this was the biggest best buy media service we were missing on. this will hope pull customers away from gamestop as a hardcore gaming spot. if we could create gaming coded employees that would greatly enhance the gaming experience even more. the only other gaming issue i wish we could nail would be preorders. the current customer experience imo is less than optimal.
im very interested to see how this goes as it could greatly improve our gaming image.
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The idea of a used game trade in for any Best Buy credit is great. Even the sale of tested used games offers to be a boon to many in these more cautious economic times.

I will be very interested in seeing if the rental element goes anywhere. With the demise of so many of the retail rental outlets and the upswing of conveniently placed Red Boxes – I think that Best Buy will have a tough time competing as a rental agency.

That is totally awesome. I love this idea! Now I just need it to come to my Best Buy in CT.

Processing the games via Kiosk is an amazing concept to me. Surely it will offer great ROI for you as processing the games does not add to your labor cost. Nice way to grab market share in a new category and as I said in my Tweet, get people in your store to spend more $. Looking forward to seeing how the test markets fly.

Sounds like a solid new concept. Will customers be able to put their game in the kiosk and see how much money is offered, then decide if they want to go through with it, or will it be no turning back? Also, will there be any extra benefits for Reward Zone members? Like, a certain % extra if you trade in 3 games or more? Just tossing ideas around.

What kind of kiosks are you using? Are these the e-play kiosks I’ve seen around?

It also sounds like a customer sells their game into the kiosk, but then the sale of that game back to a different customer is handled in the store, not just through the kiosk. Do I have that correct?

[...] Dow Jones Newswires is reporting that BBY is testing a kiosk-based model in some of its Dallas and Austin stores. The kiosk scans used games to make sure they work, and then issues a voucher redeemable for a Best Buy gift card that can be used for anything in the store. As the story notes, the news was disclosed by Best Buy chief marketing officer Barry Judge on his blog. [...]

If Best Buy ever looks into the online used game market, I’d love for them to do something similar to Goozex. [ http://goozex.com/trading/asp/welcome.asp ]

The advantage to their model is that they facilitate trades between members. That means they don’t require an infrastructure to store the used games themselves, while keeping a pretty high satisfaction rate among members. I know I much prefer dealing with them than the disappointment of going through the local Gamestops.

They’ve experimented with allowing points acquired through trades to be used on brand new games, maybe some day in the future Best Buy could partner with them!

I live in Dallas and would like to find out what stores are participating in this test. Also, are there any further details involving the scope of games accepted?(Original XBOX, Dreamcast, Super Nintendo?) I am supposing it is a disc only service. I would like to take advantage of the testing and report back with my own experience.

I saw this in our warehouse yesterday and was delighted that we’re having it in our store. This is an exciting concept and I can’t wait to see the results from it. The game exchange is an excellent idea and will certainly break us away from such places like Gamestop (which stares at us from across the street like those old Looney Tunes episodes where Bugs and Yosemite Sam have competing stores.) I just recently tried the movie rental idea from kiosks at the grocery store and love it. I’m thrilled Best Buy has jumped on board with that but adding games to the mix is an obvious excellent decision. It will help solve the game exchange dilemma customer service has always had. I can’t wait to see it in action.

[...] New Places and Spaces – Used Games Launch [Barry Judge - thanks Jim!] [...]

[...] New Places and Spaces – Used Games Launch [Barry Judge - thanks Jim!] [...]

I think this is the right thing to do to be relevant in the gaming market. We have been doing this at Future Shop in Canada with mixed success. I think where we could do better here is for the presentation in the store to be highly visible. If we are going to get into this game then lets not go in cautiously, lets tackle it head on.

I like the idea. I, too, would like to know which stores are participating, particularly if any stores to the West of Dallas and closer to the mid-cities are participating. If the trade in values are on the good end of decent, I might like to give them a shot.

[...] New Places and Spaces – Used Games Launch [Barry Judge - thanks Jim!] [...]

I would love to know if this is the e-play machine or not.

[...] really stood a chance of competing with GameStop’s—weren’t clear. CMO Barry Judge revealed today that Best Buy is going the kiosk route, with self-serve units that will give gamers back a voucher [...]

A few quick answers to some of the posts:
- Yes, a customer can elect to accept or decline the price being offered prior to committing to the trade in.
- At this time, there aren’t extra RZ points awarded, but if this offering goes national, bonus points for members of Best Buy’s Reward Zone Gamers Club could be very compelling proposition.
- The kiosks are indeed a partnership with e-Play.
- Because this is just a test, we can’t disclose the specific stores; however the kiosks are located in the Dallas and Austin markets.

This sounds like e-play. I wonder if customers will get a coupon, voucher, or payment on their credit card? While gamers will gladly take the payment, BB still doesn’t have the presale program going to really drive traffic with this offer. GS’s approach, which mixes value proposition with presale outreach and big opening week market share, will still be hard to beat.

[...] our customers and our employees are about gaming, movies and entertainment overall,” wrote CMO of Best Buy Barry Judge. “And the trade-in and used value propositions will give those [...]

[...] rekindling the effort by installing trade-in kiosks in several of its Dallas and Austin locations, blogs CMO Barry [...]

[...] is going after videogame retailer GameStop (GME) close to home. The electronics giant will start testing new used videogame kiosks this week in Dallas and Austin — not far from GameStop’s [...]

[...] rekindling the effort by installing trade-in kiosks in several of its Dallas and Austin locations, blogs CMO Barry Judge.Judge explains that the kiosks scan inserted games for “functionality,” and then [...]

[...] rekindling the effort by installing trade-in kiosks in several of its Dallas and Austin locations, blogs CMO Barry Judge.Judge explains that the kiosks scan inserted games for “functionality,” and then [...]

[...] rekindling the effort by installing trade-in kiosks in several of its Dallas and Austin locations, blogs CMO Barry [...]

[...] gaming, movies and entertainment overall,” said Best Buy chief marketing office Barry Judge on his blog. “And the trade-in and used value propositions will give those passionate customers even more [...]

sounds like a positive development. My kids are the driver now on the trade INS but they might like some more options than just other games

[...] the Dallas and Austin, Tex. markets starting this week, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a blog posting by Chief Marketing Officer Barry Judge. The kiosks will scan the games to ensure functionality, and [...]

[...] is going after videogame retailer GameStop (GME) close to home. The electronics giant will start testing new used videogame kiosks this week in Dallas and Austin — not far from GameStop’s [...]

[...] "This week, several of our Dallas and Austin stores will test a kiosk-based model that allows customers to insert their used games into a kiosk that will scan it for functionality, and immediately issue a voucher that is instantly redeemable for a Best Buy gift card," Barry Judge, CMO of Best Buy, wrote on his blog. [...]

[...] Dallas and Austin, Tex. markets starting this week, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a blog postingby Chief Marketing Officer Barry Judge. The kiosks will scan the games to ensure functionality, and [...]

[...] the initiative that Walmart recently launched, Best Buy chief marketing officer Barry Judge has announced on his blog (via Gamasutra) that the retailer will be testing out used game sales by way of [...]

[...] “This week, several of our Dallas and Austin stores will test a kiosk-based model that allows customers to insert their used games into a kiosk that will scan it for functionality, and immediately issue a voucher that is instantly redeemable for a Best Buy gift card,” Barry Judge, CMO of Best Buy, wrote on his blog. [...]

[...] and videos, Best Buy is now looking to do the same thing with the same kiosks.But Best Buy’s announcement indicates they’ll be doing Wal-Mart one better as their kiosk will “immediately issue a [...]

What platforms are being supported for these kiosks? I hope that “current” PC titles are also included!

[...] the initiative that Walmart recently launched, Best Buy chief marketing officer Barry Judge has announced on his blog (via Gamasutra) that the retailer will be testing out used game sales by way of [...]

This is a brilliant application that empowers the customer, adds value to the shopping experience and will likely build retention. It also seems to be further proof that Best Buy is willing to investigate technology that serves both your customers and stakeholders. I would like to tell you how our in-store, customer-facing Kiosk application called “Extanse”, can increase sales and take Best Buy shoppers and Reward Zone members to a new level.

It would be nice to have some idea what values Best Buy is offering. Me and 3 of my friends are interested if the values are good. A few examples would help. (How much do I get for Fallout 3 for PS3, Far Cry 2 for XBOX 360, Madden 08 for XBOX 360, etc.)

[...] the initiative that Walmart recently launched, Best Buy chief marketing officer Barry Judge has announced on his blog (via Gamasutra) that the retailer will be testing out used game sales by way of [...]

The Park Lane Best Buy in Dallas will be doing this concept; but on another note, Best Buy Mesquite and Best Buy Sherman will be testing Layaway in their stores; if you don’t have the cash today but can pay it off in 90 days then you are in the good. Check out those stores for further details.

I’m curious how store inventory will be protected. What will stop an individual from opening a game or blu-ray and just putting it in the kiosk for credit.

[...] the initiative that Walmart recently launched, Best Buy chief marketing officer Barry Judge has announced on his blog (via Gamasutra) that the retailer will be testing out used game sales by way of [...]

Berry, We have a new product that is coming out soon. Its a Cell Phone detector so that High school kids and moms and on site contractors will never lose there Cell phones of black berry’s any more. It is Eng by Blue tooth and we have the patton. It go’ s on your key chane or her purse or in a holster the sounds off if you forget your phone with in 3 t 4 feet. It has the Blue tooth LOGO on it. Its going to make millons. Its currently built now and ready for shipment.

I tried one of the kiosks today. Unfortunately, 3 1/2 hours later I still haven’t gotten the promised credit slip. The machine took me through the entire process, accepted my games, but did not print out a credit voucher. or any sort of acknowledgment. The store manager told me there was NOTHING he could do. They called a “customer service” number on the machine…..passed the phone onto me, at which point the CS rep told me she would look out for my transaction and e-mail me a credit voucher likely within 30 minutes. Basically, I left the store without my games…without any credit….and hopelessly without any proof of this transaction. 3 hours later I called, and they told me they still don’t see my transaction, so they can’t act on it. I can’t help but think I have been robbed, with no hope of solution.

Update: After another hour or so I got a “credit voucher” in my email from customer service. Honestly, it looked like something I could print out by myself at home. I didn’t look official at all, and didn’t have a bar code or anything to scan. The manager at Best Buy was skeptical, but knew I had been in there earlier today, so I think he honored it to get me to go away. Since it wasn’t their fault, I hope the store gets reimbursed. In any case, for those planning on trying out one of the kiosks, this was at the Plano, TX store. Prices offered were 50% higher than what I was offered at Gamestop down the street.

I think this could be a double edge sword. It is a great idea to try to get into Gamestop’s business model via the used games market, but the downside is what happens on the other side of the table. What do we do with millions of copies of used games? I would suggest that we take a good hard look at this v. At Risk/EOL before looking at this as a national solution.

I think when you start to go after a giant in that business that it is more than just the preorders, you have to look at the complete package. How do you truly win in the Video Game Industry with giants like Gamestop, Walmart and Target, all very real threats?

I think that it comes down to more than just the used games, which is a good start, but a bit short sided. Look at what happened to CC at every turn where they tried to copy a few strands of what Best Buy provided to the customer. They even took some of our high ranking staff over and it didn’t help.

Trade-ins are a great start towards doing what Gamestop does well, in addition to this we really need to look at our pre-order system. This is where Gamestop draws a great deal of their customers and locks them into a sale. The other large part of Gamestop’s draw is their employees are typically gamers, and they have a game rental program in store that allows their employees to gain great amounts of product knowledge. With a large stock pile of used games we would be able to institute this policy as well. The next big thing they do is around game release dates. As soon as a game is available, game stop has it on their shelves, even if their managers have to drive to the warehouse to pick it up, where our games come in around 3pm, or the next day. This leads customers who are seeking the game on the first day to leave our stores and shop else where. Another piece is their constant midnight release schedule. This is an area where we could crush the competition, opening the full store, and hosting prerelease parties on these nights can show the gamers that we care about them. Midnight release isn’t just a VPE for Gamestop, but also for the 24 hour Walmart.

For gaming v. Target, the strategy has to be around winning with the female segments, and for that we have to look at the entire store. Possibly adding a department to replace Media (cd/dvd) when it is time, along with expanding our Appliance base would be things I would look towards.

I think I have already said too much…

Let me leave you with this: 1 in 4 Americans are playing video games of some sort, and customer loyalty doesn’t know a department, but rather is a blanket that spreads across the entire store… Lets build great experiences it is best for the customer and the business.

[...] the industry’s shift toward digital distribution. He also pointed out the company’s test of in-store kiosks that buy back used [...]

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