when you get games cheap, what do you do?

cueball

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I got a roadblasters today and a Trivia wiz (in a stargate cabinet). the guy said that you can hear them play but the monitors dont come on. He didnt talk like nor seem the type to know much about the insides.

so i went to get them and i wondered for a moment if i should ask to plug them in.. but i didnt. Luckily for me they did play blind, but when i opened the back of the trivia wiz, there was no chassis at all for the monitor. i will get pics and post to tech later to make sure the model is correct and if there is anything else.

So when you get games cheap, do you just pick up and go, or do you still check them out? i was hoping to just invest a cap kit and sell the trivia wiz (already have a possibly buyer), but now i need to invest more money for the chassis. tube doesnt look too bad though..
 
Just pick it up and don't try anything.

If you slap it too hard and it comes back to life, you may find yourself out of a deal.

Now if the game is in worse shape than you thought, you may renegotiate. I've walked away from several deals where the price was right for an average-condition non-working game, but in poor shape, I considered them worth way less.

Kerry
 
we are talking $80 for both.. just bums me out about not even having a chassis to repair.. i may have to check with the local collectors to see what they have/want for a trade.
 
I just make sure the guts are bolted down, I don't plug it in if it's cheap.
quick peek in the back.
 
I picked up a nice looking Soul Caliber at the auction once. I could see a little in the back and saw a board hooked to a harness and I pulled the trigger. Maybe $80. Less than a hundred if I remember.

Anyway, no monitor chassis and it was just some interface board left behind. Pretty much an empty cabinet with a harness and a tube.

I still think I unloaded it for $100 later.

K
 
If it is real cheap I'll just make sure all the parts are there and look to be in good condition then maybe even haggle a little and load up.
 
I check to make sure it is what they say if they offer to plug them in fine. I picked up 2 drivers this week the guy had them plugged in and running when I got there, still only paid $50.00 each
 
crack that whip
give the game the flip
step on a crack
break your mommas back
when a project comes along
you must flip it
before the game sits out too long
you must flip it
when something's going wrong
you must flip it
now whip it
into shape
shape it up
get straight
go forward
move ahead
try to restore it
it's not too late
to flip it
flip it good
when a good game comes around
you must flip it
you will never live it down
unless you flip it
no one gets away
until they flip it
i say flip it
flip it good
i say flip it
flip it good
crack that whip
give the game the flip
step on a crack
break your momma's back
when a project comes along
you must flip it
before the game sits out too long
you must flip it
when something's going wrong
you must flip it
now whip it
into shape
shape it up
get straight
go forward
move ahead
try to restore it
it's not too late
to whip it
into shape
shape it up
get straight
go forward
move ahead
try to restore it
it's not too late
to flip it
flip it good
 
80 for both equals 40 a piece. that's not bad, if they play blind. look at it this way - instead of having other problems to track down and fix, you just need to get the monitors working. but still, that's a great price for that condition, i'd say.
 
i agree that the price is great - but my thought is 'what if i get burned'.. i mean, i didnt even check for the pcbs and stuff. i think i will check to make sure things are secure (which will also give me a chance to check them out inside too)..

i got the roadblasters working 100%.. bad cap.. i will replace all caps when i order the kit.
the trivia game does work, but when i hook it up to the Roadblasters monitor, it looks like i have a sync issue - i will worry about that when i get the monitor fixed for that cabinet.
 
I always make sure the monitor is mounted. Had too many that were not bolted down. Some of my friends were forced to by new monitors anyways after the neck shattered when they moved the cabinet.

Once I bought a grayhound poker game in a stargate cab. I bought it for the cab. When I got it home I then realized it had the stargate boardset. $20. One of times, if I had looked the seller would of realized their folly.
 
always look inside. If I buy a working game, I play it at the sellers house/place (so we both know its working when loaded), if I buy a non working game, I do a quick look inside to make sure its complete (after all, your buying a non working game, not just a case) unless Ive already been told that somethings missing and what it is.
you do not try to fix a non working game until you get it home, however
 
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