Retro Stores: The death of retro gaming?

[Replica]

I'm a bit fed up with the insane prices that retro stores demand for common games. Seeing Mario 3 on NES for $20, Donkey King Country for $23, and Mario 64 for $20, repeatedly, makes me question the reason for retro stores. There was a time before this retro trend got rolling that most any common game could be found at a reasonable price through garage sales, pawn shops, and flea markets. I don't know when it became acceptable to gouge the fuck out of hobbyist game collectors and call it a service.

I know that most people view retro stores highly, though I'm not sure why. Is there a reason I should submit to their tyranny? I don't know how they stay in business. I frequently leave with nothing because I'm unwilling to pay their prices. It seems their pricing drives up the prices of games artificially.

[emwearz]

I never buy at Retro stores, here is my view on it.

If you want the game now, you will pay for it, you want to go to a Retro store, you know you can get some quility titles, but if you want em now, you pay. You go on ebay, you can get almost any game you want, but if you want it now, you pay.

If you hunt for your games, garage sales, flea markets, op shops, thrifts, pawn shops, etc, it might take you a year or more to find a certain game, but you wont pay out the ass for it.

[Replica]

I was looking for Mario 2, Punchout and Mario Kart SNES for a while. Off the top of my head, most retro stores charge $18.99, $16.99 and $24.99 respectively. I found each of them at Goodwill for $2 a piece. I don't mind paying a little more. I understand they have employees to pay and rent as well, but shit. I'd have bought a copy of Mario 2, say, for $7-8. But $18.99? It's just brutal.

[Shabba]

The retro stores are capitalism in play. I like them being around in some ways and, in the ways mentioned, I'm not a big fan. I don't like the prices being driven up but it's inevitable I suppose. I can't remember how games were in the 90's because I was more concerned with college and my first wife. I don't remember going to flea markets just to find games. I've been into the retro stuff for a few years now and I've been lucky to find the games that I liked the most for cheap prices in a lot of different places. Now if there is something I want like, say, Shining Force 3, I can go to the retro store and get it for a stupid price, but hey, I got it.

[weasels]

i see where your getting at with this. it's strange that people that own retro stores sometimes have no idea what they are selling and overprice it without even researching. It's only logical for me to think that if you own a retro store, then you must have a passion for retro games, and in turn know that prices like that are insane. personally i see it happen more when im at a fleamarket. i end up finding things that certainly don't match the correct price of the game.

[Gamerforlife]

I guess ebay isn't the only place full of greedy assholes. That's a real shame. I guess flea markets, garage sales and pawn shops are the only place to get a decent price these days. I got a copy of Castlevania:Portrait of Ruin at a local pawn shop for just under ten dollars in excellent condition and I see it going for 43.98 on amazon.com

[lisalover1]

There's an incredible retro shop in my area called 2nd Chance; it has a good selection, and prices even better than Ebay, so I shop there a lot.

[CRTGAMER]

Independent Retro stores tend to be more expensive to compete with the giants. On the plus, complete prestine manual, cover and case are the norm on the disc based games. Of course the older system selections are their forte. Offering local repairs of current Gens is one way a Retro store will survive. Local store here has shelves of broken PS3s and 360s keeping them in repair business and keeping retro games prices low.

[pepharytheworm]

I seem to find that at my local retro stores that aren't PlaynTrade, that for every over priced game there are plenty that are underpriced, at least compared to buy it now prices on Ebay. Yes a lot of the big name's prices are higher and desirable games that most know about are too, but alot of the games that are less commonly known but still fetch a decent price I can find at good prices at retro store. Example I bought TMNT IV SNES for $7 just a couple of days ago, I also saw Tales of Destiny II for $40 which I wish I picked up. Just be patient if you want the expensive games at cheap prices, Deals can be found everywhere, it just probably won't always be the game you are looking for right then. If you don't purchase their over priced game they will eventual have to lower the price or wait a long time for it to sell. If it sells well get the cheaper games they have, you just might find some hidden gems.

If anyone is a retro gamer most likely they aready have the over priced big name like Super Mario Bros 2. If you waited to long to purchase retro titles you just got to patiently look, and with luck you'll find the title you are looking for at the price you are willing to pay.

[Gamerforlife]

You know, seeing the value that video games both new and old have these days is actually starting to have an effect on my shopping habits. I'm starting to keep some of the games I buy brand new sealed, like that copy of Deathsmiles limited edition I got recently. Now, some of you will say that's stupid and that games are meant to be played, but you know what? I can get a cheap Gamefly account and use it to play all the games I want. Why not keep the ones I buy sealed? They look great on the shelf and they retain a nice level of value. Not that I would ever want to sell anything in my collection, but you never what the future brings.

If I had any idea what I could get for certain titles in my collection today had I kept them sealed, like my black label FF7 with the misprint. Oh well, doesn't matter