Thrift Store Thread 2011

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Didn't find a whole lot this weekend, but the quality makes up for the quantity.

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Tiny Toon Adventures: Acme All-Stars(Complete - Sega Genesis) - $2.50: Haven't tried it. Thought it looked interesting enough on the back of the box to check it out.
Cowboy Bebop DVD Vol.1 - $2.50: I love this show(especially its soundtrack). Going to flip it after I watch it since I want the complete series box set instead of the individual DVDs.
WCW Vs. The World(Complete - PlayStation 1) - $1: Already have this, actually. I bought it mainly for the case insert and the manual. Aside from some music skips(possibly due to smudges on the disc), the game disc works just fine.


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Sega Sports NFL '95(Sealed - Game Gear) - $2.50: To say I pounced on this when I saw it would be an understatement. A sealed Game Gear game!? No way I'm leaving that on the shelf. I haven't decided if I want to try to flip it or if I should just open it myself.
 
today at the good will i found a bag filled with Gamboy Advance games and manuals and a PS1 manual
the games where

Mario vs dk with manual
Castlevania circle of the moon and harmony of dissonance both with manual
Namco Museum with manual
GT Advanced Championship Racing with manual
Super Mario Advance
Sponge Bob Video Cart
PS1 Manual
GB Advance SP Manual
Super Mario World Super Mario Advance 2 Manual
Mario Kart Super Circut Manual
Super Mario Bros Manual

Paid $9.95
 
Was at a Goodwill this past Sunday, since I had to buy cat food at a store near there.

Picked up a copy of Terminal Velocity from the mid 90s, sealed, for $4.99.
Also picked up Mechwarriors 4 Vegeneance for $2.99.
 
[quote name='shadyfozzie']Found the Scene-It Comedy Board game Sealed for $4.
Where do you guys find the games in the store?? Behind the counter, on a shelf??[/QUOTE]

On endcaps, by the music cds, or in glad cabinets, depending on the place. Sometimes, they're in random places.
 
Finally done with classes, so hit up some thrifts today...

picked up:
Reality Quest the glove for n64 - 5.99 (looks pretty cool im just a fan or really strange accessories)
Twisted Metal III ps1 (complete) - 2.20
Bart's Nightmare snes (cart only w/ dust cover) - 2.20

no pics sorry on the lookout for a new camera
 
[quote name='orcafan8']Finally done with classes, so hit up some thrifts today...

picked up:
Reality Quest the glove for n64 - 5.99 (looks pretty cool im just a fan or really strange accessories)
Twisted Metal III ps1 (complete) - 2.20
Bart's Nightmare snes (cart only w/ dust cover) - 2.20

no pics sorry on the lookout for a new camera[/QUOTE]

Great game pick on the SNES choosing Bart's Nightmare; it took me a long time to get an A+ on my report cart :) (Hint, get your first two Z's as far apart from each other as possible.)
 
I thought I would post this here since you guys know more then I do.

I saw a Geneses (Working) (all cables/one controller) and battletoads for $25.

Worth it?
 
[quote name='Dark Rider']I thought I would post this here since you guys know more then I do.

I saw a Geneses (Working) (all cables/one controller) and battletoads for $25.

Worth it?[/QUOTE]

Not really. Genesis consoles are worth less than $10, and Battletoads is $5-$10 cart only.
 
[quote name='Dark Rider']I thought I would post this here since you guys know more then I do.

I saw a Geneses (Working) (all cables/one controller) and battletoads for $25.

Worth it?[/QUOTE]

Maybe. You should be able to get $10 back flipping Battletoads. Depends on how much you want a system (it's not unusual for CAGs for get gennies with a crapload of games for $20) Recently I obtained the following:

3 crap ds games worth $5 in gs credit.
1 gameboy advance glacier console (flipped to get $10 back)
1 genesis w/ six games (missing power cords though)

all for $25.
 
Now I remember why I waffle on buying used electronics from the local Salvation Army stores, since 6-7 times outta 10 when I buy shit it'll be a total piece of crap. Case in point, I was at the one local SA last night around 7:30pm, which was close to their closing time. I was about to buy an old school Panasonic stereo with 2 speakers that looked like I could jack the AV cables for my PS3 into the back of to output sound from that instead of the tinny little speakers on my PC monitor I'm using for it. Instead the one guy working there brings out a Sony surround sound unit with no speakers.

Unfortunately this unit was untested last night. Anyway, I go back to the store today to go grab it, hoping it's been tested already. It has not. That should've been my first red flag to NOT pick it up. The second should've been when he said he 'just plugged it in in the back and it works'. Works is a subjective term in this case as it DOES power on, but within 5 seconds it goes to flashing the word PROTECT on the little screen on it.:bomb:

So yeah, my gut instinct on NOT buying used electronics from Salvation Army is 90-95% correct. This is likely my last purchase from there for a while now. Of course I'm more pissed at myself for not wanting to plug it in on my own and check it out, as had I seen the PROTECT screen pop up I would've likely left it.

Either way I spent $20 on the damn thing, but that money was winnings from some contest the local casino had, so it wasn't really my cash anyway.:razz: Still pissed at myself for not demanding to plug it in on my own though.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Now I remember why I waffle on buying used electronics from the local Salvation Army stores, since 6-7 times outta 10 when I buy shit it'll be a total piece of crap. Case in point, I was at the one local SA last night around 7:30pm, which was close to their closing time. I was about to buy an old school Panasonic stereo with 2 speakers that looked like I could jack the AV cables for my PS3 into the back of to output sound from that instead of the tinny little speakers on my PC monitor I'm using for it. Instead the one guy working there brings out a Sony surround sound unit with no speakers.

Unfortunately this unit was untested last night. Anyway, I go back to the store today to go grab it, hoping it's been tested already. It has not. That should've been my first red flag to NOT pick it up. The second should've been when he said he 'just plugged it in in the back and it works'. Works is a subjective term in this case as it DOES power on, but within 5 seconds it goes to flashing the word PROTECT on the little screen on it.:bomb:

So yeah, my gut instinct on NOT buying used electronics from Salvation Army is 90-95% correct. This is likely my last purchase from there for a while now. Of course I'm more pissed at myself for not wanting to plug it in on my own and check it out, as had I seen the PROTECT screen pop up I would've likely left it.

Either way I spent $20 on the damn thing, but that money was winnings from some contest the local casino had, so it wasn't really my cash anyway.:razz: Still pissed at myself for not demanding to plug it in on my own though.[/QUOTE]

That's why I love Goodwill's return policy on electronics. I'll always grab it cuz returning it is so easy.
 
[quote name='Tally Wag']That's why I love Goodwill's return policy on electronics. I'll always grab it cuz returning it is so easy.[/QUOTE]
Yeah. Normally I do stand there and fully test the crap out of it. But this was a mistake on my part since I just got done cutting my grass and ran up right after. I wanted to get home and get showered and just kick back and relax.

Either way I put it up on CL for $35, but if someone offers me $20-25 for it I'll take it in a second just to be done with it.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Yeah. Normally I do stand there and fully test the crap out of it. But this was a mistake on my part since I just got done cutting my grass and ran up right after. I wanted to get home and get showered and just kick back and relax.

Either way I put it up on CL for $35, but if someone offers me $20-25 for it I'll take it in a second just to be done with it.[/QUOTE]

I know that SA has a no return policy but the one by me (that closed when their rent was tripled) allowed returns for store credit when items were misrepresented (granted it wasn't advertised i just found out when some irate customer in front of me one time was able to return a broken piece of junk).
 
Thing is, the thing had an 'as-is' sticker on the power cord, so I think I'm SOL. I listed it up on CL for $35 locally, hoping someone will want it as a project for $20-25. But I also registered it on Sony's website saying I just bought it today(which is true;)). They offered up repair for the cost of shipping, but I have to show a receipt showing where I got it to get 'in-warranty' service.:lol:

I'm debating if I wanna go through with that though, as once they see it's from Salvation Army they'll likely know I bought it used.
 
my local GWs say they dont do returns or exchanges on anything but clothing but if u talk to the area manager she makes them do it but one of the other GWs close to me has it on there recpits no exchanges or returns
 
Are your Goodwills like holy sanctums of savings, magic, and wonder?

I mean damn what the hell guys.

My goodwill see's Madden 2004 and marks it up to $14.99.
 
I feel like people here are just blatant liars. All my goodwills, Salvation Armies, etc are the same way. I just assume people pay like $25 for shit like that SNES game, and claim it was $5 so they seem like the luckiest gamer in the world.
 
[quote name='Organization_XIII']I feel like people here are just blatant liars. All my goodwills, Salvation Armies, etc are the same way. I just assume people pay like $25 for shit like that SNES game, and claim it was $5 so they seem like the luckiest gamer in the world.[/QUOTE]


I'm inclined to believe most of the people because it really varies from one Good Will to another since different managers take different approaches to pricing. Some of the ones I go to mark all games $5.95, while other ones mark anything media (DVD, games, CDs, etc) $3.

The manager at the one I frequent most often will price game consoles and accessories at eBay prices since she's told me that she looks there to get the prices. On the other hand, she has no idea games are worth anything and has them marked ridiculously low. That's why they will get an original PlayStation and mark it $45 with no cords and one third party controller, yet I have found complete black label copies of Legend of Dragoon and Vagrant Story at the same store for $3 each.
 
[quote name='Organization_XIII']I feel like people here are just blatant liars. All my goodwills, Salvation Armies, etc are the same way. I just assume people pay like $25 for shit like that SNES game, and claim it was $5 so they seem like the luckiest gamer in the world.[/QUOTE]

not sure if serious...
 
The 3 GWs I go to for the most part sell games for $4 apiece unless its Wii, PS3, or 360. Systems are usually $5-$20 depending on whats included and who tagged it. There was a few months when the 1 GW was trying to sell games and systems for the same price as the used gamestore right next door, everything sat there unsold no surprise. Alot of times I do just see old sports games or old Genesis games id never pay $4 apiece for but alot of times I also find something awesome.......like hopefully today cus its been awhile.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Thing is, the thing had an 'as-is' sticker on the power cord, so I think I'm SOL. I listed it up on CL for $35 locally, hoping someone will want it as a project for $20-25. But I also registered it on Sony's website saying I just bought it today(which is true;)). They offered up repair for the cost of shipping, but I have to show a receipt showing where I got it to get 'in-warranty' service.:lol:

I'm debating if I wanna go through with that though, as once they see it's from Salvation Army they'll likely know I bought it used.[/QUOTE]

You should try it. Product replacement plans can be crazy sometimes; like I once screwed up and sold a guy a Dawn of War pc game with no activation key on Amazon. I offered him a refund but he says it's cool because he talked to the manufacturer. As far as I know they sent him a replacement :hot:
 
[quote name='doodmandood']Are your Goodwills like holy sanctums of savings, magic, and wonder?

I mean damn what the hell guys.

My goodwill see's Madden 2004 and marks it up to $14.99.[/QUOTE]

Most of what I find is $15-20 games in the $3 to $6 area, so yeah I would consider finding Lunars or Lufias to be a freakish occurrence. Probably the best find I had recently was finding the Realms of Arkania Trilogy (sealed).
 
[quote name='Indigo_Streetlight']Most of what I find is $15-20 games in the $3 to $6 area, so yeah I would consider finding Lunars or Lufias to be a freakish occurrence. Probably the best find I had recently was finding the Realms of Arkania Trilogy (sealed).[/QUOTE]

my GW seems to go thru cycles, everything .99-2.99, then oh its selling, everything 9.99, and eventually stuff gets marked down again. They don't seem to know titles, just current gen systems, and everything else they consider a "game" and price them by how many discs.
My best find before they got savy was my toploader NES with all 3 marios for 14.99 (but that was over a year ago, now any nes they get is marked $50+)

However, I don't just do the chains I also try and hit up the smaller ones (even the for profits, and you can always tell the difference between a gamer and a reseller)
 
[quote name='doodmandood']Are your Goodwills like holy sanctums of savings, magic, and wonder?

I mean damn what the hell guys.

My goodwill see's Madden 2004 and marks it up to $14.99.[/QUOTE]

Well, it helps when you live in Southern California where there is over 25+ goodwill retail stores around me plus a whole bunch of other privately-owned thrift stores. Not only that, there's a pawn shop (Most of them sucks, usually price them at eBay prices) in every corner. In a average week, I'd probably visit 11 to 15 of them, not for games, but for clothes (A couple years ago, I found a vintage/Varisity lakers leather jacket which I flipped on eBay for $280.), electronics etc. I feel the best spots to find games is the one that is in the middle of nowhere like it in the GHETTO (city of Compton and part of Long Beach), the middle-class neighborhood or far away from the freeway.

Most SoCAL Goodwill stores:
360/PS3/Wii/some ds games = $14.99
PS2/GameCube/Xbox/PS1/Some DS/NES/SNES/GENESIS games = $5.99
NES/SNES/GENESIS = $1.99/$3.99
 
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Not a thrift store find, but a Dollar Tree near me has old Yu-Gi-Oh booster packs for $1. Think I should buy them? They're 1st edition and a collector might want them. I've never seen them before until recently. Do all DTs have these?
 
Dropped by Goodwill and found Wing Commander III: Heart Of The Tiger & Caesars Palace 2000: Millennium Gold Edition for the PS1 for $3 a piece. They also had the original GTA for the PS1 for $3, but it had some scratches(and I really wasn't feeling it anyways) so I passed. Another thing they had was a Nintendo 64 w/ controller and cord(s?) for $25. Didn't get that either since I stocked up on N64s when EB/GameStop was clearing them out for $12 a pop about 5 years ago.
 
Not really a thrift store, but I hit up a used book store today that also sells video games. I looked at the bottom shelf where they keep the loose vintage NES, SNES, Genesis carts for $1.99 each and thought I saw what looked like a sealed NES game. I figured it must be some crappy old PC game or something, but sure enough, it was a 1985 black box NES Pinball game, factory sealed with H seam intact, mint condition. Price: $1.98 plus tax. Last one sold on Ebay for $170.

I also found a Final Fantasy XIII guide for $1 and the Kingdom Hearts 2 Deluxe Strategy Guide w/artbook for $1. Glad I skipped lunch today to go deal hunting!
 
[quote name='Organization_XIII']Not a thrift store find, but a Dollar Tree near me has old Yu-Gi-Oh booster packs for $1. Think I should buy them? They're 1st edition and a collector might want them. I've never seen them before until recently. Do all DTs have these?[/QUOTE]

Typically, dollar tree stores have the same stock. They all carry trading cards. If they are at a dollar store, odds are they are an overprinted set that's not worth anything. Check Ebay completed auctions for that set name and booster boxes. If you can get a sealed box for $1/pack and they are going for double that on Ebay, I'd say go for it.
 
[quote name='Organization_XIII']I feel like people here are just blatant liars. All my goodwills, Salvation Armies, etc are the same way. I just assume people pay like $25 for shit like that SNES game, and claim it was $5 so they seem like the luckiest gamer in the world.[/QUOTE]

Each goodwill is different, one of my goodwills prices video game guides for $5, while the other two price them like normal paperbacks ($1.50 I think it was) while they all seem to price all their games for a max of $5, never seen higher. Funny part is, the only $5 games I've seen were complete Phillips CD-I games. NES/Genesis/SNES/N64/Dreamcast/PSX/PS2/Xbox all go for $1-$4 and PS3/Xbox360/Wii go for $4-$5.

I don't think people are petty enough to lie about getting a game for cheap, they're just lucky and goodwill can get a lot of good stuff. I don't know if you're just being bitter 'cause you haven't struck gold yet, I'd just be happy a fellow CAG was able to add to their collection.
 
[quote name='Rictor']Typically, dollar tree stores have the same stock. They all carry trading cards. If they are at a dollar store, odds are they are an overprinted set that's not worth anything. Check Ebay completed auctions for that set name and booster boxes. If you can get a sealed box for $1/pack and they are going for double that on Ebay, I'd say go for it.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, they are widly overpriced on ebay/amazon. I have to go there in a couple days, so I'll pick them up. $1 a pack ain't bad I guess
 
[quote name='Organization_XIII']I feel like people here are just blatant liars. All my goodwills, Salvation Armies, etc are the same way. I just assume people pay like $25 for shit like that SNES game, and claim it was $5 so they seem like the luckiest gamer in the world.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't say a lot of these people are lying about prices, I'd say some of them may be lying about getting the things from a Goodwill in the first place. I haven't been to single Goodwill in my life that wouldn't have written "$5.99" on that Lufia box in permanent marker. Judging by the absence of the marker on that box, I'd have to assume it didn't actually come from a Goodwill. They don't ever really have any reverence when it comes to taking good care of stuff like that, so I don't see why they wouldn't have sharpied it.
 
[quote name='Doomstink']I wouldn't say a lot of these people are lying about prices, I'd say some of them may be lying about getting the things from a Goodwill in the first place. I haven't been to single Goodwill in my life that wouldn't have written "$5.99" on that Lufia box in permanent marker. Judging by the absence of the marker on that box, I'd have to assume it didn't actually come from a Goodwill. They don't ever really have any reverence when it comes to taking good care of stuff like that, so I don't see why they wouldn't have sharpied it.[/QUOTE]

Well, none of the GW stores around here write on anything with marker. They typically use green, white or blue price gun labels.

If mine started doing what you're saying, I'd stop shopping at GW.
 
[quote name='sp00ge']Well, none of the GW stores around here write on anything with marker. They typically use green, white or blue price gun labels.

If mine started doing what you're saying, I'd stop shopping at GW.[/QUOTE]

None of the ones here do either. I've even posted many pics with the price and sticker attached. The stickers sometimes have "Goodwill" printed on them, and the price written on that in marker.

Just cause your GW sucks...
 
[quote name='elessar123']None of the ones here do either. I've even posted many pics with the price and sticker attached. The stickers sometimes have "Goodwill" printed on them, and the price written on that in marker.

Just cause your GW sucks...[/QUOTE]

It's that mentality of "If my Goodwill is like that then ALL Goodwills must be like that"
 
Both of my thrift stores write prices on things in grease pencil, and that's not OK. You can wipe it off but there will always be a faint green smudge on that thing. Or a book without a dust jacket, that price is on there forever.
 
[quote name='Doomstink']I wouldn't say a lot of these people are lying about prices, I'd say some of them may be lying about getting the things from a Goodwill in the first place. I haven't been to single Goodwill in my life that wouldn't have written "$5.99" on that Lufia box in permanent marker. Judging by the absence of the marker on that box, I'd have to assume it didn't actually come from a Goodwill. They don't ever really have any reverence when it comes to taking good care of stuff like that, so I don't see why they wouldn't have sharpied it.[/QUOTE]

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You don't have to believe me, but here's my screenshot of my checking account. As you can see, i was at GoodWill (5/12/2011) yesterday when I found Lufia II. It was just laying there, inside the glass window in visible view along with other snes/nes/n64/ps2 games, a couple snes system, and a n64 system. All the goodwill stores I've visited so far, they don't write prices in permanent marker. They usually labeled them with color stickers.
 
[quote name='Doomstink']I wouldn't say a lot of these people are lying about prices, I'd say some of them may be lying about getting the things from a Goodwill in the first place. I haven't been to single Goodwill in my life that wouldn't have written "$5.99" on that Lufia box in permanent marker. Judging by the absence of the marker on that box, I'd have to assume it didn't actually come from a Goodwill. They don't ever really have any reverence when it comes to taking good care of stuff like that, so I don't see why they wouldn't have sharpied it.[/QUOTE]

My goodwill uses price sticker guns. Got an Atari 2600 for $5.00 and some other Genesis games for a few bucks a piece last month. But yeah, none of the Goodwills here use permanent marker.
 
[quote name='sp00ge']Well, none of the GW stores around here write on anything with marker. They typically use green, white or blue price gun labels.

If mine started doing what you're saying, I'd stop shopping at GW.[/QUOTE]

My Goodwills do the marker thing, but every once in a while they'll put out games without pricing them (especially pc games in box, and I think they recently had a CIB Hudson Hawk for NES unmarkered). Anything that falls under their flat rate policy stands a good chance of being clean IMHO.
 
The Good Will stores that I currently go to also use stickers.

Where I used to live, they used those wax pencil type things so you could rub off the writing.
 
My goodwill uses price guns with different colored stickers. Currently 6 different colors are in use (used to be 5 til 3 weeks ago) There is a method to the colors of the stickers. Each week, a different colored sticker is 1/2 off. So for example, this week blue tags are 1/2 off. Last week red tags were 1/2 off, so this week all new merchandise will be marked with a red tag. It then sits on the shelf through the cycle of colors (they always go in the same order) until red is the oldest stuff on the shelf in 5 weeks, and then it will be 1/2 off again. Since this week is blue, that means next week all new merchandise will be stickered with blue tags and next week green will be 1/2 off.

on top of all that, tuesdays are student discount days (show a student id, get 20% off) and wednesdays are senior citizen days (anyone 55 and over gets 20% off) and those stack on top of the colored discount too.
 
You guys are lucky then. Every Goodwill I've been to in NC writes prices in markers. It's a shame because I find genuinely good stuff all the time. I apologize for not believing you, I should probably just not jump to wild conclusions in the future.
 
[quote name='Organization_XIII']I feel like people here are just blatant liars. All my goodwills, Salvation Armies, etc are the same way. I just assume people pay like $25 for shit like that SNES game, and claim it was $5 so they seem like the luckiest gamer in the world.[/QUOTE]

Maybe one or two have told a fib, but for the most part, I believe everyone in this thread. Some days are better than others, and while I have yet to strike gold, I did find the original DJ Hero (PS3) NEW for 4 bucks, so that was a great deal IMO.

I saw an HDTV the other day, but they wanted $150 for it, which is crazy. Might come down in price, or some sucker might buy it. No rhyme or reason to their pricing.
 
[quote name='sdragon']Maybe one or two have told a fib, but for the most part, I believe everyone in this thread. Some days are better than others, and while I have yet to strike gold, I did find the original DJ Hero (PS3) NEW for 4 bucks, so that was a great deal IMO.

I saw an HDTV the other day, but they wanted $150 for it, which is crazy. Might come down in price, or some sucker might buy it. No rhyme or reason to their pricing.[/QUOTE]

Some people do it in reality too, so I don't really know why they couldn't do it on here.

It depends on the Goodwill on your area, some are luckier than others.

HDTV? Depends on what you mean.. I saw a Sony 32" 1080P LCD with 3 hdmi inputs/etc awesome additions (Bravia? Don't remember which series ) for $150, and it was on and looked great. Wasn't allowed to purchase it though.. was a good deal :|
 
[quote name='MYFIREMANISHUGE']HDTV? Depends on what you mean.. I saw a Sony 32" 1080P LCD with 3 hdmi inputs/etc awesome additions (Bravia? Don't remember which series ) for $150, and it was on and looked great. Wasn't allowed to purchase it though.. was a good deal :|[/QUOTE]
Wasn't allowed to purchase it? By who? I've always suspected the employees keep some of the 'better' shit for their friends/family, but I woulda been pissed and most likely demanded the manager let me buy that. Then again, with my recent track record with used electronics from Salvation Army I don't think I'd bite on an item there unless it had a box with it with the receipt in it showing it was just purchased a week earlier.
 
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