Retro game stores that hoarde boxes

[sirhansirhan]

I went retro game shopping today at a few places that sell old games, and one of them had a copy of Fun N Games on SNES; this particular store has display boxes on the floor which you bring up to the counter, and then they give you the game cart-only at the counter, keeping the box. I tried to talk them out of the box, because A) I knew that that store would probably never get a copy of that again, so their display box (which is, in fact, the game's real, original box, if I hadn't made that clear) would just sit in the back, and B) because I knew I would never see that box again. But still, they wouldn't let me have it, even when I offered to pay more.

I'm a little more understanding if the business is a one-off owned by a collector who needs his boxes, but this place is a small chain, with eight stores in my city and more in other cities. What's also frustrating is that this isn't the first time that I've run across this problem, and this isn't the only chain. There are at least 12 stores within a 50 mile radius of me that uses this method to display their games, and will never, ever part with their boxes.

I'm not sure that there's a question here or really even anything to repsond to; I just wanted to vent.

[The Manimal]

yeah, this sucks sometimes. especially when it's an extremely common game and the prices are already inflated past what it should be, complete.


i got into an argument a few years back because i bought NHL 95 for the SNES or GENESIS, don't remember. it was $7.99, used. Worth probably $1-2. Brought the box to the counter, the guy grabbed the game from the back, gave me a total, I paid him, he then put the game in the bag and I asked him about the box. He then told me the box was not included. While still at the counter, I said this was not mentioned anywhere and assumed it was included. He said 'no', and then I asked for a refund. He refused, saying 'all sales are final'. So I started arguing with him, saying I just paid for this game, didn't even walk away from the counter, and I couldn't refund it or get an exchange or anything like that? With enough pressure over this dead common EA sports game, he said 'fine', threw the box in there, and kind of hinted that I shouldn't come back to the store. I didn't, for a few years. I've gone back, and I don't think the guy remembers.

[BydoEmpire]

Heh, wow that sucks, especially for a common game. It's not like the box would have been worth anything to him.

[nik]

What the hell?

Idiots, thats just bad buisness sense, what morons!

All the stores here just give away the boxes, they don't need them, take up too much room, just need the carts.

Fine by me!

[zektor]

Heh, wow that sucks, especially for a common game. It's not like the box would have been worth anything to him.

Well, actually, Fun N Games for the SNES is not common at all. According to the DP rarity guide, it is an 8....and it's release supposedly numbers 2000. But still, they don't know that. They probably want to keep the box for something idiotic like making their shelves look full.

Still, I would have told them that if I couldnt get the box, they loose the game sale.

[Matt-El]

Heh, wow that sucks, especially for a common game. It's not like the box would have been worth anything to him.

Well, actually, Fun N Games for the SNES is not common at all. According to the DP rarity guide, it is an 8....and it's release supposedly numbers 2000. But still, they don't know that. They probably want to keep the box for something idiotic like making their shelves look full.

Still, I would have told them that if I couldnt get the box, they loose the game sale.


He was actually referring to the other post in this topic.

I can relate my own as well. I wanted to pick up Batman:ROTJ for NES BECAUSE I thought that the "display box" was included. I relented and bought it anyway after finding out, rather than arguing.

Pissed me off, because that was the MAIN Reason to buy it. I Don't mind too much, but when It's a game you really want, It's a bitch.

[grimbal]

In the late 90's I worked at a regional used game store called Game X Change. The store I worked at was the headquarters for the entire chain.

Every box that came in would go back to the warehouse to either be used by our store or (and this was most often the case) be stored for use at future store openings. Other times if another store called needing copies of a box then they would send one if there was extras. The owner even would travel around the south east and buy box lots where ever he could. I remember one trip he came back from with over 2000 NES boxes.

One portion of the back was full of game boxes. Now depending on the box, they would let some go when customers asked. But there had to be plenty of extras.

Even with all the stock we had I still remember some we didn't have more than 1 or 2 copies of. Death Race for the NES was one we didn't have at all. Master of Monsters for Genesis we only had one of. Ogre Battle for the SNES we only had 1.

[FullCircle]

SirhanSirhan, this chain doesn't happen to be Game Craze, does it? I gave that place plenty of business, and asked the guys there repeatedly to either give or sell me their display box for the CD-i. They refused, said they need it for the window despite the fact that they do not have and CD-i systems or games. Finally, after months of offering to purchase it, I went in and it was gone, probably thrown out.

[sirhansirhan]

In the late 90's I worked at a regional used game store called Game X Change. The store I worked at was the headquarters for the entire chain.

There are three GameXchanges in my town, and I've had this problem there before, but it was not them that I was referring to.

And no, FullCircle, the chain in question is Slackers, of which there are probably 10-15 total in the Midwest.

[Flack]

I did the same thing at GameXchange. I bought a couple of overpriced Star Wars games (NES and SNES) there before OVGE last year, just so I would have the boxes for display (I already had the games loose; I just wanted the boxes). Imagine my surprise when I didn't get the boxes. I didn't say anything at the counter because I felt stupid.

[XYXZYZ]

See, this thread is educational. Remember kids, always ask about the box *before* you buy that cartridge.

Does this ever happen with jewel boxes for CD games?

[Tony Montana]

I got even a better one, theres a little store I go to every once in awhile when Im near it. They have a few boxed systems up on a shelf so I asked how much they were, and they had to call the owner who said they werent for sale. I can understand hanging on to one box to decorate the store but there was like 3 boxed Jaguars sitting there that he wouldnt sell any of.

The funny thing is I came back a month or 2 later and he sold me one of the jaguars, I guess you just need to catch him on a good day.

[sirhansirhan]

Well, I have a funny little follow-up to my original story:

I have been looking for a box for Fun 'N Games for a while, and the fact that I now knew the location of one that I couldn't have was bothering me. Since the store at which I found it is about an hours' drive from my house, I gave them a call today and asked for a manager, and explained how I'd really like to buy that box. The manager put me in touch with the guy who owns all of the Slackerses, and after talking to him for a while, we decided that he would sell me the box for $12. I might be overpaying, but whatever; I'm happy to get it. Also, it was kind of nice and sort of strange that the guy who runs, what, like fifteen of those stores would take 30 minutes out of his day to haggle with a weird customer who wants to buy something that isn't for sale.

[rbudrick]

Well, I have a funny little follow-up to my original story:


I have been looking for a box for Fun 'N Games for a while, and the fact that I now knew the location of one that I couldn't have was bothering me. Since the store at which I found it is about an hours' drive from my house, I gave them a call today and asked for a manager, and explained how I'd really like to buy that box. The manager put me in touch with the guy who owns all of the Slackerses, and after talking to him for a while, we decided that he would sell me the box for $12. I might be overpaying, but whatever; I'm happy to get it. Also, it was kind of nice and sort of strange that the guy who runs, what, like fifteen of those stores would take 30 minutes out of his day to haggle with a weird customer who wants to buy something that isn't for sale.

$12 for a box? Damn, that's hardcore. I can't say you got ripped off if it was worth that much to you, as I see it was, but I think that the manager truly believes he ripped you off, taking advantage of a collector. The dick. It shoulda been fucking free with the game.

Damn...

-Rob

[Damaniel]

12 bucks for a box would be pretty steep for most games (especially since you already paid for the game that came in that box), but I'd consider 12 bucks to be worth it to complete an R8.

Also, are you getting the manual for that price, or just the box?

[hezeuschrist]

There are a load of boxes I would pay $12 for, especially some tough to find NES/SNES RPG boxes. Dragon Warrior II-IV? Hell yeah. I paid $20 for Chrono Trigger Box/instruction/maps off this board right when i started posting here. Of course they'd have to be in fantastic condition.

The problem is I usually refuse to buy cart only games, because the chances of even finding loose boxes is pretty slim, let alone ones you're looking for. I've been looking for box/inst for StarFox and Super Punch Out!! for years now.

I usually end up paying through the nose for complete copies of cart based RPG's, but I'm just about through all of them so it's not so much of an issue anymore.

[bazariah]

some of those amercan stores are a bit idiotic im my opinion

are there also car dealerships who are willing to take you on a test drive, then when it comes to paying they take out the seats? thats the same sorta thing, if i see a game in a box and bought said game, i should imagine that it would come complete with that box

do you guys have some kind of trading standards companies you can contact? i mean it's blatant false advertising by these shops, if they have the box on the shelf and they dont want to sell the box with the game it should say display box only or something to that effect

[Ed Oscuro]

some of those amercan stores are a bit idiotic im my opinion
Yup, I definitely won't disagree with that. They're either shady (opening sealed games, like GameStop) price manipulators (you have no chance of getting a deal at one of those as they go by an overpriced computerized listing system), or they know absolutely nothing about hobbyists so they make stupid decisions like throwing out all boxes (GBA in particular - the local case is just empty carts, absolutely no boxes). Ugh. I'm not sure if this trend is going to end with the appearance of plastic Nintendo DS cases, and I believe I saw a loose NDS game in that case when I visited that store a few months back.

[GarrettCRW]

I'm not sure if this trend is going to end with the appearance of plastic Nintendo DS cases, and I believe I saw a loose NDS game in that case when I visited that store a few months back.

It won't. After all, how many Master System, Genesis, TG-16, Sega CD, Saturn, PS1/2, Dreamcast, etc. games do you see without the original cases?

[portnoyd]

I have a slightly similar story. When I was in Atlanta for a month for work, I made it a point to hit every pawn and game store in Atlanta and its burbs. I hit so many places, and got so much crap I had to ship it home.

Anyway, a few stops were for SwapUSA. They are a gamestore chain down in that area. Nice stores. So I'm doing my hunt, and in full Genesis mode. So I get to the second one, and I'm looking, I'm looking...

And then I see them. In the back behind the counter, in a 4' x 4' closet-without-a-door spot, were boxed Genesis games. Tons of them. All ranged from fill the hole sports games, to shit like Uncharted Waters and both Mutant Leagues. So I ask the guy at the counter if those games were for sale. He said they were just empty boxes and not for sale.

Now this puzzled me. Why? So I press him and say I like my games with boxes, and can he pluck out certain ones, he can set the price. He agrees. No one in the store, why not help this dork from NJ out?

A half hour later I have about 90 boxes I need. 50 cents a piece. Sold. I even pick up Syd of Valis and Monopoly dirt cheap complete. I go back to the hotel happy.

So towards the end of my trip, I have crossed off just about every stop on my list. Being as one of the biggest scores was this SwapUSA, I decide to go back. I had rationed my money, and therefore, only taken boxes I needed at the time, not everything that could be worth more than 50 cents as well. Being as I had some extra loot, I figured, might as well fluff the ole tradebox. I go in, and hightail it my closet.

Everything is gone. Every box, nothing left. Nothing in the closet either! It was a different guy working, and I didn't question it. I figure the manager or owner was the type Sirhan Sirhan had run into run into with his experience experience (Sorry), and was annoyed that someone had pinched his boxes.

I lucked out, sorry you didn't Sirhan. :\

[NinjaJoey23]

There's a Rhino Games close to where I go to school in TN that doesn't charge anything for used game boxes. For example, they sell Megaman 3 loose for $10. They also sell it boxed for $10. I've never found anything remarkable, but it's a great place to find cheap boxes.

Of course, their loose games are generally overpriced, with a crappy, beat-up copy of Chrono Trigger stickered at $50.

[sirhansirhan]

12 bucks for a box would be pretty steep for most games (especially since you already paid for the game that came in that box), but I'd consider 12 bucks to be worth it to complete an R8.

Also, are you getting the manual for that price, or just the box?

I'm just getting the box. Now I have two copies of the cart, one box, and no manuals.

What's even stupider is that the instruction manual alone just turned up on eBay, but I dropped the ball and lost the auction. A forum member has a complete copy up, though, so we'll see how much that goes for...

[cyberfluxor]

I was re-reading this thread and thinking I've yet to come across a place that keeps the boxes out of reach, but have been quite pissed off at big retail companies. I've seen them take trade-ins for old games that are complete, grab the cartridge and crush the complete box and toss it into the trash. These people make me sick to say they love video games...

[Trade-N-Games]

I own a store in St louis. I only have display boxes for my SNES game now on the floor. I dont let the customer have the box when they get the game. The deal with that is I have more than a few of each game and if I start to stack the loose carts out on the floor they will get stolen. So I use a display box. Now over the last few years some of the boxes are starting to be worth more than the carts so I have been working on scanning each on front and back and making a data base so I can print them out and slip them into a DVD case for display. My big plans are to market this for future stores who want a nice display box but are unable to get an original.
Now before you ask what I am going to do with every box, they are from my personal collection and anytime a better box came into the store the display box got an upgrade.

[Push Upstairs]

While time consuming, that DVD cover idea is really nice.

Makes me wish that the place i used to work at used that, but they only scanned carts/boxes that they needed but didnt have a box to display.

I can see this issue from both sides. One the one hand i'd like my games to have the case (Genesis mostly) and a manual. On the other side i've had to work somewhere where giving out cases wasn't an option. We always ended up with far more carts than cases and alot of times when we did get cases it was saved up/sent to another store.

[Trade-N-Games]

I also have a big section of boxed games for sale for the Atari , NES, SNES and genesis. Now often they cost a little more as any collector knows but I often sell them for a few bucks more since they get all the original instruction and stuff with the game.
I have an employee that after a few weeks was a little weirded out since he was a collector and he did not know that all my store display boxes were my personal collection and then he said that swhy they were all almost perfect.

[Smiling Jack]

I hate gameXchange stores for that reason, there are several stores in my area and one down the street from me. They horde the boxes using them for display. What realy sucks is that must of the boxes are in perfect shape.

[Bleetness]

Hmm, If I sell my psp, Ima hit up gameXchange and start some shit. Though I hear the local one near me has rare shit ^_^

[Push Upstairs]

The other game store around here still keeps boxes but (mostly) underprices good stuff.

[Slate]

I saw some NES boxes in a rental store. I offered to buy them, But the girl who was working there said she didn't have the authority to sell them.

The next time I was in, They were gone. I figured that she threw them away.

[Promophile]

I hate to dredge up an old post, but a few days ago I had a similar experience. Finals week was winding down, and I was wasting some time before heading home for the summer. I walked into the nearby independent game store, and what do I see on the rack but the box for Ren and Stimpy: Firedogs, in pristine condition no less! As I'm sure many of you know, it was a rental only game that's hard to find boxed, let alone with a box not battered and covered in rental stickers. Sadly, I couldn't convince the employees to sell me the box. I had the same thing happen when a Earthbound box popped up at the store a year ago. I may try what sirhan did and contact the owner of the chain. Honestly, If i owned one of these chains I would make photocopies of the boxes I got in and sell boxed games for a premium to collectors.

[RugalSizzler]

. Brought the box to the counter,

First off the Store people put them up as advertments or mini big posters.

Two you never ask for the box you just take the box with you and walk out as if it was part of the sale.

Personally when we had Funcoland and even early Gamestop they would have everything behind the counter and just the cases in the front. They would give us an option sometime also.

The problem with you people is the stores you are buying from needs those for display like I need a VCR to play VHS tapes. If these are small chains then they wil do this since they own the place or is a family bussiness.

Also when they ring up the price just say "Uhmm the box " like if you don't know anything at all. If they say "the box is only for display" then tell them nevermind I don't want the game again and just keep looking around for something else and walk out.

[RadiantSvgun]

In the late 90's I worked at a regional used game store called Game X Change. The store I worked at was the headquarters for the entire chain.

Every box that came in would go back to the warehouse to either be used by our store or (and this was most often the case) be stored for use at future store openings. Other times if another store called needing copies of a box then they would send one if there was extras. The owner even would travel around the south east and buy box lots where ever he could. I remember one trip he came back from with over 2000 NES boxes.

One portion of the back was full of game boxes. Now depending on the box, they would let some go when customers asked. But there had to be plenty of extras.

Even with all the stock we had I still remember some we didn't have more than 1 or 2 copies of. Death Race for the NES was one we didn't have at all. Master of Monsters for Genesis we only had one of. Ogre Battle for the SNES we only had 1.


The Game X Change here sells their boxes now. I bought my Ogre Battle Box there.

[xfrumx]

2 Stores here in Morgantown, WV don't keep boxes The Game Exhcange(not gameXchange) and vintage video. the game is either the same price or up to $5 more with box and manual

usually about $2, and of course the 2 doods that own those stores are collectors

[Buyatari]

I had that problem.

I offered to trade 2 boxes they needed for 1 I wanted that they would never use.

I brought in a bunch of N64 boxes and walked out with SNES Harvest Moon,Ogre Battle,Dracula X,the megaman X series and a few others I needed like Mr Do and Qbert3.

Never give up.
N64 is NEWER and BETTER plus 2 for 1 come on. Only an idiot would pass up a deal like that.

[udisi]

I'm well aware of slackers. I think they have 10 stores in Missouri and Illinois only. The biggest shame is that they have a lot of the rarer SNES and Genesis boxes, but they get trashed on their show floor. There's already a free place on the internet that has free inserts that fit standard plastic game cases and look like original boxes. I just hate seeing original boxes get trashed.

[bangtango]

I saw some NES boxes in a rental store. I offered to buy them, But the girl who was working there said she didn't have the authority to sell them.

The next time I was in, They were gone. I figured that she threw them away.

I had the exact same thing happen to me. Don't assume the boxes you saw got thrown away.

I walked into a rental store that was still renting NES games in 2002-2003. I used to rent games from this place in the late 1980's and early 1990's. There were around two dozen NES titles. Bring up the box and get your game, same as every other rental store. I asked the clerk about both the games and the boxes. She told me that the store hadn't rented an NES game out in more than a year, despite them still having choice shelf space. Anyway, she told me that the store owner might be interested in selling the games but certainly not the boxes. Some mumbo jumbo about needing the boxes for inventory or a friggin' tax writeoff (WTF?).

I go back in there again a month or two later. The games and boxes are gone. Initially, I assumed the boxes were thrown away or being stored out back and the games were being readied for sale in a bin with used movies. Great, I'd be back in next week to get some games. Instead I run into the same employee. She told me that she asked the owner about the games/boxes later that same day after I had been in and he gave the ok to get rid of them all for $50. They were even on hold for me, unofficially, since the owner knew me from when I was a kid and didn't anticipate anyone else being interested in the games for $50. Trouble is, some other guy had come into the store in between. Out of the blue, he asked if he might buy both the NES games and their boxes. His offer was $45. Sold.

[Hawksmoor]

Anyway, a few stops were for SwapUSA. They are a gamestore chain down in that area. Nice stores.

I worked for SwapUSA years ago for a few weeks and had to quit because of some ridiculous shit I won't go into here. Anyway, you really lucked out because they were notorious for overpricing everything and being incredibly stingy. More often than not they would sell a used, fairly current game for more than said game could be bought for new at Best Buy or other gaming retailers. It was really ridiculous. I think they're out of business now too, so if you ever return to Atlanta don't bother trying to go back.

As to the general theme of the thread I agree that it's infuriating to shop at places that won't sell you a box/case. Frankly, if I went into a place and they refused to sell me a box along with the game itself I'd just walk out. There are too many alternatives to condone crap like that.