Video Game Collecting

So what were the results from The Video Game Thrift Store Adventure Spectacular?

Well, let’s see, the adventure started around 6:30 am in the parking lot of a Goodwill store that didn’t open until 9:00.  I decided that shopping for retro video games is best done with some breakfast fuel so it was over to Del Taco for their BreakFiesta.  By then it was still early, not even 7:30 so I drove over to Frenchman’s Mountain and studied the “Great Unconformity”.  After giving up on looking for fossils the video game hunt was ready to begin.

Location 1:  Goodwill store (different from the one mentioned above):  I’ve had minor success at this thrift store in the past.  A few weeks ago I found a complete copy of Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2.  Today there were a couple things included empty cases to Wheel of Fortune and Madden ’95 for SEGA Genesis.  But then in the display case was 8 Nintendo NES games.  They were divided into two stacks of four games each and they wanted $12 for each stack.  When the clerk opened the case all of the games were duds.  Sure, there were a few I do not own, but being the proprioter of www.videogamepriceguides.com it would be foolish for me to purchase these titles at the prices they wanted: Rocketeer, The Goonies II, Fighting Golf, Double Dribble…  so I passed.

Location 2: Salvation Army: I had some pretty good success at a different Salvation Army a week prior where I found copies of Vapor Trail and a few other Genesis games.  This Salvation Army I had never been to before, and I shouldn’t have bothered.  Not only did I get there 20 minutes before they opened, I killed time and walked to a convinience store for a soda.  When I returned the store opened and I found nothing.  NOTHING!  What a waste.

Location 3: Deseret Industries: Deseret Industries is a Mormon ran chain of thrift stores.  They are always neat and tidy and rarely cluttered.  This thrift store was a waste too.  No video games.  Nothing!  It was quickly becoming a disappointing day.

Location 4: Goodwill Store (different from the two mentioned above):  JACKPOT!  This place had a bunch of games including Shanghai II, and Family Fued for SEGA Genesis for $9 each – PASS, several Nintendo NES games including Kickle Cubicle, Ultimate: Quest for the Avatar, Super Mario/Duck Hunt, Infiltrator, and Gremlins 2.  In the display case they had a stack of Super Nintendo games including Choplifter III and a bunch of sports games.  There was also a boxed copy of Road Blasters and Quack Shot for SEGA Genesis.  Then there were two stacks of five SEGA Genesis games for $25 a piece.  None of the titles were particularly impressive except for CastleVania Blood Lines which is worth at least $20.  I mulled getting it but passed because 1.) it wasn’t complete and 2.) the store had wrapped the stack of games in packing tape, and I was pretty certain that removing that tape was going to damage the labels.  In my heart of hearts I know it was the right thing to do.

Location 5: Salvation Army (The one where I bought the SEGA Genesis games the week prior):  After finding a copy of Madden ’94 for SEGA Genesis I found a JACKPOT here as well: Complete in the box SEGA Dreamcast for $25.  I currently don’t collect Dreamcast games so I passed.

Location 6: Goodwill (the one I started at at 6:30am that wasn’t opened).  I’ve had plenty of success at this Goodwill.  Multiple SEGA Genesis’ and Nintendo NES’s.  What did I find this time?  A complete ORIGINAL model SEGA Genesis with two controllers and Sonic 1…. in a SEGA Genesis Model II box!   A cool $15, but Fridays are discounted if you have a previous Goodwill Receipt (which I did) brining it down to around $11.

All in all it was a pretty productive day.  I hit up all but one of the stores I wanted to go to, and I didn’t leave empty handed.  After the SEGA Genesis is cleaned up you’ll be able to purchase it if you are interested from the SalzMafia Retro Game store…