It pays to have a storage unit?

jacklick

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Or to transport games in open truck.

Had to share a quick/medium story.
I just moved every project game out of my garage to a storage unit so I can actually work on games, cars and stuff....ok ..make wife happy.

Well, while I was making an unload trip, a guy follows me to storage unit, jumps out of his truck, and runs over to me before I can get through gate.

He says, "you/sell fix these things?"
I am like, "not really, I just pay to store them like an idiot but yea I can sometimes fix them."
He says, "I have a neighbor that has a pac-man that is broke, can I get your number to give to him".
I go, " sure, what the heck" and give my name and number.....a week passes.

Today, I get a call while picking up another project game. WTH am I doing! I am trying to sell shit. It is the "pac-man" owner.

He says blah blah neighbor gave me your # blah "I have a galaxy"
I say "Galaxian, Galaga, What?" blah blah
He says, "oh, umm, it is a Tempest some space game not sure." "It plays but monitor doesn't come on...probably just a fuse you can probably fix it in 5 min"
I say, "if it is a tempest, it is likely not just a fuse but sure I can swing by and take a look."

Head over less than 2 miles from storage unit. No keys so I didn't even bother turning it on. Guy has had it for 10 years and about 2 years ago monitor went out so in the garage it has sat. We worked out a deal for @ $250.

So did I just pay for the storage unit for a couple months...isn't that how a warped KLOV'r thinks? Actually it will likely be my Major Havoc conversation candidate. I almost gave up hope on finding the necessary vector parts, cheaply, to cobble something together.
 

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From that pic, cabinet looks nice!

yea I only took one pic but other side is just as good. No water damage or swelling and just a couple nicks here and there. The marquee overlay is coming up a bit.

This is actually my third Tempest. Took me a year, two monitor rebuilds, AR rebuilds and trading one away to finally get my "working" one.
 

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nice pickup on the tempest. but if you want to get to MH, your about $1k-$1250(board and roller) away still. you might want to look into emulation for the pcb and use the monitor.

That happens all the time. Driving around, people have got my attention on asking to buy, sell, or repair games. One was an older lady who followed me a few miles off the freeway and pulled over to talk to me when I stopped to make a delivery. She had a Star Wars ur she wanted fixed.

In storage units, dozens of people have approached me to fix, buy, or sell them games. I have even gotten leads on getting some form their friends/family.
 
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lol,

Great story.

Nice cab. Looks to be in great condition.

I fear I'm headed the storage route myself.....
 
So did I just pay for the storage unit for a couple months...isn't that how a warped KLOV'r thinks?

many, many people think this way.

I went to some AA meetings with a friend and I believe this is known as "justifying your actions".
 
When I was laboriously trying to get my new centipede into my house a few days ago, a guy stopped his car in the middle of the street and asked me if I was throwing it away.

Which one of you was it!?

I was hoping he'd offer to help me move the thing inside. Nope!
 
nice pickup on the tempest. but if you want to get to MH, your about $1k-$1250(board and roller) away still. you might want to look into emulation for the pcb and use the monitor. ....

agree...I do have the roller and 2 repro boards though so not that far off now. Come on Takeman for the CP.
 
Deserving thread bump due to another positive encounter at the storage unit.
I was putting a couple games in storage this weekend and a guy pulls up and says, "Hey do you fix, sell, blah blah these things. Do you want 'to buy' a pinball machine?"
Me: "maybe?" Thinking it is probably some PoS or something I really don't want.
Him: "It is in my unit and I am just looking to empty the unit. It is some type of police game."
Me: "Sure. I will unload this and come take a quick look."
I was thinking police force at best.

Get unloaded as quick as this old man can do and head over to his storage unit (inside climate controlled). The head was down and stuff was piled on top of it. He mentioned it probably had been there for 8+ years.
I say, "To make you a fair offer, I will need to move it out and take a look"
He says, "$1k and it is yours".
Even not working, that is a steal nowadays. I offered to go to the bank right then but he didn't have the time.

Made arrangements to meet him today; part of me thinking something is going to go wrong with this deal.
Luckily, no battery damage (yes I removed them) and it has the Diamond playfield which is in great shape. It is a reimport and has the typical fade but very solid cabinet. It needs to be shopped but after reseating some connectors, it powered up and played.
 

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Don't temp me to get a storage unit please....

I am at the Arcade Collecting Crossroads. Sell games, Stack games, or Store games.

I might have to use a local pinball club to hold games.

I am collecting for my larger space which is 2 years away so I don't want to sell anything.

1st world problems
 
Or to transport games in open truck.

Had to share a quick/medium story.
I just moved every project game out of my garage to a storage unit so I can actually work on games, cars and stuff....ok ..make wife happy.

Well, while I was making an unload trip, a guy follows me to storage unit, jumps out of his truck, and runs over to me before I can get through gate.

He says, "you/sell fix these things?"
I am like, "not really, I just pay to store them like an idiot but yea I can sometimes fix them."
He says, "I have a neighbor that has a pac-man that is broke, can I get your number to give to him".
I go, " sure, what the heck" and give my name and number.....a week passes.

Today, I get a call while picking up another project game. WTH am I doing! I am trying to sell shit. It is the "pac-man" owner.

He says blah blah neighbor gave me your # blah "I have a galaxy"
I say "Galaxian, Galaga, What?" blah blah
He says, "oh, umm, it is a Tempest some space game not sure." "It plays but monitor doesn't come on...probably just a fuse you can probably fix it in 5 min"
I say, "if it is a tempest, it is likely not just a fuse but sure I can swing by and take a look."

Head over less than 2 miles from storage unit. No keys so I didn't even bother turning it on. Guy has had it for 10 years and about 2 years ago monitor went out so in the garage it has sat. We worked out a deal for @ $250.

So did I just pay for the storage unit for a couple months...isn't that how a warped KLOV'r thinks? Actually it will likely be my Major Havoc conversation candidate. I almost gave up hope on finding the necessary vector parts, cheaply, to cobble something together.
Can never have too many Tempests..
 
Don't temp me to get a storage unit please....

I am at the Arcade Collecting Crossroads. Sell games, Stack games, or Store games.

I might have to use a local pinball club to hold games.

I am collecting for my larger space which is 2 years away so I don't want to sell anything.

1st world problems
I can help you make room...sell me your baby pac 🤣
 
obtain a storage unit to manage game storage, only to find it manifests complete games from nowhere ...
you're playing with dangerous forces, this has Twilight Zone episode written all over it

Deserving thread bump due to another positive encounter at the storage unit.
I was putting a couple games in storage this weekend and a guy pulls up and says, "Hey do you fix, sell, blah blah these things. Do you want 'to buy' a pinball machine?"
Me: "maybe?" Thinking it is probably some PoS or something I really don't want.
Him: "It is in my unit and I am just looking to empty the unit. It is some type of police game."
Me: "Sure. I will unload this and come take a quick look."
I was thinking police force at best.

Get unloaded as quick as this old man can do and head over to his storage unit (inside climate controlled). The head was down and stuff was piled on top of it. He mentioned it probably had been there for 8+ years.
I say, "To make you a fair offer, I will need to move it out and take a look"
He says, "$1k and it is yours".
Even not working, that is a steal nowadays. I offered to go to the bank right then but he didn't have the time.

Made arrangements to meet him today; part of me thinking something is going to go wrong with this deal.
Luckily, no battery damage (yes I removed them) and it has the Diamond playfield which is in great shape. It is a reimport and has the typical fade but very solid cabinet. It needs to be shopped but after reseating some connectors, it powered up and played.
 
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