A customer puts a game on your counter. You know you can probably sell it for £30. How much should you offer? £20? £15? £10?
There isn't one percentage that works for every product. The correct buying price depends on what the item is actually worth to your business.
Start With Realistic Selling Value
The first question isn't what somebody has listed the game for. It's what you realistically expect to sell it for.
An online asking price of £49.99 doesn't prove a game is worth £49.99.
Look at actual market information where available, recent selling prices and your own experience. Then consider where you intend to sell it. A price achievable online may involve marketplace fees, payment costs, packaging and postage that don't apply in exactly the same way to an in-store sale.
Consider Condition
Condition can dramatically affect value. For games, consider factors such as:
- Disc or cartridge condition
- Original case
- Artwork
- Manual and inserts
- Special editions or additional contents
- Overall presentation
For consoles and accessories, testing becomes even more important. A product you cannot confidently resell should not be valued in the same way as clean, tested stock ready for the shelf.
Remember the Cost of Selling It
Gross margin isn't the same as money in your pocket.
From the difference between buying and selling prices may come cleaning and preparation, staff time, packaging, payment processing, marketplace fees, postage, returns, overheads and applicable taxes.
You also have money tied up in the product until it sells. That last point is easy to underestimate.
Stock Turn Matters
Imagine two games. Game A gives you £10 potential margin and normally sells within a week. Game B gives you £20 potential margin but might sit on the shelf for a year.
Which is better? The answer isn't automatically Game B.
Retail is about how effectively you use your available cash as well as the margin on an individual item. Fast-moving stock can justify a different buying approach from obscure products with limited demand.
Don't Let Software Make the Decision for You
Pricing databases and market information can be extremely useful. Use them as tools. Don't surrender your judgement to them.
A database doesn't necessarily know your customers, your current stockholding, the condition of the item in front of you or how quickly that particular product sells in your business.
The best buying decisions combine data with retail judgement. That judgement develops through experience. And sometimes you'll get it wrong. Every retailer does. The important thing is learning why.
If you're learning how to buy and price your first stock, explore the Start a Game Store sessions at YourGameStore.
If you're already buying pre-owned stock and want to improve pricing, inventory and trade-in processes, explore the Grow Your Game Store sessions.
YourGameStore — Learn. Build. Grow.