Topic: Video Game Shopping at Thrift Stores

So I tend to shop at thrift stores for video games & either I have bad luck or the locals don't have video games.
Thrift Stores - At one, they had some, but they were sports games and priced at $20.At another, all they had was Sega Saturn games, but like before, they were sports games.

GoodWill - Nothing other than a Wii.

Salvation Army - I haven't been their YET, but I've heard that their stuff is overpriced, so that kind of sets me off.

Any tips?

Unless you want some old Genesis carts no-one cares about or some 90's PC games, don't.

all i ever really see is sports games as well, i was talking about that on a thread on here somewhere myself

I just picked up Lego Harry Potter Years 1 - 4 on Xbox 360 and Mario Kart Double Dash both for $5 at my local Goodwill but yeah for the most part its hit and miss unless you want sports games. However I suspect Gamecube games may start popping up at Goodwill and other thrift stores here in a few weeks when Gamestop will stop taking in Gamecube games.

There are really no tips for shopping at thrift stores. You just have to be at the right place at the right time and be patient. I've never found anything too rare, but I've gotten some good deals like Goldeneye N64 for 5 bucks.

Its the same with Generation 1 Transformers, very hit or miss.

I used to see more games at thrift stores than I do these days - I don't know if it's because people have realised that there is decent money in selling games, and hence no longer donate them, or if more people are going to them to try and track down some bargains.

Unfortunately the growth of the collector's market has made collecting old games pretty difficult!

When I've been to Goodwill, hasn't turned out well for retro games. Very few cart-based games, and even then, it's stuff nobody wants like Friday the 13th for NES or Crusin' USA for N64.

Who in their right mind wouldn't want Crusin' USA. So many memories.

Lately when I go into Goodwill its been mostly (The original) Xbox, Playstation, and Gamecube systems that I have been seeing, as well as the games for those systems. Very few older systems like SNES, NES, Genesis etc. and very few PS3, Wiis, Xbox 360s. But I think that has to do with the fact that Gamestop doesnt take Playstation stuff and pretty soon they wont take Gamecube stuff. Also I have seen more and more retro gameing stores popping up as well not to mention the retro market on sites like ebay. So that all might be a contributing factor as to why people arent donating their old video games anymore.

The secret to everybody is out about old games and oldgamesonly but I won't go into that part. Just playin' playa. Anyway, last time I was at the Seattle Goodwill I ran into this older goober searching out old video games and I doubt this guy was a collector or retro enthusiastico such as myself and you retro mack daddies of Nintendolife. He reminded me of some Ebay schmuck looking to make a buck on some ridiculous Buy It Now price*. Wow, I hate those guys! Super Mario Bros. 3 is the most common NES game, no way should you have it Buy It Now for $40! Anyway off my soapbox, though I could go on with the shenanigans I have witnessed. Yeah, all that is left is sports games pretty much. This summer I am going to be hitting some Flea Man markets and estate and garage sales.

lol, i used to drop off old stuff at goodwill and i started asking the guys that work there if they ever get any retro games, they said not really but when they do the games dont last long on the shelf and/or the manager says to bring the games to the office so they can "keep them safe" yeah...more like buy them, and throw them on ebay. in fact i was up there recently and i was told that donators were aware of putting games on ebay. intresting.

Lol My Goodwill just got in Sonic 2 and NBA Jam on the Sega Genesis. Also a couple of SNES controllers too which I scooped up for 2 bucks each.

Thanks for the feedback guys! Any tips on shopping for retro video games?

Your best bet is if you have one in your town is a retro game store, and if you dont have one of those in town theres always the internet and sites like Ebay. Just keep an eye on the sellers feedback and his ratings so you dont get scammed. Also flea markets are a good place too.

[quote=Wheels2050]

The GameStop near me already dumped their GameCube selection this week. It was there last week, and this week I walked in to maybe pick up a few last chance games, and while the GAMECUBE sign was still up, the shelf was filled with Wii games.

i have a big retro game store near me, its so big they knocked down the wall next door and turned it into an arcade...its also so big they opened a store in the flea market too, and there the only ones in the flea market that have retro games and since the original store is considered a specialty shop they know the value of what they have, and you wont find any huge bargains at their flea market location either. they are trying to take over the whole city lol. theres no where to hide. they know what im about and sometimes they act a little strage. i took in a Little Samson cart one time and they all swarmed around me asking where i found it, i was like, not around here. they asked how much i payed for it, then said they just sold a copy for like 50$ cuz thats all its worth...i know thats a lie from hell plus they wouldnt stop looking at it. they even offered to clean it for me for free lol. someone told me theres a pet shop around here that sells retro games too, i went 4 months too late. the owner said someone came in and bought them all at once. then he told me who it was, it was the same guys that are trying to take over. see a pattern here guys?

I'm not really sure if I'd want to buy my retro games from a pet store. I'm not usually concerned with cosmetic condition on used games, but the last time I can remember going to a pet store (who knows how many years ago), I remember it was kinda smelly.

lol all im sayin is the great word is out
pet stores or not

picked up a Gamecube with Resident Evil Zero at a local charity shop today. It was too expensive but i really wanted that game (and will sell the Cube anyway)