Gamefly - Online Video Game Rentals by Mail
Rent Video Games by Mail with Gamefly's Renting Subscription Service
Oct 26, 2009
With the latest and greatest costing $60 each, video games can be an expensive hobby. Gamefly offers an online subscription model for mail-in video game rentals. For a monthly fee, subscribers create a list from Gamefly's massive game library, and Gamefly automatically ships 1-4 (depending on the chosen subscription) of the available titles at a time.
Gamefly offers convenience and a significantly reduced cost from purchasing games. But the service may not be for everyone.
Renting Games Online - How Does it Work?
Similar to Netflix, after subscribing to Gamefly, subscribers browse or search through the game library to find titles that they are interested in renting, placing the ones of greatest interest at the top of the "GameQ" (game list). After adding games to the Q, Gamefly will automatically ship the first available game to the user's address. The user then plays the game for as long as desired, ships the game back, and once Gamefly receives the game, it will ship the next available game on the GameQ.
Gamefly offers four subscription models, starting at one game at a time and going up to four. Choosing the highest subscription plan, gamers will still pay less money than purchasing one fully-priced retail game per month.
The subscriber pays one flat fee per month. There are absolutely no hidden charges, and no additional cost for postage or mailing.
Mail Rental Service vs Purchasing Games
Renters must not be choosers. If a game is not available, the player is simply out of luck. More often than not, Gamefly will not receive near enough copies of a highly anticipated new game to satisfy the level of demand, resulting in "Low Availability" right out of the gate.
In reality, the same problem presents itself when going to a local video game and movie rental store, as the newest titles are often far more difficult to come by. Gamefly subscribers must simply learn to live with this unfortunate aspect of Gamefly's rental service. Rare titles are also difficult to rent, but Gamefly could hardly be blamed for that.
Obviously, those who choose to simply buy new games right at release will not have to deal with this issue. However, paying $60 for each new game adds up quickly, especially during the holiday season when many of the highly anticipated games release in a narrow window.
Gamefly offers a wider variety of gaming for a lower cost than purchasing each game individually. For gamers who don't mind the wait and enjoy playing a variety of games, renting games through Gamefly can save quite a bit of money in the long run.
Gamefly Subscription Models and Membership Perks
- One game at a time - $15.95 per month
- Two games at a time - $22.95 per month
- Three games at a time - $29.95 per month
- Four games at a time - $36.95 per month
Most will likely find the Two Games Plan the most practical and affordable. One game at a time means long waits before receiving another game, while 3-4 games might be unnecessary depending the amount of time available for gaming.
- Level 1 (3 Months as a Member) - $5 off coupon every 3 months
- Level 2 (6 Months as a Member) - 5% off all games, $5 coupon every 3 months
- Level 3 (9 Months as a Member) - 10% off all games, $5 coupon every 3 months
In addition to renting games, Gamefly offers a "Keep It" option for those who would like to purchase the game. Gamefly's used games store typically offers games at a better deal than Gamestop and other used game retailers. And, by staying as a member longer, Gamefly rewards subscribers with $5 off coupons every three months, and additional savings for being a long-time subscriber.
Purchasing games neglects the point of subscribing to Gamefly in the first place, as having a rental subscription service and buying games will likely cost even more money than just purchasing games through retail. However, if buying is restricted to lower-priced titles in addition to using $5 off coupons, gamers can add to their collection without spending too much money.
Is Gamefly Right for Me? Renting Games by Mail Conclusion
Money conscious gamers will find Gamefly's subscription model to be an excellent method of limiting expenditures on video games. Also, gamers who prefer great single-player experiences will find renting games through Gamefly to be an excellent choice, as it's all a matter of beating the game and then sending it back for another.
However, gamers who like to choose what they play and when, and prefer to play the latest and greatest titles as soon as they are available might find Gamefly's subscription to be too restrictive.
Interested in more information on other video game rental services? Then check out this article on the Renting Video Games Online.
Interested in renting some great FPS games on XBox 360 from Gamefly? Then check out the Top 5 FPS Games on Xbox 360. Also, be sure to rent some of these great DS games listed on the Top 5 Most Innovative Nintendo DS Games.
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