Guide pricing represents an average. An average transaction, for a game in average condition, at an average time of the year.
It sounds like you've got a below-average game perhaps, so that would skew the price down.
But this most recent e-Zine has the price far above average. The price for Snow Bros hovers right around $50-$55, if you look at older issues you'll see that it's way up right now for whatever reason. It's been climbing for a few issues.
If you really want one, don't fall prey to "impulse buying" unless you really want to reward your local shop with that price for some reason.
With patience you'll be able to find it cheaper. Now's not a good time to buy that game seeing it's inflated, so just wait unless you're super-eager to get it.
I am a big Snow Bros fan and keep a close eye on its sales. If you buy it off eBay, it has been selling consistently lately for $50-$65, with a couple spikes to $70, so the store price is not unreasonable. That said, I personally wouldn't want a cart that had a messed up top label unless I was getting it for a really good deal, in which case you're not. So I would pass. Especially if you have to pay sales tax on it. If you aren't in a rush to get it, you can be patient and will likely be able to pick up a nicer copy off eBay for a comparable price.
Now some gamers and even collectors don't care that much about a label being damaged and if you fall into that group, then go ahead and get it - it is selling for a reasonable price after all. However, keep in mind that if you intend to resell the cart later, you may take a hit because of the label damage. I would probably offer the guy $40 and walk out the door, depending on just how bad the label is.
It is true that Snow Brothers has been selling higher lately, but I personally don't think its inflated. I think that its value is simply being adjusted to a more accurate level. Look at Bubble Bobble Part 2 - it averages around $100 per cart, and it is no more rare than Snow Bros. But Bubble Bobble is a more well-known and appreciated title than Snow Bros. In my opinion, Snow Brothers is a very under-appreciated game and the word is starting to get out to the NES playing community that its a pretty bad-ass game and so it's driving up the demand for it. There also seems to be a lot of people missing this cart for their collection as I've seen numerous posts in the BST forum asking for it as one of the last carts needed.
Long answer to a short question, but hopefully you get something out of it. Good luck.
Comments
It sounds like you've got a below-average game perhaps, so that would skew the price down.
But this most recent e-Zine has the price far above average. The price for Snow Bros hovers right around $50-$55, if you look at older issues you'll see that it's way up right now for whatever reason. It's been climbing for a few issues.
If you really want one, don't fall prey to "impulse buying" unless you really want to reward your local shop with that price for some reason.
My local store has a Snow Bros. with a messed up top label for $52.00. Is it worth it?
no.
Now some gamers and even collectors don't care that much about a label being damaged and if you fall into that group, then go ahead and get it - it is selling for a reasonable price after all. However, keep in mind that if you intend to resell the cart later, you may take a hit because of the label damage. I would probably offer the guy $40 and walk out the door, depending on just how bad the label is.
It is true that Snow Brothers has been selling higher lately, but I personally don't think its inflated. I think that its value is simply being adjusted to a more accurate level. Look at Bubble Bobble Part 2 - it averages around $100 per cart, and it is no more rare than Snow Bros. But Bubble Bobble is a more well-known and appreciated title than Snow Bros. In my opinion, Snow Brothers is a very under-appreciated game and the word is starting to get out to the NES playing community that its a pretty bad-ass game and so it's driving up the demand for it. There also seems to be a lot of people missing this cart for their collection as I've seen numerous posts in the BST forum asking for it as one of the last carts needed.
Long answer to a short question, but hopefully you get something out of it. Good luck.