Save money in France by finding missing board game pieces

It is a universal problem: you take an old board game from the shelf, only to find that one or more essential pieces are missing.

Now, a French website is offering a solution.

Refaites vos jeux, based in Caen, Calvados, collects board games and sells the individual pieces to people looking to complete their set.

The goal is to help reduce waste by allowing people to complete their games rather than throw them away.

Prices range from five cents for the smallest pieces to €3 for a large wooden board.

Pieces smaller than 3cm in thickness can be posted, as can certain boards.

Otherwise, all pieces and boards can be collected in Caen.

Users are invited to search on the site for the game in question and to send a message asking if a particular piece is available.

The firm says it has completed almost 2,000 games since launching in November 2020.

It also has a dozen partners where you can go to donate full or incomplete games.

The idea even inspired another site, jeuxcomplete.com, with which Refaites vos jeux now has a partnership.

At jeuxcomplete.com, individual pieces are itemised and listed directly.

A full set of Monopoly pieces costs 99 cents, for example.

Delivery is possible and will be via Mondial Relay for pieces larger than 3cm.

Another service in some parts of France is a ludothèque – a ‘library’ where you can borrow games.

Many areas also have local clubs de jeux de société that game enthusiasts can join.

Related articles

French love board games more than any other European country

‘Anti-fascist’ board game reinstated in French shops after Twitter row

Could you save money in France by renting children’s toys?