Level 7 Games — Local services in Lakewood

It was my first time visiting Level 7 Games and I was impressed when I walked in. The store is clean and organized with a great selection of games and merch. Some people were shopping while others were setting up for an epic role-playing game and the staff was attentive and friendly. Great atmosphere for anyone even remotely interested in video games.

I stopped by to sell several games, consoles, and peripherals I had from years past that I was finally ready to part with. I had called beforehand and spoke with Damian to ensure I wouldn’t be an impact on their time. I got there and was immediately seen by Damian which was great. We chatted about my stuff, exchanged pleasantries, and got to verifying everything was in order. Two quotes were provided to me – one for cash and one for in-store credit and both were reasonable (Jon B. helped with that, if I have the name correct). So far, so good.

While we were waiting on a console to update, I walked the store checking out the selection. I found some items of interest – a Rick and Morty Funko – and asked, if in exchange for a stack of video game guides (14 to be exact) and some PlayStation 1 and 2 peripherals, I might be able to have one as part of the trade as the Funko were only $10. Damian had already mentioned before this conversation that they don’t pay for guides or some of the peripherals I was bringing in and I'll admit this was just me trying to sweeten the deal slightly given the amount of stuff being traded in. Unfortunately, Damian said no, but I still provided the items anyway as the shop might still make some money off them in the future and I didn’t need them anymore. I bring this up only because you might want to temper expectations on negotiation. I understand Level 7 is a business, but it was disheartening to me that it was flat no. I provided items of value and I don’t think my request was out of bounds. Perhaps future customers might get some different consideration depending on the trade or the purchase – a little goes a long way.

However, this review was not a 5-star because of that. Up to this point, I was content and pleased and would gladly write a 5-star review. It was what happened next that compelled me to detail my experience. Before the cash payout, I asked Jon B. (the gentleman providing the quotes) if he factored in a controller I had brought in. He said no and adjusted the quote – additional $5 for in-store credit and $3 for cash. As Damian took my info, they chatted briefly to the side and Jon told Damian about the adjustment. I heard Damian say that he already quoted me a number less $3 and that was exactly what he brought out in cash. When I questioned him on his math, giving him a chance to correct the issue, he stood firm with the lower value, despite being told by Jon B. about the adjustment. I pushed more and he finally said he could grab $3 out of the register. Feeling disappointed at that encounter, like I was a jerk for want the full amount I was quoted, I initially said forget the $3 and was going to leave. However, I spoke with Damian and asked if he could just take $3 off a Funko I was looking at which he did. And I appreciated that.

In the end, all was taken care of and the world was right again. I’m not writing this to affect anyone’s career or get anything for free. I simply wanted to call out that I almost got screwed out a lousy $3 for what? I can’t imagine that the $3 would have impacted anyone working there and to initially fib about it made it even worse. I can understand a business being somewhat stingy with merchandise regardless of trade value, but there’s no need to knowingly stiff someone out of the value of their goods. In fairness, I only have my experience and given how things worked out okay ultimately, I'm not saying that anyone working there is intentionally trying to scam anyone. This is an opportunity for Level 7 to make some adjustments so someone else doesn’t miss out on something as small as $3. I’ll gladly go back to buy and sell, I’ll just stay vigilant...

i used to really like this store, went there for old xbox games most of the time until i started getting back into collecting pokemon cards, where i then proceeded to spend most of my weekly checks on booster packs and things of the like. i always respected their limits per customer on new sets as i hate scalpers myself, so i’d never complain or anything when they limited me to only a couple packs. but i feel as though one or more of their staff began to think that IM a scalper or something, when in reality i’m just a guy who spends way more money than he should on his hobbies. and i won’t lie, i have dropped hundreds of dollars at a time on several separate occasions within a week just for pokemon products at that location, so i could understand how one might assume i’m a scalper. but i’m honestly just irresponsible with my money and stockpile my packs until i have a box of like 300 boosters before opening them. aside from that though, my problem lies in the way one of their employees treats me every single time i enter that store. and ive watched him interact with other customers, so i know he’s not just an irritable person with everyone, he simply has a problem with me. i won’t say his name of course, because im not the one who has a problem with him. but just as an example, i remember talking to a TOTALLY DIFFERENT EMPLOYEE getting help with some of the pokemon stuff and i had asked him if i could see something off the shelf to read the back of it (i had been in there dozens of times at this point, i know you can check stuff out from the shelves, i just asked to be polite because i have this thing called manners.) but out of nowhere, the guy (we’ll call him BENNY lmfao) comes up and says “that’s why they have the little plastic window on the front, to show you what’s inside” clearly being snarky. then when i had finally picked out probably more than $300 worth of pokemon boosters/tins, while the other guy was ringing me up, benny comes up and asks me “so you christmas shopping for the kids?” keep in mind, ive been there dozens and dozens of times at this point, benny knows i’m buying these pokemon packs for myself and not for imaginary kids. i then replied “oh definitely not, these are all for me :)” so he says “awe cmon man, you should be spending your money on the kids for christmas.” obviously he said this to poke at me, but honestly even if he was joking, i don’t know what made him think it’d be appropriate to tell another person what they should be doing with their money lmfao. i thought i’d be able to just ignore him and pick out my packs whenever i went in there from then on, but no matter who’s helping me pick out my stuff when i go in there, he literally hovers around us and waits for me to ask any questions at all and then butts in any chance he gets to make some sort of comment or remark with the worst attitude imaginable. today was my last try and it unfortunately wasn’t any better. asked the guy helping me about some random tins saying something along the lines of “i think ive seen these tins online before, do-“ and before i could even finish my sentence, benny comes in with the “no, they don’t have evolving skies in them.” almost seeming angry or something when he said that lol and that’s not even what i was asking. so sadly i decided to redeem all my points and go other places for my pokémon cards from now on. it was a...

I brought my kid here to check it out on a Sunday night. He likes to look for spots to play Pokemon. After he left he said he wasn't sure if he'd come back for any tournament play. I think it was mostly an older crowd compared to a place like Mystic Games that has a lot of kids there. I was later in the day and close to a holiday, so that might've affected the crowd.

He bought a few packs of different series and a Japanese series that he got some good cards (3) with. So he was pretty happy. I checked out everything else. Good mix of console games for new and old systems. I saw a TurboGrafx 16 in there and cartridges for all the older systems.

There are tons of novelty stuffed toys and action figures and other adorned memorabilia. I thought all that stuff was overpriced, but my son said it was normal for plushies and those Funko things. They have all the other popular tabletop games (Magic The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh) in the display cases with rare and graded cards on display. I didn't see any bulk cards boxes like many other card places have to thumb through, but that doesn't mean they don't have them. I just didn't see them.

My son said it was bigger/better than the Level7 near Federal and Alameda (I think). Like I said,...