And...this is why you are no longer going to find video games at thrift stores..

[SuperSonic]

6838


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-NES-N64-GameCube-Sony-PS1-Sega-Dreamcast-WHOLESALE-LOT-Collection-RARES-/330949128033?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0e1aef61

[Bojay1997]

Meh. Goodwill and Salvation Army have been listing on Ebay for years. There are still video games showing up at thrift stores, swap meets, garage sales and lots of other places every day. You just need to avoid places that list stuff on Ebay which shouldn't be too hard given how many non Goodwill and Salvation Army thrift stores are out there.

[The 1 2 P]

Just look thru the finds thread every month and you will find tons of members(including myself) who regularly find video game systems and games at Goodwill, Savers and other thrift stores. That won't be changing anytime soon.

[JakeM]

If you live in a city you can go to non-goodwills and those stores have no choice but to put their games out at least in a glass case.

[BlastProcessing402]

Only game thing I've ever found game related at a thrift store was some old junky looking PC joystick. Not USB either, it was an old gameport stick.

[sloan]

I just went to Salvation Army last weekend and picked up 10 NES cartridges for $1.98 a piece. Looks like it hasn't had too much effect around my area yet.

[Little Miss Gloom]

*shrugs*

[ProjectCamaro]

I've purchased some items from Goodwill's auction site. Most stuff ends up over priced, especially with their high shipping rates but if you keep a close eye you'll find some good deals.

[Atarileaf]

The main reason you don't find anything around here has more to do with the glut of full time resellers. Apparently all the thrift stores know these guys by name and hold stuff for them and they make the thrift circuit on a daily basis. It really is a full time job for them. Regular collectors with, you know, jobs and a life, have no chance.

[kupomogli]

I rarely find anything worth purchasing at the Goodwill around here. I only check when I'm around there because the closest one is 30 minutes away. Not going to waste $5-10 in gas in hopes to find a bunch of games because in the chance that I do find a lot of games, the condition will be less than favorable so I won't want to keep them. When I sell them, I'll still end up losing money overall because of the gas money I had to put in my car to go back and forth checking constantly.

That's why I make it a point only to check when I'm around there and when that happens, it's usually nothing but junk.

[xelement5x]

The main reason you don't find anything around here has more to do with the glut of full time resellers. Apparently all the thrift stores know these guys by name and hold stuff for them and they make the thrift circuit on a daily basis. It really is a full time job for them. Regular collectors with, you know, jobs and a life, have no chance.

Yeah, it's kind of interesting that some places allow that. There is a thrift near me I hit semi-regularly and I know the staff pretty well, but there was one guy in the game section I would talk to who was also a collector. One time I came back and he wasn't there, they let me know that he'd been fired. After a bit more back and forth I discovered that eventually they caught him pricing his own stuff that he would buy super cheap, and then resell.

Kind of a shame since their prices were stupid low already, and he already had first pick over almost everything that came in. I guess he just got greedy. Anyway, since then it's bit a bit better for finds, but every thrift is a crapshoot. The best pickup from them recently was a bunch of Odyssey 2 stuffs in great shape and some PS2 games.

[mailman187666]

6894

Since we are talking thrifts....this sign was posted in the games section. I think they either meant to say Baseball Cards or Memorobilia. Things like this is why its getting harder to find games for reasonable prices.

[sloan]

The way I see it with local charity thrifts is simple. they are "supposed to be" doing the local community a service. Be that through job creation for the disadvantaged, funding of drug and alcohol rehab programs, clothing and shoes for the poor, etc. If all they do is sap all of the video games and consoles from a certain market and put them on greed-bay, then they are getting no more donations from me or my family. I feel they owe a debt of gratitude it to the local population to sell those donated goods back to local citizens. If more collectors would voice their opinions to charity thrifts, maybe it would change. If donations to the online-selling ones drop, maybe they will wise up.

[kazuo]

This is nothing new. Salvation Army & Goodwill caught on to retro games a long time ago and have been auctioning things off instead to make more money on them.

Additionally, many "professional" resellers have taken up building relations with or paying off store employees/managers to save them anything that comes in so they get first crack. This is especially apparent in major cities where the only things you will find are complete trash since the vultures scooped up everything worth buying.

It's part of the game. /shrughs


The way I see it with local charity thrifts is simple. they are "supposed to be" doing the local community a service. Be that through job creation for the disadvantaged, funding of drug and alcohol rehab programs, clothing and shoes for the poor, etc. If all they do is sap all of the video games and consoles from a certain market and put them on greed-bay, then they are getting no more donations from me or my family. I feel they owe a debt of gratitude it to the local population to sell those donated goods back to local citizens. If more collectors would voice their opinions to charity thrifts, maybe it would change. If donations to the online-selling ones drop, maybe they will wise up.

Couldn't disagree with this more. It's up to them to take what is donated to them and maximize their earnings from said donations to fund their programs. They are not obligated to cater to collectors who want to "come up" on things or build their collections on the cheap. They're not lining their own pockets with the money made from this, it's being used to fund social programs and give disadvantaged people jobs. They are offering these things on a free market to get what they are really worth instead of guessing and selling Stadium Events for $7.99 so a "collector"/reseller can turn around and resell it to pay off his college loans.

They are obligated to do nothing for collectors. Asserting such a thing is kind of ridiculous, to be perfectly honest. As a collector, it sucks that this happens but it is what it is. If you don't want to shell out the cash on ebay, look for better deals or buy from other collectors.

[Gameguy]

The main reason you don't find anything around here has more to do with the glut of full time resellers. Apparently all the thrift stores know these guys by name and hold stuff for them and they make the thrift circuit on a daily basis. It really is a full time job for them. Regular collectors with, you know, jobs and a life, have no chance.
Not necessarily. I pretty much check out the thrifts near me every day during the week, sometimes on Saturday too. Stuff just doesn't come in as often anymore. Most of the staff knows me, nothing gets set aside for me but I ask if I missed out on anything and am usually told that nothing like that was put out. A couple of times I was told that stuff came in and was bought before I got there, but it's not that often. Most stuff that does come in is recent generation stuff, and most of it is overpriced anyway so I usually don't bother with it. A few years ago you could find stuff all the time, now it's rare to find anything older than PS1. Today I found a complete copy of Legend of Dragoon for $5.99(had 30% off from that) and that was the first video game I bought there in weeks, maybe months(I can't remember anything else, maybe a PC game). I still find other stuff regularly worth buying but it's not video games. I mostly go every day because I know the other regular customers, if I find anything to buy it's a bonus.


Couldn't disagree with this more. It's up to them to take what is donated to them and maximize their earnings from said donations to fund their programs. They are not obligated to cater to collectors who want to "come up" on things or build their collections on the cheap. They're not lining their own pockets with the money made from this, it's being used to fund social programs and give disadvantaged people jobs. They are offering these things on a free market to get what they are really worth instead of guessing and selling Stadium Events for $7.99 so a "collector"/reseller can turn around and resell it to pay off his college loans.
I feel that these stores should be pricing stuff cheap to be thrifty, so the less fortunate can afford nice things too. Most thrift stores are located in the worst parts of town, or close to them. They're not set up in wealthy upscale areas for collectors.

As for these auctions, do they clean or test or guarantee these games at all? If not why should anyone pay them full value? You might as well buy them cleaned, tested, and guaranteed from somewhere else. Thrift stores have started to become more expensive than pawn shops, which says something as pawn shops actually pay for their merchandise. I see no reason to spend near full price on something when there's a high chance it's not working properly, I might as well spend a few extra dollars and get one that's guaranteed to be working properly. It's why I pass on consoles priced $20-$25 when they're worth $30.

[BricatSegaFan]

This is what I find at thrift stores nowhttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/13/5y5eveqy.jpg

[JakeM]

This is what I find at thrift stores nowhttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/13/5y5eveqy.jpg

Theyre always going to be there until the stores finally just start chucking them into the trash bins and not even bothering with trying to make 10 cents off each. Sports games or better releases of sports games need to be regulated.

Also, this is reflective of what most people in America buy, and of course youre not going to find awesome games, because most people dont buy them, especially the types who will take them to the thrift store 5 years later when theyre clearing out space.

These thrift stores take in donations, whereas theres retro stores that will give them some money, so people on their way to the thrift store will see a video game store and try their luck there especially if they have old popular games. When you walk into a retro store and all they have are sports games THATS when its time to panic.

[sloan]

I feel that these stores should be pricing stuff cheap to be thrifty, so the less fortunate can afford nice things too. Most thrift stores are located in the worst parts of town, or close to them. They're not set up in wealthy upscale areas for collectors.

I have 7 Goodwills within 40 minutes of my house. Amazingly, the store that has the most expensive prices on CRT TV's is smack in the middle of the ghetto. I am talking stupid prices like $200 on a 27" Sharp set. How many local customers are going to be able to afford that? To me, it is predatory and goes against everything charity thrifts should be about. Of those 7 stores, one up in the wealthy district actually has 32" CRT's for $ 20-$30 on most days.



As for these auctions, do they clean or test or guarantee these games at all? If not why should anyone pay them full value? You might as well buy them cleaned, tested, and guaranteed from somewhere else. Thrift stores have started to become more expensive than pawn shops, which says something as pawn shops actually pay for their merchandise. I see no reason to spend near full price on something when there's a high chance it's not working properly, I might as well spend a few extra dollars and get one that's guaranteed to be working properly. It's why I pass on consoles priced $20-$25 when they're worth $30.

Couldn't agree more. It is simply insane to pay ebay prices or higher when the stuff has not been cleaned or tested. They need to get a major clue. if I buy something off ebay and it doesn't work, Paypal will stand behind me. If I pay similar price at GW and it doesn't work, I am simply out the money.

[SparTonberry]

They don't give refunds?

Thankfully the one time I went there, they did give a refund after I bought a PC game without realizing it was only one disc of a multi-disc game.

[Atarileaf]

Not necessarily. I pretty much check out the thrifts near me every day during the week, sometimes on Saturday too. Stuff just doesn't come in as often anymore. Most of the staff knows me, nothing gets set aside for me but I ask if I missed out on anything and am usually told that nothing like that was put out. A couple of times I was told that stuff came in and was bought before I got there, but it's not that often. Most stuff that does come in is recent generation stuff, and most of it is overpriced anyway so I usually don't bother with it. A few years ago you could find stuff all the time, now it's rare to find anything older than PS1. Today I found a complete copy of Legend of Dragoon for $5.99(had 30% off from that) and that was the first video game I bought there in weeks, maybe months(I can't remember anything else, maybe a PC game). I still find other stuff regularly worth buying but it's not video games. I mostly go every day because I know the other regular customers, if I find anything to buy it's a bonus.


It may be different in your part of Ontario, I know some of the guys on CGCC.ca get a lot of great finds in the Toronto, Kitchener, Ottawa areas but here in the Windsor area its dry as a bone and the resellers do indeed have items held for them. In fact one reseller IS an employee of a local thrift who is allowed to put things aside for himself as long as he pays for them. This was told to me by another local collector who talked to the store manager directly. These mom and pop thrifts don't have the big corporate rules forbidding such behavior.

Again, depends on many factors and your mileage may vary.

[Tupin]

It's only made better by the fact that my local Goodwill is infamous for having incredibly corrupt leadership that embezzled millions for years. That and the fact that they pay employees way below minimum wage...

Once the recession hit and people started at least pretending to have thrift, good finds dwindled. I really hope that the poster about how "video games are the new baseball cards" is true. That means in ten years no one is going to want them.

[bigbacon]

i have to say, I've ordered once, through ebay, with goodwill on a SMS game. It was cheap, like 5 bucks and 2 dollar shipping. Game was suppose to be CIB (listed as such) but it had no manual, the refunded all money right away and didn't even ask for the game back. So it must depend on who is running the show that day or something. Now I won't buy from them again after this because they obviously don't really look at the items very well before they list them. I don't want to take another chance on not getting what was listed and having to spend money to send it back. that is always a huge hassle.

[sloan]

They don't give refunds?

Thankfully the one time I went there, they did give a refund after I bought a PC game without realizing it was only one disc of a multi-disc game.

Maybe this varies my geographic region, but in my region, they only will issue you in-store credit. Talk about a ripoff, especially if you just spent $30 on a Gamecube console that doesn't work. I guess they think you should feel warm and fuzzy inside for 'donating' to their charity, but I choose not to take part in their shameless money-grab.

[The 1 2 P]

This is what I find at thrift stores nowhttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/13/5y5eveqy.jpg

They don't keep all of them in the case over here but it doesn't really matter. Even when they are on the floor they don't sell. But they also have multiples of certain Target clearance games(DJ Hero, Shawn White, etc) that don't sell and they have atleast been lowered to $5-$10 depending on which Goodwill it is. But they have also been sitting there for atleast a year. Stuff like that should get put on a $1 table to get rid of them.

[bigbacon]

Sports games are every where, so many people have tons of them and no one wants them yet they continue to sell that are stupid prices. Cut your losses and sell them for a buck or something. Hell, I'd pick them up for 50 cents a piece no matter what system they are for.

[Ed Oscuro]

Only game thing I've ever found game related at a thrift store was some old junky looking PC joystick. Not USB either, it was an old gameport stick.
There's usually at least one of these on the shelf at the local Goodwill any time I look.

[Gameguy]

I have 7 Goodwills within 40 minutes of my house. Amazingly, the store that has the most expensive prices on CRT TV's is smack in the middle of the ghetto. I am talking stupid prices like $200 on a 27" Sharp set. How many local customers are going to be able to afford that? To me, it is predatory and goes against everything charity thrifts should be about. Of those 7 stores, one up in the wealthy district actually has 32" CRT's for $ 20-$30 on most days.
In a way it makes sense. The wealthy would all have flat screens so they'll never buy CRTs unless they're dirt cheap for a spare, the poor can't afford flat screens so they'll go for the older CRTs. Of course $200 is stupid for such an old set now.

I actually saw something today, an old 5 inch portable TV. Note the "No Exchange" on the price tag.

http://i43.tinypic.com/r0tnde.png



Couldn't agree more. It is simply insane to pay ebay prices or higher when the stuff has not been cleaned or tested. They need to get a major clue. if I buy something off ebay and it doesn't work, Paypal will stand behind me. If I pay similar price at GW and it doesn't work, I am simply out the money.
I forgot about it earlier but I did buy a Gameboy Advance missing the battery cover with a copy of Pokemon Emerald for $5.99 at Salvation Army, it seems the RTC battery is dead though. I'm glad I didn't pay more for it as it's not fully working.


They don't give refunds?
Most thrifts don't, some offer exchanges but even that is becoming limited.


It may be different in your part of Ontario, I know some of the guys on CGCC.ca get a lot of great finds in the Toronto, Kitchener, Ottawa areas but here in the Windsor area its dry as a bone and the resellers do indeed have items held for them. In fact one reseller IS an employee of a local thrift who is allowed to put things aside for himself as long as he pays for them. This was told to me by another local collector who talked to the store manager directly. These mom and pop thrifts don't have the big corporate rules forbidding such behavior.

Again, depends on many factors and your mileage may vary.
I'm just north of Toronto, like a half hour bus ride away from it. I still find stuff worth buying but not that many video games. I actually did buy some working game stuff weeks ago I forgot about, like a GBA SP and a DS Lite. They were missing the hookups but I already had spare ones so it worked out.

I do seem to keep buying stuff at least once a week but it's usually not game related so it's not that memorable to me. I check everything from toys, to electronics and stereo equipment, to DVDs and VHS tapes, to plushes, to board games, to music, to calculators, to Polaroid film, to software, etc. I've been picking up VHS tapes that aren't on DVD for myself, even though they're not worth much. I still find plenty of stuff, just not that many video games. I'd rather find stuff that I'd want to keep, but otherwise I'd look for anything that makes my trip worthwhile. I wouldn't go so often except these stores are within walking distance.

They do get plenty of lousy newer video games that are overpriced, I just don't pay attention to it anymore as it doesn't interest me.

[kazuo]

They don't give refunds?

Thankfully the one time I went there, they did give a refund after I bought a PC game without realizing it was only one disc of a multi-disc game.

I can't speak for others, but Goodwill does give in-store credit for defective electronics. You can't really expect a full refund on donated electronics since you can't really expect those folks to be able to properly test this stuff.

[sloan]

I can't speak for others, but Goodwill does give in-store credit for defective electronics. You can't really expect a full refund on donated electronics since you can't really expect those folks to be able to properly test this stuff.

My point exactly, and what a scam it is. Stop charging ebay prices and beyond for stuff that may not work when the purchaser gets it home. In-store credit does no good, especially when most of what they offer is meaningless junk to me. Due to the inherent risk that any buyer takes when buying at these stores, pricing should be no higher than 50% of the 'going rate' on ebay. Not BIN pricing either, but actually completed auctions.

Also, why 'can't' I expect a full refund when they are pricing like I am shopping anywhere else? You know, places that do offer full refund for defective goods.

[Soviet Conscript]

Other then a non sports nes or snes game here and there I never find decent console stuff at goodwill anymore. Maybe system now and then if I happen to be there when its being put out but I've basicly given up on goodwill and thrift shops for any worth while console stuff. I have said it before though if your a classis PC collector goodwill can be amazing. I consistently find complete and rare old school big box PC games at my local goodwills along with older PC cards. I know they tend to ship complete PC systems off to special centers but I've come across quite a few rare PC items. I suppose the collecting craze that has hit consoles at these places hasn't crossed over to the retro PC scene yet. Also the goodwills around me always run $1 sales on CRT tv's including HD ones.

[Nature Boy]

I still love going to thrifts because I like finding random items I'm not looking for but can't resist picking up since they're so cheap. Like 3 stand alone electronic hand held game machines for $3 (I could have bought 3 more for the same price, but figured BattleShip and Yahtzee would be more fun, and Sudoku I could just toss :) ).

Sure those might end up on eBay some day just like the console game seem to, but I'll just find something else. Thrifts are fun!

[GREEN00]

I still love going to thrifts because I like finding random items I'm not looking for but can't resist picking up since they're so cheap. Like 3 stand alone electronic hand held game machines for $3 (I could have bought 3 more for the same price, but figured BattleShip and Yahtzee would be more fun, and Sudoku I could just toss :) ).

Sure those might end up on eBay some day just like the console game seem to, but I'll just find something else. Thrifts are fun!

Well, I'm finding enough to make it worth my while/make it fun.

Today I found Clockwork Knight CIB for $4.
http://www.sega-parts.com/image/cache/data/egame/segasat_clockworkknight-500x500.JPG

I certainly didn't expect to find any such thing, so it was a pleasant surprise

[Player_01]

I stopped going to the big chain thrift shops. I use local shops that support stuff like kings ranch and Hannah homes etc. They still price all games at $1.50 and systems are $5.00 and accessories at $2.00. You have to go local the big chains don't even keep the donated items in town but instead distribute them to different stores or an online auction center like GW does.