View Full Version : where to buy arcade machines?
Gorez
03-18-2007, 02:32 AM
is there a website you people buy machines off of? or where do ya guys look for them? just curious...
tonyvortex
03-18-2007, 03:31 AM
is there a website you people buy machines off of? or where do ya guys look for them? just curious...
half the machines i have i got from a friend of a friend who fixed them up as a hobby.the other half i got off ebay.i enjoy driving off a couple hours away to pick up a new machine.its a lot of fun.you could join the KLOV message boards and talk to some people there but honestly the few times ive glanced on there i didnt feel welcome at all.
Gorez
03-18-2007, 03:33 AM
im just interested in a few games...so far ebay seems to be the cheapest...even though they are really too expensive there as well.. just cant see myself buying a machine if its going to cost me couple grand.
Jestr
03-18-2007, 08:01 AM
If you want to drive up to Ohio, I have three for sale cheap. I have a Mat Mania, Vindicators and a My Hero by Sega. They are project games that all need varying degrees of work. I am selling all three for 300.00. PM if you are interested.
MagicMajenta
03-18-2007, 08:10 AM
im just interested in a few games...so far ebay seems to be the cheapest...even though they are really too expensive there as well.. just cant see myself buying a machine if its going to cost me couple grand.
So are you interested in the cabs or the games? You can buy them separately, you know. For example in the Socal area there's Matsui. This is his email gamemachine2003@hotmail.com He's a reputable guy and many on the ng.com forums deal with him. There's also arcade infinity in Industry California. They have an arcade in Diamond Plaza I believe but they also have a warehouse where you can buy candy cabs. If you want the JAMMA PCBs then there are many places on the web to get them
http://excellentcom.net/main.asp
www.arcadeshock.com
www.neostore.com
www.viddeoconnect.com
www.coinopexpress.com
http://home.netvigator.com/~cosmicco/
And many others if you do a diligent search on the net. I suggest you go the latter route of buying the cab and then searching for the games you want as it can definitely get a lot cheaper than the former where you buy the dedicated cab with the game inside and with the latter, you can switch games inside the cab as long as you have JAMMA games.
Kevin H
03-18-2007, 08:16 AM
www.superauctions.com Great auction site with auctions all over america. I'm going to the one in SC next weekend.
Technosis
03-18-2007, 11:24 AM
Should you buy from an operator, I strongly suggest reading the following FAQ. I found out all this stuff from first hand experience pre-internet days, so this FAQ rings a bell with me.
http://www.gamearchive.com/Video_Games/FAQs/operator_buying_faq.html
Pop Culture Portal
03-18-2007, 12:07 PM
Should you buy from an operator, I strongly suggest reading the following FAQ. I found out all this stuff from first hand experience pre-internet days, so this FAQ rings a bell with me.
http://www.gamearchive.com/Video_Games/FAQs/operator_buying_faq.html
That's some really good info. There's a local operator here who just opened a "shop" to sell "restored" games, which means easily $500+ each I'm guessing, but I haven't been by there yet.
Ebay, believe it or not, has been the best bet for me. In the search functions of ebay, you can see who's selling machines within a specific radius from where you live. I myself am usually willing to drive no more than 250 miles one way to get a machine, if the price is right.
Technosis
03-18-2007, 12:36 PM
That's some really good info. There's a local operator here who just opened a "shop" to sell "restored" games, which means easily $500+ each I'm guessing, but I haven't been by there yet.
Ebay, believe it or not, has been the best bet for me. In the search functions of ebay, you can see who's selling machines within a specific radius from where you live. I myself am usually willing to drive no more than 250 miles one way to get a machine, if the price is right.
I remember after the FAQ appeared that a few operators commented on it. The one operator essentially liked it, since it warned people to do things quick and not waste the operators time (which seemed to be their biggest fear with the public). He wasn't impressed with the way that operators were portrayed as money hungry, but he agreed that it sort of helped out both operators and collectors.
Imstarryeyed
03-18-2007, 12:38 PM
I will be offering a arcade game location service at my store when I open it up in a few weeks here in Corpus Christi, TX.
If you are looking for a certain game or pinball machine I can use my network of suppliers to find you a used one for a very reasonable price.
I just got my location 2 days ago so I am still in lease Hell and trying to get the previous store owner out.. haha.
In any case I will give you all a heads up when my Retro / Modern Video Game, Anime and Cosplay store is open.
Those in the South Texas area feel free to drop by the and say hello when it is open.
Gorez
03-18-2007, 12:48 PM
well im not real big with arcade machines so i dont know all that JAMMA PCB MAME candy cab words. but if i were to get one i would want the cab to have the artwork of the game i get. so changing out he game inside would be out of the question right? im interested in fighters, light gun shooters...mainly. id love to have a DDR machine but those are like 10k.
skaar
03-18-2007, 02:38 PM
So are you interested in the cabs or the games? You can buy them separately, you know. For example in the Socal area there's Matsui. This is his email gamemachine2003@hotmail.com He's a reputable guy and many on the ng.com forums deal with him. There's also arcade infinity in Industry California. They have an arcade in Diamond Plaza I believe but they also have a warehouse where you can buy candy cabs.
What IS the current website for Arcade Infinity? I would love to get my hands on a Super Neo 29 to go with my current candy cab, or something newer.
srabelpawz
03-20-2007, 02:09 PM
What IS the current website for Arcade Infinity? I would love to get my hands on a Super Neo 29 to go with my current candy cab, or something newer.
if you're talking about Matsui's site it is http://www.jpdeal.com/
MagicMajenta
03-24-2007, 04:08 AM
What IS the current website for Arcade Infinity? I would love to get my hands on a Super Neo 29 to go with my current candy cab, or something newer.
Yeah, I have no idea either. They use to have a website if you just typed in the words Arcade Infinity in google. But for some reason, their website's MIA. Arcade-Infinity.com is something else completely different. Although I just did a google search and got this phone number for them (626) 581-4361. So you can try that and ask them about their stock.
Mattiekrome
04-01-2007, 01:06 PM
www.superauctions.com (http://www.superauctions.com) Great auction site with auctions all over america. I'm going to the one in SC next weekend.
Did you make it to this one? I was going to go as well, but ended up planting shrubs and flower beds :roll:
Anything good, what did you pick up?
Vlad69
04-11-2007, 01:54 PM
Why don't you go to the old arcades of your childhood? Probably most of them will be in their dying moments now, and you can grab some very nice stuff for a very low price.
Flack
04-11-2007, 07:45 PM
Why don't you go to the old arcades of your childhood? Probably most of them will be in their dying moments now, and you can grab some very nice stuff for a very low price.
Part of the problem is that most of the arcades from our childhoods are gone -- that's why we spend all this money on arcade cabinets to put in our houses!!
Vlad69
04-12-2007, 04:07 PM
Part of the problem is that most of the arcades from our childhoods are gone -- that's why we spend all this money on arcade cabinets to put in our houses!!
Yeah, but maybe you can ask someone in town about the owner and where did he left the cabs.
Another link. What more do you need from a site that even looks like an arcade machine?
http://www.iconamusements.com/
Candycab
04-25-2007, 01:49 PM
Yeah, I have no idea either. They use to have a website if you just typed in the words Arcade Infinity in google. But for some reason, their website's MIA. Arcade-Infinity.com is something else completely different. Although I just did a google search and got this phone number for them (626) 581-4361. So you can try that and ask them about their stock.
That sorta blows, Ive dealt with Jack and jeff Tao on several occasions and theyve always been good too me as far as imports go, bye the way if you deal with Matsumi dont be affraid to do alot of haggling, believe me it will save you a ton of money ;)
MagicMajenta
04-29-2007, 12:02 AM
That sorta blows, Ive dealt with Jack and jeff Tao on several occasions and theyve always been good too me as far as imports go, bye the way if you deal with Matsumi dont be affraid to do alot of haggling, believe me it will save you a ton of money ;)
Hmm, I've never bought from Matsui. Although I've thought of dealing with him in the future. So how much did he take off of the price when you haggled with him?