If your items do not meet these standards, we may reject them or reduce the payout. Check our Rejection Policy to see how we handle rejected items.
The Table of Contents
Accepted Game Condition Criteria Explained
When we receive your items, we verify that they work, are in good condition, and are clean. The prices we quote assume your items meet all the requirements below and work.
If items are in bad condition, missing parts, or do not work, we may reject them or lower the payout.
Cleanliness & Excessive Soiling
- If games, consoles, or accessories arrive very dirty, we may take 30% off the quoted price for cleaning.
General Requirements
- All items must be authentic and functional.
- Accessories included with consoles or bundles must be in working condition.
- Items that do not meet these requirements may be subject to deductions or rejection.
- Our shipping policy is part of the terms and conditions when you sell to The Old School Game Vault.
Do you buy every order you receive?
- No. Because we receive a high volume of orders, we cannot fulfill every one.
Disc-Based Game Requirements
All disc-based games must:
- Load and play right away without any problems.
- Be free from excessive scratches, cracks, or disc rot.
- Has not been resurfaced.
Disc-Based Games We Do Not Buy
- Loose disc-only games
- Games with copied or generic artwork or manuals.
- Resurfaced discs
- Games with foil label damage (scratches or damage to the top of the disc).
- Games with liquid damage to the case, artwork, or manual.
Completion Requirements for Disc-Based Games
Must include the case, manual, artwork, and disc.
The acceptance of the following systems requires them to be complete:
- PlayStation 1
- PlayStation Portable
- Sega Dreamcast
- Sega CD
- Sega Saturn
- Original Xbox
- Nintendo Wii
- Panasonic 3DO
- Philips CD-i
If games for these systems are missing manuals or artwork, we will reject them.
Missing Manual Allowed (With Deduction)
You can sell games for these platforms without a manual, but we will take 40% off the price.
- PlayStation 2
- PlayStation 3
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox 360
- Xbox One
- Nintendo GameCube
- Nintendo Wii U
- TurboGrafx-16 CD
We will reject games that lack artwork or use generic artwork.
Cosmetic flaws to artwork, cases, or manuals (including stickers, stains, tears, or creases) are subject to a 35% deduction.
Cartridge-Based Games (General Overview)
Cartridge games must meet these basic standards:
- The original labels must be there and easy to read.
- Ensure that the cartridges are not cracked or damaged.
- The contacts must not have any corrosion.
- We do not accept fake or reproduction cartridges.
For more details on cartridge inspection, please see our Cartridge Quality Requirements.
Counterfeit Games
- We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for counterfeit, bootleg, or reproduction games. Counterfeit items are not eligible for to buy.
Console Requirements
- All consoles must operate without any issues.
- Handheld consoles with batteries must charge and power on without any issues.
- Console bundles must include all the listed parts.
If a bundle is missing parts like controllers, cables, or accessories, we will deduct the replacement cost from your payout.
Missing manuals and artwork (general deductions)
- If the instruction manual is missing, a 40% deduction will apply.
- Missing original artwork or an end label will result in a 40% deduction.
Please refer to individual product pages for platform-specific deduction information.
More Selling Requirements
- We only buy NTSC-region games unless otherwise specified.
- We only buy from customers located in the continental United States.
- Each customer may sell a maximum of two identical games within a six-month period.
How long is my quote valid?
- Your quote is valid for 14 business days from the date you submit your order. To avoid issues with mail delays, your order must be postmarked within 14 days to secure your quoted price. +
- We update prices regularly and will reprice orders postmarked after the 14-day period based on current site values.
Cracked or Damaged Game Case Deductions
- We will deduct a $1.00 fee for each broken or damaged case received. This applies to standard plastic cases and jewel cases. It includes cases with cracks, ripped outer sleeves, broken spindles, or damaged hinge tabs.
- If the double-disc jewel case is broken or cracked, we will deduct $5.00.
Large-format cases (including Sega CD and Sega Saturn longbox cases):
- If there are minor cracks or cosmetic damage, we will deduct 30% from the value.
- If there is major damage, broken hinges, or other structural problems, we cannot accept the case.
Read Our Other Policies
Cartridge Selling Requirements:
Learn what you need to do when selling your game cartridges to us.
Packing & Shipping Guide:
Follow these tips to prevent damage and avoid delays or reductions in your payment.
Payment Options:
Please review our payment options.
Rejection Policy:
See what happens if we decide not to buy your item.
Commonly Asked Questions:
- No. Due to high-volume and current inventory levels, we cannot accept every order submitted. We reserve the right to decline any order at our discretion.
- The customer is responsible for any damage that occurs during shipping. If a case arrives cracked or broken due to poor packaging, a case deduction fee will apply.
- No. To maintain our high-quality standards, we do not buy loose discs or resurfaced games. All disc-based games must be in their original, factory condition.
