Where do you get most of your stuff from?

[dreamcaster]

I heavily rely on second-hand stores. We have a chain in Australia known as Cash Converters....they are my lifeline! :P

So where do you get the bulk of your stuff from?

[Oberfuhrer Hamm]

Since I am not a collector, I get most of my stuff retail.

[Biohazard]

I get most of my stuff from ebay, but some items from private sales too..

I was wondering, what exactly is a thrift store? I know what a pawnshop and garage sales are, but I cant figure out thrift store.

[Mr. NEStalgia]

For me, it's definitely garage sales.

-=Mr. NEStalgia=-

[Raedon]

Flea Market's and Pawn shops.

[Shadysmurf]

You do know that cash converters is'nt an Austrilla on;y chain.. I have 2 of them near me in the US ;)

[MarkM2112]

I get most of my stuff from ebay, but some items from private sales too..

I was wondering, what exactly is a thrift store? I know what a pawnshop and garage sales are, but I cant figure out thrift store.

Thrift stores (also known as resale shops) are stores that are usually run by charities (Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc...) where people donate unwanted items to receive a tax deduction (or, sometimes not...) and then these stores resell them at usually reduced prices. These have been a goldmine for me!

[MarioAllStar2600]

CGE. I save up for a long time nad that's how I spend so much at CGE.

[Atari and Beer]

Most of my finds are from flea markets which luckily for me have included some of my rarest finds(Music Machine and Death Trap for the 2600)...second would be Ebay where I pick up mostly boxed games since they are hard to find in the wild. Third are thrift stores which are hit and miss. I have yet to find anything of significance at a garage sale

[Drexel923]

I haven't had much luck with thrift stores and flea markets around me so I'm stuck with ebay.

[punkoffgirl]

CGE. I save up for a long time nad that's how I spend so much at CGE.

Some day, Marty, you'll have to tell us just what your collection is made up of :)

[AB Positive]

Yard. Sale. Whore.

-AG

[Videogamerdaryll]

It depends..
I find a lot of stuff at Flea Markets and Garage sales..mostly Vintage systems and games..

I buy all my new system games retail from stores like EB/Gamestop.

I buy stuff off Ebay that I can't find no where else like ...rarities/Neo Geo AES and MVS carts.
I always have at least 1 bid on some MVS cart auction at all times.

[jaydubnb]

Most of my stuff has come from eBay. Without eBay my PC Engine collection wouldnt exist!

There was a time when getting NES stuff was as simple as walking to Funcoland, but ever since Gamestop swallowed them, I cant find anything 8 bit at all! I went to three Gamestops here in NYC, two of which were converted Funco's, and two of em carried NO cart stuff other than N64 and GBA. One other had Genny and SNES, but no 8 bit stuff. Truly was sad. End of an era...

[WiseSalesman]

Thrift stores, garage sales, and flea markets around here all suck, and never ever offer games.

The only pawn shops around are in the scary section of Cleveland with the bars on the windows and bullet holes in the doors.

I get almost everything I buy from either EBay or Funco/Gamestop/EB.

[thegreatescape]

Yea, cash convertors is pretty much the only good pawn chain in australia. One time i went there and they had a hoooge stack of games for $5.00 each (australian). Good games too and very few sports games, but i only had $10 on me.
I got 2 games, when i went back the next day to get more they were all gone :angry:
I suspect the used game store down the street bought most of them, seeing as how they sell theirs for $10 each.

Since that fateful day ive gotten most of my stuff off ebay.au

[kainemaxwell]

I get most my stuff retail but as of late I've been obtaining stuff here and there via the Salvation Army store in my town and ebay.

[buttasuperb]

Ebay or neo-geo.com for my MVS and CPS2 stuff.

Best Buy or Gamestop for the new releases.

[Jasoco]

Game Stop right now, buty I've almost cleaned them out so I'll have to start going to eBay soon. I also need to get to the Mall and TRU soon.

[Sotenga]

The brunt of my games has come from EB and Gamestop. I have used eBay quite a few times, each encounter with damned good results.

[dreamcaster]

You do know that cash converters is'nt an Austrilla on;y chain.. I have 2 of them near me in the US ;)

Wow...you learn something new every day....

[lym]

Most of mine come from ebay, we only have one shop around here that sells old games and they're always overpriced. So my only way to get hold of the games I want is from eBay.

[lym]

You do know that cash converters is'nt an Austrilla on;y chain.. I have 2 of them near me in the US ;)

Yeah that's true we also have them in UK too. :)

[chaoticjelly]

Flea markets, car boots, and rubbish dumps (no, seriously!)

[TougherToast]

I use Ebay mostly because I am to busy to do it any other way. I have done some thrifting, flea markets and garage sales though. I hope to get more time this summer to buy stuff other ways than just Ebay.

[MonkeyWizard]

Flea markets, mostly. Although I also get a fair amount of stuff from garage sales and pawn shops.

[charitycasegreg]

friends

[DigitalSpace]

Wherever I can get them at a reasonable price (and the cheaper the better).

[Eponine]

yea, the ol second hand store

[Ed Oscuro]

Let's see...

a.) Looking all around the internet like a madman and sometimes paying three times as much as I should have for stuff
b.) Places/people who I don't like to deal with anymore (two instances :angry: )
c.) A little bit of eBay
d.) A lot of NFG Game Sales
e.) In the near future, hopefully more of Yahoo! Auctions Japan

For domestic stuff I look around a lot of thrifts.

When I go to Australia this summer I hope to pick up an old pre-SMS Sega system. Or two, or three...and some software :D

[KirbyStar27]

Mostly swap meets (flees) and ebay!

[neuropolitique]

Thrifts. I hit one every day. Another three 4 times or so a week. Then, twice a week, I have a route I've planned which allows me to hit 10 or 11 thrifts, depending on my mood. I've found some good stuff in most of them, one in particular get a large amount of Sega stuff every couple weeks or so. Last time they had a stack of Saturn and Sega CD games.

Ebay is a distant second. I prefer to collect for portable systems, and there is simply no other place to go for them. Good luck finding Supervision carts in the wild.

Retail I use only grudgingly. I'll hit Gamestop when they offer a new sale, just to pick up the stuuff that was too expensive before. Although I do enjoy finding an R7 in their bins as they guy behind the counter is telling me their rare stuff is in the cabinets. Gamerush is a mixed bag. My local one has alot of NES, most for $3.99, many with manual. With buy 2 get 1, it's not a bad deal.

[nesgamer]

I get mine mainly from used video game stores.

[ghostangelofcky]

My new stuff I get from Best Buy, I work so I get the discount.
Used stuff I get from Gameforce, EB, & Gamestop.

Ebay every once in a while.

[Aussie2B]

I go through various phases. When I first started collecting for NES, I found a lot of good games and deals at a Pacific Northwest independent chain called Gamer's Edge. I also made quite a few SNES and Genesis purchases there. When I was really into PSX, I got a lot of $10-$20 new games at TRU. I also bought a lot of used PSX games from GameStop and EB. In the last few years, I've bought tons of NES, Genesis, and SNES games at GameStop, basically cleaning them out of everything that's both good and cheap. I also still on rare occasions buy brand new games at GameStop (pretty much just GameCube). I don't use eBay for much other imports (which I have to shop for online exclusively), but as time goes by, I discover more and more better options online (good import game stores and stores selling all the other Japanese crap I buy). This summer I'm purposely going to be in a flea market and yard sale phase. :P

[jwl]

I never use Ebay, i don't even have an account, but the bulk of what I get is from flea markets and thrift/pawn shops.

Cash Converters is in Canada too, one of the places I get lots of good deals from, plus you can trade in your crappy sports games toward your purchase. :evil:

[tholly]

I use eBay and look for good deals. EB for newer stuff or for good PO deals. Flea markets and this resale store in my college town for everything else.

[Rogmeister]

I chose Ebay...I probably use it more than I care to. There's some good buys to be had there if you don't go crazy which I try not to do. For instance, I always give myself a limit which might explain why I've been overbid the last dozen or so copies of one specific game I've been trying to get...

[Spartacus]

I check EB (online) for used PS2 and Xbox games. Their used games are always complete with the box's and instructions and seem to have deals going on pretty frequently, such as free shipping and 10- 20% off listed prices. Never been disapointed there.
Gamefly sells used complete games for the newer systems as well and are worth a look. Never been disapointed with what I've purchased there.
The Cheap Ass Gamer web site is a good place to get a heads up on game deals at multiple sources. Definately worth a look.
I check EStarland's online site for older stuff. Has an "online adviser" to chat with you about the quality & condition of their stock. I really suggest you use it too, because their web site doesn't keep up with their actual inventory very well. Best if you make multiple purchases too, as the first game is $4.00 to ship and each additional is only $1.00. I've always been pleased with the quality of stuff I've bought there.
Half.com, Amazon.com and Ebay for the rest. The first two will give a pretty good price point comparison for the third.

[pookninja]

i get most of my stuff from,ebay,my local gamecrazy store,ebworld website,play-asia website,and from goodwill.i also hunt down clearance racks and endcaps and target and walmart as well.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Same old same old here i guess. Pawns,flea markets,retail stores. Nothing out the norm.

[dethink]

the bulk of my collecting is japanese MD stuff. needless to say, i'm pretty much stuck with ebay, but prices are actually usually cheaper than complete US genesis games, and they're easier to find ones that are nice/complete, but EMS shipping is a straight up KILLAH unless you buy 'em in quantity. otherwise that $5 game ends up being $20 by the time you're said and done.

there's one nice little indie store here, but most US genesis stuff is beyond TRASHED, and their prices have climbed a bit in the last couple years...though i understand they need to pay the bills somehow in the face of total GS/EB saturation.

so yeah, ebay. when i had my DC, there was a nice asian-owned anime store that had plenty of PS/DC stuff in stock, though their prices are a bit high ($60-70/game). but when JSR came out and i HAD to have it then, it's nice to have something like that around the corner.

[Atari and Beer]

Thrift stores, flea markeys, and as a last resort Ebay!

[AMG]

I get my older stuff from Amazon.com, Game Stop and thrift stores.

I buy a lot of games from retail though.

[videogameking26]

Babbages mostly..need to checkout my flea market to see what nes games they have and if they have a snes..I really want one :) :)

[NintendoMan]

EBAYEBAYEBAY!!!
That's pretty much were I get all of my stuff. Other than retail. Mostly stores like CC, TRU, Target, Babbages (That's were I reserve at least 30 games a year).

I have almost no luck in the wild around here! I used to always get things from a couple of vintage video game stores but don't shop at those as much. Mostly just find crap or overpriced stuff there anymore, but not always.

[cyberfluxor]

2nd hand store all the way. Since I mainly buy up older games, they aren't available on the shelves of retail. Generally I wonder by the pawn shops that don't know how to price games correctly and get superb deals. After I get a bunch of duplicates I wonder off to the collectors used game stores that give you high trade-in values and use the profits to purchase the games behind the counter. :D

[funksoulfather]

It depends on the time of year for me when it comes to getting my games. When I'm at University, I'll stick to the chains like EB or some local shops. Sometimes if I'm brave enough I'll head downtown to the pawn shops.

When I'm home for the summer, I go to garage/yardsales every weekend with my girlfriend and failing that there is a flea market on Sunday mornings at a mall a couple towns away.

[Damaramu]

A little bit of everything:

Ebay, pawn shops, Goodwill, Half Price Books (gold mine in my area), game shops, and good ol' DP.

Haven't tried any of the big flea markets in my area, but I've been meaning to. :D

[bangtango]

Second hand stores, like Goodwill or the Salvation Army. You never know what you will find. I never seem to find anything I really want or need in a thrift store, I usually have to go to Ebay for that.

However, I enjoy finding stuff like Game Gear or Playstation games in a Goodwill store that I would never have bought on the DP forums and would never have cared to bid for on Ebay. Those little second hand shops give me the opportunity to pick up stuff I'd never try otherwise.

[Smashed Brother]

80% of the games I own I've found at second-hand shops. Whether it's little mom-and-pop game stores, or larger chains like Mega Media Exchange, that's where I would purchase most of my games. I'm not a big fan of paying full price; I can wait a few months for that 'hot new game' to be traded in by someone who gets bored rather easily.

[The 1 2 P]

Ebay has made up a huge part of my collection. Best Buy, Circuit City, Target and Toys R US also help, but lately Goodwill has afforded me some other gems I needed.

[AllSchoolGamer]

its not on the poll sp have to put it here...my vote goes to all of the above

[The 1 2 P]

Lately Target is where I'm getting teh majority og my stuff. This is mainly because they have been clearancing their video games for the last 4 plus months.

[GnawRadar]

I've been getting my stuff from Next Level Videogames in NJ, or I'll go to GameStop if I need something new Nick doesn't have. I go to flea markets, yard sales, and Goodwill but I have the worst luck, but DKTheArcadeRat has all the luck and beats me to all the good deals.

[Steve W]

I've never bought anything, ever, from eBay. I hit the thrifts. I developed a nice little pattern for a couple of years. Hit the stores north of me on one day off, and the stores west of me on the other day off. It would take just an hour or so to do that way. Nowadays, I tend to hit all the stores at once. I rarely find anything anymore, since there's so many damn eBay resellers out there buying up anything they can get their hands on. I only buy things that I'm interested in. I'm constantly passing up NES games since I don't care about collecting or playing them. I just wish I could find more Colecovision games, since I've gotten into it in the past year or two.

There's a few classic game stores popping up around the Dallas area for me to shop at, but most of those don't cater to the golden age of games. They rarely stock anything older than NES era.

I love to hit flea markets, especially when I'm on a trip out of state. There's a few I always look forward to stopping at, and a couple that are always duds. Still, when I've been driving for six hours, it's nice to stretch the legs and walk around a good flea market. I usually leave empty-handed, unfortunately. But that's okay, it's still fun.

[namzep]

I buy most of my stuff anymore from private sales (mostly online but from individuals not stores) although I buy some stuff locally at shops. I do virtually no shopping on ebay anymore (used to do a bunch but I find I can get better prices where I don't have to compete with global competition on games.

[The 1 2 P]

Now all my stuff is coming by way of clearance from Target, Sears and Best Buy.

[b0ub0u]

Me I would say that 60% of my stuff come from ebay, a 25% from boards just like here and 15% from retail stores

[Sabz5150]

The Play n Trade near me is my local hub, but I have found that good trades and sales can be made right here. I also eBay and chase around the fleamarts.

[Nebagram]

I voted second-hand store, though it's a close thing between that and eBay.

...Though not as close as the poll is right now.

[Arcade_Ness]

Ebay for the most part, those rare or obscure games are hard to find in the wild for me. I do frequent Game Over Videogames, which is a retro gaming store, and the occasional trip to a retail chain.

[BetaWolf47]

I broke the tie! I used to go to pawn shops a lot, but haven't had the chance in a few years. The Play N Trade around here is pretty decent though!

[PentiumMMX]

A bulk of my collection has come from garage sale finds, Game-X-Change, and Gamestop. Occassionally, I find something worthwhile at one of the 2 pawn shops in town, but that doesn't happen very often anymore.

[buzz_n64]

I mostly do swap meets, and a little bit a thrift stores, and only for hard to get titles do i resort to ebay

[darkslime]

Usually from pawn shops, the swap meet, or thrift stores.

[Smashed Brother]

Lately, I've been getting my games either off of here, or from ebay. I haven't found anything great at a secondhand store in awhile and when I do, it's usually way overpriced. Nothing beats winning a CIB game off of ebay for only .99 cents because nobody else bid on it! :D

[Nintega Grafx-16]

Teh interwebs

[The 1 2 P]

I use to get most of my stuff from ebay but for this generation in particular I've been getting the majority of my stuff on clearance from retailers such as Sears, Target, Toys R Us and Best Buy. I get a few things from Goodwill but nothing on a consistent basis because they are really hit or miss.

[nensondubois]

Play N Treade, the internet, Flea Markets, and other one time places.

[TheShireGamer]

For me, since Im currently trying to build up the more classic collections for systems, Im going to Trade in stores a lot (I do anyway), one of them, called Home video I visit almost every week, I dont buy things every week, I build up my money and then spend a bunch in one go to enhance the ammount of stuff I buy to make less trips :P I do use Retailers as well but not nearly as much right now.

[Polygon]

For it depends on the age of the game. I buy almost all of my new games on Amazon. However, sometimes I get them on eBay or GameGavel. All of my old games come off eBay, GameGavel, or here simply because there are no stores I know of selling old games.

[SEGA_Queen]

For used games I go to a game shops, second hand stores, thrift shops, and pawn shops.

For new, I go to Wal-Mart, Zellers, Future Shop, Bestbuy, or Gamestop/EB Games.

[VertigoProcess]

I get what I can from yard sales but I find myself coming home empty handed time and time again (game wise at least). It's tough down here, I can't wait to move back north...

[drthielegood]

Don't discount the deals that can be made on gaming forums like this one. While I haven't been around here long enough, it appears, to get access to the market place, I have done a bunch of deals with other collectors on sites like Atariage, Sega-16 and KLOV (not only for arcade stuff btw). People typically know what things are worth, and are usually selling to fund their continued involvement in the hobby. Furthermore, buying from other collectors usually means that you're getting stuff from people who care about their games and consoles. While it can be luck of the draw sometimes, in terms of whats available, I have been able to snag a Master System, a bunch of Vectrex stuff, and a ton of Colecovision, Genesis, SMS, and a mess of r4/r5 2600 carts in the last few months. Ebay can still get the job done (recently picked up a StarWars Arcade cart for 2600 for 10 cents) but the shipping alone can be a killer (I think I paid 50 times more the purchase price to ship the aforementioned cart).

Wherever you score your games just have fun doing it. The hunt can be the most exciting part. Its just that the hunt may mean not just finding a game, but finding it for a reasonable price...and that, unfortunately, has meant avoiding ebay sometimes.

Cheers,

Bob