Flea Market Finds

I was going about my weekly (usually) browse through the local Flea Market today when I came across a seller with a large selection of boxed NES games. Thinking it was a rare thing to find that many boxed NES games in decent shape there was amazing, I went in for a closer look.

Scanning over the boxes I spot two Dragon Warrior II and IV right next to each other. Opening up one of the boxes I saw the manual AND map inside! So I turned around and asked the guy "How much for the NES games?"

"Five dollars each" he replied.

(in my head) "HOLY SHIT!"

So I look over the rest of the games and find Dragon Warrior III in there too! So I grab that, hand the guy $15 and turn around to leave when I spot a strategy guide for DW IV. $1 for the guide and I walk away with a huge smile on my face :D

Of course I was happy to see this when I got home too.

[/bragmodeoff]

-Kevin

I love flea markets, especially when I find import games. The last time I was at a flea market I bought Shodai Nekketsu Kunio Kun(Super Famicom) for five bucks.

I haven't been to a flea market in years. I really have to go one Sunday. The last time I went, I didn't find shit, but who knows?

That's the thing - usually you don't find anything worth wasting your time, but every once in a while you'll run across something that you just can't believe you found. It's those days that make me keep going back :)

-Kevin

Flea markets are too sweet out here! A model 1 Saturn for $5!!

My friend got a PC Engine set for about the same.

Both were in great condition!!!:D

Picked up Metroid eons ago for $5 from a flea market. I've loved them since.

I myself have had moments of joy at the flea market, but atlas I have to work on weekends now so no more for now. Hopefully I can get out of this hell hole and get an internship at Konami or EA. It's been so long, but the last thing I remeber was getting Star Raiders for Atari 2600 with the joystick and their warped boxes. Oh, and there was also the Intellivision and games.

Ive always done well at flea markets and pawn shops. Although pawn shops seem to understand better now the value of some games, often they too can unload things cheap. I used to do weekly rounds in several pawn shops about six or seven years ago. But there was a point when it got kinda old, not finding much any more. Good to know there are some out there still scoring some good buys!!

Lucky lads. See, where I am from the Flea Market I frequent is full of con artists. There are two guys operating there: one guy who knows nothing and has nothing of interest, and another, known to everyone who plays games in the area, as "The Russian"

The Russian used to work for another guy who had a store in London, Ontario. His prices were dictated by the higher-ups and thus he had a huge business going on. Everyone would go the nearby EB and give a hearty "fuck you!" to their games, their prices, and trade-in values, eschew the local Compu-Centre, all in the hopes of a landing a rare catch with The Russian

But, alas, all good things come to an end. The guy who owned the store in London went bankrupt and liquidated his inventory to The Russian. The Russian siezed the oppurtunity, adjusting his prices to fit his own greedy vision. Things, mostly common games, jumped in value to ridiculous prices. Ex:

The average Turbo Grafx-16 game: $67 cdn
Saturn Console: used to be: 40; now: $70
Super Nintendo games, no box/instructions: $40
Nintendo games: then $4-7, now: $10-40
etc...

But here's the kicker: the Russian doesn't know the value of rare items. Obscure things he tends to mark down because nobody knows what they are.

There are also some other nigglings:
-Dude will jack up prices after you've settled on a price and have left to go get money
-Dude will suddenly have a lapse of memory when a game he sells is returned ("and you are again?")
-Service goes down the crapper is you buy "cheaper" games.

Regardless, I've relied on this guy for years. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have:

Castlevania Bloodlines/IV, in mint condition:
Street Fighter CE (PC ENGINE):
3D0 console
Guilty Gear X (PS2)

and others more important things I've forgotten.
Plus, everything I purchased there (with the exception of Earthworm Jim for the Genesis; I hate that game) works perfectly.

Ah... I need to find another Flea Market.
Hey, anybody know why they're called Flea Markets?

That sure is a double-edged sword you've got there for game purchases.

Pretty much year. Also, since the an EB Game World opened up across the street from my EB, I've met TONS of people who have been screwed over by The Russian. They come in and bitch about him.

Plus, to all you EB workers out there, he sells POX games for like $70, pissing people off to no end when they try to trade them in at our store.

Sadly, I envy his business. It could be something.

Should read \"pretty much, yeah.\"