I have found that to really turn a profit from this is getting the gameboys themselves super cheap, which is very hard to do today. But it is possible to do if you have a network of people to help with that. I have friends at swap meets that hold them for me, and sell them to me at lower prices. It really helps.
I was thinking about modding and selling gameboy colors to make a small profit but it's hard getting them cheap these days plus China's got the market pretty much cornered.
Living in Japan I turn a big profit on Game Boys. I'll give the going prices that I have have sold units for: Game Boy Zero - $400.00......Profit: $300.00 GBA SP (IPS v2) - $140.00.....Profit: $60.00 GBA SP AGS-101 - $140.00+......Profit: $0 GBA (Chinese AGS-101 and reshell) - $140.00.......Profit: $60.00 - $70.00 GBA (IPS v2 and reshell) - $140.00......Profit: $60.00 - $70.00 GBC (Chinese Backlit LCD and PAM amp) - $140.00.....Profit: $60.00 - $70.00 GBL - $100.00......Profit: $60.00 - $70.00 GBP (LED Backlight and 5v mod) - $120.00.....Profit: $100.00 DMG (LED Backlight) - $120.00.....Profit: $100.00 I can get most Game Boys for around $10.00 to $20.00 in good condition with free shipping, AGS-001's for around $30.00 and AGS-101 go for $140.00 so I don't even look. New shells are around $10.00, LED backlight kits are around $10.00, LCD backlight kits are around $40.00 to $50.00. There is a lot of profit to be made. GBZs make the most profit but they require a lot of time and work. The new drop in kits have a lower profit margin due to the price of the screens, but are so quick and easy to pump out. Plus I can focus on getting GBs with broken screens. The problem is that it's a niche market. There are only so many people that want retro handhelds in 2019.
I’ve always been into gameboys since I was like 6 or 7 and recently got into refurbishing them a few months ago. At first I thought I could do it as a side business while it being something I genuinely enjoy, but then I realized that I could still do it as a hobby regardless if I make $10 or a $100 back on selling refurbished or modded gameboys. Recently I haven’t been viewing it as a business, more like an exchange. I refurbish them for fun and then find it a nice home for someone else to enjoy for themselves. I think of it as keeping the spirit alive. It’s been so much fun and almost therapeutic in a way. And sorry about your situation. It has its pros and cons just like anything else. I’d say to just do what you can and take a breather. Keep up the great content.
Really appreciate that! That's a great way to look at it and definitely similar to how I feel about it too. Sharing Game Boys with friends and the rest of the community makes me happy as well as making videos.
Like the vlog style format. Been there with biting off more than I can chew. It can be hard, but there’s only one way to find out if you can do it and that’s to try. Too many have great ideas but because of fear they don’t pursue it. Good on you for trying and learning. I was thinking crowed funding to help with getting caught up on your orders and to help you with your game. I’d donate!
I mod and repair a ton of consoles just because I find the process rather soothing and fun. It's like solving a puzzle. I do end up keeping the consoles but if I chose to sell them, I could price them very competitively and still likely make a profit on them. In this case it's because I am undervaluing my labor costs since when I do things for fun (or for me) I can disregard that sort of thing. If I were doing it as a business, I have no idea how I'd stay afloat. I'd have to cut corners just to keep labor times reasonable or work for less than minimum wage just to ensure things live up to my standards (and for those reading this who are familiar with my channel, I also do a lot of work and cleaning off-camera too). So yeah, I absolutely believe you when you say that it takes a certain kind of person to do this stuff. If there's anything you can think of as far as ways we can perhaps help each other out, you know how to contact me. I'd love to see you finish working through the 13+ month backlog you have right now. I was thinking about your games. You say you want to get some shells cast for custom repros -- have you considered using any of the open source MBC1/5 verilog re-implementations? That way you could just use standard shells and you wouldn't have to deal with the iffy QC of Chinese bootleg/repros. If you didn't want to make your own carts either, you could probably work something out with Alex from insideGadgets. He's got some fantastic carts. Finally, back to casting again. I really want to get into it. I keep talking myself out of it because I have none of the peripheral requirements for good quality casting. I know you can work around not having a vacuum chamber or pressure pot, but when I get into something, I fall all the way down the rabbit hole. So between those tools and just the sheer cost of supplies, I've been putting off getting into that for now. However, it looks like that bug already bit you so if you find yourself wanting to take commissions for custom casts, let me know. I'd love to get some custom Micro parts that are otherwise not really easy to get. I'm specifically looking for replacement frames. Sorry for the wall of text. I got a bit carried away.
Exactly. I think we sell 'modded' Gameboys simply because we found them best up, cleaned em up, and sold them off later on when we know they're going to a good home or to a good collector. That's how I see it.
Love this channel, nice to see you just chatting :). I'd like to see a few more uploads maybe but I get that your busy . Maybe a video on where you get good quality parts or hard to find parts? Video on actually restoring parts not like replacing them (like most restore channels do) I get it's not always possible but itd be nice to see how to freshen up an old shell or something. Or the dos and dont of refurb
Saza Street Thanks! Those are some great suggestions. I promise I’m not going anywhere, just plan on stopping Game Boy modding as a business in order to focus more on videos. :)
Hey Sean, I bought one of you Gameboy color ags-101 mods, was a bit of a wait but it's still my favourite console for everyday playing. Solid piece, high level of workmanship: a token of your time and effort. Thank you!
I find restoring and refurbishing old handhelds very interesting,, never even owned a game boy though. I just like to watch great people like you do it. Thinking of start some day little by little. Please keep making that kind of videos! Good work.
Very useful/interesting/informative video. Thanks for making it and sharing your story. It's crazy how similar people's stories can be without even realizing it. If you swap the modding and gamedev parts of your life, it pretty much becomes my own story. I'm very familiar with what you're talking about when it comes to "programming roadblocks" that are really huge sections of knowledge that feel like they're very intensive to tackle and understand. I'm not sure everyone who's interested in these things is cut out for making a living from them, but... you'll never known unless you try, and some portion of the people who try will make it in the end, right? So why not try. I've very recently put myself back on the gamedev path, and I hope you find the motivation and discipline to push through and continue. You've already found an audience and at least some measure of financial success with modding, even with the learning curve you described, and I don't think you should downplay that. There are lots of people (myself included) who are intrigued by the modding world but will never make it as far as you did for fear of just trying. Thanks again for sharing Sean, and good luck in the future.
Well, I really like the issue of mods, and I really enjoy your work, if it is in your possibilities, it would be great if you did mods for retro desktop consoles (NES, SNES, etc.) I hope you can continue with your plans
Just started in this business and I feel like the market is too small. People are capable of doing it themselves and I've seen them do it too. You would have to be innovative in the field, creating something new and efficient. I have a few ideas but no clue how to execute em. Best Ian
I agree, I mod locally and post them on a yardsales site. Its just such a niche market. The guys I have sold units to are super stoked and I have return customers....but they are few and far between. I have sold a few on line, but the fee and shipping squeeze the profit margin a bit too much sometimes.
@@OkiDingo To add on, the price to backlight along with cost of the gameboy, as well as cost of labor causes the price to skyrocket. And its so easy to be beaten out by the cheap Chinese backlight mods and shells. Furthermore, the prices of quality backlights are expensive as is and you have to wait on shipping.
Do you know about the Retropie community? Game Boy Zero, etc? Since you know a bit about software and modding native Game Boy hardware, I think you have serious potential in making handheld Raspberry Pi consoles. I've actually made a couple GBC Pi consoles for myself. Since the possibilities are endless (especially with Arduino), I am curious to see how you would approach making your own.
Yeah! I actually have a Kite Circuit Sword kit and several of Sudomod Wermy's kits. I used to be active on their forums, but haven't had as much time lately. One day soon. :)
Hello, could you do a tutorial on how to make the vga mod to the Gameboy DMG please? Until now nobody has done it and I think it would be a very good complementary project to the modification of Gameboy, thanks in advance, greetings.
I'm thinking to start such here on Balkan, but i won't take endless amount of orders. I may take up to 3-5 per week/month. Refurbish them, mod them. And so on, but i need to learn to fix such stuff first. Cause i know it's not easy. But one day. :P
As you know my friend I am and Sean, you are a awesome, honest and brilliant person indeed, this video is very touching, thank you! Italy is a tough one country to deal with, but I am doing it no matter what. Inventing something new , giving the best service and being honest with my customers are my living routine and these work, even though don't make you rich! Working with videogames stores for repairing their broken consoles and selling my own series there are also helping me a lot, if I didn't offer such a service I had to stop making it long time ago.. an advice for the youngers: make the Ohm law your best friend and improve your soldering techniques they are the most important knowledges to own for doing such a fun job for a living and be honest, EVER, no matter what you offer or what you do, without it you will not do this awesome Job for a long time..
If you ever need help with the audio aspect of your game, such as sound design and music, feel free to contact me. I’m an Acoustic Engineer who just recently found your channel and really appreciate not only your content but also the way it’s presented. I wish you the best of opportunities! =]
Modding business definitely way stressful than office job 😅 but can be managed well 💪 Anyway, now is a best time to quit, market fulfilled already. I sell very few console nowadays, at least need take a pause to have a rest and come back with new ideas 🙏
Consistency, talk or show off anything you are working on. Worst thing you can do on RU-vid is be sporadic with your uploads. If you are going to do this platform please commit. ;-) Clearly we love your work, keep it up.
You know, I sell modded GBs and sometimes I feel like I am ripping people off. But they are happy and it really does take time and patience to mod these old handhelds. I might make $40.00 or $60.00 but it took hours of cleaning and then getting the mod just right to where it is perfect. I have serious OCD for crooked thing some I end up opening and closing the case a dozen times.
I think you should start a modding business only if you have time. There's no doubt whatever mods you decide to sell, will sell out. I would look into mass production to keep up with demand.
Dude! Absolutely understandable. Hit me up @drb_customs on Instagram I'm thinking of doing some one offs. Whatever you do I will be interested anyway. Have a good Christmas Sean.
