TurboGrafx-16/Duo/PC-Engine Mail Order FAQ maintained by Jeff Hildebrand (jhildebr@mbnet.mb.ca) last updated: February 17, 1995 version: 0.4 (beta) What this FAQ is all about -------------------------- As it becomes increasingly difficult to find TG16 games locally, many people are looking to mail-order for their games. This FAQ has been put together because I am looking for good places to mail-order from and I thought making this information available would make it easier for more people to buy games, and keep these places supporting the TG longer. How you can help other TurboGrafx owners ---------------------------------------- This FAQ is far from complete! I have not heard any comments about many of these retailers - if you have dealt with anyone on this list, or you have the name/address/phone #/etc of a retailer not on this list PLEASE LET ME KNOW. If you have comments about any retailer on this list (good or bad) send them to me. Prices, selection and service are all important - please tell me about as many of these as you can. At this point, the FAQ is version 0.4 - it is in alpha test. Let me know what you would like to see or what can be thrown out. Once I get some feedback it will be in the beta stage, and once I have comments and a rating for each store I will consider it a legitimate document (and I hope you will too). What is in this FAQ ------------------- This FAQ has basically three things in it: for every retailer, there is: 1) an address and phone numbers where they can be contacted 2) a "rating" 3) comments At this point I will not be assigning any sort of formal grading or measure for the rating. The rating only indicates the level of satisfaction (or lack thereof) that other people have experienced with this company. If I have not heard anything good or bad about a company they are "not rated at this time". Comments are intended to explain more fully how this company works or recommended procedures for avoiding grief when dealing with them. What it takes to get into this FAQ ---------------------------------- There are a number of retailers here who are not rated. I have included them in the list for one reason: they have an ad in a major magazine (typically EGM) in which they allocate space for Turbo and PCE games. If you know of a retailer that sells PCE/Turbo games who should be on this list (either recommended or was a warning to avoid them) please send a message to jhildebr@mbnet.mb.ca giving the details of the company (name, address, phone/fax) and your recommend- ation or condemnation. ======================================================================= ** Buy-Rite -------- (location one) Raleigh Flea Market Mall 1924 Capital Center Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27606 (location two) 3132 Calvary Drive Raleigh, NC 27604 Hours: 9am-6pm Phone: (919) 850-9473 Fax : (919) 872-7561 Rating: I have heard from a number of people now about Buy-Rite, and people had nothing but good to say about them. They seem to be the preferred company to deal with by most of the people on the ML. Comments: Ask to speak with Mark. They prefer that you call them. They do keep quite a few games in stock if you plan to drop by. Remember to tell them you're from the list. address courtesy of: cross@cenet.engr.scarolina.edu fax # courtesy of: delage@ee.ualberta.ca ** Chips & Bits ------------ Comments: C&B no longer sells TurboGrafx games. ** Comeback Video Distributors --------------------------- 638 Anthony Trail Northbrook, IL 60015 Phone: 1-800-647-2045 Fax : 1 (708) 564-0880 Rating: Not yet rated. Comments: Ask for Howard. Comeback is a wholesaler of domestic TG games. CVD prefers to deal via credit cards. info courtesy of: comback@mcs.com ** Die Hard -------- 19640 Ventura Blvd. Tarzana, CA 91356 Phone (all services): 818-865-2599 Rating: I have dealt with Die Hard personally on a couple of occasions. If they have what you want in stock then there is no trouble, but if you have to wait for items to be recieved you may have to call and remind them of your order. I have only ordered Turbo games but I believe that they deal in PCE games as well. Turbo games run about US$60. PCE games are likely more. Comments: Die Hard accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover. My advice would be to get them to make up a list of games you would like with some alternates, and order from what they have in stock. They will ship the same day if possible. ** Game Dude --------- 12104 Sherman Way North Hollywood, CA 91605 Phone: (818) 764-2442 Fax : (818) 764-4851 Rating: I have heard from someone on the mailing list who frequently buys from Game Dude and who is very happy with their service, although some employees seem to get a little upset if you make them list off their catalog of games and then only buy one. Their shipping costs are a little high ($5 for the first game $1 each for the rest). They do accept Visa/MasterCard/American Express. Comments: Game Dude also buys and sells used games. Their ad states "try before you buy". They will not fax price lists. ** Game Force ----------- 2295 S. Chambers Rd. Aurora, CO Phone: (303) 368-GAME (that's 4263) Rating: not yet rated. Comments: Ask for Lew. Game Force carries new and used TG/Duo/PC-E titles, sells and trades. info courtesy of: townsend@atqm.advtech.uswest.com ** Game Shock ---------- 43-22 50th street Woodside NY 11377 Phone: (718) 429-GAME Fax : (718) 429-0616 Rating: not yet rated. Comment: Their ad states that the above number is available 24 hours. As well, they advertised 2 IMPORT games for $110 plus a free PCE convertor (which made no sense as the games were all CDs). Free UPS ground shipping on orders over US$100. ** Japan Video Games ----------------- 710 W. Las Tunas, #1 San Gabriel, CA 91776 Phone: (818) 281-9282 Fax : (818) 451-5839 Rating: I've now heard from two people about this company. They seem to have a good selection new PCE games and a decent selection of older stuff. The older PCE games can be quite cheap (eg. L-Dis for US$20 (June '94)). Comments: The most recent ad I have states that COD and credit cards are accepted. ** Telegames USA ------------- Telegames USA 222 W. First St. Lancaster, TX 75146 USA Phone: (214) 228-0690 Telegames Ltd. Kilby Bridge, Wigston Leicester LE18 3TE England Rating: I have heard directly or indirectly from two people about Telegames. Generally they are happy, but they seem to have trouble keeping large orders straight. Keep orders to less than three games seems to be the rule of thumb for getting what you want. Comments: Telegames sells hardware AND software. They have a 24-hour automated system for information and orders in the U.S. at the above telephone number. A catalogue can be obtained from them for $1.00. They often have "phone specials", where you can buy a game system and a couple games (usually their choice) at a substantial discount. Again, these guys seem to have trouble with orders of three or more games. info courtesy of: Kerplunk33@aol.com ** Turbo Technologies/Totally Turbo -------------------------------- c/o Olsen Marketing Services, Inc. P.O. Box 2335 Libertyville, IL 60092 Call 1-800-366-0136 8:00am-4:30pm Central time include Name, Address, City, State, Zip, Phone # also include Description, Item number, Quantity, Price Rating: I have had mixed reports about the service of this company. No one has commented on their price or selection. A recent posting (dated June 10, 1994) of their catalog listed all games at under $50.00, many HuCards were less. That list contained almost 90 games - all domestic. Comments: Totally Turbo also carries all domestic hardware - the Duo, TurboExpress, and all the TE add-on goodies. These prices look very competitive compared to Die hard. TTI is officially gone. I'm not sure what has happened to Totally Turbo. Any clarification here is appreciated. It has been reported that these phone numbers still work and you can still order stuff from them (like jewel cases). How long this will be the case in anyone's guess. The number listed is their "hotline" which will give up-to-date phone numbers for placing orders and getting game hints. ** Turbo Zone Direct ----------------- 13348 Beach Ave. Marina del Rey, CA 90292 Orders: 1-800-DUO-THIS (8:00 A.M-5:00PM P.S.T.) Fax: (310) 574-3307 General Inquiries: 1-310-574-3304 ALL SHIPPING IS VIA UPS. Ground: $5.00, 2nd Day Air: $7.50. AK, HI, Puerto Rico: Ground: $10.00, 2nd Day Air: $15.00 Rating: I've heard a few good things about these guys, apparently they are trying to correct the mistakes of the past. At least one customer has been very happy with there service (happy enough to post a large endorsement to the ML). The prices might be a little high, but they do have a good selection of domestic titles. Comments: TZD also sells the coveted jewel cases we all know and love. ** Video Source ------------ 973 Foxglove Dr. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Phone (408) 736-1133 Pager (408) 699-7584 Internet drknight@garg.campbell.ca.us Rating: I am sorry to say that I have not heard much that is positive from list members about VS. Part of this problem may be that these dealings were attempted over the internet, which is perhaps not the best way to contact these people. info courtesy of: drknight@garg.campbell.ca.us In Canada ========= ** DonSal Inc. ----------- 21 Sumcot Roard RR#1 Peterborough, Ontario K9J 6X2 Phone (info) 1-800-477-9583 Phone: (705) 657-2295 Fax: (705) 657-2521 Rating: I have heard from a couple of people who were very happy with the service they received from DonSal. Comments: These people seem to have quite a bit of stuff, even the newer SCD titles. Many HuCard games are Cdn$19.99 and CDs are Cdn$49.99. Dan Jesty has been recommended as a contact here. They *do* carry TG hardware. DonSal accepts payment via money order or certified cheque. The games that they sell are intended for Canadian sale (ie. they do have French instructions). info courtesy of: delage@ee.ualberta.ca ** Marketing International ----------------------- 19 Milliken Blvd. Scarborough, Ontario Canada M1V 4A2 Orders: 416-321-6516 Rating: Not yet rated. ** Video Games from Japan or Japan Video (formerly Japanese Technologies) ---------------------- ----------- --------------------- P.O. Box 493 Adelaide Postal Station 36 Adelaide St. E. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 2J6 Phone: (416) 593-9642 Fax : (416) 340-7237 Rating: not yet rated. Comments: I spoke with a gentleman at this company just today (Jun 8, 1994), so they are still in business (the ad I was was OLD!), and yes, they do carry PCE games (not sure about U.S. games). I was told the following: - they have a lot of newer stuff, some older stuff - they do *NOT* take credit cards (!?). If you place an order, you should send in money orders the first couple of times, and after that you can buy C.O.D. Their older ads stated that they accept credit cards, but the more recent ones do not.