Help! I'm addicted to Ebay!

[Zeus]

I recently signed up for Ebay. I love the fact that there seems to be an unlimited supply of classic video games. I am getting scared, however, that I am getting in over my head. I want everything, and I am afraid that I might end up blowing my budget on video games. I'm thinking I might have to give up bidding on ebay altogether. This really hurts but I am afraid of what might happen to my family if this gets too out of hand. If anyone has any stories or insites, or have been in a similar situation please help!

[Brad2600]

Here's simple solution: Figure out what your collecting priorities are and then focus on those. For example, if you want to collect only 2600 stuff for a limited time, then look for the cheapest 2600 BINs and snipe auctions at the last minute if posible because Atari stuff isn't getting too much cheaper on EBay.

 

Be sure to start small...and not go for the big ticket items until you're more comfortable financially and comfortable with EBay.

[Tempest]

One thing you may want to consider is buying large lots of games rather than going after them individually. This is how I started up my 2600 collection. Kepone is right, I'd avoid the big ticket stuff until your collection gts further along. There's plenty of stuff in the $5 or less category to collect.

 

Tempest

[dwh]

One thing you may want to consider is buying large lots of games rather than going after them individually.  This is how I started up my 2600 collection.  Kepone is right, I'd avoid the big ticket stuff until your collection gts further along.  There's plenty of stuff in the $5 or less category to collect.

 

Tempest

 

That's the way to go,so you can pick out which carts have better labels or different labels.After about two years you will end up just watching the auctions(which costs nothing by the way),because you can't afford the "Quadrun" auctions.Now days I buy something cool(and expensive)about every four months.It is fun to watch the auctions go wild knowing it is not your money involved...

[z28in82]

I think we all get a lil obsessed when we start on ebay, for me it was NES games but after a while of gettin outbidded by a$$holes and other assorted things the "newness" wears off and you'll grow sick of it.

 

For me at least it goes in cycles, 6 months love it on it all the time, followed by 4 months of don't even touch it.

[Brad2600]

I need to avoid EBay..I got $30 worth of auctions to pay off on Monday..including one that Room 34 listed....and it will get paid Monday.

 

However, my collection is expanding at a marvelous rate.

 

Going to need more shelves for all the boxed games I have...as well as loose games. I probably have about over 70 boxed games..including Genesis, 7800, 2600, 5200, Coleovision and Intellivision. Getting a boxed Odyssey2 game and my first boxed CV game pretty soon.

[Tempest]

I need to avoid EBay..I got $30 worth of auctions to pay off on Monday

 

$30... Man I remember the days when I used to spend only $30.

 

Tempest

[Brad2600]

The highest I've gone on one auction would be $85...but I made $70 of that back by selling the boxed Threshold I had in the lot of boxed games..cost me $85...made back $70...so technically, I only paid $15 for it in the end!

[Room 34]

I need to avoid EBay..I got $30 worth of auctions to pay off on Monday..including one that Room 34 listed....and it will get paid Monday.

The clock is ticking! Don't think I won't send my tubby pixilated samurai after you with his oversized phallic sword!

 

But seriously... yes, big lots are the way to go, especially at first. Or always, if you're... well, you know who you are, and if I don't watch out I may soon join you... one of those who buy tons of games cheap in big lots and then sell them for a profit later.

 

Not that there's really anything wrong with that... I have bought several individual carts from these guys because they had just what I wanted, and I was willing to pay an extra buck or two for the convenience.

 

Or, turn it around... buy a lot of 30 carts that has 3 or 4 that you need, and then sell the rest again to fund further purchases!

 

Speaking of which, I'm currently unloading several of my duplicates in lots of 3 and 4 right now. One lot is especially nice... all 3's and 4's: Mario Bros., Planet Patrol, Squeeze Box, and Brain Games.

 

I humbly offer up my auctions...

[adonis_minus_20]

I recently signed up for Ebay.  I love the fact that there seems to be an unlimited supply of classic video games.  I am getting scared, however, that I am getting in over my head.  I want everything, and I am afraid that I might end up blowing my budget on video games.

 

I know how you feel. I've been buying stuff off of Ebay for the past few years off and on. Before it was mostly older computers (386 and 486s), and I could get them pretty inexpensively, as most people aren't interested in them. Now, I rediscovered my video gaming roots, and have gone nuts buying Atari stuff and also some Intellivision stuff over the past month or so. I can also say that I've probably paid too much for most of what I've bought, but I'm happy with what I have. I'm coming to the end of my video gaming shopping spree which will hopefully culminate with the purchase of a Cuttle Cart II! I'm also still looking for an Intellicart as well.

 

I guess you need to strike a balance in there somewhere. For me, I went a little (read a lot) overboard, and need to calm it down.

 

Jim

[AtariDude]

I recommend looking at getting several games at once. Decide how much you can really afford to spend and take into consideration the cost of shipping. If the seller does not list a price for shipping, inquire before bidding. You don't want any nasty surprises when you win the auction.

 

Also it is natural for that to happen to get addicted to Ebay. Where before you might be limited in the games that you could find locally, now you have a seemingly unlimited number of options.

 

Again, set a limit to how much you can afford to spend and don't go over that amount no matter how much you want to. It takes a great deal of self control but eventually you learn to control yourself better.

 

Good luck and I hope you find some really good deals

[JagMX]

dont worry about it dude, after a while of consistant buying and or selling

youll eventually notice how youll break away from it a lot. then youll be on ebay in little stints here and there,

but then will come the day where itll feel like you started alllll over again

[Brad2600]

I definitely don't have much disposable income(last year I made in the 18k range) but I do spend quite a bit on video games..mostly on EBay.

[holygrailvideogames.com]

If things get real bad you could always call Dr. Phil and get a free trip out of your eBay addiction, but of course you would have to talk about it on TV.

[Paralistalon]

And get verbally abused by Dr. Phil. Seriously, that man will tear you appart.

 

When I first started buying Atari stuff on ebay, I went through a little buying spell that lasted about a month. I didn't buy anything real expensive, but if the value seemed good, I went for it. I liked the feeling of having caught what I considered a bargain. Like a lot of other people, I gradually stopped buying stuff.

 

I think the secret to not overspending is to not even LOOK at the auctions if you don't have the money to spend. With ebay, there is a 100% chance you can find something you WANT to buy.

[sdstuff64]

Buy a big lot and then use the extras to trade.

[jetset]

I want everything, and I am afraid that I might end up blowing my budget on video games.  

 

I hear ya' brother!!! I've dropped near $400 on ebay in the last six months. Every time I say to myself "Ok, this lot is ***IT***, I see one more game that catches my eye.....then I check out that sellers items (you know, to save on shipping charges of course!) and wind up buying 5-6 games.

BUT....my 2600 collection went from having about 25 original games to over 200, and I have 50 carts for the 5200 where I started with about 10. What scares me is that I spend more time on ebay and Atari Age than I do playing the actual games....

 

Look at it this way......it's not drugs or alcohol or gambling right?

[AtariDude]

Ebay =

 

E veryone

 

B buys

 

A tari

 

Y es

 

[CPUWIZ]

I hear ya' brother!!!  I've dropped near $400 on ebay in the last six months.

 

Consider yourself lucky, you're addicted when you drop that in a day on a single game.

[Brad2600]

I just bid on $20 worth of 2600 games...probably won't win everything though.

[hhwolfman]

I hear ya' brother!!!  I've dropped near $400 on ebay in the last six months.

 

Consider yourself lucky, you're addicted when you drop that in a day on a single game.

 

Or more. I am a very sick man.