UPDATE: Saving games from obscure flea markets

UPDATE 8/2
I went to the flea market to get 4 games: Sengoku, Nam 75, and both League Bowlings. I first asked to look at them. They all had the manuals in baggies, and they were all in good condition. Not mint... The cases were a little messed up. Like, mostly just a little dirty and the trays had cracks and such. Still, if I just cleaned them off they would look fine. The carts and manuals and inserts were in excellent shape. So I offered the lady $150 for them all. She called her husband, the guy who runs things, and asked him if that was acceptable. She eventually decided that $225 was the least she'd sell them for, claiming a 20% discount if I bought all four. (The $225 was INCLUDING the discount) Well, I only had $190 on me, so I refused. I tried to bargain with her, telling her that they weren't worth as much as she thought, but she wouldn't waver. I thought for a while and just offered $150 for Nam and the League Bowlings, but she said no to that as well. She was trying to tell me that they were worth a lot more. Well, in the end she just said that her husband runs things, gave me his card, and told me to call him and if I worked out a deal that would be okay.

So, no games yet. I guess I'll call the guy. I think $200 is the most I would pay for them. I mean, LB goes for like $60, Sengoku about $35, and Nam 75 about $30. That's $185... Figure I'm saving on shipping and $200 is about as much as I could possibly see myself giving for them.

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ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW

There is a flea market near me with a video game store. They have all kinds of games for all systems. Their main market is selling new games, of course. The old games are all mostly stored nicely behind glass counters, Except for the NES games which are on a dusty shelf. Sometimes I have saved complete boxed games from the dirty NES section. I will buy them even at a slight loss, although I didn't lose any money when I did it. I got a complete "Conan" game which I resold for the same amount I bought it for, and a "Tiny Toons Adventures" game (missing the manual) which I kept. I just hated to see those games lying around on the floor under some shelf getting scuffed around when they could be put on the market and into the hands of a collector.

Now... Getting to the point... They have Neo-Geo games there. These games are behind the glass, at least, so they stay in good shape. They look to me like they are in near mint shape. The only problem is that they are overpriced. The games they have are Baseball Stars Pro, Super Baseball 2020, Nam 1975, League Bowling, and Sengoku. Thre are multiple copies of each except for Nam 1975 and Sengoku. The prices on these games are $80-90. At $80, League Bowling is the only one I'd think would be worth it. Actually, I really want to get Nam 1975 and League Bowling from them, just because I want those games and I know no one else will ever buy them there. It's just so sad for me to think about them getting neglected or thrown out someday by the flea market. I don't think they are in immediate danger considering how that place is run, but still. They are not on the open market sitting in that glass counter. League Bowling especially is an uncommon game. I don't see it on ebay much and it can go for as much as $70. At $80 I wouldn't mind picking it up!

Does anyone else feel some kind of pull to "save" games like I do? I really felt so good about saving that Conan game. I would also feel good if I could buy all those Neo-Geo games and sell them to people who want them at reasonable prices.

Also... Does anyone want one of those League Bowling or other games? If someone might want one I would buy one for you and ship them to you. Of course, if anyone expresses interest I would go ask to look at them to make sure they have manuals and such. I would say that I would be able to buy and ship out a League Bowling for $85. They are the US dog tag version. Let me know. I'd love to get these League Bowlings back on the open market or in the hands of someone who wants them.

[ July 22, 2002: Message edited by: dmhawkmoon ]

[ August 02, 2002: Message edited by: dmhawkmoon ]</p>

Just go up there, take a big wad of cash out of your pocket right in front of them, and say "I'll give you $200 for those 4 games" or however many you want, and be confident about what you want to pay. Just low-ball them, with the cash in your hand.

If they say no, go up $5 per game. If they still say no, stick the money back in your pocket, say "thanks anyways", and walk away.

Just make sure the games are'nt FREAKED..meaning they DON'T have an ink stamping or nasty lil' gooey,sticky rental sticker on the back of the inserts and througout the manuals. Plus Pay no more than $50 apiece for those games IF complete..I doubt if they're complete..most of the time that is the case @ flea markets..
but GOOD LUCK
-BB

Ok let me clarify this... This flea market it kind of more like shopping mall. I mean it's like a flea market but the whole thing is indoors and everything is set up like normal stores. I don't know what most people think of as a flea market, but it's not exactly the same. It's a LITTLE higher quality than that. The games really are in near mint. I got Star Fox SNES from them brand new a few weeks back. Their stuff I think that is all boxed is from stock that didn't move. I would wager that these Neo-Geo games are brand new and never owned.

Naitram's right, see if you can negotiate a cheap price for a bulk lot. But definately check the conditions/completeness first. Are the sealing stickers still intact?

Those indoor flea markets are awesome, nothing like finding the hole-in-the-wall game store that has a great inventory <img src="graemlins/drool2.gif" border="0" alt="[Drool 2]" />

Hey, just make them an offer. That's the premise behind most Flea Markets regardless of them being indoor or outdoor ventures. Me, I've never found a Neo Geo nor a Vectrex item in such a place.

I wasn't asking anyone if they wanted to pay me now for the games, I was mostly trying to get a discussion about "saving" games. I just wanted to get a preliminary consensus on whether people might actually pay me that much if I happened to buy both League Bowling games. I might just walk in there with $150, ask to see the 3 games I am interested in, and if they look good which I am sure they will, I will just offer them $150 for all 3. I don't know how they could turn that down, considering that I bet no one is ever interested in them.

Where in New Jersey is this flea market?

Hey are you talking about the Pennsauken or Berlin mart like BB was saying? I haven't been there in years but I'm thinking of going down there because I thought I heard that they sold off old arcade machines there once a month. So I may go to scrounge for parts.

Peace

JHendrix

Being a game seller at a flea market, I URGE you to offer him a package price for all 4 games. Neo games rarely sell and I'm sure he'd love to be rid of them. Games like those are what I call "deal material". Offer him $180 for all and go from there. Most NEO owners already have those games and new owners are smart enough not to pay those inflated prices.

It's the "Route 18 Market". I might go down there friday to see if I can get a deal on 3 or 4 of the games. I would feel good to get those out of there. If anyone goes and all they have left are 3 Baseball Stars Pros and Super Baseball 2020s, it's my fault.

There is a lil' gameshack at a local flea market. I don't remember what they have there though. It's been aggggggggggges since I was last there!

EDIT: Oh shit. My 1000th post.

[ July 23, 2002: Message edited by: Matt Semmel ]</p>

Good luck on your quest DM, haggle those suckas down. I bet the owner's sick of looking at 'em and would let you bargain him down. Hell, I'd take a printout from the Price Guide and show him he's way overpriced.

<a href="http://www.route18market.com/" target="_blank">Route 18 Market</a>

All the information should be there.

Yes, they have tons of complete and mint SNES and Saturn games, even some Super Famicom. It'd be worth it to go there and look around if you live nearby... But the thing is that you'll pay a lot for the games. If you are good at haggling, you can try. However, I think that the SNES games might be hard to haggle down, much harder than the Neo-Geo. For me it's not so bad because I don't have to worry about shipping fees or dishonest sellers. The Star Fox SNES I bought from them really was brand new, minus the plastic wrap. It had every advertisement and the game was wrapped up in that plastic baggie. I think a lot of them may be like that. They'll charge you about $30 per game though, it seems like.

trust me, nobody else is going to buy those neo games. go offer 200$ cash for the lot as previously mentioned. just make it cash in hand, 20$ bills do the job best. and don't stop going by there. if you see him on a bad day or something, he might need the extra cash and make you an offer.

If anyone is a Mallrats fan, it's the "dirt mall" from the movie.

(almost 100% sure of this.. dmh would know for sure.)

Well what happened? Did you get the games???

I didn't go in yet. I was too busy last weekend and didn't have enough cash to make a good offer. Maybe next weekend.

Cool, keep us updated

BUMP!

I posted the update on the original message.

Interesting... did you call him?