Worth of Atari 2600 Collection Question

[thegamezmaster]

What would you expect to pay for a four switch Atari 2600 with the box that has a few rips in it and 2 joysticks and paddles and power supply and TV switch? There are 72 games with no dupes. Five or six games have box and manual and the rest the labels range from poor to good. Thanks for any suggestions.

[homerwannabee]

What would you expect to pay for a four switch Atari 2600 with the box that has a few rips in it and 2 joysticks and paddles and power supply and TV switch? There are 72 games with no dupes. Five or six games have box and manual and the rest the labels range from poor to good. Thanks for any suggestions.

Depends on what the games were. But if there is nothing special, I would expect the value to be around $150 give or take $20

[Red 5]

Unless there is something pretty rare in the 72 games (R6 or higher) I would expect to pay $100 - $120

 

When it comes to systems with game lots it's usually $1 per game + $20 with a working system. Throw in another $10 - $20 with the system box.

 

(Basing this on Ebay auctions)

[Ghost Soldier]

^I agree

Edited July 9, 2009 by Ghost Soldier

[homerwannabee]

Unless there is something pretty rare in the 72 games (R6 or higher) I would expect to pay $100 - $120

 

When it comes to systems with game lots it's usually $1 per game + $20 with a working system. Throw in another $10 - $20 with the system box.

 

(Basing this on Ebay auctions)

Wow, I checked Ebay and for the most part you're right(And that includes the shipping). Well a couple of years ago this would been more expensive. If this gets any cheaper sellers will just say screw it and throw the stuff out. After you get through with Ebay fees, Paypal, and the mailing fees it's almost not worth it to go through the time and effort for something like this.

Edited July 9, 2009 by homerwannabee

[cybercylon]

What do heavy and light sixers generally go for. Especially for the heavy, I assume more than $20

[Red 5]

What do heavy and light sixers generally go for. Especially for the heavy, I assume more than $20

 

Real heavy sixers go for more if advertised as heavy sixers. Around $30 loose.

However, if you are patient and search 2600 auctions, you can usually find a heavy sixer fairly easily and get it for around the $20 price range.

 

Light sixers, Vaders, 4 switch all go for around $20 (not including shipping).

 

Juniors go for a little less.

 

This is just my experience and, once again, Ebay prices as of late. The games I need force me to dig through lots to look for deals. That's why I see what is going on and think I know the current trend a bit.

 

Add a box for the system to the mix and of course condition and the prices can go up quite a bit, especially for a heavy sixer.

[Osbo]

Maybe people realized that buying and selling Atari games won't put them to a nice retirement, that, and the economy sucks.

 

Unless there is something pretty rare in the 72 games (R6 or higher) I would expect to pay $100 - $120

 

When it comes to systems with game lots it's usually $1 per game + $20 with a working system. Throw in another $10 - $20 with the system box.

 

(Basing this on Ebay auctions)

Wow, I checked Ebay and for the most part you're right(And that includes the shipping). Well a couple of years ago this would been more expensive. If this gets any cheaper sellers will just say screw it and throw the stuff out. After you get through with Ebay fees, Paypal, and the mailing fees it's almost not worth it to go through the time and effort for something like this.

[+save2600]

Economy sucks - agreed. But that's not the only factor. Remember, the Atari is a highly specialised "commodity". Those of us that had the systems upon release and have a true love/nostalgia for all things Atari, started "collecting" and bought up what we didn't have in the 90's- early 2000's. Sometimes we got "deals", but most of the time, we ended up paying DEARLY for this stuff.

 

What seems to be left now are scattered flurries (or should I say 'furries') of a much younger generation just now getting into it (because it's cool to be retro of course) and a few leftover from days gone by filling out their collections. Having said all this, what's left these days are either extremely rare or UR games complete in the box cropping up and selling for ridiculous prices (that specific clientele base will ALWAYS

exist, despite a poor economy) OR entire collections, consoles and other misc. games going for what seems like "dirt cheap".

 

With exception to the ultra high-end sales (that may or may not be legitimate), I'd say prices have settled back down to a reasonable point

and people can now "collect" and enjoy their games without breaking the bank - which is what this hobby *should* always be about.

Edited July 10, 2009 by save2600

[ericwierson]

Around a year ago I paid a little over $100 for a 4 switch in box in mint condition with Cosmic Swarm boxed and several commons boxed. Hope this helps.

[Philflound]

I had this discussion with a friend just 2 days ago, since he has a rather large Atari collection like I do. Most of what goes on Ebay now are just common games, and like someone mentioned, most of us have been collecting at least since the 1990s and have gotten the majority of items. I don't see too much rare stuff going up for sale as often, but when it does, or if it's on there, the people are beginning to ask ridiculous prices. I'll argue with Save2600 that they're asking ridiculous prices, but does not mean the games are selling. I think there are people sitting on some rare stuff, waiting for the economy to turn around before popping it out into the world. I also think there are some quantities of stuff out there, somewhere to be found in a warehouse.

 

I haven't been doing too much buying, part because of money, part because of room, or lack of both. But yesterday I started doing searches. It seems a couple of sellers in Australia have sealed or complete items that I normally don't see, not just for the 2600, but other systems too. Granted this stuff is PAL, but just to see some of this surfacing brings me to think there's more out there, and possibly more to come on to the market.

 

I actually stayed out of posting a reply to this, but after reading some more responses and doing some of my own research, I thought I'd throw my thoughts in. $100 seems about right, but you can get a system and a decent amount (at least 50) games probably for half that if you have patience and shop around. Some buyers are buying and reselling, but that's gotten harder since prices are relatively moderate and there's much more to make up.

 

I'm happy that I just got a boxed Skiing for Activision and boxed Yars Sears for 99 cents each. 2 more boxes for my collection. I got outbid on the Arcade Pinball though, so I was Grrr'ing a little in my seat. Funny thing is that I didn't realize I needed the Skiing, which has eluded me for years. Actually I still need a few common boxes, but either I'm not willing to pay the price, or I get outbid. I just bid on the guy's carts because they were complete and only 99 cents. Like I said, some deals are out there.

 

Phil

Edited July 11, 2009 by Philflound

[hhwolfman]

If they are common games, no more than $100. Probably more around the $75 level.

[BlackDS]

What would you expect to pay for a four switch Atari 2600 with the box that has a few rips in it and 2 joysticks and paddles and power supply and TV switch? There are 72 games with no dupes. Five or six games have box and manual and the rest the labels range from poor to good. Thanks for any suggestions.

What are they, who knows you might find a hidden treasure like a boxed Atlantis 2!