ArcadeRu
Member
Looking to start up a Retro arcade and wondering if there is a place to purchase some inventory. I know Captains exists, is there other options out there people recommend?
Best place to purchase bulk arcade machines
- Thread starter ArcadeRu
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Patrol local listings on platforms such as Craigslist, OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace. That's by far the easiest way to find games for sale, so long as you don't live in the middle of nowhere 
DarkKobold
Active member
In answer to your first question, it's difficult to know Canada, because I'm used to America. Utah isn't exactly bumping, but there's still tons of "Better than Captains" prices on Facebook and local classifieds without the 25% added for tax and hammer price, plus shipping. Remember, you're paying CA sales tax and an 18% hammer price.
It's really none of my business (pun not intended) but I'd be curious to hear your business plan. Arcades are incredibly difficult to make money these days- I've really only seen 4 business models that work:
1.) Barcades - The arcades bring people in, but the drink/food sales make the money to survive.
2.) Nickelcades - These end up around a ~60/40 split, with the higher being redemption games. My local gaming group went there every few months - and we'd always play the retro games to start, but by around 10pm, even the retro gamers were all playing the redemption games. Those were the real money makers, and the things that kept the lights on. The retro games were just an excuse to bring in an older audience. Kids never touched them. Even the pinballs sat mostly dormant by 10pm.
3.) Modern arcades - Have the giant Halo, Tomb Raider, etc games, and the driving cabinets. Still also have lots of redemption machines. Essentially kid-legal gambling is apparently the way to keep the lights on if you don't have alcohol.
4.) Pseudo-museums - These are the real outliers, you've got things like the pinball hall of fame, Galloping Ghosts, etc - these stay alive by being massive museums of arcades/pinballs that aren't seen anywhere else. They only seem to stay alive because they are tourist destinations, as far as I can tell.
Also, again, this is the American perspective- but each quarter you get just doesn't go as far towards staying open. You'd need to be charging closer to a dollar per play to get the same sort of money that paid the rent in 1983. Running a business is incredibly expensive, and location matters so much.
It's really none of my business (pun not intended) but I'd be curious to hear your business plan. Arcades are incredibly difficult to make money these days- I've really only seen 4 business models that work:
1.) Barcades - The arcades bring people in, but the drink/food sales make the money to survive.
2.) Nickelcades - These end up around a ~60/40 split, with the higher being redemption games. My local gaming group went there every few months - and we'd always play the retro games to start, but by around 10pm, even the retro gamers were all playing the redemption games. Those were the real money makers, and the things that kept the lights on. The retro games were just an excuse to bring in an older audience. Kids never touched them. Even the pinballs sat mostly dormant by 10pm.
3.) Modern arcades - Have the giant Halo, Tomb Raider, etc games, and the driving cabinets. Still also have lots of redemption machines. Essentially kid-legal gambling is apparently the way to keep the lights on if you don't have alcohol.
4.) Pseudo-museums - These are the real outliers, you've got things like the pinball hall of fame, Galloping Ghosts, etc - these stay alive by being massive museums of arcades/pinballs that aren't seen anywhere else. They only seem to stay alive because they are tourist destinations, as far as I can tell.
Also, again, this is the American perspective- but each quarter you get just doesn't go as far towards staying open. You'd need to be charging closer to a dollar per play to get the same sort of money that paid the rent in 1983. Running a business is incredibly expensive, and location matters so much.
80scoinops
Well-known member
where in Ontario?
mecha
Well-known member
the admission model popularized by GGA since 2010 is how you can make enough money with the vintage arcade aesthetic. I fixed games for a number of them in that area years ago and all but 1 are still in business but another opened last year.
only GGA can lay claim they have over 1000 video games. there's also a lot of humans scattered about the Chicago suburbs that they cater to different regions. the barcade model doesn't really make money off the games, it's going to be in food and drink, which is a whole other level of overhead with staff and product that I personally wouldn't want to be bothered with.
nerdygrrl
Well-known member
What Mecha said. I am a former restaurant consultant turned small business consultant for independent artists. My old business partner and I spent a lot of time researching this idea way back in 2008. We were extremely close to opening a spot.
You're not going to make money off of the games. Food and drink is what mostly keeps these places going. The alcohol is what is going to bring the highest profits. Going into the food business right now is not the wisest of choices, especially if you have never done it before. The costs of goods is unstable at the moment and the profit margins on the food side are almost non existent. You have to get super creative with your menu for sure. Then there are staffing Issues.
On top of all of that you will have game maintenance which is a full time skilled position, and the cost of replacement parts. In the beginning you are going to want to go in and bullet prof everything that you can, get all of the sticks and buttons replaced, get your monitor up to snuff, replace or recap older power supplies, etc. The worst thing that you can do is open and have shitty playing games on the floor or have a bunch of games go down at once. So you need to add those costs onto the front before you are even open.
ArcadeRu
Member
Thanks everyone for the business advice. This isn't something I came up on a whim this weekend, it's been in the planning stages for 4 years now and a lot of thought, changes, strategies, consulting has gone on in the background. Over the years I purchase a total of 12 arcade machines from sit down racing games, older midway games, chexx, air hockey, pinball, and have had to fix them all myself and learn, so I get the maintenance. I do live in Canada and facebook marketplace doesn't offer much in my area. I'm willing to go anywhere in the United States as long as it's worth it like buying in bulk. That's why Captains is attractive, I know there are auction fees etc in addition to hammer price. Just want to get the thread back on the rails and see if anyone has an idea of where to purchase multiple machines.
ArcadeRu
Member
Windsor
nerdygrrl
Well-known member
Keep in mind that in addition to the currency rates, auction fees, and freight charges you are going to have import duties so an auction setup like Captains is not going to be your best bet. You are going to be paying far more than the games are worth. Get involved in your local collecting community, find some operators in your province/neighboring provinces and go from there. Post some WTB ads on your FB marketplace and CL. Keep an eye on here as folks tend to exit the hobby and sell in bulk.
Congratulations on your arcade dream.
Bulk buys doesn't always mean cheaper cost per machine.
If the machine doesn't attract customers it will just eat space and up your costs. Spread sheets are cruel way of seeing if that arcade machine is worthy of the spot it takes up.
High price machines doesn't mean your going to get enough customers to justify the costs. While I love my mad planets, orginal and not a jrock version, I remember another mad planets machine just sitting alone unplayed in a crowded arcade event. Costly machine but it won't attract a crowd to play it.
Ms pacman machines still attract players having more than one attract people who play side to side. So one of every machine doesn't always works.
Pay real money to real arcade techs to get solid consulting advice. Thier time is expensive but worth listening too. They may also know where to buy quality machines that still attract a crowd..
good luck and hope you succeed
Bulk buys doesn't always mean cheaper cost per machine.
If the machine doesn't attract customers it will just eat space and up your costs. Spread sheets are cruel way of seeing if that arcade machine is worthy of the spot it takes up.
High price machines doesn't mean your going to get enough customers to justify the costs. While I love my mad planets, orginal and not a jrock version, I remember another mad planets machine just sitting alone unplayed in a crowded arcade event. Costly machine but it won't attract a crowd to play it.
Ms pacman machines still attract players having more than one attract people who play side to side. So one of every machine doesn't always works.
Pay real money to real arcade techs to get solid consulting advice. Thier time is expensive but worth listening too. They may also know where to buy quality machines that still attract a crowd..
good luck and hope you succeed
Jetkidish
Active member
I'm also in Ontario, started a retro arcade, and added redemption a few years in.
Some retro games barely make $10 a month.
My redemption games make up a small part of my game floor, but bring in nearly 90% of the revenue. All the video games are just there to look pretty and bring people in.
Some retro games barely make $10 a month.
My redemption games make up a small part of my game floor, but bring in nearly 90% of the revenue. All the video games are just there to look pretty and bring people in.
DarkKobold
Active member
Honestly, Captains is going to be great for getting what you really need, which is oodles of redemption machines.
There's also quite a few good ones through Bill Ramsey when an arcade shuts down - you're gonna get lots more recent and redemption machines, which will keep the business afloat. They end up much cheaper than Captains.
https://bramsey.hibid.com/catalog/683541/pennsylvania-asset-liquidation <- you just missed this one, but you can find a place to subscribe to those emails.
DarkKobold
Active member
I wish more people talked about the business side of this hobby. Retro games are fantastic, but aren't really a cash cow any more. They're a novelty that people play once or twice, and then move on to redemption machines. Even at my parties, where every game is free to play, people don't stand for hours playing, they play a game or two and walk away.
nerdygrrl
Well-known member
This, we had about 30 arcade cabs in our office arcade where we would host book signings and other events. Most played games: Pac variants, Bubble Bobble, Pole Position, Super Mario, Dr Mario, TMNT, Simpsons...
Like with a food menu, you have to give the people what they are looking for/want. Games that are inclusive, not exclusive. Games with gameplay that any person can come in and enjoy. There is a lot to cultivating a desirable lineup that appeals to the masses/target audience.
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Yeah, I see that in Star Worlds. I went to play arcade games and there weren't many. But a lot of REDEMPTION. Oh well, he has to pay the rent and utilities. I spent my tokens on pinball.
I agree with everything posted above. I rehabbed an arcade at Hollywood Candy on 12th and Jackson in Omaha Nebraska back in 2012-2013. Some of the games earned good bank. Those included Dance Dance Revolution, Mario Carts (2 linked), Big Buck Hunter and Air Hockey. The Tales from the Crypt pinball machine did fairly well.
Also to my shock, Gravity Hill. We gave out fresh gumballs for every 75 cents, and the chance to win an old prize.
Games that didn't make a lot of money:
Battle Shark - around 50 cents a day (25 cents a play)
Commando - around $1 a day
Rockin Bowl-o-Rama - around $1 a day
Asteroids - around $2 a day
Vs. Slalom - around $1 a day
Missile Command - around $1 a day
Track & Field - around 50 cents a day
Old EM pinball machines - around $1 a day
DarkKobold
Active member
Again, mostly recent machines, but you're gonna get hella good prices if you attend in-person. They don't do online sales, so your only competition is other people physically there. Rent a truck and fill it.
Many choose to keep their honey holes a secret, but coin operators that are still in business or were.
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Jetkidish
Active member
We have a Gravity Hill and it earns well. The problem though is we've had it for about 3 years now, and some of the local kids have completely mastered it. They'll repeatedly win the big prize until they get bored.
Redemption is our top earner, even the lowest earning redemption games still bring in more than most of the video games.
Rhythm games (like DDR) are second place, especially the games we have imported from Japan. There is a very niche audience for these.
90s driving games and the big deluxe simulators (Top Skater, Alpine Racer, etc) come in third place.
Shooters and fighters are fourth.
Classic games are last, with the exception of Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and VS. Super Mario, those still do pretty well.
ZaxxonBoner
Active member
Dude's mind is already made up, sooooo
Action plan:
Action plan:
- Drive down to the Winston Salem auction.
- Fill your U-Haul with a buncha turds.
- Get caught at the border for something you didn't anticipate.
- Post here for the lulz
