On Jan 5, 2004, at 8:09 PM, Brian the Fist wrote: [Snip]
The value is an interesting issue though, which I have pondered
endlessly recently. When it boils down to it, a rare game is worth
whatever someone is willing to pay for it, its that simple. I have seen
incredibly rare games (Scott Adams Gold Colelctor edition comes to mind,
1000 total made I think) sell for much less than they should. And I've
seen rare, but not impossible to find, games gor for absurd amounts
(some of you folk here were the buyers in fact!). I sill can't believe
the original Starcross and Suspended regualarly go for $300 and up for
example, they're just not that rare. I've seen dozens on eBay over the
last couple years. And come on, almost $200 for Origin's re-release of
Ultima I?? I'm almost ashamed to see people pay that much for it
(though that won't stop me from selling the extra one I have soon :) ).
On the other hand, there are some games I have been searching for for
years and have not seen EVER on eBay (or anywhere else), even once, thus
making them even more rare than Akalabeth or Mt. Drash technically. And
when I come across one like this by some rare fluke, I may get it for as
low as $10 (maybe no one else wants it, who knows).
The other part of the equation is market demand. Many more people want the Starcross saucer, say, than the Scott Adams Gold Collectors edition. If you are collecting for yourself, you (one) can choose to be finicky. If you want to deal in collectibles, you have to accept what the market decides is valuable. Even if it isn't rare. Sometimes rare means an item was obscure and, honestly, unimportant. Well, unimportant to people today.
I have sold things and received far less than a guy did the week before. Is it because I'm in Canada? Who knows. I've also found the level of detail in the description of the item and its condition can have a big impact on the final price of a rare item, through experimentation.
I would add that photographs of the actual item help tremendously. I know I'm less inclined to bid high for stuff if I don't see a photo. With the scammers on eBay a photo, right or wrong, gives me more confidence that there is a tangible item there.
I believe that most collectors have somewhat limited cash flow, and so I have never seen any single game sell for over $1000 that I can recall, and I don't know if it ever would.
I've seen stuff hit the $2,000 mark.
[Snip]
Interestingly, I have found trading used DVDs and Books much more predictable - most go for roughly the same price in a reliable way, there is not nearly as much uncertainty as in the game area.
I imagine because there is are many more DVDs and books out there to stabilize the market. Also, those markets are much broader than the collectible game market. We're still very much a hobby (as is comics).
--
Edward Franks
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