Tips On Buying Video Games

  • by Randy Harold
  • Published on 6/20/06
  • Article views: 586
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Is the local retailer's game testing system becoming your primary console? Have you resorted to subscribing to game magazines just to play the included demos? Are you having to go on a forced Ready Rice diet because you can not afford to buy the latest games? Now you don't have to, in this article we will examine ways for consumers to save money when purchasing video games.

Avoid Buying From Offline Retailers
One of the worst things you can do as a consumer is to buy games, especially if they are not new, from a local retail outlet. Most of the games within these stores are overpriced even after you factor in the discount that you will get from the advertised sale price or the savings through the store's discount card. If you have too, then its best to buy a game from the pre-owned section. Pre-owned games are generally in good condition and cost 20 % less then their counterparts, just remember to inspect the game box for any missing game manuals and the game disc for scratches.

Search For Online Deals
As a consumer your first choice should be eBay. Generally used games on eBay are much cheaper than the major retailer's pre-owned selection and occasionally you do find good deals. Instead of bidding on a single title you should instead try to win a lot of 10 to 50 games. Keep the games that you need from the lot and auction off the rest. Lots are generally more cheaper, on a per game bases, and in my experience these sellers do not gouge buyers on shipping costs.

Also when using eBay be sure to use Paypal as the payment option. Paypal issues, several times during the year, coupons which can be used when paying for eBay items, these coupons offer an additional saving of 5 10% and are usually found in eBay's monthly newsletters. There are also online sites such as pricegrabber.com and dealrush.com that display weekly deals from all the major video game retailers. An advantage to using these sites is that they are updated daily meaning you can stop having to rely on the Sunday flyers to find deals. Apart from these sites you can also save money by purchasing used games from members on the various gaming forums (such as Gamingdump) that you may participate in. Just be sure that the forum members that you trade with have a high iTrader rating.

Have Patience
Game prices fall dramatically within a span of four months. Therefore, you should consider waiting a couple of months before buying a new game. Apart from saving you money this approach also allows you to get a better idea of how good the game is and if its worth owning.

Rent If Broke
So why should you rent games? Because its cheap and it provides you the ability to test new games. Most of the latest games appear on the renting shelves within the first two weeks of the initial release date, and given that most major retailers charge only 4-8 for a game rental, this is the perfect opportunity to test, review and hopefully finish the game. Renting works especially well if you just need to play the latest games without caring too much about owning a personal copy. Remember, you can always buy your favorite rented games later on in the year when they cost a fraction of the original price.

Sell Your Games After You Finish Them
As a broke gamer the worst thing you could is start a collection, especially with new releases. Most new games fall dramatically in price within the first few months, so its vital that you sell your new games as soon as possible. Remember, you can always rent games, either when company comes over or at times when you are bored. This method will not only provide you with additional revenue but will also insure that you are able to play the latest releases.


Randy Harold
Gamingdump: Xbox 360 Forum, PS3 Chat, Wii Forum

A member of Gamingdump

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