What is a fair price for a NES at a game store?

[Fuzzball24]

My Goodwill and thrift stores sell everything at ridiculous prices and I have never found a single system there, so I'm considering just buying one at a gaming store in San Francisco next time I go there.

What would an acceptable or fair price for a NES with all it's hookups and a controller?

[mobiusclimber]

In a store, you're likely to pay $30 to $40 for one. I think $40 is way too high a price for a NES (tho they're definitely worth it). Just make sure it's in proper working order and everything.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Well, a game store would be my last resort. I see a half dozen NES a year at thrift stores for about $10 loose and sometimes $20 complete (and sometimes as little as $3 loose). Most used game stores charge an absolute minimum of $40 for complete, yet often dirty NES systems. Some stores charge as much as $70 for them, which I think should be illegal. Of course, if you have little patience for waiting on finding a cheap one, I'll go with Mobius Climber on this one, no more than $40 bucks for a pristine complete one in great working order.

Anything above $50 is over what you'd pay on ebay (most of the time) for a refurbished unit- shipped to your door.

[Porksta]

Where I work I price working ones with all the cords at $26 and they sell within a few days. Next time a working one comes in I am going to have to up the price.

[mobiusclimber]

I never see them for less than $20 at the thrift stores around here, and there's no way to test them. I've gotten them for free of Craigslist a few times in the past, but certainly not lately (not since FeePay drove all their sellers off to CL). I'd say check CL before messing w/ a store, as I do see them for $40~50 WITH GAMES on there all the time, and that's going to be a better deal than most stores. You can also insist on seeing it working. Only some stores would even be able to hook it up, let alone agree to let you test it.

[Joe West]

$30 bucks w/all hookups & controller....in good shape and its not a Blinker.....

[Fuzzball24]

I never see them for less than $20 at the thrift stores around here, and there's no way to test them. I've gotten them for free of Craigslist a few times in the past, but certainly not lately (not since FeePay drove all their sellers off to CL). I'd say check CL before messing w/ a store, as I do see them for $40~50 WITH GAMES on there all the time, and that's going to be a better deal than most stores. You can also insist on seeing it working. Only some stores would even be able to hook it up, let alone agree to let you test it.


Yeah, but I live in Modesto over here with a lot of stupid people who think they're games or systems are worth a lot more **** then it is worth. I mean, they're are people around here who sell dirty Xbox's with 1 controller and 3 loose sport games for $100 on Craigslist! That''s why I try to avoid it a lot. I will look for NES's on Craigslist though.

There is a pawn shop around here that has good prices on games, but not really for systems and the thrift stores suck, a lot of the time not even having video games.

I will never pay more than $40 for a NES though. And I will definitely not buy those $80 NES's on eBay, no way!

[Mark III]

Depends entirely on the quality control of the store. If they're unrefurbished but tested and guaranteed to work then I'd pay $40 max. If it's dirty looking and not guaranteed I wouldn't pay more than 10 bucks. We sell them for $70 (Canadian) where I work but all of them have had their pin connectors professionally refurbished by OSG and are guaranteed to play.

[mobiusclimber]

Yeah, but I live in Modesto over here with a lot of stupid people who think they're games or systems are worth a lot more **** then it is worth. I mean, they're are people around here who sell dirty Xbox's with 1 controller and 3 loose sport games for $100 on Craigslist! That''s why I try to avoid it a lot. I will look for NES's on Craigslist though.

There is a pawn shop around here that has good prices on games, but not really for systems and the thrift stores suck, a lot of the time not even having video games.

I will never pay more than $40 for a NES though. And I will definitely not buy those $80 NES's on eBay, no way!

http://modesto.craigslist.org/tag/1218574191.html
Also, shame you're not looking for an SNES: http://modesto.craigslist.org/tag/1212398150.html

[Ye0ldmario]

one guy over here charges $60 each and you get mario duck hunt with it

I'd say $40 is the highest.

[Baloo]

I'd say between $30 and $40, depending on condition.

[Fuzzball24]

http://modesto.craigslist.org/tag/1218574191.html
Also, shame you're not looking for an SNES: http://modesto.craigslist.org/tag/1212398150.html

Hmm, I might look into that. I don't really need a boxed one (or have the room for it anymore) though. Oh well..

It's just normally I see a lot of "used nintendo first one ever made" or something. XD

With Craigslist you just have to separate the crap from the good..

[mobiusclimber]

Hmm, I might look into that. I don't really need a boxed one (or have the room for it anymore) though. Oh well..

It's just normally I see a lot of "used nintendo first one ever made" or something. XD

With Craigslist you just have to separate the crap from the good..

I think this guy has about ten ads up (posted a day apart) and he's stolen the pic (because another one was just the console and games, not boxed), but regardless, you can always do what most people did with the box back when the NES came out: throw it in the trash.

[GOLDEN KEYS]

i went and checked out an antique mall last week and there was a couple of booths with some video game stuff but unfortunately it was all priced pretty high.


this dude wanted $63 for this old toaster NES that was completely yellow all over. it didn't even come with any games. next to it he had a top loader NES for $65 so i'm guessing he didn't know those are harder to find.

[aaron7]

you can always do what most people did with the box back when the NES came out: throw it in the trash.

:slap:

Are you serious? Or was that a joke?

[mobiusclimber]

:slap:

Are you serious? Or was that a joke?

*nonchalantly deflects slap while staring at a point behind and slightly to the right of the poster's head*

Not a joke at all. What would you suggest TC do with the box if they have nowhere to keep it? What do you care what happens to a box that you'll likely have nothing to do with? I never said "mail anthrax to people you don't like." It's just packaging, nothing more. You sound like the kind of collector who would be heartbroken to know I regularly open sealed games to actually *gasp* play them!

[aaron7]

If you actually open sealed games then you're a shame to this forum. Not being sarchastic either, that's just wrong.

[mobiusclimber]

If you actually open sealed games then you're a shame to this forum. Not being sarchastic either, that's just wrong.

Mind explaining how and why it's wrong? I think it's wrong to NOT open sealed games. Games are meant to be played, not just sit around on someone's shelf. Go collect stamps instead.

[aaron7]

So the same can be said for rare comics? Go read them? Rare stamps? Just use them? Rare coins? Just spend them?

No. You obviously aren't a collector of anything and should be stripped of anything rare you might own.

You want to play a game? Buy a loose copy.

[mobiusclimber]

So the same can be said for rare comics? Go read them? Rare stamps? Just use them? Rare coins? Just spend them?

No. You obviously aren't a collector of anything and should be stripped of anything rare you might own.

You want to play a game? Buy a loose copy.

Oh yes, the jackbooted game collector nazis should come to my house, confiscate my possessions and take me away to a camp where I'll work so the REAL collectors can have more free time to ... collect their non-playable games.

You seem to have really missed the point I was making about rare stamps. Collecting stamps or coins does not have a built in enjoyment factor beyond simply collecting the item. Owning it is the enjoyment. Video games, on the other hand, can and SHOULD be played.

But honestly, I don't care what OTHER PEOPLE do with their games. Play em, put em on a shelf, have sex with them... what you do in the privacy of your own home is up to you. I just bristle at the suggestion that you are the arbitor of what other people should be doing with their games/collections. YOU DON'T GET TO DECIDE.

Oh won't someone think of the poor box. :sob:

[aaron7]

You're a disgrace to the collecting community.

/end

[Ye0ldmario]

I don't see how any game store can manage to even keep it's doors open charging $60 for NES's. :|

[The 1 2 P]

I usually see them at Goodwill for $20. For a system that may or not work thats alittle too high for me(you can't return ANYTHING at Goodwills in this state). But if you find a nice working one than $20 is a pretty fair price.

[JohnnyA]

I don't understand why the OP doesn't just post a wanted post in BST. I would think you could get a working one for around $35 shipped fairly easily. If I had any left, I'd sell ya one.

[Daria]

If you actually open sealed games then you're a shame to this forum. Not being sarchastic either, that's just wrong.

I've bought sealed NES and Genesis games to open and play. Not anything worth real money, but I like my games in excellent condition, and it doesn't get mintier then brand new.