I'm down with OPT - Other People's Trash is my Treasure

I have always been down with OTHER PEOPLES TRASH. I am still out there digging up games and toys. I thought recently that maybe I had hit a point where I would not know what to hunt for but the same themes keep coming up: fantasy rules, vintage is not always worth money, expensive toys generally are good resale items, and that videogame systems can sell when paired with classic or popular titles.

I have learned how to clean and fix old video game systems by watching YouTube videos. The original Nintendo is the easiest to fix because you can replace the 72 pin with a screwdriver.  No soldering required. The pin set is the part where you push the game cartridges in to the nes.  They are cheap on ebay and you can quickly take a flasing red nes system to a working nes. The trick is to clean the cartridges with a light mix of rubbing alcohol and water using qtips.  So, get out there and good hunting to you!

Still collecting - the itch never stops!

I have not posted in some time.  Been busy raising two kids, but still have time to get to the Thrift Store and the occasional yard sale.  Yup, still do eBay and been unloading stuff mostly.  I was looking at some things I have been selling lately and it reminded me how important a catalog is to figuring out what actually came with a vintage toy.

Of course, with the internet, someone somewhere has posted the old catalogs.  You can find the occasional instruction sheet.  Along comes, Plaid Stallions - Archive of the 70's.

http://www.plaidstallions.com/psindex.html

This is a great site, and you can peruse it for hours looking for just the right catalog or just because it is fun to look at old stuff!  But, these folks go from the 70's and into the 80's.  Awesome!  Looking to kill some time?

This Toys R Us Circular came from 1975 -- Start Trek baby!!

FINALLY got a Colecovision!!

Well, I finally got a Colecovision system on eBay! I am giving up my Atari 5200 to keep the Colecovision. The Atari 5200 is really clunky, but it is one of the 4 port (4 controller ports) systems. By the time the Colecovision came out, I already had an Atari 2600 and my Dad was not interested in buying me another video game system!

 

 

The Colecovision had the better games because it went after "arcade quality" games, and Donkey Kong was the game that was packed in the system. Plus, Colecovision had the racing steering wheel and the really cool looking controller (see pic at right).

 

 

So, now as I begin my quest to fill out my colecovision system with games, I'll be on the lookout at the thrift stores and yard sales for coleco carts. Wikipedia has a great link to a list of games, and I was able to google up a list of the best games for the console. I plan to get the Smurfs game and I just bought Donkey Kong. I plan to buy the Super Action Controllers and the Steering Wheel controller.

Wikipedia Link

PDF scans of Colecovision Cartridges (includes owners manual for system!) 

The Colecovision Buyer's Guide

Atari 2600 - Heavy Sixer

They call it the "heavy-sixer" Atari 2600 system. It was the first system that atari produced and it was very heavy. You have to plug the joysticks into the top back of the unit! I picked the unit up for $30, listed it on eBay for $49.99 (starting bid), and sold it for $63. Not bad. I did pull out some of my doubles to add some cartridges to it, and it was worth it for me to hold onto an old Combat game in the box purchase from another thrift store trip.



Having an inventory of parts or cartridges for pieces like the Atari system, will help you to build a more robust auction and get your investment back and possibly yield more! The eBay market has certainly returned over the past year and a half. I've seen many of my auctions yield better prices than late '08 and early '09. The trick for me has been to build an inventory, and then when I find something like this Atari, I have things that I can add in to the auction that will help me get more bids.


The "heavy-sixer" is the Atari to watch out for at the yard sales, auctions, and thrift stores. Since it is the first one, it will probably need some cleaning up and you can find videos on youtube that show you how to clean and repair an old atari or any system for that matter. When you can find one like I did, in the box, that also adds to what the collector desires. Oh, and I ordered an instruction booklet off of eBay and threw that in.

Happy Hunting, and I'll be sure to post soon!

Still hunting for games in 2010

Hello. Long time, no blog. Well, too busy with a new job, move, and a baby girl!! My new years resolution was to blog a little more in 2010. I went through 2009 without one blog! That's how much my life has changed, but I still go to the stores and hunt out games. I have definitely grown more conservative with the economy. I really only grab those games now that I know will make twice my money for me. The Fantasy area still remains a good find - IE: Lord of the Rings RISK. Something about the geek factor and that they will pay high dollar for items they really desire.

It's a little different search here in KY. The Thrift Stores are OK, but I am told that the yard sales are the way to go! I still go to the stores, but I don't pick up 1/2 as much as I used to in the DC area. I have found over this past year in a Good Will Store a Stratego Game with Wood Pieces that I sold on eBay for $50. I found some other items but they didn't hit the profit that the Stratego game brought me. As I have said in the past, it really comes down to knowing what you are looking for and making sure that you can sell for a good profit.

My recommendation for 2010? Only pick up the games that you know can turn a 40 to 50% profit for you. Seriously, it's not worth it considering the higher eBay fees that now exist to hunt for games that only give you your money back. YES, continue to pick up games for parts. I purchased an incomplete Risk game (2007 version) recently and will hold until I find another one to complete. 30% profit is not bad, but try to factor in the eBay fees and you may only be looking at a 20% profit margin. You now have insertion fees and final valuation fees, so that eats at your profits. In the coming weeks, I'm going to go through how to list on eBay and what kinds of games are good to hunt for in this bad economy.

Happy Hunting!

Thrift Store find of the year --- Air Raid for Atari 2600

Thrift Store find of the year - Air Raid for Atari 2600. I have been reading lately in several Atari collector sites that AIR RAID for the Atari 2600 by Men-A-Vision is NOT a real Atari game. You might wonder why I care? Well, I found an Air Raid game for the Atari last year at a Thrift Store in Northern VA for .49cents (pictured right). I found the cartridge in a pile of old cassette tapes. I frequently find Atari and other old video games mixed in with tapes.

At first, I was not sure if this was an Atari or Intellivision cartridge. I tried the Atari first, and it worked (see picture below!). It took several days of searching the web to locate exactly what this cartridge was about. I finally found a great site called, Atari Age, which has a rarity guide for Atari games. It was extremely helpful to me in listing the item on eBay and I even linked back to this site in my auction listing. I played the game before selling it, and it was a real game and had the "MenAVision" tag on the opening screen. It was a little like Space Invaders. One central ship trying to protect the buildings below.

I was surprised to learn recently that several collectors have started questioning whether or not Air Raid was a real game or not! I posted on a site and got several responses that people did not believe that I had sold the game for $2,000 on eBay. Well, I cashed the check a long time ago but I did buy the game for .49cents and sell it for $2,000. That still remains my best return EVER on a thrift store find. I am an Atari collector, but I decided to sell this gem to pay off some debt. I was hoping for a few hundred bucks; I never expected that final bid. I have another rare gem that I found that day. Whoever "L" was, he or she had a heck of an Atari games collection. I found several unopened Atari games that day along with the Air Raid cart.

So, let's put the debate to bed. Air Raid was a REAL game made by a company called MenAVision. The game is lame, so of course they went out of business fast. Keep looking for those rare Thrift Store finds!!!

From the "Core Collection" Series: 2-XL by Mego

2-XL - The Talking Robot with a personality! From time to time, I am going to dig into the "core collection" and pull out my favorite toys or games. 2-XL was one of my favorite toys as a young boy. Amazing how pleased I was at pushing the buttons on a standard 8-track player, and having this silly robot tell me the dumbest jokes in the world! What was the draw for me?

I have always wanted a robot! When I saw the commercial for 2-XL, I was immediately hooked. Being a 10 year old boy, I thought a lot about things like robots and how they would hopefully one day be a real thing! Two tapes for 2-XL that really got my attention was "Strange but True Stories" and "Science Fiction." My parents later got me Tri-Lex, which was an add on game with checker type playing pieces that attached to the front of the 2-XL. I actually enjoyed playing with 2-XL, and I wanted more tapes!

Unfortunately, I grew faster than I could acquire tapes/accessories and 2-XL was forced into the closet where he eventually found his way to a Thrift Store. YES, my mother gave my 2-XL in the box to the local thrift store when I went away to college!!! See? These are the reasons that some of us collect when they are 40: we have to get back what our mothers tossed out!! I'll ignore the fact that she was probably right to give it away, but I think it was my choice!!! I digress, but my passion has taken me to the present where I now have almost every tape and add-on for the 2-XL.

Obviously, collecting the accessories and tapes is the way to complete your 2-XL obsession (if you have one!). However, my purpose in writing this blog is to encourage you to round out your 2-XL collection by adding cool things like rare 8-Track tapes of bands from the 70's and my favorite - an AM/FM tuner for your 8-track player!!! Ultimately, what will make this collection more valuable are the add-ons. So, while you are out there hunting don't forget to check the 8-track tape section for cool extras like a radio tuner for your 2-XL!!

Why is NOW a good time to buy games for your collection??

Wow. I have been really surprised lately at how low many of my auctions have been going for. I started my eBay business in the "dot.com" bust of 2000. At that time, I was able to make a good amount of money but I think the hit on the economy was limited to the IT sector. The economic issues we are dealing with now are having broader implications on our economy. Face it, we are in a recession and people are just not spending their extra money on games and toys.

So, the market presents two dilemmas: One problem is that because of the economy, people are not spending so much on the excess things like games and toys. So, sales are slightly down for the dealers and auctioneers. The second dilemma is more of an opportunity created by the economy - now is the time to buy for the core collection. I am continuing to sell on eBay, but I am being very careful about what I purchase at the Thrift Store. I am watching my margins very closely.

What I am finding on eBay, however, is that the market for some of the items I want to round out my core collection of games has come down in the past few months. I do expect that we will see a slight uptick in trading prices as we draw closer to the Christmas Holiday. (Summer is notorious for low sales on eBay - it's the season of the yard sale!) So, now is a great time to be buying up games that you know will trade decently and hold on to some gems ($50 or more trade value) to sell at Christmas. Look for deals on eBay to help complete a good game or buy that gem you have always wanted!

Buying Board Game and Toy Catalogs will build your collection fast!

So, you want to build a great board game collection? Looking for some other interesting toys to add to your collection? Then, you should be buying up board game and toy catalogs. They are on eBay for as little as a few dollars and expensive as $100 bucks.

When I first started collecting games and selling them, I decided to buy a Milton Bradley Catalog from 1980. I figured it would help me determine what actually came with a toy I picked up at a Thrift Store called, "Big Trak". I wanted to know what came with this toy. Instead, As I read the catalog I discovered another world of games that I had never seen or heard of. It started with Star Bird - The electronic ship with lights and sounds. What makes this toy cool is that when you tilt it in your hand the engine sound either revs up or slows down. I would not have known this because very few people on eBay ever include what the toy actually does or how the game works. Catalogs help you get a better idea of the game and whether or not it is collectible.

There are different kinds of catalogs for toys and games, and they may not always be easy to find. Toys R Us, Sears, Woolworths (vintage!), and others can be hard to locate because they were special inserts in the Sunday Papers. So, it's important to know that catalogs may not always come in a single book or pamphlet, and could even show up in single advertisements. The picture to the right was an advertisement in a magazine that shows the entire catalog of games for the 2-XL Robot from Mego. Because of this ad, I now have every cartridge and the 3 interactive games that you can play with 2-XL. I only had tri-lex and never knew until I saw this ad that there were 2 other interactive games for 2-Xl.

I find that the catalogs not only help to grow my collection, but also increase my knowlege of an era or decade. I really love the 70's game catalogs. Kenner produced catalogs that came with your cereal box in the 70's. However, Kenner catalogs are expensive if they include Star Wars toys. I only have one from the 80's and it cost over 25 bucks on eBay. I have two from the cereal box and they include the Smash Up Derby sets and other classic 70's Kenner toys. Of course, I have a Smash Up Derby set! I also have a pamphlet catalog that I purchased on eBay which shows several cool cars and the Spirit of '76 derby set.

Over the years, my catalog collection has grown to include about 25 different catalogs specifically for board games and toys. I have a large collection of pamphlet catalogs, and even a collection of video game catalogs. I frequently enjoy pulling them out and looking at the games. I always find a game or two that I have overlooked. For instance, I have a 1975 Milton Bradley catalog that includes some unusual and popular games: Jet World, the highly sought after game - Which Witch?, Fat Albert, an expensive one - Land of the Lost, King Oil, Planet of the Apes, The Fastest Gun, and Korg.

Now, are you excited to go get some catalogs? Happy Hunting!

Finding a good Thrift Store!

Believe it or not, it is actually hard to find a good Thrift Store. Sometimes, you find the stores that have taken the good items and placed them behind glass at over inflated prices. Although, it can be laughable what they consider to be high-priced items, but that's another post! Finding a good thrift store is critical to getting your board game collection growing and profiting.

Searching the web is a good start, but I have not found too many sites listing thrift stores in my area. The ones I did find were for stores that were no longer in business. I quickly got frustrated and turned to an old source - The Yellow Pages. It is actually a good source for Thrift Stores in your area, but watch out because they are not called "Thrift Stores". Take, for example, "Unique Thrift." This is a chain-store type of thrift store that I just absolutely adore! They work in bulk and just push the items out at pretty good prices. They are very large stores and have lots of toys! A recent search of the web (june 08) has turned up this listing of Thrift Stores in Fairfax County, VA. I have visited several of them, so I know the list is up to date. Obviously, you need to keep looking both online and off line!!!

A better example is called, "Value Village," and they operate pretty efficiently catching the really hot items and pricing them at fair prices. The aisles are usually stocked and I can find some good items in the piles. Be sure to check the yellow pages for any stores that might be associated with a local non-profit or hospital. Of course, you have the Salvation Army Thrift Stores and these are located across the country. I'm not sure about Value Village or Unique Thrift. That may just be in the DC area.

It's good to really survey the thrift stores that you frequent, and note the kinds of items in stock. Some stores have good toy collections and others do not. As you develop your list of stores, it's good to keep in mind when the stores open and which ones you really want to hit first on your trip. What I do is hit my favorite store right as it opens, move quickly through the store, and then on to the next one!

Don't forget to go back through the store again, after you go through all the aisles. I'm not joking! I have found a lot of great items that I missed on the first trip down the aisle!

Happy Hunting!!!

Just because it's old, doesn't mean it's worth anything!

So, in my recent trip to the Thrift Store, I was suckered again into buying an old item thinking it would be worth something. I picked up a copy of a 1969 Battleship and an early 60's Go to the Head of the Class game. Of course, I love the vintage graphics so maybe I will always be a sucker for this stuff. But, this is really how you get into the hobby. You need to be willing to pick up items from time to time and check their value. In the beginning you will hit a lot, and miss more.

It's the "misses" that will teach you something about the board game trade. Those misses will probably include some old board games that will make you think they are worth more than their actual value. But, remember what I said in another post? It's the "staples" (the strong selling games) that will bring you value for your dollar investment: Risk, Life (Linkletter version), Stratego, and Clue. Look at what the board game companies have done with the staples - they pulled them into the modern era with movie or tv show versions of their most popular selling games. These versions trade for a good amount, and certainly more than what you will pay for them at the thrift store.

You might be wondering why I am not mentioning Monopoly. Well, I have just never found a monopoly game that brought me more than 5 dollars. I certainly prefer the older versions of monopoly and I have an Anniversary Edition from the 70's in my collection. I'm sitting on a version from the early 60's that is only trading for a few dollars. I was suckered by the thrift store into buying it because it looked old! I love to play monopoly, but I usually pass it right by at the Thrift Store. Now, if I was to find a deluxe version of Monopoly in the wood box or the recent deluxe edition that Hasbro released with special tokens, I would buy those. Just a plain old monopoly game? I'll pass.

Remember, just because it is old that is not aways an indication of trade value.

How do you make money with Board Games?

It's actually quite simple to realize value from buying board games at thrift stores and yard sales. I started my eBay business during the dot.com bust of 2000 and was able to sell board games to help pay rent while I searched for a new job. Someone will tell you, I'm sure, that you really need to have an eye for this and that you need to know what you are looking for. That might be true, if you were looking at antique board games, but I'm talking about the family board game that gets chucked in the yard sale pile. You know; the Deluxe Edition of Scrabble or the Master Detective CLUE game. These are the games that will bring you a small profit should you pick them up for a few dollars, and you don't need to be an expert at all. You really just need to start buying a few games and then checking their value on eBay (view completed auctions).

My cut off is $3 bucks for purchasing a game at a yard sale or thrift store. I won't pick up much, if it is over three dollars to start unless I know I can double that in profit. Scrabble is a good example. A normal scrabble board (not deluxe) made after the 70's will probably only get you a few dollars on eBay, so you should be paying very little for this version. I often see the same one at the Thrift Stores from the 80's (Selchow Righter version) that I can catch about $5 to $8 bucks on eBay depending on the market. Occasionally, I get lucky and pick up a Deluxe Edition of Scrabble with the turn-table board that will get $40 or more depending on the age. This is my favorite edition of Scrabble. I really like the turn-table and the embossed board so your letters don't slide off. It's one to grab at the yard sale!

One other area of board games that I have found to be very lucrative has been in the Fantasy or Science Fiction areas. Really, any board game related to Fantasy or Science Fiction is going to do well. Dungeon & Dragons, Lord of the Rings, and other areas in this genre offer lots of different gaming experiences that are often expensive to buy in the first place. Check out the Lord of the Rings RISK game now trading on eBay. It pains me, but I had two of these when it first came out and sold them for $20. They now trade for close to $60. Dark Tower made by Milton Bradley in the early 80's is a classic board game that cost about $25.00 when it came out and now trades for close to $300 for a mint version. Dark Tower mixes fantasy role-play with an electronic tower featuring sounds and lights. It's a fun vintage toy for even a modern family.

So, get out there and start picking up those Board Games. Pretty soon, you too will be a board game nut! Sorry, had to say that. It is the name of my blog. Later!

From the "core" collection - Book Shelf Games by 3M and Avalon Hill

Okay, let's get this down first. Avalon Hill called them, "Bookcase" games, and 3M called them, "Bookshelf" games. In either case, they were all some of the best games ever produced. Does anyone remember TWIXT? That one is really fun. You have to compete against one other person to link you plastic bridge from one side of the board to the other. That's an easy way to explain the game, but on a rainy day this game provided hours of fun!

Over the years, I have built up a pretty nice collection of about 35 bookcase/bookshelf games by 3M and Avalon Hill. I really enjoy collecting the games. Feudal, Mr. President, and Break Through are really good games. Feudal has about 50 small minature pieces of men on horseback and standing and you play on a board similar to chess. This one is one of my favorites. Mr. President was the very first 3M game that I purchased on eBay. I bought one and did not know it was incomplete because I did not have the instructions.

I now have two and they are both complete. I purchased them two summers ago during a downtime on eBay. The bookshelf games can be hard to locate at Thrift Stores and Yard Sales. You really need to get to the store early or yard sale before it opens! I am finding that the value is slowly increasing on these games as they grow harder and harder to find. I think probably the rarest game in this category would be 3M's JATI. Right now, on eBay, there is one selling for close to $1,000.00!! The reason is b ecause JATI was never widely released, and so there are not that many of them around. However, you can find TWIXT for under $20.00 and Feudal for about $40.00. Many of the titles are available on eBay and some at reasonable prices.

Other games offered from 3M:

• High-Bid

• Bazaar ( only one I don't have!)


• Phlounder

• Oh-Wah-Ree


• Acquire


• Jumpin

• Quinto


• Stocks & Bonds

• Break thru


• Facts in Five

From the "core" collection - The Six Million Dollar Man

How did I get to be a complete nut when it comes to collecting? It all started with the Six Million Dollar Man. I had one as a boy and my mom tossed out my entire toy collection when I finally decided to go away to college. That's another story, but when eBay really got going in the late '90's, I decided that I was going to try to find this toy again.

Well, that hunt for Steve Austin has since lead me to start collecting other toys and games. Oh yeah, I have built a massive Six Million Dollar Man collection from buying on ebay at glut listing times. You know, when there are 10 of the same item online. It's always best, when trying to compile a collection of one group of items like Six Million Dollar Man, that you remain patient and ONLY bid when there are lots of the same item that you desire.

Everything in the pictures on this post were picked up on eBay by buying either bulk lot auctions or individual auctions. The value on these items has increased over the past two years with some of the doubling in value. Of course, condition is everything but in a glut market on eBay that you get sometimes, you can really pick up bargains. I wanted items that I could display that didn't have to be in mint condition. I have a few mint items like the unopened Bionic Adventure Outfit for Steve, and I have an unopened set of Critical Assignment Arms. The best part is being able to display all of the Six Million Dollar Man toys. My wife hates them, but I love 'em! I guess that's why she thinks I'm nuts!

$8.98 Plastic Storage Bin at Thrift Store could hold more value!

The $8.98 Plastic Storage Bin at the Thrift Store could hold more value! Have you ever seen the large Plastic Storage Bins at the Thrift Store? Well, I would advise that you check these out next time you head out. Recently, I encountered an $8.98 plastic storage bin, and I picked it up. When I arrived home, I tore it open like a 12 year old to find a Lord of the Rings Helms Deep Castle Play Set (pictured) with about 25 figures. I also found a large Imaginext Battle Castle Set with over 56 individual pieces!

I listed the Helms Deep Castle and got almost $100.00 and then about $25.00 for the Imaginext Castle. Not bad, for an $8.98 investment. I have also found plastic bins that have contained Playmobil Pirate Ships (pictured) and other playmobil sets, Lego sets, Hot Wheels sets, Train Sets, beanie babies, and other random items. I could go on. The point is that the items inside don't always reflect the price on the outside. So, next time, just take a peek at the big bulk bins.

Stratego - The many versions. Which one do you buy?

Have you seen "Stratego" by Milton Bradley on the web and wondered which one to buy? Well, I think the 1975 version that is pictured to the left is an excellent edition of the game. While the pieces are plastic, you do get the 50's looking cardboard insert showing the family and explaining the object of the game. Even the new "Nostalgia Version", lacks the original wood pieces from the 50's for Stratego and replaces them with metal pieces.

From the insert with the family, "A most fascinating two-handed strategy game. The object of Stratego is to outwit your opponent and capture his Flag. The beautiful tiles have a military rank stamped on one side in gold or silver. Pieces rank from the lowly but dangerous spy up to the powerful Field Marshall. During the game, the rank of the tiles are kept hidden as the players move around the board, attacking and eliminating opponent's pieces in their search for the hidden flag. Easy to learn. Never plays the same twice." Okay, now that is just excellent. Such a simple but exciting game! Stratego was a game we had at my parent's beach house and one that we played often.

Now, if you want to feel nostalgic, you can purchase the Nostalgic Stratego from Toys R US and Amazon. However, you get the metal pieces and a weird board. You'd have more fun purchasing an early version of Stratego with Wood Playing Pieces. They can be found on ebay, but they are expensive. For me, personally, I really like to look at the inserts and the artwork in board ga mes. I really enjoy that a lot. The 1975 version suits me well, and I like the General on the front of the box. I guess he's pointing to the Flag

Next time? I'll write about RISK!