Game Over Videogames — Local services in San Antonio

If you want anything older than the XBOX One or PS4 generation and don't want to hit up garage sales or pawn shops, the only place to go in San Antonio is Game Over. Sadly, Game Over is a disappointing chain that gouges its customers and provides iffy frustrating service. After my most recent visit and evaluating what's important to me as a customer, I've decided I will never be visiting a Game Over again.

Of course, they do the standard game store behavior of marking games up. This is part of the basic economy that makes a game store function, and you should always expect to pay a premium at a game store for service and seeing it in person, so I'm not super surprised. To get an idea, I generally source my valuations from PriceCharting and did some quick comparisons. A loose copy of Tomodachi Life sells for $73 but Game Over had it for $90. A loose copy of Pokemon Ranger sells for $24 but Game Over had it at $45. A loose copy of Pokemon Yellow sells for $52 but Game Over had it at $100.

They also do the standard game store practice at buying games on the cheap, but Game Over does it in a uniquely obtuse and deceptive manner. Let's look at Pokemon Yellow as an example. To get a quote from Game Over's website, you have to put your item in, which is sometimes labeled wrong, then input your name, address, email, and phone number to get an estimate. As of June 22nd, they estimate Yellow at $45 in store credit, which sounds pretty good, and would be pretty good.

However, they deceptively change this quote in-store. A staff member told me prices were "based on the needs of an individual location's stock". Basically if a location has a bunch of XBOX sports games they aren't gonna pay a lot for your stack of Madden '08s. To the degree they do this, though, is astounding. The online quote estimator told me my five games and two amiibo were worth $71.75 in store credit, and in store they were quoted at $30. All items were complete in-box and in good condition. This is just over 40% of the online valuation. After being told online your game was worth $45 in credit, would you take $18 for your Pokemon Yellow, knowing they'd resell it at $100?

Even with the absurd fudging on both ends, your in-store experience is still hit or miss. From my experience, half the staff is super chill and great to talk to, while half give the vibe they'd rather be anywhere else. I recall one recent occasion where I waited 20 minutes to be helped while waiting at the register because I wanted to buy an amiibo that was locked behind the counter. I was never helped, I just left because I was frustrated the employees were sitting around while I waited at the register to buy something. I like to think I'm not super rude or an overdemanding customer, I'd just like to be asked if I need anything if I'm standing at the register for twenty minutes while there's only one other customer perusing around the store. I'll admit if you truly know nothing I've seen them answer basic questions about hardware and compatibility, which can be a helpful service worth paying the premium for, but depending on your luck in the employee lottery they may or may not be helpful.

Overall, Game Over is an incredibly frustrating chain that thrives in San Antonio because its only competition in gaming is GameStop and its only competition in retro gaming is Flashback and Propaganda Palace. I'd love for San Antonio to get more locally owned game stores, but based on my many experiences in these stores, Game Over is not the caliber of service I want to see more of here. We...

Corporation pandering to gamers.

This store chain likes to give the impression it is run by gamers for gamers, and that it gives good trade in value. This is outright false.

DO NOT bring in ANY things for selling to this company. They offer insulting low prices. not even 30% of market value.

I have brought in at least 20 different systems over time, and every single time I ask, they offer me some ridiculous amounts. Examples include: $17 for a CIB Gameboy DMG01, $9 for a Fully functional SNES bundle, $10 for a gameboy advance sp, and $25 for an atari bundle with over 50 games.

The same week, I sold the atari online for $140, SNES bundle for $110, $140 for the CIB Gameboy, and $90 for the SP.

You would think that with these trade in prices, the in store prices would be much lower, however, they are often times higher than market value! I have seen handhelds such as PSP, 3DS, GB, etc. Be $30-50+ higher than online market price!

However, this is not to say that everything about this store is bad. The staff here are very friendly, and actually knowledgeable in the field of retro gaming. They are not just some random employee with no knowledge , such as what happens with gamestop.

This store also tests systems and games at absolutely zero cost, assuming they have the proper hardware. I am very grateful of this service.

TLDR: Do not trade-in/sell stuff here if you value money, and prices are not the best as you can find way better deals online. However, staff is very friendly and happily assist in testing out older...

EDIT: In response to the owners incorrect reply. I brought games complete with the manual and case and was offered 50 cents or less for games that are not very common, hence why they sell for $20+ in used condition. The response is expected though, as anyone called out on their dishonest business practices would probably be very defensive, just like this company. I went elsewhere and was given MUCH more in trade credit and will never return to this store. The selection isn’t even very good, lots of modern and hardly any retro.

Do not ever trade in games here, they should be going out of business soon with how bad they pull the wool over their customers eyes. If you’re going to have a game store and serve the community you ought to take care of them.

The gamer community is small and tight knit so best believe everyone will figure out how shiesty and greedy this company is. I was told by an employee that they pay 2% off the value of the games, they offered me 50 cents for games that sell for $20!! Absolutely disrespectful to be honest. I had picked out a couple games to buy with my “trade in” but once they gave me the quote I couldn’t get out of the store fast enough. I will never return and I suggest you don’t even waste your time. eBay or Facebook marketplace for games from now...