Let's Make a Deal.... (Or at least GET one!)

While games are a good investment as far as I am concerned, some of them can be rather expensive. While we have a closet and a bookshelf crammed full of games, allow me to say that we RARELY pay full price for them. There are a lot of options for finding them inexpensively, even if you are after some of the more "specialty" games that typically have to be purchased at game stores. Below I will share some of my favorite places to find games.

YARD SALES/CONSIGNMENT SALES/THRIFT STORES

First and foremost my favorite place to find games (especially family and kid games) is at yard sales. From anywhere around 25cents to a couple of bucks you can find TONS of games. All it takes is a little treasure hunting and some investigating.  Last weekend I got Cranium (which is a $25 game) for $2. It doesn't appear to have ever been played.  I also picked up Pictureka for $1.00. Most of Coleman's games have been second hand finds.  I have found our all time favorite party game, Apples to Apples (which is a $25.00 game) on three seperate occasions for $2, once it was still sealed! 

Another favorite place for secondhand games is the Thrift Store. We have several in our area, and I love to go browse through there and see what they have. A lot of people will just donate their stuff to get the tax write off and avoid the hassle of a yard sale, so you can find a lot of good stuff. The games there might be taped shut, but if you ask an employee if you can check the contents they usually don't mind if you open them. 

Consignment sales have lots of good kid and family games, and those ususally have all their bits included because that is just a rule of consignment. I usually check the games area of our local consignment sales first so I don't miss something I have been wanting for a while.

The key to buying games at sales? Checking carefully to be sure all the vital parts are there. If you are getting a set of Uno cards, one or two missing from the deck is really no big deal. However, a missing alphabet dice from Scattergories is a deal breaker. Just look on the back of the box or the instructions to see what should be included. Remember that a lot of peices from one game you already own might be able to be used to replace missing bits in one you find cheap. Things such as pawns, regular numbered dice, play money can probably be borrowed from something you already have. I actually have a little ziplock bag of these things that are extra, so a missing part is usually no big deal. Sometimes I have been known to manufacture (using my computer and scanner) a missing cardboard tile or two as well. Also, most games instructions are available online, so if the instruction sheet is missing, it is no big deal at all. Go to the manufacturer's website or Boardgamegeek  for the rules.

 Most of the games you will run across at sales will be the type you will find at Wal-Mart, Target, ToysRUs.

THE INTERNET

There's lots of great retailers for specialty games on the internet. We particularly like to shop at Time Well Spent because they are Christians and have great customer service. They also have pretty competitive pricing, which is the most important factor in my book.  Another great site is Funagain Games. It is also possible to find more of the specialty games (as well as pretty much all of the traditional games) at sites like Amazon.com and Target.com.

If you want to find games cheaper than retail, eBay is a great option, and so is Board Game Geek. The BGG Bazaar always has games listed for sale, trade or auction. You can browse by game name, or search for a game you are looking for.

SANTA CLAUS,  EASTER BUNNY & THE BIRTHDAY FAIRY

These guys all bring games to our house. Why not put a few on your list and let them bring them your way too? As for us, we are getting a few games for Christmas. Coleman is getting Connect 4x4 and Pictureka (both of which I got as great deals), and I am asking for Banangrams and maybe something else as well.

DEALS FOR BUYING AT REGULAR RETAIL OUTLETS

So, you are giving a game as a gift and think it would be most appropriate if it were new? Well, then you are obviously not giving it to me, cause I would rather get 2 gently used games than one brand spanking new one, BUT I do realize some people do consider it in bad taste to give gifts that have been pre-owned.  I don't have as many tips for saving money at your regular retailer, but here's a few. These tips apply to items other than games as well.

1. It is not commonly known (or practiced by the average consumer) that Target and Walmart will both match any advertised price of a competitor. Simply bring in the sale ad with the cheaper price and they will match it at the register. You must bring in the actual ad, and bring the whole thing so they can verify it is the real deal if necessary.

2. Check online for coupons before heading to the store. Simply google "Connect 4 coupon", click a few times and THIS might appear magically on your screen. Print them out and take them to your retailer. You can combine #1 with #2 for the best deals. Many retailers are more hesitant to accept internet coupons, but I know for a fact that Target, WalMart and Toys R Us will all accept them, especially if they have a bar code on the coupon. Most of these coupons can only be printed 2 times, so hang on to them and be sure to pay attention to the expiration date.

3. Target has coupons online and in their holiday toy book. Many people do not know that Target will accept 1 manufacturer's coupon AND their own store coupon, allowing you to use BOTH coupons on the same item.  For example, Connect 4x4 (which is new for this Christmas season) is on sale this week for $16.99. Use the Hasbro coupon from #2 and the Target coupon HERE to bring your price down to $6.99.

4. Combine Price match from #1 (WalMart has Connect 4 for $15 this week), manufacturer's coupon from #2 and Target coupon from #3 and your total becomes $5. Granted, this may or may not work for you depending on the cashier and manager at your local store, but it does work more often than not and it never hurts to ask. If the cashier says no, take your receipt up to customer service and ask to speak to a manager and see if they are willing to do it. Always be nice! That old saying about flies, honey and vinegar? Totally true. 

Hope I have helped someone find a few deals this holiday season, and through the next years as well!