Trading Post

[godwin]

Hey everyone, I wanted to create this new thread so we can have a place to discuss/provide feedback on Future Shop trade in gaming. This is a great place to bounce ideas, give feedback/insight, or ask questions regarding "trade in gaming".

FS is already looking ahead to 2011 and want to make sure we are listening to customer feedback to make the experience better. This is an open forum so anything goes!

Thanks.

[godwin]

Hi everyone, just wanted to let everyone know that starting this week, Future Shop will NO LONGER be offer trade in credit for PlayStation 2 games. We will be moving out of "Trading" or "Selling" used PlayStation 2 games as we head to 2011.

Thank you.

[nuveaueuf]

- make some effort to esnure staff doing trade ins know what the deal is?  holy cow they never have any idea.  Eg 4 for psp that was for any game with TIV $9+...but staff here (and reports from elsewhere) insisted it was from the game list for the TV promo running at that time

-make sure staff know how the system works, as incredibly cumberosme as it is - look up games on one system in gam edept, go to system at servie desk and reenter everything, go back to game debt to unlock cabinet with psp in it, go back to service desk to compelte trasnaction.  Granted, not much better at BB where trade ins/general customer service are combined

-deals raely coamrpable to specialy game retaielr trade 2/3 for new game with huge list of games that work

[godwin]

Just want to know, would you rather see a "Trade 2, Get this game Free" with a select list of games or "Trade 3" with a $9 TIV and over list?

We have seen that customers like a "Trade 2" offer more...what are your thoughts?

[Jackface]

I'd say Trade 3 with $9 tiv.  The 2 games from a list thing narrows it down too much, as most of those games are often only the most recent releases.  I'm usually still playing those games at that time and sometimes the 2 games are worth more to trade in by themselves that it's actually a worse deal for me.  For example, last month I saw someone trade 2 games worth $40 tirade value for a $49.99 game (Donkey Kong I think) . . . the sales associate should have suggested they trade in normally, not do trade 2, since they lost out on some credit.

The T3 opens it up to many more games, so people are more likely to trade those in as they are finished playing them.

Are you still deciding for this week or are there no deals for this week?

[godwin]

Good to note, we will see what other "Trade X" possibilities we can look at for new release titles.

Next week will not have a any trade promotions; FS will be focusing on $40 trade in value titles. You will see the first trade in promotion in the new year.

Thanks.

[balonis]

There should be a Trade 'X' for the ability to be Assistant to the Assistant Merchandise Manager - Video Games/Used Games. Also, for the $40 trade in values, you should offer $40 for games that are in really high demand by consumers. Some examples would be Splinter Cell Conviction, Afro Samurai, The Bourne Conspiracy, and Alone in the Dark, just to name a few. 

Thanks for all your hard work Godwin. It's nice to know that FS does in fact employ at least one competent person. 

[TripleQ]

What happened to my post, didn't like the suggestions?  Oh well.  T2 is more popular because the games are listed and it's easy to know what to bring in.. minimum $9 trade in value isn't very useful because it's a waste of time to bring in games that might not qualify.

[dmoltisanti]

First off, I would ban that balonis kid. He is just a bad seed.)

Secondly in regards to trades, here are just a few suggestions:

One, make the wording in the flyers/promotions clearer. Recently Future Shop has been saying Trade X, get credit towards a game. No where does it mention the game is free, except in the fine print. Just flat out state "Trade X, get game X free". Many workers at Future Shop seem to have trouble with the terminology, so don't make the wording that complex.

Secondly. when there is an offer for a free additional item with "purchase" of game, please establish whether or not the free item is bundled in. Another situation where I have been told different interpretations from different CSR's. Either the DVD/Hat/Accessory/etc is free with trades, or purchases only. Please lay it out to every location, as many of them are confused at this step once again.

Another thing that would make things easier is to use the other stores way of trading. so I don't have to go to two different locations in the store (gaming, then customer service). Establish trading at one place or the other. Going through two different processes of looking up values, then going elsewhere for the trade is way too much of a hassle.

Like other have mentioned train your CSR's better when it comes to trading. I have spent countless hours waiting for trades to be processed, and sometimes just leave the store out of pure frustration without getting the trade done at all. It's not the hardest transaction, but for some reason it is the most painful.

Another reccomendation I have is to expand trades beyond the three day limit. Often bringing in games to trade duing the school/work week (Tuesday-Thursday) is a pain in itself; because of this expand the trade window to maybe a week long (Tuesday-Monday). In doing so you will double the amount of trades I am sure.

In regards to which one works better list, or $9 titles; I think a combination of both is in order depending upon the game/item/promo/price. It can vary from week to week as it always has, as long as it does not make the process too difficult for everyone involved.

I do hope you guys do expand trade deals beyond games alone. Take December for example, where nothing has really come out. Months like this are perfect to allow trades for other items rather than just games.

These are just a few suggestions, that I will believe vastly improve trading. Future Shop is coming close to surpassing the other chain we all usually go to for trading. With a little work, and a bit more expansion and basic knowledge, there is no limit to how well you guys can do with trading.

[Bozoman777]

As an Entertainment Associate I would love to make sure that all of the normal Trade X for Y Game promotion be with $9 trade-in value. Any "special" promotion (Trade 6 for TV) definitely need to have a specific listing, that is sent out through the daily newsletter.

I believe that there may be some confusion by some associates in determining which game is valid for specific promotions as our weekly notes tell us to check the list of valid games on the gateway. The list however, has not been updated for several months and those values do not reflect the current pricing of those games.

There needs to be some sort of training module for newly hired Entertainment Associates as there hasn't been anything that I have seen as of yet. My CSS/CSR team has actually requested me to make them a step-by-step guide for all our new staff, as well as for them incase we get overly backed up in Entertainment.