quanta
Vector Runner
Posts: 17 
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Post by quanta on Jul 5, 2015 19:15:38 GMT -5
Like many of you, I have fond memories of playing with my vectrex. I am not a collector of retro consoles and video games but I was reminding myself of the great time I had with my vectrex and decided that I would like to get one. Now I will explain why I decided to ask for your help  I have looked on eBay, other websites and forums (from google searches) to get an idea on availability and pricing. Most forums and websites mention prices that seem very nice and affordable, like $100 for a console, $50 for a controller, $20 for a game. Unfortunately, most posts are a little old (2009 to 2012 mostly) and on eBay I keep seeing prices that are way above those benchmarks. Consoles can sell for $300-$500 while they don't even look mint (for that price I would think they would have to be in a better state). Is this normal? Have prices gone up so much and do you expect them to go down? My objectives are to buy a vectrex console in very good condition, together with two controllers and a couple of games (with overlays). Boxing would be nice but it is not necessary. I do care though that the console and controllers be in very good condition. This is because I want to keep the console for the long run. I want it to last and be something meaningful. Do you guys have suggestions? I need to set a reasonable benchmark so that I can do this right. I would hate buying something so expensive to find out it was such a bad trade. And if you have what I am searching for, let me know! Thanks |
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Post by VectorX on Jul 5, 2015 20:30:32 GMT -5
on eBay I keep seeing prices that are way above those benchmarks. Consoles can sell for $300-$500 while they don't even look mint (for that price I would think they would have to be in a better state). Is this normal? Have prices gone up so much and do you expect them to go down? It can depend on the time of year too: if it's summer wherever it is you live, that's the "garage sale season", so things are competitive. Prices usually go down after a few months. |
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quanta
Vector Runner
Posts: 17
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Post by quanta on Jul 5, 2015 20:33:47 GMT -5
Thank you VectorX. Good point, I forgot to say that I am located in the US. If it's summer-sale season, and things get competitive, shouldn't prices be low and will have only to increase later on? They already seem very high to me.
Do you have some more info/benchmark-prices for me? What should I pay for the items I listed, in good/very-good condition? I saw a console with two controllers and 6 games in very good state, but it's around $600. It seems pricey, although the condition is like I wish for.
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Post by VectorX on Jul 5, 2015 20:42:03 GMT -5
If it's summer-sale season, and things get competitive, shouldn't prices be low and will have only to increase later on? They already seem very high to me. Sometimes stuff goes low months later when it's the "off" season, so to speak. There's no law about it or anything, and you never know how things are going to go (or not), as a few years ago I saw two Vectrexes, a 3-Imager and several games sell for only $450. I wanted to cry upon seeing that, as I didn't have the money for it  That's crazy, and I'll bet the seller wanted to cry too for not getting squat for all of that. Do you have some more info/benchmark-prices for me? What should I pay for the items I listed, in good/very-good condition? I saw a console with two controllers and 6 games in very good state, but it's around $600. It seems pricey, although the condition is like I wish for. Not really. That is too much in my opinion as well though. Others who keep up with prices on here should be able to chime in better than I can though. |
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Post by 50tbrd on Jul 5, 2015 20:45:15 GMT -5
If you are located in the US, Craigslist has some great deals.
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quanta
Vector Runner
Posts: 17
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Post by quanta on Jul 5, 2015 21:00:40 GMT -5
Yes I wish I searched for it a couple years ago. Thanks again.
Thank you cinematronic. I'll check that out. I'm usually wary of scams on cl. Btw would you be able to give me a benchmark price for the stuff I am looking for?
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Post by gliptitude on Jul 6, 2015 5:35:21 GMT -5
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Post by 50tbrd on Jul 6, 2015 6:44:09 GMT -5
Gliptitude has given you a few good options.
I always say Craigslist because if they wanted top dollar, then they'd sell it on Ebay. There is no shipping, so there's nothing to get damaged that way AND if you buy locally, then you can test the unit.
If you want a newer, most likely infrequently used unit, then I'll give to a few things to check that will indicate little use.
Newer units have a very tight power switch. When they get used more, the on/off click becomes softer. Sometimes the sound will develop a crackle or flat spot (no sound) when you adjust the sound during music.
The controller shows nicks and marks, rubber feet on the controller are missing or damaged, cord wire is no longer coiled as it should be (just as in Gliptitude's second auction), Joystick no longer centers, and buttons no longer work or require hard pressure. This all shows a lot of use. Controllers can be swapped out but why would someone swap a good one for a worse one?
Screen shows a dot or what looks like cracks when NOT at highest brightness (it is normal at highest brightness). This would indicate that problems are imminent.
A good condition box would more than likely indicate that a unit has at least been taken care of if not used infrequently. Condition of boxed games can indicate this as well.
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Post by fmml on Jul 6, 2015 7:44:42 GMT -5
The prices for hardware have gone up recently. I really only keep track of the console prices here in Germany but with some effort and patience here you would be able to get
-a loose Vectrex with used controller and Minestorm overlay in ok shape for around 120€
-a loose second controller for 35-70€ depending on condition
GCE controllers seem to be slightly more expensive
If you look for a boxed console and/or outstanding condition you will have to pay a lot more or wait till you find a good deal or take a risk and buy a unit off ebay that doesnt show many pictures and hope for the best.
Like 50TBRD said craiglist saves expenses and risk of shipping and you can look at and test the unit in advance.
Instead of paying $600 for a boxed unit with a bunch of games rather find an unboxed one for much less and invest the rest in homebrew stuff. :-)
Patience is the key.
Good luck!
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quanta
Vector Runner
Posts: 17
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Post by quanta on Jul 6, 2015 20:16:27 GMT -5
First of all, thank you all for all the responses. They are really useful. gliptitude, I totally understand and agree with you. At the same time knowledge is key and that is why I am here to ask feedback from you guys  I have patience and I will give it a try. I had those two units in my watchlist indeed. Still not sure I want to pay $600 for that though. Maybe $400, yes Is that ridiculously low? I need to set my expectations, that's all. 50tbrd that's really useful, thanks a lot. fmml, those prices sound really good. We'll see what I end up with! Thanks |
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quanta
Vector Runner
Posts: 17
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Post by quanta on Jul 6, 2015 20:52:18 GMT -5
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Post by gliptitude on Jul 7, 2015 0:19:00 GMT -5
Still not sure I want to pay $600 for that though. Maybe $400, yes Is that ridiculously low? I need to set my expectations, that's all. $400 is not ridiculously low to pay in a competitive auction, but for a no stress no wait buy it now i will say it is unreasonably low for that particular lot. There are two controllers and a light pen and everything looks to be in really nice shape. The only risk is that there is no picture of the monitor working, so you don't know for sure if it is centered. But That extra $200 is saving you a lot of time and energy and it's not a totally unfair price. .. It's especially hard to get a spare controller in that good of condition and the prices on those are absurd. IMO, a fully functioning average condition console with controller appraises at at least $100. Excellent condition might be double that or more and true mint is $500 to $800. You can fill in the in betweens. I think I paid $140 for my best Vectrex (ebay), and it is a very very nice one, (I don't even play with it), but It didn't come with the box and i still don't have a boxed one. I bought it in auction and it wasn't clear to me when I bid that it was significantly better than the couple of Vectrexes I already had at the time. .. Now knowing the condition, i feel that that was a very good price. I paid $50 on craigslist for a Vectrex that was so off center that you could only see half of the screen. I paid a similar price for one with a physical hole in the screen, (still worked and came with several carts and poor condition overlays). I paid $125 on craigslist for two vectrexes, one avg condition and working the other non-working. I paid around $500 on ebay for a lot that included avg console, VG spare controller, light pen, every non-3D GCE game and overlay and almost every manual, but no original packaging. Best deal i ever got was my very first Vextrex. $150 lot, local on craigslist, including boxed Web Wars, Narzod, pole Position, Polar Rescue and Scramble. Nothing in top condition, but really good stuff. Craigslist can be a resource for this, and more direct and lower prices probably, but the thing you are looking for is relatively rare. My four or five Vectrex purchase through craigslist probably account for 50% of the craigslist vextrex transactions in the Cincinnati area over the last 5 years. Maybe you live in a bigger city with more vectrexes? The miracle of ebay is that it instantly gives almost every person in the world access to every other person in the world's garage sale, INSTANTLY, and in a highly organized manner. This is pretty special and it means that if you really want to you can buy the exact 30+ year old piece of electronics that you are looking for TODAY. Fair price for decent Vectrex is probably around $150 but there's enough demand to inflate that. Just gotta think about what you want your life to be like. If you have a family and a good job and a limited amount of time I think you should buy that $600 lot right away. .. Or you could be like me and spend $3000 over the course of several years, get lots of good deals and a couple bad ones, and still not have a boxed vectrex. |
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Post by fmml on Jul 7, 2015 3:23:02 GMT -5
I had a closer look at the auction (didnt even spot the Lightpen before) and I would say if you add the value of all items its worth $500+. So IF you really want a boxed vectrex and are willing to pay the extra $ maybe this is you vectrex. The seller accepts offers. There is some lack of Information though -monitor ok and centered? -Sound ok? -styrofoam inserts included? -condition of boxes from other angles? -all games complete with plastic tray, cart, manual and overlay? -shape of controller sticks? -lightpen working? (probably cant test as I dont see the Art Master cartridge) I think I spot the Minestorm overlay. If you have the cash to spend contact the seller, ask the above questions, I have the "feeling" that the overall shape is pretty good. Try to lower the price as much as you can. Btw, I dont have a boxed vectrex either, so you can come back and brag about it. |
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quanta
Vector Runner
Posts: 17
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Post by quanta on Jul 7, 2015 19:56:25 GMT -5
You guys are amazing gliptitude, everything you said makes sense to me and the details you provided give a lot of background to me to make a more informed decision. Thanks! @battlezoned, yes those are good questions. I already asked that user for more pictures. He was very helpful and I know more although all his pictures are not HQ and they also seem to have a filter that I think doesn't allow to see details very well. I pointed out this but maybe it's just the phone used. Thanks a lot! I'll keep you guys posted! |
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quanta
Vector Runner
Posts: 17
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Post by quanta on Jul 8, 2015 19:49:28 GMT -5
Guess who won the auction.
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That's crazy, and I'll bet the seller wanted to cry too for not getting squat for all of that.
I have patience and I will give it a try. I had those two units in my watchlist indeed. Still not sure I want to pay $600 for that though. Maybe $400, yes