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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted April 04, 2016 11:39 AM |
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Amiga A1200
Now here's a funny little story...
having recently acquired all the retro consoles I always wanted to have as a kid, I turned my attention to the last remaining piece: Amiga A1200, only to find it being sold at outrageous prices. It's not that it's rare: there's thousands of those things around, but it's almost impossible not to participate in a biding war with regular retro sellers, which artifically bump the A1200 prices to ensure their business (extremely profitable) keeps on going.
A1200 can be recovered from trash cans and sold for 300$ at least, with minimum effort.
British eScam (my name for ebay) prices are even higher, 250-300 pounds for A1200 with power supply and mouse.
on allegro (polish ebay equivalent) there's 10-15 people (same people every time) biding on A1200s, and untested, highly yellowed and devastated pieces go for at least 150$ (usually more).
To me, all of this is a joke, and I can't stand participating in this nonsense.
So... does any of you own a A1200? Maybe someone can sell it to me for a non-ridiculous price? or maybe you know someone who has one of those things rotting in his garage, ready to be sold?
I mean... I paid less for japanese mint Saturn with a 360 controller (very rare) than I'd have to pay for an A1200 straight from a german trash can, barely washed and jury-rigged to work. Thanks but no thanks.
Finally: if you don't know what to do to earn money, start picking trash for A1200s and refurbish them. That's a polish regular monthly salary for every one of those 
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We reached to the stars and everything is now ours
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kipshasz
Undefeatable Hero
Elvin's Darkside
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posted April 04, 2016 03:19 PM |
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Are you trying to become the APVGN(Angry Polish Video Game Nerd) Doom?
Jokes aside though, it's probably one of those overblown prices and nothing more, just like Atari Jaguar CD add-on.
You know, it's retro, not many people have it, we can cash in on that.
But not only legit systems suffer from that, I remember we looked for at least a bootleg NES to have, but the prices were also discouraging from making the purchase. besides, the controllers on those are fragile as bleep.
Sorry, but 50 Brussels Rubles for a bootleg? Better build yourself a nintoaster.
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"Kip is the Gavin McInnes of HC" - Salamandre
"Ashan to the Trashcan", "I got PTSD from H7. " - LizardWarrior
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted April 04, 2016 03:40 PM |
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Well, thing is, A1200 was popular. It's not a rare gear piece; there's an A1200 every week on allegro.pl. Sometimes, it's 2-3 at the same time.
But the same people always bid, and always bump up the price to 150$+.
A1200 represents some of the games I love, and that's one love I can't complete.
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We reached to the stars and everything is now ours
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fred79
Disgraceful
Undefeatable Hero
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posted April 04, 2016 03:51 PM |
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why would you pay an arm and a leg for an obsolete system from an overpricing butt-pirate, when you could just download an emulator with all the games you could ever want for whatever older system, online? i mean, wtf. 
if you like wasting your hard-earned(i'm assuming) cash, then send me some. because i could USE cash that people throw away needlessly.
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted April 04, 2016 05:36 PM |
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fred79 said:
why would you pay an arm and a leg for an obsolete system from an overpricing butt-pirate, when you could just download an emulator with all the games you could ever want for whatever older system, online? i mean, wtf.
Emulation just isn't the real thing, Fred. It's like putting stuff in a jar of marmalade and calling it sex.
Of course, if the price is a joke (like here), it's totally not worth it.. but maybe you know someone who wants to part with an A1200? 
fred79 said:
if you like wasting your hard-earned(i'm assuming) cash, then send me some. because i could USE cash that people throw away needlessly.
Wait, it should be the other way round. You should support a poor eastern europe beggar, Fred!
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We reached to the stars and everything is now ours
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Dies_Irae
Supreme Hero
with the perfect plan
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posted April 04, 2016 06:18 PM |
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fred79 said:
why would you pay an arm and a leg for an obsolete system from an overpricing butt-pirate, when you could just download an emulator with all the games you could ever want for whatever older system, online? i mean, wtf.
if you like wasting your hard-earned(i'm assuming) cash, then send me some. because i could USE cash that people throw away needlessly.
Spoken like someone who has never collected anything . In this case, the phrase 'you know nothing' applies. The act of collecting something, like old game consoles, can have a lot of reasons. In Doomforge's case, it is things he always dreamed of having. You do it because it reminds you of something, or someone. You do it because your grandfather did it. You do it because everyone needs a hobby. Because you're passionate about it. Collecting items means being able to look at them, cherish them, hold them and turn them around, putting them back, cleaning them, having it around for a reason only known to yourself (which is why outsiders often wonder what the snow you're doing ). And as a collector you are willing to get the stuff you're still missing either for a bargain price or a month's salary, depending on how passionate you are about it.
What makes collecting fun is pursuing the rare, the obscure, or the common which has just as much reason to be there, like this A1200 in the case of Doomforge's collection  . Now getting on topic: game consoles are not my thing and I wouldn't know where to get an A1200 for a reasonable price. You could try to continue searching online. If there is a thing like stores where they sell vintage/old game consoles and the like, you might give that a try. But a tradesman wants to make money, so good luck trying to find a cheap buy. As a collector of something completely different myself, I know how you feel. The difference in prices I often encouter makes me wonder why one is so much more expensive than the other.
The hobby of collecting ain't cheap, that's more rule than exception . I hope you succeed in getting what you're looking for. Do you display the consoles you own? Are they on a shelf, in a cabinet, or stuffed away in boxes? Because a collection is something to be proud of, and something to be shown off.
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kipshasz
Undefeatable Hero
Elvin's Darkside
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posted April 04, 2016 06:42 PM |
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Also, Doom, have you considered to go dumpster diving yourself for one? I mean if you live nearby the Polish-German border, it could be manageable. that is if you go the location where to look for stuff like you're aiming to buy.
Also, as an alternative, you could search the local shops specializing in antique electronics, or just browse through flea markets.
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"Kip is the Gavin McInnes of HC" - Salamandre
"Ashan to the Trashcan", "I got PTSD from H7. " - LizardWarrior
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Salamandre
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Wog refugee
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posted April 04, 2016 07:17 PM |
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Out of curiosity, I did a search in french online markets and minimum price is indeed 300 euros. Thats decent money so I doubt anyone would give it for nothing.
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kipshasz
Undefeatable Hero
Elvin's Darkside
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posted April 04, 2016 08:22 PM |
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@Sal: unless they think it's an old outdated obsolete piece of crap, and they just want to get rid of it.
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"Kip is the Gavin McInnes of HC" - Salamandre
"Ashan to the Trashcan", "I got PTSD from H7. " - LizardWarrior
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Salamandre
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Wog refugee
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posted April 04, 2016 08:29 PM |
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Nobody is stupid, now with internet and the gazillion of selling platforms, you don't throw away even your broken shoes, you sell them.
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Stevie
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted April 04, 2016 08:33 PM |
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Doomforge said:
So... does any of you own a A1200? Maybe someone can sell it to me for a non-ridiculous price? or maybe you know someone who has one of those things rotting in his garage, ready to be sold?
What makes you think people on HC would sell it to you at a cheaper price when they could get 300 euros for it online?
____________
Guide to a Great Heroes Game
The Young Traveler
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kipshasz
Undefeatable Hero
Elvin's Darkside
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posted April 04, 2016 08:34 PM |
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there still are some people with the mindset I mentioned, even though it's a dying breed. and not only in electronics market.
Also, I deeply regret throwing away my old paint stained work jeans instead of selling them, hipster dorks would've loved that crap.
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"Kip is the Gavin McInnes of HC" - Salamandre
"Ashan to the Trashcan", "I got PTSD from H7. " - LizardWarrior
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted April 04, 2016 08:39 PM |
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Stevie said:
What makes you think people on HC would sell it to you at a cheaper price when they could get 300 euros for it online?
Because it happened to me already.
I bought my consoles cheap. Not because the sellers were stupid, or unaware. Hell no! It's because eScam prices are a JOKE. You can buy those consoles locally (if you're American, or German, or Japanese - mostly, because those are the "gaming" countries that have easier access to retro stuff) much cheaper. There are people who will simply sell those things to you at regular (local) price, not the ridiculous eScam invention of 300 euro.
Even Poles don't pay 300 euro for those things. The eScam prices are an example of price fixing. Those sellers are just waiting for people too rich to care. The actual value of A1200 _SHOULD_ be low, because it was mass-produced and is extremely resilient. There are thousands of survivng A1200s and the demand isn't too high. It should be more or less like NES or SNES, which is in high demand, but goes fairly cheap - it was mass produced.
Remember, just because it's for 300 euro/dollars on eScam doesn't mean anyone wants to buy it for 300 euro. it's just the seller's idea of a good buck for playing on people's nostalgia.
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We reached to the stars and everything is now ours
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted April 05, 2016 06:24 AM |
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Yeah, but the market does not lie.
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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fred79
Disgraceful
Undefeatable Hero
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posted April 05, 2016 06:37 AM |
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Dies_Irae said:
Spoken like someone who has never collected anything . In this case, the phrase 'you know nothing' applies.
...
The hobby of collecting ain't cheap, that's more rule than exception .
i used to collect knives, guns, and other various fun stuff. don't get me wrong, i had the same idea about collecting old game consoles that i enjoyed growing up.
but after my first purchase($50), i realized that i could have better spent that money elsewhere, once i realized that emulators had everything i could ever want, and for free. they're so much more convenient; i can carry my laptop anywhere, and carry the controller in the bag with the other stuff i need(cooling plate, usb hub, mousepad, wired mouse, charger, hdmi for hooking up to t.v.'s so that my computer plays on any newer big-screen, external drive with movies and cartoons). and what's more, i can have all the gaming systems i want, with all the games ever made for them(and, for FREE). all in one easy-to-carry bag.
it's much more than just convenient, it's absolutely practical. and who's to say you can't collect anything digitally? 
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted April 05, 2016 08:33 AM |
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Corribus said:
Yeah, but the market does not lie.
Seems it does.
Here's how it works (long-term ebay seller speaking. not me.)
Quote:
He's (typical ebay A1200 seller)trying to control the market, and its making everything more expensive. great if you want values to remain high, crap if you want a bargain.
IE you will pay what he wants you to pay, or else he wins it, repackages the system with a couple of crap games, some magazines and a relokick disk, and puts it back on the market for a 30-80 quid markup.
So hes a professional ebayer, and a parasite in my view.
also, fred:
fred79 said:
i used to collect knives, guns, and other various fun stuff. don't get me wrong, i had the same idea about collecting old game consoles that i enjoyed growing up.
but after my first purchase($50), i realized that i could have better spent that money elsewhere, once i realized that emulators had everything i could ever want, and for free. they're so much more convenient; i can carry my laptop anywhere, and carry the controller in the bag with the other stuff i need(cooling plate, usb hub, mousepad, wired mouse, charger, hdmi for hooking up to t.v.'s so that my computer plays on any newer big-screen, external drive with movies and cartoons). and what's more, i can have all the gaming systems i want, with all the games ever made for them(and, for FREE). all in one easy-to-carry bag.
it's much more than just convenient, it's absolutely practical. and who's to say you can't collect anything digitally?
I'm not collecting anything. I just enjoy playing games (new and old). Collecting is a dangerous state of mind.
I'm also last to complain about piracy, but games aren't "for free" even if you have an emulator, wink wink.
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We reached to the stars and everything is now ours
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Salamandre
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Wog refugee
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posted April 05, 2016 09:08 AM |
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If you want have a boner as collector, collect girls.
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OhforfSake
Promising
Legendary Hero
Initiate
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posted April 05, 2016 01:52 PM |
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As long as they can sell their items for the price they want, then that's what that item is worth to the seller.
For me it's difficult to compare this situation with e.g. food, because food is produced all the time, while if I understood correctly, there won't be produced new Amigas.
I don't understand the quote though, I read it as if the seller can't sell the item for 300£, he'll repackage the item and sell it for 80£.. how is that a "win" for the seller?
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