Vintage Simon Game -- Great Thrift Store Finds

Hey folks.

Part of the fun of reselling on platforms such as eBay and Amazon if the thrill of the hunt. Besides trying to find the next home run, I want to start a series of videos and posts that describe some great Thrift Store finds. First up is this vintage Simon game from 1978.

History Behind Simon the Game

Invented by Ralph H. Baer and Howard J. Morrison, Simon is a game of memory skill. 

It was released by Milton Bradley (MB) in 1978, and was a popular electronic game that mimicked the children's game "Simon Says".

Part of the draw is that its buttons light up and play a tune when you press them. While this makes the game fun, it also is quite challenging the further along you get.

What Makes This a Great Thrift Store Find?

As you can see from the video above, vintage Simon games from 1978 have some pretty solid sold listings on eBay. While markets are forever changing, it's easy to see that this game is a collector's item.

Part of the draw is nostalgia. As many games get thrown out in the garbage can once kids grow up, these suckers become rarer and rarer.

While that means most baby boomers have outgrown their need for electronic games, there's definitely still a demand for these hard to get items.

That's what makes Simon so valuable. 

A Pop Culture Icon

As stated, the big draw of the electronic game was its use of lights and tones to create a stirring little game. Boosted by the post-psychedelic mindset of the 1960s, the game became a pop-culture phenomena during the 1970s and 80s.

I remember seeing this guy advertised during my own childhood during the 1990s. While I like to think of myself as a relatively young millennial in my 30s, this might seem like an outdated game for many youngsters.

But that won't deter collectors from getting their hands on the game. Which is why I consider this a great thrift store find.

Some Random Tidbits 

Part of the fun of the game is it's beeping noises. While most people don't have a knowledge of music theory, the sounds are actually built off an A-chord. This essentially means that whatever order they're played in, they create a harmonic melody.

Simon has been consistently updated and re-released since its first debut in 1978, making this game a staple of Milton Bradley's electronic game lineups.

Chances are you are your kid have either played or owned one of these little guys.

Conclusion

As you can see, vintage Simon games can prove rather valuable depending on how you choose to sell them. While markets are always going to be fickle, the bottom line is that the longer you hold on to these suckers, the more valuable they will become.

The best way to figure out how much you can sell the game for on eBay is looking at the sold listings and, as always, test the market out for yourself.

I personally like to use auctions for an item like this, especially around the Christmas season. While says can prove frustrating, there's always the prospect of a bidding war.

Better yet, an auction pretty much guarantees a quick flip rather than the "list it and forget it" model many eBayers have begun to adopt. If you're looking to move inventory quickly, this might be the best route to go.

As always, God bless and may your treasure hunting be glorious!

--Newbie