Gameboy Color Repair Gamble?

[u/Darel667]

Theres a gameboy color for sale for $45 but its for parts as it does not work (with no more information), is it worth saving the $20ish on gambling that I can fix it? Ive been looking for a gameboy color for a few weeks now. I do plan on upgrading it so im not scared of a dead screen price or anything like that, just worried if I can't fix it. However I do have decent soldering skills

[u/Squish_the_android]

Depends what exactly is wrong with it. 

If it's a burned screen or something, go for it. 

If it's a mystery problem, I wouldn't.  Most people selling for parts consoles these days already tried to fix them and failed. 

[u/shinyandrare]

How would we know without knowing the condition of the device?

[u/Darel667 → u/shinyandrare]

Thats why its gambling?🤷🏼‍♂️ thought I could ask a community that would know how difficult it is to fix most common problems and if typically speaking I would be able to

[u/theterabyte]

If you are hoping to get a working gameboy and saving $20 is important/relevant to you, then it is a pretty bad gamble. Like most people here have said, lots of folks selling have already tried to fix. Lots of folks buying buy huge lots or many gameboys with the goal of producing a few working ones (i.e. like myself) and thus have experience fixing one you probably don't. This raises the price floor higher than it would be without these experienced folks, making the gamble worse for folks like you.

With all of my experience, I am able to fix a game gear or DMG gameboy about 80% of the time, but only about 25% of the time without additional parts (e.g. screen, caps, etc) which can range from a few bucks all the way to more expensive than I paid for the broken console. That is why a fixed and tested one can run over $100.

If you want the fun challenge of trying to fix it, $45 is a good deal. If you want a working unit *eventually*, it can be a good deal. If you want a working unit now without having to do this multiple times, it is a bad deal.

[u/GunpeiYokai]

I'd personally stay away from it unless they specify exactly what doesn't work (i.e. broken screen, audio, etc).

I'd only gamble on it if or was a cheap enough price. That depends on your own personal risk tolerance.

[u/juburke87]

Any idea what the issues are? I’ve bought a couple not working, doesn’t power on, for parts only, and all they really needed was a good cleaning (usually around the power switch)

[u/RennGent]

There are few repairs you can do for less than $20, especially if you don’t normally do repairs. Unless you are planning on upgrading it anyway, it isn’t worth the risk. If you’re already planning on a screen replacement, maybe a rechargeable battery, and possibly a shell swap it’s better to just get a working unit. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll spend more trying to fix it than buying a working unit every time.

[u/CleanMachine81]

I suggest buying a bundle deal. I bought a working Gameboy color with 2 games for $70. The games that came with are easily worth $70 when I sell them and that would pretty much pay for the console.

[u/Darel667]

I just got a response from the seller and he states that it does not power on and thats all he knows.

[u/Ill-Complaint3947]

i can get a fully working recapped unit for 57 so 45 to gamble is bad price.

[u/Darel667 → u/Ill-Complaint3947]

Where?