Best way to sell/dispose of old/last gen game console setups?

Future Blues

So, I'm trying to organize my life and that means getting rid of a lot of stuff I either don't need, was collecting, or don't use. I have a ton of old console setups (controllers, cords, games, and the consoles themselves) that I haven't used in ages and I want to get rid of, but I'm not sure how to best go about it.

Some examples of stuff I have (all working, most in good condition):
Atari 5200 w/ controllers, tons of games, etc.
PS2 w/ controller, memory cards, a few games
Nintendo 64 + similar stuff
Dreamcast + similar
etc.

Additionally I have a bunch of classic Gamecube games and a ton of misc. DVDs and CDs that I want to get rid of and get some cash for if I can.

My question is, how do I best go about this? Do I sell the consoles as package deals on Ebay and hope for the best? Do I try and list the games individually? Is there a better auction site out there? Or a website where people sell classic gaming stuff online?

Are there any other places (besides pawn shops) that will buy my stuff? I don't need a ton of money for this stuff, but I also don't want to get ripped off, either. Finally, does anyone have any experience with sites that buy DVD/CDs? Any thoughts or recommendations?

I have a lot of this stuff. How do I get it out of my house?

adytum

My experience

Nobody wants your Gamecube. People will buy your Gamecube games to play on their Wii.

Nobody wants your PS2. They're $100 new, and your used one might break- especially if it's a PS2 fat. You can probably sell your games for a few dollars.

Older stuff? You might be able to give it away unless you have something special.

Or, trade it all in on Goozex and get current gen games with the points.

EggyToast

Depends on what it's worth to you. I sold a platinum GC with controllers for $50, tossing in a few decent games w/ no resale on their own (the games with resale I sold individually, of course). The indigo GC sold for about $50 too because it came w/ a GB Player. I suppose both did have the modem installed, too.

No boxes, just the controllers they came with and cables plus a couple games and accessories.

People will buy it, especially if you are willing to ship to foreign countries. Apparently people in Brazil love this old shit. Spend some time on eBay going through what games sell for, what systems sell for, and come up with a solution based on what you own.

MegaMan001

One of the things I've learned when moving and trying to simplify that old electronics aren't worth anything. Definitely don't get in the mind set that you're going to get ripped off, really they just have no resale value.

I'd just take them to the local pawn shop and see what happens then make a post on Craig's List to get rid of them.

Esh

At my local Goodwill there are stacks of Gamecubes and PS2s.

MushroomStick

If you have any games of rarity/value, sell those ones individually. Everything else sell in lots.

Cultural Geek Girl

If you have any working wavebirds, people want your wavebirds. They can go for $15+ each. You can probably get $10-30 each for your PS2 or GC on ebay, which isn't nothing... might be more hassle than it's worth but I say every little bit helps. Honestly it looks like even the humble N64 is worth a few ebay bucks.

I'd echo what everyone is saying here: bundle any games without resale value into your console auction, then sell any games with resale value individually. Ebay isn't ideal (their fees/commissions have gone up recently and are now kind of annoying) but it puts more cash in your pocket than Pawnstop. It is, however, more of a hassle.

Another note: people tend to pay more on ebay than they'd pay in a pawn shop, goodwill, or on craigslist. I'm not sure why, but I'd guess it's because it feels cleaner and safer; if you get a lemon you can complain to ebay or paypal, rather than having to wander into some store and argue with the clerk in person. (I recently had the same item on ebay and on craigslist... though the craigslist listing was $50 less, the ebay auction sold first. Crazy.)

If all else fails and you just want to get rid of it, Goodwill or Freecycle is a good bet.

TheGameRev

One store to look into for a trade is GameDude in Los Angeles, North Hollywood to be exact. They collect all the old systems from Colecovision to Gamecube/PS2. Look into their website and see what they say.

mully

i'm not sure if this is a thing that they do but .. my immediate thought was childs play
wouldnt these old consoles and games be great for the old tvs that are in hospitals?
there must be a way to donate everything to kids in bad situations...

MushroomStick

mully wrote: »

i'm not sure if this is a thing that they do but .. my immediate thought was childs play
wouldnt these old consoles and games be great for the old tvs that are in hospitals?
there must be a way to donate everything to kids in bad situations...

That's a nice idea, but a lot of hospitals wont take used toys because some of the kids have immune systems weakened to the point that they evidently can get sicker just by handling the used toys/control pads/etc.

illig

best bet is to sell stuff on ebay... just make sure to charge enough for shipping to actually cover shipping or you might end up paying someone to take your old consoles away

mcdermott

illig wrote: »

best bet is to sell stuff on ebay... just make sure to charge enough for shipping to actually cover shipping or you might end up paying someone to take your old consoles away

Yup, always make sure your shipping covers shipping.

I got rid of my PS2 and GameCube on Craigslist. Less hassle than eBay, and I just met a guy down the street and he gave me cash. Too easy. You won't get much, but you should be able to get more than zero. If you live in a reasonably populated area, just hit Craigslist and search for the systems you want to sell...see what everybody else is listing them for.

Then remember, the words "or best offer" are always an option.

Oh, but consider making a new email account...you may get a ton.

For games, particularly those only a generation old, look through and see if any might be rare. Half.com or eBay are good sites to check (I find the former is good for getting an idea of value, and decent to sell on). The rest package with the system, or sell as a lot on eBay. But, for instance, I had 4 or 5 Cube/PS2 games that were worth more than $20...so there are some out there with individual value.

Basically, if you have an idea how much you want to get and just want to meet somebody and get cash, go Craigslist. If you have no idea what it's worth or are willing to play auction roulette, go eBay. But again, make sure your shipping amount is realistic.

Shadowfire

Do you need -any- money from these? Regardless of what some folks on here are saying about "no one wants," I'd bet a needy family could get quite a bit of fun out of one of your systems.

Tamin

Such a long shot, but do you have a Famicom, by any chance? I've been looking for a reasonably priced one for close to a year now.

y2jake215

if by any chance you have super smash bros. for n64 I would be willing to deposit some dollars into your back account

edit: also any n64 controllers whose sticks are not fiendishly deformed

CountBlackula

Come on, bro. Donate it to Child's Play. They'd take it, right?

Esh

CountBlackula wrote: »

Come on, bro. Donate it to Child's Play. They'd take it, right?

Doubtful. Like someone already said, introducing dusty, old, God knows where they've been or what's on them consoles into a hospital environment probably isn't going to fly.

CountBlackula

Esh wrote: »

CountBlackula wrote: »

Come on, bro. Donate it to Child's Play. They'd take it, right?

Doubtful. Like someone already said, introducing dusty, old, God knows where they've been or what's on them consoles into a hospital environment probably isn't going to fly.

Damn. I had no idea. I guess I can't donate my old PS2 to them either. Imagine 15 years from now when people will be throwing out their 360s and PS3s.

a5ehren

CountBlackula wrote: »

Come on, bro. Donate it to Child's Play. They'd take it, right?

Hospitals and Child's Play are both quite explicit about taking only new, factory packaged items as donations for the reasons covered earlier.

Cultural Geek Girl

The best way to "donate this stuff to Child's play" is to sell it on Ebay with the "proceeds automatically go to charity" thingummy they have. You can set it up so that it all goes directly to Child's Play, it's included in their search-able list of charitable organizations.

Now you CAN see if there are any youth centers, after-school programs, or libraries locally that might want it. I know that near where I live there's a women's shelter that is home to a lot of homeless women and children. A lot of our used toys and Christmas donations go there.

Beltaine

I'll be happy to give your Dreamcast setup a new home

acidlacedpenguin

box them all up and sell them in a single giant mystery lot? possibly mention some of the popular games, and that this lot comes with everything you'd need to play the games (obviously, don't say it if it isn't true)

People can't pass up the fantastical adventure of buying a mystery lot! Especially if there's some epics in there.

if some of the older consoles have oddball connectors you should consider purchasing converters to throw in with the lot so the buyer can use them on more modern setups.