General and Gaming => General => Topic started by: ko1ru on July 18, 2013, 09:47:39 am
Title: Game X Change
Post by: ko1ru on July 18, 2013, 09:47:39 am
I was looking at Game X Change's site yesterday, specifically at store locations, and I was amazed at how many there were in Arkansas! A lot in Oklahoma and Texas, too. Let me just state how lucky some of you guys are to have such a concentration of stores in each state!
I've made it a point to stop at all Game X Changes on my way when traveling through Indiana, but didn't realize how many there were south of me (I never go any further south than Springfield, MO). There used to be one in a town about 20 miles up I-44 from where I live, but it closed before I moved to this part of Missouri. I believe there's one left in the state in St. Joseph, but it's a good 4-5 hours away. The "flagship" store in Bentonville, Arkansas is roughly about the same distance from here as the St. Joe location.
I wonder, if already in Springfield, MO doing some game hunting, would it be worth it to drive another couple of hours and hit up the Bentonville Game X Change? Has anyone been there, and if so, would it be worth the roadtrip?
PS - If I had the scratch to become a franchisee, I'd totally open a store here in Missouri in a heartbeat.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: soera on July 18, 2013, 09:55:24 am
There are 2 Game Xchange stores left in the OKC area. They are a double edged sword. I like going in there cause most of the time the employees are pretty cool. The bad thing is they have a weird system in place. If the game has any value at all, it automatically gets priced as high as possible to stop resellers from flipping them. Yet it also stops anyone interested in the game from buying it also. And since our area has a lot of Vintage stock locations (5 in the OKC/metro area) they dont seem to get the traffic that they used to so the inventory is pretty stale. Sales are never offered, they refuse to sell the boxes/manuals with most older games.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: ko1ru on July 18, 2013, 10:08:03 am
That is true, OK has VStocks as well. I suppose it is because there's so much competition from other stores (as well as overpriced harder-to-find items) that they end up sitting on a lot of their stock. Shame. :-\
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: turf on July 18, 2013, 10:28:44 am
Game Xchange has been one of my favorites for years. I've found some awesome deals in there too. (Caltron and Panic Restaurant for $5 each) However, receintly they changed their pricing on a lot of the "hard to find" stuff. I saw Bucky O'Hare in one for $35. They used to have a $19.95 cap on NES games and a $29.95 cap on SNES and N64 games. Now they've changed that. Thanks to those two Game Chasers baffoons finding famously finding Flintstones 2 in there, they have changed a ton of pricing. A 32x that was $19.95 is now $39.95.
I talked to the manager in Jonesboro, AR about it. Little Samson and Flintstones are both to be priced at $400 if they come in that store. ( I don't know if the whole operation is like that, but this store is) What are the chances of a Flintstone or Little Samson walking in this store? Slim, right? Well, a ton of people come in here with the hopes of finding a gem like that and leave with $20 worth of used games. Now if someone does find a gem, you'll have a ton of free advertising; but you missed out on a $500 game. If you price it a $400 and people know it, there's no reason for them to hunt for gems in your store. You're going to miss out on hundereds of $20 sales with the hope that you make one big $400 sale. It just doesn't make sense. Give it a minute. You'll see a ton of these stores close in the near future. They don't understand their retro customers at all.
Vintage Stock is awesome. I wish we had one closer.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: soera on July 18, 2013, 11:18:11 am
Well, cause of some local reseller douchebags around here, Vintage stock did a complete price system upgrade too. I have all given up on shopping at local retro stores now. Its spreading everywhere. Even Goodwill. They used to charge $2.99 for "video games". Now, its done on an item by item basis according to Ebay/Amazon prices. About 6 months ago, I got a call from one of the managers I know. They got in a bunch of boxed NES games (including DW 1-4, Dragon fighter, Lolo 1-3, etc). I told her I would come up there and pick them up. Well, when I got there, she told me the store manager made the person pricing them go research every one of them online and price them according to that. The DW games were $50 each, Dragon fighter was $75, and Lolo games were like $25 each. There were a bunch of other games too and each one was priced differently. Was sad to see a thrift store asking prices like that.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: disgaeniac on July 18, 2013, 02:53:59 pm
Well, cause of some local reseller douchebags around here...
Ya know - I really don't get what it is with all of the *Hate* for "resellers" (presumably -and- by definition, people who sell their games while comitting the *SIN* of *GASP* possibly selling it for more $ than they bought it for) :o
What else I don't get is the way that "reseller" is used synonymously with "douchebag"; as if, by default, selling a game that you've bought for a profit = "You're a Douchebag".
A third thing that confounds me is that this seems to be the abundant attitude *HERE* - of all places.
By that, I mean...wouldn't all of us here - if, say, at a garage sale - we found a box full of games selling for $1.00/each (that we knew to be worth more/*MUCH* more than that price) - even if we already had a copy or 2 of that game...purchase them with the hopes & intent of selling them for more than we bought them for?!
I know that *I* would -and- I've yet to feel like and/or call myself a "douchebag" for doing so...maybe I need to start doing so?
I guess that I'm just pissed at the *generalization* (read: everybody who "Resells" games being painted with the same derogatory brush)...I mean - I would guess that just about all of us here (if not *ALL* of us here) have sold a game/games at some point = We're ALL Resellers.
TL;DR =
I think that it's only fair -and- that it should be pointed-out that...much like just about *EVERYTHING* else in this world...there's probably hundreds (no inflation of numbers necessary) of different people (and -more importantly- *KINDS* of people) who buy, sell, and/or resell games...w/ just as many different motivations & intentions for doing so.
/mini-rant/nitpicking :)
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: turf on July 18, 2013, 03:16:19 pm
Store Owner =/= Reseller Guy who buys up all the deals with no love for the games just to make a quick buck == Reseller douchebag
Have I bought up games for trade bait? You bet. An instance involving Panic Restaurant comes to mind. Have I sold anything to raise more cash to reinvest in my hobby? I don't think so, but I would. Nothing wrong with that.
There are, however, thoes who cruise around looking for good deals on games just to flip them for a fast dollar. Jack Hole Reseller Douchebag.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: disgaeniac on July 18, 2013, 03:21:51 pm
Store Owner =/= Reseller Guy who buys up all the deals with no love for the games just to make a quick buck == Reseller douchebag
Have I bought up games for trade bait? You bet. An instance involving Panic Restaurant comes to mind. Have I sold anything to raise more cash to reinvest in my hobby? I don't think so, but I would. Nothing wrong with that.
There are, however, thoes who cruise around looking for good deals on games just to flip them for a fast dollar. Jack Hole Reseller Douchebag.
Totally agree - that's what I'm saying...there's a lot of different ways that people can resell games -and- not all of them make the person a douchebag...some certainly do, though :)
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: sin2beta on July 18, 2013, 08:07:44 pm
There are a lot of local retro stores in this area. Game X Change used to be an absolute favorite of mine. When I was a kid, my family used to go to the main store in Springdale AR every once in a while. I would always have a special place to slowly save money for those trips. Then in Tulsa there was a Game X Change right around where Thrillhouse games is. It was just across 71st behind the Chuck E Cheese. I used to always go in there during the summer of 99 and play their Japanese Dreamcast demo unit.
But Game X Change is not anything like it used to be. Every one I've been to looks forever picked over. They do not get new stuff in anymore. Vintage Stock is pretty good. But as I've said before, not for Nintendo. That stuff costs way too much.
I have had fantastic luck at flea markets and such in the area. This area does seem to be a good place for retro game hunting.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: grahf16 on July 18, 2013, 10:12:24 pm
I bought the following games at Game XChange:
Secret Of Mana (Cart) - $20 Breath of Fire (Cart) - $20 Final Fantasy II (Complete) - $35 Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 (Dreamcast) - $15 Powerstone 2 - $10 Shen Mue - $8 Metroid Prime Trilogy - $50 Tales of Symponia (Gamecube) - $30 .hack Quarantine - $33 Breath of Fire IV - $20
I have bought plenty of games there, sure I wouldn't find the ultra rare games, but there prices are a HELL of a lot better than the rest of the retro game stores.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: ko1ru on July 18, 2013, 11:06:10 pm
I found some really great deals at both of the Indiana Game X Changes that I stopped at. I had a discussion with a manager at one of the locations about the very thing that's being discussed in this thread (inflated game prices). He explained that all Game X Changes are franchisee-owned, and that all stores have the ability to set their prices differently than other stores. It's entirely up to the manager/owner of just that store whether they want to be a dick about pricing or not. Lucky for me, this guy happened to not be one, and I got some pretty sweet deals on all of the stuff I walked out of there with.
Obviously a store like GameStop or Vintage Stock is going to have standard, set pricing no matter what location you go to. And don't get me started on thrift stores - especially Goodwill - that mirror Ebay/Amazon prices... >:(
Store Owner =/= Reseller Guy who buys up all the deals with no love for the games just to make a quick buck == Reseller douchebag
Agreed.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: sin2beta on July 18, 2013, 11:45:54 pm
I have to say one thing about retro game stores. It can be worth it if you go in a fair amount. I can't tell you how many time the people at Game X Change would just reduce the price on a game. There were several times that I took a game up, the clerk looked at it and said, why are we charging that? And lowered the price considerably.
Also, if they notice you coming in for particular stuff, they will sometimes just hold stuff and let you pick it first.
I have never asked for perks. But sometimes, if you're not a jerk to the clerks, they will help you out. I've noticed this about local game stores a lot.
EDIT: And I'm sure it helps if you're hot.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: turf on July 19, 2013, 03:26:25 am
I ask for the "Cool Guy Discount" at most game stores. Works about half the time. And, yes, I'm super hot.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: theflea on July 20, 2013, 07:53:45 pm
I know I bad mouth resellers all the time, but I don't mind the people that run stores, or even collectors who buy games and sell off their extras to fund their own collection. The ones I talk about are those guys who haunt garage sales, flea markets and even local game stores buying up everything that they think they can make a buck off of it. Using those phone scanners of theirs.
I see them at sales and stores and most are rude, they will snatch games out of your hand. Try and outbid you while making a purchase, Tell seller that the idem is worth more while your trying to buy it. I get to a sale first and I wait in line waiting for the sale to open then as soon as they open they run in ahead of you, surround a table and scan everything. Place fake craigslist ads. They make crappy comments to me when they see me. This is just to name a few. I swear they will knock down an old lady to get to a game, movie or book.
I've seen them drive up prices at ridiculous amounts. Best example of this is Waynes World on NES. About a year ago it was going for $40-$60 on ebay and amazon, then it disappeared and no one was selling it, so some douchebag put one up for $250 on amazon (cart only) and guess what? everyone started listing the game at over $200! Then the internet was flooded with overpriced Waynes World carts. Now the price has come back down to under $80. They even buy up new limited collectors edition games/systems to sell on ebay/amazon, remember Ni No Kuni?
Resellers are only in it for the money and are the ones that jack up prices on amazon and ebay, then it spreads to local game stores and other people selling games who look up amazon or ebay and think people will pay these prices. And the sad part, some people do. :-\
This is the reason collectors and gamers hate the amazon/ebay resellers.
Okay enough of my rant, I'm getting down from my soapbox. :P
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: ko1ru on July 20, 2013, 08:55:41 pm
I ask for the "Cool Guy Discount" at most game stores.
I don't *have* to ask for the "Cool-Guy-Discount" 8)
The "Hot 'n' Cool" discount is given to me by default...at my local stores...the "WINNER" = the fastest employee (ie: the one that's quick enough to be rewarded & gets the high honor and the envy of the rest of the employees)...solely by dint of being in my presence and being *allowed* to interact with me 8)
Well, cause of some local reseller douchebags around here, Vintage stock did a complete price system upgrade too.
Totally inaccurate. VS does a price re-vamp once every year or so. Prices go up because the FMV of the game increases. They are regulated by a corporate office - not their customers.
It will never cease to amaze me how much people love to bitch and moan about video game prices. If you don't like the price of something, don't buy it. Finding deals on video games is not a god given right.
Also, how in the hell is it a resellers fault that prices have gone up on anything? Just because you throw something up on ebay doesn't mean anyone has to buy it. Collectors have driven the prices of video games up, not stores/resellers.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: burningdoom on July 21, 2013, 01:00:15 pm
I so wish we had a chain like this in Northern California. We don't.
I've seen videos of Vintage Stock from Gamester81 on YouTube, and looks like heaven to me! Used CDs, used games, old-school posters, comic back issues. I could easily go broke if one of those were in my area.
I do most of my retro shopping locally at Goodwill, believe it or not. Sometimes I'm lucky and get good deals, other times I leave with barely anything. We also have a used movie shop that also sells retro video game stuff, but the lady there prices according to eBay and doesn't go by the lowest price either. So unless there's something specific I'm looking for I don't go there, or I have some stuff I want to unload I'll take it there for some store credit.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: darko on July 21, 2013, 01:08:13 pm
I so wish we had a chain like this in Northern California. We don't.
You should start a store that totally disregards all demand...every game for $1.00 no matter what!
I was never involved in your little rant there, on either side of the arument, no need to aim the sarcasm my way.
Um, okay. It was a stupid joke, didn't mean to piss you off.
On a more serious note, what happened around here? The VGC community used to be fun and pretty happy go lucky. Why is everyone so serious and touchy all of a sudden?
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: burningdoom on July 21, 2013, 01:40:47 pm
It came off to me as you were aiming that at me, especially considering the post you made right above mine. If I misintrepreted that, then I apologize.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: disgaeniac on July 21, 2013, 03:05:32 pm
On a more serious note, what happened around here?
Not enough Darko around lately?
Quote
The VGC community used to be fun and pretty happy go lucky. Why is everyone so serious and touchy all of a sudden?
I dunno...I'm still pretty damned happy-go-lucky ;D
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: sin2beta on July 21, 2013, 05:38:33 pm
The general thread has a link to a $1 no matter what store. It seemed pretty sweet actually. One of those sites to keep checking every week. There is some surprising stuff. I'm kinda hesitant to buy CD games from them. But then again it is $1... I mean come on!
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: sin2beta on July 21, 2013, 07:30:31 pm
On a more serious note, what happened around here? The VGC community used to be fun and pretty happy go lucky. Why is everyone so serious and touchy all of a sudden?
I noticed a lot of the conversation has died off around here. I think for a long time the new consoles and their issues dominated conversations. It's hard to see a thread not derail into that conversation somehow. That automatically gets everyone a bit heated. Several topics get started that seem to exist for the sole purpose of getting people stirred up. I know I started a topic I tried to devote just to the games to try and steer the conversation elsewhere. But constantly talking about something that pisses us all off I'm sure changed the dynamic a lot.
This is something I don't think is just on here though. Basically, I think the gaming community has just been pissed the last few months. I do see a lot of places getting out of it though. But I know I had to unsubsribe to some youtube channels because a lot of the happy go lucky aspects left. I was just watching complaint videos over and over. Everyone was touchy.
I know I got frustrated at a lot of stuff and am sure it came out in some posts. In fact, I can point to a few exact ones. But I wrote some touchy and frustrated posts more than once.
Plus, attendance died down a lot from some regulars. It is kind of a chicken or the egg type of thing. But this changed the dynamic a bit as well. I see a few of the UK members on RetroCollect, which makes sense being a UK site.
Mostly, I think a lot of the members here are still angry about the Rodney King verdict. I know it has been on my mind a lot lately. In fact, I'm sure that is the main reason for most of the trouble here.
EDIT: The above may sound strange. But, you should have seen the change in dynamic on Sonic Stadium and Sonic retro forums when stuff about Sonic 4 was being released. Fans were pissed and the forums reflected that. I remember one of the moderators posting an open letter featuring the sentence "Sonic 4 is tearing us apart". It was hard not to laugh, being a not very big sonic fan. But it was absurd how the dynamic changed. I don't think this site has had a huge change because it is generally pretty happy go lucky.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: turf on July 21, 2013, 10:48:22 pm
I'm just pissed. I don't know at what or why. I'm just pissed.
And people that don't own a store and flip games can suck my D.
THE END
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: sin2beta on July 21, 2013, 11:00:23 pm
I'm just pissed. I don't know at what or why. I'm just pissed.
And people that don't own a store and flip games can suck my D.
THE END
Actually that may be the biggest part of it. This is a thread that is about game shops and resellers. Touchy subject for collectors, right? ;D
This weekend, I've actually given serious thought to starting to sell some games. I always liked the setup TipTopJames has at Thrillhouse and would want to do something similar. I also always liked going into retro stores as a kid and seeing old guys selling a bunch of junk. There's something about the feel of old record stores, comic stores, game stores, and the like that I love. I guess this is one reason I love going to local stores. They have to charge more to keep the lights on. But I'm willing to pay a little bit more because I find what they do enviable in a way.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: darko on July 21, 2013, 11:17:52 pm
And people that don't own a store and flip games can suck my D.
THE END
...AND...we get posts like this that takes away all of the "happy-go-lucky" atmosphere -and- turns it into an "assholes vs douchebags" atmosphere ::)
Basic Child-hood lessons = "nothing nice to say"...
Can I be the asshole in that situation?
Most assuredly, Sir Darko 8)
IMHO; "Asshole" > "douchebag" 8-days-a-week.
People have (rightly:) called me an "ass-hole" (myself included:) many, many times...
Since I've yet to ever be and/or act like a "douchebag"...I'll be keeping ya' company over here in the ass-hole camp ;) How's the "A-Troop" grab ya?!
I'd be surprised if at least 90% of us regulars here have never "flipped" a game.
Then again, Hey - I've Never done any of those 'douchebag' activities/behaviors that the Flea was talking about in his post, either.
*MY* idea/version of *MY* "Flipping" of games = Once in awhile, when the money & interest are there...I'll pre-order more than 1 copy of an LE.
I see it (as I was telling Soera in a private conversation, last week), like playing the stock-market; but with games.
See, I have no advantages over the REST OF THE WORLD, because:
A). I can't pre-order it any sooner than anyone else can -and-
B). The "Maximum # of pre-orders allowed" isn't any higher for me than anybody else.
On top of all of that - there's never any *Guarantee* that they'll ever be worth or sell for any more than I paid for them.
Factor into all of that, that ever since losing my hand (and job & ability to continue working) years ago...I've (seemingly *Amazingly* to other posters here:) never felt bad about, felt like and/or been called a douchebag; on the (probably ~10 times, or so) that I've later sold said items on for a bit of a profit; because:
A). The person that I sell them to buys them happily at my prices...because he then holds onto them and sells them for a profit himself (likely to a person who's happy to have found ____ still in a sealed condition, and, who also doesn't mind paying $___ for _____) -and-
B). Because I'm not doing this to make a living. Any & all profits have gone, 100%, back into buying more games & game-related items for myself (Looks at 5 Giclees hanging next to each other on the wall & smiles) = (for round #'s) 5 x $300/each = $1,500.00 that's going towards supporting one of my favorite companies (NIS America) + 5 (admittedly, extremely frivolous & overly-expensive) items that I like -but- never would have bought otherwise.
Alternatively, I've also (on many, many occasions) been able to help-out friends of mine who may have either missed-out on a pre-order or not had the funds at the time...by *having* extra copies of something that they're interested in...and...since I'm *not* a douchebag - I've never made a dime in any of these instances.
TL;DR =
People who can only generalize, stereotype, and only have 1 brush to paint with -and- talk to people that (a). they don't know and (b). know nothing about -and- that like to talk to anonymous people on a screen in only unintelligent, crude, childish, condescending, derogatory, and/or insulting ways can get-on-line to...
..."Suck *MY* D".
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: turf on July 22, 2013, 11:57:50 am
This shit got way too serious.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: pacpix on July 22, 2013, 01:15:52 pm
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: scott on July 22, 2013, 01:31:38 pm
(back on topic)
I've never bought anything from Game X Change.
But, I wish I had a Vintage Stock around here. Soera got me a hell of a deal on a very pretty and complete copy of Dragon Warrior VII on PS1 from there awhile ago. It was way under "internet value" and was in excellent shape. It's things like this that make me wish I had more options for game buying around here other than the occassional good find at my game shops and Amazon/eBay.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: disgaeniac on July 22, 2013, 01:59:41 pm
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: turf on July 22, 2013, 04:57:09 pm
If I wanted to pay "Internet Value", I would shop on the internet. I'm in your store with cash in my hand.
There really needs to be some distinction between "Internet Value" and "Real World Value" The stores that figure this out will last. The rest, in my opinion, won't be around in a few years.
I was talking to a Game Xchange employee this weekend. He was complaining to me about the store he worked at. His quote was, "The guy running this place is trying to turn it into GameStop." I guess that's ok. GameStop makes money, but it sucks for retro gamers and collectors.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: sin2beta on July 22, 2013, 10:24:58 pm
I'm still finding a lot of good deals at local game exchanges. Thrillhouse was amazing, as I've mentioned before. Movie Trading Company and Vintage Stock are pretty decent as well. Weekly I buy a game there that is less than shipping through ebay.
Entertainmart has %(*&#)loads of XBox/Gamecube/PS2 titles for a few bucks. Most of my XBox collection came from me going in a few times and buying 10 games for $30. It's not a sell. They just have a LOT of 2.99 games.
I have already started getting pretty good treatment at FX Game Exchange. The guy there noticed I buy old SEGA pretty much exclusively. He gave me a sweet deal on some Master System games Something like 35 games for 100 (with stuff like Double Dragon, Wonder Boy 2). And just this last saturday, he was waiting with Vay for SEGA CD behind the counter. It had a replacement case, and I just spent a fair amount on SEGA GaGa. But they already routinely put stuff behind the counter for me view before they put it out.
I found my local LGS outdoes ebay most of the time. Ebay is great for looking for rare games hiding in lots, just sliding under the radar. THe completed listings and doing a cost analysis is your friend. And I actually just flipped my first game yesterday. Kinda. It was a duplicate. But still, my paypal account is sitting with some money. I may continue doing this to fund hella expensive games.
BTW What Disgaeniac was saying is something that I know a LOT of people do in the comic fandom. It's just another way to get into and enjoy the hobby. As long as you don't lose the mindset as it being a way to enjoy the hobby. There's also a really fun website called the hollywood stock exchange based on the same type of enjoyment. Anyways, here is a nice explanation of it from the comic side. I feel it pertains to gaming greatly.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: burningdoom on July 23, 2013, 01:44:17 am
I see you're point, but comic book speculating is something that fell through a long time ago. Unless you have key Silver Age and Golden Age books, you're never gonna make much money in comic books. The speculator's market bust in the mid-90s killed that one.
Basically everyone was buying multiple copies of "collector's issues" and gimmick covers and comics were selling like hot-cakes in the 90s. The people buying multiple copies were betting on their value appreciating and reselling them at a later date. It all culminated with the Death and Return of Superman. So many copies of that were sold, that it insured it would be less than the paper it was printed on. And after that, pretty much anything made after 1969 (with some exceptions of course) are now worth only a few bucks a piece. In other words, the bubble finally burst.
So if we're lucky, hopefully the same thing will happen to the collector's market in classic game. Hopefully the bubble will eventually burst, and after the dust settles only real retro fans will remain and prices will lower again.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: sin2beta on July 23, 2013, 10:37:18 pm
I see you're point, but comic book speculating is something that fell through a long time ago. Unless you have key Silver Age and Golden Age books, you're never gonna make much money in comic books. The speculator's market bust in the mid-90s killed that one.
Basically everyone was buying multiple copies of "collector's issues" and gimmick covers and comics were selling like hot-cakes in the 90s. The people buying multiple copies were betting on their value appreciating and reselling them at a later date. It all culminated with the Death and Return of Superman. So many copies of that were sold, that it insured it would be less than the paper it was printed on. And after that, pretty much anything made after 1969 (with some exceptions of course) are now worth only a few bucks a piece. In other words, the bubble finally burst.
So if we're lucky, hopefully the same thing will happen to the collector's market in classic game. Hopefully the bubble will eventually burst, and after the dust settles only real retro fans will remain and prices will lower again.
Your certainly not going to put your kids through college. But my LCS in Tulsa had a regular who bought about 20 issues of Walking Dead #1. He made a pretty penny. I've seen some recent X-Men issues go up in price. It's not much. You're talking about selling it for $8 instead of the cover price of 4. Most of the Uncanny X-Force issues went up in price.
It's not about making money. It's about bringing the knowledge you have of the hobby into the real world. Is there a good writer/artist combo making a book that will fly under the radar for 2 issues then get a bunch of people wrapped into it?
Comic speculating is not dead. It will never die until the comic industry dies. Comic speculating is just no longer a fad.
Title: Re: Game X Change
Post by: burningdoom on July 24, 2013, 12:33:05 am
I see you're point, but comic book speculating is something that fell through a long time ago. Unless you have key Silver Age and Golden Age books, you're never gonna make much money in comic books. The speculator's market bust in the mid-90s killed that one.
Basically everyone was buying multiple copies of "collector's issues" and gimmick covers and comics were selling like hot-cakes in the 90s. The people buying multiple copies were betting on their value appreciating and reselling them at a later date. It all culminated with the Death and Return of Superman. So many copies of that were sold, that it insured it would be less than the paper it was printed on. And after that, pretty much anything made after 1969 (with some exceptions of course) are now worth only a few bucks a piece. In other words, the bubble finally burst.
So if we're lucky, hopefully the same thing will happen to the collector's market in classic game. Hopefully the bubble will eventually burst, and after the dust settles only real retro fans will remain and prices will lower again.
Your certainly not going to put your kids through college. But my LCS in Tulsa had a regular who bought about 20 issues of Walking Dead #1. He made a pretty penny. I've seen some recent X-Men issues go up in price. It's not much. You're talking about selling it for $8 instead of the cover price of 4. Most of the Uncanny X-Force issues went up in price.
It's not about making money. It's about bringing the knowledge you have of the hobby into the real world. Is there a good writer/artist combo making a book that will fly under the radar for 2 issues then get a bunch of people wrapped into it?
Comic speculating is not dead. It will never die until the comic industry dies. Comic speculating is just no longer a fad.
Yeah, but that's nothing compared to what it was. Those same $8 issues today probably would be selling for like $50 if it was like it was in the 90s.
And early issues of Walking Dead are one of those exceptions I was thinking of when I said that. The first appearance of the TMNT is another. Both of those being cases of low-print runs from what was initially a low-key book, and then both of those had HUGE mainstream success.
I just hope the same does end up happening with the collector's market on retro-gaming. We'll always have those rarities that retain their value, but maybe your average Saturn and SNES games will become more reasonbly priced again.