Sales/Business Down for arcade parts ?

[Phetishboy]

Yes, we've all been discussing Arcade sales being terrible lately. Whole machines, parts, etc. And yes, there are exceptions, Mr. I-just-sold-10-of-my-best-machines-last-week guy, but overall, arcade anything sales have been terrible for the last year or so.

 

[steph]

economics ≠ politics

Not to pour gas on the Fire, but what do you think imposing tariffs (ie. politics) will do to the economy ?

 

[gretz99]

It's all economy. If you don't believe so you're not in touch with reality or have money already. People have less disposable income. Inflation has driven up the cost of living. Groceries cost more, cars cost more, gas costs more, housing costs more. Look at the majority of for sale threads, bump, bump, bump, price reduction . . . and still not selling.

As far as the hobby, the core group are the ones who grew up in the seventies and eighties (actually pumping quarters into these machines). We're all in our 50s and 60s, essentially "aging out" of the hobby. Our kids have no interest. At some point, they'll start gathering dust and you'll get to the point where you'll have to downsize or move on. Father time is undefeated.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Quit fooling yourself. The Economy is only going to get worse. We're so fucked its not even funny.

You can believe that.

I choose to believe and work to make it better.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Not to pour gas on the Fire, but what do you think imposing tariffs (ie. politics) will do to the economy ?

Prices will rise for foreign products.

US manufacturers will spool up production as prices become competitive with out labor rates.

 

[Patrick Verner]

At some point most of the monitors are going to be fixed. The cap kits will last another 40 years. A large number of the conversions have been converted back. A large number of games are in a landfill. There are only so many 80's arcade games still around.

The hoarding is REAL bad. There are 10,000+ project cabs that people will get to someday. If you care about this hobby and these machines, sell them at a reasonable price or actually work on them.

 

[purpleibby]

It's the economy driven into the hole by a fucking nitwit and his party for the last 4 years....it's going to get better, in fact it's already starting to get better....I can speak for myself we haven't had as much disposable income so we haven't purchased as much. The simple answer is, it's Christmas season after years of people tightening their belts

Not to pour gas on the Fire, but what do you think imposing tariffs (ie. politics) will do to the economy ?

Prices will rise for foreign products.

US manufacturers will spool up production as prices become competitive with out labor rates.

We've already done this before and it didnt hurt like they said it would last time, won't hurt this time. People need to turn off the damn tv, oh wait...most have though still dooming when the doom box tells them.....the pitiful few that still believe it, but then again your average youtube channel gets more views. Some folks just love their abusers

You can believe that.

I choose to believe and work to make it better.

It's horse shit, don't believe it.

It's all economy. If you don't believe so you're not in touch with reality or have money already. People have less disposable income. Inflation has driven up the cost of living. Groceries cost more, cars cost more, gas costs more, housing costs more. Look at the majority of for sale threads, bump, bump, bump, price reduction . . . and still not selling.

As far as the hobby, the core group are the ones who grew up in the seventies and eighties (actually pumping quarters into these machines). We're all in our 50s and 60s, essentially "aging out" of the hobby. Our kids have no interest. At some point, they'll start gathering dust and you'll get to the point where you'll have to downsize or move on. Father time is undefeated.

Obviously....but Politics won't allow them to see/speak the obvious., even when some know it they're not allowed to see/say the truth in front of their noses which is. When things are booming again they won't be allowed to admit it either.

It's the fuckin' economy....good grief.

 

[callanbrown]

Prices will rise for foreign products.

US manufacturers will spool up production as prices become competitive with out labor rates.

Good luck, american product prices are nowhere near foreign plus 10% or 25%, try double. How many years do you think it will take to start up industries that basically don't exist in US?

But anyway, up here (I'm in Canada too), I have a seen a shift towards pinball in the collector market which have a much lower EPROM footprint than arcades. EPROM programmers are dirt cheap as others have pointed out, and I really think fewer people are bothering to get to the point where they want to try swapping out bipolar PROMs. We will see FPGA coming in to replace scores of boards in the next few years.

 

[FrizzleFried]

I work in the print advertising business. My business has fallen off a cliff since October/November. Easily the worst two months I've had in 23 years (when I started this job)...

 

[CraftyMech]

Sales have definitely been off in 2024 for my products, and I don't see it improving in 2025.

 

[FrizzleFried]

Good luck, american product prices are nowhere near foreign plus 10% or 25%, try double. How many years do you think it will take to start up industries that basically don't exist in US?

But anyway, up here (I'm in Canada too), I have a seen a shift towards pinball in the collector market which have a much lower EPROM footprint than arcades. EPROM programmers are dirt cheap as others have pointed out, and I really think fewer people are bothering to get to the point where they want to try swapping out bipolar PROMs. We will see FPGA coming in to replace scores of boards in the next few years.

It's quite obvious who here knows how Tariff's work and who doesn't.... huh?

 

[VectorCollector]

Tariff's won't work well for anyone here - no matter which side of the border you live on.
It's going to be a bumpy ride ... keep cash in your pocket.

 

[WadeLanham]

The last 2 months might be an exception, but factually, the US economy has been pretty good. Better than almost anywhere else. Most people say it sucks because they don't understand how inflation works and prices are not going back, unless something far worse happens. And feelings override facts.

A hobby like this needs new people. I rarely buy or sell a game now like I did the first 5-10 years. I'm not sure we'll get as many new people in this hobby due to the age of people who grew up during the golden age.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Good luck, american product prices are nowhere near foreign plus 10% or 25%, try double. How many years do you think it will take to start up industries that basically don't exist in US?

But anyway, up here (I'm in Canada too), I have a seen a shift towards pinball in the collector market which have a much lower EPROM footprint than arcades. EPROM programmers are dirt cheap as others have pointed out, and I really think fewer people are bothering to get to the point where they want to try swapping out bipolar PROMs. We will see FPGA coming in to replace scores of boards in the next few years.

Not commenting further here. This ground was already covered in the political forum.

 

[Mylstar]

My sales are steady but I typically shut down the last 2 weeks of the year.
People can still order but I don't ship until after the new year.

I sell items on ebay - parts and stuff I find out in the wild - and I have noticed in the last few month people will send offer on items even if there is no best offer option. They are asking for 50% off my asking price. It might be that these types of people think ebay sellers are desperate for $ so they low ball.

 

[WadeLanham]

Also, people are busy this time of the year, I'd think it would always slump a little. I have a list of parts to order (for myself as a gift) and just haven't got around to it yet.

 

[TheYeti]

Aging boomers are selling off their collections.

THIS ^

The pool of people who know and are willing to fix these machines is getting smaller my the day.

THIS ^

The hoarding is REAL bad.

THIS ^

We're all in our 50s and 60s, essentially "aging out" of the hobby.

THIS ^

Our kids have no interest.

Very much THIS ^

Father time is undefeated.

And especially THIS ^


The economy might be having a short-term impact on the hobby at the moment... but that's nothing compared to what's listed above. The "writing is on the wall".

This hobby has been surviving economic ups and downs for 40+ years. It's not the economy that will be the downfall of this hobby. It will be father time.

I know people here really hate hearing this but unless a new generation comes along to replace us, this hobby is in serious trouble.

We need to keep the interest alive...simple as that. People can have the most disposable income in history and it's never going to matter if nobody is interested in the hobby.

 

[CraftyMech]

An increase in tariffs will directly impact my products, I was able to somewhat absorb 20%, but if I have to pay up to 60% that price will have to be passed onto the customer. And given sales are down already, raising my prices certainly isn't going to help move inventory. Honestly 2025 may be my last year selling anything.

 

[Jregier]

I've been buying pinball parts. I feel dirty.

I thought I kinda knew you.

 

[Patrick Verner]

An increase in tariffs will directly impact my products, I was able to somewhat absorb 20%, but if I have to pay up to 60% that price will have to be passed onto the customer. And given sales are down already, raising my prices certainly isn't going to help move inventory. Honestly 2025 may be my last year selling anything.

If you sell them mostly at ArcadeShop, then the outdated game list might be part of the problem.