If you’ve ever wondered, “Why Does GameStop Give So Little Cash Back For My Old Games?” there are several answers to that question. One of the most basic reasons is that the store wants to make more money off used games than new ones. For this reason, they’ve set up systems to punish employees for not selling enough used games. The negative reinforcement can be powerful enough to make employees lie to customers, forcing them to buy used games.
Another reason why GameStop gives so little cash back for used games is that their entire business model relies on used game sales. Used games tend to fetch a higher price at the store, and customers are better off going there than using Craigslist. As a result, the management has resorted to implementing a “Circle of Life” quota system. These efforts have increased their profit margins, and you can now use that credit to buy new games.
Another reason for GameStop to give so little cash back for used games is that most customers do not understand the concept of trade-ins. In other words, two-thirds of customers do not understand the concept of trade-ins. They believe that one console version of a game is the same as another and that used games are the same tier. Non-gaming parents also often buy used games for their children.
