Wal-Mart Entering Into Used Game Market

[Shawn Zipay]

Wal-Mart is making the move to the used game market starting on March 26. Once that date rolls around, gamers will be able to trade in their old games to their local store, assuming their local store is one of the 3,100 locations participating in the initial roll out.

Trading in games will then let gamers immediately apply that amount towards anything sold at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, both in store and online. The company says that the games that are traded in will "then be sent to be refurbished and made available for purchase in like-new condition starting this Summer."

How it Works
Walmart’s video game trade-in program is easy.

- Customers bring their working video games, in the original packaging, to the electronics department.
- Associates scan the UPC code on the case and evaluate the game for obvious damage such as deep scratches or cracks.
- The customer is then provided with a trade-in value for each game to accept.
- The total value accepted by the customer is awarded immediately and can be applied at checkout in a Walmart store or Sam’s Club

This is just the start of Wal-Mart's used game process. Later this year, gamers will be able to purchase pre-owned titles both in store and on the Wal-Mart website. They say that the games will be "fully refurbished and in like-new condition" when sold.