Slackers CDs and Games
| File:Slackerscdsandgameslogo.JPG | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | Columbia, Missouri, U.S., 1993 |
| Founder | Kurt Jellinek Paul Zacharias |
| Headquarters | 1010 East Broadway , Columbia, Missouri USA |
Number of locations | 9 stores (2021) |
Area served | Midwestern United States |
| Products | Video Games Music Movies |
| Website | http://slackers.com/ |
Slackers CDs and Games, often referred to simply as Slackers, is a regional entertainment retail chain that focuses on both new and pre-owned video games and music. Established in 1993 in Columbia, Missouri by entrepreneurs Kurt Jellinek and Paul Zacharias, the business initially launched as a music shop with an emphasis on local independent artists and vintage games. Recognized for its generous trade-in credit offerings, Slackers pursued a calculated growth strategy by opening additional stores every few years throughout Missouri and Illinois, aiming to increase market coverage without overlapping sales territories. By 2021, the company maintained nine retail outlets across the Midwest.
The name "Slackers" reflects the founders’ college-era identity as laid-back individuals passionate about gaming and music. Jellinek and Zacharias continue to be actively involved in daily operations, steering the company’s expansion through focused regional development.
History
The idea behind Slackers was conceived in 1990 when Kurt Jellinek and Paul Zacharias, then business undergraduates at Saint Louis University, aspired to own a music retail store. They opened their inaugural location in 1993, initially stocking inventory from their personal collection of approximately 1,500 CDs. Although early sales were modest—sometimes generating as little as $30 per day—the business gradually expanded, launching a second branch in O'Fallon, Illinois two years later. By 2009, Slackers had grown to ten stores situated primarily within Missouri and Illinois, serving mainly the St. Louis metro area along with additional shops in Mid-Missouri. The founders’ deliberate approach to growth emphasized sustainable scaling within their chosen markets, enabling them to establish a strong foothold in the regional entertainment retail sector.
Praise and criticism
In 2006, Slackers CDs and Games earned recognition from the Riverfront Times as the best used CD retailer, noted particularly for its extensive selection of vinyl records and rare indie music CDs.
The store is distinguished for purchasing video games compatible with all console systems and maintaining a robust inventory of classic game titles. It accepts cartridge-based games even if original packaging or manuals are missing.
Slackers is also well-regarded for providing trade-in credits that surpass those of its competitors. For instance, a 2005 comparison published by Vox Magazine evaluated trade-in values for four popular titles across EB Games, Game Crazy, and Slackers; Slackers offered the highest credit at $45.
Wii Controversy
In December 2007, Ars Technica reported allegations that Slackers had hoarded Nintendo Wii consoles intending to resell them at inflated prices while informing customers that no units were available.
Kurt Jellinek responded on the company's website, dismissing the report as sensationalized. He explained that out of 44 consoles in stock, five were sold on eBay for $399.99 each; thirty-five were reserved and sold at the manufacturer's suggested retail price to select customers; the remainder were distributed as giveaways.
This situation sparked concerns regarding potential violations of Nintendo's $249 pricing policy and raised the possibility that Slackers might lose future allocations of Nintendo products. Nintendo chose not to issue any comment on the matter.