Used versus new
When you are buying for video game days, you should think about it differently than if you are buying for your home. As a gamer who has had to replace her systems several times due to wear down, I am hesitant to buy used systems for myself. I am afraid that they won't last as long for me as new ones would. But I also play my games far more than they would be played in a library. Even if you have an event once a week, you are still only going to be logging a little over 100 hours of game time a year. In a couple of years, you may need to buy the new systems to keep up with gamer demand. That means you will log probably 200+ hours on your systems before they become obsolete. In gamer speak, that's like 4 good RPGs, and there are way more than 4 good RPG's that come out in a year.

Since you aren't taxing your machines, it is ok to buy refurbished and used machines. You'll save a decent amount of money. Gamstop sells Gamcubes used for $40. If you have a discount card, you get an additional 10% off that price. Playstations and Xboxes are under $100. You may have to go back a few times to get everything you need, but controllers are some of the best deals used. They go for around $10 each. If you don't have access to a Gamestop or similar store, you can also buy the used equipment online through Gamestop.com. As the new sytems come out, the older ones should drop in price even more.

Jobbers sell game stuff?
Another thing to check is your jobber. Baker & Taylor actually sell the systems new. If you don't want to buy used, this is the way to go, since you get a discount. The selection isn't the best out there, but you can supplement your equipment purchases.

The standard discount we get on video game items from B&T is 10%. That applies both to consoles and the games themselves.