Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Is Trading In Used Consoles Worth It?

Posted by Zonk on from the selling-the-past dept.

DataportJunkie writes "Most people choose to trade in their used game consoles when a newer one comes out to save a few bucks, but this editorial at Gaming Horizon suggests that you just hang onto them. 'Stores typically only make $1 or $2 when you pick up a new console from them, but when they give you $70 for your used PlayStation 2 and sell it for $95, they just made themselves an easy $25.' The author recommends using eBay or donating your used consoles to hospitals if you need to get rid of a system."

2 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. Good reasons to keep old consoles by alvinrod · · Score: 4, Informative
    There are plenty of good reasons to keep old consoles.

    First, when you get a next generation console, it might not be able to play the games from the previous generation (e.g. Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and possible the Xbox 360).

    Additionally, some (like the PS3 is rumored to be) will not accept the memory storage devices from previous generations. Keep that PS2 around for PS2 games you've sunk a lot of time into but haven't finished.

    Also, old games can be a lot of fun again after you haven't played them in years. I have a blast playing football (Tecmo Super Bowl) against my friends on SNES. The 2D platformers on the system are awesome as well.

    Old games and systems can be worth a lot of money after a long time. I have in my possesion a copy of Chrono Trigger for SNES that I managed to find in a pawn shop for $5. I've seen the game for ten times that on Ebay. I wonder how much a pong machine or other really old hardware would fetch.

    You can let your young children play the games. Granted that children are pretty sophisticated nowdays, but at young ages a simple NES controller and game will be easiest for them. I'm guessing a four or five year old can handle Mario better than Marion Sunshine.

    There's probably more reasons for hanging on to a console after you're done with it. I traded in my GBA when I got a DS. It made it a little cheaper, but in hindsight I wish I would've kept my GBA. If you really must sell a console, sell it directly to someone else. You could sell that PS2 for $10 more than the game store would give you and your friend could get it cheaper than what the store would charge him. Better deal. Donating it to a hospital is also a good idea. As I recall the guys at Penny Arcade have been doing something similar to this and it's been working well.

  2. Craigslist by fwice · · Score: 3, Informative

    I personally have never gotten rid of any console I've had, from the Atari to the Virtual Boy (bleh) to my PS2. I tend to have tons of fun replaying the old games.

    However, my friends aren't as packrat-ish as I am. Instead of using ebay or funcoland/gamestop, they use Craigslist. It eliminates the middleman and let's you put your stuff out there at a better price.

    funcoland offers $70 for that ps2? ask for $80 on craigslist. you'll probably get it.