I'm the Cheapest Bastard on the Planet

    So I'm looking to buy a copy of Merchant of Venus and I've decided that I'm not going to be a damn fool about it.  I'm not going to blow the $75-$125 required to pick one of these things up in the aftermarket and am instead going to find a copy on the cheap, neglected in a Goodwill or at a flea market as part of some dead guy's unwanted legacy to his kids.  Worst case I print my own.  When asked how much I'd be willing to spend, I replied, "I'd like to pay $30, but I might stretch to $40 or even $50 if is was completely clean."

     Well I'm looking at a photo I took of an old AH catalog that's in my copy of Adel Verp and I come across an interesting piece of information -- Merchant of Venus sold for $30 new in 1990.  That's right, I'm expecting to pay the same price that the game retailed for in 1990, after 20 years of inflation.

     Merchant of Venus isn't exactly brimming with expensive components, either.  There's some bulk, but by today's standards the quality is pretty low brow.   This makes it pretty apparent just how high our standards have been set for the game dollars we spend.  We expect games to run $20 and have fancy finishes on the cards and chunky plastic pieces and glorious boards with rich colors and stunning art.

    At least I do.  Why?  Because I'm the Cheapest Bastard on the Planet.

                   Sag.