Rumor: GameStop to carry iOS devices, new and used

This is intriguing: 9to5Mac is claiming that they've heard from multiple sources that GameStop will be carrying iOS devices, including iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches, in the very near future. The announcement was supposedly made last week to the various store managers at their annual gathering in Las Vegas, and the biggest indication that this is so is that GameStop has actually mentioned accepting trade-ins for the devices on its website. That system doesn't appear to be fully up and running yet, but yeah: You'll be able to trade in your iOS device to GameStop in the future.

That's pretty wild -- we'll have to wait and see how it all works, including which service provider GameStop uses for selling iPhones, and all of the other issues that might pop up around a system like this. It's unclear what value the store will assign to these devices as well; GameStop traditionally allows customers to trade-in items either for store credit or a lesser amount of cash, and that value is obviously less than they sell the devices for afterwards.

We'll just presume that all of those questions will be answered in time (probably, guesses 9to5Mac, in accordance with the upcoming rumored iPhone 5 release). GameStop has recently been trying to deal with the flood of digital game sales in marketplaces like the App Store, but this looks like the company is going with a new strategy of "joinin' em," rather than beating them.

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Source: http://9to5mac.com/2011/09/05/gamestop-to-carry-ios-devices-…

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This is intriguing: 9to5Mac is claiming that they've heard from multiple sources that GameStop will be carrying iOS devices, including...

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drrjv

Game Stop is a rip. They pay practically nothing and sell for not much less than list.

Wonder if this is a PR ploy to get free advertising.

Selling your iOS device on eBay is very easy - you'll get a lot more than Game Stop.

January 01 2012 at 4:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Alexis Andrews

I want to know what they are giving for iPad 1 in great condition with all accessories and box?

Cash not store credit prices

December 30 2011 at 12:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

x588238

GameStop manager here,

GameStop at some points in the Dallas-Fort Worth market (near Corporate), has taken in iPods and other devices on trades as tests before. Taking in these devices is rough on staff and it will probably never come into fruition company-wide since GS is so focused on content delivery through recent acquisitions (Kongregate, Spawn Labs, Impulse.) GameStop is more likely to create their own tablet than allow another potential competitor into their house. *cough*OnLive*cough*

There's not enough money in it since GameStop can't sell used iOS games.

September 05 2011 at 11:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bacon Hat

So will pre-opened for our convenience, like the games, will still be sold "new"?

September 05 2011 at 9:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

anther93

I would like to know how much they are going to sell used iPhones without a contract.

September 05 2011 at 7:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Cy Starkman

I noticed the other day that ebgames now sells iPod touch (I haven't been in one for months)

September 05 2011 at 7:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

fourfour44

I would be extremely surprised if Gamestop, a company that pushes so hard for used sales over new sales, would be allowed to become an authorized Apple reseller. Unless they somehow worked out a deal with Apple over how to handle compensation on used sales (something they failed to do with videogame publishers). But if people are dumb enough to sell a $230 iPod Touch to Gamestop for $20 in credit, or wants to buy a used iPod Touch for $225 then I guess that's their choice.

September 05 2011 at 6:07 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply