AUTOMATIC AGE
14
March, 1937
O PERA T O RS’ PROBLEM S
As Uncovered Through a Questionnaire
By A r th u r W . L u ch s
r p H E AUTOMATI C AGE is now
conducting a survey in which it is
contacting thousands of operators in
an effort to get first hand information,
direct from them as to what their
immediate problems may be. The
purpose of the survey is not only to
discover the problems confronting the
individual operator, but to discover
a so l u t i o n which will alleviate
the sore spot and permit natural,
healthy growth for that particular
operator’s business. All is not “easy
pickings” in the coin machine indus
try, any moi’e than it is in any other
business or industry. The majority of
us have found that out by this time,
and are now endeavoring to work out
a solution which might be beneficial
to all.
Unfair Legislation Leading
Problem
The majority of replies to our
questionnaire are confronted with the
problems of legislation, in one form
or another. Some municipalities allow
all types of machines to operate. In
some communities only amusement
machines are tolerated. Others allow
pin ball and pay out machines. The
list could be elaborated upon, but that
is needless because all of you are
fully aware of the situations as they
apply to your particular case. Unfair
discrimination is used by many politi
cians and public officials. In some sit
uations it is to protect their own in
terests, and in other cases it may be
for the approbation of a particular
group of people, whom that official
wishes to “rub the right way.”
It is time for the industry to organ
ize, for its own protection, and
educate the people to the value of the
coin machine industry to the country
on the whole. Only a sound educa
tional policy, backed by all of the
people associated in the industry, can
“put over the coin machine industry.”
It is time to get the facts pertaining
to the amount of money invested in the
manufacturing, the number of people
employed, the numerous locations
benefiting from the proceeds of the ma-
chines and the dollars and cents value
of all the material going into the
machines annually. Those facts are all
completely covered in another article
in this issue. To all of you I say,
‘Read the facts, digest them and learn
them, so that you are well armed to
assist in the educational program.’
Eliminate Cutthroat Competition
That is a problem facing each and
every one of us. We are all in the
business to make money, to succeed,
for ourselves and our families, in
order that we might have security and
the more abundant and richer life. It
all boils down to a game and a set of
rules. Life and business is very similar
to baseball, or any sport in that re
spect. In order to play the game and
get the most out of it, one must learn
the rules. By adopting a set of stand
ards in the coin industry, as many of
the operator associations are now
doing, a precedent will be established.
Competition will be keen and above
board. After all we do not want
things too easy, but just a fifty-fifty
chance with the other fellow. Any
body who wants their way made
easier for them should try some other
industry. It takes good, sound com
mon sense to get ahead in our busi
ness, just as in any other business.
But get ahead on fair competition
with the other man. Do not allow
yourself to become a chiseler.
Need Mechanically Sound Machines
Many of the operators are con
fronted by the problem of mechani
cally unsound machines. Not that
they are sold to them under those
conditions. They are received in an
unsound condition. Perhaps it is due
to the rough handling received in
transit, or again it may be due to
the haste to get the machines from
the factory to the operator. Or as is
sometimes the case where the human
element enters into the equation—
mechanical errors and overstatements,
attributing to the machines qualities
they do not have.
Engineering has advanced the
industry very rapidly in the course
© International Arcade Museum
of a few years. Comparison to ma
chines of a few years back, is obvious.
The engineering phase of the indus
try has grown faster than its business
practices and methods. Now is a good
time to clean house. The engineers,
through their scientific research and
modern methods, will produce ma
chines that will be as near fool proof
as it is humanly possible to make
them. Witness for example, the auto
mobile, and its rapid rise from a
horseless carriage, that was always
breaking down mechanically, to the
high powered streamline job of today,
that carries on no matter how badly
mistreated by the human behind the
wheel.
Better Financing Plan Needed
Many operators with sound busi
ness ability and integrity are held
back today by lack of capital. They
are only financially able to carry a
few machines. They need an adequate
credit system, whereby they can
secure more machines on a cash
payment, monthly instalment plan. Of
course there are two debatable sides
to the question of credit, and there
are two types of people. Those who
meet financial obligations and the
‘dead beat’ who is always looking for
someone else to carry his burden.
Some manufacturers at the present
time are working out a method of
buying, with a down payment of cash
and monthly payments following. It
has proven a success to some. It is
up to you operators to prove to the
manufacturers that their faith in you
is justified by meeting all obligations
to distributors, on time.
Slugs Cause Much Grief
Some people get a lot of satisfac
tion out of “putting something over”.
There have always been deadbeats
and chiselers, and although I have
faith in human nature, I must say
there will always be such. Many of
the machines today have some type
of slug protection, which guarantees
the operator protection most of the
time. Again the engineers have come
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