Best Buy IdeaX

[#1]

With GCU's sub fee increasing so much & the continued processing errors with the 10% I'd like to see BB return to striving to provide the best they can offer. When the dedicated game reps were there with the trade in counters trades went smoother & faster plus you weren't in the same line as returns/exchanges. The cost issue can be negated by having the areas partly subsidized between advertisements & a "Powered by ___________" partnership. You're already providing some of the best trade in values out here but the entire process of getting thru the trades is less than adequate.

[#2]

If what you said actually happens, bobberuchi, then whatever company institutes that policy will immediately and forever lose my business.

As for Best Buy taking in games being a wash and your opinion of Gamestop, I feel that the more competition to that consumer unfriendly company the better. They rarely have what some of us deal hunters would consider a 'good' sale, they almost never do clearances where a good chunk of the community can find and buy them and their trade values are a complete and utter joke.

So anyone who can give them a run for their money is welcome to join the used game buy/sell/trade market as far as I'm concerned.

[#3]

I don't have experience with the best buy trade-in area, and I don't mind waiting in customer service, but I do wish the customer service reps knew how to apply the GCU to trade-ins. Its annoying to wait at customer service just to be stuck trying to get the extra 10% and points that you should be getting after spending $120.

As per trades, I have noticed that best buy usually has a better trade in value than gamestop (especially when there are 50-100% bonuses) but if you have GCU its even better. For example:

Gamestop gives $30 for a game, but Best Buy only gives $25, so at first thought you are like, well I'm going to Gamestop. Well a new $59.99 game would now be $29.99 + tax ($32.09 here in FL). At Bestbuy a new game would be $47.99 ($51.35 after tax) and then substract $27.50 ($25 + 10% bonus) and that brings the total to $23.85. You would also be getting reward points to work towards saving even more with reward certs and preorder bonuses. Can't remember the last time I ever used Gamestops Powerup Points for anything. 90% of the time Gamestop has extra trade credit, it also must be used towards a specific list of games so that depends.

My personal experience doing business with both companies as of late. I also realized Gamestop gives 10% extra on trades as well but my original point still stands.

[#4]

@Murican, The best part about the trade in counters was that they were designed to have a dedicated gaming rep/staff which when trained correctly they`d be making sure you got the 10% without you needing to press the issue. If another customer saw you do a trade for $200 & then get another $20 for your 10% bonus when it`s their turn to trade they may as why they didn`t get it, thus GCU could be upsold to then. That`s why GS does so well in certain areas their reps are "programmed" to upsell the $15 PUR & get $5 reserves for pre-orders. Although, it`s annoying as hell to most educated gamers b/c we already know what we want & what to do that staff gets soccer moms to pony up $5 & $15 regularly by showing them the instant 10% savings or pointing out their personal spending patterns of their kids. There are a few reps in BB that really know me well & what I buy but that`s more of me being social with them & having like interests vs them being on top of their game. Even the GS reps know me at several stores mainly b/c I deliver supplies to several of their locations. But they also try to upsell me to but I`ve actually converted several of them to BB & GCU b/c their employee discount doesn`t make the games as cheap as GCU & they never offer instant credit on titles just DLC.

[#5]

There are ways around the specific title requirements for Gamestop's trade promos though, MuricanDavester. 

For example, if one of the titles is coming out VERY soon, put the full amount down on that and then return the title to another Gamestop store right after picking it up.

Sometimes their promotions are done in such a way that the reps may not know that $X amount is supposed to be spent on reserving a title and may allow you to just put $5 down on it while getting the rest on a gift card.

As for these discounts at BB for GCU, they're great if you buy a ton of $59.99 titles every year. But most times I'm looking at clearance titles or DOTD's or other cheapies that while made cheaper by the 20% discount are still not maximizing my GCU initial purchase price. Admittedly I did get in on one of the $30 for 2 years coupons and had just renewed a month prior to that for $15, so I'm good till 2016 or so and it's fairly easy to recoup your initial investment at the $15 level.

[#6]

just make sure the cs is trained for game trade in's its simple.

[#7]

Even with a trained staff having to wait in line behind people return/exchanging & other true CS issues adds unfair time to a customers shopping trip & there`s no way to predict when/what issues could arise. At least at the counters you only need to wait for another trade, purchase or pre-order. But as it is now you have to wait, then deal with a long trade in process and that doesn`t include the time you spend actually spending the giftcard. Now being able to do most of the trade in process via bb.com & only need the reps to finalize the trades would greatly assist too. http://www.forums.bestbuy.com/t5/Best-Buy-IdeaX/Allow-customers-to-begin-the-videogame-trade-in-onli...

[#8]

Thanks for all the input. We have forwarded this onto the appropriate team. Once we hear back from them I will post back to this idea.

[#9]

I did hear back on this and was informed at this time we would not be moving forward on this idea.

[#10]

I guess the consistant turmoil expressed on the complaint forums regarding trade ins will continue for the next 2 yrs or so. This will continue to hold BB & GCU back in regards to getting full price subs & top notch word of mouth.

[#11]

It's a shame that bringing back a dedicated gaming register/trade location isn't moving forward.

In Los Angeles area, there is usually only one person at CS who knows how to properly handle a trade-in. If s/he is busy with another customer, you have to wait. And wait. And wait. Why these particular people aren't in the gaming department is beyond me.

Trade-in times vary between near instantaneous (no one else in line, a rarity), or a 30 minute endeavor, for something that should take less than 5 minutes.. I mean, really, I am there to keep and spend my money at BB, I'm not returning something to get my money back and shop elsewhere. Adding to that, I practically have to interview the associate before the trade starts, to make sure they know about GCU, etc.

Just went to MicroCenter this weekend for the first time in a decade and there were knowledgeable staff members everywhere. Whoever helped me pick up a particular item put his/her sticker on the item and got credit for the assist, which is also something I'd love to see at BB - too often BB associates go out of there way to not help or appear busy.

Dedicated gaming stations would keep me in BB.. and let's face it, it's a fairly large section.. someone should be there without having to hunt down help 90% of the time.