Whats the REAL reason chains won't sell used Dreamcast games?

[Dizzle]

How frusturating...

Here I am, trying to do things the "right" way and none of the major video game chains like EBGames, Gamestop, Game Crazy will stock used DC games.  One of the clerks actually told me it's because the DC is no longer in production..    I didn't point out the stash of old PS1, N64 and GBC games they had because I didn't feel like arguing with him.

So why don't these companies sell games for what is arguably one of the best home consoles ever to hit the market?!

[Kremmit]

It's all about the dollar.  Stores have limited shelf space.  A product doesn't just have to be profitable, it has to be the most profitable item they can put in that space.  When a new product comes out, such as PSP games, the store has to find some space for them.  Whatever is making the least amount of $$ gets dumped to make room for the new product.

Used Dreamcast games must not have been selling enough, compared to the products they are still stocking.  When PS/3 and Wii games hit the market, expect N64 and PS1 to get dumped to make space.

[Crowquill]

The biggest reason is that they just don't sell them anymore. Shelf space is limited in a retail store and they'd rather use the space to sell cheap XBOX games or DVDs.

If you live in a larger city with multiple stores, you might ask if they have Dreamcast games at ANY of their stores. Sometimes GameStop/EB consolidates the old consoles into one store's inventory. There are actually only a few of the Gamestop stores around Cincinnati that carry PS1 games for this same reason.

If you can stumble onto Dreamcast games at any of the Blockbuster Game Rush stores, they're all $1 each and are the usual buy 2 get one half off.

Also, most of the Game Crazy stores (part of Hollywood Video) that I've been in have a handful of DC games.

As great as the Dreamcast console was, it just never gained as much popularity as the other systems you mentioned either. They can probably sell more SNES carts than DC games. All-in-all their disappearance isn't much different than the disappearance of used Sega CD, Saturn, and even 3DO games.

[spiffyshoes]

Kremmit and Crowquill pretty much covered it.  I just thought I'd mention that as of June 1st GameStop and EBGames no longer stock PSX and N64 stuff too.  Once they sell out of their current inventory they aren't going to be taking any more in.  They have to make room for the PS3 and Wii.  You might try asking around if there is a specialty games store that still carries them.  Near me there is a store called Console Game Exchange which strictly carries stuff for older consoles.  They also sell import games and stuff too.  I was able to pick up a copy of Under Defeat there.  I've also seen Pawnshops that still had Dreamcast stuff for sale.  And the last time I was at GameCrazy they still had DreamCast games but it has been almost a years since I was last in a GameCrazy so that might have changed.

[Dizzle]

Makes sense...

Guess I was just too frustrated to see the logic.  Thanks for the suggestions though.. I'll be checking them out!   

[GoPodular.com]

I have a local Game Crazy that carries Dreamcast.  I'm not sure if they're the only ones, but the first one I was at didn't have any DC stuff.  Try calling around town and check each store.

(The manager at the one that does carry DC stuff is a huge fan of the console.  That might be why he carries it.)

[DarkBubble]

Unless I want a copy of Crazy Taxi, Code Veronica, or one of the 2K sports games, I pretty much have to resort to eBay.  The local shops used to have a pretty decent selection, but it's dropped hard.  At least they still carry new Naki VGA boxes for $10.

Last time I bought a Dreamcast game at a place like EB, I had to take it back for a swap.  They apparently weren't looking at scratches all that well.  Strange thing is that not only was it a copy of Street Fighter III: Third Strike that I was taking back due to skipping from scratches, but they also had a copy to give me in return.  Of course, that was about 3-4 years back, but even then it was hard to find.

[Frosty]

I'll second that most of the Game Crazy stores in my area still have 'Cast games for sale.  Hell, you can often find great deals on Genesis, SNES, NES, etc. carts, too.

What will be difficult is finding some of the more obscure titles.  The odds on anyone finding a complete copy of say, Project Justice or MvC2, is going to be much lower than finding NFL 2K1s all over the place.  Unfortunately, it's eBay if you want to find originals of some of the more rare games...

Speaking of, anyone have a complete version of Cannon Spike they'd be willing to sell?

[Sir Auros]

...I didn't point out the stash of old PS1, N64 and GBC games they had because I didn't feel like arguing with him...

To be fair, the Gamestop/EB chains have announced that as of this month, they will no longer accept any PS1 or N64 trade-ins, so those will stop being sold as well. Now, Gameboy and Gameboy Color games are a trickier matter because there is still a system that can play those games. My guess as to why they would continue to sell those instead of PS1 games (that are also still playable on a current system) would be that they take up so little room and most stores have very little in the way of used portable games anyway.

[SirPeale]

...I didn't point out the stash of old PS1, N64 and GBC games they had because I didn't feel like arguing with him...

To be fair, the Gamestop/EB chains have announced that as of this month, they will no longer accept any PS1 or N64 trade-ins, so those will stop being sold as well.

Yeah, that's of THIS month.  What's been the story of the last two or three years?

[SOAPboy]

Makes sense...

Guess I was just too frustrated to see the logic.  Thanks for the suggestions though.. I'll be checking them out!   

Ebgames.com
Gamestop.com

both have DC games..

Lik-sang.com for new releases of course.

GS,EB, dont have them on the shelves simply because nobody but the people who work there bought them. we stuck em in the back and waited until they hit the 99 cent mark or site destroy status and took em home.

[SithMaster]

we?  so your saying you have my copy of bangai o?