Tips for Buying Controllers

[TeamHellfireJerm]

Ohai, Smashboards. I've been away from the Smash scene for years. My house flooded last month and >90% of my belongings were destroyed. My Gamecube, being the tank it is, survived. Controllers, on the other hand, didn't fare so well.

I bought like 8 used controllers for $10 each on sale at gamestop when they stopped supporting GCN. I've been customizing/refurbishing old controllers since then, harvesting the best parts from the lot to make a few solid ones and replacing little bits and pieces here and there. All of my spare parts are gone now, though.

Do you guys have any advice for buying my way back in on the cheap? Any solid third party controllers? Any sources for not-garbage used official controllers?

Any of you looking to sell your spares? Thanks in advance!

 

[ECHOnce]

3rd party GCCs aren't viable for competitive Smash play, and even without considering such, they have a horrible reputation for how wearing down to the point of being unusable within a just a few months, maybe a year if used infrequently. 1st party GCCs last for years upon years...I've personally known friends who still have theirs from 5-6 years ago, and they're still good as new.

Out of the original 1st party GCCs, the common colors are indigo, black, orange, and silver. In more recent years, however, Nintendo has started producing white GCCs, which are built to last longer than its predecessors. But for all intents and purposes, any 1st party GCCs you come across will be top quality stuff.

Going by amazon.com prices, white GCCs usually cost between $30-35; the price fluctuates frequently, so you can just wait a few weeks for it to go down whenever. Not sure about the other 4 colors, but iirc they go for $20-25-ish. Purchasing used controllers would land you an even better deal probs aha, and then there's always the option to search for controllers locally and amongst friends; might feel a bit guilty, but if they don't know how much they're worth...may as well go for it lol. But if you're getting used controllers, at least check to see if the gray control stick and the yellow C-stick function properly; other buttons can usually be fixed or replaced, but if either of those two are busted, the controller is basically dead.

 

[WHA?]

I am selling 2 controllers. a black and an orange. Control grips intact, fully working, and clean.
People have recently noticed that these are sought after and its harder to get them at around $15, but not impossible.

I think $35 ish is reasonable.
willing to trade for some games i am looking for, like four swords for GC