buying games just to resell?

chuchunesme

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I often buy things just to resell, in all honestly life is about money and the easiest way to make it. I got a good deal on my Rush and Ms Pacman/Galaga and thought about flipping the stand up but decided not to. For some reason I have a weird feeling if I was to do it with a game, I start feeling like I won't be a collector but an opportunist just out to make money. I'm currently getting ready to move and am short on cash, more so than I thought I was so I was considering grabbing that TFTC pinball to resell. On one hand I could really use the money for my move but on the other I'm selling a very cool pinball that I'd love to have in my collection at some point. Any newer, working pinball is usually out of my price range and I'm blowing my chance to own one by doing this. What would you guys do, hold out and try to find the money somewhere else or just go for it and flip the pinball? I know if I were to pick it up now I'd have to sell it anyway but I could pick it up in a month and have it in my collection.
 
There are more than a few folks here who buy games and flip them.Personally 'm not one of those people. Technically I guess there's nothing wrong with it but I will say that as a collector it's a bummer to see a game you actually want pop up locally at a good price only to have someone one snap it up first just to up the price and resell it. Now if the buyer puts some money and time into it to make it nicer and justify the price increase then that makes sense. If they simply grab it low because the opportunity is there and they know the seller's asking price is low and they simply relist for more as is then I think that sucks.

Basically I totally disagree with your quote below

"life is about money and the easiest way to make it"

Many may take this approach but isn't the desire to make money and do it easily to have more freedom and time to enjoy life and its luxuries? To me these games are a passion and a way to relax and have fun ie enjoy life. Just kinda of a bummer to see it turned into an "all about the money" thing. At least for me. I guess it's just different strokes for different folks thing. Some people get excited to grab a game cheap, play it for a month then when ready to sell they take a "I'm not gonna take less than the market value attitude" even though they bought for way less. Others are happy to pass that game along for the same price or even at a loss to another that would truly be happy to play and enjoy the game.
 
Sometimes I do it. Other times times I just grab games because I know someone specifically is looking for it. Like one of the Star Wars games I picked up recently. Or because it's obscure and I don't want to see it destroyed like the Astro Attack I just got. In those cases I don't try to make cash but basically just turn it over for nothing or next to nothing.

But basically the only free cash I have to get games that I want comes from buying or selling other games. So it's a means to an end. I'm not cut-throat about it but if I see something pop up for $50 and I know I can get $500 for it I'll grab it even though I know it's not a keeper.

My current goal is to work up to getting a Zeke's Peak at some point. No hurry. But the only way I see it happening is to flip a few games here and there until it works out.

Apparently I've pissed off a few people along the way though which was never my intention.
 
There is a well known flipper in my area. I got no love for him. Do what you gotta do.

You joined this site last month? Hmmmm....

Join the coversations here, contribute more, talk about your favorites, socialize... Then you'll probably develop more desire to cherish these games rather than turn one dollar into two.

Or not. Whatevas.
 
I've bought ~1/3 of my games to resell. Others I just got tired of, but I still made a profit selling them. To me it's just a means to an end. If I can make enough on the games that I sell to pay for the ones I keep, then I have no problem with it.
 
One thing....if you buy a game and then immediately resell it you are a horrible person.

But if you buy it and sit on it for 6 months and then sell it everything is fine.

Not sure why but it's true.
 
i am a collector but if i stumble on a super good deal on a game i dont want for my gameromm i'll flip it. i dont look for games to flip but i dont turn down a no brainer. what ever money i make goes into the games i already have or a new one i really want.
 
p1899m;1812094 Basically I totally disagree with your quote below "life is about money and the easiest way to make it" Many may take this approach but isn't the desire to make money and do it easily to have more freedom and time to enjoy life and its luxuries? To me these games are a passion and a way to relax and have fun ie enjoy life. Just kinda of a bummer to see it turned into an "all about the money" thing. At least for me. I guess it's just different strokes for different folks thing. Some people get excited to grab a game cheap said:
Not everything in my book is about money. I'm saying that most people get up every day to work and make money to pay their bills and hopefully have a little left over for some fun. I'll buy almost anything to flip if I can make some money off of it but when it comes to games I feel bad if I do. If I didn't have a problem with it then you wouldn't see this post, you'd see a post in the for sale section. I don't down people for doing it, even with games. I do get frustrated when people snatch stuff up that I would love to have just to flip it for a couple bucks. This pinball is sitting in a place that its not going to be seen or posted anywhere, the guy made it clear he wasn't really looking to put much effort to sell it so I'm not pressed for time to get it. I guess I'm hoping by posting this I can talk myself out of flipping it and getting it in a month for my own collection.

In the case of the Astro Attack I don't see any problem with selling it after picking it up free, you saved that game from the dump and are asking a more than fair price. Matter of fact if its still available I might be interested, for that price I could afford to put it in my collection, even with my money crunch right now..... Let me know if its still up or not!
 
One thing....if you buy a game and then immediately resell it you are a horrible person.

But if you buy it and sit on it for 6 months and then sell it everything is fine.

Not sure why but it's true.

What if you got it as part of a package deal 300 miles away? Case in point, I drove to Nonewheresville Nebraska to pickup a DK and Ms Pac for $300. DK needed capping, and Ms Pac needed a monitor. I fixed them both, and sold Ms Pac since I never wanted that one in my collection. I used the money from that to pay for the DK and for fuel to get there and back. Am I a horrible person?
 
Buying and Selling

I've been buying and selling games and parts for over 15 years.. the reason I do it is to maintain my collection, and upgrade it when possible.. Plus it keeps my wife off my ass when I need to have something, as it doesn't come out of our account :)

The trick to being a decent seller is to be fair and honest.. I try not to gouge or mark up games or parts to high..

A good example is picking up a game via CL or somewhere else, cleaning it up, getting it to work.. Then turn around and sell it for a modest profit. I try and keep in mind: fuel, parts, the initial price, and my time.. Let's say I bought a taito game for $100.. I install a new ps, Cpo, and clean it up.. Depending on the title, I'll try and double my investment.. Or try and come close.. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't.. (heh, most of the time I'm lucky to make $50)

What really annoys most collectors are the guys who buy everything that's available locally.. Then try and flip it for eBay prices without even wiping it down.. That just sucks..

Usually the same goes with parts.. I'll buy a bunch of box loads from an Op.. I'll make sure there are a few parts in the lot that be easily flipped to recoup the purchase price.. The rest of the parts are stocked away, used on my games, given away to some of my local friends, or sold down the road..

Reselling games and parts can be a great service to collectors who don't have the time or means to get that specific thing they have wanted.. I've found some rare ass parts that collectors all over the world are looking for.. Like qbert sticks that were sold and sent to Europe.. Or taito parts that can't be found in Australia, but can be found here..

Like I said.. Be fair and honest.. Remeber, you could be that collector that's looking for that certain game or part someday.. So don't screw over another guy just for quick $$$... I've made a few bucks doing this.. But 90% of it goes right back into my collection..
 
There is a well known flipper in my area. I got no love for him. Do what you gotta do.

You joined this site last month? Hmmmm....

Join the coversations here, contribute more, talk about your favorites, socialize... Then you'll probably develop more desire to cherish these games rather than turn one dollar into two.

Or not. Whatevas.

I'm not into flipping games, just thought about it in my current money crunch. Yes, I joined last month but I've dealt with a few members on here in the past, this is a new adventure for me though. I've always wanted to build a home arcade but wasn't in the position to do it, now I can and its a lot of fun. My first week here I purchased a Cruis'n Exotica I was lucky enough to find listed in my area. I really like it here, I've already learned a lot with a lot more to learn! I'm a 40 year old kid, I'm not here to bring drama but to hopefully contribute to the community! I think with the responses I'm getting I'm going to follow my gut and hold off so I can have this in my personal collection.
 
What if you got it as part of a package deal 300 miles away? Case in point, I drove to Nonewheresville Nebraska to pickup a DK and Ms Pac for $300. DK needed capping, and Ms Pac needed a monitor. I fixed them both, and sold Ms Pac since I never wanted that one in my collection. I used the money from that to pay for the DK and for fuel to get there and back. Am I a horrible person?

Yep. You are terrible. I've done it too so I'm awful as well. Sorry to have to let you know that.
 
Just recently a guy was selling a Centipede cocktail for $75 locally on craigslist...I called and emailed and never got a response so I must have been late on the draw. Two days later the exact same cocktail was relisted 2 towns over for $450, so whoever bought it immediately relisted it for 6 times what they paid.

I don't really mind people turning a buck, but sometimes jealousy turns to anger when the "pros", flippers and resellers get to something a minute before someone who really would have enjoyed having it in their collection.

Such is life though...a minute late and a dollar short... :)
 
in all honestly life is about money and the easiest way to make it.

You forgot bitches and weed?

Seriously though, nothing wrong with flipping. That being said, if all you care about is money then flipping video games is about the worst way to get there. I would suggest getting a medical degree or selling drugs if you want to make money.
 
I think I have made a profit on maybe 2 games when I sold them. What usually happens is I buy games, fix them to some extent, then when I need space or money, I try to sell them for what I payed. That pretty much means I give away any work that I do on them.

I am selling a Pole Position cockpit and a cocktail Tetris conversion, both working for $200 today just because I need the space. I can almost break even on that, but at the moment, the space is more important.

A couple of years ago, after seeing a lot of people making money on these, I thought I was going to start flipping. That lasted for one game. I just hated it, and knew it would kill this hobby for me. I would rather actually just pay for the games I want than try to make the hobby either pay for itself or generate an income.

Like others have said, it is annoying when the flippers beat you to a good deal, but I am noticing that most of the good deals around here are only a good deal if you are flipping. It is rare to see a game that I really want show up. In the last few months I have bought Stunt Cycle, Hydro Thunder and Pinbot, and I found them all by asking for them here on the forum. So I got the games that I really wanted, and I met met 3 great people who actually enjoy the games for what they are instead of just a possible way to make money. Unfortunately, I usually have to travel at least 100 miles to find people that don't see these games as revenue generators.
 
Flipping Games

I have done my share of buying and reselling especially when you buy in bulk chances are you are going to resell games. There are always going to be people that agree or disagree with what you do regardless. The last few years as far as making money I think its easier to buy and resell parts rather than games. I think people get upset when they get beaten to a game they really really want on craigslist just to see it reposted the same day with a $500 mark up. I myself get upset also when I see that happen but its life and some people are all about $$$ and not the hobby. I agree with a lot of the posts on here especially the buying, sitting on the game for 6 months and reselling it. =) Good luck on your move and hope it all works out for you.
 
Why does everyone on KLOV exist in constant tact crisis?

If you need real life, bill paying cash then this hobby is not a sound investment and I suggest finding some perspective (unless you're going huge like the major distributors/retailers). Go find something else to put your money into.

If you're swooping up public deals underneath people just to Windex and flip the next day for a mark up, yeah, your friends list isn't going to grow. It's your right to do it, but "rights" don't shield you from coming off greedy and self serving in an otherwise communal hobby.

Re: Jehuie "Sitting on it for 6 months" tends to work because everyone winds up under the impression you got your enjoyment out of it, put some elbow grease into it and you're looking to move on. Even your Astro Attack was done (from my perspective) more out of interest and curiosity for the thing than profiting off of "suckers that didn't get there first". Hardly what I mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Now go into your garages and play/work on some games.

P.S. people profiting isn't the problem...so stop confessing like it is a sin. The issue exists in how you go about it.
 
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I'm a bad person. I flip games. I normally put a lot of work into restoring them as much as possible to the best condition I can and then I resell them, typically for a healthy profit.

To me restoring the Pins and video games is the most enjoyable part. I do keep some for myself occasionally. I look at it as helping others get into the hobby by often being the one to sell them their first game. :)
 
Truthfully, you can do whatever you want. It might suck for us collectors out there, but welcome to America (or any other country where freedom exists).

Quick flippers annoy the crap out of me because their intentions are pretty evident.

If someone holds a game for 6 months and then flips, it's very hard to say. Perhaps they grew tired of the game? Perhaps they are in over their heads with the restoration? Maybe they just don't have the space/time now?

Let me say though, that I'd rather see someone who collects/flips/trades than someone who buys and MAME/60-n-1's for resale.

At the end of the day for me, it's about seeing these games that are a part of culture and history be treated with respect in the years before folks fully wake up to their historical value.
 
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