Where do you find games?

Games seem to find me now, its great.

I used to hunt for them and enjoyed the chase.

Now I get an e-mail or text from random people asking if I will buy their game/s.

A good reputation is worth its weight in gold. I used to try and get a better deal on everything even if priced nice. Now I just pay what is listed, if I think too much I pass, and let some else who wants it more take it.

Now I get a few calls about games too.
 
Not sure if this has been asked on here. I am looking for some advice and wisdom from other collectors.

So i recently joined KLOV and after lurking around on here, I have been wondering how people acquire games outside of Craigslist, KLOV and Ebay. I have been reading about KLOVers who have gone one several warehouse /arcade raids and come home with a bunch of stuff. Without KLOV, I do not know how I would find parts for my restore. I would love to go to a warehouse full of arcade cabinets. I have been slowly building a list of websites / resources of where I can find parts. This includes Mikes Arcade, etc. Looking for advice on places to look for games and parts including auctions.

Thanks guys.

since you didnt actually post "how do I find cheap games" .....simplest piece of advice I can give you is dont be a cheap bastard.

Games are out there if you are willing to pay for them, its pretty rare to get bargains anymore.

The people who have a hard time finding or buying games these days normally its because they think everything should be priced like 10 years ago...

Unless they are selling a game of course then its whatever ebay says. lol.
 
since you didnt actually post "how do I find cheap games" .....simplest piece of advice I can give you is dont be a cheap bastard.

Games are out there if you are willing to pay for them, its pretty rare to get bargains anymore.

The people who have a hard time finding or buying games these days normally its because they think everything should be priced like 10 years ago...

Unless they are selling a game of course then its whatever ebay says. lol.
Cheap games would be great. But I am ok spending money. My first restore is def costing me some moolah. I am hoping to sell the game that came with it. Trying to return it back to original. Is there a good way to find groups locally? I def want to share the hobby. My friends are all interested, but know nothing about the hobby. I would love to meet up with other KLOVers and pick their brains. I am part of a few groups on Facebook for Ohio.
 
For a long time I had trouble finding games, but it was mostly my own fault. Your best bet is local collectors. If you meet a good group of locals that are true collectors and not flippers, many will pass their deals on when they get rid of something. KLOV is a great resource for parts but honestly it's pretty lacking for buying complete games. Some people post great deals here but they are gone fast, many others are just flipping their games with a 200% markup. Not trying to bash KLOV because these forums are great but deals seem to be less and less.

Craigslist is hit and miss. You need to be able to respond fast and travel if you want deals. There are several flippers around me and it sucks to see a game up for $100 one day and then back up, untouched for $600 a week later. You will learn who those people are and just avoid them. Facebook is actually a little better imo. Lots of people selling in local groups or even some worldwide groups and I see more deals there than anywhere. Unlike craigslist you don't have to go hunting. If you are a member and follow a group, you will see their postings just like everyone else.

It just takes a lot of diligence. You really have to factor a lot of things also when considering "deals". If you are just looking for playable games then a $50-100 jamma cab with a working monitor might be a good deal. Pop in a $80 game and go. Picking up an empty centipede for $200, not so much. After you find a board and/or monitor, rebuilt the trackball, maybe a new overlay, marquee, or sideart...then your $200 centipede can quickly turn into an $800 centipede. You are better off at that point just waiting for the working one for $400.

Until just recently I wasn't really "in the game". I casually browsed the usual sources and never found anything. In my old house I had no room so after a restore I sold them off and grabbed another project. My new house I have a huge walkout basement for my arcade so I started collecting. I moved in here less than 2 years ago with no games and now I have working Ms Pac, Arkanoid, Tetris, Frogger, R-Type, Nintendo Vs, Street Fighter 2, Phoenix, Centipede, 2 Dart Machines. I have a project Smash TV, Dragons Lair 2, Elevator Action, Mr Do. I also have a working Tron and 2 racers to bring home still. Almost all of that has come in the last couple months. I am on vacation right now with my kids at home and picked up the R-Type, Nintendo, Phoenix, Centipede, Dart Machine, Smash TV, and Mr. Do this last week or so while I have been off. Lot of road trips but none of them longer than 90 minutes each way. My finds this week have come from local collectors, craigslist, and an estate auction that popped up on CL.

Most of my deals have been in the $50-200 range. I have never paid over $500 for an arcade machine. Just meet people, scour the sources, and let everyone know that you collect games. The best part is when some co-worker tells you to come get that game that has been sitting in their basement collecting dust. Good luck, you'll find them.
 
Networking is key.

Don't be afraid to mention the hobby when you meet new people. Some people might think it strange (f--- them), but a bunch will find it cool. Better yet, some will know of machines that have been in basements, garages, storerooms, etc. of friends and family and will gladly offer that information up. Found my Funhouse, Swords of Fury, and just last week my Tapper (the one I used to play on location!!) that way. Also got in to a few operator stashes like that as well. Never hurts to mention it to people.

Get to know the collectors in your area. The cool ones will give you a heads up if they see a machine they know you are looking for. The ones that become your friends will put up the money to get that machine for you and bring it to their house.

On the subject of operator hordes/stashes/warehouses, they're still out there. At least around here. Obviously not as many as there were 5/10/15/20 years ago, but some second and third generation ops are still sitting on a bunch of stock. It's out there.


"Networking is key"

Yeah,, right lol..

I dont have ANY Friends locally in this hobby..
Im the only one that i know of that shared source with other arcade machine collectors in
this area as to where a machine is avail.. Everybody else keeps to themselves.
I remember telling a dude about a dragons lair that was avail near me , he ended up buying
it and restoring it in a youtube video.. You would think that same dude would have shared a source or two in return or at least a thank you.. nope.
Instead he continues to make videos "in the basement"
Again , this is area specific.
Well, i know one dude near me who is decent.. he kinda looks out for me and i do the same for him.
connecticut sucks right now for an arcade collector, if you want the deals you gotta be willing to drive at least 2 to 4 hours one way to get a decent deal.


You are gonna need ...
Money.. (i always stash 15 hundy just in case) My limit on a machine depends on title.
a beater truck or van..
time ..
Advil and coffee..
Storage...... Not every machine you get is ready to put in a row of games in your arcade.
I have more games in storage waiting to be restored/repaired than i have in my arcade.

NEVER lower the price of the machine you are intrested in until you have actually seen
the machine in person... This will scare off a seller and he will move onto the next buyer
who contacted him.

And like Tufnel stated.. dont be a cheap bastard.. this is not a cheap hobby .
Unless you are some bridge burning bastard who uses people or a youtube channel
to get games cheaper or free you are not gonna make it very far.
 
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Finding games is easy.

It all just depends what you're willing to pay.

So true.

Seriously if I didn't set a low price on purchasing games, I would be sooo out of room. I am more the ambience of game room, then I have to have that certain game in my collection. At least so far.
 
i've missed out on (what some would argue are) good deals in the last few months, because i refuse to pay to the insane prices some of these games are going for.

it's a gamble ... it may take years before i see a certain game for sale again, but i'd rather go without certain games than pay 4-figures for a box of 30 year old electronics that sits off 98% of the time.

i have a list of games for which i'd "overpay", but it's very short and even then i still have my limits.

So true.

Seriously if I didn't set a low price on purchasing games, I would be sooo out of room. I am more the ambience of game room, then I have to have that certain game in my collection. At least so far.
 
Working it into general conversations with people helps too. I once got a golden tee from a dumpster for free because one of my customers knew I was into games. I also got an Elektra pinball, Outrun and Galaga for $400 total because my wife mentioned to a game store clerk I was a collector.
 
dont be a cheap bastard applies double when dealing with your local groups.

You dont want to be known as "that guy" in your local area... if you are a colossal pain in the ass to deal with people avoid you like the plague.

I had a guy come look at a pinball once and actually bring a flashlight and another person to "inspect" every detail down to every single insert. He then used that information to try and beat me up on the price so I told him to bugger off.

Needless to say I never bothered with this person again even though they sent a message every time I ever put anything up for sale.

There are always a few people in every group who are just a nightmare and dont understand its a fun hobby for most of us not a job.
 
I have been dealing in collectibles as a business since just out of high school when I was a teenager in the early 1990s.

I think the same rules apply to pretty much everything when it comes to collecting.
It doesn't matter if its baseball cards, comic books, classic cars, coins, antiques or arcade games.

In my experiance people who have the best collections follow a few simple things.

1) Be patient while collecting and don't buy junk (unless its for restoration). On a long enough timeline most things you are looking for will become available.
2) When something good comes up don't hesitate and jump on it. Pay the money for nice quality things and don't be a cheapskate.
3) Don't be a dick to people and don't be a low baller.

People who are generally cool, easy to deal with and pay good prices generally get offered more stuff and better stuff.
 
So I just got this today for $500. Haggled a smidge. Popped up on CL. Left work early to get it. Hopefully restore it back to aDK. :)
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Working it into general conversations with people helps too. I once got a golden tee from a dumpster for free because one of my customers knew I was into games. I also got an Elektra pinball, Outrun and Galaga for $400 total because my wife mentioned to a game store clerk I was a collector.

This is also huge for me. Every friend, family member, and co-worker knows I collect vids and pins. Even mentioning it casually can result it someone seeing or hearing something and remembering you're interested. I had a co-worker just last month come over to me because her boyfriend was moving and needed to get rid of an Arcade Legends his family gave him a few years ago that he never played. Not something I was interested in or moved on, but you never know who will remember and think of you when they see or come across something.
 
Networking is key.

Don't be afraid to mention the hobby when you meet new people. Some people might think it strange (f--- them), but a bunch will find it cool. Better yet, some will know of machines that have been in basements, garages, storerooms, etc. of friends and family and will gladly offer that information up. Found my Funhouse, Swords of Fury, and just last week my Tapper (the one I used to play on location!!) that way. Also got in to a few operator stashes like that as well. Never hurts to mention it to people.

Get to know the collectors in your area. The cool ones will give you a heads up if they see a machine they know you are looking for. The ones that become your friends will put up the money to get that machine for you and bring it to their house.

On the subject of operator hordes/stashes/warehouses, they're still out there. At least around here. Obviously not as many as there were 5/10/15/20 years ago, but some second and third generation ops are still sitting on a bunch of stock. It's out there.

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This. So much this.



Also, don't be an annoying douche. See post 3.
 
oh i forgot to say ... the easiest way to get games is to steal them and murder the (previous) owners

i mean ... i would suggest you NOT do that, but, since we're on the subject, that technically would be the most efficient way to do it:

* no cost/free games
* one less collector to get games from you
* street cred, because you're a cold-blooded murderer
* if you get in trouble with the law, you can blame the video games (i tell cops my abusive parents made me play Chiller, so it's not my fault)
 
oh i forgot to say ... the easiest way to get games is to steal them and murder the (previous) owners

i mean ... i would suggest you NOT do that, but, since we're on the subject, that technically would be the most efficient way to do it:

* no cost/free games
* one less collector to get games from you
* street cred, because you're a cold-blooded murderer
* if you get in trouble with the law, you can blame the video games (i tell cops my abusive parents made me play Chiller, so it's not my fault)

But then there's that whole prison thing....

It's hard to enjoy playing Pac-Man with an inmate's balls slapping your chin.
 
oh i forgot to say ... the easiest way to get games is to steal them and murder the (previous) owners

i mean ... i would suggest you NOT do that, but, since we're on the subject, that technically would be the most efficient way to do it:

* no cost/free games
* one less collector to get games from you
* street cred, because you're a cold-blooded murderer
* if you get in trouble with the law, you can blame the video games (i tell cops my abusive parents made me play Chiller, so it's not my fault)
This clearly makes the biggest ROI!
 
oh i forgot to say ... the easiest way to get games is to steal them and murder the (previous) owners

i mean ... i would suggest you NOT do that, but, since we're on the subject, that technically would be the most efficient way to do it:

* no cost/free games
* one less collector to get games from you
* street cred, because you're a cold-blooded murderer
* if you get in trouble with the law, you can blame the video games (i tell cops my abusive parents made me play Chiller, so it's not my fault)

Don't forget to leave a body part in a game you sell so someone will have a funny story to tell on KLOV
 
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