Competition has begun to heat up in the used-game business this year,
as specialty retailer GameStop has seen its empire challenged by the
likes of big-box shops, such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy.
Both retail giants introduced game trade-in kiosks in test markets that
let consumers drop off their used wares. Once the game is determined to
be functional, Wal-Mart customers would receive a payout to their
credit cards, while Best Buy gamers would be offered in-store credits.
Now, it appears as if Best Buy is testing out a way to more
aggressively undercut GameStop's used game business. As spotted by a Cheap Ass Gamer forum user,
Best Buy has introduced a new price matching initiative that lets
gamers buy new games at the same price that GameStop and Game Crazy are
selling them used.
"Best Buy now price matches NEW video games at USED prices from
GameStop or Game Crazy," reads an in-store sign spotted by the CAG
forum users. (Emphasis in original.)
It is unclear in which regions Best Buy is testing the price-matching
initiative, with the forum user snapping a photo of the sign at an
outlet in West Jordan, Utah, about 20 miles south of Salt Lake City.
However, anecdotal evidence suggests that Best Buy is testing the
initiative in a relatively small market, as GameSpot's local San
Francisco Best Buy wasn't aware of the program, and multiple CAG
posters reported that their preferred stores had no knowledge of it
either.
Best Buy had not responded to GameSpot's request for further clarification on the program as of press time.
