Game Trading FAQ at PlaySwitch

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What is PlaySwitch.com?
PlaySwitch.com offers you a guaranteed safe online community to instantly purchase and sell thousands of top quality pre-owned and new video games at the prices you decide, backed by 24/7 friendly human U.S.A. customer service and is a proud member of the BBB.

How does PlaySwitch.com work?
Simply sign up for a FREE account and add the games you want and have. Go to the gameMarket page and add your prices. That’s it! We will begin matching you with other games who want the games that you have and have the games that you want for the prices you decide. When a price is met the seller will send the game. Make sure you have enough sbucks to purchase your games of interest.

Why is PlaySwitch.com different?
There are many reasons why our custom created site is different. Here are a few of the major points: You control game prices, no waiting in line, no gimmicks, guaranteed game trading, $1 to buy, $1 to sell… to name a few.

How much does PlaySwitch.com cost to use?
Accounts are FREE. Buying and Selling games cost 1 trade token, which can be purchased for only $1.

Does PlaySwitch.com require a credit card?
No, but you must have enough sbucks to purchase games. If the user is under 18 they must have a parent's or guardian's permission.

Where is PlaySwitch.com available?
Currently PlaySwitch.com is available in the United States only. We plan to expand when the time is right.

How old do I have to be to use PlaySwitch.com?
Any age can use PlaySwitch.com, but if you are under 18 you must have a parent’s permission. You will also need access to a valid credit card for transactions.

What do I do with my coupon code for free Sbucks?
Enter coupon codes upon purchase of sbucks or trade tokens. (Coupon codes DO expire.)

What are switchbucks?
Switchbucks are the currency used on PlaySwitch.com. You will earn sbucks as you sell games. You may also purchase them directly.

What are trade tokens?
One trade token is used each time you buy/sell a game. Purchase trade tokens for $1 each.

Why use switchbucks and not real money?
There are many reasons why we use switchbucks, the most important is the fact that, if we used real money we would be acting as an actual bank (we hold user funds). We are not allowed to act as a bank, so using our own currency is the next best thing.

How do I get switchbucks?
You may purchase switchbucks directly through us 1 switchbuck = $1, or earn switchbucks by selling games. The more games you sell, the more switchbucks you earn! You may also purchase them directly. (The "purchase switchbucks" button is to the right.)

I sold or traded a game, but didn't receive my switchbucks?
There is a delay on receiving switchbucks to eliminate fraud, much like clearing a check at the bank. If you are responsible for sending a game and receiving switchbucks, your switchbucks will be credited to your account when the other trader receives the game.

What is my status?
My status is your rank with the site. The higher your status the more perks and benefits you receive such as: discounted games, free trades, more bids at once. The lower your status the less benefits and perks. At a zero star status your account is terminated and sbucks and tokens are lost. Earn status by completing good trades. Users lose status by fraudulent activity, sending scratched/copied games, or not sending games at all.

I want to be fraudulent to get some free games, is that OK?
Definitely NOT, if a user is found fraudulent they will loose status with the site. If too much status is lost, the account is deactivated and all sbucks & tokens are lost.

Why did I loose a status star on a bad trade if it wasn’t my fault?
Whenever we receive a complaint, both traders automatically lose a status star until we resolve who is at fault. Once fault is determined the non-guilty party will receive back their status star.

How does the gameMarket work?
Please view the how it works video in the top menu.

How many Bids can I have going at one time?
Bids are based on your status. Users are allows to have 3 times the number of bids as they have status stars. (i.e. 2 stars = 6 total bids.)

How do I find games on PlaySwitch.com?
Go to the "Search Games" page to search all the games in our database, search games currently available, games currently wanted, or games that you have on your lists.

What is my game worth?
PlaySwitch.com allows each user to set the price of their game for buying, selling, & trading through the gameMarket. Each user has a different value in mind when it comes to games they want or games they have. We allow you to set your own price.

What can I trade on PlaySwitch.com?
PlaySwitch.com is all video games! We offer trading with the following systems: PC, PS3, XBOX 360, Wii, PS2, XBOX, Game Cube, PSP, DS, GBA, and more are being added all the time. Currently no system consoles or accessories can be traded on PlaySwitch.com.

What games are not allowed on playSwitch.com?
Any games that have online activation are NOT PERMITTED. This means MMOs, Steam Enabled, Xbox Live Arcade, PS Network, and Wii Downloadable Games are NOT PERMITTED. (Occasionally one of these game types may “sneak” onto our search page, but they should still NOT be added to your have list.)

Can I trade a MMO game on PlaySwitch.com?
No. MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) games have very specific licenses and serial codes that do not allow it to pass from one owner to another.

Can games that I trade be defective?
Defective and fraudulent games are NOT allowed to be traded on PlaySwitch.com. If we find a defective or fraudulent game we will charge an additional fee (up to $50).

Can games that I trade be scratched?
Very minor scuffs (topical) are sometimes permitted. Major scratches or digs are NOT. If a game disc has minor surface scuffs please try to repair the disc with a disc buffer or similar product and test it before shipping. If we find a defective or fraudulent game we will charge an additional fee (up to $50).

I sent a copied or non-authentic game, so what?
If a fraudulent game is sent, of any sort, whether it copied, backed up, cracked, hacked or otherwise not 100% legal game media, we have to report our findings and charge a $50 fraud price. So please don’t send copied games!

I sent the wrong game by mistake, what do I do?
Please take precautions to send the correct game, but if you do send the wrong game by mistake. Please login to your account on PlaySwitch.com and click the "support" button. Include the following: the game you shipped, the game you were supposed to ship, the date you shipped it, your trade name and the name of the other trader. We will contact you shortly.

What if I decide NOT to send the game after the deal has been made?
Remember, a deal is a deal! If you make a deal with another PlaySwitch.com user and decide to not go through with it, you WILL be charged up to $50 for the game you were supposed to ship. You will also lose status with our site or we will cancel your account completely.

The game I received is faulty, what do I do?
Games are randomly tested by Secret Shippers to prevent fraud. However, if a game is defective please contact us through "games to receive" in the right column of the site. (You must send the game to us for testing.) Remember both traders WILL receive a status hit until the fraudulent party is determined.

What is the best way to send my game?
We suggest the United States Postal Service. Send the game as First Class mail with Delivery Confirmation (required). It should coast about $2.80.

What are Secret Shippers?
Secret shippers are individuals around the U.S. that intercept trades, purchases, and sales to check for fraud. As a user you will not know if your game is going to a secret shipper for inspection, or another trader.

How do I ship my package?
Once you have made a deal with another PlaySwitch.com user you will print off the mailing label on your local printer, or write it legibly (complete with shipping codes). Use suitable U.S. mail packaging and add all items that were offered in your trade, such as: box, manual, etc. Add the proper postage according to the weight of the package, and mail it! Remember to also purchase delivery confirmation.

How long does it take to receive my trade?
The length of time to receive a trade depends directly on the seller. So ship games within 24 hours after the accepted GameHaggle to make everybody happy!

I did not receive my trade, what do I do?
Check your history to make sure it was sent? It could take as little as 2 days or up to 15 business days to receive your game. (Depending on the shipping method chosen.) If it has been more than 15 days please contact us in the support section!

How long do I have to ship my game after the trade, purchase, or sale?
We ask that traders ship their games the day of, or the day after the trade deal is accepted. Please ship within 24 hours.

Where do I get shipping packaging and labels to ship my game?
All labels can be printed at the acceptance of a sale on plain paper and clear taped to the package. Packaging can be retrieved at and U.S. Post Office or you may be able to use boxes/packaging that you have at your home or office. You can also visit www.USPS.com.

I lost my label to ship the game, what do I do?
Login to your account. Click on "my games to send" or the title of the game in the right column. You will see a print label button to reprint shipping labels.

I think my game was lost in the mail, what do I do?
Login to your account. Click on "my games to receive" or the title of the game in the right column. Follow the instructions.

How is PlaySwitch.com secure?
We utilize the newest 128-bit encryption for all transactions, and your personal information is never sold to a third party. Minimal personal information is stored on our servers.

How does PlaySwitch.com prevent fraud?
We offer many safety features to eliminate fraud.

1. PlaySwitch.com Transaction Guarantee: With the PlaySwitch.com transaction guarantee and you receive the wrong game, or a destroyed game you will be reimbursed fair market value (in switchbucks) for the game you had shipped or switchbucks you had spent. (Wrong or destroyed games MUST be sent to us for verification.) Remember to also purchase delivery confirmation.

2. Secret Shippers: Secret shippers will randomly receive a game after shipment, before it is sent to you, to make sure you are getting the appropriate game.

3 . Status: Each time fraudulent activity is reported it will lower the status (and if your status is low already, cancel your account) on the traders involved. Making positive trades will increase your status.

4 . Report to Authorities: If fraudulent activity is reported to us, we report it to the authorities.

I can’t get into my account, what do I do?
If you have forgotten your password please click on the “I have forgotten my password” link under My Account. If you have forgotten your username please click on the “I have forgotten my username” link under My Account. If you are a new user please follow the online instructions under My Account. If none of these seem to work please click on the "support" button and include the following: your trade name, password and problems that you are having.

How do I create a new account?
Creating a new account is fast and easy. Please click on "my account" and click on the “new user” link. Follow the online instruction and you are set up! (The link is also located on the left column of the site.)

Why am I experiencing technical issue with PlaySwitch.com?
PlaySwitch.com uses very cutting edge technology! The site is closer to software than a web site. Using the latest and greatest sometimes comes with a price. If you are experiencing technical problems be sure of the following:

1. Disable Web Acceleration: Web acceleration sometimes has an adverse effect and may cause an internal refresh of each page to fail.

2. Optimized for Internet Explorer & FireFox: We have currently optimized the site for Internet Explorer & Firefox, but all other browsers should work as well.

Does PlaySwitch.com work over dial-up connections?
Yes, PlaySwitch.com will work on dial-up connections. Occasionally, dial-up users may experience time-outs, due to large amounts of data being processed. In the case of time-outs, please refresh the page. Page load times will also be slower that high speed connections.

I am experiencing problems not answered here, what do I do?
If you are experiencing problems not answered in the F.A.Q.s page, please contact us here with VERY SPECIFIC (OR EXACT) errors that are being shown on screen. Click here to be taken to the contact page.