Some questions from a wannabe non-collecting collector

[ultrageranium]

Hello!

I have two PCE (Core-Grafx + IFU-30 and a SGX) for more than a decade as well as a few loose and complete titles for these systems. They've been taking dust for a very long time but recently I felt the need to plug them again and play some games and in that regard the Turbo Everdrive contributed a lot in this revived interest.

While I do not aim to collect intensively PCE hardware and software, I am interested in trying to get some of the most affordable shooters out there, possibly some JRPG/Adventure titles too. My strategy is to try the game on the Everdrive and see if I like it, and then check if I can afford/trade it and resume playing. If not then I can finish it on the Flashcart. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I got the idea while playing the Dead Moon ROM and after finishing it, it crossed my mind that I could have sold/traded some of the PCE titles that I had little interests in, and get the hu-card right away seeing how I was quickly hooked.

But I'm a complete newbie in this PCE buying/selling/trading thing, so I am wondering about the following:
[ul][li]When you trade, do you need to follow some grading system to assess of the condition of the software?[/li][li]Is Ebay a good indicator for prices? If not, is there a better place to get an idea of current prices?
(skimming through the WTS/WTB, it is frequent to see comments about how prices are too high or so, but this is based on what?)[/li][li]Is using proxies for Japanese auction sites worth it for games or does the fee/shipping counter balance the potential gain?
(I got a complete Super CD-ROM2 like this recently and it was a good deal due to the rarity and surreal Ebay prices for this item, I am not sure if it's as interesting for loose individual software)[/li][li]Is it safe to trade here?
(I know this question is a bit silly but I just read the selling/buying/trading rules post and the fact that people got scammed before is obviously a bit scary when you're beginning)[/li][/ul]
Thanks!

[Necromancer]

Grading:  It's too subjective for a universal scale, so you're better off just describing any damage/wear in detail and giving pics.

Pricing:  I think the low end of ebay sales (not unsold crap) is a good indicator of value after subtracting out fees and what not.  This mostly applies to stuff that's relatively common and single sales; if it's legitimately rare, one of the not-all-that-rare-but-jerked-around-by-price-manipulation titles, or part of bundle, the ebay prices won't be indicative of what most here would want to pay.

Proxies:  Sometimes they're a great bargain, even after paying fees, but sometimes they ain't.  For whatever weird reason, some stuff on yahoo japan is as much or more than stuff on ebay from US sellers, so you'll have to research items before buying.

PCEFX Buy/Sell/Trade:  I don't think there's much to worry about, as the only scammers we've had threw up all sorts of red flags.  If they can't provide solid references, give you a verifiable real name and contact info., or want to be paid via western union, take your money elsewhere.

[ultrageranium]

Thanks!

This is really helpful. I will sort the titles I have and start a relevant WTS/WTB/WTT thread.