Old Crusty Operators

[theMot]

So I went for a cruise down to the warehouse of a guy who used to have a few arcades in my area back in the day. Now he just rents out machines for parties, pinballs etc. I called him up earlier in the week to see if he had any old boards he was willing to sell. The conversation was a little strange, he was baffled as to why I would want all that old stuff when I could just get a game elf (which he also sold) but he said sure, I was welcome to come down and see what he had. I rattled off a few obscure games I was looking for but he didn't know what he had.

Got down there. Warehouse FULL AS FUCK with machines stacked one on top of each other all the way to the ceiling. All woodies, no candy's unfortunately. He had a mezzanine floor above his office which was a few planks of wood with shelves on top of it packed with PCB's. I was rummaging through all the shit, walking on top of boards to get to other stuff. It was like a scene out of American pickers! Hardly any of it was labeled though so it's hard to make out what exactly is there. A lot of common stuff like Street Fighter CPS1, CPS2 etc. A lot of common MVS carts.

He wants $50 for a busted board and $150 for a working one no matter what it is, though I reckon he will cut a deal for multiples. MVS he wants $30 a cart. I'm sure there are a few good games in there but besides plugging them in it's impossible to identify them. I reckon there are at least 500 pcb's there.

Maybe I will make him a bulk offer for the lot!

 

[Bill Kilgore]

You should get some pictures next time you get there.

 

[xb74]

I hate it how they pluck these figures out of the sky. It's like they think they are sitting on goldmines because they've had these boards sitting for 20-30 years and therefore must be worth something by now.

Then again if you get a rare board or cart for the standard price it could be worthwhile.

He could have a bunch of Magician Lords for $30 each, think of that.

 

[Kid Panda]

I hate it how they pluck these figures out of the sky. It's like they think they are sitting on goldmines because they've had these boards sitting for 20-30 years and therefore must be worth something by now.

Then again if you get a rare board or cart for the standard price it could be worthwhile.

He could have a bunch of Magician Lords for $30 each, think of that.

You should think about what they paid for these games. I mean an R-Type still sells for 150-200 still today. These old codgers know very well what they paid its others that want a game for 20 bucks that piss them off.

 

[theMot]

You should think about what they paid for these games. I mean an R-Type still sells for 150-200 still today. These old codgers know very well what they paid its others that want a game for 20 bucks that piss them off.

Exactly, you dont want to offend the guy. Its just funny because they clearly have no use for all the shit they hoard but still they wont put a realistic price on it.

 

[Kid Panda]

Exactly, you dont want to offend the guy. Its just funny because they clearly have no use for all the shit they hoard but still they wont put a realistic price on it.

I've got some old ops around my area that have no clue what stuff is worth. They assume a Pac Man PCB is still selling for 3-400 bucks. I usually hit them up and offer 75 a pop for PCBs I buy in a lot. Sometimes I know the board isn't worth that but for the game I get that goes for 150 it helps balance out. Also it helps me build a relationship with the guys. I get calls every once in awhile when they pull stuff off of a route. There is one guy here who is a total dickbag. He wants 1,000 for every game he has, working or not. Refuses to sell a PCB out of a cab. He has a Raiden DX cab I've been trying to get him to move on, but he's adamant that he wants 1,000.

 

[theMot]

This guy has a lot of Raiden games but we couldnt find them when i was there. The cps2 stuff is ok for $150 and i think he would budge on those if i got a few. He had a Shock troopers for $30 but i already have it so i will let someone else scoop that.

 

[ReplicaX]

You should think about what they paid for these games. I mean an R-Type still sells for 150-200 still today. These old codgers know very well what they paid its others that want a game for 20 bucks that piss them off.

Meh, it's not all the same like that Kid.

Also depending on how good their location was and I'll use some realistic but sample #s

R-Type new: 1,200 - 1,500
Cab with 35,000 on the counter at .25 = 8,750

 

[NewNeoOwner]

This guy has a lot of Raiden games but we couldnt find them when i was there. The cps2 stuff is ok for $150 and i think he would budge on those if i got a few. He had a Shock troopers for $30 but i already have it so i will let someone else scoop that.

Aw man, I'm looking for the MVS version of Shock Troopers... I wish I had places like this around here but my local arcades vanished early and surely took all the op's with 'em. The local mall doesn't even have an arcade in the food court anymore. That's how bad it is.

 

[StevenK]

Aw man, I'm looking for the MVS version of Shock Troopers... I wish I had places like this around here but my local arcades vanished early and surely took all the op's with 'em. The local mall doesn't even have an arcade in the food court anymore. That's how bad it is.

I'll be sure to avoid 1? then.

 

[F4U57]

That's awesome, mate! There's a couple south west of Sydney I've been thinking of checking out but after giving them a call, they said they didn't have much, or that they'd been cleaned out years ago.

Some pics would be great!

 

[NewNeoOwner]

I'll be sure to avoid 1? then.

Let's see... We have many pharmacies and at least one of all the worst fast food places. Oh and lots of Dunkin Donuts. It's so thrilling here. Not.