The Australian retro hunting rant thread

Dunno why nobody has finally had it and posted anything about the situation so I thought I would. Now I'm sure all you Aussies know what I'm on about here and i'll just put everything in concise point form so let's see what everyone else's thoughts are.

• Firstly games prior to Playstation era in the wild are non existent.
• Alot of Op shops I've seen charge anywhere from $2 for a PS2 or ps1 or xbox game all the way up to 7-10 plus.
  Some of these stores even charge like 15 to 20+ for something like Final Fantasy VII or VIII even if it's scratched to hell because they think someone will actually pay that, which sounds ridiculous.
• The only places I'm really finding retro games these days are one of two places. The first being a chain store that charges prices similar to ebay for alot of their retro stuff and you'd be hard pressed finding a really good deal ($50 for a Super Mario World Cart anyone?)
• Now because of this the second place, a pawn shop charges accordingly. They used to have good deals. Well kinda, it used to be $5 for any boxed Master or Mega title like 7-10 years ago and $15 for a snes cart at most places (which was probably still a bit expensive then to be honest for common games, but that's how much most other places I found were charging back then). But due to this other chain store and probably ebay too look at all the great deals. $29 for Sim City or Ultraman on Snes anyone? How bout an Aqua N64 for $150 unboxed?
• Then I hear stories of people rushing to get games at garage sales (I wouldn't know though really what happens tbh since I rarely ever find games at garage sales and rarely make the effort because of it)

Those are just some of the problems I've faced trying to find retro games where I live in the wild. Anyone got any other gripes to add feel free. Oh and if you experience similar things in your part of the world feel free to let us know because this just makes things that much more frustrating.

 

i think alot of places have the same problems listed, not just oz.

greedy numbskulls on ebay > people use ebay as a price guide > silly prices in stores.

best places are garage sales, car boot / jumble sales, markets etc. or for sale sections on forums, used to be able to get things in "cash converters" chain but they noramlly have junk now beyond ps2/xbox era eg sports titles,

rarely there's still the odd deal on ebay to be had, also the likes of craigs list, gumtree and the like.

its also getting worse as some people are stockpiling systems and games rather than them being on the open market.

 

With Gametraders shutting down, it seems to be getting harder and harder to find older games. Even PS2 games are harder to find now EB has stopped carrying used ones.

Places like Cash Converters charge stupid money for stuff too. Common cart-only SNES/Megadrive games for $30-40, and N64 consoles for like $130. There's a new Cash Converters in Ringwood here in Melbourne that has a decent selection of games for older systems though.

Op-shops around me are mostly worthless for video game stuff, unfortunately. Even Savers always has buggerall in it. My best find was an NTSC-U/C PS1 plus a bunch of games from the op-shop over the road for $10, which was pretty cool. Otherwise it's a right pain in the arse to find stuff around here.

 

I got most of titles I wanted few years back and now more or less out of scene.

still if I ever in the area I'd pop in to have a look... but yea no such deals...
even two/three years ago you could get some decent deals now and then...

 

It's becoming harder and harder these days. Even when you see retro stuff it's usually either crap games or way overpriced. I check gametraders when I'm next to one- mainly Gamecube games as I'm going for the full set. Other than GC I remember getting Soul Calibur for $15 which I thought was decent and loose Wonder Boy III for Mega Drive which was $20 (bit too much?).
This year I got lucky twice which is not bad- someone traded a lot of PSX games one of which was Castlevania Symphony of the Night $3 thanks very much and the other one was a selection of SNES games

 

Yeah, it's really frustrating as an Australian to see Americans go "oh wow! I found a a huge pile of great retro games for only $1 each at my local thrift store/garage sale!" Pretty much the only source for retro games as an Australian is the internet or pawn stores. And pawn stores are pretty much out of the question as their prices are ridiculous. I've been into many thrift stores, and only twice have I found any retro games, and the ones they had were super common.

 

It sucks I know.

Once I went to Cashies and got a copy of FF7 for $20, 2 copies of FF8 for $15 each and Legend of Dragoon (basically mint) for $20 went there again and they had a copy of FF7 was $60 I asked if that was a typo and was told "no cause thats what they are going for". Needless to say the Cashies Golden Age ended, though Markets and A few unknowing Secondhand dealers have some rare gems. But unfortunately now everyone knows how to use the Google Machine and people determine their prices on that.

 

The only physical places I bother to look for games now is my local Life Line, and the twice-annual Bookfest event in town.

I've scored dozens of big-box PC games at Bookfest, and many loose disk PC games at the op shop.

Best finds at the op shop was boxed copies of Descent: Freespace and the expansion pack, and a NTSC/J copy of Jurassic Park for Mega Drive.

Otherwise, flea markets and garage sales are pretty much a bust. Too many people know that old games are worth money now.

 

Agree absolute fluke to find games or consoles in the wild now. My mum used to get me stuff when she went "garage sale'ing" but she says she hasn't seen stuff for ages.

 

I know your frustration. Luckily for me I go for XBOX titles, and they are usually $4-$5 a piece even for rare titles that go for $40 on eBay.

Cashies, they price Nintendo 64 stuff stupidly, as a boxed copy of sunfaded games are $60. Gametraders NEEDS to be shutdown. $70 for a ripped box of Zelda on NES. 70!!!! AND THE WANKER BOUGHT IT! Fuck me, glad I don't have his brain. Bug shat on yellowed Dreamcast $200. AND IT SOLD! I honestly hate Gametraders to death and I say that with the bottom of my heart, they rip the casual retro gaming market blindly. I don't care how quickly you get it, the condition is horrible and SHOULDN'T be sold for mint in box prices. I sometimes give the store owner a hard time with the N64 prices, am I cunt for doing so? No, he knows exactly what he is doing and is overcharging. Starfox 64 Euro release, $60. Lol Australian versions go for less So I told him I got mine mint in box for $40 and sent to my fucking house.

I sound angry, but it's because I am. These type of places ruin the market, and it's making me want to start up a shop that DOESN'T rip customers off blindly. I've been selling on eBay recently, and I sell things instantly within a few hours of it being listed. Why? Because I price things reasonably, and describe them like professional stores should. (Large Box UKV release) etc. Oh don't get me started on them swapping Classics/Platinum releases with black label cases and they say they understand "Retro". Fuck off no you don't.

 

sheesh...
sounds like if I ever have the garage sale of my stuff I shall put the ad on the trading post with BOLD LETTER - No Game Shops Allowed.

 

I know of one dude who recently scored well. The punisher (mega drive cart only) for $5. He also does the op shop rounds and asks at the counter. He has gotten stuff but typically run of the mill stuff and what he spends on fuel doesn't come out to well. He does it more for the "hunt". There is a local market that i should check out (lawnton) but if it is like the not so local market (caboolture) it would be pretty hit and miss.

 

Lawnton and Cabbo markets are overrun with Chinese housewives selling Crazy Clarks LED-covered garbage.

Until last year I used to hit Ferny Grove markets once a month, but I don't bother now. Too much of the above.

Even Rocklea markets are shit now for trash & treasure. Too much new stuff.

 

I haven't been to any flea markets in Melbourne yet. It'd probably be some person from Frankston selling a stolen PS2 for $300.

Which is why I usually just stick to eBay now...

 

When I went to Melbourne for a holiday I went to the Dandenong Market expecting to find heaps of stuff only found a couple of guys selling R4 cards was very disappointed :sorrow: .

 

My dad is one of those people who goes around 5/6 bootsales on a Sunday and 2 during the week he actually pays extra just to get as the sellers are unpacking their cars just so he can snap up as much retro games & machines as he can & as cheaply as he can.

He then prices the things he buys using ebay completed listing but instead of picking an average price he takes the highest price and doesn't take condition into consideration. Then he puts the items on his own bootsale on a Saturday at those prices and people actually buy them.

Really destroys the spirit of collecting and going to bootsales to grab a bargain.

 

I know you don't like them, but may I stand in for a bit of defence? Allthough they did drive me bourk-oh, I will just give a bit of in-site.

They are expensive, yes but unfortunately, sometimes it is not 100% the store owner but the FRANCHISE itself.

The store I am aware of had these things against them

1/Rent, they are paying (last time I spoke with them) $19k/month, they did mention that it was going up to $22k, but they were going to negotiate. If successful I don't know.
1.5/There was a store that closed down in a better part of the centre (near the eatery/cinema) but rent was $33k/month! BTW that was a 2-3min walk away from where they are now.

2/Franchise fee's, head office should take the franchisee's out to a dinner and a movie for the reaming they get. 5% on ALL sales and (here is the real arse kicker) 10% on ALL 2nd hand consoles! So if they buy consoles that need a clean up on top of everything else they are already behind the 8 ball. I am not sure if the franchise fee's have changed, that was about a year ago or so.

3/Wages, as you know us Aussie's like to be paid well. This store only put on casual's, so they could slacken the hours off in quiet times, unfortunately this means when it is not quiet they get paid rather well.

4/Store theft, is pretty bloody shocking as the cash register is at the back of the store, so shit goes missing quite easily. Unfortunately this goes for staff pinching shit as well. The store owner told me he let a couple of the employee's go on suspicion, from what they were told after the fact and going through the data-base they came up with 4 figures....obviously they are pissed as there was an element of trust and almost "family" feelings.... I do feel sorry for them as it is a family run thing.

There is probably more but just to give an in-sight.

They are all struggling, there used to be over 50 stores in Australia, I think there is around 20 or so now?

They are also having troubles getting consoles in etc as folk are selling on ebay etc. They actually source most of their stuff from the UK, when they sell the console they break even on that and rely on the games sales to make a profit.

Again we really have trouble getting shit here. Some of the American "Goodwill" stores sell on ebay (I think they still do) I have bought from before and done alright even with shipping (before they put THAT up).

 

Well not checking into the their hiring isn't any excuse to rise prices. Sack the staff who are doing shit wrong.

Secondly, most of their income would come from current gen items. Second hand items, can still be sold reasonable even with the amount of rent etc. Wages I understand, but you'd think the amount of profit they make from a $20 console sold for $200 it can be shared around. Oh, they are all casuals? HAH, even worse. You need to pay them more -_-

It's not the fact I just hate them for the sake of it, I honestly think they are a pair of balls. Some of the staff well the one at High Point, seem like they know nothing about what they sell. They also accept trade-ins with no cases etc which most of the time they can't move them since they are the price of one in box on eBay, and legend has it, it will be delivered to your door too.

It seems retail always find the excuse that online are crippling their stores, when really it's the practise they use. It's called changing the game, get your business online as well. Be more competitive with your prices, and learn how the damn market works. I was in a retro game store for 2 weeks as staff, if you reasonably price your retro items that are in acceptable condition, they will move and people will find out about your business from word of mouth. The store I worked at, during those two weeks things did get stolen( not by staff ), cameras were installed in the store and those people were found. Thanks to social media. Gametraders need to get their head out their asses and start putting money where it's needed, instead of finding excuses. They DON'T understand retro, and they DON'T understand the market. Sure I'm not store owner, but they honestly have no idea.

High prices on your items isn't the answer or solution, it may work for food and fuel but surely not luxury/hobby items.

 

They are branching out into different things now to, they sell a lot of Poke-gears-of-war-halo-mario-weird-Japanese toy things now, also jewellery.

I think pretty soon they will be more of a specialised toy store than a video game store.

 

They are probably trying to get more of a wider consumer base. Doubt it will happen since Duchess is more affordable and aim towards that type of thing. Apart from Halo, it's a girly plushie shop. They have the same shit though.