So a video game store just opened up shop in the south part of town where I am. I finally go there today and wow. They have just about everything except N-Gage and Game.com games. Anyway, first I saw the Virtual Boy controller in the display case. This piqued my interest. Then I saw the system (sans stand, which they all seem to be nowadays.) I asked if there were any VB games, and she said there aren’t any. So I’m thinking, just to be kind, next time I go there, to bring a Mario’s Tennis cart and ask if I can see if it works or not. Because just to be nice. I bet if it didn’t come with a game, it probably was untested. Maybe if it works, I’ll buy it, but $70 is kind of a lot for one VB and controller and that’s it. What do you think? Should I go back and test it for them just out of the kindness of my heart?

It is really hard nowadays to get a business up and running, let alone keep it viable for a longer time. So, yes, I would help them out and test it, maybe they will help you later along the way.

it is also a great opportunity to talk retro games with the guys working there. i’ve found that the employees of these shops love talking retro games. you can help them out and also have a fun conversation in the process. i would bring in my flash boy and let them try a homebrew or an unreleased vb game.

Absolutely. It’s always good to help out the smaller stores. They’re usually struggling a bit themselves, so do what you can. 🙂

And hey, maybe it can be solder-repaired and turned around for at least a break-even.

Yeah I agree, go for it :). They would probably appreciate it- and likely, they don’t even know about the whole glitchy display situation. Are you someone who can fix a potentially bad ribbon cable for some store credit maybe? That’s what I plan on doing for my local shop that has 2 bad units. Regarding Mario’s Tennis, maybe you could consider “donating it” or trading for some cheap item you could use, assuming they do trades. It’s about as financially worthless as VB games get, so that would help them increase the chance of a rare console sale (plus get you in good graces with them).

IMO, $70 for an untested console/controller only does seem kind of steep though…

Well, I went back to the store. I would have gone last weekend but there was a storm and I couldn’t go. It got down to 8 fahrenheit. Well, anyway, I told them what I was planning to do. I showed them the copy of Mario’s Tennis I brought along. They said “Go at it,” I guess they didn’t know anything. Well, I couldn’t test it. I noticed right away that the battery pack on the controller was gone. The guy tried to find it for me in the back but he was unsuccessful. So they’re trying to sell a untested, not knowing if it works or not Virtual Boy, with a vital piece missing, for $80 (and the controller is an extra $15 for some reason.) Maybe I taught them that the controller is how the unit powers on and it’s vital to the headset. Or not…

Oh jeez, you’d think a place that carried older gaming consoles would be a little more knowledgeable on them. Especially the ones they are carrying in the store!

At least you were a nice guy and hopefully enlightened them a little about their own merchandise if nothing else. 😛

ooh ouch, yeah, that’s not a good deal at all.

Oh well, their lost sale… heh.

I appreciate the small business support out there in internet land, but $70 untested and no stand/visor, that’s not good at all. If it’s untested it shouldn’t be out on the floor, or at least no price tag. Giving them a cart however is a nice gesture, i’ve never once gotten a donation like that in my store. I’d do it but make sure you test it before spending the money.

I kept the cart, by the way. I need it for the future.