distributing
tilted prices,
tight finances
affect buying
\ \ \
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I
Wh a t
bu yin g? We d o n t bu y
a nym o re. "
" We ' re still bu yin g."
Co ntradic tory tatement s lik e
the se - made by o perator s
disc us ing how th e gen eral reces-
sio nar y atmosphere ha a ffec ted
th eir machin e-bu yin g habits -
pinpo int the foo lhardin e s o f
making ge ne ra li za tio ns about
busin ess in a co untry a varied a
th e Unit ed Stat es. De pe nding o n
th e eco no mi c co nditio n in th e ir
parti cul ar local e, o pe ra t o r at th e
beginning o f 197 5 were bo th
su ffering and prospering.
Ma chine purcha ses by
Kram zar Amu seme nt s Co . in
Springfield. III. , ha ve fall e n dra s-
ticall y, says Dwa in Kram za r,
primaril y beca use o f upward
spira lin g prices.
" Let s put it thi way - if I
ca n make an y mo ney, fin e. But
the price of equipm ent is go ne
fo r no w . It 's wo rn o ut. Either
the play appeal 's w o rn o ut o r the
equipme nt is wo rn o ut be fo re
yo u can pa y fo r it. Yo u can ' t
c harge e no ugh t o overco m e th e
cost. either. In fac t . I think with
th e pricin g no w - th e qua rt er
pla y - I d o n' t think it 's he lped
business, " Kram za r o pin es.
Ye t Ba rbin No velt y In c. of
Ray ne, La. , is still buyin g. o wne r
Do nald Barbin re po rt s. " I made
so me mist a kes no t bu y in g
en o ugh o f a partic ul ar m o del
juk e box ." says Ba rbin. ;'but we
till need t o have new m ac hin es
fo r new loca tio n ."
If a ny thin g has hurt Ba rbin 's
o verall busine s eco no m y, it 's th e
cost u f rec o rd s, he say s. Th e cost
u f supplies and part s have al so
sli ced into his pr u fit , "I think
m o re than the co t uf m ac hine s,
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