Walmart will begin selling used video games in stores and online later this year, a move that could prove disruptive to online sellers. The retail giant announced its plans as it readies the launch of a new trade-in program for video games later this month.
Starting March 26, Walmart customers will be able to trade in their video games and apply the value immediately towards the purchase of anything sold at Walmart and Sam’s Club, both in stores and online. Walmart wrote on Facebook, “The trade-in value will vary by title, age and console. Values range from a few dollars for older games to upwards of $35 or more for new releases.” The company said it would accept thousands of titles for popular consoles like the Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii and Microsoft XBOX – games need to be in their original packaging.
Later this year, Walmart customers will also be able to purchase pre-owned video games in stores and on Walmart.com. The video games will be labeled “Certified Pre-Owned” which means the product is fully refurbished and in like-new condition.
Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer for Walmart U.S., said “While new releases will remain the focus of our gaming business, we’re glad to give our customers the option to buy pre-owned games.”
“When we disrupt markets and compete, our customer wins,” he said. “They’ll save money on video games and have the flexibility to spend it however they want.”
Walmart launched a gadget trade-in program last year. The retailer takes ecommerce seriously and runs Walmart Labs, which has said, “We’re not a retailer competing in Silicon Valley. We’re building an internet technology company inside the world’s largest retailer.”
Walmart said there were over 110 million gamers across the U.S. and estimated the pre-owned video game opportunity at $2 billion.
