So, I inherited my friends atari collection...

[justinjcox20]

Hello everyone,

 

Not sure if any users go on the Facebook group often, but I do actively post on there about cool finds, and try to ask some meaningful questions, and I have even done a giveaway before. I'd like to tell a quick story which ends with me in search of things.

 

I have a good friend I met at a retro video game night when I first started collecting in the summer of last year. We became good friends and began doing trades. I found him many great atari 2600 consoles and he taught me how to replace switch boards and showed me what atari really is like. He made me a huge fan.

 

Sadly, he struggles with mental problems, which make it hard for him to hold a job, and such. He and his girlfriend broke up a few weeks ago. And he was on the verge of being homeless. Me being a broke college student got some school money, and sharing a collection with my mom, we split the cost and gave him 500 dollars for almost his entire collection. This was painful to me, because he is my friend, and I took his pride and joy away from him. In the end, he got things sorted out, so he is ok. But I now own his whole collection, which makes me feel bad, because I put myself through alot to get him that money. He does want some back if he can, but he also has been kinda... I don't know, up and down about things. Anyway, I decided I am going to keep it all, and cherish it forever and give it a safe home. I'm going to take a moment to list some of the cool things I got, because it is kind of cool that I own such awesome things.

 

4 different atari 2600 models, 1 is a 6er, 1 is the 6er, 1 is a vader, and the other a telegames.

 

1 atari pong console

 

1 atari video pinball console

 

1 atari xe console with all the controllers, gun, and missing a power cord

 

About 100 different atari carts, between collecting both original and re releases, I only got 10 duplicates.

 

Various ps1, snes, retron, and controllers.

 

 

Now that you have an idea for where I am at, let me ask for a few things.

 

I need atari boxes for games, I am looking for spares that anyone has in their collection that they would be interested in selling me. I am also looking for an atari xe power cord and various boxes for atari consoles.

 

With that out of the way, I also request what is the best and fairest way to do a giveaway/raffle. I do intend to make back some money, but I wish to give back to the community that supports me when I am down.

 

Many people don't know this, but I quit drinking over a year ago, and collecting retro video games was my sobriety project.

 

Thank you for reading my post. Please feel free to respond, write me on here, or write me on facebook.

 

Long live Atari, and yes, I have played atari today

 

 

Justin

[+TrekMD]

That's an awesome set of Atari systems!

[justinjcox20]

Thank you, this goes with the 6er I have in its box. Quite a collection I inherited

[Keatah]

I once bought a guy's IIgs system for nearly a grand. Still have it, and would sell it back to him at a fraction of the price.

[justinjcox20]

What's an llgs

[Keatah]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_IIGS

[justinjcox20]

That is pretty cool

[Keatah]

I bought the full system from him back at the beginning of the century 2002-2004, and promised it would be kept nice and still available for a buy-back. Last I heard from him was in 2006 IIRC. I still have it and it remains as I acquired it. All the cards and software and drives and manuals and whatever else came with it.

 

But sooner or later I'm going to have to "absorb" it into my personal collection. That means reconfiguration and stuff like that.

[justinjcox20]

I mean, am I a bad person. I feel like that is what is being projected. I make 8 bucks an hour being a fry cook. And that was alot of money for me. I always hook up my friends. He just was kinda rude about It after the fact. Plus, there is a 3rd party involved, my mom

[Keatah]

Many people sell many things every day that they wish they didn't. In the future you can always sell it back to him. This doesn't have to be a permanent arrangement.

 

Or you can take the approach, which many people do, that business-is-business. All trades final. It's 6 of this and half-dozen of the other.

[justinjcox20]

I wanted to hold some stuff for him. He only wanted a few things back. I wanted to hold some of his favorite games back to gift to him later

[Keatah]

Ohh well that's just dandy. Do that.

[Andrew Davie]

Retracted.

[nofrills100]

sheesh mate... cut him some slack

[Andrew Davie]

Maybe I'm having a bad day, and your point taken. Slack given. Nonetheless, I feel for the nearly-homeless-guy with mental problems who, to cut a long story short, no longer has his prized atari collection, and most likely doesn't have the money given to him for it, as he needed stuff like, well, food.

[justinjcox20]

I definitely saw what you wrote. I am not going to bother arguing because that is not why I am here. I will say that I had my reasons for retracting on what was done. He has been completely unreliable upon consistency in his life. One minute, he says he wants it, next minute, he says he has to wait, then says he wants it, and it is a never ending cycle. Plus he publicly bashed me for buying one of his games. He apologized because he thought someone stole it. In all honesty, I think his girlfriend wanted to break up with him because of video games. Anyway, I'm not here to argue, I guess I just wanted to kind of give the whole story. And although what you said was a little mean, you did retract and apologize. everyone has a bad day and no grudges need to be held. I guess the whole point of this post was a pick up post, followed by a request for boxes for games. Anyways, I'm not a bad guy lol. I did give the man 500 dollars I didn't have to make sure he could get a car. I make 8 bucks an hour, that's a whole paycheck. He got a new atari Anywahs

[Torr]

If he's almost homeless, and Atari should be the least of his worries...

 

If ended up homeless, what was he gonna do with the Atari then? push it around in a shopping cart with him looking at it???

[Fr0st]

I don't think it's badness on your part, I mean he was stuck for cash and knew his Atari stuff would be a quick sell to yourself.

 

However, if he's now having second thoughts and looking for it back, as a friend I think you should oblige and chalk this one down.

 

But if he continues to drag his heels over paying the money back, cut your losses on him. The situation is entirely his own fault.

Edited February 16, 2015 by Fr0st

[justinjcox20]

Well put. I was tempted to give him a couple games back on his birthday next month, especially since he got an atari again. But I honestly figured that he kinda just messed this one up. Everyone else I know says a deal is a deal, thats it. It's like ebay or anything else, a deal I'd a deal

[nofrills100]

What Frost said, if your mate wants it back - then as a friend I'd personally oblige him - but I'd make sure he understood it was $500 upfront and he is getting it all back. You worked hard for the $500 and even as a friend you're not a charity or bank.

Honestly for much less than $500 you could buy a more focused collection of games and consoles.

I can relate to what you are saying about your friend's lack of consistency and reliability of character - having had a friend with depression and other mental issues, things are never black and white, and it can get frustrating.

[Keatah]

You can always practice stewardship of a sorts.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stewardship

[Papa]

His girlfriend broke up with him and now he's homeless! That blows ropey goat chunks! I mean, she could have broken up and given him a transitional period to find a new place rather than dump him in the gutter. People.

 

On a contrary note, I would give him back one system (although he already has one, so maybe not..) and a few games you don't necessarily like that much and tell him you're even!

[Torr]

Well put. I was tempted to give him a couple games back on his birthday next month, especially since he got an atari again. But I honestly figured that he kinda just messed this one up. Everyone else I know says a deal is a deal, thats it. It's like ebay or anything else, a deal I'd a deal

 

I'm honestly a little confused here.

 

A guy is VERY down on his luck, so he sells you an Atari and bunch of games for $500. Even if the collection wasn't worth that much, I can understand, as a friend, helping a guy out by paying him more than something was worth to help him get on his feet is a reasonable thing to do.

 

Now he has another Atari?

 

Like in my previous post, if he's almost homeless an Atari shouldn't mean squat at this point. Food, shelter, and a reliable income, even if it's a "crap" job like janitor or fry-cook (no offense, I've worked MANY a service job, McD's, Subway, etc...) should be his priorities right now. However it sounds like he has since replaced the Atari he sold you!!! That's very poor management of resources.

I know you mentioned mental health being an issue with him, and if he sold item X to get money, and then uses that money to go out and buy item X again, he quite clearly does have mental health issues, and unfortunately it sounds like it's way out of your league and without professional help, all the money in the world probably wouldn't help him at this point.

 

Being Canadian I'm not sure how the Mental Health system/Healthcare works exactly where you are, but it sounds like what he needs is to be committed to some kind of system that can help him.

And I certainly don't use the word "committed" in the typical negative light. I had myself committed to a mental health facility when I decided to clean up from alcohol and drugs. I obviously needed physical healthcare as well, but by the end of it my mind was toast and the idea of taking away my drugs and booze was enough to push me off the deep end. Without proper care god knows how things would have turned out. Thankfully it worked out for me in the end.

Edited February 18, 2015 by Torr

[+wongojack]

Here is an idea. Why don't you configure a USB stick with Stella and a bunch of ROMs on it for him. If he has a computer, he can then play those games without the collection. If he doesn't have a computer then help him make a plan to buy one so he can use it for various other productive things. There are plenty of viable laptops available for waaaay less than $500. All the while, you can assure him that his collection is safe with you, and you'll be willing to sell it back to him for the same $500 if he ever wants to buy it back.

 

I have an old laptop that I could configure with Stella and sell for cheap if you are interested in something like this.

 

Another option would be the Harmony cart.

[+wongojack]

[separate post to respond to a separate part of your topic.]

 

To buy boxes: post in the wanted section of the forum. There are many users here who will have some to offer. It might take a little time for them to respond, so be patient. There are other options too. Online you'll find Trade n Games has some boxed games, Video61 also has some as well as 4Jays. Then there is the ineffable Best Electronics whose website sucks, but they have tons of stuff you want for your collection (probably an XE power cord). You are best to call them or send them an email with a very specific subject including the word Atari.

 

Holding a raffle: Check out the marketplace forum for a way to buy/sell items between users. Acquaint yourself with the feedback section and beware of buying from users with a low post count. For the most part, I've gotten incredible deals and service from people here just using PayPal. This is a magical place within the hurricane that is internet commerce.

 

Another option for the XE cord would be to post in the 8 bit section of the forum and ask for suggestions of other cords/adapters that are known to work.