Atari scammers

[DeV0]

I just want to know what others think about ppl who get atari and all the other classic carts/consoles from thrift stores before they hit the shelf and sell them on ebay. I mean through friends who are in management and arent even slightly interested in gaming. I know of someone who does this with the central Salvation Army here and I want to make life miserable for them. I have the oppurtunity to lift the lid on their scam and frankly i am itching to do so as this it is affecting all the smaller stores.

 

I just want to know what other peoples opinions are?? I know some of you are sellers, So big deal?? You're also collectors and gamers. This guy is just scum IMHO

 

Should i do it?? Or just a good old beating

 

Seriously i want your opinions,,,

 

Oh, am i in the right forum??

[YOK-dfa]

So what's the scam here exactly? I can understand your frustation, but as long as those people pay the same price for an item as you would in the shop there's nothing wrong with it (at least not in my opinion). Wouldn't you be doing the same if you were in their position? The only difference being that they do it for the money and you for collecting. I guess the Salvation Army doesn't care too much about this as long as they get their money.

 

It sucks, but i suggest you just leave it alone. No reason to get all exited about. It's probably not worth the effort...

 

On the other hand, if they steal stuff from the Salvation Army (your post is a little unclear about this) i would blow the lid

 

Cheers,

Raymond

[jetset]

Well, I agree with you 99%, this guy is a scumbag. Unfortunately though, that is the American F'ing way baby! Of course, you have to ask yourself, if YOU had access to Atari stuff before it hit the Salvation Army shelves, would you say "no thanks...let the general public get first crack at it".????

Honestly man that's no worse than these sellers who snipe up a lot of 5 carts for $20 bucks total then sell each cart for $14 bucks (and $4 for media mail shipping and "handling" charges).

Unfortunately though, that's the way it goes. Im not sure what you mean about making his life miserable.....I wouldn't go too far, but if you feel that strongly about it man then go for it I say!

[Mendon]

Scumbag?? Whats he doing that is illegal or unethical? I don't see a difference between whether an employee or a customer buys the item (keyword: BUYS). Sounds like its just a perk of getting first crack at an item by working at the store.

 

I've also taken games in to EB and GS to trade and had an employee scan them, then look at me and say "The system says $12 trade but I'll give you $15 cash for it". Against store rules, I'm sure, but I usually do it as these no-benefit, minimum wage guys need a break now and then.

 

Mendon

[Lost Monkey]

I don't see a difference between whether an employee or a customer buys the item (keyword: BUYS).

 

There is a difference, albeit one that really makes no difference to me..

 

The mission of the Salvation Army store includes both making a profit for their charity AND providing reasonably priced goods for less fortunate consumers. (HINT: Its the second part! )

 

It just so happens that collectors are getting the shaft, as I don't think too many poor families will settle for an Atari 2600 when they already have a PS2.

 

Another thing too, the Value Village chain has a policy that all items must be on the floor for 24 hours before employees may purchase them... this is probably to prevent the type of scenario mentioned by Devo. (and it also might explain why every time I see something at VV lately it is way overpriced, but gone the next time I'm there.. like a $50 SNES.)

[Mendon]

The mission of the Salvation Army store includes both making a profit for their charity AND providing reasonably priced goods for less fortunate consumers. (HINT: Its the second part! )

 

I sincerely didn't know that. I always knew that the Goodwill & Salvation Army ran stores to: A) give employment to the needy & handicapped (or challenged if one must be politically correct); B) provide training, such as repair, to the needy/handicapped; C) to raise funds to continue providing much needed community service. But I honestly have never heard of their stores being part of a mission for a retail outlet to the less fortunate. Not doubting you, just never heard of it before.

 

And I suppose if there were rules in effect against employee purchases or if there was supposed to be an "observed time limit" before an employee was to make a purchase, then I guess one would have a valid complaint. I just maintain that whether the $5 for a game cart comes from me, you, or an employee doesn't really make a difference as far as raised funds go; a sale is a sale is a sale.

 

To me, the bigger "scumbag" is the collector who knows full well that the eBay value of that $5 cart is $50 and snaps it up in order to line their own pockets, which in effect deny's maxium funds for the Salvation Army / Goodwill to continue their much needed community service and then complains about someone else denying them of making an eBay profit.

 

Not ragging on you, Lost, or anyone else... just making an observation.

 

Mendon

[jetset]

 

But that also leads me to ask: who is the bigger "scumbag": the employee who gets a small perk for working in the store of having first crack at purchasing an item or the collector who knows full well that the eBay value of that $5 cart is $50 and snaps it up in order to line their own pockets' date=' which in effect deny's maxium funds for the Salvation Army / Goodwill to continue their much needed community service???

 

 

Mendon[/quote']

 

It's a tie! Neither is per se doing anything wrong (at least, in their own minds) but both are helping to ruin the hobby of collecting. I think though the guy in your 2nd example is worse. Ebay was never intended to be used as a business. It's not illegal by any means of course (although I'll bet the IRS would have something to say about the tax free income !) But ultimately it's syntheticially driving up the prices and ultimately the people who genuinelly collect are suffering....

[Lost Monkey]

To me' date=' the bigger "scumbag" is the collector who knows full well that the eBay value of that $5 cart is $50 and snaps it up in order to line their own pockets, which in effect deny's maxium funds for the Salvation Army / Goodwill to continue their much needed community service???

[/quote']

 

I agree and disagree at the same time..

 

The collector is pursuing a hobby, and is deriving enjoyment from the process of hunting down the items which they intend to keep. Any items that the collector buys and then resells are not necessarily purchased as a "business" decision, but rather to enable their own hobby. (IE. the funds go into Paypal and are used to buy other collectibles the person is really interested in). The person who is snagging everything at the thrift for resale purposes ONLY is the bigger scumbag because their only goal is profit... but honestly I don't feel that either of them are really scumbags, they are both just doing whatever they can - just for different reasons.

 

As well, if the Goodwill/Salvation Army stores were to price things at collector prices, thus maximizing their returns, the items would not sell. The reason things can get a higher price on eBay is because of the concentration of interested collectors at the eBay level, which doesn't exist at the thrift store level.

 

Prune juice would not sell at the same price in a high school cafeteria as in a geriatic centre's cafeteria...

[Mendon]

Prune juice would not sell at the same price in a high school cafeteria as in a geriatic centre's cafeteria...

 

Same could be said for Depends... except on Final Exam day

 

Mendon

[Mendon]

We all go on crusades in our lives, whether it be shipping fee's on eBay or the Ten Commandments in Alabama or whether Madonna should swap spit with Brittney... mine is the Salvation Army and the Goodwill.

 

They both do such great community service: from serving meals to the homeless to providing shelter to battered women to helping the handicapped earn self esteem and a skill to providing after school programs for kids.. growing up in a poor family I know the good they both do as there were a couple Christmas's that we kids wouldn't have had a present under the tree or a Christmas Day dinner if it wasn't for them.

 

So its something of a crusade for me to help them, which I do through monetary contributions and no longer wanted item donations. And if the item I'm donating is worth much at all, like a complete Atari ST system I gave not to long ago, I ask to speak to the store manager and provide a letter stating the contents, condition, and expected value of the item. In this way, I hope to help them get a FAIR value for the item in order to continue their community services rather than seeing it way underpriced and snapped up by some eBay profiteer.

 

Sorry for the rant... I now return you to your regular forum.

 

Mendon

[MeandMyC64]

i would have to say if i worked at say a video game store i would snag everything rare that came in on trade and add it to my collection and if i already had it i would trade it...

but maybe im a jerk

[JerseyDevil]

Buying something cheap and selling it for more? Sounds like Capitalism.

 

 

Are people who invest in the stock market scumbags, or store owners? Its all the same thing. I bought a game from my local guy for $2 and sold it on E-Bay for $10, I guess I'm a scumbag, too.

[Mendon]

But ultimately it's syntheticially driving up the prices and ultimately the people who genuinelly collect are suffering....

 

I've always been kind of a fence sitter.... often find it difficult to take a position on an issue because I try to view the issue from all sides and see which way looks the best, and often can't really figure out the correct answer. So in this case, I hear what you are saying and agree with you.

 

BUT... (always a BUT, isn't there) if you look on the other side of the coin, the collectors are ruining the hobby of playing for us gamers. I mean, because of the fanatisism of collectors and their ability to artificially drive up the price of game because of whatever rarity they imply it may have, there are now MANY, MANY games that I will never, ever be able to play because I won't pay hundreds of dollars for it!!

 

YOU DAMN COLLECTORS!!! Instead of feeling the excitement and pleasure and the RUSH of playing Crazy Climber or Glib or Chase the Chuck Wagon or Waterworld, I am doomed to spend the rest of my life with E.T., Combat, and Pac-Man. Hope every one of you burn in hell and that the eBay shipping charges you inccur are outrageous because you've ruined the hobby of game playing for me!!!

 

(And this message is a joke.... but yet its true )

 

Mendon

[Mendon]

The reason things can get a higher price on eBay is because of the concentration of interested collectors at the eBay level' date=' which doesn't exist at the thrift store level. [/quote']

 

Agreed.

 

But I will make the comment that you might be surprised at how many people visit the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores to pick up "collectables".

 

My wife did voluteer work at a Salvation Army store and a church resale shop and always told stories that the vast majority of shoppers there were not the poor but the "waaaaay beyond minimum wage" people who were looking for dishes - glass's - bowls and such to complete a collection, or a desk - chair- table to be refinished because it might be an antique, or a collectable lunch box or toy they had as a child.

 

Since this was several years ago and with the growth of eBay, I'm sure that these stores are now visited much, much, much more by "collectors" and "profiteers" looking for a way to make money, and I bet these stores could raise their prices and still sell Sell SELL.

 

Hell, I think I've even read a post or two here on AA where a member hit these stores, not looking for some "Sunday Go To Meetin" clothes or a cheap coffee table for their new apartment but for collectable game cartridges and moaned when they didn't find them

 

Mendon

[DeV0]

Hey guys

 

Thanks for all of your opinions and thoughts.

 

Heres the deal with me. I have a friend who is on the board of directors for the salvation army so of course i could scam the system whenever i wanted to. As it happens i respect the salvation army a hell of a lot and give donations whenever i can. I have friends in the store so i could be doing the same thing as this guy., I choose not to because as far as i'm concerned this questions the integrity of the salvation army. There are people with less money who cant afford to shop anywhere else. Its not just vid games this guy is taking for next to no $ and trying to sell.

 

Remember, this is the central distribution store for the small stores in the burbs.

 

This guy isnt exactly lower class or poor,

 

Everythings just peachy now

[Mendon]

I now understand more of where you are coming from DeVO and see your point. Hope you didn't think I was attacking you in any way in my posts because it wasn't my intent.

 

I'm still not sure, though, whether there is really a complaint if the guy isn't breaking any of the store rules. Morally and ethically he might, at least in your eyes and my eyes, but not sure if you can complain.

 

Thanks for supporting them, though. They are a great organization that really fulfills a need.

 

Mendon

[Lost Monkey]

I'm still not sure' date=' though, whether there is really a complaint if the guy isn't breaking any of the store rules. Morally and ethically he might, at least in your eyes and my eyes, but not sure if you can complain.

[/quote']

 

I now see another angle to this as well...

 

 

Devo has stated that he is not only snatching up video games, but anything of value..

 

Customers will stop going to the stores if there is never anything interesting on the shelves. So in that way, he is hurting the Salvation Army...

[jetset]

BUT... (always a BUT' date=' isn't there) if you look on the other side of the coin, the collectors are ruining the hobby of playing for us gamers. I mean, because of the fanatisism of collectors and their ability to artificially drive up the price of game because of whatever rarity they imply it may have, there are now MANY, MANY games that I will never, ever be able to play because I won't pay hundreds of dollars for it!!

 

YOU DAMN COLLECTORS!!! Instead of feeling the excitement and pleasure and the RUSH of playing Crazy Climber or Glib or Chase the Chuck Wagon or Waterworld, I am doomed to spend the rest of my life with E.T., Combat, and Pac-Man. Hope every one of you burn in hell and that the eBay shipping charges you inccur are outrageous because you've ruined the hobby of game playing for me!!!

 

(And this message is a joke.... but yet its true )

 

Mendon[/quote']

 

I hear ya man! I SWORE I'd never pay more than $15-$20 for a single cart. Then I bought a few in the $100 range just because I had the money.

For what it's worth man...the rare games that are so expensive are rare for a reason! (typicially)

TRUST me...I got no rush from playing Waterworld. The game sucks ass (imho). I knew that before I bought it, but did anyway.

Fortunately, the best games are the ones that cost under five bucks.

 

Oh and thanks, I was destined to burn in hell before Atari.

[DeV0]

I now understand more of where you are coming from DeVO and see your point. Hope you didn't think I was attacking you in any way in my posts because it wasn't my intent.

 

 

 

No, No offense taken at all , Ppls opinions are what makes a good forum. And i didnt give all the info straight off as it was like 1 am or sumpin.

 

But anyway, All is pretty cool now. Ive managed not to get anyone in the shit and only had management reviewed. They all know who did it , And a few ppl are quite happy.

 

Someone mentioned the stores not getting customers due to this sought of thing? This is exactly what was happening and the poor underdog couldnt do a thing.

[Trooper]

We have a salvation army store nearby and I used to frequent it a lot since they had nicely priced stuff, not dead cheap but nicely priced and since I'm such book worm I've bought a good many books there.

 

Lately however I've found that the prices are going through the roof on some stuff namely the old magazines and computer & videogames stuff.

 

Now I don't complain I don't have to buy anything if I don't think it's worth what they are asking. However I've found a curios occurance being that if I walk in there one day and find for example an Atari ST with no hookups and no disks or nothing they'll price at an outrageous $60 which I definetely don't think it's worth so I skip it. When I walk in there the next day it's gone, this has happened to me several times lately with a bunch of different stuff. Now I doubt that there's some rich collector who doesn't care how much it costs, he just wants a useless (without hookups) common as hell, Atari ST?

 

Anyway, funny(?) thing about the ST, in the same little village as the salvation army there is a permanent flea market. I frequent this as well (big surprise huh? ) and a day or two after the ST dissapeard from the SA store i found the exact same ST (recognised the scuff marks and such) for sale at the flea market for about half the price of when it was for sale at the SA store. Isn't that VERY curious?

 

*Going out of rant mode*

 

Cheers!

 

Troop

[Brad2600]

Well I usually get to a lot of the video game/vintage computer stuff before anyone else in my area.

 

But if I see something I don't need, I'll usually let other people in the area know.

 

I've had more luck finding Atari computers than consoles around here.

[bcostin]

I have to agree that so long as they're buying the items at the same price as the customers would've there's really nothing illegal or unethical about it. (I've seen some thift-store regulars here mention standing agreements where their favorite stores set aside interesting items for them to get first crack at. How's this really any different?)

 

However, I can see how it would be to the store's advantage to require

that customers at least have a chance to see the items. Simply put, certain items make for great bait.

 

After months of nothing but dusty Madden cartridges I've all but given up on the local Goodwill. If there was an indication that decent stuff was coming in once in a while I'd be likely to visit more often. And whenever I wander into a thrift looking for games I usually leave with other stuff, too.

[RCmodeler]

BFD. I buy stuff cheap at JCpenney and sell it on ebay at 2-3 times my cost. That's called capitalism, and it's how people like Donald Trump and Andrew Carnegie got rich.

[rpmxxipt]

If any one of these so-called charitable organizations had any brains at all, they'd sell luxury "preferred buyer" passes at.. oh, five grand a year for starters. At least they could keep their employees from conflict of interest accusations, as well as jack up some of their in-store profits (vs going into the pockets of employees as bribes).

 

I know of a few parasites who LIVE in these damned stores and probably scam at least $20,000 US a year reselling, I'm sure they'd be more than willing to pony up the dough to have "first dibs" at merchandise.

 

Consider the benefits if you're a hardcore thrift dealer:

 

1) You don't have to fight with other junkies over some figurine like seagulls over a french fry.

2) Rather than running your scammed purchases out to your car in a shopping cart like a bat out of hell, you can pull up to the dock in a businesslike, well-intentioned manner.

2) You can maintain your dignity by not being seen drooling at the swinging doors o' plenty, or casting greedy eyes on people's purchases. (Has this ever happened to anyone? I swear, some people are insane.)

4) You can help impose some sanity on thrift prices by telling the ignorant grade-school dropouts pricing this stuff in sweatshop lines behind the particleboard that THIS SHIT IS JUNK!!! A busted Emerson black and white 13" TV is NOT worth $24.99! A Combat cart is NOT worth $3.99! SELL SELL SELL!!!

 

I'd buy into that.. maybe they could offer shares.

 

rpm

[DeV0]

BFD.  I buy stuff cheap at JCpenney and sell it on ebay at 2-3 times my cost.  That's called capitalism, and it's how people like Donald Trump and Andrew Carnegie got rich.

 

 

Jcpenney is a regular store right? I cant see anything bad about what you do.