Observations on the dry supply these days in the P-H-X

Mike Valmike

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Donor 2012, 2014
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Observations on the dry supply these days in the P-H-X

I've been scouring CL and eBay for the last month or so and there just isn't much on offer here in central Arizona, usually a pretty rich target environment. I know it's variance and probably comes and goes but it's depressing when most of the games I am seeing are either: priced out of this world, in terrible shape, or my own games that I'm trying to rotate out for fresh ones (for my vintage arcade and game store, Desert Sky Games in Gilbert).

An oddity is that two separate Toobin are available. One from Tempe, and it's beaten all to hell and I wouldn't offer over $100 for it (if the owner is reading this, sorry bro, but that thing's in rough shape, and you know I ain't lying) and one in Tucson for $350 that looks fantastic and is just a tad more than I think I can lay on it, and even then mostly because of the transport cost. But to see two Toobin at the same time seemed noteworthy. Am I being stupid for not buying the good-looking one? I have no idea what it would be worth. And I have no idea whether Toobin is an earner, but it's a dedicated original so at least I know I wouldn't have to rebuild it.

There is a Donkey Kong in Cave Creek for $400 that the owner says is complete and working, but the photos show no coin door and a control panel missing buttons. I haven't shopped for a Kong lately so I have no idea whether I'm being an idiot for passing on this one too. I don't mind putting some dollars out there but I want good hardware and software when I do, maybe my expectations are unrealistic.

I rebuilt a busted-up Brute Force that had been converted into a Stadium Hero, into a Neo Geo SVC Chaos, and it just hit the floor at DSG tonight. Immediately it was mobbed by players. They do seem enthusiastic about fresh material, especially fighters and especially Japanese-style software. I hope to be able to broaden that a bit, add some variety. More originals, more dedicateds. My co-owners are not arcade fanatics, just mainstream fans, and they really like the Star Wars, TRON, Gauntlet, and SF2 Turbo because I have them in a condition resembling the way they originally were, back then. It's the total package. Anyone can run MAME in their man-cave.

If I were able to bring any one unit in, regardless of cost, I honestly don't know what it would be. It would be Fix-it Felix JR if that game were a real thing. I expect a lot of interest in the arcade when Wreck-it Ralph hits theaters. But setting aside obvious expensive buys like Pac-Man Party (three grand, ouch), if I only had say half a grand to drop, I couldn't tell you what specifically I would want. Only that I'd want it to be a game where emulation falls way short of the true experience, rather than being "almost as good" as is the case for something like the Neo Geo games. Maybe 720 degrees or Super Sprint. If the price was right, I know our players would love an MKII... but I don't want to overpay for a mega-common game.

Anyway just some thoughts. I'm interested in perspectives and learning where I am missing the boat on this stuff. And if someone here is like "wow you dummy you should have bought those games off CL" and snap buys them, hey, no worries. To me, worth the risk of losing the buy in order to learn the market better.
 
don't rule out SoCal as a source for games. KLOV folks make the trek back and forth fairly regularly so it is possibly to get games transported for cheap.
 
I do that, too

I scour the Phx CL listings, and you are right- so many people have this crazy idea that any cab with a 60-in-1 is magically worth $1100-$1500. I'm not seeing much to jump on. I saw that Donkey Kong, and you're correct about the missing parts. It's really not worth what he wants in that condition.
 
I scour the Phx CL listings, and you are right- so many people have this crazy idea that any cab with a 60-in-1 is magically worth $1100-$1500. I'm not seeing much to jump on. I saw that Donkey Kong, and you're correct about the missing parts. It's really not worth what he wants in that condition.

OK, I'm glad to see I wasn't out to lunch on that. And yeah, I have no specific objection to going to LA/SD/Socal-in-general for games, especially given the much greater supply, but I hate to do it unless I'm really going to fill a truck, for cost purposes. Though I don't mind spending on good hardware, it all ends up in the business books so it has to line up at a cost level all the investors are comfortable with at review time. :) I did a five machine buy that took me through Murietta, Temecula, and Santee a few months ago. It worked out.

Thanks for your perspectives! Floor is still open to any thoughts.
 
Keep hope there are games out there in the AZ area..
Laughs I bought 3 from there recently. A punch out, tempest and a missile command.
I thought 750 for the lot was not too bad of a price. Transport cost me gas and lunch.
There was a Bucky o hare 4 player out there for around 200 that I missed out on.

There are home collectors that are getting into pins and once they find something they want their classic video arcade game comes up for sale.

Have you consider looking at the auctions?
Have you consider asking your customers if they know of a game to add to your business?
Have you consider going to other arcade parties and asking other people if you have games for sale?
Have you consider putting out a want ad?
Have you consider keeping a few 1 n XXX around for trading material?

Good luck in your search and your business..
 
Mike-

I'm on Fall Break in two weeks. I'm going to go out and check out your shop during the week.

I've been lucky- I got a nice Asteroids cocktail from Jawhn here for a good price, and an Upright Asteroids off CL for much less. I also got a project Missile Command in exchange for some arcade-related labor. Everything else I'd like seems to have been 60-in-1ed, and the prices show.
 
I couldn't agree more about the state of the PHX market! Our eBay and CL offerings are truly pitiful. If it weren't for my stumbling upon a small cache of well kept classic games, I'd still be sitting at two machines.

I was recently contacted by a KLOV member who lives in New Mexico but was delivering some games to AZ in mid October. His username is 1iblind if any fellow Phoenix metro members want to contact him about his stock.

:cool:
 
Hey PHX!

Thanks for mentioning me DotMuncher.

As DotMuncher said I will be heading out to Phoenix on October 12th. I'm going to be visiting family and delivering some arcade games (Playchoice 10 and Thunder Jaws as of right now). I have a Gorf I'd be willing to sell. Also if anyone is looking for parts or a specific game please let me know. I know of a lot of games around town that I haven't picked up because I personally didn't want them. My buddy has 50+ monitors, around 70 game boards, tons of control panels, monitor bezels, and the list goes on. He had 3 Star Wars Arcade control panels, yokes, and monitor bezels. I picked them all up but I've already sold everything except one monitor bezel. I have 2 tron bezels in ok condition. I'm up for selling or trading.
 
I feel your pain....I live in central ND... and this place is ALWAYS dry. Every game I have gotten I have had to drive 14 hours round trip for....most in mpls...and one in Sioux falls. Same distance....it sucks.
 
Keep hope there are games out there in the AZ area..
Laughs I bought 3 from there recently. A punch out, tempest and a missile command.
I thought 750 for the lot was not too bad of a price.

Wow, I'd have paid that too! :)

Have you consider looking at the auctions?
Have you consider asking your customers if they know of a game to add to your business?
Have you consider going to other arcade parties and asking other people if you have games for sale?
Have you consider putting out a want ad?
Have you consider keeping a few 1 n XXX around for trading material?

1. Every day
2. Yep!
3. Interesting, what do you mean by arcade parties? Is this like the conventions and stuff? This is a great idea and I want to follow through on it.
4. Awesome idea! I just posted a want ad on CL after reading your post. It's an "In your dreams" ad with buy prices lower than what we'll end up offering, but I want to filter out all the folks who think their dead-monitor Ms. Pac in the garage is worth four figures left of the decimal. Or their ghetto home MAME box.
5. Awesome idea! I had been thinking of this but never really followed through on it. I guess this is the best option in terms of what I can do when I get ahold of conversion cabs that aren't good for restoration. For a person who just wants to play all their fighting games, they'll gladly swap me their deceased Uncle Rich's Joust machine for a multi-fighter with the Street Fighter control layout.

Totally great advice and I appreciate it a lot!

I'm gonna check on that APB... for $175 plus gas to and from Tucson, I think I'm enough of a gambler to take my chances with it. That was a fun game.


...In disappointing news, I came up dry scouting a find today. I remembered seeing a Nintendo Red Tent with Gradius and SMB and a Ms Pac cocktail at Hamburger Works on 15th Ave and Thomas. A friend said they still had them. I went during my lunch break and they were gone, and a new Class of 81 was in there, likely they aren't gonna get rid of that ever. Ah well. Any of you guys the beneficiary of their upgrade? I would have really enjoyed snagging that red tent.
 
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Really? On what grounds? I don't see anything objectionable in it.

You and me both, amigo. I figure it's just somebody who doesn't want to be competed with. My wife deals in baby-related goods and they do this all the time, someone is about to sell a baby car seat and they flag all the other ads for one of the same brand, etc. It's dirtbag stuff but then again this is CL, the cesspool of the internet.
 
3. Interesting, what do you mean by arcade parties? Is this like the conventions and stuff?

Yes, Convention like CAX but also smaller arcade parties. There is some one trying to create another CAX type show in the AZ area. Make sure your there with flyers about our place, business cards and maybe something to say I am looking for these types of games.

Not only getting to know who collects what kind of game is helpful, Collecting who looking for what game is helpful. You want to be known as the company/ guy who buys arcade games. This gives you first crack at deals. Having the ability to give a seller a name of another buyers when you pass by a deal is a pretty good reputation to have.
 
If it's flagged, is it immediately removed? Is there an appeals process?

Apparently not. And now he has taken the additional step of flagging my normal for-sale listings. Ah, Craigslist, I had almost forgotten why I don't use you as a business tool more often.
 
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