Xbox Addict

7 Eleven to Begin Selling Used Games

In a partnership with Game Trading Technologies, convenience store chain 7-Eleven will soon begin selling used games in its stores. Games will be priced under $20 -- hence the promotion’s name "Great Games Under $20" -- and will be available in about half of 7-Eleven stores in the United States, which works out to around 3,000 stores.
"What this means to consumers is that they will have many convenient locations, most open 24/7, to buy value-priced video games," said Game Trading Technologies president and CEO Todd Hays. "The program is available to all 7-Eleven US franchisees, and we hope to have most US stores on board by September."

"We partnered with GTT because of their experience and expertise as a third-party provider of video games and the terrific selection they’ll offer to our customers," said Michael Jester, 7-Eleven category manager for gaming and electronics. "More than 60 percent of U.S. households now have at least one video game console, and consumers are searching for convenient ways to stretch their entertainment dollar in this challenging economy."

7-Eleven permanently added videogames to their inventory in late 2008 following a trial run with big name games like Madden and World of Warcraft. Though they initially had some issues with breaking street dates (namely, with Wrath of the Lich King), the company refocused its efforts on ensuring that it wouldn’t happen anymore.

As Hays noted, having stores that are generally open 24 hours a day is a pretty nice perk, though it’s unclear how many sales of used games they’ll really be making at 3 in the morning. But maybe that will be the key to succeeding where other retailers, such as Best Buy, have failed to make much of a mark in the used games business.