What's the deal with no coin mech's in used games?

Broodwich

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I've bought 6 games in the past year and i think 1 actually had the coin mech's in it. And the game i've had for years i know was missing at least 1 mech when i got it as well... Just wondering why!?! Is there some Secret Bunker filled with all these mech's? I guess maybe operators removed them for the new machines when they were sold but damn...
 
New mechs can cost $20 a piece. As an operator I always pull mechs on games I sell especially if they are size specific token mechs. if the buyer wants them I'll leave them but most people dont care.
 
Whenever I used to bring in a different game, I would rip them out and trash them... Ripping them out must satisfy some primal urge in me to vanquish the symbolism of having to actually pay for a game, like BITD. Or maybe I just like to tidy things up... I don't know why!!
 
New 3x5 quarter mechs are $20 from Coin Mechs Inc..... plus TWENTY dollars shipping!
So that's $40 shipped for one mech, $60 for two.
 
@ the $20 new mech guys

I guess I got lucky when I paid $1.00 a piece a few months back on a box of a couple dozen... (I bought them for this exact reason... missing mech's :angryfire: )




I use to not care if the mech's or switches worked on my machines just the lights... After being here for a bit I suddenly wanted my games 100% and therefore the mech's had to be.
 
Hit and miss for me. Most of the games I've picked up have had the mechs. The games I have picked up lacking mechs all came either directly from ops or had passed through non-collector hands before I got them.

I just picked up some for $3 a pop… Which I'm almost certain were pulled from the games at a local arcade that just closed down.

Edit: Clarifying, I bought the mechs on feeBay, and they shipped from a place not far away, where an arcade just closed and the games are all getting sold. Obviously if I bought direct I'd know where they came from.
 
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Buzzy wanted to pull the mechs because he didn't want them used on someone else'd route.

I told him I wasn't going to do that and he left them in.
 
@ the $20 new mech guys

I guess I got lucky when I paid $1.00 a piece a few months back on a box of a couple dozen... (I bought them for this exact reason... missing mech's :angryfire: )




I use to not care if the mech's or switches worked on my machines just the lights... After being here for a bit I suddenly wanted my games 100% and therefore the mech's had to be.

Over a year ago I bought a big box of 30ish of them from someone on here for $20. They've always seen me through. Although most I have left are not in good shape... Time to look for another deal soon. Or find an old warehouse with a bunch :)
 
In general, if the game was purchased from an operator or a TILT arcade, the coin mechs get taken out. The thinking is that this will prevent the game from going out on someone else's route.
 
Buzzy wanted to pull the mechs because he didn't want them used on someone else'd route.

I told him I wasn't going to do that and he left them in.

Not sure who that is, since i bought the extra's i've been fine it just struck me as strange (tho i did figure it was op's using them in new games they got)

Over a year ago I bought a big box of 30ish of them from someone on here for $20. They've always seen me through. Although most I have left are not in good shape... Time to look for another deal soon. Or find an old warehouse with a bunch :)

yea i wasn't trying to brag about the price i got mine for just that people sell them for a great price from time to time. the ones i got weren't all perfect but i made enough for all my games with them and have some extra's (i have to check tho as i just picked up a game that needs some). I agree a warehouse raid is definitely in order :D
 
Over a year ago I bought a big box of 30ish of them from someone on here for $20. They've always seen me through. Although most I have left are not in good shape... Time to look for another deal soon. Or find an old warehouse with a bunch :)

Hey! Have you been peaking through the door crack?

dscf0987.jpg

(focus on the center of the picture...) :)
 
Yeah, sure that worked real good too.

"Ah, man I was totally going to put this machine on my route, but there are no coin mechs in it, now I can't. If only there was some way to get one of the mechs I take out of the outdated machines I sell and put it into this machine."

In general, if the game was purchased from an operator or a TILT arcade, the coin mechs get taken out. The thinking is that this will prevent the game from going out on someone else's route.
 
In general, if the game was purchased from an operator or a TILT arcade, the coin mechs get taken out. The thinking is that this will prevent the game from going out on someone else's route.

Anyone taking the mechs out for that reason is an idiot. You can pick up mechs for dirt cheap to replace the ones taken out.
 
Anyone taking the mechs out for that reason is an idiot. You can pick up mechs for dirt cheap to replace the ones taken out.

I have got several games over the years where they not only take the coin mech's but strip the door of all the mounting hardware then they drill a big ass freaking hole in the cabinet and add a big ass credit button. I hate that.:mad:
 
I have around 40 for sale if anyone needs any. Currently modified to take .900 tokens, but can be modified to take quarters easy enough.

$3 each + Actual shipping.
 
The very first game operator I worked for in early 1976 would remove the coin doors from pinball machines he'd sell. He replaced the doors with a piece of plywood with a doorbell button on it for a free play button. I remember he had a ton of perfectly good Gottlieb and Williams coin doors stored in his back parts room.
 
Anyone taking the mechs out for that reason is an idiot. You can pick up mechs for dirt cheap to replace the ones taken out.

Not 20 years ago, as a private owner, you couldn't.


1990. you buy a used arcade game with no coin mechs from an operator.

Where do you get coin mechs to make it work again so you can operate it at the local pizza place?
 
I have got several games over the years where they not only take the coin mech's but strip the door of all the mounting hardware then they drill a big ass freaking hole in the cabinet and add a big ass credit button. I hate that.:mad:
i have seen that. looks like shit.
 
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