C.O.C.A. Times

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by Sandy Lechtick
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Deals
Deals
Deals
Deals
Deals
in the parking lot.
in the back of trucks.
in the lobby.
on forklift gates.
over dinner.
• Deals in the dead of the night.
• A deal in the Jacuzzi.
• And some say Chicagoland is
going down the tubes.
Excuse Me.
Did you see the stuff that Alan Sax, Frank Zygmunt and Jack Freund brought? Not to mention a number
of other dealers from all over the U.S.?
Ok. Ok. As usual, some transactions had been concluded before Chicagoland, with pre-arranged deliv-
ery pick-up at Pheasant Run. And yes, it's a little depressing when you see a great pre-sold item you'd like
to buy moving from one truck to another faster than it takes a check to clear your bank. And yes, I'm con-
stantly reminded that past shows had lots more inventory and it was easier to get great deals - especially
before the advent of E-bay.
It was commented that some of the machines were pricey. One dealer I am told brought a number of
trade stimulators with prices double, maybe triple the true value of the machines. Needless to say, he went
home with all his trade stimulators and I was told that he sold nothing. On the other hand, machines that
were priced right sold. Dealers offering reasonable prices made money - many did well.
Since I started actively collecting in 2002, I've been to every Chicagoland - so that makes eleven since
my first show. And they're always fun - especially when you come back with two or three machines that
you can add to your collection. But meeting up with people you haven't seen in years, dining with those
you'd like to get to know better, renewing old acquaintances, comparing notes and hearing more war sto-
ries, is simply a kick. As a coin-op collector, nothing compares. And I mean nothing. Where else can one
find so many buyers and sellers and junk yard scavengers? For people thinking of selling their wares, I'd
highly encourage it. It may be a little hassle renting the truck and driving to St. Charles, but you'll gener-
ally do a lot better than the E-bay game - and most transactions are in cash!
A high-end collector friend of mine has for the last three or four years been ranting and raving that go-
ing to Chicagoland is a waste of time. He'd complain about not being able to buy anything good and prog-
nosticate, "why should I go there, anyone with outstanding machines can make three or four phone calls
and sell it directly to any number of buyers!" While that may be partially true, this fellow did reluctantly
go to Chicago land and guess what, he came away with - a big smile, and three or four great machines that
he "stumbled" on. He now admits that he would not have had the opportunity to get these machines if he
had not been there in the midst of the action. The saying, "out of sight - out of mind" is so true.
So, at the end of the day, where else can one find the excitement, the camaraderie, the overall exuber-
ance of being surrounded by so many collectors as wacko as you? Or the thrill of discovery at 5:00 am?
Where else can one get a fix so overwhelming as Chicagoland?
To paraphrase Ethel Merman who sang "there's no business like show business", there's no Chicago-
land like Chicagoland!
Sandy Lechtick, an eclectic collector of coin-op contraptions, specializes in 1930's
- 1970's arcade machines, amusement park memorabilia, automata and electrified
advertising window displays His website is: www.coinop4trade.com.
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