🎮 Video Game Reselling
Reseller Guide
Market Segments
| Segment | Examples | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed Graded (WATA/VGA) | Factory sealed, professionally graded | $100-$2,000,000+ |
| Sealed Ungraded | Factory sealed, raw | $20-$50,000+ |
| CIB (Complete In Box) | Cart/disc, box, manual | $10-$10,000+ |
| Loose | Just the cart/disc | $1-$5,000+ |
| Consoles | Systems, controllers, accessories | $20-$5,000+ |
Most Valuable Games
NES
- Stadium Events: $10,000-$2,000,000+ (rarest licensed game)
- Nintendo World Championship: $20,000-$200,000+
- Little Samson: $1,000-$10,000+
- Panic Restaurant: $500-$5,000+
SNES
- EarthBound: $300-$5,000+ CIB
- Hagane: $500-$2,000+
- Aero Fighters: $400-$1,500+
- Chrono Trigger: $150-$1,500+ CIB
Nintendo 64
- ClayFighter Sculptor's Cut: $300-$1,500+
- Conker's Bad Fur Day: $100-$500+
- Paper Mario: $80-$400+ CIB
Other Platforms
- Panzer Dragoon Saga (Saturn): $500-$2,000+
- Snatcher (Sega CD): $400-$1,500+
- Kuon (PS2): $200-$800+
- Rule of Rose (PS2): $300-$1,000+
💡 Pokémon Premium: Pokémon games consistently hold value. Sealed Pokémon games from any era command premiums. HeartGold/SoulSilver with Pokéwalker are especially valuable.
Condition Matters
Box/Case Condition
- Mint: Perfect, like new
- Near Mint: Very minor wear
- Excellent: Light shelf wear
- Very Good: Noticeable wear, no major damage
- Good: Heavy wear, creases, but complete
- Fair/Poor: Damaged, torn, crushing
CIB Requirements by Era
- Cart-based (NES, SNES, N64, GB): Cart + box + manual
- Disc-based (PS1, PS2, etc.): Disc + case + manual
- Modern (PS4, Switch, etc.): Disc/cart + case (manuals rare now)
- Inserts/Maps: Some games require additional inserts for "complete"
Grading Services
- WATA Games: Major grading service, controversial pricing history
- VGA (Video Game Authority): Established, archival cases
- CGC Games: New entrant from comic grading company
Should You Grade?
- Only grade sealed games worth $500+ raw
- Grading fees: $50-$150+ plus shipping/insurance
- Graded games harder to sell locally
- Market has cooled from 2021 peak
⚠️ Market Reality: The sealed graded game market peaked in 2021 and has corrected significantly. Be cautious with high-dollar graded purchases. The market may not return to those highs.
Where to Source
- Garage/Estate Sales: Best margins, knowledge is key
- Thrift Stores: Goodwill, Salvation Army (check daily)
- Facebook Marketplace: Local deals, bundle opportunities
- OfferUp/Craigslist: Local, negotiate hard
- Flea Markets: Variable pricing, negotiable
- Game Stores: Trade-in arbitrage (buy underpriced trades)
- eBay: Misspellings, bad photos, wrong categories
Where to Sell
| Platform | Fees | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| eBay | ~13% | Everything, largest audience |
| PriceCharting | ~8% | Game-specific marketplace |
| Mercari | 10% | Quick sales, bundles |
| Facebook Groups | 0% | Collector audience, retro games |
| Local Game Stores | Buy at 40-60% | Quick cash, bulk |
| Heritage Auctions | 15-20% | High-end sealed/graded |
Price Research
- PriceCharting.com: Best resource for game values
- eBay Sold: Real transaction prices
- GameValueNow: Another pricing resource
- VGPrice: Historical data
Reproductions & Fakes
- Label quality: Repros often have glossy/wrong finish
- Cart shell: Wrong color, cheap plastic
- Board inspection: Open cart to verify genuine board
- Price: Too cheap for rare game = fake
- Weight: Repro carts often lighter
Common fakes: EarthBound, Little Samson, rare Pokémon variants, most $200+ cart games
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