Author Topic: Superauction in Columbus impressions and pics (Read 3915 times)

Frostillicus · « **on:** September 27, 2003, 03:36:46 pm »

We just got a new digital camera at work (Sony DSC-F717) and what better way to test it than to drive down to Columbo, OH and snap some shots of video games under harsh flourescent lamps?

First off - this is my second auction ever - and the first SuperAuctions one I've ever been to. I got there a little late (hey I had to drive a few hours) and I missed the bidding on those little japanese slot machines (pachislo -sp?). They would be cool to have - how much do they usually go for?

I ask because I took off early - mainly because, well...frankly it was a little boring to see a bunch of dudes yelling to bid on a badly beaten-up <insert non-popular cabinet here> . AND, sadly, I didn't see a single other BYOAC'r with his new hat on. Though I do think I spotted Mr. Do-Rag, so it wasn't a wasted trip...

Weird story - If you know this camera, it's not tiny. Not like an Elph, and it's got a big 35mm lense attached to it. So I have it slung over my shoulder when not taking pics, and no one hassles me for the first 30 min. Finally I get a back-of-head-shot of the mystery man (I think) during actual bidding and a woman tells me to stop taking pictures. I asked, "If you don't mind me asking, why?" She said that "some pictures have been ending up on the internet" and she obviously wanted to stop that. Even though I don't see anything wrong with posting pics on the net of an auction (free publicity!), I comply anyway. So I put it away - and it was a little too conspicuous to try taking any more, even without the flash (which I didn't use anyways). Just thought that was weird. I left soon after.

I thought some folks might like to see the pictures.

Edit: This first one is actually 3 I spliced together in Photoshop...yeah I spent all of 2 minutes on it so I know it looks bad...

Frostillicus · « **Reply #1 on:** September 27, 2003, 03:38:43 pm »

some vids

Frostillicus · « **Reply #2 on:** September 27, 2003, 03:39:03 pm »

more vids

Frostillicus · « **Reply #3 on:** September 27, 2003, 03:39:30 pm »

some pins

Frostillicus · « **Reply #4 on:** September 27, 2003, 03:39:59 pm »

old jukeboxes

Frostillicus · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2003, 03:40:28 pm »

Could this be him??

Lilwolf · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2003, 07:57:40 pm »

Well, I was hoping to go... but then decided not to (because I stayed up to 3:30am last night... )

So I went to Sams club, Meyers and Target... YEAH!

...I wish I was there instead...

So how much did the games go for? Did they have any broken sections? I considered going just to try to get a better arcade monitor... was there any auctions for stuff like that?

and I've had an old classic pachinko machine for years now... they are pretty cool. I put it as a door for a cabinet I built. Was a lot of fun.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #7 on:** September 27, 2003, 08:04:19 pm »

No, that doesn't look like Mr. Do to me. Mr. Do is kind of skinny and doesn't have any grey in his hair and doesn't have a ponytail that I can remember.

Nannuu · « **Reply #8 on:** September 27, 2003, 10:47:54 pm »

Quote from: Frostillicus on September 27, 2003, 03:36:46 pm

Weird story - If you know this camera, it's not tiny. Not like an Elph, and it's got a big 35mm lense attached to it. So I have it slung over my shoulder when not taking pics, and no one hassles me for the first 30 min. Finally I get a back-of-head-shot of the mystery man (I think) during actual bidding and a woman tells me to stop taking pictures. I asked, "If you don't mind me asking, why?" She said that "some pictures have been ending up on the internet" and she obviously wanted to stop that. Even though I don't see anything wrong with posting pics on the net of an auction (free publicity!), I comply anyway. So I put it away - and it was a little too conspicuous to try taking any more, even without the flash (which I didn't use anyways). Just thought that was weird. I left soon after.

They didn't allow pictures at the Dallas auction either?! I don't understand that, but I'm gonna try to sneak in a few pics next time anyway

Where is the self photo with the hat and the long aisles of wonderous games behind you?

Cisco Kid · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2003, 04:57:18 am »

so thats what arcade heaven looks like

kspiff · « **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2003, 06:09:07 am »

Quote from: Cisco Kid on September 28, 2003, 04:57:18 am

so thats what arcade heaven looks like

No, dude, go check the auction price list reported on RGVAC

I would liken that to arcade hell

DarkKobold · « **Reply #11 on:** September 28, 2003, 02:19:40 pm »

I went on RVGAC

no luck finding a price list? Maybe a link to the google groups pg?

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=auction+group:rec.games.video.arcade.collecting+group:rec.games.video.arcade.collecting&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=rec.games.video.arcade.collecting&safe=off&scoring=d&selm=1Uodb.77464%24gV.43849%40news2.central.cox.net&rnum=2

found it on my own

<<edited to add really really long link

Ted_Striker · « **Reply #12 on:** September 28, 2003, 10:54:27 pm »

Damn Frosty I wish I would of known you went there... cause I would of said HI..... look at floor1.jpg... see the idiot with the Harley Davidson t-shirt and the backpack (filled with tools and extension cord). I may be mistaken because the picture is grainy... but it sure looks like what I was wearing... is what you posted the full res picture?

And the slot machines went for around 100 bucks... some went more (I think 160 was the high) or less (85 was low I think). most were around the 120 range... I got mine for 90:)....

anyone want to buy a slot? ...

paigeoliver · « **Reply #13 on:** September 29, 2003, 02:13:49 am »

Did you happen to see how much the FIRST slot sold for? It is usually an insane crazy price because the slots are sold largely to first time auction goers who have no idea what they are worth.

By the way, if you get sick of you slot machin you can probably pawn it for at least $200.

Ted_Striker · « **Reply #14 on:** September 29, 2003, 02:11:35 pm »

as I recall... the first one went for like 160 I think. They did two rounds of "choice". The choice rounds were hi (but they had some nice ones to choose from)...

yep I plan on selling the one I bought for 200 (great minds think alike). I need the cash for a jukebox project. I'm really not a slot person but I know a bunch of people who are.

RacerX · « **Reply #15 on:** September 29, 2003, 05:32:30 pm »

Quote from: Nannuu on September 27, 2003, 10:47:54 pm

They didn't allow pictures at the Dallas auction either?! I don't understand that, but I'm gonna try to sneak in a few pics next time anyway
Where is the self photo with the hat and the long aisles of wonderous games behind you?

I was at the Dallas auction back in March of this year, and I took lots of pictures. Of course, they all ended up on the internet, too.

I don't see what the big deal is about that, though. What I *said* about SuperAuctions was not necessarily flattering, but the pictures were not damning in any way, other than Do-Rag's MAME cabs.

Frostillicus · « **Reply #16 on:** September 29, 2003, 07:39:56 pm »

Quote from: Ted_Striker on September 28, 2003, 10:54:27 pm

Damn Frosty I wish I would of known you went there... cause I would of said HI..... look at floor1.jpg... see the idiot with the Harley Davidson t-shirt and the backpack (filled with tools and extension cord). I may be mistaken because the picture is grainy... but it sure looks like what I was wearing... is what you posted the full res picture?

And the slot machines went for around 100 bucks... some went more (I think 160 was the high) or less (85 was low I think). most were around the 120 range... I got mine for 90:)....

anyone want to buy a slot? ...

I'd love a pachislo machine - though my apartment neighbors might not

Is there a way to disable the sounds...? I haven't actually examined one in detail, but I'm guessing there are actual mechanical-type noisemakers in addition to speakers, so a simple inline on/off switch hack wouldn't work.

Ted: Here's that photo cropped at it's native resolution for you to get a better look.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #17 on:** September 29, 2003, 07:51:53 pm »

The reason they don't like the pictures floating around is because the people who run superauctions are basically dishonest. Ok, more than basically, they really have almost no regard for the law, other people, or common decency.

For example, at the last one I went to their were 2 Ms. Pac-Man machines right next to each other. That is where they started the bidding. Bid hit $900, the auctioneer then asked the buyer which one they wanted, the NICE looking one on the left or the one on the right? The buyer (who was really far back and couldn't even see), or course yelled out left.

The one on the left didn't even power up. The one on the right that did sold for only $700.

That is just one example. Blatant lies to the bidders about the condition of the machines, value, rarity, and what they are worth on ebay are the norm.

Phantom bidding is rampant. The auctioneers (especially the older one) will regularly raise the bid without anyone even placing a bid. Often causing the same person to bid against themselves multiple times on an item that no one else even wants. One example of that. On a piece of redemption equipment the auctioneer ran the bid from $100 up to $500 before he even looked out at the audience, at which point he realized that no one had bid, and he had to ask for $100 again, which no one bid either. Finally I yelled $25, which he accepted, and then from there a few other people bid, and I think someone else bought it at $125 (claw machine IIRC).

shumph · « **Reply #18 on:** September 29, 2003, 08:07:48 pm »

man frosty wish id known you were there!!

seeing as i live 10 minutes from there and spent most the day there

Pipercub · « **Reply #19 on:** September 29, 2003, 10:56:21 pm »

It would seem to me that if it were that blatant that a regulatory agency or law enforcement would be tipped off and they would be busted. So many people here report seeing this done in the open, it seems that someone would have called the regulating or law enforcement agency that deals with fraud and then they would just show up and have a field day with all the violations. I am sure that all these people are right and that it is going on, but has anyone reported it?

The one near me is run by a different outfit, www.auctiongamesales.com They seem to have a shifty look to them. I did not see any phantom bidding and each machine was plugged in as the auctioneer got to it but they seemed to have rather high fees and premiums tacked on where a $200 machine would run you $270 to get out the door. They also ran two auctioneers at the same time parallel down the game rows. Two machines you wanted could be auctioning at the same time and it created a hell of allot of confusion with the dualing amplifiers. They may have slipped something in during the confusion, who knows.

The November auction in Baltimore was my first auction and it was a learning experience, and I did come away with what I wanted for a little more than I thought it would cost. This year I am applying what I learned and going in with a much better idea of what games to bid on and what they will usually go for. I just wish there was more than one auction a year within reasonable distance. This year I plan to make out pretty good.

APFelon · « **Reply #20 on:** September 30, 2003, 12:09:17 am »

Coin-op operators, auctioneers, and sellers dishonest? Perish the thought.

They would never try to sell half of a sitdown cabinet with no monitor or back panel for 300$; let alone make phantom bids for dumpster-worthy garbagey redemption crap.

I read these forums often, and I think I am the only active contributor that frequents here that was once employed by the coin-op industry. Here are some rules to follow:

1) If you think you are being ripped off by an operator, you probably are.
2) If you think you are getting a bargain from a coin-op dealer, you are probably being ripped off.
3) For every free cabinet you get from an operator, you have an operator who is glad he didn't have to pay a disposal fee for the cab you just hauled away for nothing. That is IF they let you haul away a cab. They get tax writeoffs for CRUSHING MACHINES. They bought that Final Lap machine for 8000$, and that is the value of it when they crush it and report it to the IRS. Selling it to Joe Plebian and getting 100$ for it isn't worth their while. (This may be exaggerated a little for effect, but not by much).

Ugh. Why do I let my blood all boil-up like this? I must hate my old job or something... Nah.

APf

Ted_Striker · « **Reply #21 on:** September 30, 2003, 07:46:01 am »

Quote from: Frostillicus on September 29, 2003, 07:39:56 pm

Quote from: Ted_Striker on September 28, 2003, 10:54:27 pm
Damn Frosty I wish I would of known you went there... cause I would of said HI..... look at floor1.jpg... see the idiot with the Harley Davidson t-shirt and the backpack (filled with tools and extension cord). I may be mistaken because the picture is grainy... but it sure looks like what I was wearing... is what you posted the full res picture?

And the slot machines went for around 100 bucks... some went more (I think 160 was the high) or less (85 was low I think). most were around the 120 range... I got mine for 90:)....

anyone want to buy a slot? ...

I'd love a pachislo machine - though my apartment neighbors might not Is there a way to disable the sounds...? I haven't actually examined one in detail, but I'm guessing there are actual mechanical-type noisemakers in addition to speakers, so a simple inline on/off switch hack wouldn't work.

Ted: Here's that photo cropped at it's native resolution for you to get a better look.

Boy now that is one handsome man. Actually I don't remember seeing you with a camera.. Although I do remember the auctioneer yelling at you

(maybe that wasn't you and there were 2 people taking pictures).

From what I can tell, the speaker wiring goes to a board. There is no mechanical sounds that I can see with a quick inspection. It would appear that you could hack a switch without too much problem. These things are loud even on the lowest setting (they use a switch not dial... so probably digital amp setting, no rheostat).

As far as shady auction practices, I really didn't see any. They do use most of the "standard" auction tricks to build up the auction fever though. The most common thing I saw was opening bids at $100 and calling for $125. So basically the first bid made was 125. For the most part nobody fell for this. Either they bid and it went above 125 or everyone waited or yelled out $25 and bidding started from there. They did "colorfully" describe games but they never really "lied". They would say things like "xxxx is really cheap" or "there is somebody that knows what this is worth", "we sell them for this price all day long"... "the monitor is worth more than that" or would mention what cabinet a really crappy game was housed in or other such thing etc etc etc. My favorite was "it just needs a little adjustment" on an obviously dead monitor. Again I didn't hear them lie per se... nothing a good used car salesman wouldn't say. So maybe this is "shifty" to some. I guess I've been to enough auctions not to be bothered by this stuff. I didn't see anyone get intentionally ripped off or cheated. They definately did there best to keep the prices up. Basically you need to know what you are buying before you raise your card. That's what the inspection period is for.

Frosty, keep that picture for reference and come introduce yourself at the Nov 22. fairgrounds auction. I would love to meet fellow byoac'ers. And I guess that goes for anyone else from this board that is going to the next Columbus auction, now that Frosty has made me an international internet pinup model

...

Yes ladies that beer gut is all Killians

.

Frostillicus · « **Reply #22 on:** September 30, 2003, 09:01:40 am »

heh right on.

Thanks for the info on the machines, Ted. I'll definitely try to make it to the nov22 auction and will let you know if I do. I'd like to get my hands one of those slots - would look great in my apt. I can wait till Nov because online they are going for 250-350$.

As for the shady practices, as an outsider to auctions I can probably sum up the feelings of the majority of the attendees: "meh." People probably just don't care enough about it to actually report it, if they feel they were ripped off they might have to part with a machine they really wanted, or just chalk it up to a learning experience "That'll learn me!". Me, I'm just too apathetic unless I was totally had by shady auctioneers...but even that would be hard to prove I guess. Meh.

Ted_Striker · « **Reply #23 on:** September 30, 2003, 12:32:12 pm »

just a heads up.... the US Amusement auctions (Nov 22.) the very few pachislo's that I've seen there end up going high... usually 200+. So if you really want one or get a great deal there, I would wait till super auctions comes back around to columbus. You will get a much better price at super auctions than us amusements on pachislo.


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