turn off for many collectors/gift givers
• Purchasing Used online – This is EXTREMELY YMMV – Many cases a game purchased online will be disc only, no original packaging and in horrible shape. While some may get lucky understand that majority of the time this is the average condition
Tips-
1. Use promotions to your advantage! Trade in promotions can actually be quite nice which stacking games towards something. Can easily turn a few weak trade in values into quite substantial ones. This also includes B2G1 and similar promotions.
2. Return Policy can be your best asset. GameStop offers one of the more lenient and hassle free return policies of any retailer, especially concerning used items. 7 days no questions asked for full refund, 30 days to exchange for defective.
3. If looking for a particular game, you can check store’s inventory online. Always call ahead and ask whether they have it IN HAND as well as the condition (if gutted or if used not in original case). Many cases they will hold an item for you until you come pick it up.
4. Tons of locations can be beneficial for several reasons. Using the return policy to your advantage as well as promotions can net you positive results. For example, you’re looking to purchase B2G2 free but have only found say 2 games at one GS. You want to take advantage of this deal so you purchase them at the one GS, browse at another and find the other 2 games for your deal. Return the 2 you currently have and re-purchase all 4 to get your 2 games for free.
5. GS in most all cases does NOT differentiate used prices from regular or collectors editions, be on the lookout for used copies or collectors editions. These will be sold for the regular editions used price. *Note* - This may be frowned upon but due to such, there is nothing in their policy that prevents you from purchasing a used collector’s edition and returning (if already owned) the regular edition of that game and getting money back. Essentially netting a free upgrade to the collector’s edition.
Pros
• Weekly advertised deals in most cases are actually quite substantial and can offer prices much lower than other competitors as well as frequent B1G1 50% and similar sales
• Not an overwhelming selection – Can be good if looking for a certain title and can be easy to find in the store as well as see any and all copies available due to layout.
• Arguably one of the better atmospheres for customer service, not crucial but some prefer to shop in more comfortable places
• Target regularly clearances out items in their store, including games and accessories. These continue to drop in price until they are sold. While extremely YMMV the prices some items can be found at can be quite staggering and offer “can’t pass this up” type deals as well as great flip items. Below is the link to the current thread where you can view clearance prices as well as check store inventory.http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=277184
Cons
• Selection is limited versus that of other retailers. Best way to look at it is, if it’s new, popular or was a good seller, they will have it in stock. Target fluctuates inventory quite often so something that has been out a few months may or may not be available.
• Prices are usually slow to drop and most cases only full retail price games are even
kept in stock due to fluctuating inventory.
• Store availability and inventory vary greatly from store when looking for certain items, especially that of clearance.
Tips
1. Targets layout their stores all similarly, meaning clearance items, video games/accessories for example will most cases always be in the same general area. This will be found on one of the end caps facing the wall of the store and will be clearly marked. Check all surrounding areas for items that may have been moved.
2. When purchasing clearance items, be sure to check the forums for the current lowest price seen. Many cases stores are late to make these prices changes or did not sticker them. Use price scanners to check all clearance items for some cases the actual price might be much lower.
3. If you’re willing to take the time , as all stores do price changes different, one clearance item you may find at one store might be out of stock at another. Using your smart phone, purchase the game/item and put a picture of or use a barcode scanner to get an image of an items barcode. Check other stores by scanning the barcode in the price scanner and in some cases the lower price will be found at that location. Simply return and re-purchase to receive the difference.
Pros
• Walmart will match any other retailer’s advertised prices. Meaning if its in the current sales ad, Walmart will adjust the price at the register to match the competitor.
• Some cases Walmart will have certain bonuses or versions of a particular game for their company only
• Locations just about everywhere
Cons
• Walmart doesn’t carry a large game inventory and like most tend to only carry the new or most popular games per system
• Prices rarely, if ever drop until way after other retailers do making deals on their end just about impossible
Tips
1. Seeing as Walmart matches anyone elses prices it can sometimes be used to your advantage to either cut down travel time/expenses but ALSO many deals go out of stock at other retailers and can use Walmart’s inventory to your advantage.
2. Walmart is one of the better retailers for Black Friday, they tend to have some of the better overall gaming deals so be on the lookout for these each year and plan accordingly
Pros
• K-Mart offers in most cases with the purchase of certain new games, a printed credit or in the form of points (see Shop Your Way Rewards Link – http://www.showyourwayrewards.com )this can be used towards the purchase of future merchandise and can be used on future titles that offer similar promotions. Example – Purchase Game A and receive 20$ for future purchase. Purchase Game B, use 20$ credit and receive ANOTHER 20$ credit. Link to Kmart Gamer - http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295648
• K-Marts tend to keep their inventory on hand, which can include much older games which can be great for finding older, harder to find games
• In weekly ads K-Mart can often times have substantial deals on certain games, much much lower than that of other retailers. Being as they are a bit more scare in terms of locations, due to others price matching you can often score good deals at other places simply due to K-Marts advertised deals.
Cons
• Location and lack thereof can be few and far or non-existent
• Most cases K-Mart’s as it concerns video games, can be quite unorganized or uninformed on many deals. Don’t be surprised if you show up to purchase an item on release day and the item aren’t even on the sales floor yet.
Tips
1. Keep informed on the K-Mart thread for current promotions and prices, future promotions are usually shown here well before an item goes on sale.
2. When using the future credit receipts or points, maximize your potential by using them on items that offer more credit/points in return. By doing so you can essentially get games on release day for a fair bit off retail price constantly.
3. Be prepared to speak – Like mentioned above some K-Marts can be misinformed of behind so be ready to push for your deal or to get a certain item, politely of course
Pros
• TRU Have been around forever, which means, lots of locations.
• TRU offers in store pickup like many other retailers, this can be crucial when trying to get in on a deal without having to worry about online availability as in many cases the online deals will be allowed for store pickup, assuming it’s in stock.
• Quite often does TRU offer B2G1 or similar sales as well as weekly advertised deals. In some cases these can be extremely good in terms of pricing or extension of deal.
• TRU carries a large selection of games marked $19.99 or under as well as clearance and used titles.
• TRU offers great deals on pre-ordering titles, in many cases a great discount on the game before it even comes out. For example – Game A releases next month for $59.99. however TRU will offer this game for $45 total if pre-ordered.
Cons
• In store promotions or sales can be very YMMV and may not extend to other stores
• Due to some deals being quite exceptional, inventory can deplete extremely quick and in most cases sold out before getting a chance to even loot.
• A lot of prices remain high even on older titles.
• Customer Service as well as matching advertised online/similar promotions in store can often pose problems
Tips
1. Check forums for TRU deals regularly. Most cases these deals are beyond exceptional and can sell out/become dead quickly unless your able to jump in on it quickly.
2. In many cases an advertised deal may not be advertised in store, in most cases these sales are company-wife so be prepared to check prices at the register or a price scanner to ensure they are correct. Many cases they won’t be discovered until rung up and totaled out and promotions apply.
3. Like mentioned above, TRU carries a surplus of titles $19.99 and under as well as clearance titles. While in most cases these are not good prices for a game, when stacked with promotions or discounts they can actually be quite good.
Other Retailers
Auction/Trade Sites
Tips
1. Always check prices for similar items. Keep in mind the cost of shipping and handling times. While one item might sell for cheaper the shipping cost and or time can be substantially higher
2. Always read descriptions. Don’t buy an item based on picture alone. In some cases the description can be for something completely different or in a different condition than that of the picture.
3. When flipping – Consider Ebay’s seller fees. This includes posting costs as well as Final Value fee’s (13% currently on video games) Also consider than of shipping costs if you intend to ship for free or what to charge the customer.
Tips
1. Starting off can be slow as it takes a few transactions to build up your feedback score. Your feedback score dictates how many Offers (games you have for trade or currently in middle of trading) and Requests (games you want or currently in middle of purchasing) based on this feedback score.
2. Be aware of the three condition types when trading or purchasing items, Complete – Full original case/artwork, manual and game, Disk+Manual – Disc or Cartridge with manual and Disk Only – Simply the disk or cartridge only. This will determine what people are requesting as well as what you’re looking for. Availability is determined on these conditions and you can only be in que for one of them, as well as offer the game for trading in that condition you select.
3. Understand how the Queue works – Not every game is available at all times, meaning you can request a game and condition and be put in line for when it comes available. As each person before you gets that item you move up until it’s your turn.
4. Know the restrictions – Not having enough points or tokens on hand for a particular item your requesting will mean you’re restricted from getting it. You will not lose your spot in line however will be skipped in the event the trade becomes available and your next to get it due to lack of points or tokens. When you meet the requirements you will return to the queue to your position in line.
5. Flipping – This can be a great site to flip games to purchase others. Like mentioned in many cases the purchase value is much lower than Goozex point value and can be used to get a more expensive item in return
6. When Offering items it’s up to the seller to pay for shipping, that being said you can purchase shipping labels online and use own envelope/mailer to ship. By far the cheapest of these options is PayPal Shipping (around 2$ per package, Choose Parcel Post) this also ships fairly quickly in as little as two days to destination. Link - https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now
Tips
1. Being it not a retail store or a restricted site, craigslist can be a gold mine in terms of deals. Many cases items are listed much lower than average value
2. Be VERY careful when contacting and meeting someone for purchase. Try to meet in public locations and make the transaction quick.
3. Ensure all items are in condition stated and work, test the games/consoles if able before leaving. There is NO return policy.
4. Again, being it as Craigslist doesn’t follow rules and restrictions of other places you can often times haggle a price down even more than its original offer. There is no harm in trying to get the better deal for yourself and in most cases if reasonable the seller will accept. Suggest if purchasing multiple items a lower “group” price for the entire lot.
Tips
1. Feedback Score – Much like eBay a feedback score and transaction history is kept per user. Keep this in mind when buying or selling games
2. Your Collection – If you manage your collection well you can not only keep track of what you own but also what you have to offer as well as what you’re looking for. This will help the system and those searching for an item you have for sale or trade contact you in order to set up the deal.
3. Follow the rules – There is a method of each transaction and the steps necessary on both ends to complete it. Educate yourself first on how to use it that way things go smoothly.
4. Most cases when looking for a game that a user might have for sale, they might have a suggested price or be taking offers. Feel free to offer what you feel is fair to the seller. In many cases the seller will accept if the offer is fair or counteroffer until a decision is met.
Links (Again)
GameStop - http://www.gamestop.com/
• Current Trade in Value/Promos thread - http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302004
Best Buy - http://www.bestbuy.com/
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/
• Amazon Prime – http://www.amazon.com/prime
• Amazon Prime Student – http://www.amazon.com/student
Toys’R’us - http://www.toysrus.com/
CraigsList – http://www.craigslist.org
Goozex – http://www.goozex.com
eBay- http://www.ebay.com
Target – http://www.target.com
• Target Clearance Thread - http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=277184
K-Mart – http://www.kmart.com
• K-Mart Gamer Thread - http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295648
Paypal Shipping - https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now
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