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):
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.
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):
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.
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