For a long time, a popular hobby my wife and I shared was going to Comic Cons and car boot sales (flea markets, if you’re American) to find good deals on gaming and nerdy stuff. Then we had a child, and that hobby switched to seeking out Thomas the Tank Engine books and toys. Suddenly, I cared a lot less about my own interests and more about seeing my child’s face light up with happiness when he spots a book he loves. I’m even happier if it’s a good price. Since Summer is upon us, I thought I would share a few tips for all the game hunters out there looking to score a deal. Enjoy!
Where to Go For a Summer Hunt
First things first: if you’re new to this, how do you get started? A lot of this will depend on where you live and how far you want to travel. A good place to start is local. If you live in a town or city, it’s very likely a car boot sale will be advertised somewhere. Sometimes, it’s simply by signposts you may drive by. They are sometimes advertised in local newspapers. But the easiest way is probably to search online. Many tend to have Facebook groups. These are useful since they tend to announce if the event is cancelled due to bad weather, so you know whether it’s worth venturing out.
There are other options, too. It’s always worth dipping into a charity shop or second-hand store to see if you can find any good deals. I have noticed more and more charity shops are clued into gaming and tend to just post their gaming stuff on eBay. If they do put them out in the shop, it’s hit or miss whether you find a copy of Paper Mario and the Thousand-Year Door on GameCube for 99p or if they price it similarly to how it is on eBay. It’s very random what you’ll find at charity shops and car boot sales. If you’re feeling brave, consider just asking the clerk if they have any gaming things. Sometimes, they have stuff in the back waiting to come out on the shop floor.
Then, of course, you have Comic Cons. It’s very likely that someone is selling games at a convention somewhere. Not only games but rare games, imports, and usually refurbished consoles. However, expect prices to be reasonably high. Having a stall at a Comic Con is not cheap. That is not to say you won’t find a deal. On many occasions, I’ve come across sellers with bargain bins, so you may be surprised by what you find.
Have a Budget
It’s quite easy to get carried away with things, especially at a car boot. You’ll have some days where you’re finding deals left, right, and centre and others where you find nothing at all. When this happens, I tend to remind myself that at least I got some good exercise walking about. It’s sensible to have a budget in mind before you approach these things. I’ve often found telling myself I’m only going to spend twenty quid means I pause and think about each purchase.
Sometimes, it’s best to wait and get a few small things you actually want rather than a lot of things you may never get to. You want to play these games, right? If you’re feeling really nice, you can always use the opportunity to buy something for a loved one.
Be Kind
If I were to recommend one key rule of game hunting, it’s ‘be kind.’ At car boot sales in particular, you will find sellers with widely varying prices. You might get lucky, and some folks are desperately getting rid of games and selling them for very little. However, you may get odd examples of sellers pricing a copy of Halo 3 on Xbox 360 for ten pounds. A key thing to remember is sellers may have strong memories attached to these items, like playing it with a loved one. Some may not even really want to sell them. People fall on hard times, and letting go is difficult. When you come across examples like this, it’s important to be compassionate. Lecturing a seller on how much cheaper the game is online is often not helpful for everyone. Attempting to haggle is absolutely fine, but if you can’t come to a price, it’s best just to let go and move on.
Be Careful
This is more in reference to car boots and sometimes conventions. Be sure to examine items carefully. Look at the disc condition, check if the handheld console switches on, and make sure the controller buttons are responsive. Asking questions is recommended. Consoles, especially CD-based ones, are gradually wearing out as the years pass by. If you’re really lucky, a seller may be able to prove it works. Remember, it’s not just about switching on but also reading a disc. Unless you have the know-how to repair a console, weigh carefully if the risk is worth taking. If you buy from a shop or online, you at least have a return guarantee.
Something else to be vigilant of is fakes. Game Boy Advance cartridges are very prone to this. Unless you have a special screwdriver handy, the only way to tell it’s authentic is a small number indentation on the label. Fake CDs are often easier to spot, lacking an official console stamp on the label and around the inner rim. If in doubt, the age-old saying tends to work: if it’s too good to be true, it’s probably not worth it.
Have Fun
Finally, have fun. Enjoy the experience of walking about and talking to people. One of my favourite things to do is listen to sellers’ stories, such as their memories with the item or maybe just their own passion for the hobby. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet a friend or two along the journey. If you’re able to share the experience with someone else, it makes the experience all the better. You can share in the joy of finding something nostalgic from your past, like an art piece from The Princess Bride. But you can also share in the sorrow if things don’t go to plan.
So there you have it. Have a good summer and happy hunting. If you find time, be sure to share some of your best finds in the comments below.
Do you like our content? Support LadiesGamers on Patreon!
Check out our Tiers and Benefits and join us.