Wal-Mart Wants Your Used Video Games
Wal-Mart wants your used video games.
The retail giant is launching an in-store video game trade-in program, offering store credit to participating gamers, Wal-Mart announced in a press release today. Customers will be able to use the store credit to buy anything at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, both in stores and online.
The traded-in games will be refurbished and offered for re-sale.
"Gaming continues to be an important business for us and we're actively taking aim at the $2 billion pre-owned video game opportunity," said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer for Walmart U.S., in the press release. "When we disrupt markets and compete, our customer wins. They'll save money on video games and have the flexibility to spend it however they want."
The move will likely affect video game retailers such as GameStop, which already offers store credit or cash for video games. GameStop officials expressed confidence in a statement to the Dallas Morning News, saying, "Given our expertise, we will continue to win the battles. We've beat out other large retailers when they've entered the category. We are confident we will continue to do so."
Amazon, Best Buy and Target are among other stores that offer trade-in programs.
Wal-Mart's in-store trade-in program will begin Wednesday, March 26.