Moral dilemma?

DP Louie

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A few months ago I posted a wanted ad in the local Thrify Nickel paper (looking for old arcade games). I had a few calls, mostly people that wanted a fortune for thier games. One guy called and told me he had an "old Atari arcade game" in a shed at his mothers house. After talking with him a few times, he seemed to think it was a "pac-man game", in good shape and was working when he put it in the shed years ago. This was around October of last year, but due to the holidays and the fact that we couldn't coordinate a time to meet so I could check out the cab, it's taken me till now to finally get a look at it. Well, I drove 30 minutes out in the middle of nowhere, and the seller took me out to an old, dilapidated shed to look at the "Pac-Man game". There was no electricity in the shed, so I took a flashlight, and was VERY surprized to see a Bud Tapper, in what looked to be great shape! Looks complete, side art is great, marquee and bezel look good, cpo is nice, Bud tapper handles are nice. It was against a wall, with junk piled in front of it, so I couldn't move it to check out the back or the inside, but it does have the back door. The seller claims that it belonged to his brother who moved away years ago and that it worked fine when he put it in the shed. So I ask the obvious question, "how much"? He tells me, "well, I really don't know what these machines are worth, but how about $200". I know I should have jumped on it and be posting pics right now, but I was really torn - should I tell him the machine is worth more than that (especially if it does indeed work) or should I just buy it and keep my mouth shut? What would you guys do? This isn't a craigslist deal, so it's safe to say that I'm the only one that knows about this cab. I told him I'd think about it and let him know...
 
what can you reasonably afford to pay for this game. I have to imagine that if you pass on it it may sit and rot away where it is. If you can afford to pay a bit more than he is asking and it makes you feel better then do so but either way I would buy the game as leaving it where you describe it will probably just mean one less game in the world.
 
Buy it for his asking price of $200 and you're both happy. Why pay more if you don't have to? If you tell him it's worth more, what's to stop him from putting in on CL or eBay, to see how much he can get and you losing out on your find?
 
Its sitting in a shed rotting away, $200, awesome price, buy it. Even it was sitting in his living room running beautiful, he quotes $200, then its his own fault for not being prepared.

If he is not going to take the time to pull it out of the shed, clean it up and properly display it for sale, then its worth the low price of $200. I'd even offer $175 for it.
 
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Remember, he asked for $200 hoping you'd say yes and not counter-offer. You may open it up and find a bunch of dead rats, battery acid damage, etc.

Just pay it, get it home, and be happy....
 
What kind of person are you??? As a KLOV member you should call back and offer $25 and let him know how nice you are to do so!! :D

Honestly, if he wants $200, and it will be clearing up his space then go for it!
 
He told you $200 get the damn thing hes happy with $200 leave it at that..Geez I drove 1000 miles to get mine..If you dont want it I got a buddy who will buy it from you and will give you good money for it..
 
Good lord, morals have nothing to do with this. Obviously he's negotiable. I'd have offered $100, worst he can do is counter. I would have been all smiles all the way home (if I was a tapper fan) either way.

Theres a difference between stealing it and working out a price that both parties mutually agree to.

Heres an anology. I'm at Sears shopping for a new plasma TV. They have a demo model in flawless condition that usually sells for $1000, but this one is priced at $200. Am I really going to say "hey, this is worth 5 times that, why dont you raise the price on me?"
 
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If he wants $200. Give it to him in untested, unexamined condition.

If he moves all the shit out of the way, moves it for easy transport to a garage, wipes it down, plugs it in, verifies that the machine works, and still asks for $200. Give him twice that.

No need to get into telling him what they should sell for. That's not his business. It's yours.


My two cents.
 
DP Louie - I commend you for being who you are. That is awesome that part of you feels guilty for taking it (well technically stealing it lol)

A Bud Tapper is worth some good coin so if it'll ease your mind throw the guy a bone and add an extra Benjamin to the deal when you pick it up.
 
The best answer would have been... "Hmm... $200 sounds fair..." and then pull the wallet out and go. You PROBABLY could have countered with "I'll give ya $120.00" and he'd likely have jumped on it... but THAT would have been sort of dicked. At $200, you get a good deal... he gets what he wants... everyone is happy.
 
Thanks for all the replys, guys. It's strange, normally I would have just snatched it up and considered myself lucky, but this guy was very genuine, he honestly hasn't got a clue, so I feel kind like I'm robbing him or something, lol. I'm definately gonna get it, sometime this week, and I'll post pics then. Hopefully it works, or just needs a fuse... :rolleyes:
 
your pretty much stuck. If you offer more, the guy might think why? Then its going to be an issue.

$200 is fair. Leave it at that. Especially since he brought up the price..

If you get it home and it works (probably not, PS is probably bad) and in the light of day your really happy with it and you really want to help this guy out, maybe swing by later and tell him thanks. Drop off a case of beer or another $100.
 
If it's worth 200 to you then take it. Why let him know if it may be worth more? I mean he called you after all... If he can't be bothered to do any research on the value before selling it, then why hold yourself responsible for that?
 
if you have to question this you are in the wronge hobby. its like listing a game for sale then telling the buyer that they really shouldnt pay that much because you were in it much less than your asking price
 
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