The Official "Thrift finds" Thread

[Tanooki]

Kind of surprised myself today. I happened to be what usually is the big ripoff goodwill around here after getting a haircut. I was on the fence but went out that way to check. Of all things, sitting sideways on the rows of mostly audio cds shelf was a PS1 game, and it happened to be Warcraft II the Dark Saga, not worn much at all, and had no special sticker so it was $2.99 -- and same price found a white wiimote+chuk+strap+rubber sleeve too. Can't argue with that. Have not had a single game pick up at a chain like that in a long time worth anything of good value like that.

[+FujiSkunk]

Have you ever had a Reef Store dream that you were so sure was real?

 

What if you were unable to wake from that dream?

 

It might look something like this.

 

 

I haven't confirmed it yet, but I believe the PlayStation is chipped. It also came with...

 

 

Of course we are obligated not to sell systems with unauthorized mods in the store, so I guess I'll just have to keep that one.

 

 

Not pictured: Another XBox 360, a PSOne and a Sega Saturn, all with various accessories.

 

And then there are all the games...

 

 

...and I'm not keeping any of them! I am a looong way from testing them all, but when I'm done, expect to see a massive update to my thrift-store for-sale threads. Some of the discs are pretty banged up, so I may have to toss a few after, but I believe the majority are in good shape, and a couple are even still factory sealed. Stay tuned!

 

 

These are the ones I'm keeping.

[Tanooki]

There was a neighborhood garage sale going on this morning like a quarter mile up the road from me so I skipped the lousy flea and wow I haven't made out like this in garage sale land in a very very long time. Excluding the game in the top left corner there, all you see cost me $42.

 

The GBA has just a few lens scuffs, but no back door (easily replaced) and was the bulk winner there at $2 for it all. The NES was adult owned it appears, has a ghetto knockoff AC but rest of it is all clean and right and talked it down to $30. The Nikon Coolpix S570 was complete without a box, came with a 2GB SD and 4GB SDHC card I dealed half off to $10 (same home as GBA.) That strange Tiger Electronics game I got at a church outdoor yard sale for a dollar, already had batteries in it too, and it's strangely fun.

 

The camera I'm already putting to use, it's a nice 12 megapixel device with a solid macro lens feature. I'm fed up using my mobile phone as it sucks moving the stuff back to the computer. The GBA is my second one I've found like in the last couple weeks or so as I found at a goodwill a black one from germany for a few dollars with a sims game in it. I'm going to have to get restoration parts for them both, just not sure if I"m going to just leave it stock but with a glass lens, or perhaps go insane and 101 update the pair. I'm not sure also what I'll do with that NES, sell it or give it to my kid so she can play some of my real games I've had since the 80s, though I'd sell the Tyson game as I have it to get close to breaking even off it if I did.

 

[Yakumo1975]

I love looking at this thread. Always so many cool items to see.

Here are my latest gaming pick ups along with a trip down to the shops, bike ride and a nasty looking but tasty burger.

Edited September 17, 2018 by Yakumo1975

[tripletopper]

1) Has anyone noticed thrift store finds seemed to have gone downhill in the wild ever since the popularity of Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" song, or is it just me?

 

2) Got a Goodwill donation story:

 

I got from a friend who gave me third party Nintendo 64 steering wheel. When you factor in shipping the ebay and paypal fees are more than what you'l get in profit, so I gave it to goodwill. Add to the fact that I tested it and the built-in rumble didn't work, but everything else DID, it drops its ebay value even more, but would be kind of handy at a Goodwill and get a bigger tax credit than I'd get in cash minus shipping, minus ebay fees, and minus paypal fees, both of which factor in shipping as part of the paypal and ebay fees, minus lost value for no rumble.

 

I thought it'd be a win win, a Goodwill shopper can save on shipping, I get a tax credit and coupon, and Goodwill would get something that can benefit tier employees, most of which are job trainees who are hard to hire in the real world, like me.

 

Now I understand most Goodwills don't test electronics, especially something like an N64 steering wheel, which needs an N64 and its proper hookups and a racing game for the N64, none of which was donated with it, so to increase its value, told them its condition and told them that everything except the rumble works, hoping they'd get more value for it if they knew it was basically functional than as a "try your luck" as-is applicance.

 

Then I got surprised, the donation specialist said "No we don't want it. We won't give a tax credit, we won't give you a coupon." And apparently no, I couldn't have it back either. Is it just me, or is this goodwill too picky? They'd be willing to sell it as an as-is take your chances product, but when it mostly work for enough people, the one flaw makes them reject it.

 

Just a little reader poll. If you were a Goodwill donation specialist, would you reject a mostly working N64 steering wheel, whose only flaw is no built in rumble? if anything, wouldn't you just take it as a "take your chances" item?

 

Also if you're potentially in the market for a N64 racing wheel, what's more attractive, one that the last owner said worked completely except for the rumble, or a completely untested one?

 

I suspect the donation specialist wanted to reject it so that he can take it home for his N64 for nothing and not have it on the sales floor being taken.

 

I called the regional Goodwill headquarters, and they said that that complete rejection was out of order for the donation specialist.

 

The next time I donated, something, namely a "mostly non-working" laser disc player (meaning it plays about 1 out of 50 ejects inward.) I asked if I knew the condition and it wasn't perfect, (it was only "occasionally working") yet is valuable as rare parts that can be used by a repairman, I had to ask it they will sell them as a repairman's delight, which contains parts that are no longer made, most of them completely working, and they said yes.

 

If you're interested in that laser disc player, It's currently at the Akron, Ohio Goodwill outlet store (If regular Goodwill is retail, this is Godwilll's big bargain store) on Arlington Road. if you know where that is and want some used laser discs parts to scavenge or to repair and either use or resell,, go there and look for it, and maybe buy it..

 

And too many people's idea of recycling is scrapping. You know, nowhere in Cleveland could I find a scavenger wiling to pay for a mostly working laser disc value at significantly more than the "scrap metal value" of it's components. Considering the parts are no longer made, I thought it'd be more valuable as parts.

 

Most recyclers are just "Weigh and Pay". They'd melt a rare gold coin with lots a of artistic, historic, and craft value, just to get gold bullion out of it. They think that any item is only worth the sum of their chemical components. They don't consider other market values. They don't consider the value of a craftly order of a piece.

 

With replacement parts for older electronics being rarer, we need a valuable scavenger finder service that is local to various places, because shipping them whole is a waste of money if it's going to be taken apart anyway , and if you're not a repairman, you have no idea what to call the parts or how to diagnose to see what exact part is or isn't working. They buy parts higher than what a "weigher and payer" would pay, and actual old working parts can be used. I'd be willing to have someone buy non-working electronics in bulk (the inner parts in bulk, but ony one LD player), and preserve the parts, even if it didn't pay more than a "weigher and payer". I know Laser Disc players are more valuable as parts than scrap melt. Every recycler in my area saw no value in that and wouldn't pay me more, and would not promise to use the parts to fill a low-supply market.

 

None of the repairmen locally buy parts. So a lot of the cost gets eaten up in shipping, money that can save the scavenger more when buying and pay the donor more when selling. Maybe Atari Age should have a directory of non-working part buyers and repairmen (and repairwomen, to not be sexist) for various Atari and other brand systems. A search by zip directory would be nice.

Edited September 20, 2018 by tripletopper

[HoshiChiri]

Well, if Goodwill now is anything like Goodwill of 10 years ago... yeah, he straight-up just wanted the wheel for himself & didn't want to leave a paper trail. Id've demanded a manager or called the cops when told I couldn't get it back even though he specifically said they wouldn't want to sell it & refused to give the obligatory tax writeoff.

[Tanooki]

1) Has anyone noticed thrift store finds seemed to have gone downhill in the wild ever since the popularity of Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" song, or is it just me?

 

2) Just a little reader poll. If you were a Goodwill donation specialist, would you reject a mostly working N64 steering wheel, whose only flaw is no built in rumble? if anything, wouldn't you just take it as a "take your chances" item?

 

Also if you're potentially in the market for a N64 racing wheel, what's more attractive, one that the last owner said worked completely except for the rumble, or a completely untested one?

 

I suspect the donation specialist wanted to reject it so that he can take it home for his N64 for nothing and not have it on the sales floor being taken.

 

1 - Never heard of it

2 - Would I? No. Because Goodwill is supposed to be there for those who can't afford nice things, just as much and more to hire people who can't get a job elsewhere. Having to process and sell those goods creates work. I think you ran into an ass that day because unless something is physically beyond redemption they're not supposed to turn it away. And they're also supposed to ask you at a drop off if you want that tax sheet/waiver sign off form, they don't have a right to refuse that if you leave items. Your post caught my eye as I found for the ebay same price of $15 a mad catz n64 wheel in the box at one of the local ones the other day, still sitting there too. I had no use for it. I'm not there, but in KY and my store sounds like yours lately, kind of weird pricing, and a lot of laserdiscs just showed up, a growing stack no less.

 

You maybe right about the reject to keep, it happens.

[FireStar]

Haven't been able to hit up everywhere again recently but this is from what I have been able to go to. The tiger LCD game's light gun needed a bunch of battery leakage cleaned and seems to only halfway work still. The Call of Duty series apparently had a very unique and interesting control scheme on Wii so it'll be nice to try it out finally.

 

[Shadowgate]

Just a little reader poll. If you were a Goodwill donation specialist, would you reject a mostly working N64 steering wheel, whose only flaw is no built in rumble? if anything, wouldn't you just take it as a "take your chances" item?

 

 

I'd personally reject any knowingly defective electronic. Even as someone who knows that broken function is no big deal I would still not want to be dealing in broken items. It's just not worth the hassle. Would there have to be a note taped to the item explaining the broken function or would it just be a surprise for the new owner? If you do accept broken items where would you draw the line? Better to just take fully working items. There are already plenty of dishonest people who drop off their nonworking junk for them to deal with.

 

He should have returned it to you but I don't blame him for not taking it.

[Tanooki]

Haven't been able to hit up everywhere again recently but this is from what I have been able to go to. The tiger LCD game's light gun needed a bunch of battery leakage cleaned and seems to only halfway work still. The Call of Duty series apparently had a very unique and interesting control scheme on Wii so it'll be nice to try it out finally.

 

Oh wow you're so lucky there with that TIger game. I miss the Virtua Cop one I once had as it's a lot of fun. A total ghetto cheap version of the idea behind the Wiimote uses those little LED lights with the battery powered gun to nail targets. Sadly it's not accurate like 20-30% of the time which can get a bit annoying, but I think it's the light sources around it have to be just right for it to behave. When it does, you can almost forget it's a LED how stuff pop up. I've been meaning to snap one of those up again as I've got a couple nice little tiger things lately around here. Sometimes the simple things are fun.

[FireStar]

Oh wow you're so lucky there with that TIger game. I miss the Virtua Cop one I once had as it's a lot of fun. A total ghetto cheap version of the idea behind the Wiimote uses those little LED lights with the battery powered gun to nail targets. Sadly it's not accurate like 20-30% of the time which can get a bit annoying, but I think it's the light sources around it have to be just right for it to behave. When it does, you can almost forget it's a LED how stuff pop up. I've been meaning to snap one of those up again as I've got a couple nice little tiger things lately around here. Sometimes the simple things are fun.

 

A virtua cop version actually sounds pretty sweet, the independence day movie theme of this one put me off pretty hard actually, I almost passed on it because of it. Virtua cop on the other hand, would fit in with all the old and new "mini-arcade" things.

[Tanooki]

 

A virtua cop version actually sounds pretty sweet, the independence day movie theme of this one put me off pretty hard actually, I almost passed on it because of it. Virtua cop on the other hand, would fit in with all the old and new "mini-arcade" things.

I don't blame you, try it. There's also one I think for Area 51 arcade or it's sequel, and there is a special one in a Vader head for Star Wars were you pop rebels or storm troopers, can't remember which way it goes.

[+thanatos]

Picked up a bare Turbografx-16 console at an electronics surplus store today for $15. Very rough shape, but I just couldn't pass it up because it was there.

Power switch appears to be completely stuck in the on position. Someday I'll open it up. Should at least be good for parts of some sort.

[AtariLeaf]

While waiting for the wife I went to a pawn store and picked these two up for 2 for 5 bucks. Nothing special but I almost never "hunt" anymore so they're good to have

[Asaki]

They're both pretty good titles, IMO.

 

That's one of the few Konami collections that actually has Frogger in it.

[Jess Ragan]

They replaced the classic Frogger tunes with salsa music. It's not going to make the arcade purists happy, but somehow, it works.

 

As for Midway's Arcade's Greatest's Hit's, I disagree. Wasn't it designed by the same people who made the game.com version? It shows.

[Eltigro]

That Frogger song is actually like a Japanese lullaby or something... I think I saw something about how they had to license it or something so it wasn't in some remakes and such...

[Asaki]

As for Midway's Arcade's Greatest's Hit's, I disagree.

It wasn't as good as the Genesis version, but I remember it being decent.

 

Honestly, I mostly play Robotron on it. Of course, it's a lot more difficult to play without twin sticks, but as far as I know, there's no version of it for the DS.

[Bubsy3000]

I found one of these things at a Thrift

 

I've seen newer variations of this in CVS stores, Rite Aids, and 7-elevens. I've never seen any of the games included. Anyone know what these are? There's even a version that plugs into your TV.

Edited September 27, 2018 by Bubsy3000

[Tanooki]

I know what it is, and I think all things considering with you, it's the perfect device. So much homebrew there to keep you very busy.

 

 

Today I got lucky some with thrifts when I had about 2 hours to try for things. A couple goodwills turned up mostly nice things, and one bit of partial disappointment. I found a PC version of Nascar Racing 2002, and then PS1 games MOH, MK Trilogy, and also Breath of Fire III...oh wait nope, someone stole that disc of course, but I was allowed to keep the excellent shape case and manual (so I'll go find a cheap disc eventually.) Also the same store had the NOAC/LCD version of the mini arcade game of Frogger which is a lot of fun too. Another thrift knocked off a furniture want list item, a tall pier 1 imports folding directors chair with foot step on it and with black canvas seat and back for just $15 (retail $100) in excellent shape. It will be perfect for sitting in front of the arcade cabinet or pinball for my daughter.

[zappi]

Lately I've been on the lookout for an original version GBA, as I want to attempt a backscreen mod on one.

Yesterday I lucked out and found one in a junk shop, it came in a carry case with

- 3 games: Pokemon Blue, Warioland, and Super Mario Land (damaged label)

- 2 rechargable battery packs, although one is missing its battery

- a GBA-Gamecube link cable

and all for a grand total of £8!

[Bubsy3000]

Lately I've been on the lookout for an original version GBA, as I want to attempt a backscreen mod on one.

Yesterday I lucked out and found one in a junk shop, it came in a carry case with

- 3 games: Pokemon Blue, Warioland, and Super Mario Land (damaged label)

- 2 rechargable battery packs, although one is missing its battery

- a GBA-Gamecube link cable

and all for a grand total of £8!

No bad for $10.

[Tanooki]

I got all these nice goodies at the flea market yesterday for around $45. I haven't bothered to go in a couple months, and it was sorrier than ever yet despite that these nice things happened.

$2 for the record nearly spotless, $5 for the 1978 Football and Sonic 2 handhelds, below that is a 1950s Wyandotte Haul a Car with 2of4 cars with it in great shape for $20, and for $10 the orange bug is a TF G1 Venom, the Slash was just $2 or 3, and the four star TG G1 knockoff flipflop with air combat was $7, and red strike was all of a dollar.

 

Normally I'd be lucky to find 1 or 2 things at all anymore. The flea situation around these parts has been just bad this year, and hoping it's not a sign of a trend, but the new owner of the space seems to be supposedly a dick and has been raising indoor prices as it's now like 25% emptied out or more and getting worse which is a real shame. That place has been a staple of the area off the I65 for a very long time.

[Mitkraft]

Nice haul! I love that soundtrack! I think I have it on CD, tape, and Vinyl.

 

I got all these nice goodies at the flea market yesterday for around $45. I haven't bothered to go in a couple months, and it was sorrier than ever yet despite that these nice things happened.

$2 for the record nearly spotless, $5 for the 1978 Football and Sonic 2 handhelds, below that is a 1950s Wyandotte Haul a Car with 2of4 cars with it in great shape for $20, and for $10 the orange bug is a TF G1 Venom, the Slash was just $2 or 3, and the four star TG G1 knockoff flipflop with air combat was $7, and red strike was all of a dollar.

 

Normally I'd be lucky to find 1 or 2 things at all anymore. The flea situation around these parts has been just bad this year, and hoping it's not a sign of a trend, but the new owner of the space seems to be supposedly a dick and has been raising indoor prices as it's now like 25% emptied out or more and getting worse which is a real shame. That place has been a staple of the area off the I65 for a very long time.

[Tanooki]

Now unfortunately I need to find the gun+axe for Venom, and I also recently within the week got G1 Kup (original rubber wheel/metal body without a mark on it) for $4, but he needs a gun too. I'll have to prowl ebay and hope for the best or a toy recycler facebook space I know. Venom surprised me, I had no idea what it was so I had to random search google as I didn't know there was a 4th insecticon as its not in the old cartoon and the others are all purple and black mainly. He's supposedly some weird leader, a mind screw type ability type, and the mold is based upon an odd canceled line of Japanese toys so it's not even Takara branded so that really threw me off. It's a really nice one though, great detail and articulation and it's a solid mix of diecast and plastic too.