Questions about warehouse raids and such

kjeffery

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So I was just thinking, I want to raid a warehouse dammit. It could be cool just to see one and not even buy any games. I know its been asked before but are there any warehouses left. Im thinking to myself there are tons left un discovered and probably will never be discovered. I didnt grow up in the 70's or 80's(Im 23) but I have heard people say that arcade games were every where and ever corner in every store. Where the hell did all these games vanish to, Im sure there was also a high qaunity of pins and em machines too and some stock piles are now stuck in people's barns. Anyone have around about of how many total games were distributed around the US? I guess what Im trying to say is there has to be many treasures out there just waiting to be discovered. I have made these bussiness cards to put on every car I see in every shopping center to try and find anything that I can.
 
So I was just thinking, I want to raid a warehouse dammit. It could be cool just to see one and not even buy any games. I know its been asked before but are there any warehouses left. Im thinking to myself there are tons left un discovered and probably will never be discovered. I didnt grow up in the 70's or 80's(Im 23) but I have heard people say that arcade games were every where and ever corner in every store. Where the hell did all these games vanish to, Im sure there was also a high qaunity of pins and em machines too and some stock piles are now stuck in people's barns. Anyone have around about of how many total games were distributed around the US? I guess what Im trying to say is there has to be many treasures out there just waiting to be discovered. I have made these bussiness cards to put on every car I see in every shopping center to try and find anything that I can.


the last thing a operator wants to hear is can I come over and look at your stuff, take up your time and buy nothing...
 
I've been on a couple of raids, many back in the 1990-92 time frame believe it or not. Back then the games were $125 each working and I bought 2 Qberts for that non-working (but had them both going quickly!).
Finding a stash is key, this last weekend I was told about one and interest quickly grew in our local group. Going with people that ARE buying is ideal! I spent the least but rode on the other guys volumes to snag a good deal too.
Just keep an ear to the ground and it will happen. There was no sign we followed. Actually found the guy because he listed a half dozen games on Ebay and was nearby. We wrote and asked how much he had and set up a visit!

Read about it here:
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=145766
 
Just try finding one in southern california. Hell, I know a bunch of the so-cal operators, and have had drinks with some. I still have yet to see anything really spectacular in any or their warehouses.
 
dont waste theie time if you cant afford to buy. The oeprators that have had games sitting all these years have them because they dont care about the space it takes up. Money is not that big of a issue with them. So if you waste there time, it will probably ruin it for us guys that can afford to buy the stuff.

Ive been on alot of raids, and have let some other members even go with me. I have never went with intentions of buying nothing. I only go with the intentions of buying everything
 
dont waste theie time if you cant afford to buy. The oeprators that have had games sitting all these years have them because they dont care about the space it takes up. Money is not that big of a issue with them. So if you waste there time, it will probably ruin it for us guys that can afford to buy the stuff.

Ive been on alot of raids, and have let some other members even go with me. I have never went with intentions of buying nothing. I only go with the intentions of buying everything

Yes I understand , I can afford to buy games just not a whole warehouse full, its not my soul quest to buy nothing at a warehouse raid, I was just saying it would just be cool to see something like that, of course I would want to buy stuff.

On a side note, Ive been working in Decatur all this week.
 
Yes I understand , I can afford to buy games just not a whole warehouse full, its not my soul quest to buy nothing at a warehouse raid, I was just saying it would just be cool to see something like that, of course I would want to buy stuff.

On a side note, Ive been working in Decatur all this week.

Get some friends, organize an event, and make it worthwhile for everyone.

That's what we tend to do. :)
 
Warehouse

Think of it as a buyout, Not a raid. The best pricing is when you tell them you will take everything, good or bad and the building will be empty when you leave. Ops needing to downsize or going out of business like that better than someone who will pick and choose. They know you are going to cherry pick the good ones that way and they will have an even harder time getting rid of the rest. That makes the price per unit go way up. Ops have a knack for feeling out a buyers intentions. They price accordingly. Be prepaired to buy more than you expect. There is always more stashed in the back.
 
My mini raid from yesterday came about because the operator passed away and the family tried to sell things individually, priced too high, and did not get a lot of interest. Certainly there will be more of these second generation type of warehouse deals popping up. Hell, if you wait long enough there will be some of us "older" collectors kicking the coin bucket and the families will have to do something with these games.
 
Turn over a lot of rocks where no one else it looking. I don't know of anyone that takes a paper anymore, but my wife brought home a piece of one from work. It happened to have the classified section in it and she saw some generic game for sale for $300.

I wasn't interested, but she kept on about it for a couple of days and I finally called. The old lady on the other end said she still had the games. When I heard that it was more than one game I packed up and went to take a look.

It ended up being an old operator who was retiring. He wanted to get rid of them fast, so I got a good deal for a little cash and a lot of helping him move a lot of junk back to his house from the warehouse.

They were never listed on Craigslist or eBay, just a small local newspaper classified ad. Best thing was they were only a couple of miles from the house.

-JM
 
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