Who else buys games just to sell?

jehuie

Well-known member

Donor 2011
Joined
Sep 8, 2007
Messages
10,947
Reaction score
1,672
Location
Martinez, California
Ok, I admit it. Most of the games I buy on CL are destined for a quick fix and then resell on CL as soon as I can. I enjoy working on them but I don't have room to keep a lot of games. So I pretty much always have 2 or 3 that are "in the works". Once in a while a "keeper" comes in like the new Tempest. And then something else has to go out. I only have room in the game room for 4 keepers.
 
I'm sure most of us here are guilty of buying a bad conversion or project cab to convert or fix up for the sole purpose of selling it. Most of the games I have sold were bought for this purpose. There have been a few times were I considered keeping the game but I had to stick to my guns. If I didn't sell it I wouldn't have been able to buy a game I really wanted.

All of the pictures I have posted in the Texas Group photo album are games I sold. The only two I considered keeping were the Golden Tee 05 and Tekken 2.
 
I haven't found much in life that I enjoy less than selling stuff. I thought I would try to flip games to finance the hobby, but I think I only sold a couple before I realized it wasn't for me. I kinda hope the value on these games continues to drop so it will not be worth it for the flippers. It is frustrating to see a great deal missed on cl, then see the game flipped a short time later for way more money.
I would much rather trade for another game when I want to change the lineup.
 
The games I buy I tend to keep for myself. I have sold a few in the past, but it was because I found games that I wanted more and never thought I would have and have a limited space for them.
 
The games I buy I tend to keep for myself. I have sold a few in the past, but it was because I found games that I wanted more and never thought I would have and have a limited space for them.

Same here. I've only sold/parted/traded 2 games and it was for financial reasons or to make room and pick up other games.

Though to piggy back on Paul's point, it is frustrating when you see a steal of a deal picked up locally only to see it posted on CL the next week for much more. But hey, that's business and something I wouldn't want to do myself due to the effort that goes into flipping a game (fixing, cleaning up, trying to sell, etc.).

I've learned that in this hobby, you do what you can to get by, fund other games/projects and make room. So if flipping games will help you accomplish those things and you don't mind the work that goes into it, then it's all good.
 
So far, I've had no interest in flipping. I generally only buy games that I want. That being said, I received a couple of free or dirt cheap cabs from people, and ended up selling them to others, but not for profit, just for room.

I don't think I could turn down a free cab or game in nice shape. I know someone else in the hobby will want it if I don't, and I don't want it becoming landfill-fodder.
 
I was going to do that - buy cheap at auction, fix up, and sell. The problem is I never get to the sell part. All of the games I've fixed up I've kept.
 
Are you asking for a name of flippers or waiting for those that do to come forward
 
I was just curious. What got me thinking about it was that I have a game that I got for free and I was originally planning to just flip it. But the market is down so much that nobody is really even interested in the thing. So it's hardly worth it to go through the effort any more unless it's a top-tier collectible game. I've been considering throwing a 60-in-1 board into it but even then I'm not sure if I could make enough money for it to be worth the effort.

I find myself walking away from games that in the past I would have thought were a great deal. I've even turned down free games recently.
 
I buy to sell only to fund further purchases. I get enjoyment out of restoring games and if I like the game enough it may stay. If it has to go then it's going to go for a profit and bring me more games.

I still don't understand the frustration of some when other people flip games. Envy? Jealousy? Why do you care?
 
It is how I fund this hobby, usually clean them up, new paint, fix up ugly wiring, etc and then sell for a profit. And any game I have in my collection is forsale if you want. I have no attachment to anything.
 
Enjoy slowly ruining your own hobby! Those 60-in-1 and mame cabs jobs are such a great thing. I look forward all the drama queen posts everytime someone find a classic cab ruined for some lame 60-in-1 job.

Locally, the market has been ruined because of that stuff. It's now impossible to find decent cabs (or even decent project cabS) for less than 400$ bacause of the local clowns who guts classic games to make those pieces of shit. People see those multigame cabs selling for 1200, so why would they let an empty case go for 50 if an lcd screen and a cheap 100$ board from the net can make it worth 1200 to some guy who wants something for his gameroom?

I dont mind people using them at home and so on but eh..
 
Last edited:
Hell yes prices are in the shitter these days. No way would i pickup a cab to flip especially since the retailers (the ones we rely upon for parts and art) aren't lowering their prices which only makes it harder than hell to sell anything and make money doing it. Eventually the retailers are going to start feeling the effects of this and either lower their prices or be forced to shut their doors. Hate to be a negative Nancy about this but it is what it is.

People are scrambling to sell a nice multi for $700 ... which is down a hell of a lot of money since last year. There is a trend and it isn't good.
 
It's now impossible to find decent cabs (or even decent project cabS) for less than 400$ bacause of the local clowns who guts classic games to make those pieces of...

Really? The market must be stronger in Quebec because we can pick up good cabinets here all day long for under $150. The last 3 games I got were either free or $50 each.

As for multi-boards, if I do it I won't hack up the cabinet at all. I would just slap in a jamma adapter and leave the controls alone. If anyone wants to plug it back into the original board it's no problem. But honestly, I can't get any money for these games at all by keeping them original. If I gave them away then they would probably end up in the landfill right after something on them breaks. It's kind of sad but nobody wants an Ikari Warriors any more (for instance).
 
Really? The market must be stronger in Quebec because we can pick up good cabinets here all day long for under $150. The last 3 games I got were either free or $50 each.

As for multi-boards, if I do it I won't hack up the cabinet at all. I would just slap in a jamma adapter and leave the controls alone. If anyone wants to plug it back into the original board it's no problem. But honestly, I can't get any money for these games at all by keeping them original. If I gave them away then they would probably end up in the landfill right after something on them breaks. It's kind of sad but nobody wants an Ikari Warriors any more (for instance).

People wanted Ikari Warriors? I can't imagine a time like that.... :eek:
I sold one game this year to a Klover and that will probably be it. I have no patience for CL anymore. I am selling off my spare parts but other than that I am not seeking games to flip as you say. Definitely flipped a few in the past but mainly because I needed room for something else or I needed some cash for some unforeseen disaster or I just found a better condition machine than what I had. Think I am at around 35 games now and holding. :p It's nice to not give a flying f what they can or can't sell for, now that's freedom baby! :004_ssmile:
 
You had better not buy a game for flipping unless you have a waiting buyer or you KNOW that someone will pay more.

I've seen guys buy 'cheap' games for resale only to find there is no local interest.

The best cheap game you can get is one that YOU want.
 
You had better not buy a game for flipping unless you have a waiting buyer or you KNOW that someone will pay more.

I've seen guys buy 'cheap' games for resale only to find there is no local interest.

The best cheap game you can get is one that YOU want.

I noticed if you get the games you want they kind of sell themselves.
 
I will pick games up for a good deal only. I have repaired, rebuilt, restored or just given games away to friends. If I get a free game I will spend some time on it and then offer it to someone I know would love to have a up right arcade. I figure I can always go play it at their pad if I want. I will even go on CL to check it out and call fellow members to hook them up. Awhile back I helped a buddy on here get a pac and asteroids for free. I had no room but I new someone would and it's just good karma and friendship. I don't really feel that I need to profit from this just keep some flame burning so people can enjoy what I loved as a kid.

Thanks
 
I will pick games up for a good deal only. I have repaired, rebuilt, restored or just given games away to friends. If I get a free game I will spend some time on it and then offer it to someone I know would love to have a up right arcade. I figure I can always go play it at their pad if I want. I will even go on CL to check it out and call fellow members to hook them up. Awhile back I helped a buddy on here get a pac and asteroids for free. I had no room but I new someone would and it's just good karma and friendship. I don't really feel that I need to profit from this just keep some flame burning so people can enjoy what I loved as a kid.

Thanks

Very nice.
 
Back
Top Bottom