Games
‘He’ll be robbed in broad daylight’ – Zelda fan trades valuable consoles and games for Switch OLED and the internet thinks: Don’t get ripped off!
A recorded barter at a video game store causes trouble on social media.
A gaming barter captured on video is currently making waves on the internet. While the Nintendo fan happily presents his newly purchased Zelda Tears of the Kingdom switch OLED, an outcry goes through social media.
Many are sure that the person was ripped off. A tweet even speaks of “robbed in broad daylight”. But not all comparative offers listed here reflect actual market prices.
Swapping retro consoles for Switch OLED stirs tempers
Twitter user hasanito (@fagiotinii) posted the bone of contention: a video documenting the said barter, commented on by the store where it took place. We see what went over the counter in exchange for the new Switch and a voucher. And that actually seems like a bad deal at first glance and should hurt one or the other retro heart.
The Twitter user commented:
“I can’t believe my boy was robbed like that in broad daylight. I’m crying.”
link to Twitter content
In the video we see an N64 Pikachu Edition and a Nintendo NES Action Set, both in good condition and in original box. Add to that a stack of games, including Super Mario Kart. It immediately triggers nostalgia, but also something else: the feeling that there’s a mismatch between what the fan is giving and what they’re getting.
This assumption is reinforced by some offers that other Twitter users post under the tweet. In these, impressive prices are called for the retro games and hardware. Under the “collector’s” label, these also sound realistic at first.
These include the N64 for around $850 and the Action Set for $4000. Taking these prices as a basis, we would have to assume that the fan’s trade would have to be worth over $5000 and that he was indeed ripped off. He received a voucher for $700 and the Special Edition of the Nintendo Switch.
Rip off – but only at first glance
YouTuber Vito takes up the case in a video and warns against the common mistake of using offers that have not yet been sold for the evaluation. These are desired prices that sellers would like to have for collectibles, but these sums were not paid for.
Link to YouTube content
So if you want to find out what retro games or consoles are actually worth, you should compare offers that have already been sold (To do this, select “Show only: Sold items” in the left sidebar). The YouTuber looks for offers in the video himself and calculates the value of the goods exchanged at a maximum of $1000 and explains that none of the items shown are particularly rare. $1,000 is roughly what the Nintendo fan received.
For example, here’s a comparable N64 console sold for $380. Shown in the video is a sold console for $300, in slightly better condition. Vito finds an NES Action Set for $265. The items sold vary greatly in price due to their condition, but clearly show that the $4,000 is totally unrealistic.
70 percent of the value at the dealer
There is also a difference between selling individual games or consoles on platforms such as eBay and trading for a whole bundle of collectibles in one shop. Selling to private individuals in individual auctions is more complex, but usually brings in more money. Of course, the store wants to earn something with the difference between the purchase price and the resale price.
Vito explains that around 70 percent of the value can be expected from a dealer. On the other hand, there are always cases where shops pay significantly less and that is precisely why there is always the concern that private sellers will be ripped off – and this is certainly generally justified.
Of course, we can’t calculate the exact value, but if you want to get a rough idea of how fair or unfair this barter was, you should compare the actual selling prices of recent auctions yourself.
It should also be considered that the exchange is possibly the best way for the fan to get to the switch without much effort. Without knowing the exact circumstances of the person, we shouldn’t judge that either.
What do you say to that: Does this barter trade hurt your heart, maybe not because of the price, or do you think it’s a completely normal business?
