/vr/ - Retro Games

The owner shits and rubs it on the walls, summoning the tooth fairy to pay her debt to the store owner.

>>8908786
They sell online to people who spend $200 a pop on cartridges so they can relive happier days.

>>8908797
I must be underestimating how many people are willing to overpay on old games.

It’s a long game.

A couple years back I sold my entire collection, had about 100 games, a bunch of controllers, etc. the total value if priced individually was about $1700, I eventually ended up selling it to this bag fat slimeball who literally knew nothing about gaming etc. for $1100. However, I can almost guarantee the guy was going to flip it right away to someone he knew who likely owned a game store, or had a flea market stand etc.

Buying whole lots for value and then Slowlyyyyyyy selling them individually is the only way anyone could make money these days. Unless you were spending hours and hours cruising garage sales, even the most ignorant person can do a basic google search to see that games are worth some $$$ these days

>>8908802
Think about it. Most people into retro games are probably a bit nerdy, maybe working in tech with disposable income and not a lot of other things they spend it on. It's exactly like why people who make furry costumes can make six figures - a niche market that generally has money and not a lot of other interests.

>>8908786
they buy low and sell high

I sold a grocery store paper bag full of NES and SNES games for $150 I had gotten at a garage sale when I was like 13 at a garage sale for $20 back in the day. I made a profit and they're going to turn around and sell those games worth $5 for $10. I could have gotten 20% more in store credit but I needed the cash.

>>8908786
Are you dumb or something? Retro game prices literally go up everyday. Just having a huge stockpile of old games is literally equal to printing money.

Most mom and pop game stores all have the same business model in 2020+2

A) Buy individual games at ~1/3rd their actual value, and then perpetually update the prices of their inventory about once per week
B) Do bulk buy deals online whenever possible to pad out their inventory
C) Sell online, especially to people out of the state, which can be quite lucrative
D) Have right of first refusal on a lot of boutique "limited quantity" games for modern platform, so they can put in their order for MSRP and then sell at Ebay prices in the store
Here's an example of what I'm talking about specifically:
https://limitedrungames.com/pages/our-trusted-partners
E) Sell a bunch of other bullshit like vinyl records, books, pins, other shit like that
F) Offer really basic services like disk resurfacing and maybe battery replacement
G) Host smaller game swap events and maybe game tournaments
H) Go to bigger retro game conventions to unload dead stock and to build more inventory

That's basically it. Like it or not I think the Switch has genuinely been a stay of execution for 90% of these stores just because so many people collect for it and it has a ton of small print run publishing that gets people in the door, and theres a huge after market on Switch games as well.

>>8908786
They don't. There were a few decent ones over here, but sadly they all shut down years ago.

>>8908786
buy low, sell high
next

>>8908802
A lot of people treat retro games like a business.

>>8908886
the problem is liquidity
you see the japan ebay guys posting ridiculous shit but their listings stay up for several months until a tard comes along

>>8908786
Funny, I was just thinking of this the other day. I went into some grimey old shop on the outskirts of Dallas that had scattered old games across its shelf. The boomer and his friend were just playing games on some old couch in front of an old CRT and shouted "If you just need help, let me know". The place was just in the middle of some outlet mall (most of the stores around it were out of business, the entire massive parking lot was cracked, sun-beaten, and definitely seen better days). How the hell do stores honestly stay in business? The guy offered repairs, is that how?

Can well as a collective society of autists agree that sports and shovelware titles should either be outright refused and/or thrown out after trading them in? I swear, the majority of these story are 70 - 80% sports/shovelware with the remainder being easily obtainable games and glass case warmer rarities.

they usually don't desu

the closest thing to a booming retro game store I've ever been too is just a pawn shop with a big videogame section. Having fuck all for videogames most days doesn't really matter when the real business is buying stolen jewelry and reselling power tools and TVs. Compared to a retro game store that can go high and dry for weeks until the next crackhead with a box of N64 cartridges comes in.

>>8908975
wow you just keep getting me to tell more stories huh? I am this guy
>>8908934

today I went to an antique mall and I saw a glass display that was locked. Asked the old lady at the front to open it...what of the 100ish n64 games did I find? NOTHING BUT SPORTS GAMES AND ONE COPY OF GLOVER LOL...the fucking old lady asked "lots of treasure in there huh?" and I responded, "yup...lots..."

>>8908975
some sports games are genuinely good though but too many people turn their nose up at them on principle granted most of the good ones are pre DVD era

What everyone said, also they take games in trade-in from the regulars.
Also 90% of these places will sell you retron and multicart shit too, just ask near the back of the store.
Reminds me of a guy in Software etc in about 2002 who was selling Dreamcast backups under the table.

Host tournaments and tabletop sessions to get people in the door so you can sell them more shit.
Don't just focus on vidya, diversify into comics, cards, etc.

>>8908786
Because old games are better and always will be. In twenty years, the games that are new now will be better than what kids will be playing at the time.

>>8908786
The one near me is a money laundering operation for a muzzie crime family. I just assume they’re all like that.

>>8908786
I run one. We make money by buyijg and reselling, offering services, providing product and fostering a community. Feel free to ask any questions, I love my job and everything about it.

>>8909238
what "services"?

>>8909241
Under the counter handies, mostly.

>>8909238
Where do you get the games that you sell? Do people come in and trade in their own games?

>>8908802
The fact we've consistently had threads asking when the bubble will burst since 2013 here should've clued you in on how retarded gamers are with their money.

>>8909256
people bring in their old stuff, we pay well for them and make a varying profit range on resells. We also sell repro games that are clearly marked as such, many of which are translations but pokemon fan games are popular.

>>8909241
repair, diagnostics, consultation, recapping, restoration, other general servicing for games and consoles. Lots of this we do for free, lots of this we offer as a bonus with other purchases (I've replaced plenty of peoples game boy lenses and battery covers just cuz they bought other stuff.) I wish I could say there was some secret to it, just be the game store you wish you had and people will be understanding about your business model and understand the value of a return customer more than short term profit.

I tested the one near me and they offer 45% of what they intend to sell it for
I think I'd rather sell on ebay

I used to go to one in Chicago and I have no idea how they stayed in business. Everything they sold in their store was trash. It was all sports games and shit.

I have a feeling it was either money laundering operation or they sold all their good stuff on ebay.

Seriously, words cannot convey to you how much jank was in that store.

>>8909274
I went to one like this in NorCal recently. Out of the way but goddamn it was COMFY. They were super chill and never tried to upsell me. Threw in some freebies on top of accommodating some special requests.
Every other place has just been boomers hoarding junk

>>8908886
maybe in the US but retro games are worth shit in europe.
I could only receive 40 euro max per 1st party gamecube titles. that wasn't even the retail price for many games.

but I suppose dutch people are just insanely greedy so the value will never explode over here unless it's a super obscure japanese title or something.

>>8909792
50hz curse

>>8909797
perhaps.
but I insist that dutch greed also plays a role.

>>8909048
>This
I still unironically enjoy playing NHL 94 from time to time, and was pleased to find a really nice complete copy for $10.

>>8908786
I suspect they mostly survive off of people who walk in to browse and are willing to spend a bit more for the sake of instant gratification. Though some shops like the gamexchange in a small town I lived in for a few years never made much sense to me. I lived there for seven years and they had the same rare titles just sitting in their display cases collecting dust the entire time. I even tried to make an offer on three or four of them and they turned me down. There were some 3D0 titles that sat there for at least five years, and a copy of that one rare Dot.Hack game that sat out so long that I watched the cover go from pristine to nearly completely faded out from sun damage.

>>8909797
Honestly, how do Eurobros manage to live with such a cucked fate let alone escape it? Biting the bullet and import NTSC games? Can't imagine what that's like for CRTs.

>>8908786
I imagine most of them are the kids of rich parents.

>>8908886
>Are you dumb or something? Retro game prices literally go up everyday.

You do realize that just because you see a game on ebay going for a gajillion dollars doesn't mean it's actually worth that and it certainlly doesn't mean people are buying that. In fact I suspect most any time you do actually see something getting sold it's another retard scalper thinking he can flip it to other retard scalpers.

>>8908786
There are good stores and bad stores. The place a few towns away from me has been in business for a long time, has a good reputation, hosts events, and carries cool stuff like clone consoles, rom hack repro carts, USB and bluetooth retro controllers, the kind of stuff I wish GameStop had. It's where I bought my last few retro games and controllers, pic related. Honestly the repro stuff and clone consoles might be the smartest move in today's climate where the original hardware and software is constantly going up.

There's two other places by me however that are notorious for ridiculous markups on games and consoles, stupid stuff like a $400 Saturn and $300 N64 consoles, loose NES and SNES games for $20, the list goes on. I did buy The Final Round for PS1 from them because it was still cheap (funnily it literally still had the $5 tag even though they were charging $10 for it), but with the kind of stuff I'm able to get from the thrift stores I doubt I'll be going back.

I personally blame "collector culture" and and infamous retro game YouTubers for the crazy markups. As always, stay smart and do not support scalpers, in person or online.

>>8910038
(cont.) Honestly I'm just waiting for more stores to carry emulation devices at this point, I even found pic related at a nearby mall in a non-gaming store

theres a store near me that buys of FB groups and marks up to more than ebay.

over 100 AUD on a pokemon Yellow cart?

the owner is a fat midget that hasnt a clue but must be using the store as a laundering operation as there is no way people pay those stupid fucking prices.

>game experts

oh and Games garage in bayswater is def a laundering front, unbased Chinaman not even having prices on the fucking cases.

>>8909831
I've only really collected games in my native PAL for two retro consoles, Dreamcast and SNES. Dreamcast PAL games run the proper 60Hz, and can easily accept NTSC games with a GameShark disc, so any games I can't get in PAL or games that were released in PAL, but don't accept VGA (Code Veronica, Skies of Arcadia) I have bought in NTSC.
When I got into SNES games, I bought a PAL SNES and an Everdrive. I then started collecting the games I liked in PAL. I eventually bought an NTSC SNES and the JRPGs that weren't released in PAL. I also just use the Everdrive to play games I own in PAL on the NTSC machine if I want 30 frames.
When it comes to CRTs, I just bought some PVMs that accept 100v - 240v power and will play both PAL and NTSC.
Yes, all of this has been expensive.

>>8908786
both retro game stores near me shut down recently. sucks because one of them rarely updated their price so i started going there a lot when the retro prices skyrocketed recently

>>8908786
Buy your games for a dollar a piece then sell said games online for 200-300 dollars.

>>8910046
I see a lot of these in the malls, at my store we don't really want to carry anything like that. Having at least something you're playing with be the original thing or experience is a big deal and makes it feel much less cheap. I don't think a lot of stores will end up carrying them except those mall kiosk things.

I’ve worked at some and been friend with guys that worked at some and almost all of the owners have connections with local thrift stores. Anything video game related comes in and the guy at the thrift store will alert the game store owner and/or hold it for them. The game store owner gets it for pennies and gets to resale it for high eBay prices.

>>8909792
In Europe retrogames have the problem that often each country has a different monolingual version of the game so the price depends a lot on the copies of the game released in that language and country.

The purchase of retrogames from dutch have very high shipping costs 20+ euro for shipments in europe as much as or more than international shipments.

>>8908794
I believe it, it’s not out of love for the hobby with these guys usually.
On the other hand, you see, more often than not, card and collectible stores that don’t plan on making money but the owner likes that stuff so he does it while his wife actually supports them both.

>>8909272
To them, it's about the experience or feels. It's not really about the money or value of the tangible game. Some of them aren't as bad with their money as you'd think. Some will save a little here and there, and then procure an expensive title.

>>8911203
That $200 they blew for nostalgia on ebay could've been spent investing in silver or crypto so yes they are bad with their money.

>>8911215
>investing in silver
I agree there. Maybe not crypto for me. To them though, it's not an investment. I agree with you to a point. People spend retard money on vacations and shit, annually. The same could be said about them too, I suppose.

>>8910076
I collect PAL PS2 games. You just need to have the knowledge of which games are the same, then you pay less for a New copy than an American pays for some ex-rental copy eaten by a dog

I just assume that these people own the property and basically use it as semi-retirement to stay occupied.

>>8911215
Lmao, video games have increased in price 1000% since 2012. Silver has dropped in price 20% since 2012.

>>8908786
my local one also does pokemon/MTG, so you know it's running off them TCG whale bux

>>8908797
This, just like any store, you have to sell online if you want to make it. Just like Pawn shops and people flipping anything for a living.

>>8909093
>retron and multicart shit
Hell some stores display the shit out of these along with their Pop Funko Toys

>>8909274
>I wish I could say there was some secret to it
Location. You just can't start a business just anywhere. Also selling online is a must.

>>8912714
>Also selling online is a must.
god no. selling online is retarded and drains your local supply

>>8909350
Selling something yourself is better most of the time. I was moving and sold off a "NEW 3DS" (the last model of the 3Ds that was upgraded) along with 6 games and a case (for holding the handheld, games, and extra stuff). Offer me $25 for the 3Ds which was still selling in stores $199.99 and like $20 for the other games. Offer nothing for the case, told him to keep it, he threw it in the trash. I wish I kept it now, but I haven't played it that much when I bought. Was down sizing and get rid of a lot of stuff due to limited room in the Van for moving and needed has much money I can get to pay for the move.

>>8908786
It usually helps that there's not a lot of competition. In my city, there's only 6 retro game stores, 5 of which are part of 2 different franchises and the last one being a general hobby store. All these stores are at least a 20+ minute drive from each other.

>>8910401
not saying it doesn't happen at all but nowadays goodwill is supposed to sell all the games they get online

>>8909812
that's not greed that's just being frugal
pretty smart seeing as all gamecube games can be loaded on a wii

>>8908802
An absurd amount.

t. reseller

>>8909831
I just run everything in 50hz and I don't care

>>8908786
For every successful retro video game store you see there's probably 10 that have shut down within a year

>>8908786
>people aren't going to buy if you sell it at above market prices
wrong

>>8908786
one time I sold a boxed, but incomplete GC, boxed but incomplete and bad condition DC, boxed silver fat PS2, Shemue II, Def Jam for GC, Hit n Run, Pokemon Coliseum and a few other things for £100. I used to be into retro games but i had no idea this stuff was worth anything, turns out Def Jam alone is worth what I sold everything for, this was a few years ago just before GameCube hype, but yeah he made a lot of money on me. I've since started selling everything on eBay, where now people try the exact same thing by telling me how shit all my stuff is but thankfully they're interested but at least i can just block them from bidding at all

>>8913561
>turns out Def Jam alone is worth what I sold everything for, this was a few years ago
GCN PAL Def Jam has never been worth £100. (Assuming you're referring to Fight for NY, Vendetta is worth even less). The current average price is £33, a few years ago it was half that. You can buy it now from CEX for £32.
https://www.pricecharting.com/game/pal-gamecube/def-jam-fight-for-ny
>but yeah he made a lot of money on me
Should've just gone to CEX, at least you can plainly see on their site how much they're ripping you off - which isn't that much really, for any games/consoles that are remotely desirable/uncommon you get about 2/3rds of their selling price as a trade in.

>How do retro game stores stay in business?
Devote half the shelf space to funkopop, a tenth to cards, another tenth to lego, and the rest for games.

The guy running the store near me admitted the vast majority of customers coming in were getting funkopops

>>8915209
dont forget merch from popular 90s entry level anime and whatever modern anime is the most popular

>>8908786
There are plenty where I live (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Those people buy the used carts for like 10 bucks and then sell them (loose) for 300-400 a piece.
They make MAD profit.
Saw a working N64 being sold for the price of a brand new PS5 in one of the stores once.

by scamming zoomers

>>8915281
Well, Brazil I understand is a special case because of those taxes they have on imported consoles and games.
Wouldn't that make everything x5 more expensive than the rest of the world?
In Mexico it used to be better, but now we are starting to get the same retarded prices as the USA.
The only way to find cheap games now is to find them on facebook or go to some thrift store in dubious neighborhoods.

how much is the minimum I should accept for new never been used (japanese box) n64 controller?