Local Goodwill: video game prices rising

[YoshiM]

Today I stopped at my local Goodwill store to see if they had anything interesting. I discovered that they received a small load of video game stuff. I found two Intellivision 2's, an Atari VCS six switch system, an N64 system and a boxed (not sure if it was complete) NES Silent Service game.

The systems were $9.99 each. No hookups, no power supply. Only he INTVs did have their controllers. Not a big deal but then I perused the software. Silent Service was $6, as were many dirt old DOS games not even in their original cases. What chaps my rhubharb is that not two months ago a NES game, even with its box, would go for $2 maybe $3 a pop. Software varied but usually was like $3 to $5 depending on age and if it was new (within a year) it was $15 to $20.

I have no idea if they have pricing models that they have to adhere to or if whoever was manning the price labeler was surfin' eBay or something, but it's gettin' a bit ridiculous. 3 months ago I could get Atari 2600 carts for $1. I still have the stickers on them. A month ago I saw 2600 carts, mostly in less than good condition, have stickers on them for $3 a piece.

Eh, nature of the beast I guess: store that gets donations cashing in on a new collection "fad". But I'm having a sour day so I felt like venting. Anyone else's Goodwills jacking prices up as of late?

[Funkenstein]

You'd best beleive it. All the thrift stores around here remain picked clean, and what's left is hardly worth the effort. I'm not paying five bucks for Super Mario/Duck Hunt. The prices of anything collectable in the thrift stores seems to be rising. Viny lp'sl, games, toys. I saw a holiday barbie sitting in a case for $200. My friend Meghan collects those so we went and looked it up and it was going for half of that on ebay! I could understand a pawn shop or something have jacked-up prices, but this is the Goodwill here.

[-hellvin-]

I hardly find stuff in thrift stores anymore, even with the high price tags they put on their stuff. I guess I kind of burnt myself out on it, I can't stand going on runs anymore. Their prices just seem too flaky...sometimes it will be 2 dollars, sometimes 50 cents for carts or sometimes I'll see a loose excitebike for 7.99...W.....T.....F?

[jgenotte]

I think that for the most part the prices are decided on by the employee that is going through the donations at the time. The prices at thrifts are quite inconsistant, but I find that if you are resonable with the mamager and he/she sees you in there fairly often, then they will usually bring a rediclous price down a few notches.

On the other hand, there are always the super-crazy instances like a loose zelda cart for $25. When I asked why so much, they said it was a gold cart and therefor collectable!

-james

[DigitalSpace]

No surprise to me. At my local Goodwills, loose Genesis consoles go for $9.99-$12.99. Model seems to make no difference.

[kainemaxwell]

Local Salvation Army store usually prices games at $3.99, usually regardless of system, boxed or not.

[nildem]

Heh, once that Antiques Roadshow episode aired, the one that featured the 'hundred-dollar Atari console', all videogames at my local Salvation Army Thrifts have been stashed in the "collectibles" section and marked at about five times what they're worth. They seem to sell too, unless they're just thrown away. .

There's also a Thrift Store of the Blind about a block away that's had a $79.97 Genesis with Sonic 2 and a 3DO controller for about 5 years.

[Nez]

Saw a genesis for 45 dollars at a thrift today. Sadness.

[Gapporin]

I wish I even had games at my Goodwill, so I could complain about the prices. Last time I went, I only found a boxed Sonic The Hedgehog, and a Leisure Suit Larry game.

[Raedon]

thrift stores are not non-profit.

It was only a matter of time before owners figured out they could make 200% on Ebay for old systems.

[Perkar]

as far as i can tell, the prices are pretty much arbitrary, and like jgenotte said, dependant on the employee pricing the things on that given day. although i have found the cart prices generally consistent at store level. between stores is a different story. i have 4 salvation armies that frequent, 2 of them price carts at $2.99, 1 at $3.99, and 1 at $0.99. no clue why...

[Funk Buddy]

Look at the Goodwill auctions. The people there seem to bid the prices up well over value, not to mention the shipping costs. My Good will is pretty good, but the Salvation Army... that's another story. They are the $50 Genesis type.

[Simply Dave]

It must vary from store to store because my local Goodwill is still pricing the NES games at a buck a pop.

[potatobob]

My local goodwill store went out of buisness

[NintendoMan]

Yeah, I believe it. It really doesn't matter to me any though because I can't find one damn thing worth buying at mine anyway.

[JJNova]

It really doesn't bother me if a shop surfs Ebay or a price guide before labeling the prices. That's what it's worth, that's what I am willing to pay. Just hope that the dude at the flea market doesn't start this craze.

I didn't come into this fthread to say that though, I just thought i would after reading the other posts. Here, below, is my main point::

::Goodwill has always been too expensive::

It's not a new idea, or some miraculous vision...Goodwill gets their shit for free, then charges almost new prices for it. Next time you are in the Goodwill, check the prices on other stuff besides software. The clothes, The furniture, the bikes.... It's not really a bargain store. True, the implementation of Goodwill was to provide a shopping experience for lower salaried individuals, but it's not that way anymore. The stores are generally clean and fancy like mini walmarts now. This is nation wide mind you. Yes, I know your Goodwill might still be a dirty hole in the wall, but they have a system that they all run on now.

Revolt against the Will of Good, and instead support the Salvation Army (Still a cheap thrift shop) and Pawn shops global wide.

[Flack]

I saw a Sega Genesis Model I today for $2.99, connected to a Sega CD also for $2.99. No cables, but still not as bad as what you guys are seeing.

[Algol]

Interesting. I almost never saw any video game stuff at my Goodwill until just recently. Now there's almost ALWAYS something there. On my last visit alone, they had a couple Genesises (Genesii?), a loose Intellivision, a working High Impact football arcade game , a Homey Bee converter, which I got, plus a bunch of PC games.

[Jibbajaba]

The Goodwill closest to me has two Playstations (yes, original playstations) for $99.00 each, and an N64 for $49.00.

Chris

[slip81]

Rising game prices at thrifts/goodwills seems to be a growing trend. So far the one near me hasn't followed it, but they never have anything good anyway. But maybe now that I got a person on the inside that will all change



Yay post #400. Now I get another fruit