Buying a new console or special editions of video games is not something that is within everyone’s reach. Some people must measure very well the video games they buy because the bills, studies and food don’t pay for themselves. In this context, video game stores have been allowing for many years item trades or what we know as scrappage scheme.
What exactly is this practice? It has no mystery. You bring your old (or not so old) consoles, peripherals and video games, the store gives you a monetary value based on your status, value in the industry and other factors; and in exchange you can take a new product. Depending on what you take, you must add a certain amount of money (or not) to finish match the values. what has been a barter.
As I have pointed out, it is a very common practice. Many people turned in their PS4 and Xbox One during the launch of PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and the same thing happened with the launch of Nintendo Switch Oled. And the same applies to the latest developments in video games.
Now that we’re all on the same page, we can move on to the heart of the matter: the case of an exchange that has mad hundreds of collectors in social networks. Some have dared to classify it as a “scam”, but it does not go that far. The world of collecting is as exciting as it is controversial.
An exchange that has given a lot to talk about
This story begins at the independent store called Hey Bro Video Games in Houston, Texas (USA). Employees often share photos of their customers with products on their Instagram account… and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share a case that made an impression on them and would later make the post reach the 1154 likes.
The customer in question brought several retro items: a Nintendo 64 Limited Edition Pikachua Original NES and 5 classic SNES games in very good condition. All products in their boxes and in very good condition. The store gave a total value of 700 dollars to everything delivered. He traded all this in for a Nintendo Switch Oled Edition The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and some cash.
The exchange went smoothly and the store assured that “left a very happy customer“. However, many collectors and other internet users raised their hands to their heads and cried out “scam” to heaven both on Instagram and on other social networks such as Twitter.
“I can’t believe my friend got robbed like that in broad daylight“, said @fagiotinii on Twitter. and shared a second tweet with the emote of crying next to an image of a Nintendo 64 Limited Edition of Pikachu worth $848.00.
another user he replied with another edition sold by $300.00. On the other hand, the comments on the Instagram post were not far behind: “Hi Houston Police, I’d like to report a robbery.“Wrote one of many users.
It didn’t take long for things to get out of hand and go viral in the collecting community. The Kotaku outlet contacted the Hey Bro Video Games store to cover the news. This is when it is shown that reality and the internet can often show faces that are very different from the truth.
The store was unaware that the matter had gone so viral. He employee who served Kotaku He did not want to give his name, but he did say that the store is proud to offer the exchange service and that “people are just stupid“.
The buyer is surely enjoying his nintendo switch oled and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and the store is proud of the change, but… Was it a good deal for both parties? Was there really a scam? The Kotaku media continued to investigate the matter and offered us an answer.
It wasn’t a scam, but I definitely could have gotten more out of it through other means.
The total value of the Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch + money is $1,060. For the business to be a scam, the price of the products delivered would have to be MUCH higher than those received. And it is? Based on the prices of items sold:
- Nintendo 64 Limited Edition Pikachu With original box it is usually around 350 dollars on eBay.
- Original NES With original box it is usually around 250 dollars on eBay.
- Super Mario 64 With its original box it is around 100 dollars.
- Golden Eye 007 With its original box it is around 75 dollars.
- Mario Kart 64 With its original box it is around 120 dollars.
- Super Mario All Stars With its original box it is around 60 dollars.
- Super Mario Kart With its original box it is around 75 dollars.
Total retro item pack traded? $1,030. If we accept these prices, not only is it NOT a scam, but the buyer has benefited by $30. And if these accounts do not convince you, certainly the value of these products is usually very changeable, an expert has commented on it.
Kelsey Lewisco-director of the Video Game History Foundation, told Kotaku: “It seems to me approximately 1100 dollars as a store price“. In this case, the difference in price from what the user took is 40 dollars. If we accept all the information collected, then we can’t talk about scam.
So why are so many people outraged? The answer is not simple and forms part of the bases of collecting video games, movies and other products: because the emotional value will always be more powerful than the monetary valueand usually influences the latter.
Things get even more complicated when each person gives an emotional value based on their own experiences, experiences and knowledge. And the curl curls when they are retro products at a time when retro is very present. You just have to see the clear current trend towards remakes of classic franchises. This means that a product that is usually sold for approximately 250 dollars ends up reaching 800 and 1000 dollars.
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