Any adults here..or just children??!!

[Player-2]

Having posted this on another thread,I wanted to find out if only I think this way...
Let me tick some people off here.I have been wandering around this site for quite a while now...and I routinely read about people (must be children and older infants)laughing at prices paid for collectibles by buyers.My wife and I (avid gamers for decades)represent the 40 and 50 year old age groups.Age (sprinkled with education and intelligence) will teach anyone that the value of an item is ALWAYS set by the buyer...not the seller...and certainly not by those who sit at the sidelines and lack the finances,insight, and ability to acquire those items.If price alone dictates the value of an item,there will be no retro anything.I have, on occasion,paid too much money for an item;but it saves me hours of lost and wasted time searching.I decided the better value was saving the time.Children think in terms of money...adults understand the meaning of value.Just because Bill Gates can buy and sell your ass for as much as he wants,doesn't make him a fool.Some of the folks are getting in the way of retro-gaming and collecting with thier demeaning attitudes toward buyers.They may be better served by nickelodeon's(sp?) website

[portnoyd]

Ummm... what?

Basically what you're trying to do is justify paying $200+ for a sealed FF SNES game, since you posted this also in that thread. We'll use that as an example.

The child, as you put it, is wrong to think that paying $200 for a game that is up on eBay all the time (without shrinkwrap) is a bad move. For them value = money.

The adult feels they know the value of a sealed FF SNES game, and the amount is justified and logical. They have the money, and that's how they want to spend it, even if the money they pay will not 'turn around' for them in the end. For them, value = money + (outside perceived factors).

Right?

Well, first off, your own view is skewed by the fact that you do have money like this to spend - let's be honest! It's not about ability and insight - it's about finances. If you can blow $200 on FF2 SNES sealed, you should, by your logic, if you feel the value is right. Insight and ability would preclude trying to get it for a lower price - spending less, and buying more. Anyone with a nice bankroll can force through and buy up a storm.

Which is fine. But the rest of us have tight wallets. And we're more concerned with stretching our dollar. And the chance of us stretching that dollar on an item decreases when someone throws the hammer down, to say.

The real problem, and the ridicule's source, is that people do this sort of thing, and set precedents. Sure, they do their thing, but the other bidders do not know your value logic. They don't know you're saving time. And now, the game's price jumps. And you screw us all. The other bidders, the REAL uneducated collectors, just go by this precedent, and it's an uphill climb from there.

In some cases, game prices go uneffected. Loneeagle4u's panesian purchase comes to mind. We don't know why he bid so much, was it because he didn't want to be bothered to wait and fight for it, or was it because he truly, for some reason, thought PABP was worth nearly a grand? I know I don't care that much to find out. But prices recovered. Fine.

In other cases, the precedent is set, and it's all over. Anyone remember the time when a DKC comp cart could be had for $40? In that case, the jump was more justified - it is a rare game. However, other games, like the Punisher on Genesis, grabbing $40+ complete, when 6 months prior, it struggled to get $10. I'd be fuming if I hadn't gotten it before that time. And I felt the need to ridicule those who just set the precedent on a game that could have effected me.

And it's a very broad generalization to think that those of us who haunt this forum don't take things into account 'like adults'. Personally, as one of the 'children' labeled in this post, I have the time to hunt for deals. I'm single, no kids, and previously had no job. I don't have to throw down extra cash if I don't have to, because I'll be patient. And I don't have the extra cash to throw down to save myself time.


If price alone dictates the value of an item,there will be no retro anything

Ummm... what? When has this been said? You do know about the two big honking rarity guides DP does, right? ;D Most of the time (I can't remember any instances now, but I won't write it off) our ridicules are based on previous selling prices vs. rarity. Again, DKC comp cart. Did I flip out when that jumped to three figures? No. It was justified. But I did make a Genesis Insanity post regarding Punisher, and other titles like Toe Jam & Earl, where a copy went for $80 complete.

And I'll admit, a sealed game is a horrible example to start with on this sort of thing. Let's keep in mind people are going to be staring at this game, not playing it. Essentially, in reality, its value should be lower, since you can't play the game. Its original purpose. None who buys a sealed game, with a very small margin of difference, is going to open it and play it. But instead, it's way higher. Also, the value of FF SNES is skewed, because it's based on popularity, solely. The insight minded adult buyer would realize that they could get the game, for much less, complete and open.

And as far as retro anything, isn't it about enjoying the retro anything, instead of just collecting it?

I imagine this post is disjointed a bit. I jumped around, trying to tie it together, and make it flow. If you don't understand anything, reply, and I'll clarify.

dave

[portnoyd]

And to post my own thoughts from Funkenstein's excellent point,

The 'I WANT IT NOW, RIGHT NOW' attitude shows impatience. If you're truly the adult buyer you are, you'd use some patience in your purchases. ;)

And I know you're impatient, because you felt the need to click the Post New Message button again, because it was taking too long, therefore making two new topics instead of one. ;) ;) ;)

dave

[Achika]

I split the other topic, and locking this one and the "click happy" one, so you can post here:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33894

From now on. I also added all your talky-talk to the other thread Dave.