William Lipovsky
Short Answer — GameStop will purchase broken consoles, controllers, and games for cash or store credit, with some restrictions. For defective items, GameStop will typically deduct a refurbishing fee of up to about $60 from your trade-in offer.
Does GameStop Buy Broken Consoles or Controllers?
Through its official trade-in/buy-back program, GameStop will buy broken or defective items, including games, consoles, and accessories.
We contacted stores in California, Texas, and Florida and found that broken trade-ins are acceptable under certain conditions.
Representatives told us that GameStop typically doesn’t accept items with the following features or types of damage:
- Fire damage
- Items with the serial number worn/scratched off
- PlayStation Vitas with severely cracked or scratched screens
- Systems that no longer power on (including Xbox 360, PS4, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- Hardware infested with bugs
- Hardware with severe cosmetic damage that is beyond repair
- Accessories with frayed cords or wires
- Systems that have clearly been modified
- Games or systems with non-U.S. region codes
In general, if an item only needs simple repairs, GameStop will accept it. (Note that GameStop may refurbish your item and sell it, but it doesn’t do repairs for customers.)
Representatives didn’t specify any brand restrictions for the trade-in program, but note that GameStop usually will not accept multiple copies of the same game, console, etc., from the same customer.
Trade-In Values
While GameStop posts trade-in values on its website, it deducts an additional refurbish fee if the item is defective.
For consoles like Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4, the fee can range from around $50 to $60. For smaller items like controllers, the fee may be anywhere from $20 to $40.
Scratched discs and similar defects will also incur a small refurbish fee.
Additionally, note that if you are a GameStop PowerUp Rewards Pro member, your trade-in offer will likely be about 10% higher if you choose to receive store credit.[1] The Pro subscription costs about $20 per year, and it comes with other exclusive benefits.
How to Trade
To make a trade-in, you can use GameStop’s trade-in website to enter the details of your item’s condition and get an official offer. Then, you’ll need to bring the item to a GameStop location to trade it in.
The online offer is only good for one day, so you should bring your item to the store as soon as possible to ensure you get the expected amount. You can trade your item for cash or store credit.
Keep in mind that GameStop managers maintain the right to refuse a defective item or cancel a trade-in at their discretion.
Be sure to charge items before you bring them in, and bring in any related accessories. Also, delete any personal information and remove any SD or memory cards that did not originally come with the item.[2]
For more about GameStop’s buy-back program, see our research on the store’s policy for buying locked iPhones.
