Mailbox ....
Arcade info wanted
I would like to see more
articles on promotional ideas for
brand new arcades because I
want to improve my business.
One thing I cannot have is a
tournament with an entry fee.
However, I can give prizes and
have cash give-aways. But how
does a brand new business make
any money without charging a
fee, especially if the company is
low on funds. How come bowling
alleys can have entry fees for a
pot?
If you have any suggestions or
ideas for drawing people into the
arcade, please feel free to write
back.
Another thing, there was an
arcade in Pasadena 2-3 years ago
that folded, and I can't under-
stand why. The location was
across from a junior college, and
there were fast food restaurants
and a Malibu Grand Prix just 3
miles away.
JamesJev
Los Angeles, California
Pricing made liberal
I manage the bowling alley and
arcade room at UCLA. We have
an average of 35 pinballs, 15
videos, 4 foosballs, and 1 Air
Hockey table in our arcade, and
we gross about .$200,000 a year.
My question is this: do you
know of any arcades of this size
that offer all pinball games at
3/25 cents, 5 ball play? We also
offer extra time, etc. on videos,
like giving 5 lasers on Space
Invaders instead of the usual 3. I
have not found any arcades in
southern California that offer
3/25 cents, and I'm wondering
how many there are!
As it stands now, we plan to
keep the games at 3/25 cents, 5
PLAY METER, January, 1980
ball play, for at least one more
year, and, probably more. If
we're the only one with such a
liberal pricing schedule, it could
be a great advertising scheme for
us.
Lane Grado
Los Angeles, California
[Ed. Note: Actually, you are not
alone in your liberal pricing
methods, but you are in a
minority. Most pins, according to
our most recent operator survey,
are set on three-ball play and 25
cents per game. Of course, there
are some things you didn't
include in your letter. If your
pinbaUs are electro-mechanical,
then your pricing is probably
very close to the norm. But if
you're operating the latest solid
state pins, you do have a very
liberal pricing policy. As for
Space Invaders, that game would
probably be a success even if it
were unplugged! Your operation
does point out, though, that an
operator should consider his
clientele when pricing his equip-
ment. While 3/25 cents, 5-ball
play may work in your area, it
may not in the next town.]
Very Special Prices
for Very Special
Used Equipment
Solid State Plnballs
Arcade Equipment
Bally
Night Rider . ... ...... .•....... . .... . .. .... ... $695
Eve I Knievel. ...... ....... .....••.... ..... ... .. 845
Power Play ...... . ....••...... . •..... ... .. .... 895
Eight Ball . ... ......... .•.. ..... .•... ... ....... 945
Mata Hari . ............ ... .. .. . .. •.. .......... 1145
Black Jack .. ... . ... ..... .........•• . .......... 895
Strikes & Spares .... .. .... . ........ . . . .. ..... . 945
Lost World .. ... ........... ... ..........•.... . 1145
Playboy .. ... ............. .... ....• .. . ..... ... 1395
Six Million Dollar Man .... . ... .. .............. 1145
Gottlieb
Joker Poker ... .. .................... •....... $1095
Dragon . .......... . .. .... .... .. .. .. .... . ... .. 1175
Sinbad .... ......... .... . .. ... ... . ... ... . .. .. . 1050
Close Encounters ...........••. . ..... . •...... 1175
Charlie's Angels .... ..... .... •.. ..... .. .. ... .. 1295
Solar Ride ....... .. ... .... .••..... .... •.. ... . 1345
U.S. BILLIARDS Shark ............. ... ...... .. $199
FUN GAMES Tank ............................. 199
FUN GAMES BiPlane .......... .. . ............. 199
MEADOWS Drop Zone 4 ... .... .•.......••..... 199
ATARI Jet Pilot. . ...... . .. . ... ..•...... . ....... 199
MEADOWS Bombs Away ...... ....... .. ....... 299
AMERICDIN Junkyard ............... .. .... .. .. 299
GREMLIN Blockade ..........•.. .. .. ...... .. . . 299
SEGA Road Race ............... .. .... ... ...... 299
SEGA Fonz .. .. . . .. .. .. ... .. .. .............. ... 299
MEADOWS La ser Command ...... . .. .. ... ... .. 399
PSE Bazooka . ...... .. ... .......... . .. ... .. .... 399
MIDWAY Gunfight . .. .. . .. . .. .. ..... ...... .. ... 399
AMERICDIN Dozer . .... ..•....... ....... . .. ... 399
EXIDY Circus .. .. ....... . •.. ... . .. .... ... . ..... 399
ATARI Breakout. . .... . ... ... ... .. .. ... . .. .... . 599
MIDWAY Seawolf. ................... .. ...... . 799
VECTDRBEAM Speed Freak ..... ... .... .. . .. . 1399
VECTDRBEAM Warrior . .. . .. .... .. .......... CALL
CINEMATRDNICS Tail Gunner. ..... .. .... ... CALL
Cocktail Tables
Robot Bowl. .......... . .................. .... $495
Breakout .... .... ..... ............•.......... . 695
Comotion [H2l. . .. .. ...............•....... .... 495
Gunfight . .. ....... ... .. ..... .. ..... . ... . ..... . 595
Tank .. ...... .............. ......... .... . . ..... 295
Tic Tac Quiz .. ... . ................... .......... 195
Hearts & Spades [Pinball] .... ..... .. .. . ....... 995
Disco [Pinball !. ............................... 1195
Twenty· One ......................... .... ..... 595
Super Stud Pok er ............ . . ..... . .•...... . 595
Video 5 Plus 2 ..... ... ... ... ... ................ 395
Fun Four ... .. .. ....................••......... 295
Complete game room outfitters. Call us collect for special
prices on any new or used equipment.
fiDVfi"CE DISTRIBOTI"G COMPANY. INC.
2820 North Grand Boulevard
•
St. Louis, Missouri 83107
314-652-1800
7