We all know with the economy it is tough to get a new game. But no worries because I know some methods for you to save money.
1. Have each friend collect a specific game
What I mean by this is each person out of the group of gamers you regularly play with collects one type of game. My friends and I do this all the time. When it comes to playing Dominion we have 1 person who has every set while the rest of us don't have any. I own all the Heroscape so when it comes to miniatures we are set. And we have a friend who owns all sorts of different games that we keep track of so we don't purchase a copy of it ourselves.
This method is very effective when you have a group of friends who have been playing together for years. We all know each other for over a decade so our trust is at its highest. You can also contribute to a friend's collection by donating a game.
Some of the Heroscape figures I own were given to me by my friends just because they wanted to make sure all the Heroscape we've collected is in one spot to rely on. I make sure that when we want to play Heroscape that all of our figures are ready to go.
This method can also be a good way to give someone a great gift. Since each of us knows who likes what we are set to help them out in their collection.
Of course this method isn't for everybody. Some of you don't have friends or friends who don't play games. But don't worry because you should make friends. The games are mostly played with other people so if you can't do this method I highly suggest building a group of friends and trying this out.
2. Online Stores
So I have friends who buy specific games but where do they get them. We mostly shop online because we save money on gas and it is cheaper. There are many great retailers on the web that do free shipping if you purchase enough. If you can't spend enough to get the free shipping deal then make an offer to a friend who is also looking to purchase a game. We do this all the time.
Another way is to find save lots of money is through researching. from different online retailers. It takes some time and effort but in the long run you save a lot even when you have to spend on shipping.
The only flaw of relying on an online retailer is the availability of their products and delayed pre-orders. Most online retailers will be out of stock on a popular product. That is method 3 will come in handy.
Here is a list of online retailers I shop from:
CoolStuffInc - http://www.coolstuffinc.com/
These guys sell everything in the gaming business. Their prices are good and service great. A very good choice to buy from.
Troll and Toad - http://www.trollandtoad.com/
The oldest online retailer I know. I used to buy them when there was no internet. Great service and a wide selection of games.
Fun Again Games - http://www.funagain.com/
These guys are really good. Prices are great. Service even better. I definitely recommend them.
House Mouse Games - http://www.housemousegames.com/
The best retailer for Heroscape. Even as Heroscape discontinued they still have a large selection of figures to sell. And their price and shipping cost is the lowest of all Heroscape dealers.
3. eBay
Although you save a lot of money through online retailers the best online source for inexpensive games is eBay. I have saved so much from eBay and there is an abundance of games to choose from.
When it comes to having products in stock eBay has it available everytime! Because of the many dealers on there you will never find a dealer without a demanding product. And the pricing is great. Actually, it is the best!
The only flaw of eBay is if you are going to save money by purchasing used games. This is a great way to save money and I do it all the time. But there is the chance that the game comes with missing pieces or severely damaged. I have purchased a lot of games off eBay (board games, miniatures, cards, etc) and have never came up with a problem. But I have boughten other products off eBay and a few of them came damaged.
To avoid purchasing damaged products you must make sure to pay for insurance. Most eBay dealers never want to refund their product to you. So you will want to pay an extra dollar for insurance if you are purchasing a product that is $50.00 or more.
Another tip to avoid bad purchases is to be weary of dealers from China. They mostly sell defective products from their warehouses at insanely low prices. So make sure you know who you are purchasing from or else you will be dissapointed!
4. Garage Sales
This method is a great way to save 90% of the retail price on a game. At garage sales the seller really wants to just get rid of his junk. Some of this junk is like treasure to you. I have bougthen a $100 game (World of Warcraft Board Game) for $5 at a yard sale. It came with all pieces and was a blast to play. You can save this much by browsing around your neighborhood or going to garage sale events. But you gotta becareful when purchasing a game. You don't want to ever spend more than 25% of the game's retail price because it might be missing some pieces. This is a common problem when purchasing a game at a garage sale.
It takes experience to get good deals but in the long run your collection of games will grow without breaking your pocket.
5. Trading
This is another great way to save money on a game you want. You can trade games on Board Game Geek or other trading sites. I have never actually traded a board game online but I have done trades at my local game store and that is where I truly recommend trading your game. Trading at your local game store means you make the exchange in person plus build your network of traders. You should try this out by going to your local game store and play some board games with the costumers there. After making friends, you can discuss games that you don't want to keep anymore and maybe that will start the conversation on a trade.
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