Buying Video Games

From LoveToKnow Buy

Playing video games is a favorite activity for many people. With so many video consoles and titles out there, it can be hard to choose which ones to play first. Cost can also be a big factor in your decision, so where do you begin?

Finding the Right Game to Play

The best thing to help you decide is to find a way to play the game you want for free or low cost before you buy it. If you don’t know anyone who has a copy, go to your video game rental place (local or online) and try it out. Another option is to get a demo from a game magazine like Playstation or Xbox. These demo discs usually have a few titles you can select from.

Where to Buy Video Games

Once you figure out what you like, what are your best options? Video games are available new and used. Prices can vary, but a smart consumer can find the best deals. Here are some of the places you can check out.

Discount Retail Stores

Retail stores like Target, Walmart and Kmart all have sections filled with video games. You can always find the most current titles in all the popular video consoles (PS2, Xbox/360, GameCube and hand held games). Many of these stores demo newly released games on a console that you can play on. However, if you like unusual games that don’t make the top 10 list, you may have to look elsewhere.

Tip: The best time to buy at a retail store is after a game has been out for at least a few weeks. At this point there may be a chance that the prices will drop a bit, or go on sale.

eBay

You can find a big selection of new and used video games on Ebay. Many people buy a game, beat it and then sell it. It’s a good way to save at least 40% on a title. If you are unfamiliar with online auctioning, it is easy to learn. Anyone can set up a free account and start bidding by creating a username and password. All you need is a valid email address and phone number. Ebay does not charge you for bidding. It only costs you if you decide to start selling items (which is a whole other topic).

So you see a game you like, now what? When bidding on an auction, there seems to be two schools of thought. One is to wait until the last minute to bid on an item, and attempt to try and win the item at the lowest cost possible. The problem with waiting until the end of an auction is that many people have the same idea. If everyone bids the last couple of minutes, there is a chance that your bid may not get through. Your other option is to think about the maximum amount of money you are willing to spend on the game (taking into account the shipping cost), and place that maximum bid early so you can keep an eye on it. If the price goes above your maximum, don’t sweat it, since you don’t want to overpay. There will always be many auctions with the same game title (especially if it is a popular one).

Another tip to keep in mind when bidding is to look at the seller’s feedback. You can find their feedback distinguished by the number next to their user ID. Click on that number, and you can see what other people think about that particular seller. If that person has a lot of negative comments, it is a red flag to stay away.

Online Video Game Stores

Aside from bidding on online auctions, you can purchase video games at other websites. Check out Amazon, GameStop, EB Games, Buy.com and other related sites. Many offer new and used games. Prices can be cheaper than a regular brick and mortar store. Just keep in mind that you will have to pay shipping costs.

Wrapping It Up

Buying video game does not have to be a difficult task. Look for sales at retail stores, try an online auction website like Ebay and surf video game websites for good deals. You will be playing that killer game in no time!!

By Sheila Robinson