Gamefly

[jomari]

First off, i joined them a long time ago, and well, didnt like the experience that much. maybe i got lemoned so to speak.

Nowadays, im just curious considering my options.

1. Hows the service?
2. is it worth it?
3. how can i locate their 'drop off points' like netflix does in santa clara have?

Any thoughts?

[surfdude12]

personally, it wasn't for me.

i found that i either (1) didn't play the games regular enough to be worth it - left them around the house, or (2) played them too much - to get my money's worth

-either way, if i've kept one game 2 months, i could have bought it. this happened too often for me. when i bought a game i liked, i didn't feel that (play it - you're paying for it) pressure.

[jswilli1]

My wife asked me about joining gamefly but I thought the price was a little steep just to rent 1 or 2 games at a time. We currently have the Blockbuster All Access pass which allows us rent two items at a time for one monthly price. This access works for Blu's, PS3 games, WII games, etc and is around ~$28. It works great for us since the store close to us has a great selection of Blu's and PS3 games to rent. Gamefly is a just a few dollars cheaper than BB but does not allow you to rent Blu's and you have to do it through the mail.

[dk3dknight]

Its great if your looking for old games but new games good luck...

I consider the service to be > netflix

[Jamespic1118]

If you buy games a lot I think gamefly is worth the monthly fee. There's 4 games coming out really soon I want to buy, and instead of buying them at 60$ each, I buy them for 40- 45 or so. Saving 15-20 on each game. Plus helps you weed out the bad ones. I would have bought Haze when it came out, I got it from gamefly sent it back 2 days later.

[bilbravo]

I don't know how long ago you had it, but they have added a 2nd shipping center. Basically now it's one west coast one east coast.

I cancelled it because we just have too many things going on (Netflix, XM, etc) but I never had issues getting games, even new ones. The turn-around time was longer than Netflix. Generally if I mailed a game Monday I'd get one back on Friday. I usually kept games 2-3 weeks, so I probably was higher in their queue for newer games. I don't know how their algorithm works for that sort of thing.

All in all I think it's worth what they're asking, particularly because the only place to rent games around here is Blockbuster and they only ever seem to have 2-3 games I'd be interested in and they have 1 copy of each.

[Blu Jacket]

I didn't like Gamefly at all. During my trial membership the games came quite quickly. I would return a game in the mail Monday and have my next one in the mail on Friday. Once I started paying regular fees, the waiting stretched out to 2 weeks of turn around time (this was during the spring, so it was not holiday rush). When I canceled they immediately canceled my membership, even though I'd paid for 2 more weeks, and told me to send the one game I had back immediately. If they didn't get it in 7 days, they were going to charge me full price even though I could have used the "keep it" option to get it for less. But, I felt better knowing that, thanks to a snafu on their part which I tried to rectify, I walked away with a free copy of a game.

[Tracer]

All good info here, Gamefly has been perfect for me. They are the biggest company doing online game rentals, and the most reputable.
I got my first game 2 days after I singed up and they've been consistently taking only 2 days to arrive. I rent for my Wii and Xbox360. Like everyone is saying, They have every game and great option like being able to buy games you have rented. Games sales rock too, they have No More Heros for $18 now! crazy. Plus the 10% off member discount. Take me also 2-3 days to get a game, which is fine, I've played about 9 games in about 3 months, way more than i would have without GF.

Start with the trial, like i did, if you sign up through the Superfan contest you get entered to win $1000.http://www.gamefly.com/superfan nice little bonus

[LynxFX]

I've had gamefly for almost 2 years now and it has saved me a lot of money. With the Xbox I bought around 50 games, with an average cost of $50. That is $2500 in 4 years or $625yr.

With gamefly and 2 out at a time ($24/mo) my cost was $288 for the year, and I rented 24 games. Before I would get pissed if I spent $50-60 on a game and it either sucked, or I played it once through and then never played it again. Now if I rent a game and it sucks, I send it back, no loss. Or I finish a great game in a week or two but know I would never play it again. Every once inwhile I would find a game that I really like, has tons of replayability and then I just keep it at a great discount. I got COD4 for $33 and it was brand new because I got it on release day.

In Denver the turn around was about 2-3 days with the occasional 4 day wait. Now I'm in LA and it is 1 day turn around which is great so I switched to 1 game out at a time. Prepaid for 3 months and it is only $14.60/mo.

If you are doing it to save money you really have to view it as a long term thing and average, not look at it on a game to game or month to month basis. There were some times when I had the same game for 2 or even 3 months and yeah it would have probably been cheaper to just buy it, but then one month I might get through 7 or 8 games.

The 10% off (after a year of membership) and $5 every 3 months is nice too. The $5 expire after 3 months, but there is a 1 day overlap with your next $5 reward so for that one day you could take $10 off a game. Taking a quick glance at game costs and that would make Uncharted $21 to own or GTAIV just $19 or Haze you would still have $2. Or if you are a multiplatform owner, Bioshock on the 360 is $8. Now that's a steal.

[Mr. J]

Originally Posted by LynxFX

I've had gamefly for almost 2 years now and it has saved me a lot of money. With the Xbox I bought around 50 games, with an average cost of $50. That is $2500 in 4 years or $625yr.

With gamefly and 2 out at a time ($24/mo) my cost was $288 for the year, and I rented 24 games. Before I would get pissed if I spent $50-60 on a game and it either sucked, or I played it once through and then never played it again. Now if I rent a game and it sucks, I send it back, no loss. Or I finish a great game in a week or two but know I would never play it again. Every once inwhile I would find a game that I really like, has tons of replayability and then I just keep it at a great discount. I got COD4 for $33 and it was brand new because I got it on release day.

In Denver the turn around was about 2-3 days with the occasional 4 day wait. Now I'm in LA and it is 1 day turn around which is great so I switched to 1 game out at a time. Prepaid for 3 months and it is only $14.60/mo.

If you are doing it to save money you really have to view it as a long term thing and average, not look at it on a game to game or month to month basis. There were some times when I had the same game for 2 or even 3 months and yeah it would have probably been cheaper to just buy it, but then one month I might get through 7 or 8 games.

The 10% off (after a year of membership) and $5 every 3 months is nice too. The $5 expire after 3 months, but there is a 1 day overlap with your next $5 reward so for that one day you could take $10 off a game. Taking a quick glance at game costs and that would make Uncharted $21 to own or GTAIV just $19 or Haze you would still have $2. Or if you are a multiplatform owner, Bioshock on the 360 is $8. Now that's a steal.

+10000000000000000 Absolutely!

[Tracer]

Originally Posted by LynxFX

I've had gamefly for almost 2 years now and it has saved me a lot of money. With the Xbox I bought around 50 games, with an average cost of $50. That is $2500 in 4 years or $625yr.

With gamefly and 2 out at a time ($24/mo) my cost was $288 for the year, and I rented 24 games. Before I would get pissed if I spent $50-60 on a game and it either sucked, or I played it once through and then never played it again. Now if I rent a game and it sucks, I send it back, no loss. Or I finish a great game in a week or two but know I would never play it again. Every once inwhile I would find a game that I really like, has tons of replayability and then I just keep it at a great discount. I got COD4 for $33 and it was brand new because I got it on release day.

In Denver the turn around was about 2-3 days with the occasional 4 day wait. Now I'm in LA and it is 1 day turn around which is great so I switched to 1 game out at a time. Prepaid for 3 months and it is only $14.60/mo.

If you are doing it to save money you really have to view it as a long term thing and average, not look at it on a game to game or month to month basis. There were some times when I had the same game for 2 or even 3 months and yeah it would have probably been cheaper to just buy it, but then one month I might get through 7 or 8 games.

The 10% off (after a year of membership) and $5 every 3 months is nice too. The $5 expire after 3 months, but there is a 1 day overlap with your next $5 reward so for that one day you could take $10 off a game. Taking a quick glance at game costs and that would make Uncharted $21 to own or GTAIV just $19 or Haze you would still have $2. Or if you are a multiplatform owner, Bioshock on the 360 is $8. Now that's a steal.

Agreed, great explanation of the benefits of Gamefly. Really the perfect solution to gaming in a recession. You still get all play all the new games and u never pay $60 for a tilte.

Oh, anyone check out the supefan videos? I found them entertaining.

Cloud Stife:
http://gamefly.votigo.com/contests/showentry/36836

Indiana Jones:
http://gamefly.votigo.com/contests/showentry/36834

[Psychonaut]

I joined about a month ago and so far I'm sorely disappointed. My first game took a week to get to me. I mailed it back in on Monday and as of Friday they still have not received it. The shipping center is in Pittsburgh so it takes one day to get there, even by media mail. I had the weekend off and thought I might have something to play. If half of my membership fee is waiting for stuff to ship and receive, this company will not be getting any more of my money.

[Chocolatejas]

I got a free month to try it (Only reason I signed up). After month 2 I canceled. Thought it would be quick turn around like Netflix but it was not at all.

[Cplhicks]

Originally Posted by jomari

First off, i joined them a long time ago, and well, didnt like the experience that much. maybe i got lemoned so to speak.

Nowadays, im just curious considering my options.

1. Hows the service?
2. is it worth it?
3. how can i locate their 'drop off points' like netflix does in santa clara have?

Any thoughts?

I doubt they've gotten much better. I joined them for the first time a couple months ago. Usually they serve new customers better to make a good impression, right? Not Gamefly. My first game they sent was not one I wanted. Then it took them more than 1 1/2 weeks to "receive it" back (though I sent it the next day) and send me the game I did want. Then they proceeded to say the game I wanted was out for over a month, and sent me something else I had added to the list for the heck of it. Their turn around times were slow, and their customer service would never respond to me until it had magically been taken care of already.

For example, I write to complain about the wrong game being sent-- "Oh we sent you the right one according to our records!" This after they had sent me the replacement for the wrong game I had already returned. I write to complain about the next game never getting shipped, they reply 10 minutes after it was shipped saying "our records show it has already shipped!" Yeah, sure. I cancelled it.

[Seablazer]

I'm going on my third month of Gamefly and couldn't be happier with the service...

I really think the trick is to have your GameQ full. It also helps to stay away from the RPG genre. In 3 months, I've gone through 12 games.

I mainly play FPS titles, so, if it happens to be an older game, I'll just do the SP and send it back... Usually takes 2 days to get to Pitt, and usually another 2-3 days to receive the new title. This all works for me because I have the two game plan.

Also, don't count on getting the games you put towards the top of your cue, especially newer and more popular games. What I do is front load my Q with pre-orders that way I'm on the wait list... I then get a random game from the current available... For instance, I mailed back Time Shift (Friday) and Ninja Blade (Tuesday), I didn't get Wolverine or Riddick due to low availabilities, but I did get stuff further down on my list of 50... Fracture and Turning Point is on its way.

I think that aslong as you have the two game plan, you tend to make out... Also, don't discriminate on a game that might have gotten bad reviews... I keep all my options open, so I am never really without a new game.

Come September I will be cutting back to one game though since I'll be starting the accelerated MBA program at my college, but will still keep it coming... Gamefly is a money saver, at least to me.

[DonRSD]

im signing up for gamefly for ncaa 10, then cancelling it.

$8 'promo price' for ncaa 10 for one month until madden 10 comes out BEATS me paying $60 for ncaa 10 then only getting $35 trade in credit

[deckardp]

I have been using them for a little over a year and have not been that happy with them. It takes 2 days for them to get a game, then most of the time they won't send a game back the same day they receive. Plus, they send me games that are further down in the queue even though the one at the top may say available now. I have complained multiple times and I get the same bogus form email back from them. I refuse to give any money to Blockbuster and their plan is more expensive for the same amount of games anyway. I also don't want to buy games because I lose interest pretty quickly once finishing a game. Not gonna cancel yet because they are finally sending me games that I want. They have been on my queue at the top for months now, so I guess they aren't so new anymore that's why they can send them.

[lettucenpico]

Originally Posted by DonRSD

im signing up for gamefly for ncaa 10, then cancelling it.

$8 'promo price' for ncaa 10 for one month until madden 10 comes out BEATS me paying $60 for ncaa 10 then only getting $35 trade in credit

Wouldn't that be stealing?

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by DonRSD

im signing up for gamefly for ncaa 10, then cancelling it.

$8 'promo price' for ncaa 10 for one month until madden 10 comes out BEATS me paying $60 for ncaa 10 then only getting $35 trade in credit

I used to the same but this time i think i'm going to keep it longer this time around since i joined a league.

not a big fan of gamefly but I might subscribe again as there a few games i want to test out before wanting to spend $60.