Amazon.com Enters the Used Game Market

Internet mega-retailer Amazon.com is the latest company to make a foray into the pre-owned games market, following in the footsteps of Toys R Us with the beta-test launch of its Video Games Trade-In service.

To promote the service's launch, Amazon is currently offering a 10%
discount on a single video game or accessory purchase to users who
trade in a game before March 19th. For the gist of Amazon's new
trade-in service, see the graphic above or check out the Video Games Trade-In page

Could Amazon be poised to break GameStop's
stranglehold on the used game market? It will likely depend on the
ease-of-use of Amazon's trade-in/mail-in process and the rapidity with
which funds are deposited into user accounts. Whereas Amazon users must
wait for their games to ship and be processed before receiving
compensation, GameStop provides the instant gratification of in-person
transactions at hundreds of brick-and-mortar shops worldwide. However,
GameStop's customer service is notoriously both boon and bane for the
retailer.

In an interesting side note, Cheap Ass Gamer reports that games traded into the Amazon.com service are actually purchased by third-party merchant NorAm International, a wholesale group specializing in media sales through online storefronts including Half.com, Amazon.com and Alibris.com.
em:
http://www.gamecyte.com/a-new-challenger-amazoncom-enters-the-used-game-market

Looks
like Amazon is following Toys R Us in testing out the used video game
business. As part of their service launch, until March 19th, receive
10% off a future single game or accessory purchase when you trade-in a
game.

Amazon Video Game Trade-in Page

1) Games must be undamaged with manual and original case and be postmarked no later than 7 days after submission.

2) Print a pre-paid shipping label (provided free by Amazon) and packing slip, package your games, and ship them to Amazon.

3) An Amazon.com Gift Card will be deposited into your account upon receipt of games

CAG Shipwreck has discovered that the games are actually being purchased by a third-party merchant called NorAm International. NorAm seems to mainly deal in media sales (mostly books, DVDs, and CDs) through online storefronts on both Amazon and Half.com.