| This isn't my story, but this is a funny story i came across while reading "horror" stories regarding funcoland--the used video game store.
I used to own a NES and about 30 games. I got my NES back in 1986 and
my collection of games ranged from 1986 up until the last games released
in 1993-94. I loved the NES and all my games, which consisted of
classics like the Super Mario Bros. Trilogy, the Castlevania Trilogy,
the Double Dragon Trilogy, and so on. I also had a Super NES that I got
when they were first released in 1991 and had about 15 games, such as
Zelda 3 and Super Metroid. Now I loved these games and I had beaten all
of them numerous times but I was caught up in the "next generation"
movement. I had an N64 and a few games, but I also wanted a Playstation
and games like Resident Evil.
At the time (late 1996) I was away at college, which wasn't but an hour
from my home but I was at school most of the time with my friend. We
shared an apartment. Well to get money for the PSX I sold all of my old
NES, Super NES and Game Boy games and systems. Now I didn't go to
Funcoland for this, because at the time there was a local Used Video
Game store near the college, and they paid good money for used games.
So I got the money necessary to buy a Playstation and Resident Evil.
Well eventually I realized what a mistake I made. Not that I don't like
my PSX, but I regretted selling all my NES and Super NES stuff for the money.
So in late spring 1997 I finished my semester and I went back home for
the summer. I went to the local mall and I saw a store called "Funcoland".
Up until that time I had no idea what "Funcoland" was. I went in and
was surprised to know they sold games. Then I realized they sold old
NES and Super NES games. I was overcome with so much joy that I
said "I want a NES and some games."
Well like most people have already told you, the service stinks at most
Funcolands. There was only one guy there, he looked barely 16, and he
was engrossed in a game of Mario 64. After 15 minutes I finally got
his attention. So he cracks some horrible jokes and then he gets me a
NES. I actually wanted him to hook it up to prove it worked, but he said
"It works I promise" and made another weak attempt at humor. So then I
say "I want all 3 Castlevania games." So after 20 minutes he finally brings
me all 3 games. Then he does the typical "How about a cleaning kit?" I
say "Uhh no thanks" but he wouldn't take no for an answer and as he
was ringing it up, he started to add a cleaning kit! I said "I said no!" Then
he tried to sell me a subscription to the worthless magazine they have,
again I said "No, I want only want I asked for." Then he talks for 10
minutes about cleaning kits, magazines, and then tries to sell me more
NES games, games that I NEVER liked. Finally I got my stuff and left.
What should have been a 15 minute visit took an hour and a half.
So I get home, I hook everything up, and nothing. The thing would not
work. Unfortunately, it was already past time they closed, plus I had
plans, so I had to wait until the next day to take it back.
The next day I go in, and dork boy is there again. This time he has a tag
team dork working with him. Both of them immediately want me to buy
a cleaning kit. I said "No but I will take a NES that works." So basically
the same thing happened as the day before, and I went home. I hook it up,
and nothing. This one doesn't work either. I get angry....
I got back an hour later, and I get in dork's face, and I demand he give me
a NES that works. He tried to crack more dork jokes, and I say "Shut up
your freakin' jokes, and get me a new NES." So he pulls out another box,
and puts in a bag. I say "Uhhh no, you hook it up and SHOW me it works."
So it takes him 25 minutes at least to hook up the NES to one of the TV's
they have and finally it works.
I eventually bought more games and replenished my NES and Super NES
libraries, however I have many more stories of horror about that place.
The worst thing is that the morons don't even clean the games. The Double
Dragon II game I got from them was literally covered in caked mud.
There's no telling when that mud was put on the cartridge, it had to
be 5 or 6 years old.
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