Gamefly: "Not For Sale"

[Sirharper]

Anybody else notice that currently Gamefly is not allowing the sale or "keep it" options on most 360 games?

I first noticed it with the game I have out now, Cabela's Alaskan Adventures but when I looked at others in my queue I see that none are able to be purchased.

Anybody know the scoop? Deacon, mind asking your guy there?

[ExOtIc FaNtAsY]

Yeah, I noticed this as well.....Alot of good those Gamefly Rewards are doing me :)

[Sirharper]

Yeah, I noticed this as well.....Alot of good those Gamefly Rewards are doing me :)



I know right!

I just turned level 3 too.

Maybe Deac can ask his contact there for us.

[Souf Centrol]

How does the gamefly rewards work

[Sirharper]

Every 3 months you get $5 to use toward buying a used game. These credits can be combined and used.

After 6 months you become "level 2" and get an additional 5% off their price.

After a year you become "level 3" and get 10% off.

[Souf Centrol]

Do the games come to you in a reasonable time

[Twylyght Myst]

Yup they do, we get our in a couple of days when we buy them...

But I did notice that too that you only have a couple of games you can buy and the rest are not for sale....

FunFactor, one of the guys on my friends list works for Gamefly, he writes reviews and such... I can ask him and let you all know... I don't know why I never though about asking him before, duh. :dunce:

[Souf Centrol]

I was thinking about getting gamefly but I just got a blockbuster card and it's right down the street from my job

[Twylyght Myst]

Okay here is the word:

FunFactor stated "If you're talking about xbox 360 games it's due to the high rental demand right now. I put titles on sale once they have fulfilled rental demand over time. Today I put Phantasy Star, Prey, Ninety-Nine Nights and Chrome Hounds on sale. You can always click keep it once you have a game out for rent. Right now only the older stuff does not have a keep it price."



I hope this helps!!

Oh We love Gamefly, Souf.. It is convenient, good selection, and a pretty good turn around time for us since the nearest rental store is about 20 mins away and their selection is not so good for the 360, I mean who only carries one copy of each game!!

[Sirharper]

Seems more like a mismanagement issue I have to say. While 360 game rentals are no doubt in high demand they are in no way scarce or in short supply. If they have a problem keeping them in stock they simply need to add more to their supply. That should be pretty basic customer service and doing good business.

My most recent rental did not have the option of keeping it. It still said "not for sale".

[Rayven Hunter]

Seems more like a mismanagement issue I have to say. While 360 game rentals are no doubt in high demand they are in no way scarce or in short supply. If they have a problem keeping them in stock they simply need to add more to their supply. That should be pretty basic customer service and doing good business.

My most recent rental did not have the option of keeping it. It still said "not for sale".

How is it a mismanagement issue if they want to make sure they have enough games to fill the rental orders. That is thier primary goal, especially with the high demand for 360 games since PS3 is falling flat on theire face.

[Sirharper]

They don't have enough games to fill the rental orders. Many people are getting the 6th or 7th selection on their queue because the others are out of stock. That's not providing good service. Offering a loyality program and then not being able to allow customers to use it is gross negligence. The type of issue that gets companies in trouble with the FTC.

The solution is simple really, get better stock. 360 games are not scare. They need only add more to the system.

Your PS3 comment has no relevance to the discussion. PS3 games rental demand is directly proportionate to the number of consoles able to use the games. That will change and eventually turn the tables. PS3 sales numbers are higher than 360 was at the same point after launch.

[Rayven Hunter]

They don't have enough games to fill the rental orders. Many people are getting the 6th or 7th selection on their queue because the others are out of stock. That's not providing good service. Offering a loyality program and then not being able to allow customers to use it is gross negligence. The type of issue that gets companies in trouble with the FTC.

The solution is simple really, get better stock. 360 games are not scare. They need only add more to the system.



How by people recieving their 6th or 7th game in the rental que is going to get Gamefly in trouble with the FTC? That is why you have a GameQ, So if your 1st selection isnt available they can send your next selection in your GameQ of your choice instead of a random game that you may not want. Gamefly is the #1 online rental company for games that doesn't happen if you are negligent.

So does this mean your local blockbuster and hollywood video are being negligent because they are rented out when you go in or only have one copy of the game? This is basically the samething if they can't provide their customers with stock.

As for the loyality program it is just an added bonus and a bit of savings if you do decided to buy the game. It is good for the try before you buy type of gamers, that way the don't throw down 60.00 on game that you don't like. You have 3 months to use your rewards. In that time frame you can get any game you want.

Go down to your local blockbuster and rent that game and then tell them you want to buy it instead of bringing it back to them. see what happens then i bet you get charged the new game price for it instead of the pre played price you can but it for at gamefly.

I found a website that fellow gamers might be interested in before deciding what rental club to go with or if they are unhappy with their current rental club: http://www.gamerentalguide.com. They have compared the Top 5 online rental club memberships according to price, service, quality, stock, and shipping, etc..

[Sirharper]

Gamefly is #1, but they also didn't have supply problems until recently. That is what prompted this thread...the recent supply shortage of the past month, and now near complete inability to purchase games.

They now use their rewards program as a selling point. Should they fail to deliver on it they will find themselves in the same FTC bait-and-switch problems Circuit City found themselves in years ago with their store ads and later their attempt at DIVX "rentals".

Your comparisons to classic brick and mortar store rentals is invalid. No covenant is expressed for items being in-store expect in very limited cases where certain movies (not games) are "guaranteed in stock". Gamefly rental is also not the problem as they also do not guarantee title availability. Even in those Holllywood/Blockbuster cases if the item is not in stock the extent of their liability is offering a free rental.

Here is the problem and the topic of this thread:

Gamefly rewards are very different than that. In that case a certain rebate is earned after time and that rebate has an expiration. Any inability to claim the earned rebate due to Gamefly's ability to prove acceptable use of it would put them in the same perils mentioned. Ask companies like Iomega what happens when you fail to deliver on a rebate program. You saying it is merely "just an added bonus" does not excuse them or provide them safe harbor from breaking a covenant of membership. Nor does it shield them from liability from breaking the agreement.

The problem remains, the solution is obvious.

[Sirharper]

I will further point out the source you cite is not indepenant.

They are accepting ad dollars from Gamefly, one of the companies they are evaluating.

They also fail to evaluate Gamesnflix, a major online rental outlet for 360 games.