Off House and their Tape Fetish

[Yakumo]

Yeah, I always look for those. The best deal I ever got was 500 yen for a completely mint SuperGrafx.

oh that is the deal of the year! I bet who ever priced that up got a right kicking.

[HCK]

I love Hard Off...




I hate Hard Off...



This is what I meant by tape fetish. They've taken this loverly Duo and put packing tape all along the top to stop people from opening it. The even wrapped it around the sides and folded the bits that stuck out and tapes those down as well so they looked neat. This is only taped on top, but I've seen them tape top, bottom, and sides.

Inside everything was in sparkling condition and it had all the manuals et al, and it was 5,000 yen, so I got it anyway. Got the GC, too.

[Yakumo]

The tape on the Duo box is a big nono. Luckily the guys in my local Hard Off would never do that with them being gamers. They normal wrap a think band of shrink wrap film around the box. Stops people from opening it but also keeps the box fresh.

Yakumo

[Marmotta]

The tape on the Duo box is a big nono. Luckily the guys in my local Hard Off would never do that with them being gamers. They normal wrap a think band of shrink wrap film around the box. Stops people from opening it but also keeps the box fresh.

Yakumo

Same with the Snes Jr, Famicom and Gameboy Color I bought from Book Off in Tokyo. Still slightly annoying for myself as a foreigner, as the only comments I could understand on any of the boxes was "kizu" and I'd rather be able to have a proper look at the stuff, but I guess it's a decent way of doing it as long as they're accurate with their descriptions. Turned out the Snes Jr and Famicom were both missing AV leads and the Famicom needed a new PSU, but was still worth it and my boxes weren't messed up.

Mind you, some of the Hard Off tape isn't anywhere near as bad as stuff in mint condition that's been sent to me from Japan in the original box, but completely covered in the toughest parcel tape known to man:dammit:

[Yakumo]

In Hard Off you can ask at the counter to look in to the box before buying. I do it pretty much all the time. I also do it when Buying games at Manga Soko. While they have some great deals on mint items, the sneaky shits will sometimes try and sell you something covered in crap or a yellow console that should be white.

So, don't be afraid to ask to look in to the case when you shop at 2nd hand stores. There's no shame in doing so.

Yakumo

[Jamtex]

Er you are aware that the Super Famicom Jr not New Famicom did not come with AV leads originally? So they probably pack it up as it was. I am not sure there was any room in the New Famicom box for a PSU either (as it was assumed you would upgrade from the old one or you had SFC).

As a rule you should check this as you leave the store then you would not be disappointed, however it probably said so on the label anyway. I have managed to return a couple of games as they were the wrong ones or were missing from the case, even for Junk items.

[HCK]

Today I picked up 2 Metal Gear Game Cubes, a Starlight Gold Game Cube, and a MIB Panasonic Q. It was a GC day.

[HCK]

That's a great PC Engine selection you've got there, Tachikawa Off House.


:lol:

[Tatsujin]

ROLF

[Cyantist]

ROLF

[APE]

Somewhat off topic: Whats the significance of the name Hard Off and Hobby Off? Is "Off" just another term that Japanese people use liberally? Like "New Item Get", where get it isn't really used in the right manner?

I don't know about anyone else but I kinda got the vibe that it sounded like a euphemism for ejaculation using poor English.

"HARD GAY!!! WHOOOOO!"

[HCK]

Anyone care for a copy of Kirby Star Stacker on the GB? It's 20% off...

[Yakumo]

Is that a rare game? I know nothing about GameBoy stuff.

Yakumo

[HCK]

Is that a rare game? I know nothing about GameBoy stuff.

Yakumo

Not really. They had a bunch of loose GB games with insaino pricing. Kirby Tilt n' Tumble was also 2990 yen. Loose.

[Segafreak_NL]

Keep the pictures coming :)

[HCK]

Deal of the century here... a bit of a fixer-upper; but it IS only 800 yen...



I think it has that cracked hinge problem I've heard about.

[Dragythu]

I got Final Fantasy IV and V, not wrapped but in mint conditon, for 105 yen each. It was shocking the amount of stuff they had for that amount of money over there simply because they couldn't be bothered to test the unboxed equipment. Iirc there were complete NTSC-J Super Famicom systems there for 105JPY

[HCK]

Well, I've been in the midst of moving (that's why I really haven't been on... no internet) and so the Off House that loves tape will soon be but a "happy" memory. Here's the last two photos I took there....




And this really goes to show the kind of respect these folks have for games. Here's a picture I snapped of their trash:

[HCK]

And then here's some stuff I found at the Hard Off nearest my new apartment. God, I love you, new Hard Off! The MD stuff was a bundle:




And for those of you who can't read Japanese, the tag says this Saturn has been modded to play games from all regions.

[Jamtex]

I thought you were moving to China? And are you in the west in the Tokyo prefecture rather then Tokyo City? :p