by Eric Meyer

Created on: September 06, 2009   Last Updated: September 10, 2009

The differences between Gamestop and Amazon.com are numerous and seemingly obvious. Gamestop is a large corporation committed solely to video games and video game accessories, while Amazon is a marketplace website that sells used goods of all assortments, specializing in none. Gamestop has employees with video game experience, while Amazon merely sells games and ships them to their new owners. At Gamestop money is placed directly into a cash register in return for a game. On Amazon consumers must deal with the fear of fraud and receiving potentially broken or unusable games in the mail, meaning they've wasted their money. These differences all have one thing in common; they are misconceptions.

While Amazon is a website and thus buyers will experience the usual credit card paranoia when making their purchase, items bought on Amazon are usually in good condition, and credit card purchases are as safe as on any other certified website. If the unthinkable happens, Amazon has quality assurance employees that can be contacted, and the problem will be addressed with either a full refund or gift card of equal value. Gamestop stores can be found almost anywhere; it is a behemoth of a corporation, and many buyers will feel safer entering a video game store than ordering games with a credit card online. With games priced at between twenty and fifty dollars used, the security that comes with that car ride and a direct purchase may no longer be financially justifiable. Amazon will give buyers the better price, because at Amazon you don't pay for a company name. The game F.E.A.R. for Playstation 3 can be found for $19.99 before tax at Gamestop used, while the same game in equal condition costs $13.74 on Amazon.com. You can even get it new for $15.50. The only question that buyers should have in mind when choosing between these two methods of obtaining used games should be "How much do I want to pay?" If the answer is more, by all means visit the Gamestop nearest you.

Gamestop employees are no more knowledgeable of the video game world or its products than any other gamer, they are merely there to watch the store and sell games. They are more guards and clerks than experts in the field. Going to Gamestop for superior video game knowledge is equivalent to shopping at Abercrombie for superior clothing knowledge, when there is a discount clothing store next door. Getting a job at Gamestop is as easy as applying and being selected to work there based on availability. Anyone reading this article is qualified to work at Gamestop, as is anyone posting a used game for sale on Amazon.com.

The real difference between Gamestop and Amazon is quite clear; Gamestop is direct and more expensive, while Amazon.com takes slightly longer and is much cheaper. Buyers are lulled into a false sense of security because they believe Gamestop employees have superior knowledge of the gaming industry, but they in all likelihood have qualifications equal to those who post games on Amazon. So once again the choice lies with the buyer, the same product for less, or the same product for more? Anyone who chooses the former should visit Amazon.com for their used games.

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