San Fran area

[dgordon86]

Well i just moved to the san francisco area. Seems I've had some luck finding random nes/snes/gen carts here and there.

Anyone have any advise that lives in the area?

[j_factor]

Flea markets are your friend, and don't bother with pawn shops.

[PapaStu]

I'd second that. There arn't all that many local indy type stores left anymore. After my southbay store closed in Summer 04 I was forced to buy my stuff from EB/GS stores.

[rpgcollector]

Craig's List has tons of deals in that area. Here is the link:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/

[dgordon86]

Yeah, I was looking into the flea markets. Noticed therese a flea market every saturday at the Oakland coliseum. Has anyone been there? I'm really curious about that one. The problem is getting there on the bart.

It seems theres no direct route by walking. And I know the area is "hella" bad.




so far i've found..
mario paint - free

metroid- 3
double dragon - 3
TMNt 2- 3
Side pocket (my gf wanted)-3
CLU CLU land (gf, again)- 3

Star control w/ box and instructions- 3.50

and 6 famicom games, two of which I know are Double Dragon one and Two. - 2 each.

[j_factor]

Yeah, I was looking into the flea markets. Noticed therese a flea market every saturday at the Oakland coliseum. Has anyone been there? I'm really curious about that one. The problem is getting there on the bart.

It seems theres no direct route by walking. And I know the area is "hella" bad.

I wasn't aware of such a flea market, but if it's actually at the Coliseum itself, there is a foot bridge from the bart station.

[PapaStu]

It's not at the Coliseum, its at an old Drive-In about 2 mintues down the freeway from the Coliseum, called the Coliseum Drive-In. If you were to get there by BART take the Coliseum exit, get out of the station and turn right. Go up a bit, and work your way to the left, since it backs up next to the freeway. I'm not sure of the exact route though since i've never been there.

[dgordon86]

thanks!

[Steven]

Head for the Berryessa flea market... it's huge and full of good video game deals. Normally I keep this stuff to myself but I think I pretty much maxed it out, so to speak, so why not spread the wealth? ;)

[john_soper]

Head for the Berryessa flea market... it's huge and full of good video game deals.
Berryessa is nice (which is in San Jose btw). I've found a 2600 Halloween and 5200 Meteorites there in past years. One booth has tons of gaming hardware available too. Plus $14 new release dvds with no sales tax are always nice.

[koster]

Head for the Berryessa flea market... it's huge and full of good video game deals. Normally I keep this stuff to myself but I think I pretty much maxed it out, so to speak, so why not spread the wealth? ;)

Not many deals to be had there lately, at least for me. Several of the regular videogame dealers do sweeps of the area in the early morning offering to buy game lots (from modern games to classics/imports) from other sellers, etc.

My last videogame "deal" there was a cart-only genuine CIMA cart for $8, that I rescued from a group of CIMA bootlegs.

On the other hand, the Produce Row there usually has a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. :)

[tubeway]

Thanks for the great info, Koster. I guess it makes sense that I've had a hard time finding anything decent there the past few years. The only thing I found were CIB NM Ninja Gaiden II and Gyruss in some dude's VHS tape bins. $2 each was a bargain.

[Sosage]

Head for the Berryessa flea market... it's huge and full of good video game deals. Normally I keep this stuff to myself but I think I pretty much maxed it out, so to speak, so why not spread the wealth? ;)

Not many deals to be had there lately, at least for me. Several of the regular videogame dealers do sweeps of the area in the early morning offering to buy game lots (from modern games to classics/imports) from other sellers, etc.

I had a similar problem the last time I hit my usual flea market. Someone was hitting everyone up early and reselling it just on the other side of the market. The problem wasn't so much finding stuff (since I show up early or not at all), but convincing non-regular sellers that I wasn't trying to pull the same crap (though honestly...it isn't anyone's business what I do with it).

As for spots. I've heard of a good flea up in the Sacramento area. Never been but a few people have recommended it. My regular hunting ground is at the Concord flea. It is very hit or miss (and honestly...I hit it more out of convenience). If anyone hitting it sees a big white dude with a beard a girlfriend and a black duffel bag squatting over NES carts during an early Sunday morning...it is probably me. ;) Actually...that could still be anyone. If the person responds to "sosage" then you have the right guy. =P

[jasonlotp]

Thanks for the great info, Koster. I guess it makes sense that I've had a hard time finding anything decent there the past few years. The only thing I found were CIB NM Ninja Gaiden II and Gyruss in some dude's VHS tape bins. $2 each was a bargain.
Yeah, Berryessa is the sux. Its all established dealers and very little garage sale style booths.
The other big flea market in town is the one I hit up as much as possible and get most of my great scores.

[john_soper]

As for spots. I've heard of a good flea up in the Sacramento area. Never been but a few people have recommended it. My regular hunting ground is at the Concord flea. It is very hit or miss (and honestly...I hit it more out of convenience).
Sounds like Denios up in Roseville. My best finds there have been a $25 Nes top-loader and a $3 5200 Zaxxon. One guy told me he found a 2600 prototype there many years ago. The Sacremento heat is a second reason to hit that one early in the day.
You mentioned Concord, do you ever hit 4Jays?

[koster]

Yeah, Berryessa is the sux. Its all established dealers and very little garage sale style booths.
The other big flea market in town is the one I hit up as much as possible and get most of my great scores.
Which flea market is that - the one at the Capitol Drive-In?

[Steven]

Yeah, Berryessa is the sux. Its all established dealers and very little garage sale style booths.
The other big flea market in town is the one I hit up as much as possible and get most of my great scores.
Which flea market is that - the one at the Capitol Drive-In?

Naw, the Capitol Drive-In is a different one, and it sucks. Only like two video game stands (one a Mexican old lady) and the other an Asian family that leaves early (get there at noon, and they're gone, but they have tons of games)

4Jays rock. I got Aero Fighters from them for $25, turned around and sold it (a double) for $53. Lately the pickings been slim though. I usually hit them once a month. (it's an hour drive for me)

[Sosage]

As for spots. I've heard of a good flea up in the Sacramento area. Never been but a few people have recommended it. My regular hunting ground is at the Concord flea. It is very hit or miss (and honestly...I hit it more out of convenience).
Sounds like Denios up in Roseville. My best finds there have been a $25 Nes top-loader and a $3 5200 Zaxxon. One guy told me he found a 2600 prototype there many years ago. The Sacremento heat is a second reason to hit that one early in the day.
You mentioned Concord, do you ever hit 4Jays?

I can't really think of any huge deals out here. It is pretty average for the most part. I think the rarest thing I bought from there was a sun faded Ka-Ge-Ki for the Genesis.

I keep meaning to hit 4Jays, but never fully commit to going because of either time or money, both of which I don't have a lot of. ;(

[dgordon86]

sorry if i don't follow, where is 4jays? I looked on google, but couldnt find info.

I can only go as far as the bart/commuter and public transit go. :P

[j_factor]

4Jays is out in Antioch. I don't know of any way to get there via public transport.

The Concord flea market used to be great. Not so much anymore.

[john_soper]

sorry if i don't follow, where is 4jays? I looked on google, but couldnt find info.

I can only go as far as the bart/commuter and public transit go. :P
What do you mean? It's the first result from google: www.4jays.com
Don't get no simpler than that.

[jasonlotp]

Yeah, Berryessa is the sux. Its all established dealers and very little garage sale style booths.
The other big flea market in town is the one I hit up as much as possible and get most of my great scores.
Which flea market is that - the one at the Capitol Drive-In?

Naw, the Capitol Drive-In is a different one, and it sucks. Only like two video game stands (one a Mexican old lady) and the other an Asian family that leaves early (get there at noon, and they're gone, but they have tons of games)

4Jays rock. I got Aero Fighters from them for $25, turned around and sold it (a double) for $53. Lately the pickings been slim though. I usually hit them once a month. (it's an hour drive for me)

Actually I was referring to the Capitol one. And it doesn't suck (Shhh!), but I hope everyone thinks it sucks because the less gamers hunting there the better the pickings for me. :D

[Iron Draggon]

There's a shop in Chinatown that has GBA & PSP games. I don't remember the name of it, but it's on the left side of Grant street as you're walking down it from California, and it's one of the first shops you come to after you cross that intersection. I got a factory sealed Muppet Pinball Mayhem there for only $24, which is one of the hardest GBA games to find mint & complete, much less factory sealed. So you might want to check it out, if you collect for those systems.

[jasonlotp]

There's a shop in Chinatown that has GBA & PSP games. I don't remember the name of it, but it's on the left side of Grant street as you're walking down it from California, and it's one of the first shops you come to after you cross that intersection. I got a factory sealed Muppet Pinball Mayhem there for only $24, which is one of the hardest GBA games to find mint & complete, much less factory sealed. So you might want to check it out, if you collect for those systems.
Last year I scoured Chinatown in the hope of finding a cool videogame import store. No cheap famiclone stuff though! Just some GBA and modern systems but not a single pirate system. Same thing with Japantown in SF, no import stores. Tons of cheap non-videogame knockoffs though.
I mean there has to be at least 1 hidden gem there right? :/

[Iron Draggon]

I passed through Japantown, but didn't have a chance to scour it on this trip. Sounds like it would've been a search in vain anyway, as far as games go. But hopefully next time I'll be able to revisit Japantown and get a nice Noh mask or a Kimono or something. Maybe a few Maneki Nekos at least.

[koster]

I checked out the electronics flea market (http://www.asvaro.org/fleamarket) at De Anza College in Cupertino (this used to be held at Foothill College).

Video game stuff was rather sparse but I did manage to snag a couple of cheap PSX games. I'll probably go again next month.