preowned GBA games sold without case/manual

jshorr

jshorr

CAGiversary!
Does it bother anyone else that it's hard (at least where I shop) to find pre-owned GBA games in good condition with the box and manual? This really annoys me. The stores expect you to pay just $5 less for a pre-owned Xbox game, for example, with case and manual. They tout it like "same game, cheaper price." Fine. Then how do they expect you to pay $3 less for a GBA game, cartridge only. I was in Gamestop and EB today and both had Mario Advance 2 for $26.99 PO, cart only. $26.99 is a ripoff preowned if it was complete and in MINT condition, who in their right mind would pay it for just the cartridge....

Where do all of these boxes and manuals go? I'm sure some people trade in games without them, there are people who don't take care of their games and lose/damage the box and manual. But it can't be every single game that's traded in......part of the problem I'm sure is that the boxes take up too much room and that you can keep more preowned games with just the cart in those little cases....but I think what they ought to do is flatten the boxes, and put the manuals in a binder or box or something. They'd probably sell a lot more preowned GBA if they hung on to them. Are the stores tossing the boxes and manuals?

Sometimes you can get lucky, I got a mint complete copy of Ninja Five-O for $15 at Gamestop a few months ago. They had JUST gotten it in that morning and at first they told me it was cart only. Another employee heard me asking and game and brought me the box and manual out of nowhere, I was thrilled.

Just wondering if others feel this way about preowned GBA games or if no one else really cares about the cart and manual...
 
While I usually throw out the box (except for certain games) when I get a GBA game, I definetly agree that the stores are charging too much for GBA games in general and without instructions or the box, it's a ripoff.

At my local Gamestop, used GBA games are in this tiny glass case near the register and I guess they don't want to bother keeping the boxes for the games while with the DVD games, it's a neccessity for the disc to stay in good condition
 
Usually 1 out of every 30 games I get traded in include box/manual. Yell at the kids who throw them away, not EB/Game Stop who don't even get them.
 
I guess. But I have been in some stores where there is absoloutely not a single preowned GBA with box and manual. It seems like it's both the kids and the stores that disregard them.

And Punq:

If you plan to keep it and own it forever then I understand but if there's even a chance you may want to trade it, no box and no manual can hurt you when you run into people who are looking for complete.

Either way they shouldn't be charging you $3 less than retail...


[quote name='gizmogc']Usually 1 out of every 30 games I get traded in include box/manual. Yell at the kids who throw them away, not EB/Game Stop who don't even get them.[/quote]
 
When I went to trade in some of my GBA games at Gamestop, I had everything complete box and instructions, but the guy who took in the trade in said they just throw those out. Seems like a complete waste, but that's where they go. I'm not sure about eb.
 
Yep...and I believe if I hadn't been lucky enough to have the employee who knew where my Ninja Five-O box and manual were overhear me, my mint like new copy would have been just a cart-only.

I always see copies and copies of the same preowned GBA games at ripoff prices at these stores. I'm sure some people are buying them, but I never see anyone doing it....

About 2 months ago I also got lucky with a complete metroid fusion for $20 I think which was great. But that's really rare...

[quote name='dcfox']When I went to trade in some of my GBA games at Gamestop, I had everything complete box and instructions, but the guy who took in the trade in said they just throw those out. Seems like a complete waste, but that's where they go. I'm not sure about eb.[/quote]
 
[quote name='jshorr']I guess. But I have been in some stores where there is absoloutely not a single preowned GBA with box and manual. It seems like it's both the kids and the stores that disregard them.

And Punq:

If you plan to keep it and own it forever then I understand but if there's even a chance you may want to trade it, no box and no manual can hurt you when you run into people who are looking for complete.

Either way they shouldn't be charging you $3 less than retail...


[quote name='gizmogc']Usually 1 out of every 30 games I get traded in include box/manual. Yell at the kids who throw them away, not EB/Game Stop who don't even get them.[/quote][/quote]

Actually, If I plan to keep it forever, I would really want a box/manual since it'll help me keep track of my games better. For games that I buy to play, cart only doesn't matter as long as I get a cheaper price for it.
 
Yeah I agree with you on prices, they are horrible. When they actually have a decent used GBA game (which is rare I find) it's almost always 3$ less then the brand new price. Does anyone actually buy these games? I mean if cost is really that much of an issue you could probably go home and look in the couch cushions to get a couple bucks in change. The rest of the games that aren't incredibly overpriced are usually horrible (3-5 copies of iridion, DBZ card game, ect...). As for boxes and manuals, I don't care all that much if GBA games are complete.
 
We throw the boxes for the GBA games out because we have nowhere to put them. If you work at a Gamestop, you'd understand what I mean. I agree, it sucks real bad but there's nothign that'll change it. Someone earlier mentioned that only 1 in 30 games has everything with it, and that's about as true a statement as I ever heard. Rarely ever does anyone bring in the box or manuals. When they do though, especially for the GBa, I keep them to save them from going in the trash. I've sold a couple, given a couple away, and still have a few left and am hoping to get more. I WILL CONTROL THE BOX MARKET!!
 
It bothered me alot when I had my GBA, considering the system is based toward kids, many of them don't think twice about throwing out the box or instructions. Also the fact that you don't need protection for a cartridge as you do for a DVD or CD. Look at N64 games used compared to PSone games which ones have the case?
 
Reality, you are the boxmaster... would you possibly have any box and/or manual for Super Mario Advance 1 or 2?

 
I keep all my game boxes, including GBA. They really dont take up that much space. I keep them all in a big cardboard box.
 
I've noticed some EBs will rarely have a full box/manual set for a GBA preowned game. I picked up Chu Chu Rocket at a local store, shrinkwrapped to hell (seriously, at least 5 layers!) but it indeed was a full box and instructions, all original materials included for $8 or so. I've also actually seen full boxed Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow for $35 (somewhat of a waste since you can get it easily at Toys R Us for $30 brand new), but those were also shrinkwrapped to hell.
 
I saw the most unbelievable thing today at gamestop....10 copies of Mario Advance 4, cart only, 29.99! Now that's a double whammy....used AND missing box and manual for new price. I can't understand why they're not flying off the shelves....
 
[quote name='jshorr']I saw the most unbelievable thing today at gamestop....10 copies of Mario Advance 4, cart only, 29.99! Now that's a double whammy....used AND missing box and manual for new price. I can't understand why they're not flying off the shelves....[/quote]
Plus the game is supposed to come with 2 e-cards. That may not seem like much, but if you're a completist and you actually bought the two e-card decks, it's a big deal.
 
[quote name='BustaUppa'][quote name='jshorr']I saw the most unbelievable thing today at gamestop....10 copies of Mario Advance 4, cart only, 29.99! Now that's a double whammy....used AND missing box and manual for new price. I can't understand why they're not flying off the shelves....[/quote]
Plus the game is supposed to come with 2 e-cards. That may not seem like much, but if you're a completist and you actually bought the two e-card decks, it's a big deal.[/quote]

Really? I bought the game brand new a couple months after it was released and I never got any e-cards. I don't have an e-read, but still it's the principle of the matter if it was really supposed to come with cards, then that pisses me off.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']Usually 1 out of every 30 games I get traded in include box/manual. Yell at the kids who throw them away, not EB/Game Stop who don't even get them.[/quote]

That's not his problem, his problem is that they charge the same price regardless if it's comoplete or not, which is a total rip. I reallty don't care too much about the box, but it is a nice bonus when I do get one.
 
If I may continue my rant somewhat....I also hate when people on ebay or game trade sites list/describe their items, especially GBA games as "LIKE NEW", and then you realize it's the cart only. I'm sorry, just the cart is not LIKE NEW. New has a manual and a box. Like new (to me) means opened or unsealed, but complete in perfect condition.
 
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