Got a few games you didn’t want for Christmas? Changes to By-law 91/2008 have made it possible again for Winnipeggers to enjoy trade-in deals at various retailers!

Previous, the by-law prevented retailers from providing offers such as “Trade in 5 used video games for 1 new one” or “Trade in 3 used video games and save $100 on a XBOX ONE”. These deals were being offered everywhere else in Canada (and Manitoba). Winnipeggers even went as far as driving to Selkirk or Portage La Prairie to get in on Trade-In deals.

The by-law was originally designed to reduce the selling and reselling of commonly stolen merchandise. It was too easy for thieves to sell their stolen goods to get cash or a large gift card in return. The amended by-law now relaxes rules on retailers offering legitimate promotions.

As per amendment 42/2013 passed in May:

Video Games can now be traded towards any other games, accessories, consoles, or goods.

  • Video Games now refer to and include any carts, discs, controllers, or game console accessories (such as memory cards, cables etc).
  • You may trade as many titles as you like towards whatever you’d like.
  • Excess credit can be stored for use on a later date, your entire credit doesn’t need to be spent at point of sale.
  • The ONLY exception is Prepaid Gaming Cards. These items CANNOT be purchased with store credit of any kind.
  • Xbox Live Gold Memberships, Playstation + Memberships, and Points cards are purchasable with credit.

Console trade-ins remain unamended.

  • Consoles refer now to only the actual “machine” used to play the games and must still be traded 1 for 1.
  • Controllers, cables and other accessories are now considered Video Games** only the actual consoles MUST be traded 1 to 1 for other consoles.

Hybrid trades including consoles and/or accessories and games must be treated the way they were pre-amendment.

  • Example:
  • Customer 1 trades in a stack of games. They can buy anything in the store including games, hardware, consoles, toys etc. Excess credit can be saved.
  • Customer 2 trades in games, controllers (now treated as games**), and a PS3 console. They can purchase whatever they like but the credit earned from the PS3 console MUST go towards another console. Excess credit can be saved as long as the PS3 credit is spent.
  • Customer 3 trades in an Xbox 360 console. They can only use this credit towards the purchase of another console. Excess credit cannot be stored.

Cash trade-ins remain exactly the same as they were pre-amendment.

Thanks to PNPGames for the break down.