condition and how much it takes for
you to shop it and clean it up.
What you've been able to do then,
if you try this route, is to get money
that might normally take you at least
through the· summer to get, which
means more working capital to
suddenly be able to fill an empty spot
with a piece that might mean even
more money. And, although the
phenomenon for home equipment
seems to be primarily pinball
machines, there's no reason why you
can't do the same with some of your
older videos that might have seen
better days.
And if you think the idea is totally
off the wall, remember that more and
more people are investing in home
entertainment whether it be video
casette or disk player, · home
computers, or more and more
sophisticated electronic games .
Arcade equipment shouldn't be an
exception to the rule and the only
reason it hasn't succeeeded on a
Partnership with the buyer
wider scale in the past is that no one,
It's a workable partnership that
from an arcade level, has really tried
profits both of you because you can
to work out the service angles well as
rn a flat price on a game that might
attempting to . see if particular
ot be the best of earneh, and thvs
customers might even be interested
:t-ee the space for a newer, more
iD purchasing a game if they knew
. rofitable machine . And, lastly,
they could. You would be surprised
ich might hurt some distributors,
by the number of people I have
u can probably do better selling
encountered over the years who
o tright to the home than you can
have expressed a desire to own a
trying to trade in a dog that no one in
game, didn't really care about cost
e business wants. Think about it
per se, and just didn't know.how to
3ecause it make sense.
go about getting a machine.
I remember a couple of arcades in
So the concept . is valid on many
California and New Jersey which
different levels and it can be
d some signs displayed above the
specific games that offered a price · controlled to the point where it
doesn't become an irritating burden
cmd some witty words about taking a
or problem. You have to work out
chine home, for sale. The game is
your own set-up that's going to be
the floor anyway and the earnings
best for you. And, even more
e going to be whatever they're
importantly, you have to realize that
going to be-but, maybe , just
buying machines of any type is not
ybe, you might tickle the interest
just for Christmas, but is a year-
~ someone who would see the little
round possibility.
sign, be intrigued that they could
And why not begin it in the
e their own game in their home
summer, depending upon your
the next thing you know, they're
business conditions and if this period
·ng the machine in the home and
of the yea'i is ordinarily slow for you.
:a · g it set up by their own personal
You can do some nice, simple
s;ame doctor.
displays in your:. location, still keep
Think about what the potential is
the designated games coin-op so
~ . you. Let's say for argument's
you're not losing anything and really
52; e that you have a couple of
. try the waters before you take a
c ro- mechanical games still
more active plunge.
- g anywhere from $5 to $25 per
It's a suggestion well worth
, some of the original solid-state
exploring to its fullest, especially if
- rts that are earning about $35 to
you have older equipment you just
a week. You'd probably like to
can't get rid of at a price that makes
rid of them and would have, but
sense. Think about it and if any of
hade-in value is nil and no one
you have had luck in the past, why
wants them in trade . However,
don't you drop a line and let
a private buyer the value is just in
everyone know how you did it?
- g a machine, and maybe you
Here's to the home stretch and a
get anywhere from $300 to $800
summer that everyone can weather.
a game depending upon its
games to the home have always been
directed at the service problem and
the fear that a regular customer
may become an enemy because he
blames you for the lemon you
dumped on him. Well, the solution is
fairly simple. Practically every
ongoing location has either a young
hot shot kid or a trusted and wise
old-timer, who shops the games on a
daily or frequent basis. Why not
strike a bargain with one of them,
where by you sit him down and tell
him you're contemplating selling
machines out of the arcade, and
ould he be interested in servicing
any problems that might arise-
making the appropriate house calls.
You would supply any necessary
ooling and could charge a flat rate of
20 per visit plus extra for any me-
chanical or electronic hardware that
might have to be replaced.
M ETE R, Jul y 1, 1981
WAREHOUSE
CLEARANCE
ATARI
Baseball 2P .. ... . ........ ... . . . $545.00
Basketball ...................... 695 .00
Destroyer ..... ...... ...... . ... . 395.00
Drag Race ... . . ...... • ........ ;., '495.00
Fire Truck . .... ....... .... ...... 695.00
Football 2P ...... . .............. 345.00
le Mans . .. ... . . .......... • ... .. 395.00
Sky Raider .... ..... . . . . . ........ 595.00
Soccer 4P .. ...... . . ..... .. . .. . . 895.00
Sprint 2 . . ... . .. .... • . . ......... 795.00
Star Ship I . . ... ..... . . . . .... . ... 345.00
Subs . . . ... .. .... .. . ..... . .... .. 495.00
EXIDY
Bandido .......... .. ......... $1,045.00
Death Race ..... .. . .. ........... 345.00
Robot Bowl ................ . ... 345.00
Star Fire (sit down) . . .... ... ... 1,445.00
Targ . .. .... .................. 1,095 .00
BALLY
Eve I Knievel ........ . . . . ....... $345.00
Kiss . ... .. . . . .. ......•.... • .... . 695.00
Night Rider S.S ..... .. .. ...... .. . 445.00
Paragon .. . . ........ ... . .. . ..... 695 .00
Play Boy .............. ........ .. 595.00
Space Invader . ............. .. 1,195.00
MIDWAY
Ext ra Bases . . . ....... . .. . .. .. $1,095 .00
Gun Fight .... .. . . . . . ... . ....... 250.00
laguna Racer .............. . . . .. 395.00
Sea Wolf I .. . .. ...... . ... .... .. . 345.00
Space Encounters . ............ 1,095,00
Space Zap .. . . .......... .... .. 1,295.00
Tornado Baseball ..... ":··l'l . •... .. 295.00
GREMLIN
Play Ball ........ .... ... ........ $295.00
Trap Shoot . .... .. ........ . .. . .. 345.00
STERN
Ali .... .. ..... . .. ...... .. . .. .. . $895.00
Big Game .. ..... . .... .. . • . .. ... 945 .00
Dracula ... . ..... . .. . . .. . ... . . .. 495 .00
Flight 2000 .. . .... ...... . .. .. . . 1,295 .00
lectronamo ... ... . .. . •.. . ...... 395.00
Sting Ray ... . . . . .. . .. ... ... .. ... 345.00
GOTILIEB
Asteriod Annie . . . ... ... ..... $1 ,095 .00
Charlies Angels ... . ... . .. .... ... 545.00
Cleopatra ......... . . .. . ... . .. . . 345.00
Close Encounters .......... . . ... 595.00
Dragon . . ......... . ... • .. .. .... 495 .00
Gen ie . . .. . . . ..... . ..... . .. . . . . . 695.00
Joker Poker .. . . .. .. .. .. . .. . . . . . 395.00
James Bond (New) .. . . . . . .. . . . 1,095.00
Panthera .. . . . . .. . . .. .... • .. .. .. 945 .00
Sin bad ...... .. . ....... ... ..... . 395.00
Spiderman .. ... .. . . ...... . . ... . 895.00
WILLIAMS
Alien Poker . . . . . . . . .... .. . . . $1 ,095 .00
Black Out . . .. . ... .. .. .. .. . .. . 1,195.00
Fire Power .... .. .. . ... . .. .. .. .. 995 .00
Flash . .. . . . .. . .. . . ... . ... .. . .. . . 695 .00
Gorgar ... . . . . . ..... . . .. .• . . . ... 845.00
Hot Tip .. .. ..... .. . .... .... .... 395.00
laser Ball . ...... . .. . . . . . . .. . ... . 895.00
Time Warp .... . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. .. 695.00
World Cup . . ... . . .. . . .. . ....... 395.00
All games completely shopped.
Unshopped but complete are less $100.00
Call or Write To:
AMUSEMENT
SERVICES, INC.
P.O. Box 24807
Seattle, WA 98124
206/624-1892