Gamefly - does it get better?

[trancejeremy]

As there is something like 8-9 RPGs coming out for the PSP in July & August and I can only realy afford 2-3, I decided to join Gamefly to see which ones would be worth my money.

However, Gamefly is not exactly Netflix for games. Or even BB Online. Guess I was spoiled. But the combination of painfully slow shipping times (7-9 days), weird return process (I can't figure out how their fast return works. Does the game actually have to be warehoused to get another shipped? Why tell me it was fast returned then?), lack of actually getting new titles (I did get a game that came out in June, but not any of the ones that came out in July) and lack of any reply from customer service (about how their fast return thing works) is leaving me rather disgruntled.

Does it get any better? Or am I just having bad luck with it?

 

[TwistedBishop]

Fast Return is barely functional. I've had it work maybe once every 5 games. I guess it depends on getting scanned by someone at the post office during the trip, and that seems to very rarely take place.

Are you getting games from the PA shipping center? That just opened up, and could help cut down on your wait times. But it doesn't serve every single eastern state yet.

I've personally used Gamefly off and on for about 4-5 years. Regarding getting new titles, Gamefly does stock them close to release, usually within the same week.

In my experience, the problem comes down to their queue. If you use it like the Netflix queue, your chances of getting a new game are drastically diminished. Gamefly does prioritize your first selection, but after 24 or 48 hours it moves down to the next available one. Keep it empty except for exactly what you want. Waiting a couple extra days for a title to become available is better than using up a rental (and a long transit time) on something older.

This method has worked well for me over the years. Even when Crackdown was in heavy demand (due to the Halo 3 beta) I didn't wait more than a few extra days. They get returns at a very good clip it seems, so the key is forcing the Queue to wait for one to come in.

 

[Vigilance]

Im pretty happy with gamefly. The turnaround time on games is pretty slow, but the fact that I have 4 different systems to pick from for games lets me rent games Id never buy.

Also, one of the best benefits of gamefly membership for me is the "keep it now".

When I do discover a game I like, I can get it really cheap, and shipping is free if you're a member. Also, you get a $5 coupon on used games every 90 days.

Also, since you've already played the game (you're just keeping it), you know it works, and since GF never sends out the manual or case, you always get those in like new condition.

All this combines with the free shipping to make GF the best and cheapest way to buy used games if you're a member.

 

[TwistedBishop]

When I do discover a game I like, I can get it really cheap, and shipping is free if you're a member. Also, you get a $5 coupon on used games every 90 days.

Their rewards program also gives you 5-10% off depending on your number of uninterrupted months of subscription. Basically if you stick with the service you can buy any brand new $60 game for around $40*.

(New games have a price of $45-50 generally, for the 360/PS3.)

 

[Vigilance]

Their rewards program also gives you 5-10% off depending on your number of uninterrupted months of subscription. Basically if you stick with the service you can buy any brand new $60 game for $45.

Yeah, the discount % isn't as big a deal to me. What I usually end up doing with it is discovering games I never thought I would like.

I recently bought Need For Speed: Most Wanted for $8 (13, minus 5 for the coupon, postage free).

I also bought New Super Mario Bros from them for the DS at a cost of less than 20 bucks (I think it's like 35 new).

 

[TwistedBishop]

The discount by itself isn't huge, but all the factors combine into one nice service. I mean, flat-out, getting a new game (mint disc and case/manual) that retails for $60 for $40-45 with free shipping is fantastic. And that's before you toss on the $5 off coupon which you get 4 times a year.

Overall, it's a good service. The only bane of it is the low number of distribution centers. They took 4 years to put in an east coast center, which is just crazy.

 

[Glyfair]

Fast Return is barely functional. I've had it work maybe once every 5 games. I guess it depends on getting scanned by someone at the post office during the trip, and that seems to very rarely take place.

That's been my brother's experience as well. I think twice he noticed it being scanned by the post office (based on turnaround time), but that's out of months of gaming.

I believe Netflix has a similar process (at least there is a window for a barcode to be visible outside the package), but I've never seen it work.

Maybe some areas have post offices that scan this regularly and reliably. Not around here though.

 

[trancejeremy]

Well with Netflix, they receive it the next day 99% of the time after I mail it. Then again, they presumably have an office in St. Louis, so they might actually get receive it.

Still, my confusion about the fast shipping thing is this: I picked their 2 game a month plan. I got 2 games. One I actually had, so I mailed back right away (it was an outstanding order on my old credit card that suddenly got filled the day after I joined Gamefly), the other I decided to keep. About a week later, I got a message saying they are sending me another game thanks to "Fast Return" and indeed, they did. But they never shipped another game from the slot from when I bought the game. Do you have to mail back the sleeve or something?

Anyway, I guess they can't help their shipping times, but geeze, they seriously suck. I ordered some dog medicine from Austalia (it's a lot cheaper there) and it took only a day longer to arrive from there, than the games did from Gamefly. I guess it is in their best interest for the mailing times to be maximized, but still, it shouldn't take over a week.

I'll try that tip about emptying my queue of everything but the new games and see if that works (and if they ever get around to sending me another game. Like I said, I emailed them about it, but it was days ago).

 

[Vigilance]

Well with Netflix, they receive it the next day 99% of the time after I mail it. Then again, they presumably have an office in St. Louis, so they might actually get receive it.

Still, my confusion about the fast shipping thing is this: I picked their 2 game a month plan. I got 2 games. One I actually had, so I mailed back right away (it was an outstanding order on my old credit card that suddenly got filled the day after I joined Gamefly), the other I decided to keep. About a week later, I got a message saying they are sending me another game thanks to "Fast Return" and indeed, they did. But they never shipped another game from the slot from when I bought the game. Do you have to mail back the sleeve or something?

Anyway, I guess they can't help their shipping times, but geeze, they seriously suck. I ordered some dog medicine from Austalia (it's a lot cheaper there) and it took only a day longer to arrive from there, than the games did from Gamefly. I guess it is in their best interest for the mailing times to be maximized, but still, it shouldn't take over a week.

I'll try that tip about emptying my queue of everything but the new games and see if that works (and if they ever get around to sending me another game. Like I said, I emailed them about it, but it was days ago).

Gamefly has a LOT of theft, which doesn't help their shipping times. But they're pretty good about sending a replacement if you report the game missing, at least in my experience.

Being a Netflix subscriber, I agree that Gamefly is an inferior rental service. I tend to use it in a slightly different way though, to play games Id never buy and try things I'm unsure about before buying them, so I'm pretty happy with it.

As a pure rental service alone, I'd drop it. But with the added ability to get used games so cheaply, it's a worthwhile service for me.

 

[TwistedBishop]

But they never shipped another game from the slot from when I bought the game. Do you have to mail back the sleeve or something?

Just to be sure I have this straight: You bought a game using the Keep It function, confirmed and paid for it, and it's still showing on your queue as a rental? If so, did you receive the case and manual yet?

Their customer support number is 1-888-986-6400, open M-F 9am-1pm PST. If you've paid for the game, they're supposed to ship your next game immediately. You should give them a call and make them clear it up immediately. Anything else is just cheating you out of rental time you've paid for.