More gamers turning to pawn shops due to recession


Most gamers who've possessed a longtime penchant for frugality know the pawn shop business model quite well thanks to a certain pre-owned retail juggernaut -- however, due to the aforementioned retailer, we've traditionally rarely taken our business to actual pawn shops. According to a recent Chicago Tribune article, this trend may be reversing -- the article points out that national pawn shop chains had a highly profitable year in 2008 (thanks to the ailing economy), and that most are seeing an increase in hocked electronics; namely, TVs and "expensive game systems."

Sure, it may sound like a depressing trend for gamers to resign themselves to, but really, it's more disastrous news for GameStop. When gamers collectively realize that pawn shops not only offer video games, but also pre-owned Glocks and rings with which to "make that gal an honest woman," they're probably never going to cross the threshold of a GameStop ever again.

[Via GamePolitics]

Tags: economy, gamestop, pawn-shops, recession, used-games

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Joystiq Features





Featured Galleries

GameStop post-Christmas circular

GameStop post-Christmas circular

Star Wars: The Old Republic -- Tatooine

Star Wars: The Old Republic -- Tatooine

Twin Blades: The Reaping Vanguard

Twin Blades: The Reaping Vanguard

Lunar: Silver Star Harmony

Lunar: Silver Star Harmony

Splinter Cell: Conviction - Co-op Multiplayer

Splinter Cell: Conviction - Co-op Multiplayer

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (12-18-09)

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (12-18-09)

Joe & Mac HD

Joe & Mac HD

Toki HD

Toki HD

Leave Home (XBL Indie Games)

Leave Home (XBL Indie Games)

 


Team Joystiq

 
Chris Grant
Editor-in-Chief, Email
James Ransom-Wiley
Managing Editor, Email
Ludwig Kietzmann
Senior Editor, Email
Andrew Yoon
East Coast Editor, Email
Randy Nelson
West Coast Editor, Email
Justin McElroy
Reviews Editor, Email
Justin Glow
Developer, Email

Joystiq Podcast

New episodes every Friday! Now playing: Joystiq Podcast 121, for Friday, Dec., 18.



Archive | RSS | iTunes