I was strolling through the Base Exchange on Tinker, AFB a few days ago and I noticed that the Cinnabon was closed, and walled off. Once my dreams of pecan laden pastry had subsided, and I had wept many cinnamon-sugary tears, I noticed that the construction tape over the doorway read “GameStop, coming soon”.
I was marginally excited, as I will now have a place to spend my lunch-breaks from my day job as a contractor for the military. Only marginally though, because I avoid buying anything at GameStop, due to ridiculous trade-in values, and just plain stupid used prices.
Is WET really worth $54.99 GameStop? Really? I mean, come ON!! Anyways, that’s just me.
Now, down to brass tacks.
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and GameStop have worked well during the past two years, as the first GameStop opened at Fort Benning, GA in 2007. “We want to get the Airmen in Training to stay on base more, so by providing the GameStop, we hope to bring something they want here and accomplish our goal at the same time,” said Nancy Copada, sales and merchandise manager for AAFES at Sheppard AFB.
However, since the first AAFES-run GameStop opened, sales have exceeded $31 million. So that may have a little something to do with it too. Hey, the Air Force gotta get paid, son! Sales are expected to reach as high as $100 million in fiscal year 2009. The AAFES-run GameStop locations will be popping up on military bases all over the continental United States, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico. The stores will also accept Military Star Cards as well as AAFES gift cards.
Anyways, for you Privates, No-Class out there, feel free to visit your local on base GameStop, of course, preparing to have your wallet totally abused by high prices, and your pride demolished by low-ball trade-in offers.
If they push Game Informer subscriptions and preorders, just flash your piece
I saw one last year when I was in Fort Jackson. Prefer me a good ‘ol GameCrazy.
I am stationed at Luke AFB and they just finished the one here. Being a training base i think its a good idea but I won’t shop there. For the Airman confined to base lacking transportation this is good, but if you live off base and have the means there are plenty of better places. But I understand AAFES reasoning for it, and its a good thing for the young Airman and Soldiers who could benefit from staying on base and not making poor decisions.
From my experience Gamecrazy offers the same type of rates for trade-ins and used games. I don’t know why everyone gives Gamestop so much crap over that when every other store that sells and trades used games usually have the same type of rates.
Even Hollywood Video starting doing trade-ins and there rates are just about the same that Gamestop has going.
I can only think of Gamefly having great deals on used games that beat out Gamestop/Gamecrazy but you also don’t get the case and just comes in the paper slips.
Im stationed at Hickam AFB in Hawaii and we have a GS that opened up last year. One thing that im VERY Dissapointed in is the fact that we still have to pay tax!!! WTF?!?!