The Official "Thrift finds" Thread

[Tanooki]

Yeah that Dash figure is cool, always really liked the game. Read the dark horse comic for it before but no longer have it. That LCD you got there I've had that one loose before with the Vader stick still, sold it, then maybe a year later I got one sealed in a blister pack and kind of just hung it on the wall and forgot about it and it's still there.

[teh_lurv]

Not technically a thrift store find, but this really made my day:

 

I've been slowly cleaning out the basement of my mother's house on an intermittent basis. I decided to start to tackle a large bookshelf this evening that was stuffed full of papers, boxes, etc. I pulled off the shelf a large Zildjian cardboard box, expecting one of my late Grandfather's old musical instruments. Imagine my surprise when I see the word "Atari" written out in his handwriting on the top of the box. I opened it up, and my childhood Atari 2600 and games were stashed inside. I thought they were thrown away years ago, I had no idea my Grandfather had put them aside.

 

I had no idea when I was kid, but my old 2600 is a heavy sixer. The original AC adapter is dead, but the console fired right up once I substituted another adapter. The controller unfortunately barely work and the rubber looks/feels kinda moldy and icky. The paddles jump around as expected, they'll need cleaning.

 

The carts look/work great and my grandfather saved a couple of the game boxes for some reason. I have really fond memories of playing Snoopy & Ghostbusters, I overpaid a game store for a beat up copy of Snoopy awhile back just so I could own it again. This was really nice to find, I'm really happy right now.

 

Edited October 2, 2017 by teh_lurv

[TheTIGuy]

I wish the Good-Will locs. near me were NOT junk. I HATE BAD THRIFT STORES! I have not had a good find in 4 months...

[+FujiSkunk]

1989 TMNT kiddie bowl:

 

IMG_3218.JPG

 

With that grin and that pose, he sure looks like he's trying to, shall we say, show you something...

 

Anyway, here are some of my recent thrifting spoils.

 

 

Most of the PS2 karaoke games came from a single donation batch. I have a soft spot for video game company Harmonix, so I figured I'd snag all their old titles when given the chance. Reportedly the vocal scoring engine they built for the "Karaoke Revolution" series became the foundation for the vocal engine in the "Rock Band" series. Since Harmonix also built the original "Guitar Hero" engine, it seems inevitable not only that a "full band" game like Rock Band would come about, but that Harmonix would be the company to do it first and best.

 

 

Another couple of plug-and-plays to add to the ever-growing collection. The Super Pac-Man stick comes from Jakks and was first released in 2006. It's typical Jakks quality -- not great but not bad -- but it's particularly notable for having what I believe is the first official, Namco-sanctioned home release of Pac-Man Plus. The Pac-Man shaped plug-and-play is the one Namco Bandai distributed themselves in 2015. It too has Pac-Man Plus, but it's more notable for being an actual Namco Bandai product, and not a licensed Jakks product. The video quality is much better than what came before, with full 640x480 (or maybe 720x480) NTSC resolution and a higher quality emulation engine, even if this one still has some amusing quirks. The sound quality is better as well, though it has its share of quirks as well, particularly in how different sounds and music clips are played with different sample rates, frequently leading to an odd muddle of muffled music with crystal clear laser shots. Oh well, the controller is still a nice culmination of what plug-and-plays have offered so far.

.

And just to pile even more onto the plug-and-play stack...

 

 

My first Flashback 5. It even came with everything originally in the box, except for the manual. No big loss.

 

You know, I like how different sides of the box have different box shots for games like Centipede and Jungle Hunt that came in multiple box variations, but I sure hope someone eventually got the memo that that one Tempest box wasn't actually meant for the Atari 2600!

 

And finally, the piece of resistance that I probably should have resisted, but in the end just couldn't resist.

 

 

A Samsung CRT HDTV, released in 2006, boasting a nice assortment of inputs including 2 HDMIs, 2 components and even a genuine S-video port. It'll do all HD resolutions except 1080p, and while the lower resolutions are upscaled (no multiple "native" resolutions like old CRT computer monitors), they still look absolutely beautiful compared to upscaled images on LCD HDTV's. And that contrast... sigh. One day when OLED HDTV's are actually affordable, everyone will have good contrast again. But until then, I'm in love with this thing. The only problem is, this wasn't a thrift store find, but an abandonment, found next to my church's dumpster. I suspect the reason for its dumping is some minor discoloration along the sides (visible particularly on the right side of the screen in the picture, though I think the camera exaggerated it a bit) combined with some geometry issues I wasn't able to iron out completely with the service menu. I also cringe to think how much electricity this thing guzzles compared to same-sized LCD TV's. But, for what I paid, and for the picture quality I'm getting beyond the quibbles, I'm happy and I'm keeping it!

[Asaki]

I opened it up, and my childhood Atari 2600 and games were stashed inside. I thought they were thrown away years ago, I had no idea my Grandfather had put them aside.

Oh man, that is awesome. It's a Great Pumpkin miracle.

 

Our original light sixer went missing ages ago (just the console), I always dreamed of it showing up again some day. Dad said he set it aside somewhere to fix it, but mom said it ended up in the trash??

 

Would be cool to see it again, maybe get it working, though I love my heavy sixer.

[Professor Gull]

On another note $10 and its mine. I think I will put my 7800 in this who agrees.

 

[7800fan]

 

One local used DVD and game store had these. I have never found before any of 8-bit Action Replay and I found a CIB for Game Gear (manual in 3 languages, ad, and unused registration card) for 9.99 plus 5 "Atari" games for 99 cents each. Sorcerer and Pitfall II are the only real 2600 games not overly common. They had some Colecovision games in the mix all labeled as Atari as well but took Front Line (only labeled one not Zaxxon, Venture, Donkey Kong or other common Coleco game) and 2 unlabeled games. Knowing my luck, I wasted $2 on 2 unlabeled Zaxxons.

[Yakumo1975]

A video of the latest stuff I've picked up locally or by used online sellers.

 

[RodLightning]

A video of the latest stuff I've picked up locally or by used online sellers.

Wow. Great prices at that store. Used video games items in my local area here in USA are easily 10x to 100x more costly. Fun video, thanks for sharing!

[Yakumo1975]

Wow. Great prices at that store. Used video games items in my local area here in USA are easily 10x to 100x more costly. Fun video, thanks for sharing!

No problem. Thanks for watching.

 

You guys in the US really do get shafted when it comes to Retro game prices. I can't believe the prices of some stuff over there.

At least your Xbox-one X is 500 dollars when it's released. The current Japanese Prince is closer to 800 USD! I sure hope that gets changed.

[Silverfleet]

Not really a "Thrift find" per se, but I had to do some shopping at Target and Walmart last night, so I went straight for the clearance bins. I picked up the following:

 

 

This Mega Man Funko thing for $3

 

One of these Xbox One rechargeable battery packs for $5

 

 

And both of those PS3 games for $10/ea. I already have regular Skyrim for the 360, but since my HDD died and took over 80hrs of gameplay with it, I'd rather start over with all of the expansions ready to go. Also, I've wanted Diablo III for ages, and getting the one with the expansions is a no brainer, especially for $10.

 

BTW, right now is the time to grab PS3/360 stuff in big box stores if you can still find it! The Walmart I went to had an entire endcap full of $10-less titles, and they had some great stuff. I need to go back and get more.

[Good_Times]

Muggy, shitbag weather (STILL, FFS) but we still had a nice time. The chicken hoagies, fried gizzards, and Greek pork were all fantastic! (buRRRrrrrrp)

 

First Goodwill of the morning, she found some neat 1989 Tyco Little Mermaid dolls and related stuff, and I spotted this big boy sitting there in all of his teal glory!

This big fella turns 30 this year!

 

 

I LOVE the original NES/Mario pinball!! When I saw the price they had on the little Activision things, I said giggity GOO - I'll take TWO!

 

[Asaki]

Nothing impressive today, but found a couple DVDs, a bunch of VHSes, and even more books that won't fit on my already-stuffed bookshelf ))

 

Oh, and a few CDs, I guess. Goodwill prices sometimes trick me into buying music I normally wouldn't...so now I can pop Genesis - Duke in the car and say "nope, I still don't like it that much".

[TheTIGuy]

Nothing impressive today, but found a couple DVDs, a bunch of VHSes, and even more books that won't fit on my already-stuffed bookshelf ))

VHSes> The plural for VHS tape is VHS tape. VIDEO-HOME-SYSTEM-es?

[icemanxp300]

VHS TAPES

[Asaki]

VHSes> The plural for VHS tape is VHS tape. VIDEO-HOME-SYSTEM-es?

*VCR's cartridges

[Eltigro]

Talkies

[AtariLeaf]

I went to a flea market in Grand Bend Ontario that I hadn't been to in 8 years and I had to laugh at this one grumpy vendor that, 8 years later, still had the same filthy Atari junior with 8 dirty and torn label commons and two broken joysticks for $150. I checked out his box of NES games and they were all over priced and every single one had pins that looked like a cat threw up a hairball in each one.

 

The only other vendor had way over priced games like NES Pinbot for $25 loose and refused to haggle. I wish I had the mental strength to reason with these people but I just shook my head and walked away. God I miss the old days.

[Silverfleet]

I went out hunting over the long weekend, and it was a struggle. I felt like I was swimming up a waterfall.

 

First, I went to hit up my favorite local game store to trade in some stuff on a 3DS (I have had an irrational want for one for a while now), and was greeted with a "We are closed indefinitely, please try our other location" sign on the door.

 

I also hit up a number of thrifts. I found some PS2 games I didn't have for a few bucks each, and a random Super Action Baseball for the CV and a couple of records for a buck each. When I went to the register, the cashier said the machine wouldn't take my debit card because it uses a PIN (like every other debit card does). I just watched the person next to her ring someone up with a debit card, so I think the malfunction was with the cashier. I only had $3 cash on me, so I left the PS2 games and got the records and the CV game. Ugh.

 

Later in the weekend, I hit up an antique mall with the wife and picked up a few records, mostly old Disney ones for her. I picked up Aja by Steely Dan. Yay. This place had an overpriced 4-switch woody 2600 and a handful of decent games for $150 the last few times I was there, and I think someone actually finally bought it, because I didn't see it this time around.

 

I also had some trade-in fodder still in the car from my failed mission at the game store, and I was up the street from the store's still-open location, so I ended up getting that 3DS. I got a "New" 3DS XL and Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (which is GREAT, btw), and I felt like I pulled teeth to get it!

 

Another observation: everyone was ANGRY this weekend. People were belligerent and pissed off wherever I went, and my wife and I even got yelled at for not crossing the street fast enough while in a crosswalk. Sometimes it feels like the whole universe is up against you. Wow.

[+FujiSkunk]

*VCR's cartridges

 

Hehe, I like it. I've actually seen warnings and such on audio cassettes about how the "cartridge" is not to be left in direct sunlight, and so forth.

 

And hey, speaking of VHS tapes... and laserdiscs... and Betamax... and...

[TheTIGuy]

I wish I had a LaserDisc and/or Beta system.

[Grig]

Cinephile: a devoted moviegoer, especially one knowledgeable about the cinema.

 

how many versions of this movie do you think that guy has?

 

[Asaki]

And hey, speaking of VHS tapes... and laserdiscs... and Betamax... and...

Tisk...they don't even show off his viewing setup(s)!!!

 

First, I went to hit up my favorite local game store to trade in some stuff on a 3DS (I have had an irrational want for one for a while now)...

There is nothing irrational about wanting a 3DS B) Even if you don't care for the 3D effect, it has a really great library.

[Silverfleet]

There is nothing irrational about wanting a 3DS B) Even if you don't care for the 3D effect, it has a really great library.

 

It's funny... so far, there's only a handful of 3DS games that have caught my eye. I already mentioned Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, but there's also Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask too. I have them both for the N64 and OoT for the GameCube, so I'm not really sure that I need another version of that. Then, there's the Mario and Yoshi games, the Kirby games, and the new Metroid game, which all look great. There's not a whole lot else. Some of the other titles I'd be interested in (like Mega Man Legacy Collection and Shovel Knight) I have for other consoles already.

 

I think the best part is that it plays DS games. I have a huge library of those that I need to revisit.

 

Also, I had an old R4 card for the DS. Do they make anything like that for the 3DS?

[krslam]

 

Hehe, I like it. I've actually seen warnings and such on audio cassettes about how the "cartridge" is not to be left in direct sunlight, and so forth.

I've got a few games (both cartridge and disc-based) from rental stores that have "Be Kind! Please Rewind!" stickers on them.