CalifTom
Member
Just got back from Super Auction in Compton, CA. I made the worst purchases in the history of my buying games. I believe an explaination that led to these purchases is in order. Yesterday I had an opportunity to buy a working Q*bert for 150.00 and a Star Wars for 200.00, site unseen. Before I pulled the trigger I wanted to see pics, because I would be driving 6-8 hrs to get them. I recieved an email shortly after saying the games just sold. Man did I feel stupid. In the back of my mind I still had the auction to go to and redeam myself.
So, my wife and I get up and make sure that we will get there in time to check things out in the preview. I see some classics that I could be interested in. As a whole, most of the games were poor to moderate shape. I would also say that most of the games were conversions and neo-geo types. Again very few classics.
The first thing that catches my eye was a tempest machine, the only one there. The bad thing is I can't plug it in. The cord was locked inside (the first thing that should have detered me). I also saw that the cp had no buttons or spinner (second thing). I did like the condition of the cabinet, it was good and the art had only a few scratches. So I decided to take a chance and won the bidding at 125.00. Right after I purchased it, another KLOV'er says did you buy the tempest and I said yes. He said did you know that there was no monitor. Of course my jaw drops; "No I didn't know that". I think how stupid could I be. Sure enough, I shine my flashlight through the glass and I can see the back (GREAT JOB).
Now what do I do, I only have room for one more game. I have a little toyota P/U, two games max.
I set my sights on this Defender cabinet that was converted to a Bubble Bobble (It also did not come on, another good clue). I wait patiently for it to come up. While I wait, games are being sold with working monitors for 25.00. Some machines that don't come up are being sold for 10.00. No this is not a typo. The game finally comes up and I win the bid for 50,00. I think that's not so bad. I look at my wife and say lets pay and load up. I start to load the games and as I start to roll the Bubble Bobble I notice something, it doesn't have a monitor either. Oh how stupid can you be!!!!!
The ride home is about an hour and a half. My wife and I are laughing at the whole thing. She was trying to make me feel better and say that I'm sure you can get them fixed up. I like that about her. As we are pulling into the neiborhood she says speaking to the neighbors, "don't worry about us we are just bringing in some more junk". Got a good laugh out of that too.
Now here is the big kicker. Since neither one of the games has a monitor, I at least know that they have pcb's and some other parts that I might be able to salvage. Come to find out, both boards have tags on them indicating problems. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOW STUPID CAN I BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, the lesson of the day. Check all the games very carefully before you bid. If you can't look to your satisfaction don't bid or pay for what you see.
So, my wife and I get up and make sure that we will get there in time to check things out in the preview. I see some classics that I could be interested in. As a whole, most of the games were poor to moderate shape. I would also say that most of the games were conversions and neo-geo types. Again very few classics.
The first thing that catches my eye was a tempest machine, the only one there. The bad thing is I can't plug it in. The cord was locked inside (the first thing that should have detered me). I also saw that the cp had no buttons or spinner (second thing). I did like the condition of the cabinet, it was good and the art had only a few scratches. So I decided to take a chance and won the bidding at 125.00. Right after I purchased it, another KLOV'er says did you buy the tempest and I said yes. He said did you know that there was no monitor. Of course my jaw drops; "No I didn't know that". I think how stupid could I be. Sure enough, I shine my flashlight through the glass and I can see the back (GREAT JOB).
Now what do I do, I only have room for one more game. I have a little toyota P/U, two games max.
I set my sights on this Defender cabinet that was converted to a Bubble Bobble (It also did not come on, another good clue). I wait patiently for it to come up. While I wait, games are being sold with working monitors for 25.00. Some machines that don't come up are being sold for 10.00. No this is not a typo. The game finally comes up and I win the bid for 50,00. I think that's not so bad. I look at my wife and say lets pay and load up. I start to load the games and as I start to roll the Bubble Bobble I notice something, it doesn't have a monitor either. Oh how stupid can you be!!!!!
The ride home is about an hour and a half. My wife and I are laughing at the whole thing. She was trying to make me feel better and say that I'm sure you can get them fixed up. I like that about her. As we are pulling into the neiborhood she says speaking to the neighbors, "don't worry about us we are just bringing in some more junk". Got a good laugh out of that too.
Now here is the big kicker. Since neither one of the games has a monitor, I at least know that they have pcb's and some other parts that I might be able to salvage. Come to find out, both boards have tags on them indicating problems. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOW STUPID CAN I BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, the lesson of the day. Check all the games very carefully before you bid. If you can't look to your satisfaction don't bid or pay for what you see.

