HMV enters pre-owned market with Re/Play launch
Games can be redeemed against any products in-store as retailer pushes into lucrative market
Entertainment retailer HMV will allow customers to trade-in games for any other products in store – including Blu-ray movies, MP3 players and other items.
Kicking off this Friday, the chain will offer second hand sales across approximately 160 stores, offering credit for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Xbox 360, DS and Wii formats.
"HMV Re/Play further underlines HMV's growing credentials as a games specialist, and enhances the credibility of our games offer through extended range and by providing a strong value proposition to our customers," commented Tim Ellis, head of games for the retailer.
"This represents a great deal for our customers, as well as for our industry, as we believe it will help to drive footfall and stimulate increased sales of new games releases and hardware, as well as other entertainment products available from HMV."
HMV now joins specialist retail outfits such as GAME and Gamestation in offering second hand games for sale and trade-in.
While popular with consumers and noted as a lucrative market, it's not such a welcome practise in the development community.
This year, Electronic Arts, Frontier's David Braben and Relentless' Andrew Eades have all spoken to GamesIndustry.biz of their concerns about the practice.
Following HMV's recent acquisition of Gamerbase, the second hand market is another move by the retailer to increase its games offering.
"Our launch into pre-played games and the acquisition of gamerbase.com underlines HMV's long term commitment to games as it becomes an ever-increasing part of our overall product mix," said HMV managing director Simon Fox.
"This is a great time to launch, with so many compelling games titles being released for Christmas, and just as importantly the offer will reinforce HMV's strong value credentials with customers."