Advice you would give yourself if you started all over again?

Malice95

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Advice you would give yourself if you started all over again?

So if you started your arcade collection all over again.. what advice would
you love to give yourself?

For me, its the following...

1) Finish the dam basement first before you fill it with games!

2) Make a list of games I really want and stick to it. Dont buy random crap
on craigslist cause its cheap, only to take a bath when you try to
get rid of it.. Its cheap cause noone wants it.

3) You arent going to make any money flipping games in this economy in NJ.
Dont bother trying! (thankfully that idea died fast).
 
2) Make a list of games I really want and stick to it. Dont buy random crap
on craigslist cause its cheap, only to take a bath when you try to
get rid of it.. Its cheap cause noone wants it.

This. Too much money tied up in unwanted games really sucks.
 
1. Finish the basement first! (you nailed that one)
2. Don't buy that Hard Driv'in Cockpit even though it's cheap
3. Sell your excess classic boards before the 60 in 1's come on the market & make them worthless
4. Enjoy the ride!
 
Don't buy games from Lloyd that have been sitting in a warehouse for 15 years and have water damage (among other problems).

Wait for games in good condition. It's just a matter of time. If you can't wait, then don't pay that much for games in mediocre condition because you are going to spend more money fixing them up than they cost in the first place (not to mention time/hassle).
 
Don't buy games from Lloyd that have been sitting in a warehouse for 15 years and have water damage (among other problems).

Wait for games in good condition. It's just a matter of time. If you can't wait, then don't pay that much for games in mediocre condition because you are going to spend more money fixing them up than they cost in the first place (not to mention time/hassle).

I bought a few games from lloyd with no problems. He doesn't sell collector quality stuff, but if you know what you're looking for you should have no issues. He's prices were never unreasonable either.
 
1. Less projects, more complete games :D

Oh thats a good one.. I came to that realization after about 6 months
into it as well!

Sure its costs a bit more for a working game in decent cosmetic shape
but I always ended up spending more fixing up project games ..of course
all the time it sucked as well.

Another one for me is.. buying from craigslist and ebay sucks.
You'll get better overall deals, higher quality machines, and less bullshit
by buying from other collectors here on KLOV.
 
So if you started your arcade collection all over again.. what advice would
you love to give yourself?

For me, its the following...

1) Finish the dam basement first before you fill it with games!

2) Make a list of games I really want and stick to it. Dont buy random crap
on craigslist cause its cheap, only to take a bath when you try to
get rid of it.. Its cheap cause noone wants it.

3) You arent going to make any money flipping games in this economy in NJ.
Dont bother trying! (thankfully that idea died fast).

Oh man, did my visit today inspire this thread?

PS: Thanks again! You rock.
 
1) Finish the gameroom, basement, garage, etc you got that one. Number one.
2) Never sell to make money only to regret losing the game you can't replace.
3) Keep your pins.

Pins are harder to replace than vids.....
 
Don't cheap out with a game you really want. It may take longer to come back around than you think. I'd rather spend the extra $100 now than save a c-note and have the game 4 years later.
 
Don't sell your games quickly or you will take a bath on them...for that matter, don't sell them at all...
 
Have a plan... and stick too it.

There are ALWAYS deals out there... never think that you have found the best deal. Chances are there is another right around the corner... so just be patient.
 
Some of this repeats, but...

1) Buy a truck to transport the games.
2) Learn how to secure games to the truck (http://alsarcade.com/history).
3) A garage in NJ is NOT just as good as a finished basement.
4) Never buy games with endings that you can beat with "enough credits" (like Beast Busters and Simpsons Video).
5) Never buy a NIB game until you've spent $25.00 playing it in an arcade.
6) Vector games are cool but require a different set of knowledge to fix.
7) EM pins are cool if they are Gottliebs.
8) WPC Pins ARE the best.
9) Buy a Ball Bowler that works, they are too complicated for mere mortals to fix.
10) Put outlets on every beam in your arcade and wire them back to wall switches. Todd Tuckey showed me this in his shop and did it in the 2nd house!
11) Only buy games that you have played a lot either back in the day or at a friend's house.
12) Never sell your Zoo Keeper.
13) Few DE Pins will keep your interest for a long time, OK just 1, Guns N' Roses.
14) SW:E1 is NOT just as good as RFM. Not even close.
 
Don't buy games from Lloyd that have been sitting in a warehouse for 15 years and have water damage (among other problems).

Wait for games in good condition. It's just a matter of time. If you can't wait, then don't pay that much for games in mediocre condition because you are going to spend more money fixing them up than they cost in the first place (not to mention time/hassle).

I've been buying games from Lloyd for the past 14 yrs with no issues,water damage can be fixed to an extent. He sells wholesale so of course most of the games will need work but he doesn't buy absolute junk pieces because they won't sell. He's been in business over 30yrs so I'm pretty sure he knows what to buy and what not to buy. Almost every piece in my collection is from him and you would never know by looking at them. Even my restored pieces from him are now worth double what I paid him for them restoration costs included. If you want working games see Todd at TNT but it won't be cheap,or you can waist time fighting with people on CL lol
 
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The biggest piece of advice I would give myself is, regardless of what kind of shit goes on in life, don't sell games to try and fix it (monetary wise). If something happens to your car, work some extra hours, etc. Seeing games you USED to have and wish you still had sucks. Bad.
 
Don't assume that once you get your game room up and running that your friends and family will come over at random to play them. They won't.
 
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