new forum for collectors of factory sealed games

[Bojay1997]

A dedicated sealed collector would never open their games (as an example, rarebucky). I have a ton of sealed games as well, most of which I would open too. You won't see a sealed collector opening a copy of FFVII just to play it though.

The ones I wouldn't open, in most cases, I have play copies of. :P

I think you are confusing the profiteers/VGA promoters/Ebay resellers like Rarebucky with the rest of us who collect sealed games, but also enjoy playing games. The vast majority of sealed collectors do not just collect sealed games for the sake of reselling or some naive notion of investment.

[Platinum]

Hmmm...... I myslef took German for 3 years, I should have no problem with that site. I'll take a look at it.

[Nescollector]

I see rarebucky as strictly a reseller (vga whore) and not a collector. I have no problem if you want to pay someone (we don't know what makes them qualified) to grade your game, but it's hurts real collectors. Their more worried about a number than the game itself. I'm just happy to have legit sealed games from the era.

[Pascal]

Hmmm...... I myslef took German for 3 years, I should have no problem with that site. I'll take a look at it.

Hi Platinum ...

The site is 100% English ... so noone should have a problem with it :)

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Some people have money enough for both...

I was just about to say the same thing.

It's not as if these collector's are opting to choose between buying sealed games or eating / paying bills. That would just be silly. They're not heroin addicts you know! They're normal people, with families, girlfriends, social lives etc... It just means they're not wasting as much of their time playing the games, and probably have more of a social life than most "Normal" videogame collector's / gamers



Sure, we may never play even 10% of the games we have but we can still play them if we choose.

Very true. They're there and can be played at any time we choose, which is entirely different to them not being there at all... Having a game there which we choose not to play is entirely different from not having a game to play in the first place. The games are bought with the intention to be used - They just haven't been used yet...

There are probably collector's out there who buy cart only NES games and choose not to play them - How is that any different? I would even bet that there are even collector's out there who enjoy collecting the games for a system which they may not even own!!! I personally enjoy collecting coloured vinyl records, yet I no longer own a record player, but that doesn't mean I can't still collect.


I still don't understand why being a collector of sealed videogames carries such a taboo? It's only within the last few years that it's began to gain acceptance, but even now it's still quite a taboo subject amongst collector's circles.

For example, Jay Leno has a garage full of classic cars and motorcycles which he doesn't use - How is that any different? Yet being a classic car collector isn't taboo. Likewise, stamp collecting is a very popular hobby, yet many stamps are used and / or no longer legal to use or from other countries, but nobody critisizes stamp collector's for their chosen hobby, despite how pointless it may seem to some

[Bojay1997]

I was just about to say the same thing.

It's not as if these collector's are opting to choose between buying sealed games or eating / paying bills. That would just be silly. They're not heroin addicts you know! They're normal people, with families, girlfriends, social lives etc... It just means they're not wasting as much of their time playing the games, and probably have more of a social life than most "Normal" videogame collector's / gamers




Very true. They're there and can be played at any time we choose, which is entirely different to them not being there at all... Having a game there which we choose not to play is entirely different from not having a game to play in the first place. The games are bought with the intention to be used - They just haven't been used yet...

There are probably collector's out there who buy cart only NES games and choose not to play them - How is that any different? I would even bet that there are even collector's out there who enjoy collecting the games for a system which they may not even own!!! I personally enjoy collecting coloured vinyl records, yet I no longer own a record player, but that doesn't mean I can't still collect.


I still don't understand why being a collector of sealed videogames carries such a taboo? It's only within the last few years that it's began to gain acceptance, but even now it's still quite a taboo subject amongst collector's circles.

For example, Jay Leno has a garage full of classic cars and motorcycles which he doesn't use - How is that any different? Yet being a classic car collector isn't taboo. Likewise, stamp collecting is a very popular hobby, yet many stamps are used and / or no longer legal to use or from other countries, but nobody critisizes stamp collector's for their chosen hobby, despite how pointless it may seem to some

I generally agree with your points above, although I think as someone pointed out earlier, the taboo and anger some people have with it has been against the rise of this small group of collectors essentially slabbing and reselling to each other, resulting in greedy sellers posting games on Amazon and Ebay at equal prices which never sell. Unfortunately, the forum which was announced in this thread is the hub of this whole movement which has to a lesser extent spilled over to Nintendoage. Outside of those two sites and literally a couple dozen collectors, I don't know anyone who slabs or overpays for sealed stuff.

I should also note that you are incorrect about Jay Leno. He actually switches cars just about every day and even drives the ones that make no sense to drive like a steam powered one from the early 1900s. Having worked on the NBC lot for a while, it was always fun to walk by his reserved space every afternoon to see which one of his hundreds of cars he had driven into work that day.

[TonyTheTiger]

I generally agree with your points above, although I think as someone pointed out earlier, the taboo and anger some people have with it has been against the rise of this small group of collectors essentially slabbing and reselling to each other, resulting in greedy sellers posting games on Amazon and Ebay at equal prices which never sell. Unfortunately, the forum which was announced in this thread is the hub of this whole movement which has to a lesser extent spilled over to Nintendoage. Outside of those two sites and literally a couple dozen collectors, I don't know anyone who slabs or overpays for sealed stuff.

I don't think I have any right to judge people for how much they charge for their items nor how much they spend on their hobbies unless it somehow interferes with their own well being or the well being of people around them.

If somebody wants to put a sealed copy of Super Mario 64 up on Ebay with a Buy-It-Now of $15,000 then so be it. Market forces will dictate what a fair price is. Likewise, if somebody with too much money to burn pays $15,000 for it then so be it. That's his choice.

What bothers me is when these two forces come together in what is essentially collusion and price fixing.

You get a service like VGA. If the market works as it should then if VGA's service is worthwhile it'll succeed and competitors will try to do the same thing. Competition will drive quality up, drive costs down, and everybody wins. If VGA's service is not worthwhile then it'll crash and burn and that will be the end of it.

But what happens if these high priced deals are set up to give the impression that the reason these sealed games are worth so much is because they have that VGA goodness? It would basically be a tactic to convince the world that without the VGA rating, your item is less valuable.

This kills two birds with one stone:

First, it gets everybody to pay the entry fee to get their item slabbed so VGA is making money hand over foot that way. After all, without the slabbing they'll never get those prices that they see without realizing they were fixed from the start. Likewise, buyers will figure that a slabbed game actually is worth the asking price so they'll buy into it, too.

Second, it eliminates the possibility of competition because what you established is that it's the VGA slabbing that matters, not just any slabbing. So you kill off potential competition before it starts.

Then once enough people get sucked in you can stop price fixing because enough time will pass that even if the prices go down nobody will attribute it to the slabbing being worthless. They'll just think "general market forces at work" and "well, if it wasn't slabbed it would just be worth even less." Then people actually start believing it to the point where games that aren't slabbed actually do go for less which creates a perpetual cycle.

Not a bad business model, right? You basically trick the world into thinking that not only is your service indispensable, but your company is the sole provider worth a damn.

While not being quite the same, it's similar to what the Mafia does when it invades the construction industry.

[Nescollector]

What the hell is slabbling ?

[PapaStu]

What the hell is slabbing ?

Getting something graded and it being encased in plastic.

[Nescollector]

Getting something graded and it being encased in plastic.

Ok, thank's PapaStu.
......dude, look at this sealed game I got today......it's an 90.......no it's zelda.......no dude it's a 90. Ok, are we collecting games or numbers. Resellers are evil :)

[TonyTheTiger]

I have no problem with resellers. If somebody can flip a purchase to make some dough then more power to them. Market forces will dictate whether or not they can pull it off.

I do have a problem with collusion, price fixing, and market manipulation.

Part of me wants to send in something to be graded, get it back, crack open the slab, resubmit it, and see if it comes back with a different rating. Because, frankly, I'm convinced the "service" VGA provides is mostly common sense. People can generally tell with a naked eye an item's condition but the difference between an 80 and 85 is probably a good bit of bullshit. So what are people really paying for other than a pretty plastic case and a number that might be arbitrary to begin with?

Imagine if you show me a copy of Super Mario World in great condition. I know it's in great condition and everybody else does too. It's obvious. Now X number of people are willing to pay, say, $200 for it because of how great it is. Now imagine if I told you that your copy of Super Mario World is an 80 but that guy's there is an 85. You, nor any potential buyer, can tell the difference between the two. Then I tell you that your copy is now only worth $150 while his is worth the full $200. I also say that my word is law and you can't really argue about it since now people have that shiny number to look at rather than the product itself. If it says 80 on the package then that's what they'll use to determine value.

I'd bet you'd think me to be quite the asshat. After all, I'm telling you that your copy is worth less because of some flaw that nobody can see with a naked eye, a flaw that nobody will know exactly how to locate, mind you, since my specific methods are a trade secret that can't be duplicated for lack of disclosure.

:roll:

[Nescollector]

I have no problem with resellers. If somebody can flip a purchase to make some dough then more power to them. Market forces will dictate whether or not they can pull it off.

I do have a problem with collusion, price fixing, and market manipulation.

I agree, I was directing my statment at the bin / vga craziness.

[theharrison]

pascal is gone...he is no more...he sold up and fucked off!
i am you new host of sgh....the bald brit! come and join my forum, we welcome all closet homos, homeless people, idiots that dont collect but like to hang about like a bad smell!
come and join the fun!!
your sealed destiny awaits you ming mongs!

[Kitsune Sniper]

Uh. What?

[gum_drops]

pascal is gone...he is no more...he sold up and fucked off!
i am you new host of sgh....the bald brit! come and join my forum, we welcome all closet homos, homeless people, idiots that dont collect but like to hang about like a bad smell!
come and join the fun!!
your sealed destiny awaits you ming mongs!

I find the new management refreshing, sign me up.

[The 1 2 P]

I'm about to get a game graded just to see what all the commotion is about. I wonder if it will help my game sell. Either way it won't cost much so I'm not worried.

[The 1 2 P]

I'm about to get a game graded just to see what all the commotion is about. I wonder if it will help my game sell. Either way it won't cost much so I'm not worried.

And indeed I did. Story time kiddies....

So I had a factory sealed copy of Ninja Gaiden 3 for the Nes that I bought a few years ago off of ebay. Once I got it I realized that this game was in immaculate condition. At the time it was my only copy of NG3 so the thought of selling it didn't cross my mind until a few years later when I got a copy of Ninja Gaiden Trilogy.

I still didn't want to sell it though but back then I had lost my job and was selling off portions of my collection in order to pay the rent. I sold off quite a few pieces I regret not having anymore but this game wasn't going to be one of them. I decided to list it for a "buy it now" price of $300 with the option to make a best offer. And I got approximately zero offers. So that game did not get sold back in 2008 with the other stuff I sold for rent.

Over the last two years I have relisted the game on and off, even putting it as low as $200 "buy it now" with the best offer option. I listed it as being a 9 out of 10 in condition because it was damn near perfect. Do you want to know how many offers I got for that game over the last two years? Absolutly none. And also during those two years I acquired two more copies of the game(a loose Nes cart and a factory sealed Atari Lynx version). So I really had no reason to keep it. But it was a rare(some would say uncommon) Nes game that was pretty highly sought out by collectors and was in almost perfect condition. So I decided that I wanted to get paid what "I" thought it was worth and thus I decided to send it away to get graded since selling it ungraded didn't work out so well over the last two years.

The whole grading process took about a month(I could have paid less and it would have taken longer but thats an option thats up to each customer) and getting it shipped, graded and returned cost a little more than $50. I wasn't sure what to ask but I knew I wanted more than $300. So I put a "buy it now" price of $1000 with a best offer option. I knew I wasn't going to get $1000 for it but that was just to spark interest and gain traffic to my auction. And it worked.

Within the first day I was getting offers(although they inexplicably came thru PM's instead of the best offer option:|)I even had a dude offer something and then back out(it was in a pm so there was no penalty from ebay but I blocked his ass so it's all good). On day two I got an offer that was respectable but I wanted alittle more. So for the next day or so we offered each other counter offers until I finally agreed on the price($750).

So I had a rare factory sealed game that I couldn't sell(or even get an offer for) for an entire two year period at a mere $300. But then I pay an extra $50 and that same game sells for more than double of what I originally wanted. Thats what I call justice being served. And it's changed my attitude toward graded games. It was always one of those things that although I didn't do it I also didn't have a problem with people who did it because it wasn't hurting me. But now I'm actually considering getting more of my games graded. I know that I might not be as lucky the next time but considering that the whole upgrade process only cost around $50 then I wouldn't really be losing anything. So now, much like a chic with a phat ass, graded games is a concept that I can firmly get behind.

[jonebone]

You forgot to mention the most important point, what'd it grade?!?! VGA 90? If you got $750 for a VGA 85 then my mind has been blown.

[The 1 2 P]

If you got $750 for a VGA 85 then my mind has been blown.

Like the picture in the finds thread shows, the grade was indeed an 85+ NM. So consider your mind blown. And you didn't even have to pay money for it this time;)

[ryborg]

Did you post it on ebay? I couldn't find it on there. Awesome story though. I wish I still had some valuable sealed games because I'd consider doing the same.

[skaar]

Did you post it on ebay? I couldn't find it on there. Awesome story though. I wish I still had some valuable sealed games because I'd consider doing the same.

I didn't see it either.

[ryborg]

I didn't see it either.

I'm considering the story BS until I see proof.

[tentencanidae]

PM me if you want to trade something for my sealed Persona 3 Collectors Box. I already had the game, but came across a sealed copy recently. I think it's the best in the Shin Megami Series, so maybe some fanboy (or girl) would wanna trade something?

[jonebone]

I didn't see it either.

Me neither, and I did a few completed searched immediately upon reading his post. Should have caught it if it was sold in the last two weeks. I also hunt on eBay fairly regularly and did not see it either.

But if the sale is true, then yes my mind was indeed blown.

[rarecube]

You won't see a sealed collector opening a copy of FFVII just to play it though.

The ones I wouldn't open, in most cases, I have play copies of. :P

If you had a sealed copy of FFVII would you open it matey ?

So whats your point ??

Dont really understand what you trying to say to be honest....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------


I love collecting sealed games ... I dont collect them to show off in any means .
I collect because its fun and a challenge to me .

Its my hobby ... I guess similar reasons of people collecting coins , figurines , stamps , pez or condoms under their bed !!! Whatever it is ... !

Lets say I am a classical retro-videogame collector ; (Example)

I am buying CIB Pal copy of Mario Bros to collect and play it today ... YAY YAY . I love Mario Bros !! The best game ever and will make a great addition in my collection!!



How long would take you to find a mint cib copy?
A - Lets say 3 mins . Logging into my ebay account and making a quick search.

(Phew , That was challenging collecting indeed)


How long would you play Mario Bros ...?
A - Few hours ??
Then I would store the game away and say it is part of my collection . It will look great on my collection !!

Would you play that game again ?
A - No. I dont think so ... How many times you want me to play the same retrogame ? There is new releases every week !

Whats the point of you buying it in the first place if you only going to play it a few hours ?
A - Hmmm .... Dunno about that one.

Wouldnt you just get an emulator ?
A - No . I am true videogame collector . And i want everything mint/complete .

See my point ? ? Why would you want to buy it in the first place ? Show off ? Nice Display ? Or the thrill and fun of collecting ? Whats the difference ?


Try getting a sealed pal mint copy of Mario Bros 1 ;

That is a challenge right there ... !!! How many copies are right now on ebay ?
But what about finding a copy at a reasonable price ? Even bigger challenge !!

Lets say as an example after a few months Ive got one !
I did my homework and got one for a fantastic price !!

Now I will always have a Mint sealed copy of Mario Bros that I can admire anytime I want.
A piece of gaming history on the best condition possible.

I consider this games to be part of our recent history and pieces of Art like any other type of Modern Art.

Thats just me.

No offence to anyone ... But everyone is different. You like collecting opened games .
Go for it thats Great !! Good on ya !!


I just dont ...

- Rarecube

[The 1 2 P]

I didn't see it either.


I'm considering the story BS until I see proof.


Me neither, and I did a few completed searched immediately upon reading his post. Should have caught it if it was sold in the last two weeks. I also hunt on eBay fairly regularly and did not see it either.

But if the sale is true, then yes my mind was indeed blown.

How the hell did I miss this thread getting bumped:? Anyway, here you go fellas: link (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310218725047)

[megasdkirby]

How the hell did I miss this thread getting bumped:? Anyway, here you go fellas: link (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310218725047)

Awesone, 1 2 P!

But it kind of makes you wonder how stupid people can be. It never sold for $300, yet it sells for $750 just because some guy determines it's 85% mint? (or 85+NM or whatever)

Trully boggles the mind. They could have had the same game for $300, or $450 less.

Incredible. Although now, it's a tactic to manipulate buyers: find a sealed and minty game for $10, get it slabbed, and watch it sell for over $500! *evil grin* LOL

[redxix]

How the hell did I miss this thread getting bumped:? Anyway, here you go fellas: link (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310218725047)

hmm, you didn't even have "NES" in your title >< i think you might have had more views if you added that. i totally missed your listing because of that.

[ryborg]

How the hell did I miss this thread getting bumped:? Anyway, here you go fellas: link (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310218725047)

Did you actually ship it to Mexico? I hope you at least used EMS shipping, because the Mexican post office is as bad as it gets. Judging from the buyer's recent purchases, he's the richest man in the country.

[The 1 2 P]

Awesone, 1 2 P!

But it kind of makes you wonder how stupid people can be. It never sold for $300, yet it sells for $750 just because some guy determines it's 85% mint? (or 85+NM or whatever)

Trully boggles the mind. They could have had the same game for $300, or $450 less.

That reminds me of the time I was trying to sell a factory sealed pc copy of Ninja Gaiden years ago. I think I started the auction for $29.99 and it didn't sell. So I relisted it twice and priced it for $19.99. No one bid either of those times either so the following(fourth) week I listed it for $9.99. It ended up selling for $65. I kept thinking to myself how the winner could have gotten it for much cheaper had he been viewing my auctions weeks earlier.


hmm, you didn't even have "NES" in your title >< i think you might have had more views if you added that. i totally missed your listing because of that.

I didn't even notice that I didn't put "Nes" anywhere besides the description. But ultimately I don't think that matters. While I might have gotten more views, that doesn't mean I would have gotten a better offer. I have had many listings with over 500 views and no offers, so more views doesn't always equal success.


Did you actually ship it to Mexico? I hope you at least used EMS shipping, because the Mexican post office is as bad as it gets. Judging from the buyer's recent purchases, he's the richest man in the country.

I treat international auctions just like I do domestic auctions. All of them will have delivery confirmation on them and in the case of ones like this--they will also have full insurance. That way I don't have to worry about a buyer in another country telling me his item didn't arrive or that it was damaged during transit.

[ryborg]

I treat international auctions just like I do domestic auctions. All of them will have delivery confirmation on them and in the case of ones like this--they will also have full insurance. That way I don't have to worry about a buyer in another country telling me his item didn't arrive or that it was damaged during transit.

You're still not covered under Paypal, since you need a signature to win a dispute of that price. You're better off covering yourself under the Paypal seller protection than covering yourself with insurance. Filing an international insurance claim is a gigantic pain in the ass and you are definitely not guaranteed your money back. You need to prove that the item was missing/broken by postal error and not stolen/broken by the buyer himself.