Where do you mostly buy games from? [Archive]

junglehunter

04-21-2003, 06:07 PM

Whether it be eBay, thrift stores, pawn shops, garage sales/flea markets, I'd like to know. I can't do all at once so what do you think I should stick too? I'd probably never buy off of eBay. I usually search through thrift stores but a lot are emptied out recently. The odd time I'll find something good at a pawn shop for a decent price. What are your thoughts?

Sylentwulf

04-21-2003, 06:13 PM

Ebay - Classic and Modern, it's just cheaper. Why buy one game when you can get 2 for the same price?

Out of 15,000 transactions on ebay, I've been ripped off 3 times, 1 of those times I got my money back from paypal, the other 2 were only for $20-$40 so I didn't bother)

bargora

04-21-2003, 06:18 PM

If you don't have a lot of time for thrifting, ebay is great. I've been ripped off twice in about 150 transactions (as a buyer), for a grand total of $21.00. So about 99% of the time it's worked out. Just be careful--I hear there are wolves out there! ;)

Mr-E_MaN

04-21-2003, 06:39 PM

Until recently I only went to pawn shops. Now I go to thrift stores as well. I don't do ebay because it's too expencive. (I can get 2-4 games here for what I get 1 game for on ebay). Since garage sales are poping up again, I think I might start going to some.

simonbelmont7

04-21-2003, 06:42 PM

use to be mostly all flea markets, now i havent seen a game less than $10 at any of them in a LONG time. So now im pretty buying from Funcoland and eBay...

NESCollector75

04-21-2003, 06:42 PM

Friends-I am still in highschool and know alot of people through sports and what not, However my school is rather small (maybe 1400) but all in all most of the people still have there original NES and stuff like that so sometimes I am able to buy it off them!

Gunstarhero

04-21-2003, 06:44 PM

These days mostly Thrifts and Garage sales. I only use Ebay when I absolutely have to have a particular game, or if I feel like buying a decent looking collection. You almost always get a great deal if you buy a collection on Ebay, because once the price gets over $200 on anything game related, the bidding tends to weaken...at least in my experience. Obvious exceptions to rarities, but I got my Jaguar, Turbo, and JagCD collections in one big purchase each and saved a load of cash that way using Ebay. Otherwise, my usual search route includes 3 Goodwills, 1 pawn shop, and one miscellaneous Electronics retailer who sells used games from all systems.

nesman85

04-21-2003, 07:14 PM

i get almost all of my games from trading/buying from people on the internet, and ebay. i occasionally find some games in the wild, but not as often as i'd like.

maxlords

04-21-2003, 09:12 PM

I get about 85% of my games from online trades now, as I really have no money. The rest come from a combination of online and local purchases, but most of hte used stores have shite for selection these days. I'm not sure quite what's going on, but I'm damned glad I bought most of the games I wanted before this "shortage" hit :)

Felixthegamer

04-21-2003, 09:40 PM

It depends on what I am looking for. E-bay isn't bad, I don't depend on it a lot, but there are some good deals there. There are two game stores in town which have Nes through newer system games. The thrift stores are really hit or miss. I hit them about once a month, sometimes more if I have the time. The flea market has been the best for me. I have found plenty of Atari and Nes there. There are newer system games there also, although I am not too interested in those. I have found the pawn shops to be better for newer games. There is one in town with several Atari games, but they never seem to bring out more (I know they have more because they mentioned they had more in the back). You should try each avenue and see which is best for your interest. Then switch it up when one source seems to dry up. Good luck!

ehall

04-21-2003, 10:29 PM

So far, my local thrift store (Value Village). But my collection is just starting, so I'm still getting all the common carts I can find.

Achika

04-21-2003, 10:43 PM

Lately I've been looking for imports, so I've hit places like eBay, NCSX, and VGD. When I want NES games, I'll usually hit Funco, I haven't bought any from eBay in a few months. Genesis, SNES are funco finds also. For those, I don't really look for anything specific.

Classic systems is usually always an eBay event. PONG's I have never found in the wild, except for the gift of a few.

Atari/Coleco/INTV I usually go to garage sales, flea markets, thrift stores, and a nice little mom and pop shop around my parents house. Keep in mind I never hit all of them in the same day, I make up a total random strategy and it usually works out, and I find some really good things. My strategy is, if I feel like going when I wake up, I usually do.

kainemaxwell

04-21-2003, 10:49 PM

Mainly stores like EB or the Gamestops. Haven't really found anything at thrift shops in town and garage sales haven't started here yet.

Arqueologia_Digital

04-21-2003, 10:52 PM

I usually buy in eBAY Argentina and sometimes in a park (a kind of flea market).

josekortez

04-21-2003, 11:01 PM

Clearance sales at Target, Circuit City, EB, Toys R Us, and Gamestop. Ebay for Dreamcast games only...

Videogamerdaryll

04-22-2003, 02:09 AM

zektor

04-22-2003, 02:11 AM

Well, since my new focus has been N64, I am basically getting my games either from close out Toys R Us sales and the like, and ebay. I was doing the Blockbuster thing for awhile, but the quality of the carts just upset me ( stickers galore!) and I refuse to "Gamestop" because none of their N64 games have manuals or boxes. I find it really hard to believe that every game that comes in as trade-in at this place has no box/manual. I think they just throw them away to make more room in the store...and if so they are some of the major contributors to loose carts! For other systems, I usually map out a garage sale run each weekend, then I end up scouring a few Salvation Army Thrift Shops. Then, back to ebay...maybe a trade or two with some good folks on here as well :)

zektor

04-22-2003, 02:14 AM

Ebay for Neo Geo games,,and some obscure video game items..EB,Software ETC,Kay bee..and Best Buys for newer system games..

Garage sales/flea markets,..for everything I can find that's Video game related.

As for Neo games, EBay and certain mail order stores are the only places I have been able to pick up games. I am yearning the day I find ANY neo game in the wild...even Top Players Golf!

briskbc

04-22-2003, 02:22 AM

I usually stick to pawn shops, thrift stores and second hand stores. I work Saturday so I miss out on all of the garage sales which is too bad. I love garage sales.

Starcade

04-22-2003, 08:01 AM

Wherever they are laying around...

Retsudo

04-22-2003, 10:30 AM

EB Games mostly. They have new and old stuff. Nes, Snes...you know the rest :P

jaydubnb

04-22-2003, 11:09 AM

Without eBay, I probably wouldnt have ANY of my PC Engine and Turbo software. I have NEVER seen any of the NEC software in thrifts/game stores until just this year. Now that I've found a couple of classic gaming stores in Manhattan, i've been frequenting those.

Mr. NEStalgia

04-22-2003, 01:09 PM

For current games, I buy them new at best buy or something.

For used and old games, I have pretty good luck at garage sales...if I ever have the time to go :roll:

-=Mr. NEStalgia=-

DDCecil

04-22-2003, 02:14 PM

I visit the local thrift shop (I have to since my brother quit his job there, and while he was there, they NEVER got anything good in!), certain online retailers, and ebay for older games. Lately though, I haven't bought anything off of ebay.

For newer games, I visit Hastings. They don't know how to price their games, but I've gotten some pretty sweet new and used GC, PSX, and PS2 games there for GREAT prices. Lately, since they are having a "trade 3 games in for one new game" special, they are stocked up on everything...