OK, So i sell a game to a guy and....

MtZRcade

Active member

Donor 9 years: 2011-2019
Joined
Feb 18, 2008
Messages
1,343
Reaction score
7
Location
Illinois
Here is the story...

I have a guy contact me wanting some games for his restaurant, He wants Deer Hunting, Power Drift, Double Axle and Ms Pac. He comes to my warehouse, looks over the games. He is happy with the games. Couple of the games dont have coin mechs, i grab a handful of NOS ones i have and offer them to him. He states that he will be on tokens, so no need for them. His place is about an hour away, so we load up the games and off he goes (This was Saturday)

Today, I get a call from the guy and he is having a few problems. Like i said, im an hour away so i tell him i will try to help over the phone. First problem, the gun isnt working right on the deer hunting. double axle wont coin up. Last, ms pac doesnt do anything. So im not happy, what the hell could have happend were 3 out of 4 games dont work. So lets start troubleshooting over the phone, so i have an idea what to bring with me for me to come and fix the games, as i told him that i would if he had any problems.

First off, Ms Pac, now my first thought on the game not working is did he turn it on, (i actually have had that with a customer before) He says yes. Ok, the next idea, interlock. I tell him that i want him to take off the back door to check the interlock. His reply..."where is the backdoor" I just dont know what to say. It took ten minutes for me to explain to him where the back door is. I decide, that after this, it would be worth the drive, i just cant explain troubleshooting with someone that has a hard time finding a backdoor.

I get off the phone, I call a friend of mine that is in that area often. I call, he is 2 blocks away from this guys business. He stops in. Takes 5 mintues to take care of all 3 games. Ms pac back door was bowed and the interlock wasnt pused in, placed a screw in the backdoor by the interlock, game works great. The building is very bright, adjust the monitor down a little for der hunting, game works great. Double axle has no coin mechs (remember i offered them) flick the switch, game works great.

Its just so fun dealing with people buying games that have no clue about them. I actually had a buyer of a dartboard ask me how to plug the game in...

Troy
 
To be honest, I think it's just these games' way of kicking the seller in the toolbag for selling them to someone else. My Defender played great for 2 years, it started to get the typical RAM error so I bought all new RAM for it and swapped it out about 5-6 mos before selling it, never had any probs. I made a deal with a KLOV'er, they come to get it, and between the time I closed the deal, and the time I moved the machine to the end of the garage for pick-up, Defender decided to have her period. It gave me all kinds of grief, RAM error, game would freeze up, I wanted to vomit right on the CPO. The KLOV'er understood and was experienced with working with these games and still bought the game. If I recall he had it up and running at home with no problems afterward. The game just was determined to bruise my sac for letting it go.

Next, my Robotron- no problems with it at all, except until the day of selling it.. It had a switcher plus the original PS in it. The linear supply was tempermental, and I'd bought the switcher to use for the heart transplant. When I put the switcher in, I just left the linear PS in there because all was working fine. Dokert offered to swap me some RAM for the original PS out of it, and when I went to get the linear PS out of it for him, the game puked. Even with the switcher in it! I put the linear PS back in again (along with the switcher), all was perfect. Removed linear again, it puked again. All on the day when the buyer was coming for the machine. When they arrived, I explained to them what the game was doing, and I just left everything in it as it was to complete the sale.

Long story short, I believe these games are living things, and they will kick you square in the nuts if you try to send them on to another foster home. I guess they love us as much as we love them. Thank God they can't boil rabbits!!
 
Ask Forrest

Stupid is as stupid does...

Like peas and carrots...

The machine has a bowed door on it buttocks...

Mabey that was it you said back of machine and not buttocks ! lolol


Here is the story...

I have a guy contact me wanting some games for his restaurant, He wants Deer Hunting, Power Drift, Double Axle and Ms Pac. He comes to my warehouse, looks over the games. He is happy with the games. Couple of the games dont have coin mechs, i grab a handful of NOS ones i have and offer them to him. He states that he will be on tokens, so no need for them. His place is about an hour away, so we load up the games and off he goes (This was Saturday)

Today, I get a call from the guy and he is having a few problems. Like i said, im an hour away so i tell him i will try to help over the phone. First problem, the gun isnt working right on the deer hunting. double axle wont coin up. Last, ms pac doesnt do anything. So im not happy, what the hell could have happend were 3 out of 4 games dont work. So lets start troubleshooting over the phone, so i have an idea what to bring with me for me to come and fix the games, as i told him that i would if he had any problems.

First off, Ms Pac, now my first thought on the game not working is did he turn it on, (i actually have had that with a customer before) He says yes. Ok, the next idea, interlock. I tell him that i want him to take off the back door to check the interlock. His reply..."where is the backdoor" I just dont know what to say. It took ten minutes for me to explain to him where the back door is. I decide, that after this, it would be worth the drive, i just cant explain troubleshooting with someone that has a hard time finding a backdoor.

I get off the phone, I call a friend of mine that is in that area often. I call, he is 2 blocks away from this guys business. He stops in. Takes 5 mintues to take care of all 3 games. Ms pac back door was bowed and the interlock wasnt pused in, placed a screw in the backdoor by the interlock, game works great. The building is very bright, adjust the monitor down a little for der hunting, game works great. Double axle has no coin mechs (remember i offered them) flick the switch, game works great.

Its just so fun dealing with people buying games that have no clue about them. I actually had a buyer of a dartboard ask me how to plug the game in...

Troy
 
That's okay. I once had to drive to a lady's house (about 40 min away) on New Year's Eve because she couldn't get her pinball to start, and she had a party that night. I walked in and pushed the start button and it started a game. She says, 'What did you do?' I told her I just pushed the start button - pointing to the start button at the same time. 'Oh, that's the start button!' she said. It turns out she had been pushing the coin return... :rolleyes:
 
not as bad as this guy who operates games in his restaurant. He can't even fix a coin jam. He calls me to take care of them or he bugs his friend to help him. The guy is a contractor and does not want to take the time to learn. He has me show 1 of his employees. I guess when the guy quits/ moves on, I get the call again to help with the game.

What sucks is he has a nice pin in there. I bought him some novus and mills wax for him to clean it, but he never does..
 
LOL, Where is the any key?

LOL, Reminds me of a Laptop, Computer store I was managing.
I built up a company to pretty big bucks, No they never trickled down.
But I could come in with my lunch from the place up the street and a 6 pack,
And offer one to the boss as he walked back in the door.
Anyhow, I did internet sales, Retail sales, Ran the retail shop. always loved
dealing with people, And sometimes you would get the COMPLETELY CLUELESS..
I had a Gal come in oh id say about 23 or so, Ditzy as could be. Show her a laptop
Within her budget would handle everything she wanted to do and had some room to
grow. She asks me to show her the power button how to start it and everything.
I show her all the basics and send her on her way, she advised she had highspeed
internet at home and I suggested she run the windows updates and update it weekly.
(win 98SE days for the true geeky, Myself included) And she says ok, and asks also about saving to floppy disc. I show her drag and drop, and copy etc.. Show her how to put it in and out (yes i hear the snickers. im twisted that way too :p LOLOL) and Send her on her way.
Not 20 or 30 min later I get a phone call from her..
"Umm, I was doing everything you said, typed something to test saved it shut down and now it dosen't start the same." I at this point have to take my self out of tech mode and figure out ok... What is the confusing part. what has her for a loss.. So I ask her read me whats on the screen. "Well it says something about not a bootable disk and remove and press any key... I can't find the any key where is it?" I ask her to hold on, and Mute the phone, and could not help but laugh... Ive heard of that call before wondered how many times it really happens and I got one!!... I unmuted the phone and explained to her, There is no "any key" She quick to respond says "But it says press any key, Ive looked and can not find it" I tell her let me explain and I said it means just that Press any key dosent matter which one just any of the keys on the keyboard and it will continue. Her responce "Ohhhhhhhhh I get it now!!" She pushes the any key and not 30 seconds later I hear the Laptop pass post, BEEP, and then continues starting and she says "oh its working now. THANK YOU!!"...

Yes, its real only happened once in 4 years, but I can say until this day "I got the any key call" Lololol





That's okay. I once had to drive to a lady's house (about 40 min away) on New Year's Eve because she couldn't get her pinball to start, and she had a party that night. I walked in and pushed the start button and it started a game. She says, 'What did you do?' I told her I just pushed the start button - pointing to the start button at the same time. 'Oh, that's the start button!' she said. It turns out she had been pushing the coin return... :rolleyes:
 
Next, my Robotron- no problems with it at all, except until the day of selling it.. It had a switcher plus the original PS in it. The linear supply was tempermental, and I'd bought the switcher to use for the heart transplant. When I put the switcher in, I just left the linear PS in there because all was working fine. Dokert offered to swap me some RAM for the original PS out of it, and when I went to get the linear PS out of it for him, the game puked. Even with the switcher in it! I put the linear PS back in again (along with the switcher), all was perfect. Removed linear again, it puked again. All on the day when the buyer was coming for the machine. When they arrived, I explained to them what the game was doing, and I just left everything in it as it was to complete the sale.

Depending on how the switching supply is installed the logic ground can be passed through the linear supply which would probably explain why your game was dying when you pulled the old supply out.

BTW, "kicking the seller in the toolbag", thats friggin funny! :)

Matt
 
LOL, Reminds me of a Laptop, Computer store I was managing.
I built up a company to pretty big bucks, No they never trickled down.
But I could come in with my lunch from the place up the street and a 6 pack,
And offer one to the boss as he walked back in the door.
Anyhow, I did internet sales, Retail sales, Ran the retail shop. always loved
dealing with people, And sometimes you would get the COMPLETELY CLUELESS..
I had a Gal come in oh id say about 23 or so, Ditzy as could be. Show her a laptop
Within her budget would handle everything she wanted to do and had some room to
grow. She asks me to show her the power button how to start it and everything.
I show her all the basics and send her on her way, she advised she had highspeed
internet at home and I suggested she run the windows updates and update it weekly.
(win 98SE days for the true geeky, Myself included) And she says ok, and asks also about saving to floppy disc. I show her drag and drop, and copy etc.. Show her how to put it in and out (yes i hear the snickers. im twisted that way too :p LOLOL) and Send her on her way.
Not 20 or 30 min later I get a phone call from her..
"Umm, I was doing everything you said, typed something to test saved it shut down and now it dosen't start the same." I at this point have to take my self out of tech mode and figure out ok... What is the confusing part. what has her for a loss.. So I ask her read me whats on the screen. "Well it says something about not a bootable disk and remove and press any key... I can't find the any key where is it?" I ask her to hold on, and Mute the phone, and could not help but laugh... Ive heard of that call before wondered how many times it really happens and I got one!!... I unmuted the phone and explained to her, There is no "any key" She quick to respond says "But it says press any key, Ive looked and can not find it" I tell her let me explain and I said it means just that Press any key dosent matter which one just any of the keys on the keyboard and it will continue. Her responce "Ohhhhhhhhh I get it now!!" She pushes the any key and not 30 seconds later I hear the Laptop pass post, BEEP, and then continues starting and she says "oh its working now. THANK YOU!!"...

Yes, its real only happened once in 4 years, but I can say until this day "I got the any key call" Lololol

http://web.archive.org/web/20010317221900/web14.compaq.com/falco/detail.asp?FAQnum=FAQ2859

An actual FAQ from Compaq...
 
not as bad as this guy who operates games in his restaurant. He can't even fix a coin jam. He calls me to take care of them or he bugs his friend to help him. The guy is a contractor and does not want to take the time to learn. He has me show 1 of his employees. I guess when the guy quits/ moves on, I get the call again to help with the game.

What sucks is he has a nice pin in there. I bought him some novus and mills wax for him to clean it, but he never does..

Hehe, On my Lethal Weapon pinball, the left coin slot was hot glued closed. I assumed there was a major problem. I took it apart one day and about $4 in random change fell out...

...instead of clearing the jam they just sealed off the slot!!! Gotta love ops who have no clue what they are doing...
 
Since this post has transitioned to computer stories...

I went in to Frys in San Diego many moons ago. As I was walking past the computers section there was this old couple poking around one of the desktops. I shit you not, the old guy picks up the mouse, sticks it to his mouth and says "COMPUTER... ON! COMPUTER... ON! COMPUTER... ON!" Then looks to his woman companion (wife I assume) and says "Oh... it must be broke."

I couldn't stop laughing for quite a while.
 
Back
Top Bottom