What do you do with your extra systems?

[Technosis]

I'm sure many of you have come across "box lots" where someone is selling the whole system only and you get it just to get a few of the games. I've had a number of SMS and NES systems this way lately. But, I'm wondering in the case of the NES if it is worth trying to get a hold of some of the replacement connectors (NES cart slots) and resell the systems. Otherwise, these SMS's and NES's will end up on the "free table" at the next local collector's swap meet......

Anyone else find that they tend to accumulate common systems? How do you get rid of them?

[swlovinist]

I always try to go by this. I have a game room of decent size, with about 30 game systems hooked up and about 60 boxed ones. I keep the best condition unit boxed, and used the "spare" to play. I also try to have an extra pair of controllers for each system if possible. If money gets tight, then I do consider to sell my "spare" system. Otherwise, keep them if you are going to play on them. Sell them if you are not.

[Mr.collection]

I always take my extra NESs to the local game store and get $30 for them so I always make back what I paid for them. I always keep the better looking one then sell the worse one cause for most I don't play that often I just use my best one to cut down on space.

[bangtango]

I just keep them around. My spares include 3 Sega Genesis systems, 2 complete Sega 32X units (all the wires), 10 PS1's, 5 Nintendo 64's and 2 Game Boy Colors/1 original Game Boy/1 Game Boy Advance. That may seem like overkill to some people. I just keep three things in mind.

1. No matter how many spare systems I have laying around, I know there are people out there with a lot more of said system than I have.

2. You never know when your primary system will crap out. Let it get dropped, have something spilled on it or endure a power surge. You'll see.

3. You never know when someone will post on a forum like this one wanting to buy a system that you have 4-5 of for a good price or wanting to trade something really good for it.

I've passed up on spare games or systems multiple times only to get online a few days later and see someone offering an insane price or trade package for the very same game or system because they want it so bad.

Honorable Mention: To my knowledge, you DO need a second Game Boy Color and link to completely finish some of the GBC Pokemon games (by trading monsters from another cart, etc.). Might want to keep another one around if you play those and want to be at 100% in your game. How many people out there really have a real life friend working on the Pokemon games at the very same time they are who they can "trade" Pokemon with?

[KennyB]

I sell them on ebay.

I usually buy a system (nes, snes) at fleamarkets with 5-10 games for max 15-20 USD, I keep the games I don't have (usually 1-3) and sell the rest on ebay for 20-50.

Because of lazynes, I have currently got:

7 spare snes
5 spare NES
3 spare N64

[NES_Rules]

I've been keeping them, but I'm thinking of going through them all, picking out the nicest looking two of them and selling the rest. I think right now, I have 5 or 6 spare NES, 2 or 3 SNES, 4 or 5 Genesises and 1 or 2 N64s, so they're starting to become a hassle.

[dlopez9069]

I keep mine and customize them. I normally paint the first spare gold and the rest i get creative with. you wouldnt belive how many people have asked to buy my tye-dye 64.

[Vinnysdad]

I sold most of my extras earlier this year but for some reason I cant give a Genesis away. The things are just too easy to find in the thrifts for peanuts. Right now I have extras of PS1, Genesis, GBC, and 32X.

[RugalSizzler]

Generally I put my extra systems in storage and forget about them or you could say I keep them for backup kinda like the Ed Wuncler character only without Jeebs.

[Steve W]

Throughout all these years I had never found a Colecovision in the wild before, and last year after I bought a unit from someone online (that didn't work, naturally) and I was determined to find a working one. Then about once a month, I'd come across one in a thrift. Buy it, take it home, and it didn't work. My fourth unit finally works. And since I found a working one, I haven't come across another Colecovision since. Odd how these things work out.

I keep mine in storage. I'm usually so suprised to find certain consoles in the wild, I can't help but pick it up. Last year in a two month period I was coming across Atari 7800s like crazy. Bought 4 of them. Once I wasn't interested in buying any others, they stopped showing up in shops.

[DOL_001]

I have 2 spare Dreamcasts (1 is the Sega Sports model), and 2 spare SNES's (1 original, 1 mini). I'm keeping the spare DC's in case my main one goes out, but I'm going to sell the spare original SNES since cart systems last longer.

If any of you have a spare NES it would be great to send it to me because I've never had one :)

[Hwj_Chim]

I keep them as spares.

[Slate]

Most of the time I keep them.

[Cornelius]

I'm lucky to have a fairly active craigslist here, so I'll put a package on there for a little inflated price. The eventually sell. A typical package has been an NES w/ controlles, zapper, hookups, and 5 or 6 games for $75. Its a good way to get rid if those extra SMB/DH carts, too. And if I start to accumulate too many, I can always drop the price to 50 and they'll go fast. Works well for me since I know I'll have more come my way in the future, and I still have backups around just in case.

I haven't bothered replacing connectors, but I do 'refurb' them usually. My toaster NES isn't perfect, so I'm still hoping to come across a better one, or have one of my refurbs turn out perfectly. They usually turn out 'good', to where it reliably takes the same quirk to get a game playing, and once you are used to it is pretty easy. Most people remember NESs being finnicky, so they don't have a problem with that... part of the nostalgia maybe.

[shawnbo42]

I keep them all, my life goal is to own every single NES ever manufactured (ha, ha, HA!). Seriously, though, I keep most everything. I figure more or less a cart-based system never dies (or very rarely), but a CD-based system is MUCH more succeptible to damage, and eventually, due to moving parts, is on a lifespan anyways, so I ALWAYS keep backups of CD systems. Not sure exactly what I've got at the moment, but I do know I have 2 or 3 Sega CD's, probably half a dozen PSX's, 3 or 4 XBOX's (couple need to be fixed - no time), extra GC, 2 extra Saturns, a spare 3DO, and 3 extra PS2's lying about somewhere (which also need repair). Unfortunately, it is my lot in life to never sell anything, so I end up with more or less everything. I'll probably have to dump some of my extra NES's at some point. (2 top loaders, and 10 or 15 front toasters). But first, I've gotta find my extra games, put some lot deals together....one of these days.

[Flack]

I keep them for a while and then eventually sell them or give them away. So far this year I've given away one complete Genesis package and one complete C64 package. My biggest problem isn't consoles but accessories. For example I have over a dozen spare Genesis consoles at the moment but only a few spare controllers and no spare power supplies or video cables. I know I have at least 4 spare toasters and 4 spare Dreamcasts as well but missing cables.

My C64 pile is the best/worst (depending on your point of view). I have over a dozen spare disk drives at the moment. I'm still deciding on what to do with them all.

[Reid]

I store them, then tell my self everyday that I am going to list them on ebay....

Has not happened yet lol

[Lerxstnj]

I have a bunch of extra Dreamcasts.
Set up arcade stations around your gameroom. X-Arcade makes great arcade controllers and console adapters. The Sega Dreamcast has the best arcade games. This is a very inexpensive way to fill the gameroom, especially if you have a few extra old tvs also. Pretty soon, when Hi-Def programming is the only standard, old tvs will only be useful for console games, vcrs, & old dvd players. So that's recycling at its best!

[Sanriostar]

I make a point of having (or trying to get) 2 of each system I collect for.

[Blur2040]

I keep them all.

6 or so N64s
7 PSX/One
5 DC
7 NES
8 Colecovision
7 2600
6 SNES
9 Genesis
3 Saturn
Couple of Turbo Grafx...
Several Atari 8 bits...


I don't know why I keep them all...

[PallarAndersVisa]

i use em as doorstops.

[DefaultGen]

.....

[Rogmeister]

I have a special storage closet that I keep certain things including some games and my extra systems. I have bought the extras either by themselves because they were cheap and I figured it wouldn't hurt to have a spare unit in case my main one broke down or because it was part of a package deal with some games I wanted. They are there waiting for me if I ever need them.