[General Discussion] So, why is it that EB Games/Gamestop are so adamant about promoting used games?

Games stores want your used games because the profit margin is much, much larger on them. It's that simple. They don't pay an awfully large amount when people bring in games to trade, and what they do pay is often in store credit rather than cash. They then mark up the popular games quite a bit, as you can plainly see. Just check the shelf price for a used title, then ask a store clerk what he would give you in trade for that same title.

I don't trade games unless they suck really, really badly. I agree with you that it is a pretty poor deal that you will get. I certainly don't object to taking advantage of what I see as the poor judgement of others, though. I want more games than I can reasonably afford at full price, so I get what I can new, and buy the rest used. Either people don't mind shitty deals, or they just don't like the same games as I do. My taste is a long way from the mainstream, after all.

I don't mind buying used. I buy about one used game for every new game I buy at the moment. However, the local stores only accept used games if they are in good condition, and I will never buy a game that doesn't look good. It doesn't have to look new, but if it is missing the manual, or if the box art is badly marked or damaged, then that's a dealbreaker.

Jam it back in, in the dark.