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/vr/ - Retro Games

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4719506 No.4719506 [Reply] [Original]

I have an urge to buy and restore broken video game consoles and games recently. I bought an original GameBoy from 1989 this month and brought it back to life with a basic repair. I got it on eBay for just 20€. Apart from keeping wise to great deals on eBay, where else do you search to get used and broken consoles and games?

>> No.4719516

I get all my stuff on eBay, and occasionally on craigslist. I go on eBay and look up consoles with search terms like "for parts", "as-is", "broken" and "untested".

I recently got an SNES for $20, and it just needed to be taken apart and cleaned. It wouldn't read games, I think it was just a dirty cartridge connector. I also got a $15 broken NES that just needed to have the 72-pin connector replaced.

I had bought a Genesis for $10 listed "untested" that worked perfectly, I just had to get cables for it.

My best advice is to search for common problems that you think are easily fixable. Remember that you're always taking a gamble, but you can always re-sell the console for parts if it's not fixable, or just keep it around for spare parts for yourself.

The only console I've bought on eBay that I wasn't able to fix was a PS1 with a dying disc drive.

>> No.4719520

>>4719516
This is good advice. I would add that if the deal is good, don’t be afraid to gamble on a possibly unfixable machine. In the event that it is totally unfixable, you’ll probably learn a lot while researching the issue and know what to look for from that point. It also gives you a source of parts that could help in repairing another of the same console.

>> No.4719542

>>4719516
How often do you search on eBay? It worries me because deals come and go. If I were to search for a classic PlayStation console it might sell for 30$ this week, but maybe 20$ last week. I almost wished there was a bot that informed me when a great deal containing key words goes live. Otherwise I would be searching for the same stuff each week to get the best possible deal.

>> No.4719551

>>4719542
It's not like I'm on a schedule or anything, I just start searching for listings when I'm feeling like buying a certain console.

I've always been able to find good deals within about a day or so personally. The only advice I can offer is to try altering your search terms. I usually run several searches on eBay before I find the best possible deal.

>> No.4719553

>>4719542
Lrn2booleansearchtermsandebaysavedsearchesdumbass

>> No.4719558

>>4719551
You didn't list "faulty" as one of your search terms in your previous post. That's one I'm using instead of "broken", as I realize sellers like to avoid using that word.

>> No.4720380

>>4719506
There's no point buying and repairing broken shit when you're paying the same as you could get working shit for. Especially with something like a gameboy that's region free. You could literally buy a lot of a dozen or more busted gameboys from japan and pay for shipping for what you paid for that one. You'd probably get half working and could sell the rest for 20€ each to some other colossal fool and end up with a huge profit and half a dozen working gameboys.

>> No.4720687

>>4720380
How do I go about buying all these cheapo busted consoles from Japan?

>> No.4720809

>>4720687
Most people use a proxy service. Some people just go there. I don't know if either is an option for you. Better ask your mom. lol

>> No.4720914

Best systems, PSX & GBA, are on the bottom right in case anyone didn't see them.

>> No.4721501

>>4720809
The deep web, are you suggesting?

>> No.4722102

>>4721501
Jesus. I was joking about asking your mom. I didn't realize I'd hit the nail on the head.

>> No.4722110

>>4719516
This is just a huge gamble. You're just as likely to get a console that has been thrown in a river. And obviously you have no recourse if it's a rusted-out piece of junk.

>> No.4722172

>>4722102
What the fuck are you talking about? I'm asking where on the web do you find great deals like the one you mentioned above? I want a straight answer and nothing cryptic. If you are vague, I am forced to guess.

>> No.4722327

Cartridge based consoles - Everdrives
Turbo CD and Sega CD, Dreamcast - Burn CDs
CD based consoles - Get cheap games, import the expensive ones if they are not text heavy, or just buy the game

>> No.4722351

>>4722172
You were given very clear answers. If you're too retarded to understand them it's likely you're not old enough to post here.

>> No.4722360

>>4722351
I just reread your posts and indeed you did not mention what website you can buy a lot of dozen busted GameBoys from Japan for 20€. I have to believe you were lying and now you are lashing out at me for questioning your claim. Or you are a troll. I'm not interested in your snarky responses. Just give me the website or don't.

>> No.4722394

>>4722360
>needing this much spoon feeding
Yeah, no chance I'm going to do that when you're crying like a stupid baby. Enjoy overpaying for broken shit.

>> No.4722414

>>4722394
Man, read your comments and then read mine. You sound like you're mad as hell. If the roles were reversed here, I'd be in my right to deny you the name of the site. But I wouldn't do that because I'm not a dick. But thanks for entering a thread about sharing tips on how to nab broken retro consoles and games for the best price and then just teasing me and wasting my time.

>> No.4722978

>>4722414
>it's my right to be spoonfed
It gives me pleasure to know how much I've triggered you

>> No.4722980

>>4722978
Other way around dipshit. I pointed out how angry you are in the previous post.

>> No.4722983

Just take a chance on the cheapest listing on Amazon, as long as it's listed in "good" condition or higher you should be covered since Amazon has good customer protection.

>> No.4723223

>>4722980
>i projected about how angry i am in the previous post
I just love it when newfriends come to /vr/ asking for advice and sperg out when they don't understand. The satisfaction of seeing someone so close to getting what they want and getting nothing because they're a self entitled dingus.

>> No.4723226

>>4723223
Not really self entitled. I asked help and you withheld the answer while being a dick. And yeah, I'm not a regular /vr/ poster. Does that make me a bad person? Is there is some essential cultural knowledge I have to know before posting you should contact the mods to put it in a sticky or something. Otherwise get over yourself. People come in here and they are new, and that's okay.

>> No.4723285

>>4719516
>The only console I've bought on eBay that I wasn't able to fix was a PS1 with a dying disc drive.
you can fix the rest you've listed but can't fix a ps1 drive, the easiest of all fixes? I can confirm just form this nonsense alone, you have never fixed a damn console in your life.

made up nonsense: detected

>> No.4723287

>>4719542
this anon hasn't fixed a single thing ever. anon couldn't fix a ps1 drive and that's simple.

>> No.4723305
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4723305

>>4723287
I think you meant the other anon. He made the claim of not being able to fix a PS1 drive. Me on the other hand, well I've got another faulty PS2 on the way. 30€ inc p&p.

>> No.4723332

>>4723285
>>4723305
It's not that it's unfixable, it's that it's not worth the price of parts when I can grab a working one for so cheap. The optical block needs to be replaced, and its' like $15-20 to get the part on eBay. You can get working PS1 consoles for $20 pretty easily, so it simply wasn't worth my time or money to fix.

It's a super easy fix, and if I had a working optical block laying around, I would have done it. It plugs in with a single ribbon cable.

You're both faggots.

>> No.4723336

>>4723332
Whatever dude. Stay mad.

>> No.4723339
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4723339

Why is everyone paying market value for broken shit? Am I missing something?

Last PS2 I bought (Slim, mint with two controllers and all hookups) cost £10 about 9 months ago.

>> No.4723345

>>4723339
Just because you got a good deal doesn't mean that it's the "market value". $20 is the low end for a PS2 Slim with no cords on eBay currently if you account for shipping. The cheapest bundles that include a controller and cables are about $30.

Yeah I could probably find one cheaper from some crackhead on craigslist, but that's not an option for everyone.

>> No.4723385

>>4723345
I didn't say mine was market value. It's not far off though if you look beyond eBay.

€30 however is about market value in the real world and for that I would expect to at least get one which worked...

>> No.4723393

>>4723385
Well €10 of that is postage. And I'm not too bothered since I have all the peripherals already (AC cable, controller, memory cards, games) and I'm actively seeking broken consoles to learn about how to repair them. Yeah this one is not a great deal I'm not boasting about it.

>> No.4723426

>>4723223
>>4722978
>>4722394

Get a load of this faggot. You sound like the most ass pained autist in the history of the board.

>> No.4723465

>>4721501
A proxy service is a company that buys the item for you so that you can then buy it from them. I'm sorry Mr. Grumpus enjoyed laughing at you more than clearing this up.

>> No.4723469
File: 661 KB, 1000x1000, fd4714c7f37ae793506cc75ec2b5b8b6.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
4723469

>>4723465
Alright cheers.

>> No.4724021

>>4723226
lurk moar

>> No.4724432

Okay, ignoring the trolls and stupid answers, is buying a "broken" console worth it one intends to fix it, or order it fixed? It seems to me it's cheaper than looking for a fully funcional one.

>> No.4724484

>>4719506
>20€ for a broken game boy
is this a joke?

>> No.4725149

>>4720380
i doubt you or OP has the tenacity to put in half to effort to do any of that

>> No.4725152

>>4724432
I don't know anon. Why don't you buy a broken one yourself so you can blog about it in this thread and look for some more followers on your youtube channel?

>> No.4725156

>>4725152
Can I have an answer from someone who isn't retarded now?

>> No.4725187

>>4723305
Doesn't sound like such a great deal to be honest.
I got my ps2 for 20€ (picked it up myself) and the dude threw in a bunch of games as well for free.(racing games mostly but also MGS2 and Onimusha warlords)

>> No.4725191

>>4725149
True. The half where you buy a lot online and have it shipped is something I'd never do. I go to Japan several times a year.

>> No.4725212

anyone know the keywords to bring up replacement console shells on ebay? I'd like to replace my SNES' super cracked and shattered shell.

>> No.4725303

Hard off's junk section is great.

>> No.4725306

>>4725156
If by retarded you mean "anyone who doesn't give me the answer I wanna hear in my safe space" then it is no, you can't have it.

>> No.4725821

>>4724432
it only cheaper when the problem is fixable with next to zero cost.
better save up the allowance you get from mommy and buy a functional console

>> No.4726096

>>4724432
Depends on the faults, a broken on/off switch isn't as expensive to fix as a burnt out video chip.

>> No.4727185

>>4724432
Depends how much you'd pay for each. If you 20 yourpoor for a busted console and manage to "fix" it by cleaning the battery springs or whatever then it could be slighting cheaper than if you overpay for a working one.

>> No.4727381

>>4719516
Got a fully functional PS3 this way for $20 shipped. It was missing the HDD bracket. $5 later and good as new.
I haven't made much luck with /vr/ stuff though. People think that shit is gold or something. I can't wait for NES stuff to reach 2600 prices...