Buying my first arcade, need a buyers checklist

Shambugi

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Hello to all I am making my first purchase and honestly need some advice just to ensure I dont get screwed...or even worse just forget to check/do something in the buying process that maybe you vets could have simply told me had i asked....

Its a sit down Jambo Safari game (wanted this thing forever and finally finally have made a deal work) so from my own research here is where I am at with what I need/should do, PLEASE correct anything and everything that needs it, again I'm asking for the help..I know editing is easier than writing from scratch so I through this together.... If anyone has any specific experience with this game or a similar model I would appreciate the first hand advice on this unit more than anything, then as I get more knowledgeable a more general guide I could put together for the newbs like me :)


==============Things Before The Buy:==============
TBTB1: Don't get too caught up in it and have fun. Really...this IS important.

TBTB2: Make sure you really have the money to spend (even could say "loose"). We all want to make sure we are getting a huge deal...so stay within your budget...its hard but I passed many deals before this one because it was just too much of a stretch for me. This one although is not "perfect" its made expectations more reasonable. I cant image my what my intensity would have been getting ones I have thought about in years prior. You never know so make sure your not spending your entire next months food and gas money because your gonna ride a bike and eat ramen noodles every day so you can get "this one"...I kid ya...because you can end up with more expenses no matter what. Rest assured though that these are amazingly resilient machines and not quite as delicate as one may think.

TBTB3: Join/Donate to this forum. Its been an amazing resource thus far and probably would have gone totally bonkers without it.

TBTB4: Think through the logistics of getting it and get some estimates so you factor that in to the buy price. Its not cheap and not all that easy to move (at least sit down one like this anyway) May seem obvious but its worth mentioning in my book.

TBTB5: Without a doubt Join/Donate to this forum. Its been an amazing resource thus far and I probably would have gone totally bonkers without it. Let alone now that I have it...questions are filling up a mile a minute in my head (most of which I can already find answers here in previous threads).


==============Things To Check:==============
TTC1. Memory Test
(initiated through the Test Menu....to check that the on board memory is testing good)

TTC2. C.R.T Test
(initiated through the Test Menu....to check that the monitor is displaying colors correctly and screen position)

TTC3. Light Test
(initiated through the Test Menu....to check each of the lamps/lights of the machine)

TTC4. Sound/Speaker Test
(initiated through the Test Menu....to check that sound is satisfactory from each of the speakers and the volume is acceptable)

TTC5. Input Tests
(by playing the game ensure that wheel, shift lever, pedals are all functioning correctly)


==============Things To Get:==============

TTG1. Owners Manual
Important (most can be found online).

TTG2. Cabinet Key
(accessing the system board etc. the "guts", this is pretty important, if they don't want to give it to you, then at least have them unlock it so you can remove it before you take it....get a replacement fairly cheep online.)

TTG3. Cash Box Door Key
(if they want to keep the "cams" and keys here its not that big of deal, plenty of options to buy replacements but just get a few bucks off if the want to do this)

TTG4. Tamper-proof Wrench
(This is essential to open the unit but are also available online and some hardware stores.)
 
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You're kinda takin' the fun out of it.


Just show up, play it, if it looks and works good, buy it!

Agreed, just make sure the game runs, monitor is clear, sound plays and the controls work completely. Everything else is gravy

I bought my first game (PC10 Dual Screen) sight unseen, lucked out in that it worked but I wouldn't do that again.
 
I agree with both of these gentlemen. I applaud you for your efforts, but enjoy the process. As long as you do not pay a crazy amount, you will be happy in the end. And there will be more........... Oh, will there be more...............
 
Hey OP, I agree with you, but it sounds like you have the matter pretty well in hand. It's one thing to pick up a game when you're used to working on them and a very different thing to pick up your first. I don't care if it's my 500th game, I'm going to want to see it play and pass self-test… And if there's something wrong, use that as leverage to negotiate the price down.

I know nothing about this specific game, but I'd definitely want to know how to get into test mode and run all the tests, so read the manual. I'd want all the keys, to look inside and see if anything was hacked or otherwise not looking right. Is the PCB hanging by a screw? Monitor solidly mounted? Any components loose in the bottom of the cabinet? All things you want to be aware of before you move the game, you absolutely must re-verify before powering it on after moving. If you can't see inside, you have no idea what's waiting for you & it should factor into the price.
 
There you go:

http://www.sauservice.com/manuals/Jambo Safari/Jambo.html

You just want to make sure there is no major burn in and that the CRT doesn't look like shit.

You would want to be more careful about controls when you deal with games that aren't strait levers/buttons.

If you cannot get into any of the back locks (loss of key or whatever), you may have to drill the lock. I dunno if Sega made this thing use the Master Key (Most likely if its the Naomi Universal version).
 
Don't get hung up on the details!

Self test is good, something fails negotiate your price accordingly.

You can buy locks, keyed differently or alike! I've had the best "rebates" from machines with NO keys! A buddy of mine found $35 in paper bills inside a $50 Donkey Kong table he bought. Think of it like buying a locked safe! ;)

As already stated, don't take the fun out of it by worrying about a checklist. Same time, don't overpay if something is broken. Just be sure you can fix it or know someone who can.
 
No smoke is always a plus. If you turn it on and there is smoke, theres a problem. All electronics run on smoke. If you let the smoke out, they dont work anymore. If you really want it, and want to fix it, tell the seller the game runs on the smoke, and youll need to buy a refill. Then he will have to discount it ALOT :)
 
You guys were right I was getting quite caught up in it...so I heeded the advice and backed off a bit, arranged for a carrier to get it to me and didnt even see it in person until it was paid for and at home. Hows that for letting loose! Anyway its now safely at home and man am I excited....finally got it....and its finally here. :)

So my only known issues at this point is it is missing the cabinet key which from my research and all i can tell is the 5556/5557 sega key. See one on eBay for 35 but if anyone has one cheaper or that they would be willing to lend via mail I would be extremely grateful, just PM me. I also have a hum in the right seat speaker...not sure where to start with that but its not THAT bad.

Thanks for the advice/replies it really did help and I look forward to many-o-more conversations.

(P.S. If anyone is looking to this as a checklist like me on your very first one like me..I adding a few new items to complete the list in new section "Things Before The Buy" and corrected a few others that were questions to more of a statement.)
 
Battery acid damage!!! Look for it..

Also make sure everything is bolted down before you move it, especially the monitor.

You'd need to completely take out the Naomi before you could look at battery acid damage.

Not very practical. Plus, Naomis are cheap nowadays.
 
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