Gamecrazy

The stores are often, but not always, located adjacent to Hollywood Video rental stores.


History
To compete in a growing video game market, Hollywood Entertainment launched a store-within-a-store concept called GameCrazy which features the ability to buy, sell, and trade video games, systems, and accessories inside of Hollywood Video Stores , while Movie Gallery launched a similar initiative called Game Zone. Each respective location offer video games for all 'next generation' platforms in both new and used conditions.

Select locations offer product for older systems such as the NES and Sega Genesis titled ‘classic plastic’. GameCrazy enables customers to play a particular title, new or used, prior to purchase.

This 'try before you buy' option is a staple Game Crazy policy.
Both Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video brands have rolled out special 'store within store' video game areas. Game Zones are developed and implemented for use within Movie Gallery locations while Game Crazy is generally used within Hollywood Video stores.While many locations operate these areas as completely separate brands (i.e. Both Game Zone / Game Crazy operate with segregated staff and management), others operate using a single unified staff.

While the majority of Game Crazy's are located within their respective rental partner, standalone Game Crazy retail chains are expanding.
As of December 31, 2006, there were 634 GameCrazy locations which are generally located within the same building as Hollywood Video. The construction of standalone ‘concept stores’ are ongoing with the most recent being opened in Las Vegas Nevada. Game Crazy contributed 13% to Movie Gallery's revenue for 2006, with 70% of its revenue coming from new and used software and 30% from new and used hardware products.

Competition
Game Crazy competes with both other specialty retail video game stores, such as Game Stop and the fast-growing video game franchise, Play N Trade, as well as big box retailer such as Target, Walmart, and Best Buy.
On September 28, 2009 GameCrazy announced that they will be closing 22 of their 31 Arizona stores, including all of its stores located in Tucson.
Due to financial problems, GameCrazy closed 250 of its 634 of its stores in October of 2009.
Store Information
As a video game specialty store, GameCrazy deals primarily in new and used video game related product such as consoles, accessories, and games. Remuneration for video game and accessory trade-ins is provided in the form of cash or store credit.Consoles are provided with a credit value as cash is not given for previously used video game systems. Noteworthy is the Game Crazy price matching policy whereby the retailer will generally exceed the trade-in value offered by a physical retailer and/or competitor by 5%.
The GameCrazy return policy differs depending on the type of purchase.

Game Crazy will not refund any used product sale for reasons other than being sold as damaged or defective. Defects are generally tested and verified by Game Crazy staff prior to reimbursement or refund.
Store hours vary depending on location but most are open from 10AM through 9PM Sunday through Thursday and 10AM to 10PM Friday and Saturday.

The wish list notifies the staff once a desired product has been traded in by flagging that particular item in the Point of Sale. For immediate action, a special order can be placed where the desired item is shipped from the nearest Game Crazy to your local store.Special order fees vary depending on retail price but are generally $6.00 for any standard edition video game.
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) is a service offered by GameCrazy which provides customers with a 10% discount on used games and accessories as well as a 10% increase in video game trade-in value. The service is $9.99 annually and includes standard a coupon for 5 free disc buffings.

This not only provides the 10% discount on used games and accessories, but also can be used at other businesses. There is a monthly fee of $11.99 to carry this card, but most participating GameCrazy stores offer a free 30-day trial.

Competitors with a similar business model include GameStop and their subsidiary EB Games, which also specialize in new and used video games.