UGA Games — Attraction in Columbus

I'd been in a few times and was impressed with the store, but I don't remember if I had done business with them way back during those initial visits.

I recently decided to sell off my gaming collection of about 30 years and so I took in some games for them to evaluate for cash trade-in. I didn't have high hopes for what I'd get in return, having only ever sold to Gamestop many years ago, knowing how cheap GS can be, that set my expectations low. I know selling your own stuff is the way to go if you want top dollar, but I don't have that kind of time anymore, so I just figured I'd go with "what happens, happens."

When I was told how much they were willing to offer me for the big chunk of stuff I brought in, I felt that I MUST have misheard. That what I had heard was either insanely low or insanely high. I had to ask again for clarification. It was FAR higher an offer than I was expecting. I say this knowing that at least one game I had goes for sale online, used, for a few hundred dollars on the good end (I've seen people asking for 500 which is a bit crazy if it's not factory sealed) and they were offering me about half of that cost for that game alone. Going into this I was gonna be shocked if I was offered a THIRD at best, based on past expectations, and here they are offering way better than I expected. I asked to go down the list of some of the other games I had traded in and again, I was shocked at how fair the prices were. Yeah some of the games were barely worth the plastic cartridges encasing them and I'd get a buck or two for those, but for the good games? The games that people love and actually want? I felt like I was being offered something very fair. I am not used to that feeling doing business with much of anyone.

Please keep your expectations grounded though. Like I said, 30 years of collecting (or maybe hoarding is a better term, ha!), and I've always been choosey. I dropped off a LOT of games and they said I just had good games that people want. I don't want anyone pointing to my review, complaining, because UGA wouldn't give you 50 dollars for your worthless copies of NFL 2000 through 2023 or however they number them, that you paid 60 bucks each for, new. Do a bit of research online, set realistic expectations, understand that they have to make money as well...then hopefully still be shocked that you're getting a fair deal in a world full of unfair businesses.

My trade-in experience aside, as soon as you walk in you know you're in a place that's run by people who care about the products that are on display. Clean, well organized, retro, modern, used, new, cheap finds, expensive collectors items, even some really cool artwork using disassembled consoles. UGA seems like a business that has a soul and I hope they stay that way and thrive for...

I never leave reviews. But it's either a different owner or his employees are shady. They are really going downhill with the employees. The last 3 visits have been terrible. I would say just 1 employee but they all have a voice, and nobody says anything. I used to deal with the owner a lot. But he's not around as he used to be. He was Great! I started going in 2020. Long time costumer. Lost. I went in to trade or sell a Japanese 20th anniversary Mewtwo ex, mint condition! The employee had brought up the English version and offered based off its price. I nicely said. I think you have the wrong one, because the price was way off. He proceeded to ask me to leave. I said okay. Grabbed my card and left. Super Odd situation. But just as simple as I just mentioned. The 2nd time I went. I had some cards I wanted to trade and sell. All Mint or NM. No marks or scratches. Some were ones I purchased from them that were labeled Mint a few years prior, the Cards never left the cases! The employee looks through them. Gives me a price and it sounds way off. Reminder I'm used to dealing with the owner and I know his percentages etc. So I know what to expect with prices. The employee was way off. So I asked how he got the number. He proceeded to state UGA games pays out the percentage MP prices. (Which was never the case). I told him all my cards are Mint! He agreed but said that's how they pay. Offered me the same deal. I kindly declined and left. The final time, figuring the employee would be different. It actually was a employee being trained but the old employee from last time was there and took over. I knew it wasn't going to be good after that. I'll never be going there again, I went in to Trade or Sell a grade 9 rainbow Pikachu. Valued. Around $140. And a Japanese Rayquaza valued at $45. During which. They have a additional 10% promo with Pokemon right now. They took 20min to find the values of the cards. A Simple TCG. Price chart. eBay. Etc. Even had prices pulled up on my phone. They came back with a offer at 54%. The value. They clearly have no idea what they are doing. Or trying to rip people off. I kindly said I'll pass. And I left.

I've never been rude or caused a problem ever. But definitely don't recommend going their...

My roommate and my other buddy already left reviews and I wasn’t going to say anything until they showed me how the store responded. Pretty disappointed tbh. My roommate took me there with nothing but nice things to say about them (despite our other buddy HATING them), then this whole debacle happened. He sold some cards when he was having a rough patch, I won’t comment on that because I wasn’t there. However 2 days after the initial sale he made sure that he could get the binders back as he told them initially the binders and sleeves weren’t part of the sale. They confirmed they were going to give back the binders and sleeves, but were still going through everything and to check back in a few days. He did, they still weren’t ready (I’m weighing in on this because I was there for those calls). They emailed him after that to say now that “oh we didn’t know you wanted them back, you’ll need to look through used binders” which was a lie because at the very least confirmed it on the call I heard. They then had a break in and huge theft so my roommate wanted to wait and not bother them. The emailed him 4 weeks later (not 6 as they tried to claim) and asked him to get the sleeves. They had sold 11 of the 13 binders at $10 a piece basically making another $110 off merch that wasn’t theirs. I am not leaving a 1 star review for now since I recognize that leaving them that long was partially my roommates fault and genuinely hoping that the store will do the right thing (please take the previous 1 star reviews with a grain of salt and my buddy hates them since her perceives he got ripped off by them and Joe is clearly upset at this development). Until now I’ve had no issue with them (and still not one personally) so I still think they will make this right even if those guys don’t agree. The response from the store itself on their reviews is pretty bad, but tensions are high so don’t hold it against...