Ever buy/trade for stuff just so you can trade it later?

[digitalpress]

You know.

You don't need it for YOUR collection, but it's a great deal and/or you know someone else "out there" will want it. Which means this item can eventually be used to get something you really DO need!

Ever do that?

Give me some examples.

Here's a 'three-levels-deep' version. I bought several lots of Genesis cartridges because Genny is getting hot; I stayed away from common lots whenever possible, and accumulated a pretty good pile of quality, complete Genesis games - all of which I already had in my collection. Traded the bulk of those away for a boxed Vectrex Imager. I needed the box but already had an Imager. Now I'm in the early stages of a deal with the Imager that could get me something I've been dying to have in my collection. TIC. TAC. TOE.

[Anonymous]

I've done trades which cut out the middle man. I sent a cart to butta who sent a cart to skatepunk who sent a cart to me. good trade, too.

[congobongo]

I'm always on the lookout for things I know other people want. It's always good to have trade bait especially when you know they have something you want! Also, if I see a lot of games in an auction, most of which I have, but maybe there's one that I want I will usually go for it if the rest of the lot is tradeable.

[klimatron8]

:-D Ditto what congo said. I just grabbed a 2nd Nes Namco Ms.Pacman and fired it right into my "tradebait" pile. It's always worthwhile to grab quality stuff. BTW I have 89 NES SuperMario/DuckHunts -want 1 ???? ---just kidding. LOL

[ghsqb]

Actually, yes, I do that all the time.
I constantly pick up things which I intend to trade.
Ironically, when I first started collecting, I planned to collect for only Coleco and INTV.
I came across some fairly rare A2600 games (Mr. Do's Castle, Bumper Bash, and Zellers titles) and snatched 'em up with the idea they'd make good trade bait.

Fast forward to today, where those same items are still in my collection, and I now have more A2600 carts than CV or INTY.... :-D

It also provides a convenient excuse to the wife why I bring home my 17th Coleco console or my 15th INTY....."But honey, they're trade bait, famous last words.

[Tritoch]

All the time, although most go into my "sell" pile instead of my "trade bait" pile. My best example is actually on eBay right this very second (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3011953264), and I'll probably throw up a sealed Ogre Battle 64 sometime this week that I bought on closeout only for the purpose of one day reselling.

[Raccoon Lad]

I just picked up a second copy of DK JR math, now I have 2 copies I don't want.

[nesman85]

i usually don't pick stuff up unless its something i want, or i find it in the wild and its a good deal. if somebody has something i want though, and i don't have what they want for it, i will buy the item specially for the trade. right now i'm looking for beyond shadowgate and camp california discs for tg16 cd because i need them for a trade.

[zektor]

I usually look for "lots" of carts on ebay, but only the ones that have even one or two carts I really need for my collection. I then pull those out and re-list the rest. Then I use that money to do it again...and again..and again. Sort of like recycling the carts :) I have been doing this for quite awhile, and have completed many a collection this way.

[sniperCCJVQ]

I do it almost all the time.

[maxlords]

Of course! Where would we be without trade bait? I picked up 4 (yes really) copies of Shadowrun for the Genesis recently....I"m back down to 2 again already too. I also recently trade for a copy of MK: Deadly Alliance fairly recently. I had it shipped to someone else entirely, and then sent the trade game off to butta (thanks butta!). Then when the other guy got MK, he sent me a stack of import game soundtracks! :) Yay! I do taht kind of stuff occasionally, just cause sometimes it's the only way to get the stuff I want.

[kainemaxwell]

I've started learning to pick up trading fodder myself lately.

[Nature Boy]

Yup - I picked up two copies of ECW Anarchy Rulez after hearing some people say it was tough to get thinking I could trade it away. I've still got it. It's one of those things I don't think I'll ever bother doing again - I can see the benefits and all but I dislike having a duplicate sitting around. I'd've been better off spending the money on another DC game I could actually play.

[Mr-E_MaN]

I do it all the time.

I picked up a complete earthbound (snes) when I didn't have a system to play it on. I just knew it was worth lots and might come in handy.

I always pick up games I think I can use to get other stuff I want. I buy games like Zeldas, Mega Mans, etc.

[GrandAmChandler]

Ahem, I will be having some very good trade bait at Philly Classic this year. Lots of Memoribilia, and some very rare stuff, mostly Nintendo but I am keeping my lips sealed!

[briskbc]

I mostly see Playstation games in the wild. My collection is at the point where I can start picking up doubles of the hard to find games to trade.

I will most likely sell them on ebay and put the profit in a seperate account and use it to buy more games. Eventually my games will be free, in terms of not having to use my paycheck to buy anything.

I haven't really done a trade yet. I have to build it up a collection of games first.

[orrimarrko]

Always.

Even though I have yet to execute one trade :( with anyone,
I constantly read what others might be looking for, and pick them up.

Worst case, I could always sell them. A good buy is a good buy.

My most recent example, I picked up an excellent copy of PSX Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (original packaging), even though I already have one in mint condition. Same with Kakuto Chojin for the XBOX.

I figure someday, I can have enough cool stuff to make one of these amazing "Joe-like" deals. :D

Steve