Big box retailers Best Buy and Circuit City are clearly masters in the electronics business.  Say what you will about their products or personnel, but both have spread to just about every two-bit town in North America.  However, one tactic that has yet to be fully explored is the sale of used video games.  Although Best Buy tried it in about four of its stores last year, Circuit City may be willing to take pre-owned merchandise one step further.

Industry analysts were quick to point out Circuit City’s new items, which have been posted on the company’s web site.  There are a few titles available, including PlayStation 3 hit Resistance: Fall of Man ($54.99), the Xbox 360’s The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion ($47.99) and the original Xbox killer app Halo: Combat Evolved ($13.99).

The analyst who originally pointed out these games to the media, Lazard Capital Markets’ Colin Sebastian, doesn’t think this is likely to be a widespread future strategy for Circuit City or Best Buy.  He writes, “We view the barriers to establish a liquid and profitable used video game business as fairly high”.

Regardless of analyst sentiment, there does appear to be some room for the coordinated sale of used video games.  Retailer EBGames has established an impressive chain of stores by selling new and pre-owned titles, and has done so in a rather cut-throat manner.  Anyone else ever sell them an Xbox 360 game for $12, only to see it on store shelves the following week for $34.99?