Buying Guides
Buying a used console: the five minute test that saves you money
Crib Game Imports · 08 Sep 2026 · 4 min read
Most bad console purchases could have been avoided in five minutes. Here is the check we run on every unit before it goes on this site.
1. Listen to the fan
Power it on and leave it at the home screen for two minutes. A healthy fan settles into a steady hum. A fan that keeps climbing is telling you the thermal paste is finished.
2. Wiggle every port
HDMI and USB ports should feel solid. Any movement in the socket means a board-level repair later.
3. Run a disc
Insert and eject twice. Grinding on eject is the most common fault on second-hand units.
4. Check the controller drift
Leave both sticks untouched in a menu. Any movement on screen is drift.
5. Confirm the account is clean
A console still tied to someone else’s account is a headache you do not want. Always factory reset before you pay.
