GameStop and Amazon Teaming Up for Joint Trade-In Program

Amazon and GameStop are joining forces to give you more ways than ever to buy the games that you’re interested in. A new feature for Amazon Cash will allow users to trade in their games at participating GameStop locations and transfer the value amount straight to their Amazon balance. A leaked internal memo (via GameRant) gives us the details:

“Amazon Crash Program – Beginning 6/7! Starting in June, Amazon shoppers will be able to apply their GameStop trade credit and cash towards their Amazon account! This exciting addition to our trade program is intended to drive incremental trades into stores, helping your team meet trade and inventory goals.

“On 6/7, the GameStop logo will be added to Amazon‘s website to promote this program. Interested shoppers will request a barcode on amazon.com/cash that can be used in GameStop stores like an Amazon POSA card.

“The added store traffic driven by this program is sure to help increase digital sales and the potential for guests to purchase other products in your store. How will your team make the most out of this fantastic new partnership?”

At first glance it may sound a little strange. Why would GameStop want to work together with Amazon, one of its main competitors. How could it possibly benefit GameStop if its customers come to trade in their old games, and then transfer that credit to their Amazon accounts? It sounds a bit counter-intuitive, but there may be more here than meets the eye.

Amazon Can Make This Worth the While

These are two big businesses with intelligent executives, so you know that this has to be a “win-win” deal somehow. Think about this: Amazon let’s users trade in their used consoles and games at competitive rates with GameStop, and you can also buy used games and consoles from the site. What if Amazon is assessing its stock of available used consoles and games, and realizing that it’s too low?

If you’re Amazon and you think you could be making way more money off of the used game trade, why wouldn’t you team up with a company that already handles that side of the business with proven success?

Perhaps Amazon is willing to provide GameStop with ample compensation for combining their used game and console economies. GameStop will see an increase in in-store traffic, Amazon could see an increase in site traffic due to more spending, and both companies could benefit from the profits that come from shoppers buying used and retro games and consoles — perhaps those profits could be shared between the two in some way?

Either Way, You Win

At any rate, it’s consumers who win. No matter which way you slice it, this means that you have more options when it comes to buying and trading in your games. If you can’t be bothered to package your games and consoles in protected boxes and ship them out to Amazon, just drive by your local GameStop and drop it off; you’ll still get your Amazon credit either way.

Alternatively, if you’re an Amazon Prime member and you love getting that 20% discount on new games, you can make a last minute stop to GameStop to trade in a few things, and your Amazon balance can get a shot in the arm before you buy that hot new game coming out tomorrow. We’re not quite sure yet how this is a win-win for GameStop and Amazon, but it’s a big win for consumers, so we’re pretty excited.