Scoring Big Profit Flipping Nintendo 64 Games on eBay from Flea Market Finds

Scoring Big With Vintage Nintendo 64 Games at the Flea Market

As a reseller and flea market enthusiast, I'm always on the hunt for valuable vintage items that can turn a profit on sites like eBay. During a recent trip, I stumbled upon a true 90s kid's dream - a huge lot of Nintendo 64 games and consoles in great condition! This super nostalgic find brought me right back to my childhood and I knew it could be a jackpot, especially considering the collectibility around that era of gaming today.

Spotting Potential in the Retro Gaming Section

I headed straight to the vendor aisle at the flea market dedicated to retro gaming, toys, and collectibles. This section caters directly to my interests as a lover of all things 90s pop culture. As I sorted through the various Nintendo, Sega, Playstation, and Xbox offerings, one booth caught my eye.

There behind the table was neatly organized stack after stack of classic Nintendo 64 cartridges and systems. The vibrant colors and familiar game titles like Super Mario 64, Goldeneye, and Zelda grabbed my attention instantly. As I looked closer, I could see the majority were in great shape - minimal wear, no rips or tears to the labels, and virtually no scratches or scuffs.

Inspecting the Items and Making My Offer

I asked the vendor if I could take a closer inspection of the Nintendo 64 items and he happily agreed. The systems themselves were far from mint condition but still usable and included all cables and controllers. The real value that caught my eye though was the huge selection of popular first-party games.

I counted out over 50 cartridges in total, including beloved titles like Donkey Kong 64, Star Fox 64, Mario Kart 64, Kirby 64, Super Smash Bros, and many more. They were all originals too, not reproductions or reissues. My inner 90’s kid rejoiced while my reseller instincts kicked into high gear.

Closing the Deal and Calculating Resale Value

Based on recent eBay sold listings I knew there was a lot of profit potential sitting in front of me. I made the vendor a bundled offer at around 30-40% of the going rate for what I estimated to be well over $1000 worth of goods. He paused, considered, and then accepted!

As I joyfully handed over the cash I could already envision the eBay descriptions I would write highlighting the most popular games. Photos showcasing the lot, detailed condition descriptions, strategic tagging - this was a 90’s nostalgia goldmine. If I split up the items I could expect to net $1500-2000+ on the backend after fees and shipping.

Prepping and Listing the Nintendo 64 Collection for eBay

Once I got my flea market jackpot haul home, it was time for the fun part - prepping everything for eBay. This included testing and verifying the Nintendo 64 systems and each game for functionality while also thoroughly cleaning and inspecting their condition.

Cleaning and Testing the Hardware

I use high percentage isopropyl alcohol wipes and cotton swabs to gently wipe down the game cartridges' circuits and connector pins. After ensuring no residue remained, I inserted each game to test. Nearly every single one booted up flawlessly, minus a couple requiring extra cleaning of their pins.

For the Nintendo 64 systems, I used compressed air to clear any interior dust then gave the casing a thorough wipedown. Connecting everything and powering on, both played smoothly despite some expected cosmetic wear from age. So far, so good!

Splitting Up Lots Based on Value

With all the games and systems prepped and confirmed in working order, it was time to figure out my selling strategy. I decided to offer the Nintendo 64 units individually at fixed prices with 1 controller and cables included. This way buyers could pick based on their aesthetic and nostalgic preferences.

For the main money component, the actual game cartridges, I opted to sell in smaller tiered lots of between 5 to 10 games. This provided buyers flexibility across price points while allowing me to highlight the most rare or coveted titles in each set.

Writing Descriptions and Optimizing with eBay SEO

Now on to eBay listing creation! I always make sure to write robust descriptions covering condition, item testing, included components, and shipping. My goal is to provide all the information buyers need to bid or purchase confidently.

On top of that, I maximize keyword placement and tags to take advantage of eBay's search algorithms. For this Nintendo 64 haul, relevant phrases included the full console name, first and third party franchises like "Mario" and "007", genre descriptions such as "retro 90's platformers", and key identifiers like "cartridge based games".

Profiting from eBay Auctions and Relisting

Within the first day, bidding on my various Nintendo 64 sale listings skyrocketed. Clearly that retro gaming nostalgia is real!

Pricing Adjustments to Increase Conversion Rates

Initially my lots started at very low opening bids, which garnered interest but resulted in final hammer prices still below market value. For the second round of listings, I increased opening bids and buy-it-now prices. This better reflected the high demand and spiked my eBay seller metrics big time.

Splitting and Relisting Remaining Items

Given the enthusiasm for these older Nintendo games, the second round of listings all sold within 3 days! I was moving quick enough though that only a handful of titles remained. These stragglers I simply relisted as individual buy-it-nows and they were scooped up almost instantly.

Within a week, my flea market Nintendo 64 game jackpot was 100% sold. And best of all - after fees and shipping expenses, my net profit exceeded $1700! Just goes to show with the right finds and eBay optimizing expertise, reselling can absolutely pay off in a big way.

FAQs

Where is the best place to find valuable vintage video games?

Flea markets and thrift stores can be goldmines for finding retro video games in good condition at cheap prices. These provide opportunities that resellers take advantage of before listing on sites like eBay.

What was the most profitable Nintendo 64 game in the flea market find?

While the full lot provided huge profit potential, the most valuable Nintendo 64 game was likely a rare title like Clayfighter 63 1/3 or Conker's Bad Fur Day which can individually sell for $70-$100+.

What is the best way to test old Nintendo 64 games?

Use isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs to gently clean cartridge connector pins then insert into a Nintendo 64 system to check for proper functioning. Also inspect condition of labels, plastic, etc.

How can you optimize eBay listings for maximum sales?

Strategic use of keywords, detailed descriptions showcasing item testing/condition, high-quality images, tiered pricing, and properly set auction/BIN formats to match demand.