Online game stores: What are your experiences?

[Retro Pro]

I did a search and didn't see a thread like this, so I thought I'd start my own.

I'll skip mentions of ebgames.com and gamestop.com since we've all heard of them and know about their service and instead talk talk about the positive experiences I've had with two somewhat obscure stores (obscure compared to massive giants like ebgames.com and gamestop.com).

The GOAT Store (http://www.goatstore.com) - I can't say enough good things about this store. A few weeks ago, I posted a topic about the Genesis (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=251450) and expressed interest in buying an original Genesis 1 model without the license screen. I got to talking with GoatDan (the owner) and we exchanged several PMs back and forth about shipping rates and so on. He was there every step of the way with quick responses to my questions. Needless to say, I eventually ordered the Genny and got it 2 days after it was shipped. It was packed well, looks great for such an old system, and most importantly, works perfectly. Fantastic!

MW Electronics (http://www.mwelectronics.com) - I found out about these guys through that huge GBA flash cart thread (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=253688) from a few weeks ago. I wanted to order an EZFlash Advance, but at the time of the thread, they were all sold out. I e-mailed them asking when they'd have more in stock and got a quick response. Ditto for my follow-up e-mail about a week later. When they did eventually get it in stock and I was able to order it, it was shipped the same day and arrived shortly thereafter. Now I'm rocking and rolling with old NES games on my GBA. Major plus: These guys are based in the U.S. (Florida), unlike most of the other flash cart distributors, which operate out of Hong Kong and other foreign locations.

Well, those are my recent online shopping experiences. What are yours?

[goatdan]

Wow. Thanks for the kind words! :-D

Gary and I actually started the GOAT Store because we had some horrible experiences with other online vendors. A lot of these places are gone or operate only on eBay now, but I spent weeks waiting for some Jaguar shipments and received a bunch of "new" items that looked nothing like they were new.

I, along with what seems to be everyone else, had a poor experience with "Buy Rite Games" (for more info, visit http://www.boycottbuyritegames.com/ ) I had some good experiences with VGLQ (Video Game Liquidators) but after about a year of getting tons of stuff through them with decent shipping rates, they started charging $9.90 per ITEM (with no combining, at least at the time). I haven't bought anything from them since.

I had horrible experiences with Telegames based on them refusing to repair or replace a broken Jaguar game that was given away as a prize at Jagfest 2K1 (according to them, "we gave it away, so we aren't going to replace it") Due to that, I didn't buy any of my Telegames games new.

I have really enjoyed Lik-Sang, although I only bought one or two things from them. We've actually traded back and forth quite a bit though, and they have always been awesome. They have some great Dreamcast games :)

There is a really nice ranking of a bunch of video game stores at http://www.vgstores.com/viewallstores.php that includes everything from some of the smaller stores to eBay and ebgames.com. I'll admit that I'm disappointed by our current 4.5 star rating :-P

[Ze_ro]

I got a whole bunch of Jaguar stuff from Video Game Liquidators (http://www.vglq.com), and had no problems whatever. That was years ago though, before they started all this eBay stuff, so who knows if that still applies.

--Zero

[FABombjoy]

I would have bought just about 1 of everything from Video Game Liquidators if it wasn't for their braindead "fee avoidance" shipping rates.

[Flack]

Lik-Sang: I bought my GP32 from them about a year ago. I have bought things from them in the past as well. Never had any problems.

I also bought a Sega Genesis flash rom cart from Tototek (http://www.tototek.com). They have some interesting items, and I did eventually receive my item, but expect poor-to-no communication once you pay and long shipping times. It was over a month before my item showed up, and despite several e-mails, I never got a response. I was quite surprised when the item showed up.

I just did a quick web check of most of the places I have bought things from in the past. Most of them are gone. The biggest disappointment is 8-Bit Designs (http://www.8bitdesigns.com/gamepad.html), where I bought my PSX-looking controller for the C64 (works on the Atari 2600 as well). I would have bought more than one at the time had I known they were leaving.

[oesiii]

I've never had any problems with Lik-Sang or www.ncsx.com for imports. My most recent online purchase was from:

http://www.vintagefunworld.com/

Great selection and prices, and Chris was very friendly with my order. Got about $50 worth of Atari stuff and he sent it in a couple of days, well-packed.

[Atari7800]

www.ncsx.com ....is the best I've tried
www.japanvideogames.com ...has excellent service, crazy shipping prices
www.mcvans.com ...good used stock, excellent service, high prices
www.telegames.com... dumbass old f**ks who totally suck a**
www.ebgames.com... good prices, but most everything is loose

Avoid BuyRite AT ALL COSTS!

[IntvGene]

I've had good experiences with the following:

www.tronixweb.com
www.atari2600.com
www.game-lord.com

[Parodius]

www.playasia.com good prices. Great selection.

www.yesasia.com good prices. FREE shipping. Got a Tales of Symphonia LE GC with the matching gameboy player, the game, and a memory card 59 for $199 with shipping!!!!

www.collectorscardsandgames.com great service. Cheap prices.

[Oobgarm]

www.ncsx.com - pretty much the only site I deal with when buying imports.

www.videogamedepot.com - Bought my import PS2 there. Quick and friendly, and some low prices!

Buyrite is the plague. I also recommend avoiding it. Not too big of a VGLQ fan either, since they ripped me off on Yahoo Auctions some time ago. :angry:

[EnemyZero]

I go to
www.videogameimports.com for all my import games
www.lik-sang.com for import consoles
www.mcvans.com for classics

[tholly]

GOAT store is awesome....quality products and quick ass shipping at decent prices.

Toys'N'Joys is decent pretty good....real quick shipping also..

i didnt deal with any other stores

[Lady Jaye]

Thanks for recommending NCSX. I'll deal with them when comes time to get the pink GBA SP (shipping's less expensive than with Lik-Sang, since it's shipped from NYC, and it's faster too, for obvious geographical reasons...).

[Packerfan66]

This news is 2 months old but did anyone hear about the guy who flew into carolina to go to the buyrite store because they wouldn't send his games? He had a baseball bat and started swinging at the employees. That sure gave me a good laugh because of how bad the service of buyrite is.
This shit is to funny:
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72569

Yes violence solves everything!

[Kejoriv]

Baseball bat! haha LOL

[Packerfan66]

I guess he even injured a few employees and got to the back room. I wish I could have been there. I would have tied up the employee's looted the placed and burned the store down. I would then distribute the goods to anyone who was burned by them.