I say the same thing about the agitating GameStop customer service experience. Also a few times I bought games “New” and they gave me a game that had been opened already. Never again.
Former GameStop Employee here: The typical practice was to only open one new game and that was purely just to have an empty case to put on the shelf (why GameStop doesn't want to use dummy cases, I have no idea) so generally the only way you'd ever get the unsealed new game is if you're buying the last copy we have in the shop. At least that's how it was when I worked there and at the store I was at. I can't really speak about anything beyond that.
Just wanna say thanks for being a gaming channel and person that doesn't discourage people from buying or playing games you don't like you always tell us to try games ourselves which so important because its a subjective thing what you might dislike we might like and vice versa. Thank you honestly its one of the reasons why I love your channel your one of my comfort UA-camrs
also, eBay can be great for certain generations of games. Currently I’ve built my entire PS3 collection from eBay. So many games are dirt cheap from that generation.
@@sytsma.justin The PS3 gen seems to be in the sweet spot on eBay right now. PS2 games have gone up, PS4 games are still expensive, but a lot of PS3 stuff is just right. :)
I just recently came across your channel and I love the kinds of things you talk about. This video was such a helpful guide and resource for people who want to collect games physically! With my Switch, I made the mistake of going digital, and my opinions on that have changed greatly over the years, so I'm looking to re-collect my games physically. This was very helpful, thanks so much!
I love this video thank you so much for this. Orbalology talks about buying from VGP fairly often so that was on my radar but was great to see you go through it in depth. And you definitely put a lot of my radar. Thank you very much.
I pre-order Nintendo Switch 1st party games from Gamestop because they mostly come with pre-order bonuses. When I went to pick up Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, I felt like I was being interoggated. First I was asked "do you want a warranty?" Then "Do you want to make a donation?" and when i said "No" he said "do you want to round up a donation to the nearest dollar?" What part of "NO" do they not understand, lol. I like VGP because of the re-prints and you can collect points to save money on future orders i.e. get 4,000 points and save $5. Great video, Paige. Being from Canada this video was informative.
Your vid helped a lot. I'm Canadian too. I 100% agree with you about not getting games from Facebook market place or Kijiji. It's like you said, you have to keep on messaging people to meet at a certain time, & also for me I worry about my safety. I've done it once & I go with my friends because they do it a lot more. Everything was cool. I rather not go alone & meet said strangers in a parking lot or a metro. Then you go to look for them etc. So I don't do that. I buy my games off Amazon, Walmart & Best Buy. Then also I will go to local pawn shops or flea markets & these mom & pop shops as well to get great deals.
Just recently changed my PS5 for the disc version of it and besides big retailers, I did not know anything about these guys. Thank you for the good video you make just wanted to start making my physical collection after having digital for a couple years.
Second on supporting the local shops! I try to stop in every other week and check it out what different shops have. I can also second limited run games. I've always had a good experience with them. I'm aware not everybody likes them based off current events but as a customer, didn't have a bad experience with them
I haven't purchased anything from GameStop since 2021 when our local ones were liquidating inventory. You may pay a little more when ordering something like a collector's edition of something from VGP, but at least it will be packaged nicely. I went to their physical location last summer with my wife and kids when we were visiting Toronto. It was "okay". For anyone in the States (though they will gladly ship to Canada), I like to give Double Jump Video Games a shout out.
I followed Wario 64 years ago (still do) They’re the reason I got the NES and SNES Classic. I was happy to get both. I’ve really wanted to preserve physical media, so this is video is fantastic! Also, I had no idea you’re in Canada. Super cool!
I just had terrible experience with Game Stop. They had a pre order steelbook for Visions of Mana. It would only let me get the game via shipping, but I had to pick the steelbook up in store. Did not let me select a store. I only bought it there because I collect the Square Enix steelbooks. I get off work at 8:00am. I had to wait until noon for the store to even open. I get there and the lone worker didn't even know if they came in. She had to go in the back. The shipping box was unopened. She had 5 steelbooks. Then proceded to tell me she had 10 in store preorders. Game Stops twitter said it was first come first serve. It was so poorly run. I feel sorry for the 6 pre orders that won't get a steelbook. She said they do this all the time too.
I found Video Games Plus because they reprinted stuff, and I honestly still think it's really rad that they do that. They aren't just stocking the product, they're figuring out a way to REPLENISH the product, even once it becomes scarce. That is pretty above and beyond, imo. Otherwise, honestly, I really like Best Buy, even though they're just a big box store. Any time a new game is announced, they always seem to have the preorder up before anybody else. And while that's not always a big deal, when you're talking about some special or limited edition, it's pretty important! BB doesn't have the crazy programs they used to where you could get like 20-30% off ALL new releases or whatever it was, but I still find them to be pretty reliable. Plus, they carry general electronics and such, so I could justify getting a BB credit card, which means I also get money back for shopping there :p
I’ve been going to EBGames, Planet X, and GameStop and overall it’s been a good experience. I purchased so much from them so they never really needed to pressure me into buying something. Some Fantastic memories waiting in lines for new console releases. Hopefully physical will always at least be an option as future consoles are released.
I usually frequent Amazon and Best Buy. I’ll use GameStop when they have a great trade deal going on to try to maximize the credit that I’ll get. Also don’t have a problem buying used games from them every now and then. Wish I had a local, mom & pop shop around here.
Thank you so much for this video. I live in the states, but get a lot of games from VGP and Play Asia. I usually wait until larger sales to go elsewhere, but new stores are always appreciated!! I used to shop at GameStop, but I got fed up with the generic cases without the cover art. They used to be a good option for me when I was younger, but they just don't meet my needs anymore. I also hated the stickers they'd put on used games that NEVER came off. I am looking at some on my shelf right now 🤣
In Australia, at least where I live, there's only EBGames, JB HiFi (smaller version of best buy) and target etc. There are some smaller game retailers but they seem to only be in the bigger city areas, if that. Plus pawn shops that overcharge. It's been hard to find good deals in retail outlets. For older games, eBay has actually been decent + Facebook marketplace usually has some good deals if you can be bothered to pickup from someone. I much preferred how I had it back in the USA, I had one mom & pop shop I went to for everything - new and old!
I just finished Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. That was such an amazing, fun game! I was addicted. It has a similar feeling to Link's Awakening, but it honestly might have been better! It might just be my favorite Zelda game. It struck the right balance between giving you freedom to explore while still providing enough constraints to make it not feel overwhelming or without enough direction. 10 out of 10 without question. Contender for game of the year. Biggest reason is that it's fun. Also, the game isn't too long LOL! I highly recommend it.
Learned something about Game Deals Canada on X! Thanks Paige! Cool video! My pet peeve about GameStop is you'll see something "ooo shiny" on the shelf and you'll take it up and they'll say we don't have that. It's just a case on the shelf mocking you. I tried to get their copy of Elden Ring with the DLC on the disc. Sad stuff.
VGP, PNP, and PlayAsia are my most used game suppliers. I also will get some on eBay, in addition to here and there just about everywhere else. I’m in USA as far from Canada as mainland allows and still Canadian stores are best for me. Thanks for sharing the video.
I got into a nasty interaction with a gamestop employee because she was basically saying that the FF7 rebirth I bought WOULD fail so I NEEDED their warranty, so my question in response was "should I just go buy this online then if you have that little faith in your products?" and she lost it on me, good times!
Great video! I completely agree with your frustrations about GameStop. There are some cool employees though who wont keep pushing stuff but, also some lame ones who act mad when you don't wanna buy, their crappy protection plans haha.
Thank you for all the awesome recommendations! I agree with you as far as GameStop goes. I’ll only go if the game I’m looking for is cheapest there and I can order online for in-store pick up.
And another great video :) I wish we would have cool video game stores here in Germany, but sadly after Gamestop left, there aren't many options. So there's hardly any alternative to Amazon or other big companies, which is a shame since I like supporting smaller businesses.
I'm in UK but I much prefer eBay over Amazon. It feels better to support indie sellers and you can message each other about things, and the photos are of the actual copy you buy. Last week for example I ordered a Pac-man board game from Amazon and when it came it was in another language, not as shown on site, so I sent it back and found one new on eBay.
I have a sad story. I used to go to this amazing little shop up a flight of dingy stairs in the middle of the city that had all sorts of rare gems and such ... But one day they hit me with the "we're not stocking PC games anymore. A 360 is just as good and PC is dying." Well, 2 years later, the shop closed for good. Now, I don't know what happened exactly, but my favourite fightstick I still use to this day came from that shop. RIP.
I hear ya on GameStop hah. I worked there like a decade+ ago and as a company they were already so aggressive even then. It was a constant point of contention between me and my store manager. I'm generally a person in that kind of setting that did what I want, meaning if I felt it disrespectful to pitch bullshit metrics (especially where not applicable/appropiate) then I just straight didn't do it. So I definitely moved on eventually. And yeah, as a customer, I find absolutely zero reason to stop at one. There's nothing that they offer me across the board that I can't get elsewhere coupled with an experience that doesn't drive me up the wall.
Re: your Gamestop comments. It was about 10-15 years ago, even before Smart phones were as universal (and I still don't own one btw) when a young lady behind the counter of a games shop I was in (GAME itself here in the UK iirc) asked me if I had the reward points app or whatever it was. And I just politely said "Nope.. No app. No phone..." She almost did a 'steps back in amazement!' thing. And exclaimed "Wow.. How do people contact you?" to which I replied. "They don't.." Generational differences right there.. The young person is wondering how on earth someone can survive without people being able to contact them at all times.. I was probably just under age 50 at that time. And I'm wondering why on earth I would want anyone to ever be able to contact me..
Awesome vid - I am always looking for more places to visit and buy from - with GameStop I try to build as much of relationship as possible - but they make it difficult sometimes 😊❤
I just go to Amazon since its easy to pre-reserve and cancel as required. They don't charge you until it ships. If its not available in Amazon then I shop around as required or buy directly from the publisher if they have a store. VGP reprints for stuff I missed are also awesome.
All small stores near me died, we only have gamestop left, along with walmart. Luckily it seems its the one gamestop where the staff is nice, at least lately.
Such a great video. Lots of places to cross shop before pulling the trigger now. Particularly helpful list especially if you are in Canada. Btw, Leafs forever but shoutout to the Flames!
I miss gamestop since the left ireland. It was a good place to find steelbooks! The issue with online for me is shipping fees😢 I do hate how long limited run games takes, if they we're a bit on the quicker side it would be so much better! But local game stores are the best in general, usually good chats from the clerks to!
Funny that you say that today, as Sony gave a reminder for you need physical games. Their PSN crashed for 6 hours and appearently people couldn't play their digital games.
Thanks for this and sharing your honest thoughts as always … I bugged you on Twitter a while back for some of this info - now I won’t have to harass you again - here it all is in one handy dandy vid! ;) Still haven’t made the trek cross town mind you. lol.
Awesome stuff Paige! I forgot about pnp games! Thanks for the heads up about LR being at gaming retailers. Just grabbed 3 xbox games i was missing from my Xbox LR set.😊
GameStop used to be a good place to go am good times . Now it’s like treading through a massive swamp filled with zombies 🤪 My main place I buy games is playasia absolutely love them. Amazon has been quite good as well ( however these last few times I’ve ordered games my orders have gotten delayed or flat canceled 😈) recently an order from Amazon is on its 9th delay👻 Even though I’m in Arizona I have still ordered from VGP and PNP before with zero issues granted that was a while ago so…. Appreciate the video thanks
I use Amazon mostly, occasionally for something a bit harder to find I go on eBay. Other than that I might pick up something at Best Buy or GameStop but I don’t go there very often
woohoo! I need to start hustling smarter like this and get good deals! I definitely want to get into the second hand market for retro games! ha ha d'oh xD
For me I go to sometimes GameStop but here in the States we have a mom and pop store called the exchange where I live here in Cleveland heights and there other locations and sometimes I go to Walmart or Best buy or Target to find games but when it comes to retro games I would rather go to one of my personal favorites it's called James games and more and sometimes I do the exchange here where I live in the States
Yea i definitely use ebay for sealed switch games. I verify prices with Amazon, Best buy, Walmart etc.... And for the Most part I feel eBay is still most of the time cheaper. And remember you can always offer the seller less than asking price too....
We don't have a Gamestop here in the Philippines, what's great about our local gaming store here is they don't sell 2nd hand/used game, so I got the games sealed (but sometimes due to old stock the plastic have a damage or the box if it is an LE/CE)..
I use DK oldies…… lol jk I mainly shop local not to mention when you do trade in’s some places give me up to 40% of the total retail value! We had something called EB games here and I think I’ve seen Happy Console Gamer talk about have EB games in Canada too but ours got bought out by GameStop and completely ruined the buying and tradimg experience so I’m right there with you! Also thank you btw I just followed Wario64! Oh question are you still currently purchasing retro games? If so where is the first place you look… I notice you have a pretty sick retro collection too!! Keep up the awesome content! 💪🏼💪🏼
Yeah, it used to be called EB Games in Canada and then it became GameStop. I definitely used to go way more often but now I try and use the independent places as much as I can!
On ebay you can purchase games in lots. Like lot of 3 or 4. I sell that way. I noticed my stuff is cheaper than Amazon. I don't like the sellers that say choose this. I just sell in bundles.
I like this video Femtrooper, I was thinking about buying from PlayAsia, maybe this is a weird question but does the site also sell English version of video game titles? Not a foreign translation version but just English translation version? Thanks!
Yes, some of them are the Asian version which usually will have English over the Japanese copy or other versions. They sell US versions too, sometimes PAL or AUS copies. Just browse around and you’ll see! :)
The meanest thing I do sometimes is that I will buy a game on Amazon (got the Amazon credit card so I get extra cash back) but it takes forever to arrive because I opt for free shipping. So I'll also go pre-order from GameStop, pick the game up on launch day from GameStop, start playing it, and then when the copy from Amazon arrives I'll take that sealed copy back to GameStop and return it for a full refund. This is especially beneficial when there's some sort of GameStop exclusive pre-order bonus.
Gamestop ate all the other chains, small franchises, and mom and pops. I've been wishing for years now they would fail so real competition could come back.
Good video. Although, some of the stores in this video don't apply to me as I live in the opposite side of the world to Canada. I've used VGP and they were decent during the ps3 era for some time, until they brutally ignored me with issue I had for a game that didn't arrive. Amazon is also no good for my country, because for some reason they freaking 20 dollars shipping on video games for my country. Nowadays I buy games in stores in my country and don't bother with online shipping.
Amazon's anticompetitive practices make it a hard no. And the way they treat their employees is pretty unforgivable. The idea that the people boxing and delivering your packages are so intensely micromanaged and abused .. it's pretty hard to support them.
Darling you would look good with short hair. Leave the front long, but trim the sides and back and maybe go dirty blonde. The gray streak adds too many years to your look.
I say the same thing about the agitating GameStop customer service experience. Also a few times I bought games “New” and they gave me a game that had been opened already. Never again.
I walk out when they try and sell me an opened "new" game.
Omg I hate that!
I can’t stand that!
Former GameStop Employee here: The typical practice was to only open one new game and that was purely just to have an empty case to put on the shelf (why GameStop doesn't want to use dummy cases, I have no idea) so generally the only way you'd ever get the unsealed new game is if you're buying the last copy we have in the shop.
At least that's how it was when I worked there and at the store I was at. I can't really speak about anything beyond that.
@@strain42 Totally makes sense - dummy cases would be more ideal!
I so agree with you about Gamestop. Literally all you said. Also, they sell "new" games and they are not even sealed. Terrible practices.
Yeah, that’s the worst!
This video coming right when playstation and Xbox are having shutdowns of their online services is such good timing
Haha, excellent!!!
Just wanna say thanks for being a gaming channel and person that doesn't discourage people from buying or playing games you don't like you always tell us to try games ourselves which so important because its a subjective thing what you might dislike we might like and vice versa. Thank you honestly its one of the reasons why I love your channel your one of my comfort UA-camrs
Ohhhh that’s so kind! ❤️
@@femtrooper ♥️♥️
PNP and VGP both being Canadian is so good. I love ordering from them!
also, eBay can be great for certain generations of games. Currently I’ve built my entire PS3 collection from eBay. So many games are dirt cheap from that generation.
Totally!!! It works for me!
@@sytsma.justin The PS3 gen seems to be in the sweet spot on eBay right now. PS2 games have gone up, PS4 games are still expensive, but a lot of PS3 stuff is just right. :)
I just recently came across your channel and I love the kinds of things you talk about. This video was such a helpful guide and resource for people who want to collect games physically! With my Switch, I made the mistake of going digital, and my opinions on that have changed greatly over the years, so I'm looking to re-collect my games physically. This was very helpful, thanks so much!
Glad to help! Glad to see you here! :)
I agree. I usually watch for sales on Amazon. Gamestop used to be great for buying pre-owned games - but not any more.
Yeah, it’s pretty meh now.
I love this video thank you so much for this. Orbalology talks about buying from VGP fairly often so that was on my radar but was great to see you go through it in depth. And you definitely put a lot of my radar. Thank you very much.
Fantastic!!! Glad you enjoyed it!
I pre-order Nintendo Switch 1st party games from Gamestop because they mostly come with pre-order bonuses. When I went to pick up Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, I felt like I was being interoggated. First I was asked "do you want a warranty?" Then "Do you want to make a donation?" and when i said "No" he said "do you want to round up a donation to the nearest dollar?" What part of "NO" do they not understand, lol.
I like VGP because of the re-prints and you can collect points to save money on future orders i.e. get 4,000 points and save $5.
Great video, Paige. Being from Canada this video was informative.
Awesome! Glad to help!
Your vid helped a lot. I'm Canadian too. I 100% agree with you about not getting games from Facebook market place or Kijiji. It's like you said, you have to keep on messaging people to meet at a certain time, & also for me I worry about my safety. I've done it once & I go with my friends because they do it a lot more. Everything was cool. I rather not go alone & meet said strangers in a parking lot or a metro. Then you go to look for them etc. So I don't do that.
I buy my games off Amazon, Walmart & Best Buy. Then also I will go to local pawn shops or flea markets & these mom & pop shops as well to get great deals.
Local pawn shops can be GREAT!!!
Just recently changed my PS5 for the disc version of it and besides big retailers, I did not know anything about these guys. Thank you for the good video you make just wanted to start making my physical collection after having digital for a couple years.
Fantastic!!! Glad I could help!
Second on supporting the local shops! I try to stop in every other week and check it out what different shops have. I can also second limited run games. I've always had a good experience with them. I'm aware not everybody likes them based off current events but as a customer, didn't have a bad experience with them
Yeah, they are great!
I haven't purchased anything from GameStop since 2021 when our local ones were liquidating inventory. You may pay a little more when ordering something like a collector's edition of something from VGP, but at least it will be packaged nicely. I went to their physical location last summer with my wife and kids when we were visiting Toronto. It was "okay". For anyone in the States (though they will gladly ship to Canada), I like to give Double Jump Video Games a shout out.
I’d love to visit them someday!
I followed Wario 64 years ago (still do) They’re the reason I got the NES and SNES Classic. I was happy to get both. I’ve really wanted to preserve physical media, so this is video is fantastic! Also, I had no idea you’re in Canada. Super cool!
Thank you!!! Physicals are truly the best! :)
I just had terrible experience with Game Stop. They had a pre order steelbook for Visions of Mana. It would only let me get the game via shipping, but I had to pick the steelbook up in store. Did not let me select a store. I only bought it there because I collect the Square Enix steelbooks. I get off work at 8:00am. I had to wait until noon for the store to even open. I get there and the lone worker didn't even know if they came in. She had to go in the back. The shipping box was unopened. She had 5 steelbooks. Then proceded to tell me she had 10 in store preorders. Game Stops twitter said it was first come first serve. It was so poorly run. I feel sorry for the 6 pre orders that won't get a steelbook. She said they do this all the time too.
Yeah, that’s super unfortunate.
I found Video Games Plus because they reprinted stuff, and I honestly still think it's really rad that they do that. They aren't just stocking the product, they're figuring out a way to REPLENISH the product, even once it becomes scarce. That is pretty above and beyond, imo.
Otherwise, honestly, I really like Best Buy, even though they're just a big box store. Any time a new game is announced, they always seem to have the preorder up before anybody else. And while that's not always a big deal, when you're talking about some special or limited edition, it's pretty important! BB doesn't have the crazy programs they used to where you could get like 20-30% off ALL new releases or whatever it was, but I still find them to be pretty reliable. Plus, they carry general electronics and such, so I could justify getting a BB credit card, which means I also get money back for shopping there :p
Yeah, I’m happy with Best Buy too!
I’ve been going to EBGames, Planet X, and GameStop and overall it’s been a good experience. I purchased so much from them so they never really needed to pressure me into buying something. Some Fantastic memories waiting in lines for new console releases. Hopefully physical will always at least be an option as future consoles are released.
I hope so too! Glad you’ve had a good experience with them!
I usually frequent Amazon and Best Buy. I’ll use GameStop when they have a great trade deal going on to try to maximize the credit that I’ll get. Also don’t have a problem buying used games from them every now and then. Wish I had a local, mom & pop shop around here.
Yeah, I also look for the best deals when I can!
Thank you so much for this video. I live in the states, but get a lot of games from VGP and Play Asia. I usually wait until larger sales to go elsewhere, but new stores are always appreciated!! I used to shop at GameStop, but I got fed up with the generic cases without the cover art. They used to be a good option for me when I was younger, but they just don't meet my needs anymore. I also hated the stickers they'd put on used games that NEVER came off. I am looking at some on my shelf right now 🤣
The generic cases kill me!
In Australia, at least where I live, there's only EBGames, JB HiFi (smaller version of best buy) and target etc. There are some smaller game retailers but they seem to only be in the bigger city areas, if that. Plus pawn shops that overcharge. It's been hard to find good deals in retail outlets. For older games, eBay has actually been decent + Facebook marketplace usually has some good deals if you can be bothered to pickup from someone. I much preferred how I had it back in the USA, I had one mom & pop shop I went to for everything - new and old!
Yeah, the mom and pop places rule!!!
Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Game Stop, Amazon, EBay most of the time! I HATE the Game Stop experience too, and many of their stores look dirty inside!
I agree!!!
Great video. PNP and Videogamesplus are the best for Limited Run releases and reprints . Living in Ontario myself its a saver for shipping.
Right??? So awesome!
I just finished Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. That was such an amazing, fun game! I was addicted. It has a similar feeling to Link's Awakening, but it honestly might have been better! It might just be my favorite Zelda game. It struck the right balance between giving you freedom to explore while still providing enough constraints to make it not feel overwhelming or without enough direction. 10 out of 10 without question. Contender for game of the year. Biggest reason is that it's fun. Also, the game isn't too long LOL! I highly recommend it.
I think it’ll be my next game!
@@femtrooper awesome! It's not too hard. I think you'll like it. I would honestly be surprised if you didn't like it.
Learned something about Game Deals Canada on X! Thanks Paige! Cool video! My pet peeve about GameStop is you'll see something "ooo shiny" on the shelf and you'll take it up and they'll say we don't have that. It's just a case on the shelf mocking you. I tried to get their copy of Elden Ring with the DLC on the disc. Sad stuff.
Yeah, or it’s “new” but already opened!
VGP, PNP, and PlayAsia are my most used game suppliers. I also will get some on eBay, in addition to here and there just about everywhere else. I’m in USA as far from Canada as mainland allows and still Canadian stores are best for me. Thanks for sharing the video.
Awesome! Glad they work for you!
I got into a nasty interaction with a gamestop employee because she was basically saying that the FF7 rebirth I bought WOULD fail so I NEEDED their warranty, so my question in response was "should I just go buy this online then if you have that little faith in your products?" and she lost it on me, good times!
Wowwwwwwww that is NOT good!
Great video! I completely agree with your frustrations about GameStop. There are some cool employees though who wont keep pushing stuff but, also some lame ones who act mad when you don't wanna buy, their crappy protection plans haha.
Totally! It ruins the experience.
Thank you for all the awesome recommendations! I agree with you as far as GameStop goes. I’ll only go if the game I’m looking for is cheapest there and I can order online for in-store pick up.
Awesome! I’m glad to help!
Hey Paige, that nice, new place to check out in Canada I did not know! Thanks for that!!
Awesome!!! You’re welcome!
And another great video :)
I wish we would have cool video game stores here in Germany, but sadly after Gamestop left, there aren't many options. So there's hardly any alternative to Amazon or other big companies, which is a shame since I like supporting smaller businesses.
That sucks! Just depends where you live I guess in terms of the independent stores.
I'm in UK but I much prefer eBay over Amazon. It feels better to support indie sellers and you can message each other about things, and the photos are of the actual copy you buy. Last week for example I ordered a Pac-man board game from Amazon and when it came it was in another language, not as shown on site, so I sent it back and found one new on eBay.
I’m with you on this! If someone has a fair price I’d way rather support them this way too!
I have a sad story.
I used to go to this amazing little shop up a flight of dingy stairs in the middle of the city that had all sorts of rare gems and such ...
But one day they hit me with the "we're not stocking PC games anymore. A 360 is just as good and PC is dying."
Well, 2 years later, the shop closed for good.
Now, I don't know what happened exactly, but my favourite fightstick I still use to this day came from that shop.
RIP.
Awww that’s too bad!!!
I hear ya on GameStop hah. I worked there like a decade+ ago and as a company they were already so aggressive even then. It was a constant point of contention between me and my store manager. I'm generally a person in that kind of setting that did what I want, meaning if I felt it disrespectful to pitch bullshit metrics (especially where not applicable/appropiate) then I just straight didn't do it. So I definitely moved on eventually. And yeah, as a customer, I find absolutely zero reason to stop at one. There's nothing that they offer me across the board that I can't get elsewhere coupled with an experience that doesn't drive me up the wall.
Oh boy that’s awful!
Re: your Gamestop comments. It was about 10-15 years ago, even before Smart phones were as universal (and I still don't own one btw) when a young lady behind the counter of a games shop I was in (GAME itself here in the UK iirc) asked me if I had the reward points app or whatever it was. And I just politely said "Nope.. No app. No phone..."
She almost did a 'steps back in amazement!' thing. And exclaimed "Wow.. How do people contact you?" to which I replied. "They don't.."
Generational differences right there.. The young person is wondering how on earth someone can survive without people being able to contact them at all times.. I was probably just under age 50 at that time. And I'm wondering why on earth I would want anyone to ever be able to contact me..
Hahahaha, that’s great.
appreciate the Canadian tips, I didn't know!
That’s so great! I’m glad to help!
Awesome vid - I am always looking for more places to visit and buy from - with GameStop I try to build as much of relationship as possible - but they make it difficult sometimes 😊❤
I know! It’s hard!
I just go to Amazon since its easy to pre-reserve and cancel as required. They don't charge you until it ships. If its not available in Amazon then I shop around as required or buy directly from the publisher if they have a store. VGP reprints for stuff I missed are also awesome.
Yeah, I don’t really have any issues with Amazon. Been good for me!
All small stores near me died, we only have gamestop left, along with walmart.
Luckily it seems its the one gamestop where the staff is nice, at least lately.
That’s good! If you have a good experience there, go with it!
Such a great video. Lots of places to cross shop before pulling the trigger now. Particularly helpful list especially if you are in Canada. Btw, Leafs forever but shoutout to the Flames!
YEAH FLAMES!
Great video! Definitely going to check out that Video Game Trader shop!
Love it! It’s my local place so not sure how shipping is outside of Calgary but they are great!
@@femtrooper man, I wish I knew about it before I came to Calgary a few months back 😂
@@dukey03 Darn! It’s pretty sweet actually! Nice new location too! Good people.
Awesome video!! I love playasia so much 👾
Yeeeeah!!! Thanks!
I miss gamestop since the left ireland. It was a good place to find steelbooks! The issue with online for me is shipping fees😢 I do hate how long limited run games takes, if they we're a bit on the quicker side it would be so much better! But local game stores are the best in general, usually good chats from the clerks to!
Yeah, I love the local places! And argh to the shipping fees!
@femtrooper I've payed more for shipping fees than the actual game sometime!
@@FriendsAndGamingYT Oh no!
i have a digital ps5 slim but thinking buying a disc drive
Oh fun!!! I do prefer physical!
Funny that you say that today, as Sony gave a reminder for you need physical games. Their PSN crashed for 6 hours and appearently people couldn't play their digital games.
@@DaakkuuYRS what seriously thats messed up
@@femtrooper too be fair I want to collect physical games but I can't be asked to wait or go to the shop lol
Thanks for this and sharing your honest thoughts as always … I bugged you on Twitter a while back for some of this info - now I won’t have to harass you again - here it all is in one handy dandy vid! ;) Still haven’t made the trek cross town mind you. lol.
Haha that’s great!
Awesome stuff Paige! I forgot about pnp games! Thanks for the heads up about LR being at gaming retailers. Just grabbed 3 xbox games i was missing from my Xbox LR set.😊
Excellent!!!
GameStop used to be a good place to go am good times .
Now it’s like treading through a massive swamp filled with zombies 🤪
My main place I buy games is playasia absolutely love them. Amazon has been quite good as well ( however these last few times I’ve ordered games my orders have gotten delayed or flat canceled 😈) recently an order from Amazon is on its 9th delay👻
Even though I’m in Arizona I have still ordered from VGP and PNP before with zero issues granted that was a while ago so….
Appreciate the video thanks
That’s awesome!!! Love this!
I use Amazon mostly, occasionally for something a bit harder to find I go on eBay. Other than that I might pick up something at Best Buy or GameStop but I don’t go there very often
Makes sense!
I haven't bought games new since I developed a backlog, but i do buy games from my local game store or Facebook marketplace if i see a good price
That’s awesome!
woohoo! I need to start hustling smarter like this and get good deals! I definitely want to get into the second hand market for retro games! ha ha d'oh xD
Sounds like a fun adventure!
I once bought a couple of used PS3 games from GameStop back then, only to find the cases empty when I got home. True, i should’ve checked but still…
Ugh what a pain!!! Hate that!
For me I go to sometimes GameStop but here in the States we have a mom and pop store called the exchange where I live here in Cleveland heights and there other locations and sometimes I go to Walmart or Best buy or Target to find games but when it comes to retro games I would rather go to one of my personal favorites it's called James games and more and sometimes I do the exchange here where I live in the States
Fantastic!
Hey Femtrooper I remember I used to go to Kmart in the 90's to get games and I'm very familiar with funcoland do you remember those places?
K-Mart yes, but not the other place. Don’t think we had that in Canada.
What are the best places you like for games?
My answers to that would be in this video! :)
Ok right my bad 😮
Yea i definitely use ebay for sealed switch games. I verify prices with Amazon, Best buy, Walmart etc.... And for the Most part I feel eBay is still most of the time cheaper. And remember you can always offer the seller less than asking price too....
That’s a good point!
We don't have a Gamestop here in the Philippines, what's great about our local gaming store here is they don't sell 2nd hand/used game, so I got the games sealed (but sometimes due to old stock the plastic have a damage or the box if it is an LE/CE)..
Oh that’s cool!
I find that Ebay can be good for pre-owned common (not limited print) games. I get a decent deal once in a while.
Yeah! It definitely can surprise you!
I buy a lot of games at the flea market. I know most of the vendors, they are like my local game shop.
Yes! Places like that can be excellent!
I use Play Asia sometimes because some games come complete on cart unlike eu/us versions😊
I use DK oldies…… lol jk
I mainly shop local not to mention when you do trade in’s some places give me up to 40% of the total retail value! We had something called EB games here and I think I’ve seen Happy Console Gamer talk about have EB games in Canada too but ours got bought out by GameStop and completely ruined the buying and tradimg experience so I’m right there with you! Also thank you btw I just followed Wario64! Oh question are you still currently purchasing retro games? If so where is the first place you look… I notice you have a pretty sick retro collection too!! Keep up the awesome content! 💪🏼💪🏼
Yeah, it used to be called EB Games in Canada and then it became GameStop. I definitely used to go way more often but now I try and use the independent places as much as I can!
This may be a dumb question but does VGP produce official games?
@@sirvern7825 Yes, everything is legit! But you could always tweet them and ask them!
On ebay you can purchase games in lots. Like lot of 3 or 4. I sell that way. I noticed my stuff is cheaper than Amazon. I don't like the sellers that say choose this. I just sell in bundles.
That works!!!
VGP are really awesome people 💯
Totally! It’s a great place!
I like this video Femtrooper, I was thinking about buying from PlayAsia, maybe this is a weird question but does the site also sell English version of video game titles? Not a foreign translation version but just English translation version? Thanks!
Yes, some of them are the Asian version which usually will have English over the Japanese copy or other versions. They sell US versions too, sometimes PAL or AUS copies. Just browse around and you’ll see! :)
@@femtrooper thank you!
The meanest thing I do sometimes is that I will buy a game on Amazon (got the Amazon credit card so I get extra cash back) but it takes forever to arrive because I opt for free shipping. So I'll also go pre-order from GameStop, pick the game up on launch day from GameStop, start playing it, and then when the copy from Amazon arrives I'll take that sealed copy back to GameStop and return it for a full refund. This is especially beneficial when there's some sort of GameStop exclusive pre-order bonus.
Before this video even starts it’s either GameStop target or Walmart for me
Awesome! All of them can have great deals!
Following Video Games Plus now.
Awesome!!! They are really great!
I’ve been a Best Buy person my whole life. Of course it was better when they had gamers club unlocked
Nice!
VGP and PNP are the best. Great service and I save on provincial sales tax, win win.
Exactly!
VGP for the win! :)
Gamestop ate all the other chains, small franchises, and mom and pops. I've been wishing for years now they would fail so real competition could come back.
Yeah, I hear you!
I go to gamestop to order some video games once a month
I like this lady
Thanks! :)
Another thing about Gamestop and why I avoid them as well....they never have anything in stock!
Yeah, it’s not the best place by any means.
Good vid. Ur cute as a button 😊
Thanks for the tips 👍
we dont even have a game shop in town anymore
Oh, that’s too bad!!!
EStarland is a great option!!!
I’ll have to look into this!
Canada has Best Buy and Walmart? 😮 You’re basically the USA!
Haha yep…it’s a very similar country…
Good video. Although, some of the stores in this video don't apply to me as I live in the opposite side of the world to Canada. I've used VGP and they were decent during the ps3 era for some time, until they brutally ignored me with issue I had for a game that didn't arrive. Amazon is also no good for my country, because for some reason they freaking 20 dollars shipping on video games for my country. Nowadays I buy games in stores in my country and don't bother with online shipping.
That’s too bad! If you have somewhere you can go to in person, that seems like the best option!
VGP is the GOAT
Sure is!
And also gamestop prices are always too high...
You have a beautiful soul ❤️ 💕 💛 💜 💖
Thank you!
I got my PS5 at gamestop because nobody else had any. I never buy games from them.
Makes sense!
No surprise why Gamestop is struggling to stay alive.
Yep!
I used to work at Gamestop a long time ago. It makes me dislike video games 😆😆😆
Oh no haha that’s terrible! It’s really a shame.
Amazon
F**** GameStop!
Just hasn’t been the best experience lol
Please do not support amazon :(
Amazon's anticompetitive practices make it a hard no. And the way they treat their employees is pretty unforgivable. The idea that the people boxing and delivering your packages are so intensely micromanaged and abused .. it's pretty hard to support them.
Darling you would look good with short hair. Leave the front long, but trim the sides and back and maybe go dirty blonde. The gray streak adds too many years to your look.
limitedrun suck!
Whats her OF?
Seek help
Seek help