What Video Game Stores Do With Outdated Games – Clearance, Trade-Ins & Liquidation

Common Practices

• Clearance Sales: Progressive discounts (30% → 50% → 75% off) over 6–18 months.
• Trade-In Credit: Accept older titles toward new purchases; resell as "Pre-owned" at margin.
• Bundles: "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" or genre bundles to move slow SKUs.
• Online Marketplace: List on eBay/Amazon Marketplace for national reach.
• Wholesale/Liquidation: Sell pallets to discount chains (Five Below, Ollie's) or exporters.
• Donation: Libraries, schools, charities (tax write-off).
• Recycling: Discs shredded; cases/manuals recycled (rare).

Decision Factors

• Sales velocity (units/week).
• Shelf space opportunity cost.
• Collector demand (cult classics held longer).
• Publisher return agreements (some allow credit returns).

Digital shift accelerated clearance cycles; physical sections shrink yearly.