GameCrazy
| Company type | Subsidiary Movie Gallery |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer and Video Games |
| Website | www.gamecrazy.com |
Game Crazy is a video game retailer in the United States and is a fully owned subsidiary of Movie Gallery. The stores are often, but not always, located adjacent to Hollywood Video rental stores, also owned by Movie Gallery.
History
To compete in a growing video game market, Hollywood Entertainment launched a store-within-a-store[1] concept called Game Crazy which features the ability to buy, sell, and trade video games, systems, and accessories inside of Hollywood Video Stores [2], while Movie Gallery launched a similar initiative called Game Zone. Each respective location offer video games for all 'next generation' platforms in both new and used conditions. Select locations offer product for older systems such as the NES and Sega Genesis titled ‘classic plastic’. Game Crazy enables customers to play a particular title, new or used, prior to purchase. This 'try before you buy' option is a staple Game Crazy policy.
Both Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video brands have rolled out special 'store within store' video game areas. Game Zones are developed and implemented for use within Movie Gallery locations while Game Crazy is generally used within Hollywood Video stores. While many locations operate these areas as completely separate brands (i.e. Both Game Zone / Game Crazy operate with segregated staff and management), others operate using a single unified staff. While the majority of Game Crazy's are located within their respective rental partner, standalone Game Crazy retail chains are expanding.
As of December 31, 2006, there were 634 Game Crazy locations which are generally located within the same building as Hollywood Video.[3] The construction of standalone ‘concept stores’ are ongoing with the most recent being opened in Las Vegas Nevada. Game Crazy contributed 13% to Movie Gallery's revenue for 2006, with 70% of its revenue coming from new and used software and 30% from new and used hardware products. [3]
Store Information
As a video game specialty store, Game Crazy deals primarily in new and used video game related product such as consoles, accessories, and games. Remuneration for video game and accessory trade-ins is provided in the form of cash or store credit. Consoles are provided with a credit value as cash is not given for previously used video game systems. Noteworthy is the Game Crazy price matching policy whereby the retailer will generally exceed the trade-in value offered by a physical retailer and/or competitor by 5%.
The Game Crazy return policy differs depending on the type of purchase. New product can be returned unopened within 7 days of the original date of purchase. All used sales are final although they are guaranteed free of defect for 90 days. Game Crazy will not refund any used product sale for reasons other than being sold as damaged or defective. Defects are generally tested and verified by Game Crazy staff prior to reimbursement or refund.
Store hours vary depending on location but most are open from 10AM through 9PM Sunday through Thursday and 10AM to 10PM Friday and Saturday. Midnight launches for highly anticipated titles are common but not compulsory.
Game Crazy has instituted a “Wishlist” and “Special Order” feature which allows the gamer the ability to procure elusive or rare video game related product. The wish list notifies the staff once a desired product has been traded in by flagging that particular item in the Point of Sale. For immediate action, a special order can be placed where the desired item is shipped from the nearest Game Crazy to your local store. Special order fees vary depending on retail price but are generally $6.00 for any standard edition video game.
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) is a service offered by Game Crazy which provides customers with a 10% discount on used games and accessories as well as a 10% increase in video game trade-in value. The service is $9.99 annually and includes standard a coupon for 5 free disc buffings. Game Crazy has recently implemented MVP exclusive offers which include additional discounts and limited time offers. Game Crazy MVP accounts are separate from Movie Gallery/Hollywood MVP / Power Play accounts.
Due to the association with Hollywood Video, Game Crazy offers twelve free rentals with the purchase of a new video game console or handheld. The rentals are redeemed using a coupon sheet that is given once the transaction has been completed. Each rental sheet contains one free rental per month for 12 months. Restrictions on rentals vary depending on the system and if it was purchased new or used. As an example of another collaborative effort, Game Crazy provides rent-one-get-one-free coupons for all video game pre-orders. These can be redeemed at any Hollywood Video location.
Competitors with a similar business model include GameStop and their subsidiary EB Games, which also specialize in new and used video games. In addition to customer trade-ins, the store sells used games once offered for rental in Hollywood Video stores.
References
- ^ Plunkett's Entertainment and Media Industry Almanac 2008
- ^ Plunkett's Retail Industry Almanac 2009 By Jack W. Plunkett
- ^ a b http://www.investor.reuters.wallst.com/stocks/company-profile.asp?rpc=66&ticker=MOVI.O
External links