Put a fair market cash value on my collection

kjeffery

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As most of you know I travel for work and after 3 years it's putting huge stress on my mental health and my family life. I am thinking about quiting on the spot. I'm fed up with only being home about 3 days every two months. I can not find another job at home traveling so much. I need a solid month at home to find something. I am thinking about selling all of my games as a pakackage deal to have money to pay bills along with some of my income tax to last me a month. Here are my current games

8/10 dedicated ultimate mk3
9/10 centipede
8/10 neo geo gold cabaret with 120-1 cart
9/10 gauntlet dark legacy in legends cab
9/10 dedicated 2 gun revolution x
7/10 frogger cocktail
7/10 donkey kong cocktail

All games work and play great
 
....

My guesstimation:

8/10 dedicated ultimate mk3 - $450-$550
9/10 centipede - $300-$450
8/10 neo geo gold cabaret with 120-1 cart - $300-$400 (with or without cart)
9/10 gauntlet dark legacy in legends cab - $350-$400
9/10 dedicated 2 gun revolution x - $300
7/10 frogger cocktail - $250
7/10 donkey kong cocktail - $175-$250

Those are all + or - depending on condition.
 
Most of the time you can apply for jobs online so why not just apply while on the road ? Take some time each night and look for jobs while in your hotel room. It's a lot easier to get a job while you have a job , potential new employers will like the fact that you are sticking it out.
just my .02
 
Most of the time you can apply for jobs online so why not just apply while on the road ? Take some time each night and look for jobs while in your hotel room. It's a lot easier to get a job while you have a job , potential new employers will like the fact that you are sticking it out.
just my .02

I do just that but I have missed so many jobs because I'm 1k miles away and cant get in for an interview and I'll get fired from my current job if I just up and quit. I don't wanna sell my games at all but I gotta do what I gotta do, my kids need me
 
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A lot of your titles are outside of my 'pricing experience,' as in, I've never really looked for those games... Exidy seems pretty on-target, though.

I know you want pricing, and not suggestions, but I think Dave is on the right track... You might find a job faster than selling your games, unless you sell them for a steal.

Bottom line: Only sell them for what you could buy them back for. You're not allowed to leave this hobby! ;)

And good luck with your pursuit!
 
One guy I know that bought several arcade gamesfrom me can getcme on with him at the company he works for, he said if I get the job id owe him one of the cocktail games. Works for me, better losing one than all of them. I'll keep this updated, he's talking to his boss tonight
 
as far as pricing goes for a "collection" -you need to be careful not to fall into the classic trap. when you are selling 'bulk' you have to have a deeper discount. you are telling someone- "if you take these games that you dont really want- i will give them to you cheap along with a good price on the games you really DO want." thinking along the lines of- "i have a tron that i MIGHT get $1k for... and a kangaroo that i MIGHT get a stick in the eye for... Sooo... $700 for a nice tron, and $250 for a BEAUTIFUL kangaroo... but youve gotta take them both!" =$950!! you could have sat around waiting for the tron to sell at $1k and get stuck with the kangaroo forever- instead you take a slight knock and move them both. i see these bulk collections alot that are WAAAAY overpriced- yeah, theyll have some gems in them like major havoks, joust 2s, star wars' and such... but then they ask $100k for 90 games! over $1k each on average!! how many beat up moon patrols and ms pacs and such do you wanna pay $1k for??? even to get a couple of gems! i know, your collection isn't that large- but i think that if you REALLY wanted to move it: $1500 - $2000 7 games $250 each if you take all. that may be the ceiling... you always do better piece by piece, but when you need to sell a collection- the buyer always has the upper hand.
 
That lot is worth $2000-$2500, depending on your geographical location.

Not worth it, IMO - that much money wouldn't last our family 2 months.

I'd look elsewhere for your security blanket...
 
That lot is worth $2000-$2500, depending on your geographical location.

Not worth it, IMO - that much money wouldn't last our family 2 months.

I'd look elsewhere for your security blanket...

It wouldn't last me long not even a month, I hope this one place works out
 
That's about where I'd put it as well. $2300 sounds about right to me.

If I do end selling all which I sure everything will work out and I wont haft to be but id ask 2k, I already asked one of my usual buyers incase if I hit hard times, just to be clear this IS my last resort, I love this hobby and don't wanna sell any of these games
 
Man...seeing your family only a few days a month must hard. Hard to believe you've been doing so for 3 years. Kudos to you for wanting to make a change. My advice would be to start selling and have your money in hand for the games, before quitting your job, if possible. If your family needs you now though, then go for it...but like arc said, you may be more marketable employed, but quitting your job for the good of your family may not be viewed as a negative, depending on the interviewer. You might try selling here, but its tough and people want the rock bottom deal. Best bet is probably Ebay... but with your schedule itd be difficult when the buyer comes to pickup the game, unless your wife can handle it. Good luck man, I feel for ya. Can't imagine not seeing my kids every day. The games can always be bought again when your settled into your new job and you'll be home every night to play em :)

Tom
 
What do you do? What kind of job are you looking for?

I agree that selling games under duress pretty much assures you that you won't get much for them. And a quick fix like that isn't enough to help anyway. But family is more important than things. If you own your own home it might be worth selling it and uprooting to move somewhere that jobs are more plentiful. We've been having this debate here but it's hard because there's family near us. In any case, good luck...just don't do anything rash. Think it through and move according to plan.
 
What do you do? What kind of job are you looking for?

I agree that selling games under duress pretty much assures you that you won't get much for them. And a quick fix like that isn't enough to help anyway. But family is more important than things. If you own your own home it might be worth selling it and uprooting to move somewhere that jobs are more plentiful. We've been having this debate here but it's hard because there's family near us. In any case, good luck...just don't do anything rash. Think it through and move according to plan.

I travel the country and install various types of cameras, gps's, and data systems in vehicles. I also install computer networks and other types of systems in department stores and warehouses. Honestly im not sure what kind of work Im looking for. I would do any type of work that pays good and I where can provide for my family. Im only 23, I havnt went to college yet. I just started working out of high school, and landed this traveling job pays well and thought i won the lottery when I first got it but now I need my family every night. I wanna further my education but so damn hard to do when I constantly travel. I know you can do online classes but i think thats bs, I cant learn like that. When I do find something good at home I am going to enroll in classes and start getting some kind of education for database admin. I also just cant get up and move. Moving cost money plain and simple . I also just bought my house last year and dont care to move at the moment. Hopefully the spots I applied at calls me back and I can land a decent job. Im sorry but 10 or 12$ a hour just wont do it, I cant survive on that type of pay which most places around here pay for entry level and so forth. My buddy is trying to get me a job with him at a factory doing maintenance on the machines that pays ok and will pay even better with overtime and he also said if i know how to read schematics and repair electronics he could get me a even better paying job at the factory being a scale technician. Hopefully something comes my way like I said. I think at this time im keeping my games unless I quit and im in deep situation before i start a new job. I dont plan on quitting my current job until i have something lined up.
 
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My guesstimation:

8/10 dedicated ultimate mk3 - $450-$550
9/10 centipede - $300-$450
8/10 neo geo gold cabaret with 120-1 cart - $300-$400 (with or without cart)
9/10 gauntlet dark legacy in legends cab - $350-$400
9/10 dedicated 2 gun revolution x - $300
7/10 frogger cocktail - $250
7/10 donkey kong cocktail - $175-$250

Those are all + or - depending on condition.

I think Jon is pretty close, except on two, there is not much love for the gold neo geo, i think that the low end of jon's guesstimate, and thats with the cartridge. and a little high on the frogger as well.

But what is going to get you is that you said something about selling all at once. with Jons and I close on guesstimate, i would say if you sold individually, then you have 2k-2.2k worth of games.

Now for the bad news. If you sell it as a lot and someone has to take it all, then you will probably get about 1500.00 on a good day. Not knocking your collection by any means, games are games. But you have a huge variety that will be hard to appeal to one buyer. DK cocktails are a hard sell, and i have had about 20 of them. Rev X is another hard sell (exspecially if you have ever had to move one before). Neo geo fams usually want the 25 inch red cabinet.

The easiest thing to move is you MK3, but if i was you, i would price that on the higer side and be willing to make a deal if they buy multiple games

good luck on the job thing, hope all goes well
 
I think Jon is pretty close, except on two, there is not much love for the gold neo geo, i think that the low end of jon's guesstimate, and thats with the cartridge. and a little high on the frogger as well.

But what is going to get you is that you said something about selling all at once. with Jons and I close on guesstimate, i would say if you sold individually, then you have 2k-2.2k worth of games.

Now for the bad news. If you sell it as a lot and someone has to take it all, then you will probably get about 1500.00 on a good day. Not knocking your collection by any means, games are games. But you have a huge variety that will be hard to appeal to one buyer. DK cocktails are a hard sell, and i have had about 20 of them. Rev X is another hard sell (exspecially if you have ever had to move one before). Neo geo fams usually want the 25 inch red cabinet.

The easiest thing to move is you MK3, but if i was you, i would price that on the higer side and be willing to make a deal if they buy multiple games

good luck on the job thing, hope all goes well


Yeah I kinda figured, I do have a buyer for all of them for 1,700$ if worse comes to worse. I do not wanna get rid of them by any means, so Im gonna try and stick with this job until I get something else, I might just use my week paid vacation time early and go job looking
 
Hey since you do installs in vehicles you probably know a little about them.....Ever think about selling cars?????
I worked at namco for 12 yrs in the arcade industry and made 40 grand a yr after 10 yrs of being there.......( this is not a terrible income, but i was gone alot as well...and it sucked)

I started selling cars and it came easy to me...My income varies each month..one month I might make 2000 and the next I might make 8000....long story short, good money and you can sell cars ANYWHERE!!!!!! Just be honest and treat people like you would like to be treated and you will do great at it......
Hope this maybe helps you a little.... Be home every night!!!!!!
 
Well Kenneth, you know my wife works at one of the universities here and you probably know what she will tell you, online classes suck. They are pretty much like the "profit" colleges you find in strip malls, not accredited (no disrespect to those that attend those kind of courses). Go to a university if you can, or at least community college.

If I didnt have Alli (and if the hours were any better), I'd trade jobs with you in a heartbeat. I love the idea of traveling, but like you, I coujldnt stand being home less than a few days a month. Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Don't you get any vacation?

Something to consider is that many recruiters are looking for someone currently employed. As bad as the jobless rate is right now, its still seen as a bad thing to be unemployed. Couple that with the fact that you'll be telling them you just quit your last job and you're suddenly not such a hot prospect.

A line of work that would probably suit you well is working for a phone or cable company. I do telecomm stuff and can tell you that going to an office job after local traveling and working outside made me bonkers.
 
It is really rough trying to find a job while you are out of town. I used to be a truck driver, and I was home with about the same frequency. Potential employers don't really understand "I might be in town in two or three weeks for an interview". I ended up quitting and getting a crappy job just so I would be in town to look for a job and start school.

I don't regret it for a minute, but I had a little more freedom since I don't have a family. When you start school, go to a community college. If you know what you want to major in, make sure you know there transfer policy really well...you don't want to take classes that won't transfer or count for your major. Also, even if you have a major picked out, take classes that count for multiple majors. Mostly do all of the general ed stuff. Most people change majors a few times before settling on one, so you don't want to put all of your time in to classes that you may end up not using. General ed should count for all majors.

I really don't see any value taking 100 or 200 level courses at the University; they are the same, just more expensive. Financial aid only counts for 1 school at a time, so pick one, and take full time credits at that one.

I changed majors twice. I started at University of Phoenix since I could do it after work. It is hugely overpriced, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I took 7 classes there, and spent $8,000. Only one of them ended up transferring, so I basically paid $8000 for English 101. What a waste. I was majoring in Psychology there since it sounded like the most interesting one they had. When I got to a real school, I chose engineering. I started in civil, then switched to computer engineering after deciding civil was about the most boring thing in the world.

Those 3 decisions ended up adding a year to school. I would be done now without the wasted classes, but I still have this semester, and one more class next semester to finish. Just trying to save a little time for you if I can. :)

I go to school with a kid your age (yeah, I am almost 40, so I usually call them kids ;) ), and he proves all of the time that you can go to school, work, and raise a family. It won't be a fun 4 - 6 years for you, but it is definitely doable.

More on topic, I sold a bunch of my games a while back because I needed the money. It really wasn't worth it. If you have to sell fast, you will usually not sell them for enough to matter.

Good Luck!
 
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