Sketchy e-bay listings

[Deleted User]

So I was feeling nostalgic and wanted to buy a Gameboy Color. I was browsing ebay and the prices were really gross. But then I saw this http://www.ebay.com/itm/262667355179
$30 after shipping, not awful. And it has a backlit screen? Wowie

Now lets get a few things out of the way: It's probably not a real system. It ships from Malaysia which is probably where its made. BUT if it plays the same as the real thing and looks as pictured, I don't really care at all. I'm doubting it actually has a backlit screen but whatever.

But then I look at the description... Is this a shell? It says its a console and says things like "Requires 2 AA Batteries" but then it says things like "Fully protect your Gameboy Color". But then I think why would a shell cost $30, especially from Malaysia. Shells go for like $5-10 tools included.

Guys, Im gonna bite the bullet and buy this. And then maybe with my sacrifice, we can all buy cheap(relative to how much they average for) new looking gameboys. Besides, if its not legit they have a return window so yay.

It's gonna take a few weeks to come in so I'll keep you guys posted. How about in the mean time you guys discuss sketchy ebay things you've bought or are looking at and/or if you think this one is legit.

Also I bought a bootleg Pokemon Blue but its $5 vs $40 and looks legit enough so Im happy http://www.ebay.com/itm/222313339628

 

[Catastrophic]

You're right. That listing is pretty weird. It seems to be a reproduction console but the description makes it out to be a shell. Might want to reconsider if you haven't bought one yet. I've found some reproductions to have lame button contacts.

Ebay has many vague listings but I'm not sure why people complain too much. Anyone can list there. Having used Ebay multiple times, I think that finding reliable listings isn't hard at all if you take time paying attention to feedback, descriptions and photos. If you insist on going cheap, consider trying to win auctions as opposed to fixed prices. Here's one ending in an hour for example.

 

[Deleted User]

You're right. That listing is pretty weird. It seems to be a reproduction console but the description makes it out to be a shell. Might want to reconsider if you haven't bought one yet. I've found some reproductions to have lame button contacts.

I did end up buying it. It does have a return policy so I can send it back if its something dumb. Im hoping my sacrifice will allow others to buy some sweet gameboys

 

[Deleted User]

Here it is, the grand update

Lets see when I created this thread... A MONTH AND A HALF AGO!!! THIS THING TOOK FOREVER TO COME IN!! Ok the results...

Its a real Gameboy Color! Unfortunately no Backlight was installed, which the title said it did so I unfortunately had to report it BUT ITS NOT ALL BAD.

The system was actually brand new completely unopened from the original packaging, plastic wrap, manuals, inserts and all. Its specifically a Japanese model but it makes no difference. Im not super well versed in this stuff, I dont have another CiB Gameboy Color to compare it to and take apart but from what I can reference online it seems to be legit.

Im not sure where it came from or what the situation is but this is just so awesome, especially wheb compared to the fact that Gameboy colors in SHITTY condition go for the same price.

I would definitely say buy from the link in the OP if you want one, just don't expect a backlight or anything.

 

[Zero72463]

Buying it right now. Thanks for the description and everything

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

It is not gonna come until a VERY long time, but from what you said it seems worth it! Thanks again!

Besides I like surprising myself with packages like these which I forget by the time they come.

 

[Deleted User]

Buying it right now. Thanks for the description and everything

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

It is not gonna come until a VERY long time, but from what you said it seems worth it! Thanks again!

Besides I like surprising myself with packages like these which I forget by the time they come.

Yeah its definitely the longest Ive ever had to wait for something in the mail, but it ended being very worthwhile

 

[Zero72463]

Yeah its definitely the longest Ive ever had to wait for something in the mail, but it ended being very worthwhile

I never got to experience any Gameboy Color unboxing or anything like that in my childhood.
Now I do and for so cheap yay! I don't have any games for it yet, but by the time it comes I will buy some Pokemon games.

 

[Deleted User]

I never got to experience any Gameboy Color unboxing or anything like that in my childhood.
Now I do and for so cheap yay! I don't have any games for it yet, but by the time it comes I will buy some Pokemon games.

Lucky for you, Gameboy games are dirt cheap if you look hard enough. It doesn't seem like anyone's really collecting them. In the past month alone I've amassed about 40 games and haven't paid more than $5 for any of them. In fact Ive won several lot auctions for just a few bucks each.

Also if a game doesn't have a language barrier, buy the Japanese version! For whatever reason, Japanese retro games are literally pennies a piece. For example: USA Mario Land 2 averages about $15 online. I bought the Japanese version for $1 and it looks mint. Gameboy is region free too btw

Happy Hunting

 

[Zero72463]

Lucky for you, Gameboy games are dirt cheap if you look hard enough. It doesn't seem like anyone's really collecting them. In the past month alone I've amassed about 40 games and haven't paid more than $5 for any of them. In fact Ive won several lot auctions for just a few bucks each.

Also if a game doesn't have a language barrier, buy the Japanese version! For whatever reason, Japanese retro games are literally pennies a piece. For example: USA Mario Land 2 averages about $15 online. I bought the Japanese version for $1 and it looks mint. Gameboy is region free too btw

Happy Hunting

Yep! I really wanted to be a collector and start somewhere, but didn't know where. Thanks for giving me a headstart!

BTW most Pokemon games I seen are like $20. Can you recommend me some good games please?

 

[N64]

Here it is, the grand update

Lets see when I created this thread... A MONTH AND A HALF AGO!!! THIS THING TOOK FOREVER TO COME IN!! Ok the results...

Its a real Gameboy Color! Unfortunately no Backlight was installed, which the title said it did so I unfortunately had to report it BUT ITS NOT ALL BAD.

The system was actually brand new completely unopened from the original packaging, plastic wrap, manuals, inserts and all. Its specifically a Japanese model but it makes no difference. Im not super well versed in this stuff, I dont have another CiB Gameboy Color to compare it to and take apart but from what I can reference online it seems to be legit.

Im not sure where it came from or what the situation is but this is just so awesome, especially wheb compared to the fact that Gameboy colors in SHITTY condition go for the same price.

I would definitely say buy from the link in the OP if you want one, just don't expect a backlight or anything.

can you take pictures and share it? definitely interested

 

[invaderyoyo]

Nice find. I'm gonna have to pick one up.

Edit:

Hey, I would also really appreciate some pics. The Game Boy in the pictures is a very obvious fake. The buttons are the wrong color and the word "COLOR" is way off of what the original looks like.

 

[Zero72463]

Yes can you please provide pictures quickly?

 

[Deleted User]

Nice find. I'm gonna have to pick one up.

Edit:

Hey, I would also really appreciate some pics. The Game Boy in the pictures is a very obvious fake. The buttons are the wrong color and the word "COLOR" is way off of what the original looks like.

Yes can you please provide pictures quickly?

I'll take my own pictures tomorrow but it's exactly this. Had a couple more papers in it though along with the manual.

 

[Hells Malice]

Aren't factory sealed gameboy colors worth a few hundred $? Too lazy to look them up.

 

[invaderyoyo]

I'll take my own pictures tomorrow but it's exactly this. Had a couple more papers in it though along with the manual.

Cool, the one in that picture is legit.

 

[Deleted User]

Yep! I really wanted to be a collector and start somewhere, but didn't know where. Thanks for giving me a headstart!

BTW most Pokemon games I seen are like $20. Can you recommend me some good games please?

Pokémon games are the most expensive games on the system purely because it's Pokémon. If anything they should be the least rare and most common games ever because theyre the highest selling games on the gameboy, its an artificial price hike.
If you really don't wanna pay the high prices for them, buy a bootleg copy thats easy to find on ebay. Shouldn't be more than $5 and they play and save just fine and look close enough to the original cartridges.

For good Gameboy games, theres a lot!
Mario Land 2 is amazing! Its like a small scale, portable Super Mario World. There's also the 3 Wario Land games which are all amazing and arguably the best games on the system, tons of levels for a Gameboy game with lots of secrets and a decent difficulty level too. Gargoyles Quest is a cool RPG and Platformer fusion a lot like Zelda 2. Kirby had an absolutely silly amount of games on the gameboy and they're all pretty good. Metal Gear Solid on GBC is amazing, probably my personal favorite game on the system. Donkey Kong Land trilogy, SNES ports that certainly don't look as good as the original but do keep the great controls and level design.

There's also a lot of games that upon first glance you would think are terrible but are actually pretty good. Harry Potter is a surprisingly solid RPG that's pretty faithful to the series. So really don't be scared to try stuff you've never heard of.

 

[N64]

Just got mine in. Unfortunately, the gameboy is not legitimately new - it is most likely a refurbished unit:

1) no serial number present
2) box shows grape gameboy, actual console was atomic purple
3) buttons on a legitimate atomic purple console should be black. Buttons on my console are gray. I have a legitimate GBC to compare to, and there's a noticeable difference in the buttons
4) infrared port is solid, gray on this console(like a lego piece). Should be shiny black (like glass)
5) the disclaimer sticker on the back looks like it was printed on consumer equipment. It's supposed to gleam a bit, this one is pretty matte.
6) the screws have dirt and wear on them.

So anyone else that is thinking of ordering this and expecting a legit genuine gameboy color, don't do it.

Anyone interested in purchasing mine? Letting go for the cost I paid plus shipping.

 

[invaderyoyo]

Just got mine in. Unfortunately, the gameboy is not legitimately new - it is most likely a refurbished unit:

1) no serial number present
2) box shows grape gameboy, actual console was atomic purple
3) buttons on a legitimate atomic purple console should be black. Buttons on my console are gray. I have a legitimate GBC to compare to, and there's a noticeable difference in the buttons
4) infrared port is solid, gray on this console(like a lego piece). Should be shiny black (like glass)
5) the disclaimer sticker on the back looks like it was printed on consumer equipment. It's supposed to gleam a bit, this one is pretty matte.
6) the screws have dirt and wear on them.

So anyone else that is thinking of ordering this and expecting a legit genuine gameboy color, don't do it.

Anyone interested in purchasing mine? Letting go for the cost I paid plus shipping.

Sorry to hear that. The OP never posted his own pictures after I mentioned that the one in the listing's pictures was an obvious fake so I never went through with it.

Is it the exact one in the pictures on the ebay listing?

 

[N64]

Sorry to hear that. The OP never posted his own pictures after I mentioned that the one in the listing's pictures was an obvious fake so I never went through with it.

Is it the exact one in the pictures on the ebay listing?

Very similar actually. However, the screen looks like a legitimate gameboy color screen - the spacing in the word COLOR is correct, unlike the picture. In fact, the screen is practically new - it even has one of those plastic protectors on it that you have to peel off.
The rest of the pictures though - spot on. In fact, now that I look at the listing again... this picture should've been the telltale sign that this is a refurb and not new: http://www.ebayhost.net/MY4/201609/88092_6.jpg?TaskDetailId=14323376_2c87818d the link port there definitely has wear and tear on it. The screws in this picture also show wear: http://www.ebayhost.net/MY4/201609/88092_3.jpg?TaskDetailId=14323376_56afb07e

I've reached out to the seller to see if he will refund me, but if not I will likely make a case on eBay for falsely advertising a NEW console when it is a REFURB

Edit: here are the pics of what I got in the mail: http://imgur.com/a/wmn1c the last picture ignore the scratches

 

[invaderyoyo]

Very similar actually. However, the screen looks like a legitimate gameboy color screen - the spacing in the word COLOR is correct, unlike the picture. In fact, the screen is practically new - it even has one of those plastic protectors on it that you have to peel off.
The rest of the pictures though - spot on. In fact, now that I look at the listing again... this picture should've been the telltale sign that this is a refurb and not new: http://www.ebayhost.net/MY4/201609/88092_6.jpg?TaskDetailId=14323376_2c87818d the link port there definitely has wear and tear on it. The screws in this picture also show wear: http://www.ebayhost.net/MY4/201609/88092_3.jpg?TaskDetailId=14323376_56afb07e

I've reached out to the seller to see if he will refund me, but if not I will likely make a case on eBay for falsely advertising a NEW console when it is a REFURB

Edit: here are the pics of what I got in the mail: http://imgur.com/a/wmn1c the last picture ignore the scratches

That sucks. $30 is way too much for one of these. Thanks for letting everyone know. I hope you get your money back.