gsealock
Well-known member
If you ain't overpaid, you ain't playing the game right. Once you have overpaid, then you know you have the full blown illness 
Who has overpaid for games?
- Thread starter jow
- Start date
I payed $700 for my first cabinet. It was a Tekken 2 in a 4-player Konami cab. I bought it to use for MAME since the cabinet looked perfect for the job. This was in 2003, and the people I talked to locally all wanted $500 for an empty cab, so I didn't have much choice other than eBay.
Although I over payed, I still consider it one of my best purchases. I got 8 years of enjoyment out of it, and it was the start of a fun hobby that is still going strong. I am redesigning the MAME project, and this time I am going to build a cab for it. I just gave away the Konami cab a couple of weeks ago, and I felt that I had definitely got my money's worth out of it. My only regret is not stealing one of the coin doors from it. I forgot I am going to need one for the cab I am going to build. lol
I have over payed on a lot of games lately just counting games I lost money on. It is starting to seem like I buy games, put a little work into them, then try to just get my money back. I am buying them pretty cheap, but still having to sell them for less sometimes.
Although I over payed, I still consider it one of my best purchases. I got 8 years of enjoyment out of it, and it was the start of a fun hobby that is still going strong. I am redesigning the MAME project, and this time I am going to build a cab for it. I just gave away the Konami cab a couple of weeks ago, and I felt that I had definitely got my money's worth out of it. My only regret is not stealing one of the coin doors from it. I forgot I am going to need one for the cab I am going to build. lol
I have over payed on a lot of games lately just counting games I lost money on. It is starting to seem like I buy games, put a little work into them, then try to just get my money back. I am buying them pretty cheap, but still having to sell them for less sometimes.
I overpayed for a 1943 a few years back. I spend 300.00 on it knowing that the monitor didn't work and it was missing a joystick. Found out the PCB had sprite issues as well. After rebuilding the monitor, control panel and buying a new PCB, I was into it well over 500.00. All that for a game that I'm not that crazy for. Luckily, I was able to sell it but it makes you really take a step back to decide what you really want to spend money on.
For me, it's definitely Double Dragon which is one of these reasons why I've decided to keep it after I tried selling it a few times. It would just be a huge loss on so many levels.
I had it delivered to my garage for $330. Here's the list of various issues and restoration work that I needed to do in order to make the game presentable:
- Monitor needed cap kit, rejuv and flyback
- PCB had sound issues and oxidation. I bought a replacement
- Makeshift plexiglass replaced with original front glass
- Needed to make a top marquee bracket
- Needed feet (one bottom corner is jacked as a result)
- JAMMA wiring needed repair
- Needed new joysticks and buttons
- Needed new CPO
Why the heck did I pay the guy $330? Because I'm an idiot. Lesson learned, never pay up unless the game is as described. If it isn't, haggle.
So in the end, I'd say I have $500+ into it. Add on the Multi Taito PCB I'm running in it and I have $700+ into it. Though, now that it is my nice Multi Taito cab, it's finally paying off somewhat. Bubble Bobble, Zoo Keeper, Rastan, Double Dragon, etc. all in one cab? I can't really complain.
I had it delivered to my garage for $330. Here's the list of various issues and restoration work that I needed to do in order to make the game presentable:
- Monitor needed cap kit, rejuv and flyback
- PCB had sound issues and oxidation. I bought a replacement
- Makeshift plexiglass replaced with original front glass
- Needed to make a top marquee bracket
- Needed feet (one bottom corner is jacked as a result)
- JAMMA wiring needed repair
- Needed new joysticks and buttons
- Needed new CPO
Why the heck did I pay the guy $330? Because I'm an idiot. Lesson learned, never pay up unless the game is as described. If it isn't, haggle.
So in the end, I'd say I have $500+ into it. Add on the Multi Taito PCB I'm running in it and I have $700+ into it. Though, now that it is my nice Multi Taito cab, it's finally paying off somewhat. Bubble Bobble, Zoo Keeper, Rastan, Double Dragon, etc. all in one cab? I can't really complain.
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gibbous
Well-known member
$700 plus $100 to get it delivered from San Jose to SoCal: my Tempest cabaret.
My one true grail, though. I HAD to have it and I had to have it right then and there. I've written about it before here - it had gotten to the point that every game I got was sort of a downer because it wasn't this one. No regrets.
I haven't done anything like that since, but I can see if I had enough money and wanted a game bad enough and didn't want to wait, I'd over-pay in shipping to get it here, sure.
My one true grail, though. I HAD to have it and I had to have it right then and there. I've written about it before here - it had gotten to the point that every game I got was sort of a downer because it wasn't this one. No regrets.
I haven't done anything like that since, but I can see if I had enough money and wanted a game bad enough and didn't want to wait, I'd over-pay in shipping to get it here, sure.
AFAIK, I haven't overpaid on any yet.
I was raised frugal. "Good, cheap and fast. Pick any two."
$400 for the Tron I grabbed in Tucson seemed fair at the time, although side art is gone, and I never really play it. But boy, does it look cooool.
I was raised frugal.
"Good, cheap and fast. Pick any two."$400 for the Tron I grabbed in Tucson seemed fair at the time, although side art is gone, and I never really play it. But boy, does it look cooool.
That doesn't sound like you overpaid. A nice Tempest cabaret can sell for $1000. Also, the Zeke's Peak mentioned earlier didn't sound like crazy money or anything to me either.
wildwest3163
Active member
Ive overpaid a few times, usually when I agree to something and burn a tank of gas going after it only to find out when I get there That its not in as great of shape as it was promised, not as described, ect. Then I have to decide to either buy it or write off the fuel that was used, and have overpaid a couple times to have not wasted my time.
Course, theres a few times I just turned around and walked. Im not a haggler, when I sell something and someone says they want it (and want me to hold it), I assume thats at the asking price. When they show up and want to start trying to talk me down, thats when I point them toward the road, end of conversation. (if your just coming to look at it, thats different). Like wise, when I tell someone I want it, when I get there I pay what was agreed or I leave, no trying to tell him his priceless treasure is garbage.
Course, theres a few times I just turned around and walked. Im not a haggler, when I sell something and someone says they want it (and want me to hold it), I assume thats at the asking price. When they show up and want to start trying to talk me down, thats when I point them toward the road, end of conversation. (if your just coming to look at it, thats different). Like wise, when I tell someone I want it, when I get there I pay what was agreed or I leave, no trying to tell him his priceless treasure is garbage.
Robotron Jon
Well-known member
I think you have to factor in that you are playing the game for free once you own it. If you managed to play the game for a few years and lose a few bucks selling it or break even you are still doing pretty good.
The biggest bath I ever took on a game was my Flash pinball. I got it for cheap but all the parts and repairs really added up. Plus the game sucks...
The biggest bath I ever took on a game was my Flash pinball. I got it for cheap but all the parts and repairs really added up. Plus the game sucks...
My first game was bought the summer of 1990. It was a Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom which was bought from a OP. I paid 6 bills for it; I really wanted since it was one of my childhood favorites. Keep in mind, this is pre-RGVAC days. The only way in my area to get an arcade game was via an operator or an auction..
OP
OP
Love hearing these stories. Not that I love that anyone overpaid, but it brings us back to a fun and exciting time in the hobby (our first game, something we HAD to have, etc).
I have overpaid on some games because the condition, deal, etc. was right AND I have definitely underpaid or got insane deals on others. So, when sleeping at night, I don't think of each game's price individually, really, I look more at the average price across all games.
I would over pay right now for an asteroids or a tron,simply because i want them and there never available.
I'm fairly new to the arcade collecting community, and what really strikes me is how the cost of shipping changes the whole calculus of "overpaid," especially since the number of existing arcade games is always going down.
If I don't want to be limited to what is currently up for sale in Eastern Ontario, I'll need to drive or consider shipping. Of the three cabs I have, for two of them I had to drive about 4 hours one way to get them.
Looking at it a different way - if I saw a "holy grail" cab come up on KLOV for the dynamite price of $250 with a location in Maryland, I'm assuming I'm staring own at least $350-$400 to ship. Assuming it could be years (if ever) before I saw the grail come up for sale locally, would it be overpaying to buy it for a total cost of $600-$700? Conversely, if someone locally is "overcharging" for a grail game at $500, the one for sale on KLOV for $250 won't be cheaper for me to get.
That said, I'm grateful when area collectors keep the hobby fun with "affordable" and middle-of-the-road prices; I try to do likewise to sustain the community - none of us are in it to make a mint selling games and then retiring to Tahiti. And like others have said, I view the prices I paid as an average spread over the collection.
If I don't want to be limited to what is currently up for sale in Eastern Ontario, I'll need to drive or consider shipping. Of the three cabs I have, for two of them I had to drive about 4 hours one way to get them.
Looking at it a different way - if I saw a "holy grail" cab come up on KLOV for the dynamite price of $250 with a location in Maryland, I'm assuming I'm staring own at least $350-$400 to ship. Assuming it could be years (if ever) before I saw the grail come up for sale locally, would it be overpaying to buy it for a total cost of $600-$700? Conversely, if someone locally is "overcharging" for a grail game at $500, the one for sale on KLOV for $250 won't be cheaper for me to get.
That said, I'm grateful when area collectors keep the hobby fun with "affordable" and middle-of-the-road prices; I try to do likewise to sustain the community - none of us are in it to make a mint selling games and then retiring to Tahiti. And like others have said, I view the prices I paid as an average spread over the collection.
JamBurglar
Well-known member
I paid over a grand for my first game because I had no clue, it was rare, it was fully working and in good shape, I bought from a retailer, and I wanted a warranty.
Since then I've paid far less for games, but then realized that after all of the work and replacement parts needed to bring a game up to snuff, there is a ton of hidden expense in a "cheap game".
The DK Jr. I got for $150 really cost me $600 after all the parts I've put on it (marquee, bezel, cp, wiring harness, coin mech parts, etc.) not to mention the time spent.
Since then I've paid far less for games, but then realized that after all of the work and replacement parts needed to bring a game up to snuff, there is a ton of hidden expense in a "cheap game".
The DK Jr. I got for $150 really cost me $600 after all the parts I've put on it (marquee, bezel, cp, wiring harness, coin mech parts, etc.) not to mention the time spent.
I guess I've gotten very lucky in that I've never really paid more than $100 for a cab.
I have yet to pick up any of my "grails", so I imagine when I finally do I'll end up overpaying for those, but I have been very fortunate.
Missed a beautiful Bad Dudes cab on craigslist last night for $50...(someone got a steal on that one) and missed a $75 cocktail Centipede last month(someone locally bought it to flip and immediately re-listed for $450).
Deals like these are usually few and far between around here, but I guess I need to get some kind of craigslist app to monitor 24/7 like others apparently do
I have yet to pick up any of my "grails", so I imagine when I finally do I'll end up overpaying for those, but I have been very fortunate.
Missed a beautiful Bad Dudes cab on craigslist last night for $50...(someone got a steal on that one) and missed a $75 cocktail Centipede last month(someone locally bought it to flip and immediately re-listed for $450).
Deals like these are usually few and far between around here, but I guess I need to get some kind of craigslist app to monitor 24/7 like others apparently do
gibbous
Well-known member
At the time I'd never paid over $250 for any one game, never even fathomed shipping a game. And one had popped up locally for $400 the year before, and of course, two within a year after for around $500.
To that point, I'd usually stubbornly wait for deals. I just got tired of waiting. Next game HAD to be that one. There was no point in collecting if I wasn't going to have that one.
Yeah, I'm the last one who should be saying $1000 isn't to much for a game actually....
This is a great point and makes me feel a little better about my games as a whole. I've definitely had my share of great deals which offsets the money pits somewhat. You win some and you lose some, but as long as you're having fun doing it in the end, I say it's worth it.
spacebaby
New member
I would have went up to $720.00........But that is just me......
