How to Find Games Which Are Out of Print

Sadly, many of the games reviewed in The Game Report have since gone out of print and can be difficult to find. Difficult, but not impossible. Here are some approaches you can take to try to track down the game you're looking for.

  • Haunt local garage sales and thrift shops. You won't find European games this way (unless, of course, you're in Europe), but you'd be amazed at how many out of print American games I've found, usually in great shape, at thrift shops. They're never more than five dollars, either, and are often much less. Check your yellow pages for thrift shops and make a habit of stopping by at least once a month to see what they have.

    Garage sales are a more hit-or-miss proposition, and you should be prepared to visit quite a few before finding anything of interest. But when you do strike gold, it will be worth it. One man's garbage... Check your newspaper for garage sales in your area, and try to get there as early in the day as possible-- the best stuff often disappears quickly.

  • Call your local game shops. Many communities have stores devoted to games. These can be found in your yellow pages under GAMES. If the game you're looking for went out of print recently, your local shop might still have a copy on their shelves.

  • Post a message on rec.games.board.marketplace. The rec.games.board.marketplace newsgroup is dedicated to the buying, selling, and auctioning of used games. Posting a message to that group, asking if anyone has a copy they're willing to sell of the game you're seeking, often has quick results. If you're not living in Europe and are looking for a European game, this avenue offers your best chance of success at a reasonable price. And though there are bad apples in every barrel, most people you'll meet there are trustworthy.

  • Contact a used game dealer. I list this one last because it's often the most expensive option. But if you can't find the game any other way or you just don't want to deal with the hassle, used game dealers may be able to send you a copy immediately. A number of such retailers are listed on TGROnline's Net Board Game Resources page, under the "Retailers" heading.

  • Search one of the online auction sites, such as EBay or Amazon.com. Or you can search over 500 auction sites at once, including Ebay and Amazon, at Bid XS.

    Happy hunting!

    The Game Report Online - Editor: Peter Sarrett (editor@gamereport.com)