Flea Market in Packwood, WA this weekend

[Eric Dude]

This is apparently the largest flea market in Southwest Washington, and is only held twice a year (labor day and memorial day). I tried to go on Labor Day, but got fouled up by a closed highway. This Sunday I am determined to make it. Anybody else in the area going?

[swlovinist]

I have actually gone to this, even though it is quite a trek. Last time I went(two years ago?) I walked away with some Laserdiscs and an Atari 5200 boxed. I do have to say that some of the vendors were selling video games maked at ebay prices for the most part, but I do recommend you checking it out.

[Wonder_Hamster]

i'm definitely going with Eric on Sunday, but i'm wondering if it would be worth it to also check it out on Saturday. if flea markets are anything like they were back in SC, there's a better chance of finding good stuff on Saturday than on Sunday. i'm still trying to decide whether to go or not (and maybe find a traveling buddy)

[modest9797]

I love Washington. Beutiful place. Too bad I am 3,000 miles away.

[Superman]

That sounds like a good sale. I love those big sales that are only once or twice a year.

Unfortunately, I am a few states away and with the price of traveling, it wouldn't be feasible (unless I am guaranteed a truckload of great deals).

[Eric Dude]

Ok, so Wonder_Hamster and I attempted to hit the bi-annual huge flea market today, but... fucking ROAD CLOSED due to snow! We got cock-blocked (second time I've tried to reach this rare swap meet and encountered closed roads). So after pissing on the 'road closed' sign, we turn around and hit a different swap meet which yielded some pretty unexpectedly awesome results! We also hit a pawn shop and a used game store that turned up good prices as well. Without further ado, here are my 'finds' for this week:

-Point Blank 2 (PSX) Complete $18: I didn't really get a 'deal' on this, per se, but it's a great game that is well worth the price (got it off eBay, hence the higher price)
-Project Horned Owl (PSX) Complete $1.99: Took a chance on this. Seems like it'll be an awesome game if I get the Enforcer.
-Time Crisis II (PS2) Complete $1.99: Boo-yah! Those cheap GunCons I found at the thrift stores are really paying off!
Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX) Complete GH 1.99: I had a copy before this, but it's disc-only, and I couldn't pass up that price.
-Home Improvement (SNES) Cart Only $5: I would've liked to get it cheaper, but that's a fair price, and it's an R5 that I need for my SNES collection.
-Illusion of Gaia (SNES) Cart only $11: Probably my worst deal. Not a terrible price, I just hope the game is worth it.
-Game Boy Game Genie w/ book $2: But it appears to not work... :( Should've trusted Hamster's intuition on this one, he said it looked water-damaged. I'll try cleaning.
-Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow Strategy Guide (fair condition) $2: This thing is thick. A nice price for a nice guide.
-Space Quest 6 (PC) CD w/ instructions $1: The Spinal Frontier. Always happy to get great PC games cheap, and I always do.
-Where's Waldo (NES cart), Adventures of Lolo (NES cart), GB link cable (old one, though I need the GBC cable), NES manuals for Ducktales, Mega Man 2, Family Feud, Batman, Karnov, Dragon Warrior, Double Dragon... all for $8
-Win, Lose or Draw (NES) Complete w/ EVERYTHING in mint condition (minus some light corner damage) $1: Hey, I'll buy almost any non-sports game for a dollar! The fact that it's complete and minty fresh is just icing! I also have a soft spot for game show conversions.
-Abadox (NES) Cart Only $3: I'm also a sucker for shoot 'em ups, and it's the nice price, so I couldn't pass it up.
-Dash Galaxy in the Alien Asylum (NES) Cart Only $2: Thought maybe this game would be decent for $2. Reviews say it won't be... we'll see. At least the cart is in great condition!
-Midnight Resistance (GEN) Cart Only $2: I had heard good things. Run 'n' Guns are always a welcome sight!
-Whip Rush $4 (GEN) Cart Only $4: Another schmup. Woo.
-Blaster Master 2 (GEN) Cart Only $2.50: A really hard game, but I might just put in the effort to get good at it. The music is fantastic!
-Syndicate (GEN) Cart Only $2.50: Yeah, I'm happy with this. :)
-Rambo III (GEN) Cart Only $2.50: I thought I was getting a Run 'n' Gun. Oh well.
-Exile (GEN) Cart Only $3: Took a chance on this one. Turns out it might be fun.
-Dinosaurs for Hire (GEN) Cart Only $3: Dinosaurs. With guns. Shitcheah!
-Bio Hazard Battle (GEN) Cart Only $3: I've heard good things about this schmup.
-Splatterhouse 3 (GEN) Cart Only $5: I was almost ecstatic when I came across this, because it was in a 'mystery' blank genesis case. I open it up to find a game I've been looking for recently on eBay (usually hitting like $15), and the guy says 'five dollars'. SOLD! I managed to save the celebratory 'shitcheah!' till after we exchanged money. Needed some cleaning, but now it works perfectly.

Overall, I am very, very pleased with this week's haul. I did a LOT of haggling to save myself a couple dollars on almost every deal I made. With this, I am now over 700 games, and my shoot 'em up library is getting pretty impressive. I ran into some tough customers who refused to budge on prices, but I didn't really miss anything special (though I should've picked up Super Buster Bros for $8).

[debian4life]

Wish I could have gone to that swap meet. Although here in South Central PA, we have the same kind of thing yearly at the York Fairgrounds. I hope I do as well as you did.

[Eric Dude]

Wish I could have gone to that swap meet. Although here in South Central PA, we have the same kind of thing yearly at the York Fairgrounds. I hope I do as well as you did.

With the increasing trend of 'ebay pricing' at most used game stores (and even Goodwill!) the flea market/swap meet has become the only place where I can get a deal on classic games nowadays.