What I Learned About Arcade Machines from Craigslist in 2010

[Tighe]

Photos

This one was great, I had the seller send me a butt load of photos of his Gaplus before I drove 3 hours to go pick it up.

Here is one of the photos he sent me:

What the marquee looked like when I got there:

I said to him, you are going to take some off the price right? He said no cause he paid $200 to have a "new" monitor put in last spring. I looked inside and told him that the monitor is not "new".

I still want to know just what he did to it before I got there. I figure he tried to clean the marquee and destroyed it. But the marquee is held in with security screws, and this guy didn't have a security bit set.

I just looked at the EXIF data on the photos he sent, and they were all taken on Feb 14, 2009! Douchebag sent photos that were almost 2 years old! I should have checked that before I drove 3 hours. Who am I kidding, I would have still gotten it. I have already made a nice replacement.

 

[JODY]

Just because the title says "$1" or even "$100" the game is $2000

I've seen a bunch of these. Seems some sellers think it is cute to note the price as such divided by 1000. E.g. $1 when it is really $1000 and $2 if it is really $2000.

 

[jj mann]

Zoo Keeper - $100.00

Me - "I am interested in your game and would like to come look at it."
Them - "Sorry the game is sold".
Me - "But you just listed it 10 minutes ago?"

2 weeks later...Flood of Viagra and Spam ads to my inbox due to my email being harvested.

That Zoo Keeper you speak of is sitting in my garage. It really happened that fast.

 

[andys80s]

....DAYS LEFT!

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/vgm/2127452611.html

Like...what happens after the ?? days?

AH Christmas...now I get it!

 

[andys80s]

or im letting it for for 1500$ but if you put new side art on it you can sell it for 2500!
(saw this today)

 

[back2the80s]

I get pretty upset when you make a deal with the seller on two games and agree to pick both games up the next day then you wake up with an email in the morning from the seller saying I sold one of the games are you still interested in the other game?WTF?

 

[wmacmonagle]

LOL LOL that s the lame excuse i rarely use that topic if i just give up fixing on machine and it would disgust if it s really true!

mostly who repairs arcade for many years and they said that! I laugh my ass. Thats why I kept asking.. Why s that? They often says oh it s at folks place and it s collecting dust or my boyfriend had broke up and he left the stuffs in garage and i just came in and met a guy and said this is girlfriends arcade and has nothign to do with that stuffs and let it go!!..

It sfunny thos.

My favourite is the "not working but probably a simple fix for anyone that knows what they are doing. "

 

[Pinball Wizard]

The one's that piss me off are the $150 working Fish Tales I almost had except he apparently forgot to ask his wife about selling it before hand. Realistically, he got a bunch of calls about it and decided it was worth more. Surprisingly it never ended back up on CL.

 

[vicjw66]

How about selling a pin working all the way........top not included, sold seperately. WTF?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/bar/2125659327.html

 

[BDockham]

I learned that posting a want ad can really pay off!

 

[YellowDog]

* Mrs Pacman is always more expensive than Ms Pacman
* Anything with Donkey Kong, Pacman or Galaga in the name is worth $1200.
* Donkey Kong, Pacman, Ms Pacman and Galage were apparently the only video games ever made.
* If the cabinet is heavy, there must be gold in it. Had one guy tell me a game was worth at least $600 because it was heavy. (The game didn't work and I didn't buy it).
* Always look for multiple ads from the same person and print out/respond to the lowest one and take it with you. Had some guy pull the "it is listed on Craigslist for $250" after it was loaded on the truck. It suddenly became the $100 when I pulled out the Craiglist ad showing the listing as $100.

My favorite thing I learned about Craigslist is that there are some honest decent people out there. They are in the very small minority, but they are out there. I went out to pick up a game, looked at it, chatted with the people and offered them $200 for it. Tehy told me to back the truck up into the driveway and helped load it up. When I went to pay them, they told me "No, we just wanted to make sure it went to somebody that would appreciate it" and they wouldn't take my money.

ken

 

[Pinball Wizard]

I've bought a game or 2 off of CL where the seller was really helpful and nice and HONEST! They are just in a minority compared to the rest of the world of CL. Remember that you can always use the excuse of "I know where you live" after you visit.

 

[Mindl3ss]

My favorite thing I learned about Craigslist is that there are some honest decent people out there. They are in the very small minority, but they are out there. I went out to pick up a game, looked at it, chatted with the people and offered them $200 for it. Tehy told me to back the truck up into the driveway and helped load it up. When I went to pay them, they told me "No, we just wanted to make sure it went to somebody that would appreciate it" and they wouldn't take my money.

ken

That's crazy! Pretty cool, though

 

[jawhn]

...
* Always look for multiple ads from the same person and print out/respond to the lowest one and take it with you. Had some guy pull the "it is listed on Craigslist for $250" after it was loaded on the truck. It suddenly became the $100 when I pulled out the Craiglist ad showing the listing as $100. ...

QFT. I always bring a printout with me now, after a douche pulled that shit with me once... He had like 3 different prices. The oldest ad was $350, slightly newer ad was $250, and the newest ad said $300. (?!?!!??!?!?)

Got it for $250 after arguing over the 'price', and then showing him the CL ad for $250.

Some people.

 

[Jason1413]

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/ele/2129563440.html

Here's a good one in MD. Guy posts this. I respond asking what he wants and that I can pick it up if the price is right. His response, 'Can you fix these? I was looking for someone to help me fix it'. I respond by saying no, but I'd still be interested in buying it, what does he want for it. 'Do you know anyone who can fix it?'. No, but how much do you want for it? . No response.

 

[jawhn]

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/ele/2129563440.html

Here's a good one in MD. Guy posts this. I respond asking what he wants and that I can pick it up if the price is right. His response, 'Can you fix these? I was looking for someone to help me fix it'. I respond by saying no, but I'd still be interested in buying it, what does he want for it. 'Do you know anyone who can fix it?'. No, but how much do you want for it? . No response.

(for future viewers)

Galaga Arcade Game (Harford County)
Date: 2010-12-26, 10:40AM EST
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]

Non working full size Galaga arcade game for sale. Best offer. Excellent Condition.

* Location: Harford County

It says "best offer"... Offer $100.

 

[MasterFygar]

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/ele/2129563440.html

Here's a good one in MD. Guy posts this. I respond asking what he wants and that I can pick it up if the price is right. His response, 'Can you fix these? I was looking for someone to help me fix it'. I respond by saying no, but I'd still be interested in buying it, what does he want for it. 'Do you know anyone who can fix it?'. No, but how much do you want for it? . No response.

Ugh, I hate it when that happens. I called about a "FULLY WORKING MARIO BROS MACHINE" that was offered for 250. When I call him he laughs and says that it doesn't work at all but he sold it to some guy at that price anyway who returned it, presumably upon realizing it was broken. He told me it is no longer for sale but once he repairs it he will sell it to me for 500 OBO. Wasn't a widebody, had no side art, so I told him thanks but no thanks.

 

[andykmv]

How about it's working 100% all the way.

and just needs a fuse

 

[mrgone]

and these golden oldies,"rare",antique,vintage Very rare ,and collectible.
my all time favorite is a c/l add near me listed a Williams travel time for 2,000 and the tag line antique.2 weeks later, antique pinball 1,800.
1 month later pinball with removable legs 1,800.LOL,i shit you not,removable legs.
i really like that pin too,i played it alot as a kid and i would have offered 4-500 for it if it was working ok.but with ads like that i knew it was a waste of time.

 

[Magog]

I like seeing this.

FS: TEKEN 3

"Vitage game, I know what this is worth so don't lowball me I see it on ebay all the time go for $2500.00 all the time, don't waste my time asking for pictures if you cnt pony up at least 1500. Here is youre chance to get a vitage classic game. Doesn't turn on but it is just a fuse everything else works great no marquee but you can buy on ebay for like $3.50. Hurry now here is your chance, great for Crismas own your own today."

I have responded to ads like this with:

"When you learn how to spell vintage, and the name of the game you are selling I might be interested until then goodluck not selling this game for even $100.00".

Typos are one thing but come on?!?

And the instant don't waste my time crap. Fine no problem there.