How to Get Free Retro Game Consoles and Games Forever

[Cronozilla]

I've proved this theory to be quite true. In fact, I actually profit at the same time that my collection grows. I buy games cheap whenever I can, sell them for more on Ebay, then use some of the money to buy games I actually want.

This.

It makes more sense, instead of limiting yourself to an ancient console one at a time, to be on the lookout for both things you want and things you can sell.

It isn't that difficult to build up a pile of stuff you can slowly sell off and end up paying for all of your gaming habits. The net result is you get paid to collect games.

You just have to differentiate between stuff you're getting for you and stuff you're getting to sell.

[senseiman]

Elkinfencer10 - that is my problem too, the collecting urge takes over me and I can`t resist it.

Boring Supreez - I do that too. I`m trying to collect the entire Famicom library and have gotten into the habit of selling doubles to finance the overall collection and generally being on the lookout for cheap stuff that I can sell to further my other collecting goals. Being in Japan produces no shortage of opportunities to do that.

neilencio - thanks. I think the overconsumption of power in today`s consoles (except the Wii) is one of the under-reported gaming stories. These things just cost way too much to operate compared to retro consoles.

vlame - yes, I have a bit of the hording bug in me:)

[foxhound1022]

Yeah, I do this as well. I can honestly say close to 80% of my collection came from yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets, CL ads, and auctions; all at a mere pittance of what the current value. I.E. I bought a lot of NES games at an auction house for $43. It was 37 games, very few sports titles, all 3 TMNT's, Castlevanias, SMB's, some other good stuff. Also all three Contra's. So yes, Contra Force cost me less than $2.

I also, have a hard time distinguishing what I'm selling, vs. what I'm keeping, unless I have absolutely no interest in it, or it's a duplicate.

[Zing]

This idea assumes a never-ending supply of potential buyers. It's basically the idea behind the stock market, which assumes a "greater fool" will come along and buy the stock later, except I suppose here we have an "equal fool". Eventually, there will be fewer buyers than sellers and the market value will drop.

I agree that you essentially get the gaming enjoyment for free, but this is by no means limited to video games. I temporarily moved into an apartment for the past year. I bought basic items used from Kijiji, such as a sofa, table, TV, wardrobe and such. I am moving into a house now and able to resell all of those items for my original purchase price. I basically got to rent a year's worth of furniture for free.

The article can be summed up as "buy everything used, don't damage it, then resell when you no longer want to own it".

[JsGameRoom]

sweet a blog on common sense

[elmagicochrisg]

Buying lots and selling off what you don't want is a good way too...

If you do it right you get the games you want for free...

[cookie monster]

I do the game selling thing sometimes thats how i finance christmas for my game hoarding bf cause thats when i drop the big bucks for games.

[Damm64]

My problem is that i don't want to sell my consoles

Buying lots and selling off what you don't want is a good way too...

If you do it right you get the games you want for free...

THIS is the way i take.

[senseiman]

This idea assumes a never-ending supply of potential buyers. It's basically the idea behind the stock market, which assumes a "greater fool" will come along and buy the stock later, except I suppose here we have an "equal fool". Eventually, there will be fewer buyers than sellers and the market value will drop.

I agree that you essentially get the gaming enjoyment for free, but this is by no means limited to video games. I temporarily moved into an apartment for the past year. I bought basic items used from Kijiji, such as a sofa, table, TV, wardrobe and such. I am moving into a house now and able to resell all of those items for my original purchase price. I basically got to rent a year's worth of furniture for free.

The article can be summed up as "buy everything used, don't damage it, then resell when you no longer want to own it".

Actually the stock market is a much better bet than this. Securities give you a set of legal rights in addition to future cash flows. Used video games just give you enjoyment and a possibility of re-selling them down the line.

This is premised on the notion that you are only buying games that have already depreciated to a nominal value beyond which they are unlikely to drop. Everything has a buyer so long as the price is right. If you go out buying over-priced and over-hyped stuff then obviously the price will drop when interest in those fade. For a lot of games though the price has already dropped to the point that they sell for a very nominal sum right now. If you stick to those this could work and it would make an interesting experiment - how many games can you play for free this way?

The other point of the post is that this is something that only retro gamers can take advantage of . New games and consoles depreciate rapidly once you buy them so they are always money-losers.