How much are loose controllers really worth ?

[Master Chu]

It's starting to piss me off how much some ppl are wanting for loose, original controllers nowadays...
On GameTZ, i have seen NES controllers go from a buck a piece, to 10 f***ing dollars, and it is getting to the point where i don't even want to sell them anymore outside of a system bundle.

Anyone have any opinions on this...or price ranges that they have encountered ? NES, or any other classic system...




Chu

[Dragon Warrior Jasen]

It's starting to piss me off how much some ppl are wanting for loose, original controllers nowadays...
On GameTZ, i have seen NES controllers go from a buck a piece, to 10 f***ing dollars, and it is getting to the point where i don't even want to sell them anymore outside of a system bundle.

Anyone have any opinions on this...or price ranges that they have encountered ? NES, or any other classic system...




Chu

I have seen pretty consistent $2-3 prices for NES controllers in VA. I think any more than that is a bit high... of course, if its in an original sealed box then its probably worth a bit more... id pay about $10 for a sealed controller, heck maybe $15.

[DigitalSpace]

I usually see original NES controllers going for around $2-$5 here, though the other day I saw one going for $6, which is the highest price I've seen on a loose one in a while.

[theshizzle3000]

Yeah I will third the above statements they should never exceed more than 4 dollars.

[Master Chu]

What about some other consoles ?
I mentioned NES b/c that whole $10 shit i saw just triggered it for me...

SNES, N64, Atari, Genny...etc...

[pookninja]

offical 1st party n64 controllers loose usually go for 7-10 dollars.nes controllers usually 2-5 dollars.

[Videogamerdaryll]

At my local flea market,the only two vendors who ever carry NES controllers ..one guy wants $7.00 Each and the other $5.00 each..

I like paying 2-3 bucks each..

[DefaultGen]

.....

[dlopez9069]

snes and nes have about the same $3 price tag out here but for N64 iv'e never payed more than $5

[RadiantSvgun]

It depends on the controller. 1.99 for a rectangle controller and 9.99 for a dogbone, nes max, nes advantage, four score, ect. At the local pawn shop, its 3.00 for any controller, period.

[DigitalSpace]

Over the past few months, I've been seeing a LOT of Genesis 3-button controllers at the local thrifts, priced anywhere from $2-4. And just like the $5 loose sports carts, I'm not surprised when I still see them sitting there on my next two visits.

I paid a dollar for mine. Didn't really need it since I have two 6-button controllers, but I figured what the hell. As for the 6-buttons, they seem to go for $5-8 on average, Majesco or not.

I usually see SNES controllers priced at around $5-8 as well. I don't think I've paid more than $5 for one.

[Niku-Sama]

game crazy pulled a fast one, i the most expencive controller for any thing older i ever paid was $4.00, that was for a decent genisis joystick that was in extremely good condition.

last time i was in they had a nes and snes controller....$10 a pop!
what crap is that they used to be 2 or 3

[Master Chu]

Yyyyyup.....like i said, attack of the 10 dollar control pads.

1st party N64 controllers are getting VERY hard to find with good thumbsticks tho. The only good one i have found local, the pawn shop guy wouldnt split from the system even for 15. :(
So i am now stuck twiddling around with a couple shitty MadCatzes...

[PsychedelicShaman]

I got lucky, I've had 2 n64 controllers, and I found 2 in one day at different thrift stores for about $3 a piece. N64 are getting harder to find. Most places around here carry NIB SNES controllers for $10 and new 6-button genesis controllers for $7 which are both pretty fair imo. $10 for a used NES controller is pretty lame though...also nes maxes and advantages run about $5 here in MO.

[Cauterize]

I too have noticed this and have been slowly shifiting NES pads on my eBay shop for £3
N64 & SNES pads are the real money makers though, some how they fetch approx £8-10 each...

I think its just cause most consoles only come with one control pad... Makes sense really...
Also considering its easier for sonmeone to overkill a control pad, instead of a system.. (Ive met some real button bashers in my time...)

[cyberfluxor]

Atari: $3-10 (usually zomigodz Atari!1! and *boom* high price...)
SMS: $2-4
GEN: $2-6 (highers being 6-button and sticks)
SAT: $2-5 (Sometimes $10 for the stick)
DC: $3-10 ($10 at more expensive places and for the stick)
NES: $2-5 (highers being dogbones and advantages)
SNES: $3-6
N64: $5-10
PS1:
non-analog = $3-5
analog = $5-15 (usually get listed as PS2 controllers when >$8)

[Master Chu]

I've never seen SMS "ANYTHING" local... lol

[tonyvortex]

am i the only one who thinks everyone is thinking too cheap?im not saying all older controllers should be $40 but im more than fine paying a few more bucks for a controller that i cant as easily find.

[cyberfluxor]

am i the only one who thinks everyone is thinking too cheap?im not saying all older controllers should be $40 but im more than fine paying a few more bucks for a controller that i cant as easily find.
Not at all. The prices I listed are among the cheapest I find around here. If I stroll into a game store then of course they'll charge $5+ for a basic NES controller. Memory cards are also 2-4x more expensive, but sometimes other places are sold out. I have no problems with paying the extra bucks either for those higher quality 2nd hand controllers, beats the hell out of one that's sticky and the diagonal doesn't work. I rarely buy accessories online just because they're abundant around here.

[RadiantSvgun]

am i the only one who thinks everyone is thinking too cheap?im not saying all older controllers should be $40 but im more than fine paying a few more bucks for a controller that i cant as easily find.

I seem to find everything I'm looking for controller-wise easily. And for a cheap price. It is one of the pluses to living in Alabama. Maybe the only one.

[Ed Oscuro]

There was some piece of shit-looking Dual Shock style control pad at the local thrift. Unfortunately, I don't recall how much it was.

I ended up getting a special rumble pack with a transfer pack (I'd been wanting one for Perfect Dark, yay!) for $1.99. Nice because it's just two things stuck into one.

[DigitalSpace]

I've never seen SMS "ANYTHING" local... lol

A few stores around here carry SMS stuff, and coming across an SMS game or two at a thrift isn't a rare thing. However, it's almost always the most common stuff and there's never a big selection. I don't see consoles too often though. On the plus side, over half of the SMS games I see in the wild are at least boxed, if not complete.

Regarding the controllers, I see them from time to time (though not as much as the games) and usually priced around $2-5.

[mr.soul]

Yeah, I've noticed that N64 controllers are really difficult to find for a decent price. Also expansion packs but that's another story.

[heybtbm]

You think that's bad...

You can buy brand new N64 controllers from Nintendo's online store for $24.99!

[cyberfluxor]

A few stores around here carry SMS stuff, and coming across an SMS game or two at a thrift isn't a rare thing. However, it's almost always the most common stuff and there's never a big selection. I don't see consoles too often though. On the plus side, over half of the SMS games I see in the wild are at least boxed, if not complete.

Although SMS stuff isn't too common around here (and in the more common spots the games take forever to sell) they generally do come as completes or boxed. I stay clear from loose games now, but even before I got to that point I never picked up a loose SMS game, just didn't feel right. Maybe it was due to it being my first system and just don't want anything less than complete. :)

But it is strange that more SMS games come complete than NES titles. Is it due to the type of owners or because more NES games were produced?

[DigitalSpace]

But it is strange that more SMS games come complete than NES titles. Is it due to the type of owners or because more NES games were produced?

Like how it's easier to come across complete/boxed Genesis games than complete/boxed SNES games, I'm guessing that the plastic cases play a big factor.

Also, the boxes look better than the carts (even though the boxes are still pretty generic looking aside from the cover art, imo). SMS games had some of the worst looking cart labels ever, imo.