Earn Money by Repairing and Selling Used Video Games: A Step-by-Step Guide (USA/Canada)

Hello everyone! Today, I will guide you on how to earn some side money by repairing and selling used video games and consoles. This guide is designed for those who are looking for a profitable side hustle, with some time commitment required for fixing the video games and consoles.



Chapter 1: What Do You Need to Start?

Before you begin, here's what you'll need:

Startup Capital - To buy repair supplies and broken consoles/games
Repair Supplies Distributor
Camera - To take high-quality pictures of your repaired items for online listings

Chapter 2: Where to Find Broken/Damaged Consoles and Video Games?

You can find these items in various places such as:

Local pawn shops (Ask them if they have any broken supply)
Facebook marketplace (Best place for me)
Friends
Whatnot (Auction mobile app)

Chapter 3: Easy-to-Repair and Sellable Items

Here's a list of items that you can buy, repair, and sell:

Nintendo 64 controllers (preferably rare-colored ones): You can buy controllers with broken joysticks, shells, or cables - all of which are easy fixes.

NES: Most of the time, you just need to replace the 72-pin connector. This task typically takes about 10-15 minutes.

Nintendo 3DS: I usually buy consoles with bad batteries or no chargers.

Nintendo Wii: I usually buy consoles with missing parts like doors, cables, etc.

Scratched DVDs Games (NOT Blu-rays or deeply scratched ones): Xbox 360, Wii, GameCube games, etc. To repair these DVDs, find someone who offers disc resurfacing services. Usually, it costs around $3 per disc. You can sell the repaired discs at a premium when they are in top shape.

And much more..

Chapter 4: Making Money from Your Repairs

For this part, you'll need a distributor to get repair materials at cost. But most distributors require a company tax ID, company address, and more. That's where XYAB comes in.

XYAB is a distributor that accepts almost everyone. If you have an eBay account with a few feedback entries, you should be good to go. Plus, when you register with XYAB, you get $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

XYAB is not required, but make your profit much higher.

To register, visit their website here: XYAB.COM

Simply fill in your personal info during registration. Later, someone will contact you via email to discuss further details.

For part 03, you need to put Online Website and your Ebay store (Or facebook page or something)



Once you have an account, you have access to various wholesale supplies. Some of the essential and profitable items I always have in stock are:

Nintendo screwdriver: Essential for opening any Nintendo product and can be sold locally for a good profit.



Nintendo RCA cable: A good buy if your console is missing cables.



Joystick replacement for N64 controller: A super easy fix where you just need to remove 3 screws and unplug a cable.



GameCube controller: When you buy a GameCube, you can include 2 non-OEM controllers in the lot. This helps with selling the lot and only costs you an extra $8.



Chapter 5: Evaluating Purchases and Calculating Profits

Understanding the potential profitability of a purchase is crucial to your success in this endeavor. Here's how you can evaluate if an item is a good purchase and calculate your potential profit:

Research Market Prices: The first step in assessing a good purchase is to research what similar items are selling for. Look at online marketplaces like eBay to see what the going rates are for the item in both its current (damaged) condition and its repaired state. This will give you an idea of the potential selling price post-repair.

Calculate Repair Costs: Next, estimate the cost to repair the item. This includes the cost of parts and your time. If you value your time at $20 per hour and a repair takes two hours, that's $40 in labor cost. Add that to the cost of parts from your distributor, say $10, and your total repair cost is $50.

Determine Total Investment: Add your purchase cost and repair cost to determine your total investment. If you bought the item for $30 and your repair cost is $50, your total investment is $80.

Evaluate Profit Potential: Now, subtract your total investment from the potential selling price you researched earlier. If you anticipate selling the repaired item for $130, and your total investment is $80, you're looking at a potential profit of $50.

Consider Risk: Finally, consider the risk associated with the item. Some items may be riskier to repair due to potential unseen issues or a volatile market price. It's essential to factor this into your decision-making process.

Chapter 6: The Power of Bundling

Bundling is a marketing strategy that involves offering several related products for sale as one combined product. This approach often appeals to consumers, as it simplifies decision-making and can provide perceived value. When selling consoles and video games, creating attractive bundles can increase the overall appeal and value of your listings. Here's how:

1. Combine Related Products: Always aim to include at least one console, two controllers, and a few popular games in your bundle. This provides a ready-to-play experience right out of the box and can make your listing more appealing to potential buyers.
   
   
2. Provide a Full Experience: For example, if you're selling a Nintendo Wii, you might consider bundling it with essential accessories like a Wii Remote, Nunchuk, and a few popular games like Wii Sports or Super Mario Bros. Wii. This gives buyers everything they need to start playing as soon as they receive the bundle.
   
   
3. Add Value with Extras: Including extra accessories or games in your bundles can add perceived value. For instance, including a memory card with a PlayStation 2 console, or adding an extra game to your bundle can be a great selling point. Check XYAB for wholesale prices on accessories and games to include in your bundles.
   
   
4. Price Accordingly: When pricing your bundles, remember to account for each individual item. The bundle should be slightly cheaper than buying all items separately to reflect the convenience value provided to the buyer.

Bundling not only increases the attractiveness of your listing but can also boost your profits by selling multiple items in one go. It's a win-win strategy that benefits both you and your potential buyers.

Remember, XYAB can be an excellent resource for finding inexpensive items to include in your bundles. This helps increase your overall profit margin.

Chapter 7: Taking High-Quality Pictures for Listings

Pictures play a critical role in the sale of your items. Quality images make your listings more attractive, professional, and trustworthy to potential buyers. Here's how to take good product pictures:

1. Background: Use a plain, neutral-colored background (like white or light grey). This ensures that the focus remains solely on your product. A clean, uncluttered backdrop can be easily created with a roll of craft paper or a well-lit, untextured wall in your home.
   
   
2. Lighting: Good lighting is key for product photography. Natural light is ideal because it shows the true colors of the product. If possible, take pictures near a window during the day. If you don't have access to natural light, use lamps to ensure the item is well lit.
   
   
3. Angles and Details: Take pictures from different angles and include close-ups of any special features or flaws. This gives buyers a better understanding of the product's condition and value.
   
   
4. Cleanliness: Make sure the item is clean before photographing it. Dust and smudges can be more visible in photos, and a clean, well-maintained item is more appealing to potential buyers.
   
   
5. Editing: Once you've taken the pictures, use simple editing software to adjust brightness and contrast, if necessary. But remember, don't over-edit - you want to accurately represent the product.
   
   High-quality images can make a big difference in selling your repaired video games and consoles. Remember, most people will first see your item in a thumbnail image among many others, so make that first impression count!

Look around the website for parts and identify items that you can fix easily. Most repairs require minimal time. Once the console or game is repaired, clean it and list it for sale on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

With cheap repair parts and replacement items, you can make a good profit. Most people just want a working console with a controller and working games.

Typically, I reserve the high-quality stuff for eBay (where I can demand a premium) and sell the OK-condition stock on Facebook Marketplace.

I earn an additional $2000-$6000 a month doing this, depending on how many hours I invest after work.


I hope this guide has been helpful. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask!

 

I like this, and this is as someone who has an nintendo 64.

Although in the UK it's less popular, 100% worth looking into.

 

Thank you for this, im gonna give this a try, ive been out of work for some time now and due to some medical stuff am very limited to what jobs i can do ( my profession before was very physical and required wearing respirators which i cant do anymore). so hopefully i can make this work.

 

Hows it been so far?

 

Thank you for the guide. If I will make at least 100$ I will be extremely thankful!