|
|
 |
Report this Comment
Use this form to report the
selected comment to the moderators. Reporting should generally
be used only if the comment breaks forum rules.
 |
| 28. |
Re: Livingstone: Used Games |
Aug 20, 2009, 13:05 |
Beamer |
|
|
1) Many people cannot afford new games. Used games, then, are often sold to people that are not in the market for new games and sales are not really hurt. I'm in that camp; I'll never pay full retail for a game. Ever. So when I buy used, they are not losing a sale from me. By your very statement, I was never in their demographic anyway.
I never pay full retail, either, or rarely at least. I wait until the price drop, usually about six months. Honestly, buying used saves you $5 typically. Can you really not spare that $5?
2) This is just an argument against GameStop, not used game sales in general. What about a local mom and pop store that can't afford to stock new games because publisher's require minimum orders?
The industry doesn't mind them because they're not statistically significant, nor do they tend to exist almost solely on used game sales.
3) Pawn shops are an absolute necessity. Pawn shops exist for the very reasons you state; people need to sell something quickly, and only an established dealer has the necessary capital and space to buy quickly. Nothing sold at a pawn shop, nothing, sends a dime back to the original manufacturer of the item. Why should games by any different?
Again, you're missing that I keep pointing out that this is a battle against GameStop. And there are more GameStops in the US than pawnshops, offering more used merchandise and making a much higher volume of sales.
Also, the items in pawn shops tend to deteriorate with use, so when you buy used you get something inferior. When you buy a game used, assuming it isn't scratched, you get the exact same item.
Ultimately, used games is not the issue. The developers and publishers are just sore over supposed lost revenue, which as I stated before, could be easily recouped by lowering prices.
No, they're sore over GameStop's CEO making millions a year without contributing to the industry writing his check.
And no, they can't simply lower prices. This argument makes my head hurt. If they lower prices used games lower prices. Eventually they hit the point where they're not making enough and you see studios close and more contract work going out. Raising prices is actually a (slightly) better option, as you capture more money from the people that prefer to buy new. But getting into a price war against used games is a death spiral - they'll always be able to undercut you and people will continue going for that $5 savings. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
.. ..
Copyright © 1996-2013 Stephen Heaslip. All rights reserved.
All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Twitter 
