Gazelle Trade-in FAQ and Discussion Thread

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Gazelle.com

As the weeks have gone by, I have noticed discussion of Gazelle.com trade-in's within the Amazon Trade-in thread. I have decided to take it upon myself to create a thread solely for the purpose of discussing Gazelle.com and posting information pertaining to it.

This post will be updated to look.. spiffier with a full-fledged FAQ within a day or two, when I find the time.

For now, I'll list some basic information about Gazelle.com.

Credit Increases:

+5% Amazon Gift Card TIV: When trading in at Gazelle.com, if you choose Amazon Gift Card as your payment method, you will receive 5% more for your trade-in's.

Promotional Codes (entered during Checkout) ALL CODES ARE ONE-USE PER ACCOUNT, DO NOT STACK:
gazellebonuscode.jpg

*Credit to no_exit for above picture.

Flipping to Gazelle


Flipping refers to buying items at one place and trading in or selling them elsewhere at a profit (however, sometimes it is done to transfer credit from one place into credit at another or pure cash.)

FAQ

Q) What is Gazelle.com?

A) Gazelle.com is a site where one can trade in items ranging from Electronics to Video Games to Cell phones.

Q) Are there TIV's any good?

A) Some of their TIV's are -very- good, some are average and, like any other trade-in site or establishment, some trade-in values are poor.

However, from my experience and from the experience of other CAG members, I'd say the TIV's are above-average. Especially when one takes into account promotional codes or the +5% Amazon Gift Card TIV. To note, they seem to match Amazon.com's trade-in values on video games. However, they lag behind by around a day or two. So if a value plummets on Amazon, you can still lock it in at Gazelle.

Q) Is Gazelle.com a reliable place to trade-in games?

A) Many members of CAG have used Gazelle for trading in un-needed items and have had good experiences.


TIMING

Q) How long do I have to send in my items?
A) You have 30 days to get your item postmarked according to Gazelle. Don’t always wait because they won’t want to continue to offer 30 days if everyone takes that long & your post office may not want to send your stuff out.

Q) What happens if I send the item after 30 days?
A) You get the TIV as of that day.

Q) How long does it take to ship to Gazelle?
A) From West Coast up to 3-8+ days, usually about 6. From East Coast about the same, though frequently a day or two faster.

Q) How long does it take them to verify the item’s condition?
A) A few days, but can take longer.

Q) How long does it take to receive Paypal/AMZ credit email after item is approved?
A) Usually 1-4 days, but can take up to 10.

Q) I submitted a game but it did not show up on gazelle or email me...
A) It can take up to 24 hours for it to show up, but it's usually less than a minute.

SHIPPING

Q) Who pays to ship to Gazelle?
A) Gazelle pays.

Q) Do they give you a box?
A) If you want one but only for orders that have ~3-6 games (forget exact amount), they will mail you a priority mail box (but they give you parcel post label…). The box will arrive in ~3 days-1.5 weeks.

Q) Why did I get an email saying I’ll get a box when I did not request one?
A) When you delete games from a large order it will then default to giving you a box. Just un-request it.

Q) Can I cancel a shipment after I get a box?
A) Yes, but don’t abuse this or face possible sanction.

Q) Does Gazelle insure your shipment?
A) They claim they do, but no one has run into this problem yet.

Q) Shipping label does not fit on box, what do I do?
A) Set your printer to print 5x8 postcard and this will work fine & fit bubble mailers.

Q) Should I open my games before sending in if they’re new?
A) Does not matter.

Q) Why was it delivered to Cockeysville instead of Hunt Valley, MD?
A) They get them shipped to both of these addresses, which are streets away from each other.

WHAT TO INCLUDE/CONDITION

Q) Do I need to send the instruction manual?
A) No, but again don’t send everything without manuals if you want this policy to stay the same.

Q) Can I print out my own cover art or use generic?
A) Yes, possibly YMMV, again don’t abuse, and try to send cover art that has UPC label that matches the UPC for the game. To check this punch the UPC into Amazon searchbox.

Q) Will they take games without UPC Label on artwork and still give you full value?
A) Yes, YMMV though, as 2 people had this work but both sent in sealed games.

Q) Can I use a generic case?
A) YMMV, again don’t abuse.

Q) How picky are they over game condition?
A) Less picky than Amazon.

MISCELLANEOUS

Q) If I reject the new TIV they give me who pays to ship it back?
A) You do.

Q) How does Amazon credit get sent?
A) You will get a redeemable code much like an Xbox Live or PSN network DLC code. You just redeem that as a gift card on Amazon.

Q) Can I cancel games that I submitted on their site?
A) Yes, you can cancel games individually without the values of the others affected.
*credit to J7.


TC Notes: Please post about your experiences with Gazelle or anything else you think should be added to this post, I'm always up for more information. I apologize for not keeping it as up to date as I should.

~Thanks, RedGamer.
 
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And two of the games I sent had no manuals which we already know is not a problem with Gazelle (unlike Amazon) -

I've submitted a dozen games or more without a manual to Amazon, all of them were accepted. Newish titles and older ones too. YMMV I guess.
 
[quote name='phantomfriar2002']I've submitted a dozen games or more without a manual to Amazon, all of them were accepted. Newish titles and older ones too. YMMV I guess.[/QUOTE]

It's not worth it though - they have a policy of rejecting them. You may have gotten lucky with an inspector who didn't check/care. Hell, I just had one rejected for a "missing item" that wasn't even missing a manual! I specifically saved non-manual games for Gazelle so there's no way I sent one to Amazon without one.
 
Their site says they insure it. I wonder why people got so mad when their shipment was lost. Unless Gazelle is not honoring their "insurance".
 
[quote name='io']It's not worth it though - they have a policy of rejecting them. You may have gotten lucky with an inspector who didn't check/care.[/QUOTE]

Well "the policy" has never been enforced so much as one time in the dozens of submissions I've sent them. For that reason I doubt I've just "gotten lucky" considering the amount of trades I've made over the last year. Maybe they are more forgiving if you trading in more than a couple of items. I usually send in a batch of a half-dozen or more DVDs/games at the same time. So for me, it feels like a YMMV so to speak. If it happened once or twice and I "got away with it," it'd be one thing, but I've done it frequently in the last 12 months and never once had a rejection for the manual being missing. Other reasons? Sure. But not the manual not being there.
 
Can someone respond ASAP, I gotta ship this out now. The shipping label is huge and won't fit on package. Can I just reduce it's size when I print it? I don't see a way to do it.
 
I just cut around the edge so it's the correct width then wrap it around the package, so the tracking label is on one side, the bar code on the other, with the actual mailing label covering the front of the package. (assuming it's a 360/wii package)
 
[quote name='J7.']Can someone respond ASAP, I gotta ship this out now. The shipping label is huge and won't fit on package. Can I just reduce it's size when I print it? I don't see a way to do it.[/QUOTE]

With smaller packages in the past I've changed the printing style to booklet style printing to get the size down and didn't have any problems with it. Roughly made it the same size as the pre-printed ones that they mail you.
 
[quote name='phantomfriar2002']Well "the policy" has never been enforced so much as one time in the dozens of submissions I've sent them. For that reason I doubt I've just "gotten lucky" considering the amount of trades I've made over the last year. Maybe they are more forgiving if you trading in more than a couple of items. I usually send in a batch of a half-dozen or more DVDs/games at the same time. So for me, it feels like a YMMV so to speak. If it happened once or twice and I "got away with it," it'd be one thing, but I've done it frequently in the last 12 months and never once had a rejection for the manual being missing. Other reasons? Sure. But not the manual not being there.[/QUOTE]

Well, like I said in the other thread, they have stickers printed up specifically for that issue that they slap on the games when they send them back so they definitely look for it. It isn't related to how many games you send in, either as I've had one single game without a manual out of a 10-game trade sent back in the past.

It may have more to do with the value of the game though - if it dropped in the meantime since you submitted they may be more likely to find excuses to send it back. You may have been able to send dozens of things in but last fall during all the promo hoopla lots of people had stuff rejected for missing manuals - it was all talked about constantly in the Amazon thread and the consensus was that you'd better not send stuff without manuals with the possible exception of GBA and other old cartridge-based games. No one ever said it wasn't YMMV as I myself had one game without a manual accepted, but it is certainly risky if the value drops. But you seem to be on the extremely lucky side of the YMMV curve ;).

This is why Gazelle is better as it is definitely not an issue with them.
 
I traded in Mass Effect 2 & Street Fighter 4 for a total of $40.95 in amazon credit about a week ago. Now I got an update that they were both approved and to expect my credit by 5/16...is it really gonna take that long to get it? Overall, I think this was a pretty good deal :D
 
[quote name='sasuke543']I traded in Mass Effect 2 & Street Fighter 4 for a total of $40.95 in amazon credit about a week ago. Now I got an update that they were both approved and to expect my credit by 5/16...is it really gonna take that long to get it? Overall, I think this was a pretty good deal :D[/QUOTE]

i usually end up receiving my credit in about 2 business days after it's approved.
 
Thank you stoned99 & nekromantix. You saved me yesterday afternoon! I tried out all the advanced printing paper options and was able to use 5x8 card to get it to fit on 1 package, and if that didn't work I was going to do the fold over. The printout was very small and the game pictures were pretty much illegible in black and white. I sent in 2 packages. One of them the label was over the seam on the box, I hope that doesn't cause issue, like it supposedly does at Amazon. I don't think it should since they have the packing slip.

I'll post what the outcome/payment time is. 3 of the games were like new current gen, and one was PS2 with a dirty case.

I can also vouch for Amazon rejecting stuff without manuals the majority of the time. I've followed that thread a lot and seen many people have that happen.
 
Gazelle is sending me a postage paid box, but I never requested one. Will they care if I don't use it since they are out money for shipping it to me?
 
[quote name='J7.']Gazelle is sending me a postage paid box, but I never requested one. Will they care if I don't use it since they are out money for shipping it to me?[/QUOTE]

No, they don't care. But I've been making a habit of using them since they usually pay for 4-5 lbs on a 4-5 game trade (any more and they don't send you a box) and that is way more than enough to use the priority box at 1 1/2 lbs or so of actual weight. YMMV on your PO accepting them of course, but I just dropped off 2 more today. They've pretty much all been getting there (across country) in 2 days vs. 7-8 for Parcel Post.
 
So they send a priority box or you just have the PO upgrade them to priority? Can I use the box for any Gazelle trade or is it tied to the specific one they sent the box for? Thanks io.
 
Finally got my trade I sent in quite awhile ago. Sent two though, hopefully they "receive" the other later today, both delivered the same day, and I get my credit for both by week's end.
 
[quote name='J7.']So they send a priority box or you just have the PO upgrade them to priority? Can I use the box for any Gazelle trade or is it tied to the specific one they sent the box for? Thanks io.[/QUOTE]

It's just a Priority Mail box, it can be used for anything. They also send a label to put on it - but you can use a label from another trade. As long as the Parcel Post rate is high enough to more than cover the Priority postage for the actual weight, you may be able to upgrade to priority - depends on your postal employees though.
 
Gazelle transferred me a bunch of money today from a bunch of trades made on 4/26. I also managed to trick paypal's monthly limit by putting in the over-withdrawal request really fast after the last.
 
TY io. Will Gazelle take the Motorstorm that was from the PS3 bundle and has no upc? I searched the entire thread and don't see anything regarding gazelle's policy on upc.
 
Has anyone ever had to contact their customer service and if so how are they? The reason I ask is that I'm waiting on a box to mail in some of my games and one of the games is worth $1 more now then when I added it in and had them send a box. I know its only a $1 but its not like I've sent the game or anything yet and feel it would be stupid to cancel that game in that order and make another one simply for $1.
 
[quote name='J7.']TY io. Will Gazelle take the Motorstorm that was from the PS3 bundle and has no upc? I searched the entire thread and don't see anything regarding gazelle's policy on upc.[/QUOTE]

they only take games with upcs codes, since that's what they use to check if the game is the correct one.

[quote name='mrright4you4now']Has anyone ever had to contact their customer service and if so how are they? The reason I ask is that I'm waiting on a box to mail in some of my games and one of the games is worth $1 more now then when I added it in and had them send a box. I know its only a $1 but its not like I've sent the game or anything yet and feel it would be stupid to cancel that game in that order and make another one simply for $1.[/QUOTE]

their live chat is actually really helpful. i don't know if they will raise the value you will get (since i don't know if anyone has tried this before), but since it is a chat, you'll get an answer right then and there.
 
Well tomorrow morning if no one else has posted an answer that they have tried and their results I'll send them a message on there and see what they say/do. The one time I chatted with the guy on there he was nice and very quick to respond but I wasn't asking him for anything just asking him stupid questions.
 
[quote name='y2jasper']they only take games with upcs codes, since that's what they use to check if the game is the correct one.
.[/QUOTE]

I guess I won't trade it but they wouldn't just downgrade the value to no art? For future reference and I'm thinking of building a larger FAQ I'll share.
 
You could probably find the upc online and try printing it out and taping it where it usually goes and see what they do. I guess worst case they tell you its not worth anything and ship it back to you right?
 
Well, they clearly don't require UPCs as they take disc-only stuff at usually only about $2 less. You could submit it that way and they may bump you up to full value. I don't think Gazelle is as ridiculous about UPCs as Amazon/NorAm is, though I don't know that 100% for sure. I would submit it as no-cover art and hope you get the full value instead. That has happened to other people when they marked it down for not having a manual (when all they really care about is the cover art).

I don't think we've had a specific report about a "Not for resale" game at Gazelle though. Amazon, for sure, will reject them though.
 
So the address I sent 2 packages worth $150~ is -

10957 McCormick Rd
Hunt Valley, MD 21031

but when I checked the tracking info today, it said it got delivered to 'COCKEYSVILLE, MD 21030' .

Is this normal when trading in to Gazelle? It's my first time trading in to them, so I don't know what to expect.
 
Just got "Tinkerbell - Lost Treasure DS" rejected by Amazon for "wrong item" (same as everyone else). Has anyone traded in Tinkerbell LT to Gazelle? Do they have the same problem as NorAm?
 
Does gazelle care if I end up not using their shipping box, nor even sending the games in? I was going to go with gazelle as I was getting worried about ebay.eztradein.com, but now that those seem to be going through I'm going to send the games to them.
 
[quote name='crunchewy']Does gazelle care if I end up not using their shipping box, nor even sending the games in? I was going to go with gazelle as I was getting worried about ebay.eztradein.com, but now that those seem to be going through I'm going to send the games to them.[/QUOTE]

no. i've cancelled trades before where they sent me a box. But i'm sure they'd get pissed if you did it too often and cancel your account.
 
[quote name='bradr']Just got "Tinkerbell - Lost Treasure DS" rejected by Amazon for "wrong item" (same as everyone else). Has anyone traded in Tinkerbell LT to Gazelle? Do they have the same problem as NorAm?[/QUOTE]

yes, accepted no problem
 
[quote name='cupcakex1']So the address I sent 2 packages worth $150~ is -

10957 McCormick Rd
Hunt Valley, MD 21031

but when I checked the tracking info today, it said it got delivered to 'COCKEYSVILLE, MD 21030' .

Is this normal when trading in to Gazelle? It's my first time trading in to them, so I don't know what to expect.[/QUOTE]

Hunt Valley is in Cockeysville. I think everyone's delivery confirmation reads the same way.
 
One time it actually said delivered to hunt valley for a package, all the others have said cockeysville.

Uhm I've traded in both ds tinkerbell games, multiples of each, and not 1 rejection from gazelle. Not sure what's up with that.

Got credited for a package they received monday I think, I expect the one they got tuesday tomorrow and that'll be it for me.
 
[quote name='bradr']Just got "Tinkerbell - Lost Treasure DS" rejected by Amazon for "wrong item" (same as everyone else). Has anyone traded in Tinkerbell LT to Gazelle? Do they have the same problem as NorAm?[/QUOTE]

Great, I have one of these that should be getting there right now. I had 2 accepted my Amazon with no problem a few weeks back so I'm not sure what's up with them now. And no, Gazelle does not have the same problem and I wish I had just sent them all there.
 
[quote name='io']Great, I have one of these that should be getting there right now. I had 2 accepted my Amazon with no problem a few weeks back so I'm not sure what's up with them now. And no, Gazelle does not have the same problem and I wish I had just sent them all there.[/QUOTE]

I noticed that you cannot even send Tinkerbell LT to NorAm now (no Trade In Here button). The used prices for it from sellers have become really cheap so I think NorAm just decided they weren't going to take the loss on those and made some phony rejection reason up.

Better lock in your Tinkerbell TIV at Gazelle. It was still $10 this morning (same as NorAm) but now that NorAm isn't listing it, Gazelle may just change it to "We'll recycle it for you".

I hope I get my 2 copies back quick from them so I can send them in to Gazelle. What else am I going to do with 2 copies of Tinkerbell?
 
[quote name='bradr']I noticed that you cannot even send Tinkerbell LT to NorAm now (no Trade In Here button). The used prices for it from sellers have become really cheap so I think NorAm just decided they weren't going to take the loss on those and made some phony rejection reason up.

Better lock in your Tinkerbell TIV at Gazelle. It was still $10 this morning (same as NorAm) but now that NorAm isn't listing it, Gazelle may just change it to "We'll recycle it for you".

I hope I get my 2 copies back quick from them so I can send them in to Gazelle. What else am I going to do with 2 copies of Tinkerbell?[/QUOTE]

Trade to Gamestop... as of last week, they were giving $9 base (= $12.60 after promo and Edge, or $11.70 with no Edge) for Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure.
 
Thanks, I locked it in at Gazelle. I had just assumed it dropped aged ago. I added it to my last "leftovers" trade for Gazelle (mostly stuff I got at BBV that I wasn't sure if I was going to keep or not). I'll take it to GS if the value holds by the time I get it back (probably not for a week or more though).

I don't even know, yet, if NorAm will reject it but it looks like I should expect that now. That is pretty sleazy considering they took it from no problem just a few weeks back.
 
I had 1 package arrive to them in the mail on the 3rd and their site says today it's passed inspection already. And a 2nd arrive on the 4th and passed inspection today too. They all say paypal payment by 5/19/10, 2 week window. I think one was delivered to Cockeyes and the other to Hunt's dressing, I checked those on google maps earlier today and they're streets away from each other. Still have not received an email for any of the inspections though...
 
Ok so just talked to their customer support if a trade goes up theres no way for them to change the price so you just have to make a new trade ticket. Kind of strange seeing as how they paid for that other tickets postage unless they don't get charged until it actually gets received by the post office.
 
What I have been doing is checking some of the trade-in values of games I've been wanting to play. Before they dropped the price of Ratchet and Clank A Crack in time I bought it for $28.47 and got a $28 trade-in price. Remember you have one month to send in the game, it says that in the e-mail they send you. Just lock in the price the day you buy the game. I am thinking about getting Borderlands PS3 at GameStop for around $26 after 25% off coupon and getting $28 in trade-in value.
 
I finally got the emails and I got full value for everything, including something that did not have official artwork, I marked as not and they upgraded it!

[quote name='Pasty']What I have been doing is checking some of the trade-in values of games I've been wanting to play. Before they dropped the price of Ratchet and Clank A Crack in time I bought it for $28.47 and got a $28 trade-in price. Remember you have one month to send in the game, it says that in the e-mail they send you. Just lock in the price the day you buy the game. I am thinking about getting Borderlands PS3 at GameStop for around $26 after 25% off coupon and getting $28 in trade-in value.[/QUOTE]

You have 30 days for it to be inspected. It can take up to a week for them to get the shipment and then up to like another week for inspection.
 
Sent in a package of 12 BBV flips for $133 on Saturday and just got the confirmation they received and accepted it all. Just waiting for payment now.
 
I'm loving Gazelle right now. Today's makes 3 packages they got this week and inspected one day after receiving - all full credit. Just need to wait for the paypal now.
 
[quote name='J7.']I'm loving Gazelle right now. Today's makes 3 packages they got this week and inspected one day after receiving - all full credit. Just need to wait for the paypal now.[/QUOTE]
me too. gazelle is awesome. mailed my package 5/4, received and verified 5/6
 
Mmm, got the code for one shipment yesterday. The other says payment has been sent today, but I haven't gotten another e-mail since yesterday.
 
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