Are brick and mortar retro game stores endangered?

[Jrecee]

I think everyone on here with a play n trade near by has been to one. If you're near a good one you probably go pretty often.

Well I've given up on one of the three I usually check out.

Goldeneye: 29.99
Mario 64: 29.99
Megaman X: 24.99

I don't have to tell you guys these prices are a joke. None of these games even had boxes and there were 4 or 5 copies of goldeneye and probably 10 of mario 64. Sitting. Unsold. Probably forever. Just checked ebay, $8.99 for mmx. Mario 64 and goldeneye can both be had for around $10. $15-$20 if you want a box and manual. A lot of them had free shipping.

Anyway, I'm disappointed because until recently they had good prices. I guess the recession has hit everyone. I know selling used games at retail is a bit of a crapshoot, and I've gotta wonder how much longer even places like play n trade will able to stay around. At least as far as selling retro games goes. There is definitely a balance you have to strike in a place like this where the consumer is actually your supply AND demand. Youv'e got to give them a reasonable amount so they'll trade the games in, but not so much that you can't turn around and sell them. Although some would disagree, retro games are basically antiques. As prices for them climb I think the buyers of them will become more selective. You'll have a lot less people who just wander into a play n trade and go "hey dude, remember when we used to play this in middle school? Let's buy it!". And as the buyers become more selective and the supply dwindles, there'll be a lot less people trading old games in. I mean gamestop has stopped carrying ps2 and gamecube games for godssake. There's probably good reason for it, no matter how stupid it sounds. So could ebay end up the only source for classic games in the future? Besides yardsales and flea markets. . .

[Dub5279]

I don't think so, because the majority of retro stores (All of them in my area) also sell current titles. As long as they can attract the random person who just wants Madden, I think they will be alright.

And I know that atleast one store around here won't be going away, GameAttack. As long are they the only store where you can walk in and buy ScrewAttack merchandise and meet the ScrewAttack crew in person, I know I will be buying games there.

A perfect example, my friend and I went to GameAttack early today to avoid traffic driving over over. (We live a half hour away and usually get caught in rush hour traffic coming back) We were the first customers in the store and got to meet two of the ScrewAttack people. Jared was working the register, AND Craig himself walked in. Not only did I get my picture taken with Craig, I also picked up Mario 3 for $12. Other stores in Dallas want $20 for it. One store even thinks they can get away with charging $35!

That's an experience that you can't get from eBay.

[Inazuma]

I don't think so, because the majority of retro stores (All of them in my area) also sell current titles.

If selling current titles keeps the store in business, they are doomed to fail in 10 years or so when every new game is digital download only. These brick and mortar game stores are going have to improve a lot to survive the internet. Personally, I stopped buying stuff from brick and mortar stores 5+ years ago.

Japan has many awesome stores however. I don't see those disappearing anytime soon. Too bad there is nothing like that where I live.

[girlracer]

yeah one store near me tried charging $50 for contra, they since have put it down to $18

[J T]

I'm seeing ridiculous prices in my area too, at least if you want anything prior to Playstation 2. It's like these stores exist for people that don't have the internet.

[enderfall]

Japan has many awesome stores however. I don't see those disappearing anytime soon. Too bad there is nothing like that where I live.

Makes you wonder what makes them so successful and why that can't be imitated in North America...

[Betamax001]

I think the brick and mortar retro stores are totally endangered. I only know of three in the Chicago area. There's one in the Volo Auto Musueum that is pretty expensive but I got a Virtua Stick for 20 bucks which isnt terrible becuase with shipping it would be the same price more or less. There's one somewhere around Wrigleyville, but I've never been there because its around Wrigleyville. There's one in Norridge thats pretty decent. Some things are kinda expensive but its not too bad. They have the original PlayStations for 20 bucks which is a pretty good price I think. But since the place is in Chicago the tax always jacks it back up : /

[J T]

In addition to used game stores, I'm also seeing used CD and movie stores dying off. Several have disappeared in my neighborhood. It's getting harder to survive the digital revolution.

[the7k]

I know of one retro store that charges decent prices. Not good, but not god-awful either.

Unfortunately, it's about a two and a half hour drive from where I live, so it's kinda a no-go. If a retro store doesn't compete with the internet, it just ain't going to sell jack. They don't seem to understand that retro gamers do the f***ing research.

In the end, retro game stores are just specialized pawn shops. As such, most of them don't know the value of what they sell, but unlike pawn shops, they always over-charge for the stuff they don't know the value of.

[Jrecee]

My understanding is that play n trade gives their franchisees a pricing guideline and they can choose whether they can follow the guideline or charge differently. Unless the play n trade guideline has recently been updated and whoever is in charge of it has lost their mind, I'd guess it's the stores individual choice to be charging these prices. Then again, he claimed the going rate for mmx was higher than that online, so either the play n trade guideline had convinced him of that, or. . . well he must have pulled it out of his ass otherwise because unless he was hunting for a mint in box copy I simply can't find megaman x going for anywhere near that price.