For the collectors... part two. Finds of the century.

Similar to my other post(which can be found here), but completely opposite question. What are some of your best finds at a garage sale, thrift store, resale shop or flea market? And I'm not talking about the copy of SMB 3 you found a few weeks ago, but the really big finds that were so big you couldn't grab the item and run to the cashier quick enough to make sure you secured the item.

For me I have several HUGE finds over the years(I have been collecting for many years though, so for newer collectors be patient, you will have many big scores over time). I've found a few sealed games, including a copy of Conkers Bad Fur Day for the N64 for $22, LOZ: Windwaker for $7, and Super Smash Bros Melee for $9, both for GC. But the biggest find of my life, at this same thrift store, walking past the electronics, and stuffed in with a bunch of 5-disc cd changers, was a Pioneer LaserActive complete with Sega S10-PAC for $7.

So what are your biggest finds that left your jaw on the floor and a dumbfound look from the moment you saw the item til the moment you picked it up off the shelf?

Wow, I never got that lucky before. I usually find some decently priced games and such. Best I think was when they were discontinuing the Virtual Boy and picked it up with a bunch of games for like $30.

Regardless, it is getting tougher to find awesome deals now with the likes of Ebay and such. Also, gaming isn't as "nerdy" as it used to be so more and more people are out there grabbing those rare gems as well. Just a thought.

I never find any good deals. I have flea market and there is one reseller there. He has some good stuff but his prices are are 20% higher then Ebay no joke. I go to thrift stores all the time and never find anything good video game related. I never find any deals at pawnshops either. I have a couple of retro game stores and everything there is about Ebay prices.

Ebay is about my best option for retro stuff if I want something rare. Best deal I've ever gotten was the day Metroid Prime came out in 2002. I was waiting in line at Gamestop and looked over and they had a bargain bin full of SNES games for $5 each. I grabbed a stack of games that included Ninja Gaiden Trilogy Mega Man X 1-3 and Contra 3.

@jdc6305: Those 4 games cost me a combined 300 bucks the last few years! mmx1-3 and contra alien wars

I've gotten a few decent deals but nothing I'd consider finds of the century like in the OP. I have gotten some PS1/PS2 games for a $1 each which was pretty cool(Dark Cloud 2 and Tomba were the ones I felt I scored on), and I got a Gamegear with three games for $5.

@Eikichi-Onizuka: When I scored those sealed games, I also got a sealed dark cloud 2. Didn't know it was that popular.

Had another big find today. Checking out at the thrift I noticed an SNES game behind the counter. Chrono Trigger... $6.75!

Don't give up on those thrift stores!

I was lucky enough to have a good stock pile of snes games before prices shot up. Can't beat $7 Chrono Trigger I paid $40 for my copy. Best thing I found at a thrift store was a like new $300 pc monitor for $20 at Salvation Army.

@suicidesn0wman said:

lol holy **** that's a crazy price

@suicidesn0wman: Nice! And they didn't put the sticker on the label either?! Pretty sweet...

I don't do thrift shops or flea markets very often but I clearly should 'cos I'm getting jealous at the deals you're finding!!

Anyways I saw a loose PSone (the remodeled one) at a local Goodwill for $6 a while ago, wasn't sure if it worked but I bought it anyways since $6 is not bad, even for a faulty unit. Turns out it Castlevania Symphony of the Night was just sitting in the disc tray the whole time; both it and the system worked fine. It's no Chrono Trigger or anything but that's a good $40 value for six bucks.

Also don't ask me how this happened... but I'm pretty sure I won an ebay auction a few years ago for all three Megaman X SNES games for around $200. I don't remember how much exactly but I'm not one to spend more than $250 all at once on ebay. Not a bad deal I'd say since MMX3 alone can go for $200, and X2 for around $100.

@conkertheking1: It's really all about being patient, don't write off your local thrift if you don't find anything, because one day you will find something glorious. I go to about 2 thrift stores a week on average, and I have one big find every year. Out of 100+ trips to the thrift, and probably over 500 garage sales, I only have one. Though I do have a lot of good finds, $5-10 games for $2-3 a few times a month(see the stickied thread for examples), so it's totally worth the effort. Just know your games, study up on whats rare, and keep an eye out for them, they WILL show up.

Also keep in mind, I've been a serious collector for 10 years, and I add on average 200-300 games to my collection per year.

I found two brand new factory sealed Super Nintendo systems at a gaming store last year. They were priced at $400 & $500 apiece (the more expensive one came bundled with the Super Scope). Apparently, the grandmother bought them for her grandchildren for Christmas in the early 90's but something happened to her and they remained in the attic all these years until the family cleaned out the house. Seeing new SNES consoles for sale really got me excited. I was like "omg that is so cool" lol. Anyways, I could never afford one and have no idea if they were ever sold.