How do I find video game wholesale suppliers?

[Waffle]

I've been looking all over the net trying to find the wholesale suppliers for video games. Asking myself how does gamestop,wal-mart, target etc.. supply their video games.

I have a store front, and want to add more line of product such as video games. Do I just call up all the companies such as sony, blizzard, THQ, Take-Two etc.. just request I want to carry their product?

can you guys please point me in the right direction?

thanks

[mthomas]

I couldn't quite advise on where to purchase video games wholesale, however from what I have heard, video game retailers sell new video games on a very small margin...so the industry is not that profitable on the retail end for NEW video games. That is why if you ever step into a GameStop, they try to sell you the used version right away, they have a much larger margin for these. Just something to consider.

[Waffle]

I did hear the same rumor as well. That gamestop makes alot of money from selling used games. But I beg the differ when the rumor and numbers just dont add up. I dont see a Gamestop store in a mall making alot of money off just selling used games.

The rent alone is outragous in a mall, plus other additional overhead. Yet I go to these dropshipping sites selling at least 20% discount from brand new games. A average wholesale cost is usually 45-50%.

Now in gamestop when I wanted a pre-released video game. As for the customers putting down $5/pre-release. I can imagine like 500 wow fanboys for the lich king. That's $2,500 gamestop is sitting on 2-3 month's. You put that in a CD or other investments such as buying other video games and at the same time making interest off that money as well.

Then if the video game is at least 45% wholesale cost which I believe. The game cost like $40 retail with $22 wholesale cost. Thats around $9,000 in pure profit. Just off a pre-released video game they didn't even have in stock yet.

Now looking back on it. Thats why gamestop stores are so small, they just stock purely in used games, the rest with new released games. With pre-released games is the pure profit of the game stores.

That's just my opion on these game stores. I just cannot figure out where to go for video game wholesale suppliers.

[Matagascar]

Majority of the big video game outlets purchase their stock direct from the games manufacturer. I recommend contacting one of the video games sales team, present them with a nicely written sales letter, outlining what you stocking their games could bring to their business and also mention the great exposure you could give them, maximise their sales and all that sort of information.

As stated above, there is very little profit to be made from video games. It's also a very tough market to break into - especially with other retail stores purchasing the games in very large quantites, thus having a cheaper per unit price, undercutting other small businesses which cannot purchase in such big quantitys.

If you don't want to give the official distributors a try, may I suggest this wholesaler and dropshipper. I have used his business many times and can personally vouch for this website.

[Frazmand]

In the UK their are a few major wholesale distributors but the largest one is Gem.

I'm not sure if that'll help you, i'm assuming you're in the US.

[HarveyJ]

Video games go through distributors like Atari and THQ.
You contact their corporate sales team, tell them you have a store, and that you'd like an account and a sales rep.

This is seriously basic information, available in pretty much EVERY gaming magazine simply by looking at the advertisements, and who they're bitching about in the editorial sections.
Like any other wholesale purchase it really is as simple as that.

[freedapop]

Majority of the big video game outlets purchase their stock direct from the games manufacturer. I recommend contacting one of the video games sales team, present them with a nicely written sales letter, outlining what you stocking their games could bring to their business and also mention the great exposure you could give them, maximise their sales and all that sort of information.

As stated above, there is very little profit to be made from video games. It's also a very tough market to break into - especially with other retail stores purchasing the games in very large quantites, thus having a cheaper per unit price, undercutting other small businesses which cannot purchase in such big quantitys.

If you don't want to give the official distributors a try, may I suggest [ wholesaler and dropshipper. I have used his business many times and can personally vouch for this website.

agreed, do you use that companies other site, the dropshipping one too?

[CybFun.com]

It's classfied information. Those information are not on the web.

Check local yellowpages and try it!

[CybFun.com]

I honestly don't think the margin is very small. But, even if so, we make more money out of used games.

agreed, do you use that companies other site, the dropshipping one too?

[CybFun.com]

I cannot tell you the margin, but honestly the margin of new games are not bad at all.

The prices are depending on wholesalers.

In our case, we are lucky enough to have one near, so we don't pay COD charge or shipping.

I did hear the same rumor as well. That gamestop makes alot of money from selling used games. But I beg the differ when the rumor and numbers just dont add up. I dont see a Gamestop store in a mall making alot of money off just selling used games.

The rent alone is outragous in a mall, plus other additional overhead. Yet I go to these dropshipping sites selling at least 20% discount from brand new games. A average wholesale cost is usually 45-50%.

Now in gamestop when I wanted a pre-released video game. As for the customers putting down $5/pre-release. I can imagine like 500 wow fanboys for the lich king. That's $2,500 gamestop is sitting on 2-3 month's. You put that in a CD or other investments such as buying other video games and at the same time making interest off that money as well.

Then if the video game is at least 45% wholesale cost which I believe. The game cost like $40 retail with $22 wholesale cost. Thats around $9,000 in pure profit. Just off a pre-released video game they didn't even have in stock yet.

Now looking back on it. Thats why gamestop stores are so small, they just stock purely in used games, the rest with new released games. With pre-released games is the pure profit of the game stores.

That's just my opion on these game stores. I just cannot figure out where to go for video game wholesale suppliers.

[CybFun.com]

Unless you are wholesaler, you don't have to contact manufacturer.

I guess what he need is wholesaler.

I am sorry that I cannot release the info on the web, though.

Video games go through distributors like Atari and THQ.
You contact their corporate sales team, tell them you have a store, and that you'd like an account and a sales rep.

This is seriously basic information, available in pretty much EVERY gaming magazine simply by looking at the advertisements, and who they're bitching about in the editorial sections.
Like any other wholesale purchase it really is as simple as that.

[andrewlm]

Have you tried using any online business directories?. They are useful in getting the sales leads.

[dplough]

I worked for gamestop for two years and they make very litle money off new games, however there is a much higher mark up on pre owned games, thats why we had to always offer pre owned first. The company would of gone under by now if they didnt sell pre owned game, that is how they have manged to buy out smaller companies that dont offer second hand or very litle second hand such as gamesman.

[babakazoo]

I see the thread is from 2007, but as for 2010 try wholesale-video-games.com

Easy to work with and great guys that have product.

good luck

[Mobius]

Topic is wholesale video games.
The first thing you need to keep in mind... Places like Gamestop are a franchise. You purchase the rights to use their company name “Gamestop” to sell items related to console gaming. With a franchise, you usually have to buy from the merchandise from the Corp head quarters. When you’re buying from Corp, the items you purchase are not wholesale prices. Anything that can be carried in the retail outlet needs to be purchased though the Corp sale department of GameStop. I’m not sure what the agreement is between the franchisee owner and Corp. Anyways, you get the general ideal.
When your purchase merchandise though Sony, or anything other company and the product you purchase though the companies are not wholesale prices. You’re still going through a middle man and paying for a mark up. Remember retail prices have 50-75% mark up on the wholesale price, or companies wouldn’t be able to make a profit.
Since were covered 101 basics. Let me get back to answering the question about wholesale.
The best ways to get wholesale items are to purchase them directly through the manufacturing plant. I don’t know if their located in China or Hong Kong. Why overseas? Cause US companies can get away with illegal practices of cheap labor. For example: China does not have any labor laws requiring them to pay a minimum hour wage. It’s some manufacture that overseas, everything you purchase is made oversea cause of the cheap labor. If you do find the manufactures that produces the games for Sony, remember that manufacture has to pay Sony for the rights to produce their games. For example, you purchase a title for $30.00 dollars wholesale Sony still making money off the game, considering the retail price is $59.99. Think about it. They sell millions of copies of the game worldwide.
So yes you can purchase merchandise for 50-60% off retail, that’s wholesale.
The negatives of wholesale and the effects on mom and pops stores.
1. Most manufacture requires a minimum purchase order that could range from 500 pieces to 1000 pieces for a single title.
2. Always ask for sample product, if the manufacture unwilling to send you or sell you a single sample. That’s a red flag. Most con artists will not send a sample, because their no product.
3. You can find wholesale manufactures on the web I would not look in the yellow pages.
4. You can get help from your SBA and try to find help though them.
5. There are places that local that do importing and exporting, I wish I could remember the name of the company. Some colleges will have a business center that will help a start up. I know Southwestern College in San Diego has a department. It’s been years since I have been there, so unsure about the status of the department.
I hope this helps!
When you do business with China, bewared. There are no laws that can protect you from getting ripped off.