Game Over Videogames — Local services in Bellevue

I don’t like to speak negatively about any business, but I do think it’s important to share this experience so others can be mindful before trading in their items.

To be clear, I accepted the trade, and I’m not experiencing any buyer’s or trader’s remorse. But there were a few things I wish I had known ahead of time.

When I arrived, I was told that Game Over only purchases items in lots, not individually. That wasn’t mentioned in the email communications beforehand (see attached), and it would’ve been helpful to know. It directly affected how my items were valued.

What I brought in could easily fetch $100+ in the resale market. I received $20 in cash. I did ask what store credit would have been, and was told “maybe $30”. I opted for cash since I don’t plan on returning, but either way, the amount didn’t feel like a fair reflection of the value—even accounting for depreciation.

To be honest, the interaction at the counter felt a little uncertain, as if the person assisting me wasn’t entirely sure how to assess what I brought. I say that respectfully, but it added to the feeling that this wasn’t a well-considered offer.

That said, these items had been sitting in my trunk since April, so I wasn’t relying on the trade—it was more about clearing space and hoping someone else could get use out of them.

If you’re planning to trade items in, I recommend doing your research, asking questions, and being confident enough to walk away if the offer doesn’t feel right. You’re not obligated to accept something that doesn’t sit well with you.

This is specific feedback for Game Over (not GameStop). It’s a cool store with a great aesthetic, but based on this experience, it’s not a place I’ll be visiting again for retro gaming trades.

Update:

Just to clarify again—there’s no trader’s remorse here. I accepted the offer as it was. This isn’t about regret—it’s about making sure others walk in more informed than I did.

The biggest issue wasn’t just the low offer—it was the lack of effort, transparency, or value placed on me as a customer. The process felt rushed, unprofessional, and frankly, impersonal. The employee at the counter didn’t inspect any of the items I brought in, didn’t look anything up, didn’t ask follow-up questions, and didn’t try to explain the valuation. It was a quick glance, a shrug, and “I can give you $20.”

I’ve since sent the same photos to two other local stores, and both came back with offers between $60–$75—without even having the items in hand. That tells me what I brought in had real value, and that proper evaluation can be done, when there’s effort.

For some context—I’ve worked in this space before. I’ve been behind the counter at GameStop and at an independent retro game shop, so I understand how trade-ins work. I’m not walking in blind. I wasn’t expecting top dollar, but I was expecting to be treated like a customer, not like someone just offloading junk. And honestly? Even pawn shops often provide more explanation and effort.

The follow-up response from the store missed the mark completely. There was no acknowledgment of the interaction, no ownership of the lack of process, and no appreciation for the fact that I took time out of my day to support your business. Instead, I got a canned response ending with “hope to see you again soon,” after I’d already said I wouldn’t be back.

I don’t enjoy leaving reviews like this, but I do believe it’s necessary so others know what to expect. If you’re planning a trade-in, ask questions, shop around, and remember: you don’t have to accept an offer that doesn’t feel right—you and your...

Follow-Up Review — Continued Gaslighting, No Accountability

Looks like “Dave” is the CEO of Game Over. So I got a response from the head honcho gaslighting.

This is a follow-up to my original review (please see my first post and screenshots for full context), because the way this store has continued to treat me is completely unprofessional.

I came in for a trade. I accepted the $20 offer—no reseller’s remorse whatsoever. I’ve said that from the beginning. I followed up because the experience didn’t feel right, and I wanted to understand how their trade process actually works—because it didn’t match what they promote.

Instead of a conversation or any accountability, I’ve been consistently insulted and gaslit.

The employee I dealt with gave a flat $20 offer with no item evaluation, no explanation, and no breakdown. He didn’t inspect anything, didn’t look anything up, and didn’t explain how that number was reached. And here’s the important part: he never once mentioned anything about “lot pricing”—until I brought it up. Only then did he shift the explanation to say they “buy in lots,” but that clearly wasn’t part of the initial discussion. That inconsistency alone says a lot.

Since then, a staff member named Dave responded to my email and doubled down on this false narrative of “reseller’s remorse.” Not once did he acknowledge my actual concern or take ownership of the experience I had. No manager reached out, no attempt was made to have a real conversation. Just repeated gaslighting and deflection.

Again—I wasn’t upset about the money. I knew what I was walking away with. What I’m frustrated by is the lack of transparency, professionalism, and respect. This was a missed opportunity to handle things with integrity, but instead, they chose to act defensive and dismissive.

As a lifelong gamer and someone with experience in the industry, I can confidently say: this is not a game store—it’s a pawn shop with retro branding, more focused on being “right” than being customer-centered.

I hope this review helps others understand exactly what to expect—and encourages the store to seriously reflect on how they treat the people keeping them...

Amidst a period of boredom at work yesterday, I decided to google "local retro stores" - specifically, looking for local stores that would allow me to get a fix for my newfound appreciation and hobby that is Retro Gaming. And, I'm happy to report that Game Over Videogames is precisely what I was looking for!

First and foremost, walking into the store was a pleasant experience - anything becomes a pleasant experience to the awesome tunes of the Persona 5 Soundtrack. Right off the bat, the store hit me straight where it matters (Persona 5 is one of my favorite games of all time btw). So, that was a good start.

Then, I got to speak to the Manager of the store, Ryan. Very nice person, very knowledgeable about games and the many consoles and companies represented in the store by the products on display. The rack of consoles behind the counter is one of the first things anyone that walks in would notice: lots of consoles, from NES, SNES, and GameCubes to Xbox and Playstation units. Games are properly displayed per console platform, with GameBoy and DS games behind the class counter, and the rest of the games in shelves across the length of the store. Long story short, I stayed there over an hours on what was supposed to be a short 15 minute stop.

If you are a retro hobbyist, interested in past generations of consoles, or just curious about the store, I would recommend anyone to pass by and check out their selection. I was told by Ryan that they accept games for store credit (similar to Gamestop, but for retro goodies!), they have services for replacing old batteries in game cartridges, and they have occasionally events and little tournaments in the store!

Grade: A (could be A+ after the next few visits)

*Note: this does NOT mean they have every retro game or every rare game out there. They MIGHT, because someone might bring it in to sell it. But, even with that, it's still...