Best Buy Rolls Out US Test of Used Videogame Trades, Sales
June 23 2009 - 9:30AM
Dow Jones News
Best Buy Co. (BBY), which began testing the sale of used
videogames in some of its Canadian stores a year ago, is expanding
the effort to the U.S.
The largest U.S. consumer electronics retailer by sales is
testing a kiosk-based model in several of its Dallas and Austin,
Texas, stores starting this week, Chief Marketing Officer Barry
Judge said Tuesday.
The kiosk scans used games to make sure they work, then
immediately issues a voucher redeemable for a Best Buy gift card
that can be used for anything in the store, Judge said in a posting
on his blog.
"We'll also be testing the sale of used games in those stores,
and some of the kiosks will even rent games and movies," Judge
wrote.
Last year, Best Buy said it would test selling used videogames
in Canada as a way of reaching consumers generally and especially
those in the 12- to 14-year age range.
Judge and other Best Buy representatives couldn't be reached
immediately for comment.
Shares of Best Buy closed Monday at $33.44 and were inactive in
premarket trading.
-By Mary Ellen Lloyd, Dow Jones Newswires, 704-948-9145;
maryellen.lloyd@dowjones.com