How to price used video games and consoles

A repeatable way to set shelf prices and trade-in offers for used games, consoles, and accessories.

Pricing used games by memory or by feel is how stores end up with a shelf of overpriced carts nobody buys and a glass case of underpriced grails that sell in an hour. A simple system — one market source, clear condition rules, and fixed trade rates — fixes both. Here’s how to set it up.

Start from a real market price, not a guess

Every price should start from what the item actually sells for right now. Sold listings on eBay and price guides like PriceCharting track recent sales for loose, complete-in-box, and new copies. Pick one primary source so your whole team starts from the same number.

In GameSnapPOS, PriceCharting and TCGPlayer values are pulled live every time you look up an item, so staff never price from an old printout.

Price by condition and completeness

The same game can be worth very different amounts depending on what comes with it. Set clear definitions and use them every time:

Loose: the cartridge or disc only
Complete in box (CIB): game, case or box, and manual
New or sealed: factory sealed and unopened
Consoles: note whether controllers, cables, and the original box are included, and whether it’s been tested

Set your shelf price

Most stores price at or slightly under market for common titles, so they move, and at market for rare or in-demand items. Round to clean price points your customers recognize, and review slow sellers every few weeks instead of letting them sit.

Set your trade-in offer from the shelf price

Your offer should leave room for your margin, the time it takes to test and clean an item, and the chance it sits for a while. Many stores set a percentage of market value for cash and a higher percentage for store credit. Write your rates down so every employee quotes the same number.