"Lowballer" - The CL term for informed buyer.

[Wundercade]

Personally, I think the MK in the OP ad would fetch maybe 250.00 top end in this market. However, I would think $50 to be a true low ball offer for a working, good condition, nice 25" monitor. But it's a rare individual that would pay 450.00 for a common fighter in this market. Just MHO.

Also, aren't we (collectors) indeed - largely the people driving this market in terms of price direction? Where else in the economy is there a demand for these old games? Nowhere. We are the market.

So really, I am not sure where this mythical consumer is that pays 3x for these games than we collectors pay for them - so much so - that they ARE the market for these games and we aren't. Seems like those uneducated consumers are few and far between.







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[mc300baud]

find me a nice, dedicated MKI for sale for $250 near me and i'll be all over it.

i think this is one of those titles that isn't all that popular with the "classic collector" but is with those who just want one or a few games, especially the 25-35 crowd who grew up with these fighters and not Ms. Pacman.

as it is, my MKI always get a lot of play when i have arcade parties, whether i have collectors or non-collectors over.

 

[khabbi]

find me a nice, dedicated MKI for sale for $250 near me and i'll be all over it.

i think this is one of those titles that isn't all that popular with the "classic collector" but is with those who just want one or a few games, especially the 25-35 crowd who grew up with these fighters and not Ms. Pacman.

as it is, my MKI always get a lot of play when i have arcade parties, whether i have collectors or non-collectors over.

As an MK fan, I agree. and most MK1's have been hacked to hell and/or converted to MK2 or god knows what. AN original MK1 that's in pretty decent shape could take $400 to a MK collector, easy. Certainly not the same category as an 80's collector, but there IS a market for all original MK cabs in good shape. My case in point, about 2 months ago a guy bought one on ebay for $525 and then shipped it. I watched the auction since the machine was close (davenport, fl) and then saw the youtube vid after he got it home:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIPz0LUiCd8

I just bought a pretty nice MK1 for $300, and it's an all original dedicated cab with pretty good art.. and I feel lucky that I found it, this one doesn't have the red or yellow faded out on the sides like most... Can't wait to get it home!!

 

[prOk]

Sometimes we forget that while most here are either aware of real world costs (or just cheap) the majority of buyers simply don't know. You'd be shocked to find out what Home depot pays for a sheet of plywood you pay 40 bucks for

 

[Wundercade]

Looks like this guy is just a flipper which explains the price:

http://modesto.craigslist.org/vgm/1705248613.html



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[jawhn]

Looks like this guy is just a flipper which explains the price:

http://modesto.craigslist.org/vgm/1705248613.html



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Lol. I just flagged that as "best of"...

 

[Hyde]

Yeah, I hate the term "lowballer" as well. And I also hate how CL in my area is turning into a "best offer" site. That really bothers me... I never want to make an offer because I'm always really cheap and my offer would probably brand me as a lowballer. Just state your price and be done with it.

 

[Teknotoyz]

I am personally a self described "Cheap Bastard".
Lowballer... dunno, has too much of a Freudian sound to it for my liking... I'll stick with CB.

 

[xxstatic]

I never want to make an offer because I'm always really cheap and my offer would probably brand me as a lowballer. Just state your price and be done with it.

I don't have a problem with offering if that's truly what they want, its a pain when they have a price in mind and put you through the "make an offer" game instead, then you make an offer and they take it as an insult....

To me the negotiations start with the offer, the seller generally knows what they want, heck if I think I need $250 for something I put $325 as the asking price knowing I'll go down to as low as $250, A win-win, the buyer feels they got a good deal and the seller get's what he really want's.
My Asteroids machine was listed as a "offer" I sent my offer of $50 and they emailed back "When can you come get it?"

 

[Black Matrix]

I can understand both sides of the argument. I had a galaga that I had put a lot of time and money into with repro art and power supply upgrades.... I priced it on a local trading post add for 700. Keep in mind I had probably 500 in it and while it was no where near perfect, it was a very nice, mechanically sound machine. Guy called me up wanting to buy it for 150 or 250 delivered. I was speachless. I would have lost my ass on that one. I didn't know whether to tell him off or laugh him off. I collected myself to tell him that I couldn't sell it for that. He proceeded to tell me that he knew what these sold for and what they were worth. I think he mentioned he wanted it for his kid. I think I ended up suggesting he try the local arcade auction. Long story longer, the guy really pissed me off, and was the only call I got on the game. So I ended up keeping it and its still a nice piece in my game room. So constant tire kickers who want you to drop you price over 60 percent before they can even be bothered with looking at the machine would piss off any reasonable collector. That being said, nothing is more annoying to a collector who comes across a decent piece in need of a restore that someone wants a retail price for. I think we have all run across a 1500 dollar ms pacman at one point or another. Even worse when its something on your want list thats just not worth the asking price.

 

[jehuie]

I don't care if people "lowball" me on price. But when they get angry when you say no, that is frustrating. I try to never insult sellers when I go out to purchase a game. I'm as cheap as they come but I would never dream of trying to make someone feel bad for trying to get the price they want.

If they are asking $500 for a game that's worth $50 for me I'll just thank them for their time and walk away. What's the point of making a big deal out of it? And the reverse is true as well. If they offer me $50 for a game I'm asking $500 for I'm polite and just let them know that it's worth more than that to me and I'd rather hang on to it then.