I don't see why everybody hates GameStop. I mean, yeah, their trade in value is shit unless it's a new game or system, but it seems simple enough to not trade in there.

They have really good deals on games for older systems (well, at least until they phase them out ). I got plenty of PS2 classics for $5-$10 each. Hell, I got multiple Shin Megami Tensei games for around $20 each there, and that's a great deal for those.

And maybe it's just my local GameStop, but all the employees are really cool people. I sometimes go in there just to talk games with whoever is currently working

Hm, I have found several PS2 games under 5 dollars myself, and many great ones I always wanted to get but didn't had the money back then including Guilty Gear XX, but the fact of the matter is that their buying/trading methods are a lot to be desired.

That and GameStop pretty much absorbed any other Videogame store that was around making it this undesired monopoly when it comes to find other places for more games.