Seems fair. I wonder if it will allow some lower point value games to raise a bit?
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But... 1200 points is the equivalent of $60... which is the cost of a new game... so... why wouldn't I just get a new game instead?
Well given the choice between spending 1200 points that's already in Goozex, or $60 out of pocket, I'm going to choose the 1200 points. When I'm done with the game, I'll trade it back through Goozex and receive most or all of that 1200 points back. Then I'll get another 1200 point game.
Yes if you were planning on actually buying the points at $5 per 100...but that would be a dumb way to use goozex.
As long as you can send out a game, and get a similar valued game in return it doesn't make much difference what the point number on them are. it still stays at a 1-1 trade (less postage on 1 and $1), as opposed to 2 for1, 3 for 1 or worse at gamestop.
the real problem is...some of the relative point values on the site don't make sense so trades never happen, more people offering games would be a good thing...and it appears server speed could use an upgrade.
i think its and awsome idea only that i already traded guitar hero complete for 900 points lol but its a good idea that would make the new titles trade more quickly . i have one suggestion could be a posibility to make a new shipping option before full packege and after disc/manual that would bring disc manuel and the cover (paper) only don't send the case , so the seller's postage cost would be cheapier , thank you for this awsome site
Ok, I NEED to chime in here, I just can't help myself anymore.
First, the point cap increase doesn't really matter. Since points are not a viable currency, the point cap doesn't make a difference as Kevlar said. Whether you have a range of 100-1000 or 100-1200 or even 100-2000, it does not matter. (although an optimum cap would be 1100 or 2100 because it is much easier to work with a 1000 point scale, or 2000 point scale when trying to make a balanced economy)
What does matter is the algorithm. Pure and simple. It works great for most games, but there are enough examples of the failure that is causing this panic. If it was working perfectly, then people wouldn't be so scared of the point shift because they would rest easier knowing the algorithm was watching over these point values.
When you have a game with 91 active offers (all active, 191 including on hold) and 9 active requests (all restricted, and 60 including holds) and the point value is 550 points which is 50% of the maximum possible value in points for the game and it does not go down, then there is something wrong.
This game is $20 at retail, and yet trades for 550 pts, while other 550 pt games (not all mind you) are $50 at retail (keep in mind this has nothing to do with points, no dinos need be harmed here) then there is a disparity.
A perfect example is Midnight Club LA for the PS3. The MSRP is $40 right now and it is showing a small amount of demand. Yet it just went up 150 pts with the most recent swing. This is now the same as another game, Mario Kart for the Wii which is $50 MSRP with an accessory, and is showing high demand.
There are numerous examples of games being worth too much or too little, and to be honest, these may only be in about 1-2% of all games, but they never get fixed, so they stick out in our mind. I know everyone wants another thread to pop up about how ME is overpriced here.
So if you like the change, then please realize it can't work without the algorithm, and if you don't like the change, then please realize that with a working algorithm, it will make things better in general for the site because it gives all games a larger range.
And to add, I know they stated they are working on it, and I realize the "tweak one thing, fubar something else" philosophy applies here, but even a system where 1-2% of the games are out of whack, where they don't get fixed, is no good for anyone.
Blackcoyote: Hey everyone, I wanted to make an announcement that in two weeks we are going to increase the 1,000 points cap on games to 1,200. After analyzing internal data points on our trading activity and points algorithm we are confident this is a good move for the entire Goozex community as it will better reflect some games listed here. Here is what you can expect. On May 21 the points cap will be raised to 1,200 for games Not all games will rise in points price -- only those that the algorithm determines to need a change in prices (we expect only a small percentage to actually change) Some games may go to 1,050, 1,100, 1,150, or 1,200 depending on the output of the algorithm The point changes will be gradual for a few weeks (i.e. 50 point changes per week) After we send out our next newsletter (in June after E3) informing the entire community then we will make one final adjustment (if needed) and then the system will proceed as it does today The trading system will work the same as always (ex. Seller receives 1200 points, buyer spends 1200 points + 1 token for Game X trade) We won't be reducing the cap once it is raised on May 21 What is the reason for the points cap increase? Simply put, some games are worth more on the secondary market than 1,000 points. This becomes more noticeable with new release titles as sellers may not feel they are getting a fair market value for their game that was released two weeks ago. We believe we are inhibiting the power of our algorithm and leaving sellers who just beat their new release game waiting until the prices align to 1,000 points. What about the games worth more than 1,200 points? For those games, they will reach the cap. There are not that many, but good examples include games with expensive accessories like Rock Band or special editions that retail for $80 - $100. The GTeam looks forward to constructive comments and feedback!
Hey everyone,
I wanted to make an announcement that in two weeks we are going to increase the 1,000 points cap on games to 1,200. After analyzing internal data points on our trading activity and points algorithm we are confident this is a good move for the entire Goozex community as it will better reflect some games listed here. Here is what you can expect.
What is the reason for the points cap increase? Simply put, some games are worth more on the secondary market than 1,000 points. This becomes more noticeable with new release titles as sellers may not feel they are getting a fair market value for their game that was released two weeks ago. We believe we are inhibiting the power of our algorithm and leaving sellers who just beat their new release game waiting until the prices align to 1,000 points.
What about the games worth more than 1,200 points? For those games, they will reach the cap. There are not that many, but good examples include games with expensive accessories like Rock Band or special editions that retail for $80 - $100.
The GTeam looks forward to constructive comments and feedback!
That right there should tell everyone that's looking for assurance that it's only going to be bundles/limited/collector's editions what's really going on. It is going to be new release games. There we have it. If we go by the scale of 100 points=$5(which everyone here knows I don't agree with, but the majority here does so I'll use it to prove my point) then a USED new release game will sell for the equivalent of $55-$60 which is RIDICULOUS! As it's already been stated in this thread, a game goes down in value when you open the shrink wrap. Not to mention the normal wear and tear(scratches, fingerprints, etc.). I personally feel that $60 is too high priced for a NEW game, not to mention a used one. That was the whole reason I joined Goozex. To save money. What happened to the days when games were $20 brand new. It all comes down to greed here. The same thing that has ruined the economy as well as every successful business. Whether it be the company developing the game, or the guy trying to sell it used for the same price he payed new. It's ridiculous no matter how you look at it. After everything thats happened to me on here in the past week(I'm sure most of you remember the thread. But what i find funny is that the thread accusing me grew 4 pages in hours, whereas the one apologizing is still on the first page 3 days later), and then this on top of it, I think I'm about done here. I truly hope that Goozex makes it through this, but it isn't practical for me anymore.
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This sounds good. I don't think 1200 points are worth $60 mostly because I'm trading my USED games for points as well. If you decideed to buy 1200 points for $60 to get a game... then you're probably better off just going to the store and buying it.
As for me, I trade for my points and therefore the 1200 points I get is from trading used game so therefore when I get games I trade my points for used games. Though... if the game is new it's always nice :D
VICVANCE2011:That right there should tell everyone that's looking for assurance that it's only going to be bundles/limited/collector's editions what's really going on. It is going to be new release games. There we have it. If we go by the scale of 100 points=$5(which everyone here knows I don't agree with, but the majority here does so I'll use it to prove my point) then a USED new release game will sell for the equivalent of $55-$60 which is RIDICULOUS! As it's already been stated in this thread, a game goes down in value when you open the shrink wrap. Not to mention the normal wear and tear(scratches, fingerprints, etc.). I personally feel that $60 is too high priced for a NEW game, not to mention a used one. That was the whole reason I joined Goozex. To save money. What happened to the days when games were $20 brand new. It all comes down to greed here. The same thing that has ruined the economy as well as every successful business. Whether it be the company developing the game, or the guy trying to sell it used for the same price he payed new. It's ridiculous no matter how you look at it. After everything thats happened to me on here in the past week(I'm sure most of you remember the thread. But what i find funny is that the thread accusing me grew 4 pages in hours, whereas the one apologizing is still on the first page 3 days later), and then this on top of it, I think I'm about done here. I truly hope that Goozex makes it through this, but it isn't practical for me anymore.
Well have fun trading 50 - 60 PS2 games in to Gamestop for a new game when you still could have stayed here and only traded in 10 - 12. Or, you could trade some of the new releases you receive instead of stockpiling/hording them and get more new releases in return.
You talk about games being $20 brand new and you accuse Goozex of being greedy? It's not their fault new releases are $50 - $60. Yeah maybe $50 - $60 is a lot for a used game, but if members are willing to pay it and demand is high enough for certain games then it makes sense whether you think it does or not.
kane182: VICVANCE2011:That right there should tell everyone that's looking for assurance that it's only going to be bundles/limited/collector's editions what's really going on. It is going to be new release games. There we have it. If we go by the scale of 100 points=$5(which everyone here knows I don't agree with, but the majority here does so I'll use it to prove my point) then a USED new release game will sell for the equivalent of $55-$60 which is RIDICULOUS! As it's already been stated in this thread, a game goes down in value when you open the shrink wrap. Not to mention the normal wear and tear(scratches, fingerprints, etc.). I personally feel that $60 is too high priced for a NEW game, not to mention a used one. That was the whole reason I joined Goozex. To save money. What happened to the days when games were $20 brand new. It all comes down to greed here. The same thing that has ruined the economy as well as every successful business. Whether it be the company developing the game, or the guy trying to sell it used for the same price he payed new. It's ridiculous no matter how you look at it. After everything thats happened to me on here in the past week(I'm sure most of you remember the thread. But what i find funny is that the thread accusing me grew 4 pages in hours, whereas the one apologizing is still on the first page 3 days later), and then this on top of it, I think I'm about done here. I truly hope that Goozex makes it through this, but it isn't practical for me anymore. Well have fun trading 50 - 60 PS2 games in to Gamestop for a new game when you still could have stayed here and only traded in 10 - 12. Or, you could trade some of the new releases you receive instead of stockpiling/hording them and get more new releases in return. You talk about games being $20 brand new and you accuse Goozex of being greedy? It's not their fault new releases are $50 - $60. Yeah maybe $50 - $60 is a lot for a used game, but if members are willing to pay it and demand is high enough for certain games then it makes sense whether you think it does or not.
Firstly, I never accused Goozex of being greedy. Goozex has already said that this is to satisfy SELLERS. Goozex will probably lose money because of this. Second, I'm not dumb enough to trade a game in at GameStop when I can get nearly full value for it on eBay. BTW, any games I sell on eBay are auctions, which means people pay what they want to, not what I ask(which means I'm not being greedy like the rest of the sellers). That's the problem here. People think GameStop is the only place to get used games. I myself have never bought a game that cost more than $15 from GameStop. They overprice all the way around. Base your prices on reality, not GameStop.
Also, I don't typically request new release games. When i do though, by the time I'm done playing it, it's dropped to price that I don't want to sell it for, so I take it and 1 other crappy game to the pawn shop and do a 2 for 1 trade to get another new release game(yet another better option than GameStop). People need to face reality. Greed is going to ruin the used game market for everyone. If I buy a game brand new and resell it used, I fully expect to get half of what I payed for it. And that's the way it should be, granted sometimes I get more than that, but I don't expect to.
I'm usually in the camp of 100 points does not equal $5 in the case of individual games, but on a macro scale, I think the conversion holds.
When considering the entire mass of games on goozex, their point values and their retail sale value, I think that it isn't unreasonable to measure 100 points as $5. If you take a large sampling of games (lets leave out 100 point games, as there is nothing less than 100 points and a valueless game is still worth 100 points), add up their points, and then divide by their retail in a used-game retailer, you are going to come up with something very close to a ratio of 100pts=$5.
When considering individual games, or even some platforms (PSP, I'm looking at YOU), the conversion doesn't necessarily hold. In many (but not all) of these cases, the game is moving in value from the previous higher price to the new price cut. It typically settles close to the new value (at retail X 20pts), unless there is an unusally high demand for the game. I honestly believe that the algorithm is set up with one of it's "weights" being used retail value X 20points.
VICVANCE2011: Base your prices on reality, not GameStop.
Base your prices on reality, not GameStop.
I very much agree with this. Like many I came to Goozex because I thought Gamestop's prices were nonsense. I don't like to see them reflected here, or quoted as guidelines. Of course, I never like the whole point system thing anyway. Why not use a 1 to 1 deal ($1 is 1 point)? It always seems like a marketing trick to obfuscate value and the price someone is paying for something (Dave and Buster's token points and Microsoft points are other good examples of this).
It will be interesting to see how things go from here on, but I'm guessing the slow down in trades is gonna make me slip away. I'll probably go back to trading among friends for single player games and watching the sales for the new release multiplayer games I want. With postage going up, why bother trading lower point games? That's just a waste. Unless I happen to have a hot new release and happen to be at the top of the request list for another hot new release, then I don't see the point in bothering.
Of course, I kinda expected this was going to happen after Goozex did that Christmas half-point sale or whatever.
Inflation is not necessarily a bad thing. It's simply the increase in the volume of currency in the market. As long as there are sufficient goods available for purchase, there's no harm to anyone. It's only when the pool of currency increases and all the goods become scarce that inflation causes rising prices. And all this point cap increase will do is make the more valuable games available for purchase, that is, make more product available to the market. Yes, there may be a pause in availability as people wait for these games to adjust in value, but let's be real, your threats to leave are empty. Bitching about the impending "slowdown" is even more incredulous when you know it's temporary, and insignificant compared to all the other games in your queues that have been sitting there for 6 months or more.
I'm glad Goozex has finally decided to raise the cap again. Although I'm a proponent of no cap at all, this is a good start and will be better for everyone if the most sought after games are allowed to inch closer to their true market value.
All you doomsday whiners who like to cry foul because your 10,000 points aren't worth 10 new release games anymore are leaving out 2 important facts:
1- If the games aren't being offered by anyone under the old 1000 point cap, all your points won't even buy you 1 new release game.
2. Some of your games for trade may soon be worth more under the cap increase, balancing out your perceived 'devaluation' injustice.
I think I've literally just gotten older by reading this thread. Not only because of all of the posts that I've had to read through since the last time I posted, but all of the posts that seem to be using inane reasoning based on facts that have not been released or completely disregarding the facts that have been provided by reputable sources (aka. NinjaJ and BlackCoyote). I should seriously stop reading this, or I might just get a heart attack.
...
*Shouts* Hey you darn kids, get off my d*mn lawn! *shakes fist*
Kameleon:I think I've literally just gotten older by reading this thread.
Shay shonnie, I remember when gash wash 25 shence a gallon. Shpare a few pointsh for an ol' broke codger?