Selling Retro Gamer and Edge Magazines.

[Doppleganger]

I'm downsizing and have around 300 issues I want to sell.

 

Before I bulk sell them on somewhere like eBay are there any special or rare editions that could be amongst them that I need to sell separately?

 

For example in my Edge collection I do have Issue 1, Issue 100, Issue 200 and 3 issues of The Edge Files.

 

Thanks.

[dumpster]

I advertised a whole set once, gradually reducing prices and then offering issues 1 -10 as a cheaper deal and ended up giving the first 10 to a mate, saving odd issues for myself and recycling the rest.  I'd assumed a complete collection would have value but it was very heavy and took up loads of room. I ended up feeling I'd be paying someone to take it away. I will follow this thread with interest because I always wondered if I was throwing out a goldmine.

[FishyFish]

I sold a bunch of mine not too long back, but the value has dropped considerably. I have a couple of the Edge Equip specials that didn't shift on eBay at all, even pricing them at a few pounds each. The ones that did sell went for (I think) £3.99 plus postage. They were in immaculate condition.

 

I also sold issues 1-14 (with issue 3 missing) in an official Edge slipcase and those only fetched £30-something. Twenty years ago, before you could find scans online, they'd probably have fetched well over £100.

 

I think the market for videogame magazines has dropped considerably in general. Partly as a result of collectors having less disposable income (or having already acquired the issues they wanted) and also the availability of online scans.

[Parappa]

50 minutes ago, dumpster said:

I advertised a whole set once, gradually reducing prices and then offering issues 1 -10 as a cheaper deal and ended up giving the first 10 to a mate, saving odd issues for myself and recycling the rest.  I'd assumed a complete collection would have value but it was very heavy and took up loads of room. I ended up feeling I'd be paying someone to take it away. I will follow this thread with interest because I always wondered if I was throwing out a goldmine.

haha same as me - I think I have a pretty much complete collection now but it takes up a little to much room and I nearly ruined the lot by putting them in the loft not long ago. 

 

I wonder if they would be some use to one of the Computer Games museums to display them? - I don't want to lose ownership of them but it would be good if others could see them. 

[andys]

I had a bunch of Amiga Formats that I picked up (collection only) off of eBay for about £80 about 15 years ago. 5 years ago I sold them (never got around to reading them and needed the space) - I got about £6 for it. The chap who picked them up actually just gave me a tenner in pity. So I'm not sure they go for loads. Perhaps stick a bunch of them on eBay for collection and see if you get a bite.

[Anne Summers]

If you have the first year of Edge mag (or 1-10 or something similar) I will give you £25 plus postage for them.

No idea how that compares to what you would get on eBay, as I haven't looked, but that's what they are worth to me!

 

 

 

[Vimster]

I have stacks of old computer mags including random issues of Retro Gamer. Some of these are ones I bought at the time including CRASH, Zzap64, various Formats, I even still have some of the very early editions of Your Computer from 1981/1982 I "borrowed" from the school computer lab although they lost their covers many years ago. Right now I have nowhere good to store them, they're in my bedroom taking up space. I'm reluctant to just recycle them and by all accounts you can't even give these things away. 

 

Like most of the computing/gaming stuff I have in my possession they are more an accumulation of random stuff than any sort of collection. I just hold onto them because I always have. 

 

I never read them, would much rather just get some scans online. They're generally much higher quality now than then were 15-20 years ago when I used to read blurry CRASH scans off WOS. 

 

It's like throwing books away, it feels wrong, but if no-one wants them what can you do?

[acidbearboy]

Just to add some balance to the thread - I sold a complete set of Super Play magazines this week for £350. That’s 47 standard issues, plus Super Play Gold and the more recent issue 48 that came with Retro Gamer to coincide with the SNES mini launch. I think we both agreed that 350 was a good price for them. 

[Count Buffalos]

2 hours ago, Vimster said:

I have stacks of old computer mags including random issues of Retro Gamer. Some of these are ones I bought at the time including CRASH, Zzap64, various Formats, I even still have some of the very early editions of Your Computer from 1981/1982 I "borrowed" from the school computer lab although they lost their covers many years ago. Right now I have nowhere good to store them, they're in my bedroom taking up space. I'm reluctant to just recycle them and by all accounts you can't even give these things away. 

 

Like most of the computing/gaming stuff I have in my possession they are more an accumulation of random stuff than any sort of collection. I just hold onto them because I always have. 

 

I never read them, would much rather just get some scans online. They're generally much higher quality now than then were 15-20 years ago when I used to read blurry CRASH scans off WOS. 

 

It's like throwing books away, it feels wrong, but if no-one wants them what can you do?

I’d certainly be interested in buying copies of Crash and Zzap64 if you’re looking to sell them.

[dumpster]

1 hour ago, acidbearboy said:

Just to add some balance to the thread - I sold a complete set of Super Play magazines this week for £350. That’s 47 standard issues, plus Super Play Gold and the more recent issue 48 that came with Retro Gamer to coincide with the SNES mini launch. I think we both agreed that 350 was a good price for them. 

You know, that's confirmed something I was going to suggest in my earlier post.  The problem with a complete collection of Edge (if @earlymodernsteve is reading, this was given to me by Phil before he moved) is that not only does it take up loads of room (and it's so heavy) but also you're kind of entering into a commitment to keep it complete.  My eyes are knackered these days and Edge started using smaller type; it was a magazine I always bought but my complete collection remained complete until 6 months later when I had, like, 3 unread copies or something and realised I was paying more to maintain the collection than to read it.  Plus, do you buy every spin off, every £10 special issue.... I just lost the will to read it all and keep it going.

 

Superplay was a cracking magazine and if there were only ever 47 issues then a complete collection sounds like something I'd bundle together, shrink wrap it and keep it as neat as possible.  I'd imagine that could be worth a fortune in 20 years.  But a complete collection of hundreds of issues of a magazine that's still ongoing is probably more interesting as a fire risk than a collectible. 

[Count Buffalos]

 

47 minutes ago, dumpster said:

My eyes are knackered these days and Edge started using smaller type

 

I know that feeling. Some of those PS1 era of Edge also had some... questionable design and layout, certainly incompatible with my middle aged eyes!

[Anne Summers]

22 hours ago, acidbearboy said:

Just to add some balance to the thread - I sold a complete set of Super Play magazines this week for £350. That’s 47 standard issues, plus Super Play Gold and the more recent issue 48 that came with Retro Gamer to coincide with the SNES mini launch. I think we both agreed that 350 was a good price for them. 

I sold all the doubles I've accumulated so for for my Ace magazine collection - 6 or 7 issues I think - for £60 just before Christmas. So some mags are worth something. Individual issues of Ace tend to go for £10-£20 on eBay in my experience (though I won't pay that much myself, I always buy bundles).

[Madjock]

For the first bunch of years I used to resell my Retro Gamer's on eBay, got back the cover price easily.  It all dried up eventually and I resorted to giving them away/recycling.

Over the last few years I've had them piling up again, going to offer them out for free locally in bulk I think, hate them going into the recycling.

[MattyP]

Recycled my Edge collection a while ago. Kept a few select issues mainly the 100th Edge with the cover drawn by Miyamoto and the three file issues which captured many of the significant stories and developments over the era.

 

I couldn't even give the old mags away even to libraries etc didn't want them.... So off they went to be recycled into making something else....

[Ninja Doctor]

Take them when you go to a dentists or doctors and leave them in the waiting room. 
 

Much better than a 2 year old copy of woman’s weekly. 

[Ketchup]

If anyone has earlier issues of RG (anything issues 1-50) I’ll take them off your hands.

[Bangaio]

Im

missing issue 1 of edge and then have everything to 100. I sold the rest ages ago. If it’s spare I’d be interested. 

[Anne Summers]

On 15/01/2023 at 17:11, MattyP said:

Recycled my Edge collection a while ago. Kept a few select issues mainly the 100th Edge with the cover drawn by Miyamoto and the three file issues which captured many of the significant stories and developments over the era.

 

I couldn't even give the old mags away even to libraries etc didn't want them.... So off they went to be recycled into making something else....

Is 100 worth anything? I bought it at the time and intended to keep it pristine as I had a feeling it might be valuable one day. Of course I lost it ages ago. 

[Lorfarius]

54 minutes ago, Anne Summers said:

Is 100 worth anything? I bought it at the time and intended to keep it pristine as I had a feeling it might be valuable one day. Of course I lost it ages ago. 

 

£6 on ebay 🤣

[JamesC]

I'd be interested in early Edge magazines but I have no idea how much they're worth.

[MattyP]

1 hour ago, Anne Summers said:

Is 100 worth anything? I bought it at the time and intended to keep it pristine as I had a feeling it might be valuable one day. Of course I lost it ages ago. 

 

1 hour ago, Lorfarius said:

 

£6 on ebay 🤣

 

 Worth more to me TBH...

[ManWithNoName]

I'm always interested in vintage gaming mags - especially Edge, C&VG, Newsfield - so if you want some money for them, let me know what you have 

[gizmo1990]

The mag market is very very particular. In my experience it's become insanely, off-puttingly expensive now but I guess thats down to the mags I'm interested in.

 

Edge is an interesting one. It's profile means people think it must be worth money, especially the early issues, but it's  just one of those mags which very few people are interested in, nostalgically speaking.

[Gorf]

30 minutes ago, gizmo1990 said:

The mag market is very very particular. In my experience it's become insanely, off-puttingly expensive now but I guess thats down to the mags I'm interested in.

 

Edge is an interesting one. It's profile means people think it must be worth money, especially the early issues, but it's  just one of those mags which very few people are interested in, nostalgically speaking.

What old games magazines are the most expensive nowadays?

 

A quick look on eBay sold items and I’m surprised N64 magazine is expensive for big bundles, but then again maybe not because it was mostly great

 

Arcade magazine was quite good back in the day I thought but seems very cheap

 

Super play looks up and down

[gizmo1990]

It's all very contrary and difficult to pin down. Like most vintage stuff really. I'd say that perceived fame is still always a big driver. Early console mags. And the 80s for the most part. Take Mean Machines for example. Of course, how many copies actually go for their bin prices is a completely different matter! Unfortunately mags seem to be getting invaded by speculators just like retro games.

 

Another good example of a magazine which simply isn't worth anything yet you'd of thought it would be.. Maximum. Imo the later 90s mags and onwards just don't have the level of writing and journalism as the older mags. Perhaps that plays a part too.

 

 

 

 

[WibbleWorldGiddy]

The original Official Playstation magazine (PS1) sell for crazy prices nowadays, while most unofficial PS1 mags can be picked up for pennies.

 

[Protocol Penguin]

 

17 hours ago, gizmo1990 said:

Edge is an interesting one. Its profile means people think it must be worth money, especially the early issues, but it's  just one of those mags which very few people are interested in, nostalgically speaking.

Know the feeling, I have sealed issues of Edge from the mid ‘90s that I’ve never been able to give away, let alone sell for a modest amount.

 

(Spent some of wages from my first part time job c. 2000 on Super Play back issues on eBay to fill out my collection. Regret not buying the 3 I still am missing while they were cheap!)

[Anne Summers]

On 10/02/2023 at 21:43, gizmo1990 said:

It's all very contrary and difficult to pin down. Like most vintage stuff really. I'd say that perceived fame is still always a big driver. Early console mags. And the 80s for the most part. Take Mean Machines for example. Of course, how many copies actually go for their bin prices is a completely different matter! Unfortunately mags seem to be getting invaded by speculators just like retro games.

 

Another good example of a magazine which simply isn't worth anything yet you'd of thought it would be.. Maximum. Imo the later 90s mags and onwards just don't have the level of writing and journalism as the older mags. Perhaps that plays a part too.

 

 

 

 

I've been following the prices quite closely for a few years now and can tell you that most don't go for anything like the silly BIN prices that are listed. For example I mainly pick up Ace and C&VG's from the 80s and there are tons of listings with the BINs around £20 per issue. But if you browse for individual issues with "sold" checked you see they go actually go for £5-8 (mostly to me). 

[gizmo1990]

Aye, I know. It's just that the fact that you're seeing those bin prices now is affecting the overall market, imo. The auction prices are also not what they were, even say 3-4 years ago. Personally, £6+ is beyond my range for what I feel is justified. Especially considering what I was used to paying and the condition of the of the mags themselves.

[bplus]

I've got about 4 years worth maybe more of retro gamer sub issues. I think I should just bin them. Is my only chance of getting something for them by selling individual issues on eBay?