How I saved $1300 on a gorgeous Craiglist Tron with mad negotiation skillz

pipcade

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How I saved $1300 on a gorgeous Craiglist Tron with mad negotiation skillz

All this talk in the thread "When shopping do you lowball unrealistic sellers?" http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=199403
made me want to post this story. I had been searching for a reasonably-priced Tron for year to go with my DoT. I wanted one BAD but am cheap. I saw one listed locally on Craigslist with one bad cellphone picture of it that said it worked titled "Tron Arcade Game - $1900"

so here are my emails that took place over a 5 day period (spanning the end of June 2010 to July 2010) with him (links won't work):
------------------------------------
ME:
if you decide to let it go for (much) less, let me know. I could go as
high as $400

I also have a MultiPac (plays 25 variations of Pac and MsPac) in a
nice Mspac cabinet I would trade you for it. it has a monitor in it
that has very little play time on it. Pics:
LINK
------------------------------------
HIM:
I Would only think about letting it go for $1000
here are links of what they are selling for

htttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150386012592&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=WXI7&GUID=0e55b0ed1290a0645636b976ffed74c6&itemid=150386012592&ff4=263602_263622

htttp://www.bonanzle.com/booths/emucade/items/TRON_Stand_UP_Arcade___Original_Coin_op_Video_Game

No thanks on the Trade....
It is just taking up space....

I will let it go for $1000
------------------------------------
ME:
On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 1:58 PM, <> wrote:
> I Would only think about letting it go for $1000
> here are links of what they are selling for
>
> htttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150386012592&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=WXI7&GUID=0e55b0ed1290a0645636b976ffed74c6&itemid=150386012592&ff4=263602_263622
>
That's not what they are actually selling for, that is what someone
THINKS it's worth. I can GUARANTEE nobody will pay that much nor has
anyone paid that much in recent years. If you had a pristine, just out
of the box tron, you *might* be able to get that much.

Here are links to ACTUAL recent completed sales of Trons on ebay:
htttp://tinyurl.com/3actlyw

One sold for $800:
htttp://cgi.ebay.com/TRON-Original-Stand-UP-arcade-game-Very-Nice-/290445606059?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item439fe83cab
One sold for $737:
htttp://cgi.ebay.com/TRON-Original-Stand-UP-arcade-game-Very-Nice-/290447511822?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a005510e
(they are actually the same machine - someone must have not paid the first time)

That's more in the ballpark of what they are worth assuming you can
find someone to pay that much. I could go as high as $500 cash for it
and can pick it up ASAP (I'm local).

brian
------------------------------------
HIM:
Let me think about $500...
all i did was google it and that came up

If they have are selling on ebay for close to $800
then i will have to hold off

Ill let you know
Do you collect games?
------------------------------------
ME:
On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 2:17 PM, <> wrote:
> Let me think about $500...
> all i did was google it and that came up
>
ok, I understand.

> If they have are selling on ebay for close to $800
> then i will have to hold off
>
ok - just remember, ebay is the high end of the $ (smile)

> Ill let you know
>
ok.

> Do you collect games?
>
I do. Just for myself though. I don't buy and resell. I buy for
myself to relive my childhood and I'd like to have a Tron in my
collection - but I have waited this long and can keep waiting if I
have to. But... I have $500 set aside right now to buy one. The $500
can be yours :)
------------------------------------
Brian,

$500 is still low for what i wanted

You know i have it, so if you want to wait and get a few more bucks ill let it go for $650
I have had others ask about it, and to come look at it... but noone has pulled the trigger

Thanks
Let me know when your ready
------------------------------------
ME:
Fair enough - still more than I want to pay, but that's fair. I
appreciate it. Thanks.
------------------------------------
ME (same day as previous email):
If you can do $600 I can come get it fri or sat cash in hand
------------------------------------
HIM:
ok,

$600 When would be a good time for you?
------------------------------------

BINGO! Got him. So, we arrange a time, I go over and it's the nicest non-restored Tron I have ever seen in person. Had I known it was that nice I would have offered more but I had no idea. I check that it works then load it in my minivan, hand him the cash and high-tail it out of there.

Pics (or it didn't happen):
tron-left.jpg


tron-front.jpg


tron-front-bottom.jpg


tron-right.jpg


Seriously - I have to really search to find something to restore. It even has the art on the spinner and the joystick. The only thing I can see I need to do is derust the bolt heads under the coin door. It has a cool Showbiz Pizza Place tag on the back (asset #12911) and I found a showbiz token under the coin box.

I will be keeping this FOREVER.
 
Last edited:
This was supposed to go in general discussion forum. Feel free to move it moderators.
 
That's a cool background story. A lot of folks are willing to negotiate significantly with a little friendly education. Good job!
 
Nice. There are negotiable ones out there, you just gotta find 'em and you never know unless you try to haggle. Most sellers would have just ignored your 2nd reply or possibly even cursed you out in response though.

We need a generic form letter like the one in your 2nd reply to save us all some time. :)
 
Nice. There are negotiable ones out there, you just gotta find 'em and you never know unless you try to haggle. Most sellers would have just ignored your 2nd reply or possibly even cursed you out in response though.

Agreed - not all of them will be as easy as this, but it can't hurt to try (nicely). Worst case, guy says no. Best case, you get a game you wanted at a reasonable price.
 
Agreed - not all of them will be as easy as this, but it can't hurt to try (nicely). Worst case, guy says no. Best case, you get a game you wanted at a reasonable price.

Yeah you even went with a harder set of lines than I usually use to try to bring people into reality. Mad props, been thinking this would be a cool game to have ever since I saw Legacy a couple months ago. If you get a crappy one though there is just sooo much art and proprietary hardware to replace (some of which probably isn't repro'd anymore, not sure).
 
Yeah you even went with a harder set of lines than I usually use to try to bring people into reality.
Heh - well, his price was so insanely high i didn't have much hope so I went all out, but tried to stay "nice" about it and present him with facts. Most people have that same mentality "I saw one on ebay for MEGABUCKS so I should get that too" - not realizing just because someone TRIES to sell it for that much doesn't mean it's worth that. Looking at completed auctions is a much better indicator. I just tried ot clue him in a bit.

Mad props, been thinking this would be a cool game to have ever since I saw Legacy a couple months ago. If you get a crappy one though there is just sooo much art and proprietary hardware to replace (some of which probably isn't repro'd anymore, not sure).

yeah - having all the art, etc intact and not needing replacing saved me a ton of cash.
 
Yeah different kind of situation - make an offer vs a crazy high starting price. Always good to get a deal though!
 
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