Lets be honest, we all like a deal right? But is there a distinction to be made between using deals to your advantage, and taking advantage of a companie's deal?
I'm on the fence. Part of me feels that since I'm not doing anything illegal, and I'm merely taking advantage of a companie's own stupidity, its really just a clever gain. This aspect is heightened by the fact that I've had some utterly horrid experiences with the companies I take advantage of the most (EBgames/GameStop and BlockBuster Video) so there's a little bit of "stick it to the man" type moxy to it.
Take BlockBuster Video for example. Last month, they had a promo here in Canada in which they were clearing out thier pre-owned video games with a "buy 2 get 1 free deal". They were also running a deal in which any current gen game was worth a minimum of $10 trade. The joke is, they sell some of those used games for only $9.99!! THINK ABOUT IT!! You could go into a blockbuster and buy 3 used games priced at $9.99 for only $20 (because the 3rd $10 game is free) and then EACH of those games is still worth a minimum of $10 apiece (so $30 in credit for what just cost you $20).So I took that $30 in credit, bought more $9.99 games (every 3rd one free remember) and flipped those back in for $10 apiece and so on and so forth. You basically gain $10 every time you flip a set of 3 $9.99 titles. I ended up getting a brand new extra retail game ($59.99 value) because every time I swapped games, I put the extra credit on gift cards.
Is it wrong for me to do that? I mean, if a company is stupid enough to keep giving me $30 trade for stuff I just bought from THEM for $20, is it wrong for me to purposely flip those games in a few times to gain that $10 each time? I mean, they're setting thier trade prices, I'm just smart enought to work the system right? Or am I being fraudulant at this point?
Same applies to the deals you see at EBgames/Gamestop. When they have those "trade 3 used titles get a brand new game" deals on, I'm all over that! They usually restrict the deal to games that trade in for at least $8 or higher, but even still, there are deals to be had. For example, I just purchased "Uncharted 2" and "Demon Souls" for my PS3 based purely off those 3 for 1 deals, and it cost me about $50 total for both games. I just used that buy 2 get 1 free used deal at BlockBuster to purchase used games on the cheap, and provided they count for the GameStop promo, those 3 used games (that just costme like $30 or so at BBV) are traded for a brand new $69.99 game at Gamestop or EBgames under their 3 for 1 deal.
This of course is all aside from the other deals that are to be had, such as digging rare games out of pawn shops and garage sales and flipping them on Ebay and the likes for big money (a copy of Final Fantasy VII fished out of a garage sale for $5 can fetch you upwards of $60 on Ebay for example). Pawn shops are a goldmine if you know whats rare and what'll re-sell for profit.
So should one feel bad about taking advantage of these deals and loop-holes? I mean, retailers are making thier money, especially when you see EBgames/GameStop locations popping up everywhere. And those companies set thier own promotions and prices. So is it wrong to take advantage of them when the situation presents itself?
The question is folks, where does your morality sit in regards to deals in gaming? Are you a savy shopper? A crafty crook? Just a guy who relishes the hunt of a sweet deal?
Comments
@ SAVOY PRIME - Thats how I feel friend, that I'm merely taking advantage of some companie's stupidity really, but when I brag about my "finds", I'm always shocked when a few people (minority granted) give me that "you really did that" look of dissaproval.
I got mad this month, I bought a magazine for 14.99 zł (about 3$?) and there was a game included I bought one year ago for 79zł and still haven't got time to play it, now I have two copies .__.
I see nothing wrong with making money legally when the opportunity presents itself. That's how the whole economy works when you think about it.
But we're talking Game Stop. A place widely known for strict price policies, selling opened games as new and whose employees you had problems yourself. Those guys live on making good deals, buying cheap stuff and selling it for a higher price. I'd pat yourself in the back if I could.
lol
that's awesome bro, i need to start being more aware of deals like that.
i only do the "free" rentals from gamestop, in which you purchase a used game, hold onto the receipt, then return it within a week for your money back, no questions.
@ AKHORAHILL - you make a very good point. had the deal been at a store that I respect and recieve excellent treatment from, I probably wouldn't have chosen to take such rampant abuse of the system. And yes, GameStop policy of selling opened and unsealed products for full retail new price is nothing short of dumbfounding and completely absurd.
@ ALKALINE DNB - GameStop locations, at least here in Ontario Canada don't allow that any longer. They now place a sticker over the pre-owned product, and disallow its return if that "seal is broken". Which as AkhoraHill above you pointed out, is quite silly when ajoined with their policy of reselling opened or display products for full retail new value (not that thier used prices are anything to get excited about anyways, being barely $5 different from the new price anyways)
The store is only a middle man between the supplier and customer, buying some other company's product and then selling it to you for a profit. And these deals likely just mean a little less profit for them in their hopes of attracting customers; it's likely a "loss" - most likely not really a loss, but a strategic marketing decision - that they can afford.
N8A
Just last week I bought a bunch of 1.5L of Magellan gin because they were only $25 each (usually $30 for a 750ml) so i swooped and bought 4. Not as good as your making money deal, but it was the best i could do at the time.