AliExpress

Conrad MacIntyreConrad MacIntyre
in Collector's Corner
Hey, so I'm new to the collecting world (about 8 months in), and I just found out about AliExpress because of Pat Contri's podcast... these carts do not appear to be maked as repros at all... do you run into these often? What's the threshold (in dollars) where you would recommend opening up the cart and checking out the board?

Comments

  • r.cader.cade
    $1!



    These repros are all over eBay. You can assume for the most part that anything for sale now is "fake" and not an original cart now...



     
  • Loxx O)))Loxx O)))
    haha, people will say they are everywhere. I think most say around $50, but there are repros of games that go for less money. Most things on AliExpress and Etsy aren't going to be legit so I'd say just skip those sites in general if you want legit copies.
  • MrWunderfulMrWunderful
    Usually ali express uses super cheap shells, that can be instantly recognized.



    I have never run into one IRL, and as a limit of carts to open I would say 30-50$ And Up depending on circumstance.



    If someone wont let you open it, then ALWAYS pass
  • darkchylde28darkchylde28
    I've personally never run into them in the wild, but I've spotted a few on eBay and a few more on my local Craigslist. Regarding opening the games, at this point it would really be up to you regarding how much money you're comfortable "losing" on a fake and whether it bothers you that you might have any fakes at all in your collection. A threshold of $10-20 might be a decent place to start, but some will probably set it at $50-100. It's all about how comfortable you are with a game. If you get a $100 title for $5, do you check it? Or take the chance?
  • NightowljrmNightowljrm
    I haven't run into any in person, but they are all over eBay and other online outlets. Non-speciality places like McKay have gotten other fakes and sell the originals, I have seen plenty of fake GBA games there (Nashville location).
  • Conrad MacIntyreConrad MacIntyre
    I collect for N64, and since those repros cost around $30CAD, I guess $40CAD would be a good threshold. I wonder if I should buy an AliExpress copy of a game I already own to compare the label and plastic quality. I would really hate to get burned on a Super Bowling or a Worms. Good to know that the cases are identifiable.
  • DariaDaria
    Originally posted by: MrWunderful



    Usually ali express uses super cheap shells, that can be instantly recognized.



    I have never run into one IRL, and as a limit of carts to open I would say 30-50$ And Up depending on circumstance.



    If someone wont let you open it, then ALWAYS pass



    Yup. Just look for the plastic molded screws.



    Also when buying loose GBA carts there's like a 50%-50% chance that anything you buy is a bootleg. And you won't be able to tell until you have the cart in your hand. But that's not Aliexpress's fault. The system was heavily counterfitted when it was current gen and the shit's just out there. 

     
  • Loxx O)))Loxx O)))
    I have yet to see or hold one of those low quality repros. I've only had ones with donor carts. I curious as to the actual quality of them.
  • Uncle MeatUncle Meat
    You would know within a few seconds that it came from Aliexpress, the quality is just miserable all around.



    Carts are usually coloured as well.
  • leatherrebel5150leatherrebel5150
    Originally posted by: Conrad MacIntyre



    Hey, so I'm new to the collecting world (about 8 months in), and I just found out about AliExpress because of Pat Contri's podcast... these carts do not appear to be maked as repros at all... do you run into these often? What's the threshold (in dollars) where you would recommend opening up the cart and checking out the board?

    Open every game regardless of price just to clean the contacts. The old q-tip method is half-assed(not saying you do that, just in general). So if you clean all your games thoroughly when you get them you will never have to worry about a fake slipping through because you will find it right away



     
  • Conrad MacIntyreConrad MacIntyre
    Originally posted by: leatherrebel5150

     
    Originally posted by: Conrad MacIntyre



    Hey, so I'm new to the collecting world (about 8 months in), and I just found out about AliExpress because of Pat Contri's podcast... these carts do not appear to be maked as repros at all... do you run into these often? What's the threshold (in dollars) where you would recommend opening up the cart and checking out the board?

    Open every game regardless of price just to clean the contacts. The old q-tip method is half-assed(not saying you do that, just in general). So if you clean all your games thoroughly when you get them you will never have to worry about a fake slipping through because you will find it right away



     



    I will typically buy bundles with multiple games in them. It would be impractical to open all the games. For example, I bought a bundle with a boxed 64 and 15 games yesterday. It would take 30 minutes easy to open each one and check the CB, then close them up again. More costly games are more likely to be purchased solo, or at least in smaller quantities.

     
  • PhilosoraptorPhilosoraptor
    I've only run into a couple of fake labels and fake carts in the wild, but they're all over eBay. Once you get them in hand, they're much easier to spot than in a grainy picture. The games that are probably going to give you the biggest fits are GBA games, like Daria pointed out. Pokemon games are insanely bad.
  • guitarzombieguitarzombie

    Originally posted by: MrWunderful





    If someone wont let you open it, then ALWAYS pass






  • Andy_BogomilAndy_Bogomil
    I've definitely seen and increase in repros and bootlegs locally. SNES multicarts as well (ex. Final Fight 1, 2, 3, Guy on one cart).
  • Bort License PlateBort License Plate
    Never seen one in person. See em on eBay all the time though. Not hard to spot with a trained eye
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