Gazelle Trade-in FAQ and Discussion Thread

RedGamer

CAGiversary!
Feedback
14 (100%)
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.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
[quote name='iamjdog23']can you sell multiple quantitys of the same game?[/QUOTE]
yes but try not to do too many of them. the best buy trade in site only allows 3 of each now because people were trading in 50 of one game.
 
[quote name='homerandabe69']yes but try not to do too many of them. the best buy trade in site only allows 3 of each now because people were trading in 50 of one game.[/QUOTE]

The logistics involved in trading in 50 copies of any single game is mind boggling to me. That would be like me going to every retail store in my local area and telling them that I am buying every copy of Petz: Hamsterz they have on site for a small orphanage. >.>
 
[quote name='confoosious']Actually, I misspoke when I said they'd appreciate it. I'm just assuming because they can just resell it on ebay or whatever wholesaler they are farming out to.


Has anyone actually ever asked them this?

I really like Gazelle and it wouldn't be any skin off my back if they got to sell the games I traded in as new. (I always take off the seal but I can change that.)

(However, with NorAm, if I ever do trade to them, i make sure they get my copy used. because they are aholes.)[/QUOTE]

Oh damn. You just brought up painful memories of Amazon's Trade-In program. Well, they were not so painful for me since I never had a bad experience with them, but I remember constantly reading anecdotes in the thread about how they would damage merchandise received in shipping and claim that was the original condition of the item.

I think the only reason any of us continued to send games to them was because the Amazon promotions were nothing short of spectacular. The $75 System Credit, the 50% off any game / video game accessory, the $30 video game credits... it was good while it lasted. I kind of wish it was still going with the upcoming release of the 3DS coming in the near future. :cool:
 
Sorry to most likely be redundant.
I did read the original post...

I requested a box this time (for the first time) to ship 6 games.
Box arrived but no shipping label.

Box is usps priority but when I print the label (since none arrived with box) it prints as parcel post.

Should I just pack these in a regular box since they did not send a priority label?

Thanks in advance.
 
Or take it to the PO with the Parcel Post label and demonstrate to them that while the label is for 6 pounds, the actual box only weighs 2. Given any sort of possible discount they may have gotten on the label, it is still way more than enough to cover priority mail at the lower actual weight. Then they can cover over the Parcel Post part (sharpie or a Priority sticker) and mail it off. Or, alteratively, they can generate a new postage sticker given the overpayment already on there.

I have done this with at least 10 packages with no problems downstream.

By the way, I got 4 Gazelle payments on Friday. My shipping dates were June 7th and June 9th for all of them. So that's a pretty good turnaround of 9-11 days from my shipment date till PayPal payment.
 
I believe that only works in io's podunk post office!

I will try this next week io but I swear they're gonna look at me like I'm retarded. Then I'll have to rewrap the games because they'll reject the priority box. Then I'll be sad.

I got a gazelle payment on Sat. So stress free.
 
I should be getting one pretty soon here, they received my box on thursday I think.

Then I got two more boxes coming to send off a few more games then I'm done for awhile.
 
[quote name='io']Or take it to the PO with the Parcel Post label and demonstrate to them that while the label is for 6 pounds, the actual box only weighs 2. Given any sort of possible discount they may have gotten on the label, it is still way more than enough to cover priority mail at the lower actual weight. Then they can cover over the Parcel Post part (sharpie or a Priority sticker) and mail it off. Or, alteratively, they can generate a new postage sticker given the overpayment already on there.

I have done this with at least 10 packages with no problems downstream.

By the way, I got 4 Gazelle payments on Friday. My shipping dates were June 7th and June 9th for all of them. So that's a pretty good turnaround of 9-11 days from my shipment date till PayPal payment.[/QUOTE]

I might give this a whirl ... but damn I really appreciate just putting out the box at the house vs a trip to the PO.
Thanks for the responses.
I will e-mail them about the issue, perhaps others might e-mail them also ... I would prefer the priority fast shipping ...
 
[quote name='confoosious']I believe that only works in io's podunk post office!

I will try this next week io but I swear they're gonna look at me like I'm retarded. Then I'll have to rewrap the games because they'll reject the priority box. Then I'll be sad.

I got a gazelle payment on Sat. So stress free.[/QUOTE]

I agree the first method (where they just take a sharpie to the PARCEL POST wording and then ship it off) probably won't fly most places. Note that this was just how they decided to handle it and certainly not my idea.

BUT, any PO employee should be able to generate a new priority shipping label using the value of the existing postage given the parcel post label and weight. As long as the priority cost at the actual weight is less, you should owe nothing. Now, some may complain because Gazelle most likely got a discount on the parcel rate and thus didn't pay full retail for it. But as the guy at my PO explained, it can be no more than 20% so if you are over that amount you should be OK.
 
I think I saw this mentioned in this thread already, but one can just take two different shipments and combine them into one box right? Just put the two packing slips in? Provided the weight covers it I guess.

I set it up to send in two shipments, but it might be easier to just combine into one.

Atleast my first box was inspected today, should have my credit from that soon.
 
io - my post office was surprisingly empty today so i asked the clerk about what you are talking about and she said they'd do it.

judo - yes, i've done it many times with Gazelle. You might want to email them saying "I am sending these two orders in this # box." that way if it gets lost, you can claim both orders and not just one.


I asked amazon about doing that and they told me "best to send it separately so there's no confusion and you get paid."
 
Well I also might take them in in two boxes like normal and see if they'll upgrade the postage to priority even. Because combining them there wouldn't be enough for that.
 
So i tried to use io's method at the post office today (After I confirmed yesterday that it was no problem)....

well, the guy said he could do it but that I shouldn't be using parcel post labels with priority mail boxes. Uhhhh... my whole reason for converting it to priority was so I could use those boxes gazelle sends me. Then he says they'd do it one time but i shouldn't do it in the future.

WTF.

makes no sense to me.
 
went to the post office today to mail off some gazelle stuff and they actually REFUSED TO ACCEPT MY PACKAGES! They said the dates were wrong and under some post office rule they couldn't take packages because they had the wrong date on them...emphasizing the fact that the date was more than 7 days old. I mean, it's not being paid thru the post office's official site (not directly at least) it's being paid thru Stamps.com...so how exactly am i supposed to argue with that?

(if anyone has an argument/solution for this it should def go in the OP)
 
[quote name='animemaniac14']went to the post office today to mail off some gazelle stuff and they actually REFUSED TO ACCEPT MY PACKAGES! They said the dates were wrong and under some post office rule they couldn't take packages because they had the wrong date on them...emphasizing the fact that the date was more than 7 days old. I mean, it's not being paid thru the post office's official site (not directly at least) it's being paid thru Stamps.com...so how exactly am i supposed to argue with that?

(if anyone has an argument/solution for this it should def go in the OP)[/QUOTE]

Just drop it in the blue boxes.
 
Since Amazon recently decided to drop Killer 7's trade-in value to a quarter, I think I will do my first Gazelle trade-in for $4.20. Hopefully I don't run into any problems.

Do you have to use a box or are they prone to claiming damaged goods if you ship in a padded envelope?
 
[quote name='botticus']Since Amazon recently decided to drop Killer 7's trade-in value to a quarter, I think I will do my first Gazelle trade-in for $4.20. Hopefully I don't run into any problems.

Do you have to use a box or are they prone to claiming damaged goods if you ship in a padded envelope?[/QUOTE]

bubble mailers are fine. I actually sent my first trade-in in an envelope that GS sent a week or so earlier
 
I hope everyone doesn't start trying to get their shit sent as priority. Gazelle may start lowering the weight on their labels then and we'll be stuck trying to get shit under a certain weight just to fucking send it. Gazelle is not going to pay for everyone to send stuff as priority. Yes their weight limit covers it but they're paying more and otherwise they would be paying much less to ship it parcel post.
 
[quote name='J7.']I hope everyone doesn't start trying to get their shit sent as priority. Gazelle may start lowering the weight on their labels then and we'll be stuck trying to get shit under a certain weight just to fucking send it. Gazelle is not going to pay for everyone to send stuff as priority. Yes their weight limit covers it but they're paying more and otherwise they would be paying much less to ship it parcel post.[/QUOTE]

Actually, they don't pay any more. The post office would make YOU pay the difference, if any.
 
It didn't take much longer than priority for my first box to get there.

But I just realized I don't have too many spare boxes. I don't want to load up a priority box or two and then find out they won't upgrade it to priority. They should just send out normal boxes.

Priority isn't that much more is it? I had to send an RMA to western digital a couple weeks ago and I think priority was like 70 cents more than parcel.

Couldn't they get a better price by reducing the weight some and just going priority?
 
[quote name='J7.']I hope everyone doesn't start trying to get their shit sent as priority. Gazelle may start lowering the weight on their labels then and we'll be stuck trying to get shit under a certain weight just to fucking send it. Gazelle is not going to pay for everyone to send stuff as priority. Yes their weight limit covers it but they're paying more and otherwise they would be paying much less to ship it parcel post.[/QUOTE]

The labels are prepaid so they already paid whatever they paid. If it is more than enough for priority then it doesn't cost anyone anything.

[quote name='JUDOHAWK']
Priority isn't that much more is it? I had to send an RMA to western digital a couple weeks ago and I think priority was like 70 cents more than parcel.

Couldn't they get a better price by reducing the weight some and just going priority?[/QUOTE]

Priority at the same weight is WAY more than Parcel Post once you are above a pound or two. They wouldn't get a much better price by doing that, but it would at least make their labels "legal" for the boxes they send you.
 
Watch out with Parcel Post...

My distribution center is very anal. I've tried sending flat (as in paper flat) envelopes First Class w/DC. They return it saying "Must use Priority for Letter DC".

Then I tried sending a very small envelope that had a game in it Parcel Post (because somebody sent me Parcel Post postage). It comes back with "Must send First Class only".

I know First Class is 13 oz or less. Is there even a minimum with Parcel Post?
 
[quote name='rp71284']Watch out with Parcel Post...

My distribution center is very anal. I've tried sending flat (as in paper flat) envelopes First Class w/DC. They return it saying "Must use Priority for Letter DC".

Then I tried sending a very small envelope that had a game in it Parcel Post (because somebody sent me Parcel Post postage). It comes back with "Must send First Class only".

I know First Class is 13 oz or less. Is there even a minimum with Parcel Post?[/QUOTE]
Maybe not a minimum weight, but I imagine since they had a problem, it would have been due to the size or thickness of your envelope. What game did you send?
 
[quote name='sadboy']Maybe not a minimum weight, but I imagine since they had a problem, it would have been due to the size or thickness of your envelope. What game did you send?[/QUOTE]

The flat one was a 12-month XBL card from eBay.

The Parcel Post was 3 games under 1 lb.
 
[quote name='rp71284']The flat one was a 12-month XBL card from eBay.

The Parcel Post was 3 games under 1 lb.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, maybe they are anal. You should ask them what the problem is, because I'd like to know too.
 
[quote name='Japakneez']Take a black sharpie and cover up the date and weight[/QUOTE]

That would draw more attention to it and isn't that illegal?

[quote name='confoosious']Actually, they don't pay any more. The post office would make YOU pay the difference, if any.[/QUOTE]

I'm not talking about going over the weight on the label.

[quote name='io']The labels are prepaid so they already paid whatever they paid. If it is more than enough for priority then it doesn't cost anyone anything.

Priority at the same weight is WAY more than Parcel Post once you are above a pound or two. They wouldn't get a much better price by doing that, but it would at least make their labels "legal" for the boxes they send you.[/QUOTE]

It depends on their contract. They probably have a contract where they only end up paying what the actual weight of the items end up being, especially considering the large weights they allow for on the labels.

Anyways, the only way I see priority worth the extra trouble is if you live on the west coast. But I really do think we will see changes to the weights allowed if everyone starts sending the stuff out priority costing gazelle extra money, then we'll be stuck trying to get shit under a certain weight, have to go buy mailers that fit multiple games in them and worry about them being damaged, make sure we send large orders all as 1 or 2 per mailer and have to worry and track multiples of packages, and track multiples of payments or amazon codes instead of 1.
 
[quote name='J7.']

Anyways, the only way I see priority worth the extra trouble is if you live on the west coast. But I really do think we will see changes to the weights allowed if everyone starts sending the stuff out priority costing gazelle extra money, then we'll be stuck trying to get shit under a certain weight, have to go buy mailers that fit multiple games in them and worry about them being damaged, make sure we send large orders all as 1 or 2 per mailer and have to worry and track multiples of packages, and track multiples of payments or amazon codes instead of 1.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, well I do live on the West Coast and I'll take 2-3 days for priority over 5-10 (or more) for Parcel Post any time. And I already send lots of small packages and keep track of multiple orders ;).
 
[quote name='io']Yeah, well I do live on the West Coast and I'll take 2-3 days for priority over 5-10 (or more) for Parcel Post any time. And I already send lots of small packages and keep track of multiple orders ;).[/QUOTE]

I just feel the best option for everyone is to use parcel post so none of that stuff happens. I'd rather send 1 or 2 boxes then have to send 3-7 bubble mailers, especially with Gazelle's interface. I don't already own plastic bubble mailers that stretch to fit 2 games and I doubt most here do. I think you also send boxes of 2-8 multiples occasionally, so then you'd have an awful lot more to track.
 
Well I havn't received my boxes yet :(

If they don't show up tomorrow I might have to get new labels sent.

Should I just redo new trade in transactions?

I've heard about the whole label being older than a week and they won't take it. Which makes sense. Last time I dropped my box off she mentioned the date and it was only like 3 days old. Had to explain it was a prepaid label.

But hopefully they show up tomorrow so I can get my stuff out in the mail.
 
I looked up the tracking info of a package I sent them, and I'm not sure what happened here.

Processed through Sort Facility, June 23, 2010, 11:33 am, CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD 20790
Processed through Sort Facility, June 23, 2010, 1:01 am, GREENSBORO, NC 27495
Processed through Sort Facility, June 22, 2010, 6:34 am, CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD 20790
 
[quote name='J7.']I just feel the best option for everyone is to use parcel post so none of that stuff happens. I'd rather send 1 or 2 boxes then have to send 3-7 bubble mailers, especially with Gazelle's interface. I don't already own plastic bubble mailers that stretch to fit 2 games and I doubt most here do. I think you also send boxes of 2-8 multiples occasionally, so then you'd have an awful lot more to track.[/QUOTE]

Well, the impression I got from my PO is that those labels are in fact prepaid, so I still don't see what difference it makes. By sending them priority (since they cover that as well given the much smaller actual weight), they are getting there faster and with much less likelihood of damage or loss so that's a win-win all around. If someone can find out if they really and truly get charged just based on the actual weight and service then I might change my position. I know this happens with UPS packages (like to NorAm) but not so much with USPS.
 
I dont know if your post office offers this, but I always drop off my prepaids in the 24-lobby (self service, theres a drop box for packages even up to large size). They've always been shipped no problems and it saves me the hassle of dealing with the employees who would just argue about the "old labels". But YMMV I suppose.
 
I can walk into our PO any hour of the day and get access to the PO box and the letter + package drop off. But I'm still paranoid the package will get lost haha.
 
[quote name='callmewoof']I dont know if your post office offers this, but I always drop off my prepaids in the 24-lobby (self service, theres a drop box for packages even up to large size). They've always been shipped no problems and it saves me the hassle of dealing with the employees who would just argue about the "old labels". But YMMV I suppose.[/QUOTE]

Same here. When I send stuff out for eBay, I usually make the label the day after the auction ends. So if somebody pays that week, I have the label ready & everything. I've dropped off things 10 days after the date, and never had a problem.

The only problem is those are usually either 1) Priority or 2) under 13 ounces. If you stick a 3 lb Parcel Post box in one of those slots, you may be asking for trouble. Watch out.
 
[quote name='io']Well, the impression I got from my PO is that those labels are in fact prepaid, so I still don't see what difference it makes. By sending them priority (since they cover that as well given the much smaller actual weight), they are getting there faster and with much less likelihood of damage or loss so that's a win-win all around. If someone can find out if they really and truly get charged just based on the actual weight and service then I might change my position. I know this happens with UPS packages (like to NorAm) but not so much with USPS.[/QUOTE]

The only way it does matter is if they have an agreement where they are refunded money if the weight is less. So if they send a 3lb label but it's really only 1lb, they get money back.
 
[quote name='confoosious']The only way it does matter is if they have an agreement where they are refunded money if the weight is less. So if they send a 3lb label but it's really only 1lb, they get money back.[/QUOTE]

Right, but my question is does the USPS even do this? I know that's the way it works with UPS as Amazon/NorAm always generates a 1lb label no matter what you submit and then presumably they pay on the actual weight. I'm just not sure the USPS handles it this way but I'm sure someone out there knows.

Still, though, I think even if they send it priority and the package is scanned and weighed it will still only charge them the Parcel Post rate since it is a Parcel Post label. My PO does nothing to change the status of the label - they just put it in with the other priority boxes. So I'm guessing even if it is weighed and charged accordingly, it will still be at the Parcel Post rate.
 
[quote name='rp71284']Same here. When I send stuff out for eBay, I usually make the label the day after the auction ends. So if somebody pays that week, I have the label ready & everything. I've dropped off things 10 days after the date, and never had a problem.

The only problem is those are usually either 1) Priority or 2) under 13 ounces. If you stick a 3 lb Parcel Post box in one of those slots, you may be asking for trouble. Watch out.[/QUOTE]

Possibly, but I've sent six boxes to gazelle over the last few months that were 4lb~ each with a week old label (gazelle parcel), but I suppose its YMMV. They don't LIKE it but they're supposed to process it all the same, but maybe they're just really lax at my PO.
 
bread's done
Back
Top