Feeling a little guilty about my thrift store score of the year...

[sixxgunner81]

(Maybe this belongs in the LORE section???)

Hey all - longtime reader (actually just a week or two), first-time poster.

I just started collecting and since I'm out of town (Atlanta) on business, I figured I'd use my evenings to hit up every thrift store/pawn shop/etc. that I could in the time I have.

Nothing unusual...most places had a few random garbage xbox games in the glass case (I always wondered why they do this...theft protection? or do they REALLY think those games are that valuable?).

A couple Goodwill stores with WAY overpriced Mario/Zelda/etc. (they were honestly cheaper at retail retro gaming stores than they were at Goodwill).

The occasional N64 on a random electronics shelf with no cables or controllers or anything useful. Oh, and they wanted $20-$30 for it.

I was really starting to get down on the idea...but then I remembered that I'm in this for the thrill of the hunt. That motivation got me through my first weekend of yard sales/flea marketing. 35 yard sales on Saturday with just a couple half-decent finds. A lady told me she sold a toaster NES and Atari 2600 in the boxes for $5 about 10 minutes before I got there. Ugh. Then a Sunday flea market with lots of systems and games coming in cheap...I was back in the saddle!

OK, sidebar: I really haven't decided how I'm going to do this yet. Part of me just wants to collect and sell my doubles. Part of me wants to play the games and then sell them when I'm done/bored. Part of me wants to work my ass off hunting and only sell. Part of me just likes finding gems. No matter what, I wanted every system for a fair (or cheap) price so I could have my options open (and be able to test games to sell). Nonetheless, I'm out there hunting and I'm out there buying (for the right price).

Now, fast-forward to the title of the post.

I'm driving around looking for thrift stores with the aid of the modern marvel known as Android software and its free Google Maps/GPS. I'm really striking out (as mentioned above)...

Then I stroll into an off-the-beaten-path thrift store run by an Atlanta Mission. The employees there were SO kind...and you could tell it was genuine, and not your typical "Welcome to Play N Trade!!!" or "Hi! Welcome to Wal-Mart" (translates to "BUY STUFF HERE!). The older gentleman that was rounding up the shopping carts said to me (before I even got 15 feet into the store): "Thanks for coming in, we really appreciate it."

I really appreciate you too...

...because as I strolled back to the electronics section, it was like some type of deity smiled down upon me at that particular moment and brought me video game salvation. There they were, in all their glory...systems, games, controllers...now, how badly were they going to rape me on prices?

My jeans began to swell in the crotch as I saw the price tags...

Top-loader NES: $10
Genesis/Sega CD: $10
PSone: $3....all systems with the cables & controllers...

NO EFFING WAY?!?!?! Time to (literally) run to the front of the store, grab a shopping cart, and sprint back to fill 'er up!

The nice lady stocking the shelves even told me I could hook up the systems to one of the tv's and try them out to make sure they work. At this point, I had to check my pulse. Was I dreaming? Wet dream, definitely...

So, I took everything they had. Here's the list:

NES top-loader
Genesis/Sega CD
PSone
NES Advantage
Super Advantage
Game Genie
24 NES games (including some decent games...Paperboy, Zelda, Mario 3)
8 Genesis games (nothing special except for Double Dragon)
2 SNES games (one of them being Chrono Trigger)
3 atomic purple N64 controllers
3 gray N64 controllers
1 blue GameCube controller

What was the damage, you ask? $48. Oh, and I had to add in an extra $2 to buy another bag for carry-on so I could fly home with this stuff.

I was seriously the happiest guy in the world. Then, a little guilt set in. These people were SO nice...ALL of them thanking me for coming in and telling me they hope I enjoy my games. As much as we all bitch and complain about not being able to find games for good prices anymore...when it happens under these circumstances, I feel a little guilty. I know my $50 helped the charity, but I really should have done more.

I decided that since I'll be in that general area again tomorrow, I'm going to make a cash donation to the Mission. Not only did they provide me with some amazing systems and games, but I'll always remember my first big score.

Anyone else had a similar feeling?

Thanks to all of you for providing such good info on these boards, I look forward to becoming a contributing member.

[raptor94k]

Thats a pretty awesome find.

This plagues me sometimes too. I never feel that bad when I find deals like this at garage sales, because usually garage sales are for cleaning out clutter as opposed to making money.

However, at thrift stores it's a bit different and usually the money goes to a good cause. And then you are presented with a slight moral dilemma. I've yet to find anything I lose sleep over, but I recall a poster on here found a mint Stadium Events (cart only) for like $3 at a local Goodwill. In a situation like this you are talking about the Goodwill missing out on hundreds of dollars that could be put towards all of the stuff that Goodwill does. But, if I was that poster...I probably would've bought it and not said anything either...

It's a tough call on some situations. Makes it even harder when everyone is super nice to you.

[Tupin]

Sadly, I've never had to deal with this conundrum.

[Badhornet]

Its like that for me sometimes...nothing...nothing...nothing..than BAM you hit the motherload..........I always compare it to fishing

[Enigmus]

Wow, you lucked out. Around here, the Game Boy Color is $20 at the thrift store here, and the Sega Genesis hasn't showed up in four years, with NES being MIA for 2, yet they seem to get a boatload of PSXes every fall. Luckily, the games go for $2 during the summer, but it's just bad to see common things such as the Game Boy costing $20 for a lone unit with no battery hatch and missing grey plastic plate on the front. Still, hope you have a good time with those game systems you got for a steal.

[Clownzilla]

Don't feel bad. It's those types of deals that keep the customers coming back and making the store more money.

[BetaWolf47]

Its like that for me sometimes...nothing...nothing...nothing..than BAM you hit the motherload..........I always compare it to fishing

It feels good when you hit that motherload though. That's for sure. Fishing is a good analogy for it.

[sixxgunner81]

I was just reading a thread on NintendoAge titled "Negotiating ethics" and it kinda made me feel better...

One guy on there said his negotiating tactic was to say that he collects old Nintendo stuff that his parents couldn't afford when he was little.

That's very true for me...I did have an NES (that my mom probably put on a credit card that she's probably STILL paying for) and a couple games, but I wanted them all.

I guess maybe I caught the good side of karma for a day.

Now, I shall get them all...in the wild :)

[swlovinist]

Dont feel bad. You gave the store business. You walked away with a deal. Win Win.

[skaar]

I was just reading a thread on NintendoAge titled "Negotiating ethics" and it kinda made me feel better...


Yeah, I can see that.

Honestly, you did no wrong here. And if you want to donate out of appreciation for their kindness and in thanks to deity/power/luck/whatever of your choice for the score... power to you.

But I wouldn't donate out of guilt - that's the only wrong I see here.

[fergojisan]

I went to a rummage sale a few years ago that was for charity and I found an N64 with a game, controller, and all the hookups. It was marked $2, so I gave the woman a $10 and told her to keep the change. She (and her husband) came out from behind the table a little while later to find me and thank me, so I felt pretty good about it. I ended up giving it away anyway.

[RASK1904]

I would have left alot of that and just took the top loader and Chrono.

[brooks83]

I wouldn't feel bad about it. What you paid is what they were asking for the stuff. It's not like you stole the stuff or ticket switched the items to get them that cheap. Plus, like you said, you are giving 50 bucks to a charity. The thrift store can sell those things for cheap because they get them for free from donations. If anything, the thrift store employees could research the stuff to find out what the items are worth, but I don't think they really care. And like what somebody else pointed out, if you want to do more to help a charity, then you can always donate money anytime you want.

[Jorpho]

I have a serious problem with this kind of thing. It is a good reason to keep me away from yard sales.

[jb143]

If you really are feeling guilty about it, just give them an extra donation at Christmas time or what have you. A way of showing your appreciation.

[sixxgunner81]

I would have left alot of that and just took the top loader and Chrono.

Hmmm...so if you had the opportunity to buy something for $0.25 that A) you needed to help start/complete your collection...or B) you could turn around and sell for $8-$15 in a heartbeat....

You'd leave it?

Though I do agree that those are the two most important parts of the find :)

[pseudonym]

Don't feel bad. If you didn't buy them, someone else would have and they would likely have ended up right on ebay.

[phreakindee]

Don't feel bad. If you didn't buy them, someone else would have and they would likely have ended up right on ebay.

That's exactly how I feel about it. I just found an Intellivision for $2 at a local store and didn't think twice. It was actually in the bin to be thrown away after the day was over with. I go to these places for great deals. I'm not going to resell them, I genuinely want the items! If I want to donate more to a charity, why wait for a higher-priced item to buy? That's insane, I'd just donate money to a charity of my choice and not necessarily Goodwill.

[Ed Oscuro]

When I feel bad is when I'm in there pounding the carpets not finding anything. I walk out empty-handed; the store employees don't get paid, and probably they're wondering why I keep coming back.

If they get money, everybody's happy, end of the story. eBay / collector pricing is overrated anyway. Obviously enough people in that neck of the woods aren't clued in to the "modern" pricing for all the console stuff; and if they priced things considerably higher, who's to say it'd end up being sold?

For what it's worth I'll take a $20 toaster over the $10 toploader (if I have to choose). Ain't value in the toploader over the toaster, nosiree.

I just found an Intellivision for $2 at a local store and didn't think twice. It was actually in the bin to be thrown away after the day was over with.
Doh! Another reason not to feel bad - though my local thrift seems to keep things for aaageeesss. I'm still considering asking them to pull those copies of Cool Boarders 2 and 3 out of the case to have a look at. (Always could use more quality PlayStation games.)

[RazorD]

Very Cool. I know what you mean about those Goodwill/Thrifts/FleaMarkets being overpriced sometimes. Ive been seeing people selling the same lame games way expensive. Used consoles for #30 and your not even sure they work. Ebay doesnt seem to bad compared to the Quality Retro game shops though. I was looking to pick up Super Mario Allstars, and it $49 @ shop. I got it for $9 on ebay. Not a bad deal.

[dnehthend]

I felt pretty bad one time, I bought a centipede arcade for $5 from an older lady, said she had owned it for the last 20 years and that it sat in the corner of her bedroom and that she always played it.

It developed a power supply problem so she had someone lug it out for their yard sale.

I couldnt believe it, $5!

I would feel weird selling it for profit so it stays in my living room

the cabinet is in excellent condition with only a small dent... which is was my fault

[Zthun]

This is how busniess works. You shouldn't feel bad about getting a deal. Hell, I'm such an asshole, I probably would have asked them if they would take $45 instead of $49 and act like that's all I had in my wallet.

Then again, I probably wouldn't do that since I'd be stoked and crazy to actually FIND something game related that's not shovelware in a thrift store.

[Arkhan]

You got stuff for sane prices as opposed to

I NEEDS ME SOME EBAY MONEYS prices.



:D


I wouldnt feel bad, feel glad!

Thrust your fists in the air and go

HOOOHAH!

[garagesaleking!!]

The prices and attitudes of thrift stores near me make me want to scream "this is worth this much, and you priced it this much, who messed this one up" everytime I find anything remotely good. They price everything mostly from ebay and always have an attitude.

[Jaruff]

This is how busniess works. You shouldn't feel bad about getting a deal. Hell, I'm such an asshole, I probably would have asked them if they would take $45 instead of $49 and act like that's all I had in my wallet.

Then again, I probably wouldn't do that since I'd be stoked and crazy to actually FIND something game related that's not shovelware in a thrift store.

I'm in this same category. The item's in there, they desire a certain price, you pay set price, end of story. If you don't buy it, someone else will and that's profit that you're losing.

Also, unlike a Goodwill, many of these smaller stores can't afford to let stock sit in the back while it's researched for value. They need the money immediately for community projects/charity/etc. Combine that with limited space and you're going to get cheap deals. It's nothing to feel bad about, that's just the circle of life for these stores. You help them, they help you, everyone wins.

[Damaramu]

Good score!

Don't feel guilty about it as this will make up for all the times you or one of us come across copies of Duck Hunt for $30 and $100 NES systems.

[shawnbo42]

Good score!

Don't feel guilty about it as this will make up for all the times you or one of us come across copies of Duck Hunt for $30 and $100 NES systems.

Yup. Exactly that. A while back, I went into my local Goodwill. Same problem you were having, every time I go in there it's the same 3 Genesis games in the case, way overpriced and trashed...Wasted a lot of time/gas driving all the way there (35-40 mins from the house) for nothing.

Then one day I go in to check, and I have to believe that I was the first one there, because there's NO way anybody who knows anything would've left this stuff behind. No Stadium Events, but a TON of boxed NES games. Not all crap either, I picked up Final Fantasy, all 4 Dragon Warriors, Panic Restaurant, Kiwi Craze, etc...at $2 each! I literally RAN to the front of the store for the shopping cart, my buddy that was with me thought I was nuts, becauseit looked like a shopping spree gone bad. Got some wierd looks at the counter too, but I bought all of them. (I think it ended up being like $300 or so, all said and done) Most of the games still had the shrink wrap on them (been opened, but the plastic was still on the rest of the box), some had original reciepts inside, and all are beautiful, mint label carts.

I don't know where that stuff came from, and I don't really feel guilty about it because I have spent my money there on overpriced stuff as well, so this balances it out. And, besides, they priced it at what they wanted for it, the same as your situation. Could they have done research, and priced it "accordingly"? Yes, but they chose not to, for whatever reason. So I think you should enjoy your purchase, and if you want to make a donation to them, feel free to, but don't feel guilted into it. There is nothing immoral about what you did at all, in my book.

[fpbrush]

I certainly agree with Jaruff above that the price you got was simply because the model of how these places are run (which isn't a bad thing, just reality, no need for guilt), but I also think it's great that you felt compelled to help them out monetarily above what they asked for the goods. I'm always inclined to give extra business to ANY retailer that treats a customer like a customer instead of a pocketbook, so I think this was right on target. Just think it's important to keep those two things separate.

That's my two cents. Enjoy your finds!

[bend]

most places had a few random garbage xbox games in the glass case (I always wondered why they do this...theft protection? or do they REALLY think those games are that valuable?)

It's because people steal the discs and leave the cases behind. At every goodwill I shop at, a game won't last 24 hours on the floor without someone stealing just the disc. It's a bitch when you find a game you want.

[Iron Draggon]

I really appreciate you too...



ROFLMAO! LOL

I've used that very phrase myself many times under similar circumstances... it sorta translates to "Thanks so much for letting ME rip YOU off, instead of vice-versa!" so I usually go back to do something extra for the pleasure too, even if it's just to go back and tell them how much I'm enjoying my purchase!

[emceelokey]

I frequent my local thrift stores and I've never felt bad about any of my finds. As far as I'm concerned, their job is to sell stuff that was donated to them for whatever peice they determined. One my better find was a complete Toe Jam & Earl game for the Genesis that was priced for $5 at Goodwill. I then sold it on ebay for about $35. I figure that Goodwill got what they wanted for the game, I got more for the game than I paid for and hopefully, the person that bought the game from me will take care of the game and preserve it better than I would.

As a collector I also feel that it's my job to essentially rescue some of the stuff that I find at some of these thrift stores. Almost anytime I find a classic system that still has a box, I'll pick it up no matter how many I have as long as the price is within reason. My theory is, if I didn't pick it up, there's a chance nobody will want it and the box takes up space and if somethig is sitting around for a while with a big box, they might trash the box to save shelf space and that's one less boxed Sega CD, front load, system floating around.

For the thrift stores, it's not their job to know about anything they sell. All of their stock is from donations and other than paying the bills and employees, what they sell is essentially pure profit so any dollar you spend in a thrift shop is helping that shop and not Nintendo, Sega or whatever brand. You have to remember that all of these itmes are second hand and typically beat up so if they don't price them at a price where people would actually want to pay for something that's usually fairly in crummy condition, then they lose business and customers and clog up shelf space.

All in all, I don't find anything wrong with buying anything form a thrift store and selling it for a higher value because I find each level to be beneficial in one way or another.

[tubeway]

It's because people steal the discs and leave the cases behind. At every goodwill I shop at, a game won't last 24 hours on the floor without someone stealing just the disc. It's a bitch when you find a game you want.

I've never understood people that steal music CDs, DVDs and PC game discs from thrift stores, though. If they're so adamant about stealing shit you think they'd just be at home downloading torrents.

[Ed Oscuro]

I've never understood people that steal music CDs, DVDs and PC game discs from thrift stores, though. If they're so adamant about stealing shit you think they'd just be at home downloading torrents.
They're too lazy to figure out how to work torrents.

Heh, I found a game package at the local thrift with one of those EA compilation boxes, thing had Need for Speed II, Mario Andretti (I think) and something else. There was only one game disc in there, and a whole ton of old Packard Bell manuals.

I got a $3 Handspring Visor Graphite with its box and most everything (no disc, just the empty sleeve, not that I'd load that ancient software on my PC) the other day, and it looks like the expansion module had been occupied often, but there's no card. Maybe they just swapped in games a lot. Or maybe (my first thought) somebody in the store took it out. You never know, sometimes.