Selling an obsolete video game system and games and maximizing profit?
February 1, 2015 9:54 PM Subscribe
I've been cleaning house lately and I'm trying to make the most of what I've turned up. I have an original PSP (not Vita) and fourteen games. Has anyone sold an obsolete (i.e., not current generation) video game system with a batch of games before, and do you have any insight into the best way to sell off the system and the games to make the most money?
So, I've seen some listings on ebay or craigslist that just have a system with all of the games the owner had. But I've also seen plenty of systems on their own, and plenty of games on their own. Is that approach worth it? In terms of time spent getting each game sold, packaging and shipping it, does the payoff end up being worth the extra effort?
Also, something I know nothing about: is it worth dealing with someone like GameStop? Seems like you can just sell used items and get a quote from them, but I don't know if you typically get ripped off on the value of the games you're selling by going through them vs. selling to third parties instead.
So, I've seen some listings on ebay or craigslist that just have a system with all of the games the owner had. But I've also seen plenty of systems on their own, and plenty of games on their own. Is that approach worth it? In terms of time spent getting each game sold, packaging and shipping it, does the payoff end up being worth the extra effort?
Also, something I know nothing about: is it worth dealing with someone like GameStop? Seems like you can just sell used items and get a quote from them, but I don't know if you typically get ripped off on the value of the games you're selling by going through them vs. selling to third parties instead.
Don't do GameStop, I don't think they will give you the maximum amount you could get by selling on your own.
I just sold a couple older game consoles before a move. We looked all the games we had up on Amazon individually- some were worth $20-$50 each!- and sold them individually on Amazon if they were worth it. To my surprise most of them were!*
Package the lesser ones with the console itself and controllers on Craigslist- people will probably want you to break up the controllers, but depending on how much they ask it might not be worth the hassle. People definitely still want the games and consoles but some of the individual games might be worth $$ and it would be to your advantage to look them all up first if you haven't already.
*this was a ps2 and n64 so ymmv. Our yard sale got flocked with early birds just for the games but we had already sold off the humdingers.
posted by ghostbikes at 10:33 PM on February 1, 2015
I just sold a couple older game consoles before a move. We looked all the games we had up on Amazon individually- some were worth $20-$50 each!- and sold them individually on Amazon if they were worth it. To my surprise most of them were!*
Package the lesser ones with the console itself and controllers on Craigslist- people will probably want you to break up the controllers, but depending on how much they ask it might not be worth the hassle. People definitely still want the games and consoles but some of the individual games might be worth $$ and it would be to your advantage to look them all up first if you haven't already.
*this was a ps2 and n64 so ymmv. Our yard sale got flocked with early birds just for the games but we had already sold off the humdingers.
posted by ghostbikes at 10:33 PM on February 1, 2015
Unfortunately PSP software is not particularly desirable right now - the system has been cracked wide open for piracy for years now, so a lot of people will just download games instead of buying them. A possible exception is certain Japanese RPGs as well as games devleloped/published by Atlus and other niche Japanese companies - you might like to check the individual prices these go for if you have any. Games in other genres (sports, action) and from American developers are less likely to be sought after.
There is also a bit of a glut of PSP hardware - last time I checked you could get a console from most game stores for $30-60. With regards to the above comment by angst you probably won't be able to get a higher price because of your PSP's firmware version. The software that enables homebrew/piracy is now available for all PSP models and firmware versions.
I've sold quite a few used video games, and my experience is that unless you have a particularly desirable or new (i.e. released in the last few months) item to sell it's best to just take the approach that minimises the stress and hassle for you. So in this case I would probably just list the whole lot at a low starting price and see if you get any interest.
posted by fearthehat at 11:16 PM on February 1, 2015
There is also a bit of a glut of PSP hardware - last time I checked you could get a console from most game stores for $30-60. With regards to the above comment by angst you probably won't be able to get a higher price because of your PSP's firmware version. The software that enables homebrew/piracy is now available for all PSP models and firmware versions.
I've sold quite a few used video games, and my experience is that unless you have a particularly desirable or new (i.e. released in the last few months) item to sell it's best to just take the approach that minimises the stress and hassle for you. So in this case I would probably just list the whole lot at a low starting price and see if you get any interest.
posted by fearthehat at 11:16 PM on February 1, 2015
I would just list them all together for $[whatever you want to get] ONO.
But honestly, I don't think a PSP from the early naughts would be worth very much. I would totally buy an old console from, say, the 1990s because of nostalgia, or a new console with games that I wanted to play now. Anything in between has less appeal.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 11:23 PM on February 1, 2015
But honestly, I don't think a PSP from the early naughts would be worth very much. I would totally buy an old console from, say, the 1990s because of nostalgia, or a new console with games that I wanted to play now. Anything in between has less appeal.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 11:23 PM on February 1, 2015
I do this kind of stuff cooonnnnstantly. I'm a huge thrift store picker/reseller.
Don't sell the whole set together. Go on ebay, switch to "sold" items, and put in the system and then each game one at a time. Find pretty much the average of ones within the past few weeks. Now make a buy-it-now listing at that price for the system and every game.
You still have to deal with ebay and paypal fees, but this will net more money than any other method with minimal hassle. The entire process could be accomplished in maybe a half hour if you snap photos at the very beginning.
If your prices are all middle of the range everything will sell in a day or so. Ebay is just such a huge market.
Leave everything as "make an offer" too, and if something doesn't sell in a couple days? just accept the offer.
Gamestop or a similar store will probably give you like $40 for everything. i'd bet that the system with that many games is worth something like $130 total, assuming you can get $6-10 for every game which should be about right.
A bunch of cheapo bubble mailers for a few cents, and usps media mail are your friend. mail the system in the usps small flat rate box for $5. each game should cost maybe $2 to ship.
Price everything a bit higher than the cheapest stuff, but with free shipping. roll that in to the price a bit. people freaking love free shipping. the longest anything i ever list takes to sell is when i don't include that.
posted by emptythought at 11:52 PM on February 1, 2015 [16 favorites]
Don't sell the whole set together. Go on ebay, switch to "sold" items, and put in the system and then each game one at a time. Find pretty much the average of ones within the past few weeks. Now make a buy-it-now listing at that price for the system and every game.
You still have to deal with ebay and paypal fees, but this will net more money than any other method with minimal hassle. The entire process could be accomplished in maybe a half hour if you snap photos at the very beginning.
If your prices are all middle of the range everything will sell in a day or so. Ebay is just such a huge market.
Leave everything as "make an offer" too, and if something doesn't sell in a couple days? just accept the offer.
Gamestop or a similar store will probably give you like $40 for everything. i'd bet that the system with that many games is worth something like $130 total, assuming you can get $6-10 for every game which should be about right.
A bunch of cheapo bubble mailers for a few cents, and usps media mail are your friend. mail the system in the usps small flat rate box for $5. each game should cost maybe $2 to ship.
Price everything a bit higher than the cheapest stuff, but with free shipping. roll that in to the price a bit. people freaking love free shipping. the longest anything i ever list takes to sell is when i don't include that.
posted by emptythought at 11:52 PM on February 1, 2015 [16 favorites]
In terms of time spent getting each game sold, packaging and shipping it, does the payoff end up being worth the extra effort?
What this comes down to is, what is your time worth? If you've got lots of time on your hands and no better opportunities to use that time to earn money, then it's probably worth trading away more of that time for the extra money. If you're already busy and have better things to do with your time, then maybe GameStop is the smarter choice. Selling anything is work. Does it make more sense for you to do that work yourself, or to "pay" someone else to do it by accepting a lower price from a reseller?
posted by jon1270 at 4:21 AM on February 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
What this comes down to is, what is your time worth? If you've got lots of time on your hands and no better opportunities to use that time to earn money, then it's probably worth trading away more of that time for the extra money. If you're already busy and have better things to do with your time, then maybe GameStop is the smarter choice. Selling anything is work. Does it make more sense for you to do that work yourself, or to "pay" someone else to do it by accepting a lower price from a reseller?
posted by jon1270 at 4:21 AM on February 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
For the games, if you now play on a newer system, it might be worth taking a look at leaptrade. You list your games, and if anyone has requested (or later requests) those games, you ship them off. There's an already-established price that they adjust to the current market value of the game -- generally higher than what you could sell for on GameStop or Amazon. But you get that amount as credit for games that other people list -- you can't cash out. So, eBay or Craigslist is better if you don't want more games.
posted by daisyace at 4:58 AM on February 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by daisyace at 4:58 AM on February 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
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I've resold games individually on Amazon and to Gamestop. Generally you get a much better return on Amazon but it can take quite a while and then you have to keep the games around, etc .. I don't think PSP games typically hold their value that well, so I would honestly just sell the whole bundle on Craigslist if you're on a firmware that can't be downgraded.
posted by angst at 10:14 PM on February 1, 2015