---
title: 'Is GameStop Retro STILL a Scam?'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=keQyh2__SfM'
video_id: 'keQyh2__SfM'
date: 2026-06-21
duration_sec: 0
---

# Is GameStop Retro STILL a Scam?

> Source: [Is GameStop Retro STILL a Scam?](https://youtube.com/watch?v=keQyh2__SfM)

## Summary

This video compares GameStop's retro gaming program with DKOldies, testing whether GameStop has improved after a year. The host orders identical consoles—Game Boy Pocket, SEGA Genesis, Nintendo 3DS, and PS2 Slim—from both retailers to evaluate price, condition, and overall value. GameStop consistently wins on price and often on quality, while DKOldies charges significantly more for comparable or worse items.

### Key Points

- **GameStop Retro Experiment Setup** [0:00] — The host revisits GameStop's retro program a year after launch, comparing it to DKOldies. They order identical consoles (Game Boy Pocket, SEGA Genesis, Nintendo 3DS, PS2 Slim) from both retailers.
- **Shipping and Packaging** [1:46] — DKOldies ships everything in one box; GameStop sends three separate orders. GameStop now sources consoles from their main warehouse for better handling.
- **Game Boy Pocket Comparison** [2:17] — GameStop's unit ($90) is cleaner, with less screen scratching and minty interior. DKOldies' unit ($100) has a poorly installed reproduction screen lens and scuffs. GameStop wins round one.
- **SEGA Genesis Comparison** [5:20] — GameStop ($75) includes original controller, third-party power adapter, and RF tuner—console is slightly sticky but functional. DKOldies ($70) has a sticky, painted console with a third-party controller and original power adapter. Both work; close round.
- **Nintendo 3DS Comparison** [9:25] — GameStop ($260) is clean, has stylus, and SD card. DKOldies ($330) is missing stylus, has more wear, and lacks serial number. GameStop wins clearly.
- **PS2 Slim Comparison** [13:54] — GameStop ($160) comes with a terrible third-party controller and dusty console but works. DKOldies ($240) has a better controller but the console has potential disc-read issues and excessive vibration. GameStop wins on price and basic function.
- **Total Cost and Verdict** [18:38] — GameStop total: $585; DKOldies total: $740. GameStop is cheaper and generally provides better quality consoles. DKOldies offers a one-year warranty vs. GameStop's 7-day return policy.

### Conclusion

GameStop Retro has significantly improved and offers better value than DKOldies for retro consoles, though DKOldies' warranty is a notable advantage. The host recommends GameStop for most retro purchases.

## Transcript

- GameStop have their retro program
where they offer "high
quality retro video games
at a reasonable price."
Now we looked at them last
year right after they launched.
The selection was incredibly minimal
and the conditions were
generally pretty terrible.
Now that a year has passed,
have they gotten better
and most importantly, how do they stack up
to the real benchmark
in the space, DKOldies?
(laughs) I'm in danger.
So if we go to GameStop Retro,
we got everything from NES through Wii U.
PSP, Vita, Xbox, you name it.
Oh my god. $399 for a new 3DS XL.
The price on these things just
keep going up and up and up.
Let's take a look to see
if I can find a 3DS on DKOldies.
DKOldies has a 3DS,
the original, for $330.
- [Alex] Are you sure
you're going old enough?
- I hate to say this,
the 3DS is retro now.
Original 3DS from GameStop is $260.
(exhales) About to spend $600
buying a couple of dumbass 3DSs.
- [Alex] How about we
search for SEGA things? SEGA!
- Let's actually looking at like a model,
maybe like a model 3,
but does DKOldies have the same thing?
I actually need to make sure
that they really are matched.
No Genesis 3s, they have some model 2s.
GameStop actually feels like
they have more in stock.
Okay, let's just pick a
clean model 2. Hold on.
Are they using the same photo?
They're literally using the same photo.
Okay, so GameStop Retro has a
PS2 Slim, a complete system.
They show a photo of
the box, they're lying.
Can I find a PS2 from DKOldies?
Wow, DKOldies are way more expensive.
Can I say that GameStop is maybe good?
Is that like a series of words
that can come outta my mouth?
I don't think I'm supposed
to say that, right?
Alright, so with that, it is time
to place the identical
orders at both DKOldies
and GameStop to see exactly
what we're working with here.
And so let us take a closer look.
As you can see, while DKOldies
just gave us everything in a single box,
GameStop shipped it in
three different orders.
Now I was told that GameStop
have actually changed
some of their retro policies
so that they're trying
to source more of their consoles
from their like main
warehouse to do a better job.
But let's see if that's actually the case.
(sighs) Aw (duck quacks).
Here we go again.
Alright, this is not terrible.
So well padded and that is
our Game Boy Pocket used.
I mean it looks pretty good.
Now with GameStop, they
don't give you a lot of like
sort of details on the
quality level, right?
We've gotten some consoles
that look great and clean.
We've seen a lot that
are a dirty and disgusting.
This one was just called pre-owned, right?
- [Alex] That is correct.
- So the screen lens,
which is one of the things
I would look for in these,
not particularly scratched.
So the other thing I look
for on Game Boys a lot,
this little piece of metal on the inside
as a Game Boy's being used, you know,
you put games in and
out, that tends to scuff.
So not only the piece of
metal but also this plastic,
you know, kind of putting it in and out.
It looks really minty.
This was not a Game Boy
that I think saw like a ton of hours.
You see it's yellowed,
but that just shows me
that that's actually real.
That is a good sign.
Let's take look at what
DKOldies have for us.
So this is our DKOldies Game Boy Pocket.
Something is off on the
bottom of that screen.
It's gonna be really hard
to see. Is that like mold?
Oh, when they put it in,
there's like a little piece
of like foam to keep the glass
from touching the actual display.
I can see a little bit of that foam
popping out on the inside.
I don't wanna like ding them
for like putting new parts.
Like that's good, right?
Like there's no reason
why an older console
should just be scraped because
it's not original anymore.
But that's a shoddy job
to like not install the
screen and the lens right.
I mean to be fair, if
you put 'em side by side,
it's definitely a reproduction,
'cause you can see the difference
in the font here, right?
So if you look at the plastic on the top,
you see all those like little scuff lines.
That's really common
just 'cause every time
you put a game in and
out it would scuff it.
I guess let's go ahead and fire these up
and see if they actually work.
So let's start by trying
our GameStop Game Boy.
So there's a little bit
of, I'll say like kind of
I can see a shadow.
That's not uncommon in
these Game Boy Pockets
if I'm honest with you.
The screen is certainly a
little bit on the rough side,
but it is definitely a
pretty clean Game Boy.
So now let's try with
our DKOldies console.
I'm just gonna hit the screen
on both of these and see.
You know what? No.
This doesn't have a new screen in it.
I think what they did was they
just changed the screen lens
and that screen lens probably came
with a little bit of foam.
Dude, that kind of bothers me though, man.
- [Adriana] That would bother me.
- It is actually almost the same
'cause it's got the same
slight shadow underneath.
I think I've seen what I need to see here.
So basically GameStop definitely delivers
a much cleaner and mintier console,
but I don't think they had
anything to do with that, right?
Someone traded in a nice
clean Game Boy Pocket,
they turned around and sold it.
Alex, let's start with GameStop.
How much did I pay for my Game Boy Pocket?
- [Alex] We paid $90.
- Not cheap, but ballpark.
What about DKOldies?
- [Alex] We paid $100.
- So we paid more for
DKOldies for a console
that was modified and upgraded
in a way, but just sloppily.
This first round is a very
clear win for GameStop.
Cheaper, better quality console.
I don't know that that's gonna hold up
though as we continue.
My expectations are...
down here.
Next up, let's take a look
at our GameStop SEGA Genesis
specifically the model dos.
That's what they call it, the cool kids.
They call it the model dos.
- [Alex] So then what
are you saying it for?
- Before I told you to open it.
(box rattles)
Yeah, I just opened so
many GameStop consoles.
There were like an Xbox thrown
in a box with zero padding
that it's nice to actually get someone
who actually gives somewhat
of a (duck quacks).
This also does seem like it's coming from
their like main location.
Oh and look at it, it's
got another box too.
We've got a controller, which
is an original controller.
Okay, so that was one
of my first questions.
'Cause DKOldies specifically
tried to upcharge me
to get an original controller.
The original like first
party power adapter
weighs like 75 pounds.
That's ridiculous. This is a
third party, which is fine.
I guess as long it doesn't catch on fire.
Whoa.
They gave you like an RF tuner, really?
And we have ourselves the Genesis Model 2
and nothing else.
So again, this is in pre-owned condition,
so definitely had like some
tape on it at some point.
It's very like sticky here.
I mean I think most Genesises
were sticky at some point.
What? Huh?
- What? Why?
- Speak for yourself.
Oh my god.
- [Alex] Oh my god,
please don't break the thing
before you even try it.
- It doesn't sound good.
You know what? Maybe
this port was never opened.
I'll just trust that the
pins on the inside are fine.
Again, pretty encouraging, right?
For DKOldies we have ourselves,
this is gonna be an Old Skool controller.
It is a six button controller,
but this is a brand new controller.
I mean I always like
to have the originals.
The third parties aren't really
as desirable in my opinion.
This one does come with the
RCA, which I would prefer.
Ha. Yeah, this is what I'm talking about.
This is the original power adapter.
(adapter thuds)
It is incredibly heavy.
(glass shatters)
- Oh.
- So heavy.
Let's, oh gross. What the hell?
Ew. It's still like actively sticky.
My guess is that this
got massively scuffed
and what this stickiness is
is they actually tried to fix it.
I appreciate the fact
they tried to hide it,
but the problem is the
shade of black paint
they put on it presumably is different.
- [Alex] Yeah, that looks bad.
- It does not look encouraging.
So it still has the feet on it,
which I makes you realizing
the GameStop one doesn't.
Does this one pop off?
(console clicks) Look at that.
See this is what you're supposed to do.
What condition is the DKOldies one in?
And please tell me it's not good.
- [Alex] The DKOldies is
in acceptable condition.
- Okay, cool. That is
what I was hoping for.
Again, GameStop doesn't let
you choose, DKOldies does.
The other thing I'm noticing
here is that GameStop,
they didn't really take the three minutes
it would've taken to like
fully clear this off.
Like it looks like there was like a label
or like some tape on
here or some stickers.
I think if I was gonna
pick between the two
just on physical appearance,
I would go GameStop.
Alright, so let's start out by trying
our GameStop SEGA Genesis.
Hey immediately.
♪ To-Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo-Do ♪
(laughs) Original controller for sure.
It works, but I'll tell
you that the right side,
like the right side of the
D-Pad is essentially worn in.
The left side actually like depresses,
the right side is just depressed.
Am I just dumb?
Why does every button
do the exact same thing?
Can I not charge right now?
- [Alex] I don't think you
control that in the first game.
- Oh. Okay.
Yay. I mean, no complaints
about GameStop, right?
I think the console clearly works.
Let's try our DKOldies console.
Boom. Works.
- [TV] SEGA!
- Yeah, so I will say
I actually kind of like
the Old Skool controller here.
This one is fresh. Even if
it's not quite as original.
What did we pay on GameStop
for our Model 2 Genesis?
- [Alex] We paid $75.
- [Austin] Which seems about right.
- [Alex] So for DKOldies we paid $70.
- If I'm gonna give
DKOldies some props here.
Rare opportunity. They do
give you a one year warranty.
Now whether or not they will,
you know, honor the warranty
and whatnot, that's a little
bit of a different story.
But generally speaking,
having a one year warranty
is a very nice thing.
GameStop has a like a week or two?
- Seven days.
- Seven days.
I still generally think
that the GameStop console
is in much better shape,
but this one's a lot closer, right?
Like I think GameStop
clearly won round one.
Round two, it's a little
bit more of a toss up.
Moving right along.
We should have our Nintendo 3DS.
We've talked about this
so many times in the past.
3DS values have absolutely skyrocketed.
I remember when we did our
video on physical games,
one of the main things
we talked about there
with one of the vendors was how 3DSs
are almost impossible
to get your hands on.
(static buzzing)
(upbeat music)
If I would've put in a
bunch of money into 3DSs
and Nintendo stock, would
I be better off buying 3DS?
- [Alex] Nintendo stock actually
in the last couple years
has gone slightly down, technically.
There's no better place to
invest your life savings
into a bunch of Nintendo consoles.
Okay, so this is an original Nintendo 3DS.
So a launch model in the red colorway.
The top of it is fairly scuffed.
Ooh, some like gunk and some like residue.
It's got like some just,
there's some DNA on this.
It does have a stylus.
Sometimes these things have gone missing,
but that looks okay.
It does actually still have
the original two gigabyte SD card,
but the big question,
especially with handhelds
are what do the screens look like?
Oh yeah. Oh yeah, that's fine.
Again, GameStop, man, this is
in actually pretty good shape.
The screen's not really like yellowed.
Sometimes that happens.
Especially like DSs.
Off. Never, ever 3D again.
Dude, I looked at that
3D for like one second
I immediately got a headache.
Ugh. Alex can I turn on
my parental controls?
- No.
- Oh, okay.
(camera clicks)
Beautiful.
Okay, this 3DS seems to be in good shape.
We'll actually try to play
a game on it in a minute.
I cannot believe that
I'm about to say this,
but we're basically three for three
on GameStop Retro right now.
DKOldies has their work cut out for them.
Oh, third party power adapters.
So not an original one.
Alright, so when it
comes to the DKOldies 3DS
a little bit cleaner on
the A cover, I'll say.
Some scuffs, but not too bad.
Oh no stylus.
DKOldies didn't give me a stylus.
And also DKOldies took
off the serial number,
which is strange.
Does this have an SD card in it?
It does and it is this same two gigabyte.
I don't like the fact that
it's missing the stylus,
but (sniffs) I mean it feels
like they did clean it moderately well.
And pretty good on the inside.
Oh, you know, there's like little bits
of like something on here.
So like around the A button,
the like finish is sort of worn off.
Like I can actually feel
like this sort of shininess
has been sort of rubbed off of it.
Alex, this one is in
good condition, right?
Not acceptable.
This one is in good condition.
- It is supposed to be
in good condition, yeah.
- Which I generally agree with,
but the problem is there's no stylus.
And while yeah, the stylus
is probably something
you get for like $2 on Temu,
I want a stylus for my 3DS.
- [Alex] The description says
that a compatible stylus is included.
- Yeah, so I would assume
if I reach out to DKOldies,
I mean if Ray Tracy
reaches out to DKOldies,
they would probably ship a stylus.
But it's a pain, right?
(camera clicks)
- Wow,
that's a sure photo if I've ever seen one.
Yeah. This is looking a
little bit rough for DKOldies.
If you can imagine.
Let's start out by trying
our GameStop console.
Make sure that our good buddy Luigi
is still afraid of things.
Scary world out there, y'all.
- [Alex] It's a scary world in here.
- Cite several examples please.
Can we get something
resembling lubrication.
(Austin speaking gibberish)
Man, you know what?
Nintendo kind of cooked with the 3DS.
I've seen enough.
I think that GameStop console
gets a complete and total pass.
Let's try our DKOldies console.
This one's fairly close as
far as the DKOldies console
isn't in terrible shape,
but it is missing a stylus.
It definitely has more wear on it.
And if I remember correctly,
this one was more expensive.
How much did we pay?
First and foremost for our GameStop 3DS?
- [Alex] $260.
- It's a lot of money,
but I don't think that's
actually a terrible deal.
- [Alex] The range starts
at about maybe like 140, 150
and then it'll go up to the 250 range.
- So this is a reasonable deal.
What did we pay on DKOldies?
- [Alex] (sighs) We paid $330.
- Ohh.
(Austin laughs)
- [Alex] That's a big jump.
- Look man, I know that this
comes with a one year warranty
and like that is worth something.
It is not worth $70.
It's not a good look when
GameStop beats you head to head.
All right, now we should be taking a look
at our slim PlayStation Dos.
Okay, that's not a great sign.
- Urgh!
- What in the Mad Catz
(duck quacks) is this?
- Urgh.
- TTX Tech?
How about peepee?
I can almost break it with my hands.
It's got this like fake like rubber,
like sort of like leather texture to it.
It does smell interestingly of Febreeze.
We have the original power
adapter and our PS2 Slim.
Oh, a little dirty.
There's like residue on the top.
It looks like toothpaste. Ooh, dust.
Ooh yeah, we got a lot
of dust inside that vent.
Oh, this is an...
Wait, they shipped a PS2 Slim
with ethernet and a 56k modem?
- [Alex] Apparently that was a thing
on like the early only
North American models.
- Interesting.
Short of the fact that it's dusty,
which I do think a little
bit of compressed air
would probably knock out stuff
like on the inside of the vent.
And you might actually have to put some
like elbow grease in to
getting some of this off.
But there's no forgiveness
for this piece of (duck quacks) though.
No.
So if we look at DKOldies.
Okay, so this is a third
party reproduction controller
with these ugly buttons on it.
It actually looks pretty new.
How much were they charging
if I wanted the original PS2 controller?
There was a big upcharge.
- [Alex] Yeah, they charge an extra $30.
- I will say, not in
their defense or anything,
but DualShock 2s are actually
kind of expensive controllers.
Okay, so sure.
Now this is supposed to be
in good condition, right?
- [Alex] This one actually
doesn't say condition.
It just says refurbished.
- It's just refurbished, period.
- [Alex] It just says refurbished, period.
- Ooh, little scuffed.
Little scuffed on the top.
They actually have almost the same amount
of sort of dust buildup.
Whoa. This one also has the 56k modem.
I feel like I look at a
lot of like old consoles.
That's crazy that both of
these have the line in jack.
Condition-wise, I think these
are both in the ballpark.
(sniffs) It smells like
DKOldies. I dunno why.
Well, let's fire them up and
see if they actually work.
Let's start out with our GameStop console.
This feels like heresy,
but I'm gonna play some
"Crazy Taxi" for PS2.
Okay cool.
These sound mostly like happy PS2 noises.
Oh god, this control is
disgusting. It is blech!
♪ Ya ya ya ya ♪
(rock music)
- Anyway, let's play some-
- [Announcer] Crazy Taxi.
- Don't be a dork.
- [Alex] I mean, is she wrong?
- That was a clean run. Clean run.
Oh, that was a clean run.
(Alex laughs)
We can confirm pretty simply
that the GameStop
console fully functional.
Let's try with DKOldies.
(video game music)
It's a good sign.
In fact...
No bad sign. No, it's not loading.
Disc is not spinning. Oh no.
If I pop it, watch. Oh, it is spinning.
- [Alex] Oh, so it just
took a really long time.
- I mean, you saw, I literally pulled it
outta the functioning PS2
and put it the other one.
(disc scrapes)
- I don't like that.
- I don't like that at all.
That that.
- [Alex] Oh yeah. It's like a scratch.
(disc scratches)
- That again. That, that.
Also, the vibration on
this is just on. (laughs)
It's vibrating all right.
Obviously it's a new controller,
but I mean, just listen to it.
(controller rattling)
Stop, stop, stop, stop,
stop, stop. Stop, stop, stop.
Ah!
This one I think is a pretty clear win
for GameStop, right?
And even though I don't like this
sort of janky dumb controller,
the vibration on this is like four times
higher than a normal controller.
Like my hand literally feels a little numb
because of how like hard it was shaking.
I also am concerned about that disc drive.
The fact that it didn't
immediately launch,
we had to restart it.
So Alex, help me out here.
With the PS2, how much did we
pay for our GameStop console?
- $160.
- That's too much.
That feels like too much, right?
Like what does, what
does a PS2 Slim go for?
- [Alex] If you buy from like
professional refurbishers
and stuff like that, it
can go closer to 200.
Around the 200s.
If you're just buying
from like just a guy,
it's probably in like the low 100 range.
- Now if this would've
come with a DualShock 2,
I actually would probably
be okay with 160 bucks.
But it's in the ballpark of almost okay.
How much did we pay for
our DKOldies console, Alex?
- [Alex] Well if you didn't
like GameStop's price,
we paid $240.
- What?
Okay, I thought we did bad
on the value in the 3DS.
This is worse. I should be
able to eat off this PS2.
And while I could, I might not
get my positive test result
that I've been trying to
get for a few months now.
Alex, what did we pay
for all of our consoles
combined at GameStop?
- [Alex] We paid a total of $585.
- Whereas at DKOldies?
- [Alex] $740.
- That's a crazy swing.
So how do we sum this up?
Well, I think in many
respects GameStop wins this
and I don't think it's really that close.
They were almost
universally more affordable,
generally speaking as good
if not better on the quality
front across all the
consoles we tested here.
And the biggest downside
really is the fact
that they don't really
have a good warranty.
It's just you got a
seven day return policy.
And obviously GameStop as a company,
may or may not be a company
you want to support.
But compare it to when we
tried GameStop Retro last time,
this is a legitimately big improvement.
DKOldies...
(sighs) I mean, what do we say?
If GameStop makes your prices look bad,
you know that you (duck quacks) up.
What do you think my friends?
Has GameStop redeemed themselves?
Have DKOldies dug themselves
a deeper hole than usual?
Subscribe to the channel.
Ring-a-ling that ding-a-ling.
And if you'll excuse me,
I'm gonna go play some more "Crazy Taxi."
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪