How to convince local vendor to sell?

jot3

Member

Donor 2012
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Messages
155
Reaction score
3
Location
Michigan
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Since I live in a small town, there isn't a lot going on without a long drive to buy Arcade / Pinball games. So I decided to start calling vending companies. I finally did find one pretty close to me and I found something really awesome...about 250 games all stacked in a big room. If you have ever seen american pickers, you might pick up how certain people act when you try to buy something that might still want.

So climbed around the top of the cabinets and took some pictures. Found lots of cool stuff I would like, but he started throwing out crazy prices and saying he couldn't sell this and that...even though on the phone he said he needs to get rid of all this old stuff.

So......
Do you know how to get to the soul of a vendor to get them to give up some stuff for cheap? I'm dying to buy about 10 games from him but he just won't budge. Now he is pushing me off until March because he said he is getting busy. Ugh!

Let me know your experiences...
 
I slipped a note under the managers door at an arcade in Aneheim. It said I will buy your medieval madness pinball machine for $4000. I got a call 2 days later to come get it. I drove VERY fast.
 
Did you flash a BIG ROLLED UP WAD OF CASH?? That usually helps as a reminder that you are a serious buyer.

Keep your poker face on, don't light up in awe everyime you see a game that you want to buy - difficult to do, I know.

If the guy is willing to power up the game then you can also see if there are any flaws with the boardset or monitor burn - if these are visible to the seller as well, you can start negoitating down.

If you're trying to win this guy over, tell him that the game will be going to a good home (or mancave) where it will be appreciated and he could come and see it in its glory at a future date...this might make him more open to part with one of those machines that he just won't let go.

Finally, don't try to by all 10 of those games at once. Start with one or two games and then return as a repeat customer and build a relationship with the seller.

Just some thoughts...

-Muel
 
Last edited:
pinball

He does have some pinball games.

The places is pretty messy. I was so overwhelmed, that I didn't even focus on the pinball stuff. There were a handful. Crazy thing is he had a Galaga and an older pinball just sitting outside...I was thinking WHY WHY!!! are you leaving that outside in the dead of winter.

I was thinking maybe he was going to throw away the pinball game because it didn't look like it was in good order, I but I figure the cabinet looked like it could be reused.

Thx for the suggestions...
 
i have had to convince and re-convince local Las Vegas operators that I am not starting a vending business, but instead collect and restore these machines as a hobby. It took some pestering on my behalf but now they know me and exactly what I collect, so they call me now. Just be persistent and drop by from time to time, in my experience they want to make $$ so if a game is sitting collecting dust and you can take it away for cash in hand, they will usually jump on it. Good luck
Chris
 
I deal with op's,there all about money! I have only met one that has games in a personal collection,the rest when i ask if they have games at home they just laugh. Its a job for them and when they see a vid or a pin all they see is work and money,buy one at somewhere close to his asking price maybe two and take his number. Talk to the guy and tell him you collect these games and your not trying to be competion and really have a conversation with him,he'll loosen up.
 
Keep it friendly and be persistent. Show up every month or so, so that you as an interested buyer stays in his mind. Eventually he'll decide to sell some, and if you have been persistent (but not annoying) you'll be the guy he sells to. Nobody is going to convince him to sell if he doesn't want to, you just need to make sure you are the guy he calls first when he does. (Then give me a call for 2nd pick -- ha ha!)

As for getting them cheap, that's another matter, and if you seem like someone who wants to get his games for a steal you'll ruin your chances. Ops spent thousands on each game new back in the day.

Just my 2 cents... :)
 
tell him/her you want them for free. and delivered with white glove service. and cleaned and spic an span also. and everthing to be gone over to get them in good working order. and if it's any trouble, tell him/her you want them to pay you for your time it takes you to do all of this. and second page.
 
Where at in Michigan are you located? I know of a vendor near me that sells game smowhat cheep. When I talked to him he seemed very nice and even offered to sell me some games, and even help me fix what I have.He told me anytime I need help just give him a call. He is in North Muskegon if you are interisted pm me and I will give you his number. I found his games at Crazy Bounce in Holland and got his number from there, also the guy that owns a couple of trailer parks near me told me about him.
 
I agree about building a relationship with the guy. I got to know an op once by bringing him a pin for repair but asking him to let me do the work while he guided me through it. I paid his normal hourly rate and it probably took longer to get it done but when we were finished, I knew more about the subject and we found that we enjoyed talking and he seemed to like having me around. After a while he started giving me some of his projects to work on and having me sell them for him. And he started passing on leads when people had projects they wanted to get rid of but he didn't want. We are still friends and when I need parts and stuff he usually gives them to me for really cheap or free just because he knows me so well now.
 
This is the best way I have found......


wad-of-money.jpg



Chris
 
Back
Top Bottom