The "How Much Does This Stuff Cost" Question from Guests

nocashvalue

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The "How Much Does This Stuff Cost" Question from Guests

It seems that whenever I entertain guests the question inevitably comes up. "How much does something like this cost?"

While some may be down with bragging how much shit costs, I tend to shy away from it - not because I don't want people to know my finances necessarily, but because I don't want people to think I'm crazy. The prices I do give are generally a range and I tend to focus on the less expensive stuff so it seems more accessible rather than elitist. For example I'll say something like "Well, most arcade games can be had for $300-400 if you are patient. However, you can find plenty of fully working games for $150 or less if you aren't particular." Then just to show I don't always spend a fortune on stuff, I'll tell them about the non-working games I get for $50 and fix up.

Pinballs are a different story, when they ask how much they cost I typically just say "a lot." Although I will focus on the fact that EM pinballs can be had affordably.

Thoughts?
 
I just tell people it all depends on the seller. You could get something for free or as much as a few grand.
 
I tell them exactly what I paid for them and that the prices will vary. They can think whatever they want on finances, but I do throw out the fact that it took 20 years to aquire all of it.
 
They always ask and guess... $1,000-10,000 each. I say free-$375 and they are shocked out of their socks. :D
 
"I've paid anywhere from $35 up to $800, it's totally dependent on the game - condition, location, how much people like it, and how rare it is."

Something like that's been my standard response, but surprisingly few people actually ask, which is fine with me.
 
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I'm with you nocashvalue, It kind of irks me to see people brag about how much stuff cost them. I never could understand that. Sometimes, though, when people brag about how little stuff costs it irks me too, lol.

I think your answer is pretty good, though.
 
It seems that whenever I entertain guests the question inevitably comes up. "How much does something like this cost?"

While some may be down with bragging how much shit costs, I tend to shy away from it - not because I don't want people to know my finances necessarily, but because I don't want people to think I'm crazy. The prices I do give are generally a range and I tend to focus on the less expensive stuff so it seems more accessible rather than elitist. For example I'll say something like "Well, most arcade games can be had for $300-400 if you are patient. However, you can find plenty of fully working games for $150 or less if you aren't particular." Then just to show I don't always spend a fortune on stuff, I'll tell them about the non-working games I get for $50 and fix up.

Pinballs are a different story, when they ask how much they cost I typically just say "a lot." Although I will focus on the fact that EM pinballs can be had affordably.

Thoughts?

I have this same exact problem and I have the same feeling about it. I pretty much answer everything EXACTLY the same as you. :)
 
It seems that whenever I entertain guests the question inevitably comes up. "How much does something like this cost?"

While some may be down with bragging how much shit costs, I tend to shy away from it - not because I don't want people to know my finances necessarily, but because I don't want people to think I'm crazy. The prices I do give are generally a range and I tend to focus on the less expensive stuff so it seems more accessible rather than elitist. For example I'll say something like "Well, most arcade games can be had for $300-400 if you are patient. However, you can find plenty of fully working games for $150 or less if you aren't particular." Then just to show I don't always spend a fortune on stuff, I'll tell them about the non-working games I get for $50 and fix up.

Pinballs are a different story, when they ask how much they cost I typically just say "a lot." Although I will focus on the fact that EM pinballs can be had affordably.

Thoughts?

Ditto here.

The problem is, is they see these games on CL for $3K, and think you're sitting on a gold mine :eek:
 
I don't think people are trying to be nosy, I think they're genuinely curious and don't have any idea about the value of these things or are trying to gauge whether or not they could possibly own one.

I only really get flustered when they want to know exactly how much I paid for stuff, like say my Tron Pinball machine. If I told them how much that cost, I have no doubt they would think I'm insane for spending that much. It's hard for people without the addiction to understand. :)
 
I don't get the question a lot, but if I'm asked, I say most were bought broken and fixed... Thats mostly true, I think I have only bought one totally working game. I don't feel that I've ever been disrespectfully asked the question. Its more people that have never seen a home gameroom, love the vibe, but assume the stuff is unattainable.
 
I have a few games in the hobby game store I own, including a couple of nice dedicated Neo Geos which get a lot of play. A few months back I had a guy and his girlfriend, both in their early twenties, come in and start drooling over them. He asked me how much they ran me, and I told them that they specifically can be had from between $300 to $500. I then let him know I payed *much* less for mine initially, and put money into the restoration, but it still was well under $600

Both of them were absolutely floored.

Apparently the guy had been looking on Craigslist/eBay for one for some time and had seen the numerous ads for $1499+ cabs, and was certain that was their second-hand value. To make a long story short, I got his contact information, hooked him up with a honest seller that had a Neo which I had passed on during the summer, and another arcade junkie was born. :)
 
I tell people about 5K each, so that they will think I'm rich. ;)

Actually, I don't think I've ever had anyone ask (maybe one or two), but people will enquire about where I buy them.
 
I tell them the truth - what I paid. I could care less if they think I'm crazy spending that much money on games. If I had say a car collection it would cost much more. I don't see it as bragging if they asked. It's not like you said "welcome to my $20,000 game room" or something to the effect. I think that most people are just curious and don't use them as a gauge for your financial situation. - Barry
 
I'm with timber terror... I dont go out of my way to talk numbers but if they ask..I'll be honest.

Yea its an odd hobby..guys love it, women get funny looks. I'm ecstatic I can afford to have such a
Nice collection. If I didnt have the arcades in the basement, it would be filled with crap anyway. This way its an
enjoyable space.
 
Yep, most people assume they all cost thousands of dollars. Maybe its because their size, I dont know. Then you get the "you must be rich" comment. "Well, alot of rich people dont have a penny to their name."
 
I respond in general the same as most, however, I usually tell them I buy them broken and fix them, b/c that is where the joy comes in, the knowledge required and attained has more value than the games to me, and most people think that is neat or wierd, either way, if I told them what I spent on one game or another I think they would react how you describe, the questions mostly are "how much for a real Ms Pac" and I tell them the range they are usually suprised as I think folks believe games are relatively expensive, much as I did when I entered the hobby... then I get the " interested in trading for a patio set" offers....
 
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