Are gameboy games with box overpriced?
I was recently interested in collecting for this system. I would really like to collect with the box. The thing is: gameboy games with the box are almost always 10 times the price of the loose cart. I understand that maybe they are super rare, but at the prices you are buying it at there is no possible way you would ever get a return on your investment. So it seems to these that the gameboy collecting is for the serious collector who most likely have already bought the games at decent prices.
I was looking at Kid Dracula on ebay and some dude wants nearly $1200 for a complete in box. Nobody is rushing to buy it at that price, so if I decide to fork over that kind of money for it, I would likely be stuck the cost of it for a large portion of what I paid for it.
But that's not even the worst of it, even common games with the box people want $200 to $400 for the game, when the cart itself might be less than $40.
Have any of you collected seriously for this system at these prices?
I was looking at Kid Dracula on ebay and some dude wants nearly $1200 for a complete in box. Nobody is rushing to buy it at that price, so if I decide to fork over that kind of money for it, I would likely be stuck the cost of it for a large portion of what I paid for it.
But that's not even the worst of it, even common games with the box people want $200 to $400 for the game, when the cart itself might be less than $40.
Have any of you collected seriously for this system at these prices?
Comments
There is another on ebay right now for $750 which is closer to the average.
At the end of the day, games can't really be overpriced. People pay what it is worth to them, thus creating a market value that can fluctuate for a myriad of reasons. Games set too high will sit on ebay.
CIB collecting in general is not cheap for most systems and you pay a premium to have that cardboard.
And where you talk about getting a return on your investment, well there is your problem. Games are not good investments. You should buy games because you enjoy the hobby. You CAN invest in games, and you CAN make some money if you are smart, but there are better things to put your money in rather than games to make an investment.
So you have to decide, are the boxes worth the money to you? I can totally understand that being the case for some people, spending a ton on cardboard doesn't have an appeal to a lot of peopel. If not then just collect loose, or choose a different system to collect CIB for.
Yeah, the point is to buy games you want to play, which is what I'm doing, but I don't want to buy something that is worth half of the price I paid for it or even less, either. I want to buy games that hold their value or increase. I don't want to be gouged is my point.
Before you make purchases, research what previous listings have sold for. Become sensitive to the condition of the items. Compare and contrast current listings and past sales. Make educated purchases. Be patient. If you become well educated and remain patient, you will make purchases that stand a far better chance to recoup their price if you decide to sell in the future.
Unfortunately, no, not every game you purchase will inflate in value 2 years from now. And, yes, if you really want a certain item in a certain condition, you may have to "overpay" vs the current average going rate. Gameboy CIB collecting is niche and difficult. Good luck.
Yeah, the point is to buy games you want to play, which is what I'm doing, but I don't want to buy something that is worth half of the price I paid for it or even less, either. I want to buy games that hold their value or increase. I don't want to be gouged is my point.
I mean that is really on you the buyer though isn't it? To have the knowledge of what the average market price is for a game you want and trying to stick within that number and not paying a lot more by being smart about your purchases. And sometimes you have to pay a bit more if you want mint games.
Games are going to be listed for hundreds more than they usually go for on ebay all the time. They usually just sit there for months to years because are they are asking for more money than people are willing to pay.
At the end of the day you either are okay with paying big money for CIB gameboy games or you opt out and go for loos instead. It really comes down to what you want to spend.
What everyone is saying is true. I wouldn't even bother with boxes, its so stupid to get into. Fuck even if you DID have the money you'd be waiting a long time for some to even pop up.
It's something called "collecting" ...
Also, educate yourself on current prices. You should never ever be paying 2x what somethings worth unless you got cash to burn.
Gameboy boxes are just harder to come by. Even fewer people kept them than for other consoles. It's portable so the games got carried around. NES games usually stayed at home in a drawer or whatever so more of the boxes lasted.
I was recently interested in collecting for this system. I would really like to collect with the box. The thing is: gameboy games with the box are almost always 10 times the price of the loose cart. I understand that maybe they are super rare, but at the prices you are buying it at there is no possible way you would ever get a return on your investment. So it seems to these that the gameboy collecting is for the serious collector who most likely have already bought the games at decent prices.
I was looking at Kid Dracula on ebay and some dude wants nearly $1200 for a complete in box. Nobody is rushing to buy it at that price, so if I decide to fork over that kind of money for it, I would likely be stuck the cost of it for a large portion of what I paid for it.
But that's not even the worst of it, even common games with the box people want $200 to $400 for the game, when the cart itself might be less than $40.
Have any of you collected seriously for this system at these prices?
I've been collecting for the Game Boy for around 3 and 1/2 years and built up a collection of 654 carts and 152 CIB of which 1 is Kid Dracula. I only paid £75 for mine in excellent condition. I decided to collect the Game Boy as EVERYONE collects NES or SNES and wanted to be different. I have a limit of £100 for buying games and I have got some great CIB games as well as the rarer carts like Amazing Tater and Spud's Adventure. I notice you said looking for return on our investment, I'm a collector because I love collecting NOT for making money or scalping. If you want to collect for the Game Boy you have to be patient (bargains do appear) set a price imit and do your research and you will do fine!
I was recently interested in collecting for this system. I would really like to collect with the box. The thing is: gameboy games with the box are almost always 10 times the price of the loose cart. I understand that maybe they are super rare, but at the prices you are buying it at there is no possible way you would ever get a return on your investment. So it seems to these that the gameboy collecting is for the serious collector who most likely have already bought the games at decent prices.
I was looking at Kid Dracula on ebay and some dude wants nearly $1200 for a complete in box. Nobody is rushing to buy it at that price, so if I decide to fork over that kind of money for it, I would likely be stuck the cost of it for a large portion of what I paid for it.
But that's not even the worst of it, even common games with the box people want $200 to $400 for the game, when the cart itself might be less than $40.
Have any of you collected seriously for this system at these prices?
I've been collecting for the Game Boy for around 3 and 1/2 years and built up a collection of 654 carts and 152 CIB of which 1 is Kid Dracula. I only paid £75 for mine in excellent condition. I decided to collect the Game Boy as EVERYONE collects NES or SNES and wanted to be different. I have a limit of £100 for buying games and I have got some great CIB games as well as the rarer carts like Amazing Tater and Spud's Adventure. I notice you said looking for return on our investment, I'm a collector because I love collecting NOT for making money or scalping. If you want to collect for the Game Boy you have to be patient (bargains do appear) set a price imit and do your research and you will do fine!
Wow that is impressive. Yeah, I am kinda drawn to gameboy games because they are different and obviously because there are so great great games on them. I watched a video about gameboy games and the guy was breaking down the fact that the gameboy system had some of the most definitive ports to many games of any system. Plus the fact that some games, like Kirby, were their first releases.
So yeah, I am real interested in collecting games for the system to play on my Super NT with a Super Gameboy.
If you are solely worried about return on investment then stick to auctions not BINs. That doesn't mean they will appreciate but you typically get a more fair price at auction vs BIN. But then you have to wait for titles to come to you instead of getting them in the order you want.
As a Kid Dracula owner, if you can get it Near Mint CIB under 700 I'd say you did a good job. As a seller I wouldn't sell a Like New one for under 1000, too rare and in demand. Castlevania has a large following.
If you are just buying games you like and or want to play I would never even attempt to justify the cost of buying CIB because you can't unless you have an absurd amount of money to throw at it.
But overpriced?....Probably not it just is what it is, it is a collecting/used market.
Bandwagon collectors are thinning out more and more every year. Just give it time for prices to come down
Oh no dude, things are about to get way worse. The change is going to be from insta-fullsetters in any condition, to people with more money than sense, nitpicking every individual piece. Sealed collecting is going to explode. In pretty much every older, more mature hobby, condition rules all. This is a scary peek into our future:
Collection burn out happens with anything. I think the grading companies have actually helped keep coin collecting "fresh". They have different collecting sets and people compete for the best collection. If you hold the top position they will actually reslab your coins with your collection name on the label. This adds a bit of collector rivalry and adds provenance to the item if you ever decide to sell. While game collecting isn't at that level yet, it's nice to dream.
Back on topic, a seller holding on to something truly rare and desirable may not have much of a reason to drop his price. He can sit on this $1200 listed copy as long as he wants. It's how the game is played. People with patience won't pay this. Someone with lots of money might. He's banking that holding it is going to be worth more in the long run. Just because you see it at $1,200, doesn't mean you need to buy it at $1,200.
All CIB cartridge games are over priced. If you have to question that, collect loose.
When are you gonna cave and give me red and blue CIB! Come on, Matt!