I have got to get a cameraphone. Because sometimes something so unbelievable that it just taxes the imagination appears right in front of you--and without photographic proof, you end up doubting you even saw it.
Out in Camden County, NJ, is a kind of indoor/outdoor permanent flea market called the Berlin Farmers Market. A more wretched hive of scum and villainy you will not find. Anyway, in one of the dark corners of this run-down rat-mall was a trading post, and in the far corner of this trading post was a display case housing some used video game stuff. Perusing it, I noticed that on the floor of the case were two systems, each costing $89.95. One was an xBox. The other was an NES.
An NES for $89.95! Now, as much a fan of retro-gaming as I am, if I had $90 and had to use it to buy a gaming system, this decision would be a no-brainer. Is there any way these two systems can be compared such that they'd come out equal? (Well, I guess they're roughly the same shape...)
Have I missed something or is that as insane as I think it is? The outdoor guys who occasionally have one tend to sell them for around $40, which I still think is a ripoff. $20 would be my ceiling--$25 stretching it. But $89.95?! Has anyone else witnessed this kind of insanity?
Between this and the $2000 2600, I believe the world may be coming to an end!
Was this one of the signs of the Apocalypse?
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KanYozakura
Was this one of the signs of the Apocalypse?
You have no idea. I trade/sell video games to support my game-buying habit, and I have to say that some people WAAAAAAAAAAY overestimate the value of vintage gear.
I had one guy at a car show/flea market last summer charging $200-300 dollars for a box with an N64, two controllers, and about 20 games (and some writing on the box trying to justify it as a "value"). After silently shaking my head, I asked if he would sell any of the games separately. He got kind of pissed and replied that I would have to buy the entire lot if I wanted it. That pretty much sealed me walking away, but I wanted to see what he had, so I asked if I could go through some of the games. He got even more pissed and said that I would have to buy the lot to even look at the games I was buying! Pure and utter crap. The same guy had a box full of NES games, but wouldn't sell any of them to me because "he left his price guide at home". Here's the kicker: THEY ALL HAD PRICE STICKERS ON THEM! Needless to say, they were all overpriced anyway and I walked away disgusted. I did manage to meet another guy who was way nicer and saved the day. Yay for $1 NES Super Mario 2!
The local vintage shop sells NES consoles for $60 with one controller. They might be refitted with new 72 pins, but I doubt it. Some stuff they charge ludicrous amounts for, but sometimes you get a steal. In the age of eBay, it's a lot harder to find good deals.
I had one guy at a car show/flea market last summer charging $200-300 dollars for a box with an N64, two controllers, and about 20 games (and some writing on the box trying to justify it as a "value"). After silently shaking my head, I asked if he would sell any of the games separately. He got kind of pissed and replied that I would have to buy the entire lot if I wanted it. That pretty much sealed me walking away, but I wanted to see what he had, so I asked if I could go through some of the games. He got even more pissed and said that I would have to buy the lot to even look at the games I was buying! Pure and utter crap. The same guy had a box full of NES games, but wouldn't sell any of them to me because "he left his price guide at home". Here's the kicker: THEY ALL HAD PRICE STICKERS ON THEM! Needless to say, they were all overpriced anyway and I walked away disgusted. I did manage to meet another guy who was way nicer and saved the day. Yay for $1 NES Super Mario 2!
The local vintage shop sells NES consoles for $60 with one controller. They might be refitted with new 72 pins, but I doubt it. Some stuff they charge ludicrous amounts for, but sometimes you get a steal. In the age of eBay, it's a lot harder to find good deals.
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Quill
Was this one of the signs of the Apocalypse?
Was the NES at least sealed?
I'm guessing it wasn't as a sealed one would probably go for more than that on the collector's market.
I've seen such atrocities as well... people over charging for NES's at flea markets. One store I frequented was selling them for 50 bucks... no box just 2 controllers, the system and necessary cables. The only people buying those things are people that just plain don't know any better. Obviously if you look online you can find them much cheaper.
If anyone ever really needed an NES all they have to do is frequent a few yardsales and they can probably grab a fairly good one for 10 dollars... with some games.
I'm guessing it wasn't as a sealed one would probably go for more than that on the collector's market.
I've seen such atrocities as well... people over charging for NES's at flea markets. One store I frequented was selling them for 50 bucks... no box just 2 controllers, the system and necessary cables. The only people buying those things are people that just plain don't know any better. Obviously if you look online you can find them much cheaper.
If anyone ever really needed an NES all they have to do is frequent a few yardsales and they can probably grab a fairly good one for 10 dollars... with some games.
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andrew
Was this one of the signs of the Apocalypse?
There is a retro videogame store on ste catherine in downtown montrea that sells n64 , nes , intellivisions for well over $100. They claim the n64 is new is wrappung the n64 in some packaging wrap. Its quite pathetic. N64 games selling for $40 each used and loose. Nice store complete even with Nintendo stuffed animal characters but the game and system prices were mind boggling. On a isde note, some clueless ebayer wanted $600 for a loose copy of one of the worst games of all time - Superman 64. Suffice to say it didn't get sold. I mean is the person that dumb? Paper Mario and Harvest Moon, two of the most sought after n64 games sell sealed for a ridiculous $200. Wort I've seen on ebay is $600 for a sealed copy of NES robot game Stack-Up. That's truly dumb.
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CablePirate
Was this one of the signs of the Apocalypse?
Heh. No doubt about it, eBay's a haven for con-men and rip-off artists. I tried getting a copy of Contra - you can't find one on eBay for less than $15 (and usually more), and then they stick you with inflated shipping. I lucked out being early to a yardsale and found a copy hiding under a towel. The lady gave it to me for $3. As soon as she said, "Contra," the person next to me straightened up and looked over, smiling. Everyone has warm memories of that game, and since it was one of the most popular ones, I get annoyed everytime an eBay seller lists it as "rare."
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BigOldCar
Was this one of the signs of the Apocalypse?
Wow, Andrew, $40 apiece for cartridges no one bought on a system no one liked, that isn't even old enough to legitimately be considered "classic?" What do you think they would have wanted for a copy of Gyromite?
And, no, Quill, it wasn't sealed. I suppose it'd be in the four-figures if it had.
And, CablePirate: L@@k! Rare! Mint! It's ET for the Atari!
(I know, somebody here likes it... but he's the only one.)
And, no, Quill, it wasn't sealed. I suppose it'd be in the four-figures if it had.
And, CablePirate: L@@k! Rare! Mint! It's ET for the Atari!
(I know, somebody here likes it... but he's the only one.)
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andrew
Was this one of the signs of the Apocalypse?
[QUOTE=BigOldCar]Wow, Andrew, $40 apiece for cartridges no one bought on a system no one liked, that isn't even old enough to legitimately be considered "classic?" What do you think they would have wanted for a copy of Gyromite?
And, no, Quill, it wasn't sealed. I suppose it'd be in the four-figures if it had.
And, CablePirate: L@@k! Rare! Mint! It's ET for the Atari!
(I know, somebody here likes it... but he's the only one.)
[/QUOTE]
Easy there good buddy. I love my n64 and consider it one of my favorite systems of all time. Anybody also notice every second game is considered 'rare' on ebay. Games that are still in production are 'rare' on ebay. Games with original not greatest hits artwork is considered rare but were bought in masses to affix the greatest hits label in the first place. For all the praise of ebay, many times its a mixed bag with great deals and absolutely awful deals. The shipping cost is usually the killer.
I use digitpress.com to find the value of a game and pay accordingly. There is an online rarity guide on the site that tells you the value of the game either loose or complete. Quite useful.
And, no, Quill, it wasn't sealed. I suppose it'd be in the four-figures if it had.
And, CablePirate: L@@k! Rare! Mint! It's ET for the Atari!
(I know, somebody here likes it... but he's the only one.)
[/QUOTE]
Easy there good buddy. I love my n64 and consider it one of my favorite systems of all time. Anybody also notice every second game is considered 'rare' on ebay. Games that are still in production are 'rare' on ebay. Games with original not greatest hits artwork is considered rare but were bought in masses to affix the greatest hits label in the first place. For all the praise of ebay, many times its a mixed bag with great deals and absolutely awful deals. The shipping cost is usually the killer.
I use digitpress.com to find the value of a game and pay accordingly. There is an online rarity guide on the site that tells you the value of the game either loose or complete. Quite useful.
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JustLikeHeaven1
- Posts: 2971
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Was this one of the signs of the Apocalypse?
Ebay is a good or as bad as you want it to be. If you have absolutely no patients and are afraid of losing auctions you will overpay everytime.
Sure there are games that come up in excellent and you want them badly, but you have to have control. The game will pop up again in the same great condition in due time...you just have to be patient. Eventually you will land a great deal.
There are alot of people on ebay that are looking to take advantage of suckers that don't know any better. Smart buyers know how to avoid those sellers.
I probably buy 75% of my games online and almost always pay less than what I would at a store. My mailman hates me because I constanly have packages sent to my house via ebay purchases.
Sure there are games that come up in excellent and you want them badly, but you have to have control. The game will pop up again in the same great condition in due time...you just have to be patient. Eventually you will land a great deal.
There are alot of people on ebay that are looking to take advantage of suckers that don't know any better. Smart buyers know how to avoid those sellers.
I probably buy 75% of my games online and almost always pay less than what I would at a store. My mailman hates me because I constanly have packages sent to my house via ebay purchases.
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BigOldCar
Was this one of the signs of the Apocalypse?
Sorry, Andrew, didn't mean to offend you regarding the N64. I've just never known, personally, anyone who thought highly of it. It paled in comparison with the PSOne when the two were still in production. The only thing it seemed to have going for it was zero load times, but I, personally, just couldn't get past that horrible controller. I couldn't even figure out how to hold the dang thing. And rumble sold separately? And battery-powered? C'mon. I even read of a used game store owner who used an N64 console as a doorstop and even made up a paper speech balloon that he taped beside it, saying, "This is really all I'm good for." All sins [as perceived by me] were forgiven when Nintendo released the GameCube, which I absolutely adore, even though it, too, has its detractors.
[QUOTE]
Anybody also notice every second game is considered 'rare' on ebay. Games that are still in production are 'rare' on ebay.
[/QUOTE]
My point, exactly.
Justlikeheaven: Don't get me wrong, sometimes you can still get good deals on eBay. In the middle of the week, especially. I couldn't seem to find Intelligent Qube for PS or SOR 2 (believe it or not) any other way--and I got them real cheap, too (don't remember, but less than $10 apiece, certainly). Sometimes the guy's just selling something to be rid of it, and only charges what the shipping actually costs. Not usually, though. That's why I like Amazon. They pretty much *can't* screw you on the shipping.
Nothing beats the convenience of online. But mostly, if you don't mind (or actually enjoy) poking around at flea markets, yard sales, and thrift shops, you'll get a better deal. I actually turned my nose up at a Battletoads/Double Dragon two-in-one Genesis cartridge because the guy wanted $3 for it (and I remebered VGC saying how incredibly difficult the Genny BT is). Online, I'd expect to pay at least $5 plus shipping.
I'm reminded of the time I was at Acme (Albertson's to the rest of the country) and found this Hot Wheels car I'd been looking for (yeah, another weird hobby of mine). This a-hole in front of me in line turns around and sees what I've got, and then, loudly, as though he'd been asked, starts laughing at me mockingly and says, "Ha! I remember when you could still get more than a dollar apiece on eBay for those!" He was clearly implying that I was just late to the party and didn't know that there was no longer much of a market on eBay for them, never even considering that I might be buying it for the purpose of --gasp!-- owning it!
And, seriously, why would anyone pay this joker more than what the thing could be had for at the store?
God, that guy made me mad.
[QUOTE]
Anybody also notice every second game is considered 'rare' on ebay. Games that are still in production are 'rare' on ebay.
[/QUOTE]
My point, exactly.
Justlikeheaven: Don't get me wrong, sometimes you can still get good deals on eBay. In the middle of the week, especially. I couldn't seem to find Intelligent Qube for PS or SOR 2 (believe it or not) any other way--and I got them real cheap, too (don't remember, but less than $10 apiece, certainly). Sometimes the guy's just selling something to be rid of it, and only charges what the shipping actually costs. Not usually, though. That's why I like Amazon. They pretty much *can't* screw you on the shipping.
Nothing beats the convenience of online. But mostly, if you don't mind (or actually enjoy) poking around at flea markets, yard sales, and thrift shops, you'll get a better deal. I actually turned my nose up at a Battletoads/Double Dragon two-in-one Genesis cartridge because the guy wanted $3 for it (and I remebered VGC saying how incredibly difficult the Genny BT is). Online, I'd expect to pay at least $5 plus shipping.
I'm reminded of the time I was at Acme (Albertson's to the rest of the country) and found this Hot Wheels car I'd been looking for (yeah, another weird hobby of mine). This a-hole in front of me in line turns around and sees what I've got, and then, loudly, as though he'd been asked, starts laughing at me mockingly and says, "Ha! I remember when you could still get more than a dollar apiece on eBay for those!" He was clearly implying that I was just late to the party and didn't know that there was no longer much of a market on eBay for them, never even considering that I might be buying it for the purpose of --gasp!-- owning it!
And, seriously, why would anyone pay this joker more than what the thing could be had for at the store?
God, that guy made me mad.
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