My First Spreadsheet - VCS Purchase in 1981

[edladdin]

I never dreamed that this document still existed, but I just ran across the original price comparison spreadsheet I made when I was 11 (1981), when I was angling to get the best value possible on buying my VCS. I'd worked all summer in a family business for $1.00/hour to save the money, so it was a big deal to get a good price. I called all the stores and not only got the prices for the "module" and the various controllers, but also made the clerks list everything that came in the boxes. I knew the Sears version was different than what I had seen in some other stores, so I was checking to see if there were any additional options/variations out there. I also inquired about the cost of other game "tapes".

 

One interesting thing revealed was that the final price was $159.95 from Lazarus. My recollection all these years was that I had paid $119.99, which is a pretty big error. So much for the strength of memory...

 

Anyhow, thought y'all might get a kick out of this - my first spreadsheet. BTW, I still love them! For comparison, I've also attached my current 2600 spreadsheet!

 

Atari 2600 List-2015-02-28.pdf

[Army Of 2600]

That's awesome. The picture definitely takes the viewer back in time.

[AtariBrian]

Haa , very cool and thanks for sharing .

[mikey.shake]

This is... adorable.

 

Completely awesome. Thanks for sharing.

 

And nicely done, by the way! Talk about a clever 11-year-old!

[Hyperboy]

That's a great find!

 

Thanks for sharing

[+cvga]

I love it! Downtown Lazurus and Eastland Mall. Did you grow up in Columbus, Ohio?

[atari181]

I love it! Downtown Lazurus and Eastland Mall. Did you grow up in Columbus, Ohio?

I was wondering the same. Sounds like it

[fiddlepaddle]

[edladdin]

I love it! Downtown Lazurus and Eastland Mall. Did you grow up in Columbus, Ohio?

 

You nailed it! I lived in Columbus from age 5 to 10, then after my folks split up my time was split between Ohio and Georgia. My mom still lives there, so Columbus is still very much on my radar.

[Papa]

I thought 'Target Fun' said 'Forget Fun' for a second there..

 

[maibock]

"Tapes"

[Philflound]

I think this is cool. I always wish I could find notebooks and such I had as a kid to see what interesting things I wrote. It's possible something may turn up from my past, but not for video games. Thanks for sharing.

 

Phil

[jhd]

It is always interesting to see the original prices, especially for accessories (e.g. extra paddles, keypad controller) that are not always included in the newspaper or magazine advertisements.

[Zonie]

Heh Heh "Tapes"

 

My buddy's mom called them that.

[Master Phruby]

I never dreamed that this document still existed, but I just ran across the original price comparison spreadsheet I made when I was 11 (1981), when I was angling to get the best value possible on buying my VCS. I'd worked all summer in a family business for $1.00/hour to save the money, so it was a big deal to get a good price. I called all the stores and not only got the prices for the "module" and the various controllers, but also made the clerks list everything that came in the boxes. I knew the Sears version was different than what I had seen in some other stores, so I was checking to see if there were any additional options/variations out there. I also inquired about the cost of other game "tapes".

 

 

Your that kind of kid huh? That is something I would have done. I even remember reading the manuals and game catalogs into my tape recorder so I could archive it for future use. You know, just in case the manual disappeared.