Main > Project Announcements
Another Cheap Bartop - Vertical This time
rablack97:
--- Quote from: menace on October 24, 2012, 07:55:15 am ---I've never gotten less than $500 for a bartop--the key was to have generic artwork and a clean build--As soon as you plaster a team onto it, you've slashed your market into a fraction of what it could be. Same with uprights--I have never gotten less than $1000--2 players, six buttons appeal to the widest range of people so even though I never use six buttons, plenty of people like the fighters and will pay that price to own their own...
BTW I sort of like your quick and dirty builds--with very little extra effort you could up the aesthetics very easily but in the meantime it all helps to improve your skills --so thats got to be worth something...
--- End quote ---
You may be right, but I didnt even get an inquiry. So maybe the market is dead where I am for arcade builds, who knows. My builds are pretty clean I think. On my end it may have been timing mostly, and the fact someone has to be looking for one of these things. It's a niche market, like i stated before I posted this thing at the same time WII U announced its launch.
People walk in my house and see my arcade and drool over it, saying they want one, then I never hear from them again.
So to your point, maybe that's why Corey is moving them so fast, generic. I guess i'll build one thats as generic as possible and post for the masses and cutomize based on request....Makes sense...
Just need to find a quicker less labor intensive way to build these things so I can keep the price point at around 500.00, the painting and the electrical on these things can be a bear....
CoryBee:
^^ Menace gets it. ^^
Thanks by the way
I might try and build one today with a bit more flair and see how that goes. Maybe a two player 6-button version. I went to Home Depot yesterday and raided their scrap pile for wood, turned out they had a bunch of 1'-2' x 4'-3' boards of mdf and others. They were un-marked as of their price and when i asked a guy how much he happened to have his green paint on him and just tagged each piece with the green ($0.50). Will be able to put t-molding on it, we will see what happens with this one, if I end up keeping it I will be happy but if I can sell it as well we will see the difference in price I get for it from my "Walmart" builds.
On the point of generic, when I asked them if they wanted me to print some graphic for them to put on the side (inkjet sticker paper) they said that they had some ideas they wanted and would buy the stickers online if they wanted them. So maybe generic is the key, for example I wouldn't buy a sports themed arcade even if I was a fan of the team. Doesn't really fit in with gaming in my mind.
rablack97:
--- Quote from: CoryDee on October 24, 2012, 11:31:22 am ---
On the point of generic, when I asked them if they wanted me to print some graphic for them to put on the side (inkjet sticker paper) they said that they had some ideas they wanted and would buy the stickers online if they wanted them. So maybe generic is the key, for example I wouldn't buy a sports themed arcade even if I was a fan of the team. Doesn't really fit in with gaming in my mind.
--- End quote ---
I guess my thinking was wrong, live and learn...I know folks that etched the dallas cowboy star in their garage. So i live around some serious die hards.
I sold a modded xbox to a guy and asked him about the theme...his answer dallas cowboys.....
So i get what your saying, either i listed it really bad, or the price was wayyyyy to high.
Trust me, it's all in fun man, my dallas barcade got ripped to shreds by the forum due to the theme. So don't take offense to the hacks, it's just INCONCEIVABLE how you get that much coin for those.
I'm off to get some particle board, and throwing away all of my wood putty, in fact im going to get some staples and just staple it all together.
You've convinced me, your theory works..... :applaud: :applaud: :applaud: :applaud:
CheffoJeffo:
--- Quote from: menace on October 24, 2012, 07:55:15 am ---I've never gotten less than $500 for a bartop--the key was to have generic artwork and a clean build--As soon as you plaster a team onto it, you've slashed your market into a fraction of what it could be. Same with uprights--I have never gotten less than $1000--2 players, six buttons appeal to the widest range of people so even though I never use six buttons, plenty of people like the fighters and will pay that price to own their own...
BTW I sort of like your quick and dirty builds--with very little extra effort you could up the aesthetics very easily but in the meantime it all helps to improve your skills --so thats got to be worth something...
--- End quote ---
Wow -- he lives!! How are you doing, man ?
I was actually out near your brother's place (how I do enjoy the drive out to God's country!) the other night, which reminded me that I still need to fix that PITA monitor.
The part of Cory's builds that I find is almost unexcusable is the damned chip particle board.
Well, that, and he keeps calling them arcades. :oldman
menace:
--- Quote ---Wow -- he lives!! How are you doing, man ?
I was actually out near your brother's place (how I do enjoy the drive out to God's country!) the other night, which reminded me that I still need to fix that PITA monitor.
--- End quote ---
Yup just got back into the hobby after a long hiatus--building a cnc machine so I can crank out bartops faster than CoryDee :cheers: Well maybe not that fast ;D (btw if that monitor is the one i'm thinking of, a shotgun may be the best tool...)
I agree with Cheffo though the particle board just adds work--go mdf--almost as cheap and holds generic semi gloss black paint real nice. End of the day though do what makes you happy--its a hobby after all!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version