What is the excuse "Not in this Economy" when buying/selling a game?

[SeanMcL]

People will see those responses, and think to themselves "well, I'll wait to find a cheaper one".

Jow speaks wisdom. In this hobby (and we all know this, so I don't know why this comes up all the time) Time = Money. Increase the amount of time you wait for a game, Decrease the amount you have to pay for it. If you want something now you can get it, it just costs more usually.

7-11 charges $1.00 for 32 oz of the same soda WalMart sells 144 oz of for $2.50, and yet everyone here has bought a fountain drink at 7-11.

 

[jehuie]

I don't think the economy has anything to do with it.

I think the biggest problem is people hanging around message boards like this and for YEARS hearing "I have 100 games, and have never spent more than $100 on one of them", "I just got 4 free pinball machines", "I just got a working Major Havoc for $250, and a Quantum for $300" all the time. If I had a dollar for every time someone posted a "SCORE" thread and talked about getting a $50 PacMan, I would be able to buy the OPs SW kit in the FS section.

They see all of those, and don't want to spend the $, period.

So you are saying that since a lot of people get really good deals and talk about it, other people would like to get really good deals as well? You are right. That's just shameful.

 

[Robotron Jon]

Even when the economy improves, I am not sure the price of the average game will ever recover. Values for average games were dropping before the economy tanked.

You also have an aging demographic for this hobby, and it's possible that people are leaving the hobby and not being replaced with new collectors. New collectors coming along are probably more willing to pay more $$$ for their first games.

 

[jow]

So you are saying that since a lot of people get really good deals and talk about it, other people would like to get really good deals as well? You are right. That's just shameful.

I'm not calling it shameful at all...

 

[Robotron Jon]

So you are saying that since a lot of people get really good deals and talk about it, other people would like to get really good deals as well? You are right. That's just shameful.

You've never posted about a score you made? That's part of the hobby. The internet has changed the values of all collectibles, not just this hobby. This situation isn't unique to this hobby.

 

[jehuie]

I'm not calling it shameful at all...

Oh, so what was your point exactly?

 

[jow]

Oh, so what was your point exactly?

The OP says he cant sell games for his asking prices. Are his games worth what he is asking? Sure. Do 1000 people see "check out my $1 game score!" and think his now for sale games are overpriced? Yes. That was my point.

I'm sure the economy has a little bit to do with hardships of sales right now, but message boards like this will always have WAY more to do with it than any economy.

 

[pookdolie]

Based on buyers and sellers I've spoken to, there is definitely a "Why would you want an old machine instead of a new multi-board machine?" thing at play.

When I bought a cabaret a year ago and explained to the seller why I didn't want him to install a 60-in-1, he clearly thought I was nuts. I knew right then and there that such a mentality would eventually affect prices of the classic stuff.

 

[jawhn]

A lot of us get jaded after we get a killer score.

I have also upped my 'price paid' for wanted items, even after getting the 'score.'

There are a lot of factors to pricing and selling. Some might even be unconscious...

Supply and demand, as well. As some of us 'finish' our collection, as I pretty much have, I'm not going to pick up anything else unless it is dirt cheap / a killer 'score'...

 

[jehuie]

The OP says he cant sell games for his asking prices. Are his games worth what he is asking? Sure. Do 1000 people see "check out my $1 game score!" and think his now for sale games are overpriced? Yes. That was my point.

I'm sure the economy has a little bit to do with hardships of sales right now, but message boards like this will always have WAY more to do with it than any economy.

Ah, I see. Don't entirely agree though. This board was around before the economy collapsed and people were getting bargains at that time. But I could still post a working Galaga in rough condition on CL and get $500 or $600 immediately. Doesn't happen now.

I think it has more to do with people penny pinching because they are out of work, got pay cuts or are worried about being out of work or getting pay cuts. Also, a lot of us are waiting for the big tax hit early next year. Regardless of if congress acts to extend the Bush era tax cuts, I'm still looking at about a $400 increase in my withholdings.....which to me amounts to yet another pay cut.

 

[Robotron Jon]

Based on buyers and sellers I've spoken to, there is definitely a "Why would you want an old machine instead of a new multi-board machine?" thing at play.

When I bought a cabaret a year ago and explained to the seller why I didn't want him to install a 60-in-1, he clearly thought I was nuts. I knew right then and there that such a mentality would eventually affect prices of the classic stuff.

I'd agree, the average single game cabinet is going to be boring after a while and having 60 games in one goes a long way towards sustaining interest. Those boards were impacting interest in single game cabinets by the average person long before now.

Most people don't have the space for, nor want, dozens of 300 lb arcade games in their homes and garages.

 

[cleverlyj]

I'd agree, the average single game cabinet is going to be boring after a while and having 60 games in one goes a long way towards sustaining interest. Those boards were impacting interest in single game cabinets by the average person long before now.

Most people don't have the space for, nor want, dozens of 300 lb arcade games in their homes and garages.

that's fine with me. there'll be plenty of lack of interest in games other than converted pac/ms pac/galagas and we can snatch them all up.

personally, i detest multi games. not really exciting going into an arcade or game room somewhere and seeing one cab with a 60-1 where there should be 5 or 10 classics.

 

[Phetishboy]

Jow is right on the money. The worst part is when something is clearly UNDERPRICED and someone still tries to publicly undercut the price just out of habit. I've seen that many times here, and actually felt the need to post in someone else's FS thread chastising a bargain hunter once. Why? Because I tend to sell a few games in a year. Some restored, some just cleaned up and working. I don't need some habitual cheapskate driving down the prices of nice machines in everyone's mind just because they're used to paying less or can't pay anymore than their "max". I've heard statements like: "I've never paid more than $200 for ANY game, and I won't start now. Good for you fucko, but some of us are willing to pay a little more for a nice game we want, out of empathy if nothing else. Cheapskates Blow.

 

[savit4l8r]

I don't think the economy has anything to do with it.

I think the biggest problem is people hanging around message boards like this and for YEARS hearing "I have 100 games, and have never spent more than $100 on one of them", "I just got 4 free pinball machines", "I just got a working Major Havoc for $250, and a Quantum for $300" all the time. If I had a dollar for every time someone posted a "SCORE" thread and talked about getting a $50 PacMan, I would be able to buy the OPs SW kit in the FS section.

They see all of those, and don't want to spend the $, period.

Well put Jow, spoken like a guy who is pissed off he pays retail while the rest of us haven't dropped over $50 on a game.

 

[spmahn]

I don't think the economy has much to do with it. Five to Ten years ago, you could buy a game as an investment, pay $800 to $1000 for a cabinet, stick it in the corner of a pizza joint or laudromat, and in a couple of months, you'd make your investment back and start earning. These days, almost nothing earns regardless of the location. With a few exceptions, this hobby is strictly for collectors and enthusiasts now, and we're much stingier about prices, especially when it's for something that it just going to sit in a basement.

 

[pookdolie]

The good stuff will never be cheap; the mediocre stuff will get cheaper. Is that about right?

 

[jow]

Well put Jow, spoken like a guy who is pissed off he pays retail while the rest of us haven't dropped over $50 on a game.

Hey, you and I have both spent well over $50 on a game. $75, at least!

 

[LyonsArcade]

Jow is right on the money. The worst part is when something is clearly UNDERPRICED and someone still tries to publicly undercut the price just out of habit. I've seen that many times here, and actually felt the need to post in someone else's FS thread chastising a bargain hunter once. Why? Because I tend to sell a few games in a year. Some restored, some just cleaned up and working. I don't need some habitual cheapskate driving down the prices of nice machines in everyone's mind just because they're used to paying less or can't pay anymore than their "max". I've heard statements like: "I've never paid more than $200 for ANY game, and I won't start now. Good for you fucko, but some of us are willing to pay a little more for a nice game we want, out of empathy if nothing else. Cheapskates Blow.

9.8 out of 10. You got .5 style points for putting "fucko" in there somewhere.

 

[Phetishboy]

9.8 out of 10. You got .5 style points for putting "fucko" in there somewhere.

Fucko should be our national word.

 

[SilverCoin]

I thought "chumpatized" was in that spot?