This year is going to be a big one for gamers. Sony has announced the PlayStation 4, Microsoft is expected to be announcing a new Xbox soon, the Wii U has some major titles on the way and there are other gaming devices, such as the Xi13 and the Oyua to look forward to.
With all of these amazing devices and AAA titles for them on the way, many gamers are struggling to find the money to fund their future purchases. Trading in older consoles and handhelds, such as the Nintendo DS, is a good way to offset the cost of buying new devices.
Getting the Best Deals for Your Trade-Ins
The good news is, selling your Nintendo DS is very easy. You can trade in your console and its games at most bricks and mortar specialist gaming stores and get a small amount of cash or some in-store credit. If you don’t feel like taking a trip into town with the items that you want to trade in, consider using a site such as MusicMagpie to trade in online.
To find out how much you’d get for your console or games, enter the make, model and condition of each item into the website for an instant quote. If you’re happy with the quote you’re offered, you can arrange to have a courier pick up the items and you’ll be credited with cash once they’re inspected.
Not all items have a high trade-in value. Current generation consoles and handhelds are always popular, but much older items tend to command lower trade-in prices. Trading in games with your console is a good way to get some extra money, but again, the price of games can vary massively. Usually, sports games and big franchises with annual releases tend to fetch the lowest prices, whilst sleeper hits and collector’s edition boxes of well-known games tend to hold on to their value a little better.
Condition is Everything
When you’re trading games and consoles in, condition is everything. If your console has a clear screen, all batteries and charging cables, the original stylus and the original box, you will get more for it than you would for a battered console with a third party stylus and missing charger.
The same is true for games; having the original box and manual is important. The good news is that Nintendo DS games come on a rugged cartridge, which is less prone to damage than the discs used by traditional consoles. This means that you don’t need to worry about inspecting each game individually for scratches before trading it in.
If you’re planning on buying something with your trade-in money, look out for deals at specialist retailers. You could save a fortune if you time your trade-ins carefully.
Peter Nash is a gaming enthusiast and finance blogger from Croydon. He is an avid console gamer and would like to point out that whilst selling your Nintendo DS is very easy today, developers want to clamp down on the used games market. He urges you to vote with your wallet and support companies that don’t always use online DRM and game passes.