Tales From the Goodwill Side

[KAZ]

So just when I think there's nothing that would interest me anymore at the Goodwill, considering my couple scores of Woodgrains...this place continues to amaze me.

 

I encounter a Remote Controller (Aklaim) for Nintendo (8 bit). I open it up, and it was mint!! The plastic baggies were still inside, and the styrofoam. The box was in awesome shape. It almost seemed like it came right from a store that cleared out its inventory or something.

 

Then I ran across another one just like it about 10 seconds later! The styrofoam was missing, but I located it right away. Gotta have the styrofoam ya know!

 

I need some batteries for it, since I haven't tested them yet.

 

I love getting high tech accessories for low tech systems! It has a neat contrast.

[RJ]

I still can't believe I found a SNES (less cords/pads) for $4 there! I've bought a few games thru eBay/used, & borrowed some from friends who still have theirs around. Best deal of my life!

[Raijin Z]

Hmm. All the Goodwills I go to have shady employees who steal anything goood that comes in before it makes it to the shelves. I had always suspected it, but then a friend of mine who worked at one verified it for me. If you get anything half decent at a thrift store, consider yourself VERY lucky.

[minorleagueguy]

Tell me about it. I went to a local Goodwill, found a boxed Genny, no hookup, controlers, etc just thebase and box.....$30

Then I found a boxed 32x, no hookups, just the base, $45

The people said that is the price, take it or leave it...

 

 

 

minorleagueguy

[Jasoco]

Must. Find. Local. Goodwill.

[Geeknout]

Up until this summer I could find different systems in great shape for only a few dollars. Now the Goodwill I go to keeps all systems under a glass case with big price tags. For example:

 

Last year: NES in excellent shape with all hook-ups- $6.

Now: - $25

 

Last year: Sega Genny with hookups- $8

Now: -$30.00

 

It seems to me that the summer help (probably highschoolers) have set the new prices on this stuff. I know the above examples arent highway robbery, but I dont go into Goodwill expecting to pay retail prices, especially without a guarantee/return policy.

[Avid Fan]

Its too bad I live in the same town as a reputable classic gaming store, I think they make the rounds and get all of the good thrift shop finds. But at least they restore them, and get them where they need to go

[pmitch_3m]

a goodwill near me has a 2600 with controls and hookups, three games and manuals(including 2600 owners manual)...they are asking $20...I have three 2600 already but wonder if I should save this one. thoughts? most of my other 2600s only ran me $4-$6 except for my original which was bought new when I was a kiyad

 

late,

p

[Jasoco]

Do it.

[pmitch_3m]

Do it.

 

Why? Elaborate. Do you think it's worth it(I know all Ataris are worth it, but cost-effectively speaking...there are other prizes that the money could be used for)? Would you? Why?

 

thanks

[Jasoco]

I would.

 

$20. It'll be worth it.

[KAZ]

You are wondering if you should "save" it

 

Hilarious. But not far from the truth, since Goodwills are the final resting/torture place for poor Ataris.

 

A common activity of the people who go to goodwill is to go down the aisles, touching/smashing everything they look at...it is like a requirement. Sometimes it is just the knock-off-the-shelf-stomp-on-it routine. It takes alot of technique to master.

 

With your help, Ataris will once again flourish. And some stuff about whales too.

[tyranthraxus]

a goodwill near me has a 2600 with controls and hookups, three games and manuals(including 2600 owners manual)...they are asking $20...I have three 2600 already but wonder if I should save this one. thoughts? most of my other 2600s only ran me $4-$6 except for my original which was bought new when I was a kiyad

 

late,

p

 

I used to buy everything I saw but its not worth it. For one you will

get a lot of clutter and the dirt common games aren't really much for

trade bait. Now I buy only if its in better shape than what I have.

But the second reason is that by you buying it and stuffing it in

your closet. You might be depriving somone new from rediscovering

the Atari. I started when I found a 800XL & games.

 

John

[ussexplorer]

Yea, what is it with companies purchasing stuff. I found at the place I come from. One of the local Business phones was purchasing telephone system phones for like $1.00 - $3.00. Then turning around and trying to sell them for $100.00. Guess they need to keep the market live or something. One of the reason I appriciate ebay. Now I can get a phone that would have cost $100.00 for $5.00 or more. Luck has been on my side. When I moved I found plenty of phones for my phone system in my house. So I'm stocked for life.

 

Later,

 

Josh

[candiru]

I constantly see a minivan with a resale shop sign on the side at thrift stores around here. One of the Salvation Army stores that used to yield a decent find every few months has dried up completely. Not even a SMB/Duckhunt or Genesis sports game turns up anymore. Something has changed. Another time as I'm buying a Sega Saturn the clerk says he wishes he would have seen it first. Actually I wish he would have seen it first too, since it doesn't work.

 

As frustrating as it is to know that a business or employee might be getting to all the good stuff before me, I have to admit that if I was in their shoes, I'd probably do the same thing.

[The Sage of Sega]

As frustrating as it is to know that a business or employee might be getting to all the good stuff before me, I have to admit that if I was in their shoes, I'd probably do the same thing.

Wouldn't we all . I can just imagine the things that are stuffed into the trunk of a Goodwill employee's car.

In my case, however, the thrift has become a "if-we're-nearby-we'll-check-it-out" kind of thing. In the two years that I've scoured the thrifts, I can genuinely say it has helped me in my collection. The Bumper Bash and Master Builder alone built my NES and 2600 collection . However, it's just dried up over the years, and it was pretty easy to see the quantity of games in there decline over time. Now, if I was collecting old furniture or glassware, the thrift would be a goldmine .

[pmitch_3m]

chewed them down to $15 and carried it out the door. I haven't tested it yet to see if it works, but will. It came with all the hookups, controls, 3 games(breakout, space invaders, combat - all with instructions, also a set of inst. for video olympics but no cart). It's a six switcher and the owners manual was also in the box along with the atari catalog. Heeding the advice of some of the responders I am not going to just throw it in a closet, but rather clean it up and send it off to my best friend in New Orleans(hopefully it will bring back some good memories for him as my atari's do for me).

 

late,

p

[Zeus]

I personally have never found a single atari thing in a goodwill, exept for a strange-looking RF switch. There is, however a pawn shop next door that usually has a few games.

[Jasoco]

You must save it! Otherwise, it will die! Don't let it die! Especially when it's that complete.

[MichaelJMcKernan]

Last weekend I bought a Supernintendo w/hookups for 5 bucks.

A sega for 5.

And a sega for one in the junkyard part of the goodwill.

AND A BETA VCR!!!! They all worked great.

So this week I go to the junkyard, pick up TMNT for NES for 50 cents, and a Pitfall for 50 cents, and I see an old Atari VCS system in a bin with all these used books, dog poop, and a bunch of broken records.

I take it up the counter.

I'm thinking, "This'll be 5 bucks if it's overpriced."

 

The lady behind the counter tells me $10 bucks.

 

So I go into the spiel about what how I had paid 20 for the stuff I got last week. {Which is kinda high priced to begin with I think}

 

She says, "It's people like you, that made it so we can't haggle anymore!"

 

Nice.

I hope that at least my wasted money helps someone unfortunate.