Play Meter
Issue: 1986 April 01 - Vol 12 Num 5 - Page 5
Letters to
the editor
• • •
Operator's role unique
I just read "Up Front" in the Janu-
ary 15 Play Meter and liked the theme
very much. I wonder if the idea may
have come in part from my conversa-
tion with Valerie Cognevich, the
column's author, in Chicago last
November at the AMOA show.
I think it is essential for amuse-
ment-vending operators to be reminded
of the unique role they play in the suc-
cess of many businesses for which
they supply much, if not all, of the
entertainment. I believe many opera-
tors have been taken for granted for
so long they begin to take themselves
for granted as well, and they lose sight
of the fact that they supply a valuable,
reliable, and inexpensive service.
Many tavern or bar owners do not
hesitate at times to pay large amounts
for entertainment- bands, disc jockeys,
stereo systems, dart boards, et cetera.
They also pay for a number of other
services, such as laundry, trash
removal, and cleaning.
Why then does the amusement-
vending-service operator have to pay
for the privilege of risking his money to
supply a service to these same people?
It is accepted, though, that some
premium has to be paid for the privi-
lege of operating vending machines in
another's business establishment,
much the same as the tavern owner
himself may pay his landlord.
But should the premium be 50
percent of the gross sales of the
machines without incurring any of the
risk? Does the tavern owner pay the
same percentage, or any percentage,
of his gross sales to his landlord, if he
has one, for the privilege of running his
business? Realistically, the answer is
PlA Y METER. April 1. 1986
no. But operators pay excessive com-
missions, and they allow themselves
to be talked into it, maybe because
they do not hold themselves or their
businesses in very high esteem; they
do not properly value the service they
offer and the risks they incur to offer it.
Mrs. Cognevich's "Up Front"
views on this subject are important.
They give operators an opportunity to
view their businesses from a different
perspective. I am sure the perception
we operators want people to have of
ourselves and our businesses is as
suppliers of fine, reliable entertain-
ment service that is an amazingly good
value. Operators must not be too
timid to ask occasionally that this per-
ception of their worth becomes the
reality and the basis for conducting
their affairs in the future .
I doubt these "Up Front" obser-
vations will foster any great changes in
the amusement-vending-service indus-
try, but it's refreshing and necessary
for us to be reminded that we opera-
tors are valuable. Maybe occasional
reminders will give some the courage
they need to assert themselves with
their customers enough to say, "Good
operators may cost a little more, but
they're worth it."
Thank you for putting a bit of
polish on our image.
Steve Hardy
A.S. Hardy Co., Inc.
Malone, N. Y.
Junkyard address
needed
I am very much interested in the
article titled "Obsolescence plays at
Jukebox Junkyard" on page 42 in the
December 15, 1985, issue of Play
Meter. We would like to get in touch
with Mr. Dean to find out more about
his operation. We would also like to
get a catalog and price list if they are
available.
Any help you can give would be
greatly appreciated.
Dave Arey
Dave's Music & Games, Inc.
Salisbury, N.C.
[Editor's note: The Jukebox Junk-
yard's address and telephone number
are P.O.Box 181 , Lizella, GA 31052,
(912) 935-2721.]
Rudio Visu~l
Amusements
OFFERING THE FINEST
NEW AND USED EQUIPMENT
YOU'VE TRIED THE REST, NOW TRY THE BEST!!
We're Eager To Serve
1809 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103
314/421-5100
for further information, call Pete Entringer collect
HOFFMAN & HOFFMAN
TO KEN S ARE M INTED
U N DER THE MOST
RIGID QUALITY
CON TROL STANDARDS
,
_ _ _ _ , . / /
/
,,,...
WE MA TC H OLD WO RL D
C RA FT$MA NSHtP W IT H
ADVANCED TECHNOL OGY
HOFFMAN & HOFFMAN H AS
THE BE ST PA tC E S F A ST E ST DELIV ERY
AN O H IG HE S T QU A LI T Y TO KENS I N TH E NA TION
YOU CAN BUY THE BEST TOKENS FOR LESS!
C U STOM TOKENS SHIPPED IN 10 DAYS
HOFFMAN & HOFFMAN
P .O . BOX 896, CARMEL, CA 93921
800-227-5813
IN CA 800 -227-5814
CJ)'
• . :
'
CHECK OUR PRICES AND SEE!
5
the editor
• • •
Operator's role unique
I just read "Up Front" in the Janu-
ary 15 Play Meter and liked the theme
very much. I wonder if the idea may
have come in part from my conversa-
tion with Valerie Cognevich, the
column's author, in Chicago last
November at the AMOA show.
I think it is essential for amuse-
ment-vending operators to be reminded
of the unique role they play in the suc-
cess of many businesses for which
they supply much, if not all, of the
entertainment. I believe many opera-
tors have been taken for granted for
so long they begin to take themselves
for granted as well, and they lose sight
of the fact that they supply a valuable,
reliable, and inexpensive service.
Many tavern or bar owners do not
hesitate at times to pay large amounts
for entertainment- bands, disc jockeys,
stereo systems, dart boards, et cetera.
They also pay for a number of other
services, such as laundry, trash
removal, and cleaning.
Why then does the amusement-
vending-service operator have to pay
for the privilege of risking his money to
supply a service to these same people?
It is accepted, though, that some
premium has to be paid for the privi-
lege of operating vending machines in
another's business establishment,
much the same as the tavern owner
himself may pay his landlord.
But should the premium be 50
percent of the gross sales of the
machines without incurring any of the
risk? Does the tavern owner pay the
same percentage, or any percentage,
of his gross sales to his landlord, if he
has one, for the privilege of running his
business? Realistically, the answer is
PlA Y METER. April 1. 1986
no. But operators pay excessive com-
missions, and they allow themselves
to be talked into it, maybe because
they do not hold themselves or their
businesses in very high esteem; they
do not properly value the service they
offer and the risks they incur to offer it.
Mrs. Cognevich's "Up Front"
views on this subject are important.
They give operators an opportunity to
view their businesses from a different
perspective. I am sure the perception
we operators want people to have of
ourselves and our businesses is as
suppliers of fine, reliable entertain-
ment service that is an amazingly good
value. Operators must not be too
timid to ask occasionally that this per-
ception of their worth becomes the
reality and the basis for conducting
their affairs in the future .
I doubt these "Up Front" obser-
vations will foster any great changes in
the amusement-vending-service indus-
try, but it's refreshing and necessary
for us to be reminded that we opera-
tors are valuable. Maybe occasional
reminders will give some the courage
they need to assert themselves with
their customers enough to say, "Good
operators may cost a little more, but
they're worth it."
Thank you for putting a bit of
polish on our image.
Steve Hardy
A.S. Hardy Co., Inc.
Malone, N. Y.
Junkyard address
needed
I am very much interested in the
article titled "Obsolescence plays at
Jukebox Junkyard" on page 42 in the
December 15, 1985, issue of Play
Meter. We would like to get in touch
with Mr. Dean to find out more about
his operation. We would also like to
get a catalog and price list if they are
available.
Any help you can give would be
greatly appreciated.
Dave Arey
Dave's Music & Games, Inc.
Salisbury, N.C.
[Editor's note: The Jukebox Junk-
yard's address and telephone number
are P.O.Box 181 , Lizella, GA 31052,
(912) 935-2721.]
Rudio Visu~l
Amusements
OFFERING THE FINEST
NEW AND USED EQUIPMENT
YOU'VE TRIED THE REST, NOW TRY THE BEST!!
We're Eager To Serve
1809 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103
314/421-5100
for further information, call Pete Entringer collect
HOFFMAN & HOFFMAN
TO KEN S ARE M INTED
U N DER THE MOST
RIGID QUALITY
CON TROL STANDARDS
,
_ _ _ _ , . / /
/
,,,...
WE MA TC H OLD WO RL D
C RA FT$MA NSHtP W IT H
ADVANCED TECHNOL OGY
HOFFMAN & HOFFMAN H AS
THE BE ST PA tC E S F A ST E ST DELIV ERY
AN O H IG HE S T QU A LI T Y TO KENS I N TH E NA TION
YOU CAN BUY THE BEST TOKENS FOR LESS!
C U STOM TOKENS SHIPPED IN 10 DAYS
HOFFMAN & HOFFMAN
P .O . BOX 896, CARMEL, CA 93921
800-227-5813
IN CA 800 -227-5814
CJ)'
• . :
'
CHECK OUR PRICES AND SEE!
5
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