building to sell

[michelevit]

I've built many cabinets for myself and friends and family. I probably enjoy building them more than i do playing them. I'm a hobbyist woodworker and computer builder.
I build maybe 1-2 cabinets a year, but haven't visited this forum in many months.

I am in the silicon valley, ca and have had really good luck selling my cabinets on craigslist for about 1K.

Is the Home Arcade market still going strong? I'd hate (actually my wife would hate) if I started another cabinet
project and have it go unsold.

I think the easiest thing to do is post a dummy ad on craigslist to judge how the home arcade market is.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for providing this great forum.

[RayB]

I am in the silicon valley, ca and have had really good luck selling my cabinets on craigslist for about 1K.

You answered your own question, didn't you?

[michelevit]

Well I probably haven't built one for resale in over 2.5 years. I had baby then who is now
old enough for me to get me back in the garage. So 2.5 years ago, I could sell cabinets...
Just wondering how the home arcade market is in 2010.

Is the demand higher, same, or diminished?

I'm not looking to make a killing, just justify the expense in making sawdust.

[TOK]

I think with the release of the JAMMA xxxx-in-1's, thats kind of where the market has gone instead of computers running MAME.

Most of the ones I see are very average clean ups and repaints of existing cabs, done as cheaply as possible to catch a sucker. Quite a few people are doing it, so I guess there is some money to be had. Doesn't add up for me in the money made vs. time invested average.

[drventure]

You might consider going after a more rarefied, but pricier market. Not sure if there would be a lot of takers, but building cabs into furniture, tables, Jukeboxes, that kind of thing, might justify a higher price and make it more worth it.

[gryhnd]

You might consider going after a more rarefied, but pricier market. Not sure if there would be a lot of takers, but building cabs into furniture, tables, Jukeboxes, that kind of thing, might justify a higher price and make it more worth it.

I agree. I've had a lot of interest from friends in my "island cocktail", because of how it blends in with the decor, and passes the local inspector ( ).  Regrettably, I do not live in an area of high disposable income at the moment (more economy driven than anything else), so when they really hear what goes into it, they tend to shy away. That said, if I pushed hard outside of my local area I might get some bites.

[RayB]

Just wondering how the home arcade market is in 2010.

Is the demand higher, same, or diminished?

Right... well it would depend on your area really. Like was mentioned, 48-in-1 machines seem to sell well (though I had trouble selling mine for a good price). I see many ads for these machines that mention "this is not some old PC". So I guess to an extent, many buyers don't want MAME, but a "real" board. I guess they feel if it has a PC in it, it's not worth as much.

But like i said, I had trouble selling mine, even though it was Xmas season. I found out from another seller, that the key is to offer a warranty, and delivery. Then you can ask for the big bucks.

[michelevit]

Seems like its the opposite for me. I have a PC based mame cabinet. No one suspects its a PC while its running Mame classics. They are surprised when I exit the game and they see the familiar OS.

The nice thing about a PC based cab, is that it is a PC. When mine is parked, it also streams internet radio, plays ripped dvd, works as an internet kioske, and tonnes of other stuff including modern games.

Thanks for everyones advice. I'm going to build another cab and see how it goes. I've got enough parts (old pc, encoder, buttons and joystick) to build another cab for practically nothing.


 

[I/O]

Seems like its the opposite for me. I have a PC based mame cabinet. No one suspects its a PC while its running Mame classics. They are surprised when I exit the game and they see the familiar OS.

The nice thing about a PC based cab, is that it is a PC. When mine is parked, it also streams internet radio, plays ripped dvd, works as an internet kioske, and tonnes of other stuff including modern games.


 

Depending on whether the intended audience likes a 'professional' look, a front-end like GameEx is suggested.

[javeryh]

I bet there is a virtually untapped market out there for future pinball tables.

[HaRuMaN]

I bet there is a virtually untapped market out there for future pinball tables.

No kidding, but the price would be pretty high, I would imagine.

[javeryh]

I bet there is a virtually untapped market out there for future pinball tables.

No kidding, but the price would be pretty high, I would imagine.

Yup.  Even if you made a "mini" with a 24" playfield you are still looking at a few thousand dollars for the electronics.

[ark_ader]

Bartops is the best bet.

Flat pack em and ship them out.

[BobA]

Bartops in flat packs are the easiest to ship and probably the most economical.   I do not think that they are are selling market when you want to make money.   Ikea type assembly only appeals to those trying to save money.  If your cab catches the eye of someone of significant income then you can make alot more money selling a primo cab with all the trimmings over having to sell 20 or 30 flat pack cabs for the budget minded.

Only my personal opinion but if you have seen cabs when watching shows like Cribs you know that those who have mucho dinero will pay alot more for a great looking cab with all the extras.