Automatic Age

Issue: 1935 November

AUTOMATIC AGE
142
November, 1985
tributors with care, and require that
they maintain certain standards.
Are They Guaranteed?
For a third question you might ask
whether or not a used game is guar­
anteed. And just what that guarantee
means. It is easy to advertise guar­
anteed used games, but look into the
guarantee itself.
For instance, does the firm allow
the operator to return any used game
within five days if it is mechanical­
ly defective? Any reliable company
allows this privilege.
The next time you order used
games, use the above as a yard-stick
and you will really make some good
buys. After all, a good buy is a good
game at the right price— but be sure
it’s a good game!
How Much for Used Games?
By C. A. B o w m a n , General Coin Machine Corporation
117HAT about average locations that
are entirely without games? Or
those that have only one?
Many operators are inclined to
sniff at these three - dollar - a - week
spots, but they can be made profitable
with used games. There are hundreds
of used games offered every day,
ranging in price from $4 to $20 and
up. And these are just the thing for
fair locations provided caution is
exercised in the purchase of used
games.
Perhaps, as you have glanced
through the A utomatic A ge you have
noticed a variation in the price of
used games. On one page a game
may be listed for $7.50. On another
page it may be advertised for $10.00.
Isn’t this food for thought?
Now, it does not mean that the
lowest priced game is always the
worst buy. Nor the higher priced one
the better buy. Price is no indication.
It merely serves as a general sign­
post. I f the low priced game is adver­
tised by a reliable jobber with whom
you have done business before, then
the chances are that the game will
be worth the money.
Where to Buy Them?
But if you are not acquainted with
that particular firm, ask yourself a
few questions. For instance, “Is this
firm a jobber exclusively?” I f so, the
chances are that the game will be in
fair condition inasmuch as the total
income of a jobber is derived through
the sale of games, over and over
again. And in order to keep steady
customers, the jobber must sell good
used games.
Another question might be, “Is this
firm the recognized distributor of a
large manufacturer?” I f the answer
is “yes,” then again you may be fairly
certain of getting a good game, for
large manufacturers choose their dis­
F ir s t w i t h t h e L a t e s t
Venders, Bells, Pay Tables, Counter Games
and many others.
in exchange fo r the latest P in Gam es, P ay
T ables, P hon og raph s and an y new or re b u ilt
e q u ip m e n t carried or d is trib u te d by us.
op
13 th
“You say your husband there has
a dry sense of humor?”
“Yes, it dried up years ago.”
As Distributors We Are
W E W ANT TO BUY
Mills Escalators and other late
Venders and Bells
FO R CASH
k FLOOR
An ancient car chugged painfully
up to the gate at the races. The
gate-keeper, demanding the usual fee
for automobiles, called:
“A dollar for the car.”
The owner looked up with a pa­
thetic smile of relief and said:
“Sold.”
It is a pleasure to quote you.
J?erusn Jj& CcJJth.
TO SERV E V O U B E T T E R .
(ST £
■?A/o
IO I3-IO I5-IO I7 F I F T H
AVENUE'
RO C K FO R D , IL L IN O IS
From the East to the
West Coast operators know
E X H IB IT S N ew
ARE GUARANTEED
C o in O p e r a te d P h o n o g r a p h
with tone and amplification equal to
any at three times the price.
WHY PAY MORE?
$97.50
C O L E M A N ’S R E B U IL T S
Always mention A U T O M A T I C
© International Arcade Museum
A G E when writing to advertisers
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
November , 1935
AUTOMATIC AGE
143
J L
S
ales
an
in the World of
- Automatic Merchandising

"
s ERV M PE l '
Recommends 45 Per Cent Profit Basis
on Bulk Merchandise
'JVHAT the vending machine oper­
ator must establish a “percentage
of profit” figure of approximately
forty-five per cent in order to build
up and maintain a successful route,
is the opinion of Earl H. Lohmuller
of Riverside, Illinois, veteran oper­
ator and head of the Penny King
System, manufacturers of the 4 in 1.
In an interview with A utomatic
A ge , Mr. Lohmuller pointed out ways
of attaining this degree of profit:
“Percentage of profit is at all times
capable of creating many opinions
and since you have asked me my ex­
perience I will say here that in bulk
merchandise vending for one cent—
forty-two and one-half per cent is the
ideal figure taking bulk items at their
normal ten year average cost which
today is about one hundred per cent.
“One should never pay over twenty-
five per cent commission and should
maintain this standard in retail loca­
tions. In other types of places such
as factories, offices, etc., twenty per
cent is entirely practical, and, where
arrangements are made for sponsor­
ship by local organizations, even less
is practical and workable so that
altogether perhaps an average of
twenty-two and one-half per cent
commission would be the figure to set.
“In bulk merchandise, if same is
bought direct from manufacturer in
height shipments, twenty-seven and
one-half per cent is the ideal cost
figure. But it will pay you to cheat
yourself just a little in some cases
and go as high as thirty per cent cost.
half per cent to forty-seven and
one-half per cent, or, let us say forty-
five per cent as the actual best profit
percentage return to the operator.
“This is my actual experience and
I think that when you judge from
all angles that you will agree it is
best for you. If you have a most
pleasing personality, very good equip­
ment and perfect service, perhaps
this can be increased to fifty per cent
11 9
but every one per cent over fifty per
cent figures will lose you two per
cent in fact and as you carry it higher
you just chisel yourself out of a nice
little business. For instance, about
four years ago Mr. Newland in
Berwyn and Mr. ----- in Riverside
both started with equally good ma­
chines. Mr. Newland sacrificed a little
profit for higher grade peanuts and
ball gum and the other man did not.
Now Mr. Newland operates a profit­
able route of machines. The other
man sold out from his basement the
other day. So there you are. That
seems to be the way things work as
far as I know.”
C o i n m a c h i n e o p e r a t o r s ! W e c a n s u p p ly
y o U w ith A N Y T Y P E O F K E Y S
20c for duplicate keys. 35c when we have to fit keys to lock. Mail
lock or keys. We will prepay all orders when cash in full is sent
with the order. Prompt service.
O p e r a t o r s ’ K e y S e r v ic e
64 22 C o tta g e G ro v e A v e .
“In losses due to slugs, breakage,
samples, etc., two and one-half per
cent is perfect and from this up to
five per cent seems to be about the
facts. This leaves forty-two and one-
C h ic a g o , I l l i n o i s
KI NG
SIX
JR
The outstanding Dice Game
for operators.
Plays pennies, nickels, dimes
and quarters.
Three-to-one coin divider.
If not on display by your
jobber, write.
B. A. Withey
3503 North Ashland Avenue
Size
6Xz" x
12" x 16!/*" — W e ig h t 16 Lbs.
CHICAGO
-
-
IL L IN O IS
A lw ay s m e ntio n A U T O M A T IC A G E w hen w ritin g to advertisers
© International Arcade Museum
http://www.arcade-museum.com/

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