Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Blockbuster and the retro market

  1. #1
    Cherry (Level 1) bunnybum's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Denmark
    Posts
    268
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default Blockbuster and the retro market

    Today while waiting for my train I saw a poster in the window at Blockbuster. Apparently they are buying old games now, SNES, GBC, PS1/2, NGC...

    This got me curious. Have they been doing this before? Why (Any BB workers around to share some insight)? And do they do it on a global scale?

    Oh yeah, this was in Denmark.

    Their trade-in prices (Store credit only and in DKK) for the curious

    And in case they pull the pdf, here's the link I got from scanning the QR code on the poster.
    Denmark: Home of The Little Mermaid and heavy sarcasm.

  2. #2
    Key (Level 9) wiggyx's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    1,844
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bunnybum View Post
    Today while waiting for my train I saw a poster in the window at Blockbuster. Apparently they are buying old games now, SNES, GBC, PS1/2, NGC...

    This got me curious. Have they been doing this before? Why (Any BB workers around to share some insight)? And do they do it on a global scale?

    Oh yeah, this was in Denmark.

    Their trade-in prices (Store credit only and in DKK) for the curious

    And in case they pull the pdf, here's the link I got from scanning the QR code on the poster.
    I believe they did (or maybe still do) buy used games here in the US. I wouldn't know for sure if they still do or not since about 99% of them in my area have folded in the last few years
    Last edited by wiggyx; 04-24-2012 at 09:44 AM.

  3. #3
    Cherry (Level 1) bunnybum's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Denmark
    Posts
    268
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by wiggyx View Post
    I believe they did (or maybe still do) buy used games here in the US. I wouldn't know since about 99% of them in my area have foled in the last few years
    They have been buying used games here for a long time as well, but never older games. Up until now they haven't accepted anything older than the 360, so seeing that poster weirded me out.

    The prices they are willing to pay for some of the games just seem off, if they are accepting them only to resell them later. I mean, 1100DKK for a Mega Man X2. Whoever buys that is looking at paying close to double that amount, if their pricing on used stuff stays the same. I'm just not seeing the profitability in this move, considering their general customer base.
    Denmark: Home of The Little Mermaid and heavy sarcasm.

  4. #4
    Cherry (Level 1) Custom rank graphic
    Genesaturn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Buffalo, NY
    Posts
    370
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    We only have one BB left here...I may have to check this out.
    Currently attempting to complete my Genesis collection! Always looking for hard to find complete games! Send me a PM
    Please feel free to follow my collecting blog here! http://genesaturn.blogspot.com/

  5. #5
    Strawberry (Level 2)
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    467
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Genesaturn View Post
    We only have one BB left here...I may have to check this out.
    The only Blockbuster nearby me closed a while back.... :<

  6. #6
    Apple (Level 5) Superman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    1,025
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I didn't even know Blockbuster was still around. Or if they were, they moved online like the competition.

  7. #7
    Cherry (Level 1)
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    243
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I don't think they're doing that in America because Gamestop doesn't buy back anything older than PS2 does it?

  8. #8
    Pretzel (Level 4) Polygon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    865
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    PolygonGTC
    PSN
    PolygonGTC
    Steam
    BlastMode7

    Default

    have no idea why they would do that unless they were buying them for next to nothing to resell them later. Which I still think would be a horrible idea. Maybe they plan on renting them?

    Last edited by Polygon; 04-24-2012 at 07:02 PM.
    Atari: 2600, Jaguar
    Microsoft: XBox, XBox 360
    Nintendo: NES, GB, GBC, SNES, N64, GameCube, GBA SP, Wii, New 3DS, Wii U
    Sega: SMS, Genesis, Game Gear, Nomad, Sega CD, 32X, Saturn, Dreamcast
    Sony: PS1, PS2, PS3
    Wanted: 7800, Neo Geo CD

  9. #9
    Pretzel (Level 4) T2KFreeker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Parts Unknown
    Posts
    905
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Blockbuster Video was bought out by Dish Network. They are trying to revitalize the franchise. The stores will slowly reappear. Yes, used games is one corner they want to get into as they believe that Retro games will distinguish them from Lamestop.

  10. #10
    Cherry (Level 1) Custom rank graphic
    Genesaturn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Buffalo, NY
    Posts
    370
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    That's pretty awesome - I always welcome new retro game sellers...BUT...it seems it can go either way..being that BB isn't a game store per say will they know the worth of classic games? will this be a great place to pick up rarities cheaper than the "in the know" stores? or will they overprice all their stuff...hmmmm time will tell
    Currently attempting to complete my Genesis collection! Always looking for hard to find complete games! Send me a PM
    Please feel free to follow my collecting blog here! http://genesaturn.blogspot.com/

  11. #11
    Cherry (Level 1) bunnybum's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Denmark
    Posts
    268
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Polygon View Post
    have no idea why they would do that unless they were buying them for next to nothing to resell them later. Which I still think would be a horrible idea. Maybe they plan on renting them?

    The prices they are offering for the games can really not be called "next to nothing". Close to $200 for Mega Man 7, so, should they buy to rent them, the risk of people just keeping the games instead of returning them seem insanely high.

    I really have no idea what's going on, but I'm intrigued as all hell. I'll try to ask in the store when I'm back there, though I'll probably not get an answer.
    Denmark: Home of The Little Mermaid and heavy sarcasm.

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 33
    Last Post: 11-22-2013, 02:08 AM
  2. The Retro Video Game Addict's *Official* blog for retro reviews!
    By TheRetroVideoGameAddict in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-23-2013, 08:34 AM
  3. Replies: 12
    Last Post: 05-18-2012, 07:05 PM
  4. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-22-2009, 06:25 PM
  5. Retro Gamer ALERT!!! - A Revolution in retro game sound!
    By Anthony1 in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 41
    Last Post: 05-05-2005, 11:51 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •