The 3 Best Video Game Point of Sale (POS) Systems for 2026
Most generic retail POS systems choke on a video game store's unique inventory. They can’t properly handle trade-ins, pre-orders, or the chaos of tracking fifty copies of the same used PS4 game with different conditions. Don't even think about using Square or Shopify; you need a specialist tool built for this niche. I've spent too much time testing and researching these systems for frustrated clients to let you make the same mistakes. We're going to break down three POS systems actually designed for the video game industry, focusing on how they manage the messy reality of trade-in credits, repair tickets, and keeping your new vs. used stock separate.
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Before You Choose: Essential Video Game Point of Sale FAQs
What is a Video Game Point of Sale?
A Video Game Point of Sale (POS) is a specialized software and hardware system designed for retail stores that buy, sell, and trade video games, consoles, and accessories. Unlike a generic retail POS, it includes specific features for managing new and used inventory, processing trade-ins, tracking repair orders, and handling pre-orders.
What does a Video Game Point of Sale actually do?
A Video Game Point of Sale system processes sales transactions, manages inventory levels for both new and pre-owned items, automates the trade-in process by providing buy-back prices, creates and tracks repair tickets for consoles and accessories, manages customer accounts and loyalty programs, and generates detailed sales reports specific to the gaming industry.
Who uses a Video Game Point of Sale?
Video Game POS systems are used primarily by independent and small chain video game stores, retro gaming shops, and retailers that specialize in used electronics and entertainment media. Any business that deals with the complexities of customer trade-ins and managing a mix of new and used stock benefits from this specialized software.
What are the key benefits of using a Video Game Point of Sale?
The main benefits include streamlined trade-in management with accurate pricing, precise inventory control that separates new from used stock, integrated repair order tracking, robust pre-order management, and enhanced customer relationship management. These features help stores maximize profit on used goods and improve operational efficiency.
Why should you buy a Video Game Point of Sale?
You need a dedicated Video Game POS because manually managing trade-ins and used inventory is incredibly complex and prone to error. Think about a single console like the Nintendo Switch. You might take in a standard model, an OLED model, and a Lite model. Within those, some might be missing the dock, some have Joy-Con drift, and others have cosmetic scratches. Each of these variations is a unique SKU with a different buy-back price and resale value. A Video Game POS automates this entire valuation and SKU creation process, preventing you from overpaying for trade-ins and ensuring your used inventory is priced correctly.
How does a Video Game POS handle trade-ins and buy-backs?
Typically, an employee scans the barcode of a game or searches for a console in the system. The POS database instantly provides a pre-determined cash and store credit value. The employee can then add the item to the transaction, and the system automatically creates a new 'used' SKU in the inventory, ready to be priced and sold.
Can a Video Game POS manage repairs?
Yes, most dedicated Video Game POS systems include a repair module. This allows you to create a service ticket, log the customer's information and the device's serial number, describe the issue, track the repair status (e.g., 'awaiting parts', 'in progress'), assign the job to a technician, and process the final payment upon pickup.
Does a Video Game POS handle pre-orders?
Pre-order management is a core feature. These systems allow you to take customer deposits for upcoming game releases, track which customers have pre-ordered which titles, and easily convert those pre-orders into sales on launch day. This helps secure future revenue and manage stock for highly anticipated releases.
Quick Comparison: Our Top Picks
| Rank | Video Game Point of Sale | Score | Start Price | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rain POS | 4.1 / 5.0 | $119/month | Single-source inventory sync between the physical store and the built-in e-commerce site eliminates overselling. |
| 2 | Lightspeed Retail | 4 / 5.0 | $139/month | Inventory management is a real strength, especially for handling complex product matrices with multiple variants like size and color. |
| 3 | TCGplayer Pro | 3.9 / 5.0 | $29.99/month | Instantly plugs your local shop into a national buyer pool via the 'Live Inventory' sync, moving inventory that would otherwise sit for months. |
1. Rain POS: Best for Specialty retail with services
Stop trying to glue a generic Shopify site onto a separate in-store POS. It's a nightmare. Rain POS is built specifically for niche retail—think quilt shops or music stores—that need both. Its whole point is that your online and physical stock are the *same* database, which solves about 90% of the usual inventory headaches. To be honest, the interface is pretty dated, but who cares when its class management and repair tracking modules handle the stuff the slicker platforms completely ignore? It's a purpose-built tool, not a pretty one, and it works.
Pros
- Single-source inventory sync between the physical store and the built-in e-commerce site eliminates overselling.
- Specialized modules for classes, repairs, and rentals are genuinely useful for niche retailers, not just tacked-on features.
- Built-in email marketing and customer loyalty programs mean you don't have to pay for and manage a separate system like Mailchimp.
Cons
- The user interface feels a decade old; it's functional but clunky, requiring too many clicks for basic operations like returns.
- E-commerce customization is extremely limited. You're stuck with their templates unless you're willing to pay for custom development work.
- Inventory sync between the physical store and the website can be unreliable, occasionally causing overselling of popular items.
2. Lightspeed Retail: Best for Retailers with complex inventory.
Look, Lightspeed isn't the cheapest POS out there, so let's get that out of the way. You're paying for its serious inventory control. If you're managing thousands of SKUs with endless variants and bundles, this is what you get. For clients of mine running bike shops or jewelry stores, the `Work Orders` module is the reason they stick with it—it tracks repairs and custom jobs without needing separate software. The reporting can be overwhelming for a new store manager, I'll admit, but it's something you grow into. It’s a real system for businesses that have outgrown basic payment terminals.
Pros
- Inventory management is a real strength, especially for handling complex product matrices with multiple variants like size and color.
- Its multi-store functionality is native, making inventory transfers and centralized reporting straightforward for growing businesses.
- The UI is clean and intuitive, particularly on iPad, which cuts down on training time for new seasonal or part-time staff.
Cons
- The pricing structure is steep, and essential features like advanced reporting are often locked behind the more expensive tiers.
- There's a significant learning curve; the back-end is dense and can be overwhelming for new staff without dedicated training.
- Heavy push towards their integrated Lightspeed Payments, and using a third-party payment processor can incur extra fees or limit functionality.
3. TCGplayer Pro: Best for High-volume card game sellers.
Let's be real: nobody *loves* the TCGplayer Pro interface. It feels like a throwback to another era of the internet. But for a local game store, it's basically non-negotiable. Its entire job is syncing your in-store card inventory to their huge online market, and it gets that done. The feature that saves your sanity is `Quicklist`—without it, scanning and listing a new set release would be a full-time job in itself. It’s clunky and sometimes frustrating, but it's essential for any brick-and-mortar LGS that wants to actually compete online.
Pros
- Instantly plugs your local shop into a national buyer pool via the 'Live Inventory' sync, moving inventory that would otherwise sit for months.
- The integrated POS scanner and 'Quicklist' feature cuts the time spent pricing and sorting new card collections by an estimated 75%.
- Direct feed of 'TCG Market Price' data into your system eliminates pricing guesswork and protects you from overpaying on trade-ins.
Cons
- The fee structure is punishing, combining a monthly subscription with marketplace commissions that eat into thin margins.
- Real-time inventory sync between the physical store and the marketplace is unreliable, leading to frequent overselling and negative feedback.
- You're completely locked into the TCGplayer ecosystem; using the inventory tools for your own website or other marketplaces is a nightmare.