The Arcade Scene - Why is it so Shady?

[Superdude]

Hello,  I just got into the hobby of restoring and building arcade machines.  Now it seems that there is alot of people out there that seem so shady to me.  They sell parts and or arcade machines at obscene prices.  Why is this?  It seems that the decent people in this hobby are hard to come by.  It seems the only good people out there visit here.  I have to say thanks to all for reading and answering my questions!  And its great to log into a site filled with good people.
 
But getting back to the topic, why the high prices?  It feels like looking for a house now a days.  People are willing to pay these artifically inflated prices.  Alot of these machines that I seen were just plain bad conversions.  Anyone have any opinions on why this is??

[Dink]

Just because they charge a high price, doesn't mean they are shady.

I think you answered your own question.  Prices are high because people are paying them.  Supply and demand, basic economics.  Some things are legitimately getting harder to find.

My beef is with Ebay and the prices people pay and get there.  Also with the auctions that aren't truthful, and people that have private auctions with private feedback profiles.  In which case I just don't bid.

[Brax]

Well.... think about Arcade Operators. Their job basically consists of taking money from children.
I think that takes a "special" kind of person.

Any operators I've seen in my youth, aka the golden age of arcades, all had the same look and demeanor... ROUGH!

And if you memory is faithful you'll remember arcades of the 80's were pretty seedy places! Ahhhh, my youth.

[Frostillicus]

And if you memory is faithful you'll remember arcades of the 80's were pretty seedy places! Ahhhh, my youth.

yeah one thing i remember from Playland ad Barrel of Fun(local arcades) back in the day was were dark, smokey places with a little bit of seediness.  No drug deals or anything, but it wasn't the bright lights of a hotel game room either(remember those?).
I think it added to the atmosphere, myself.  Man those were good times.

As for high prices, I totally agree - if people will pay it, why not charge it?  This isn't goodwill.  I don't get anything off of ebay anymore due to the inflated prices and what I think is fraudulent bidding driving some prices up to ridiculous heights.  my 2cents     There are always affordable ways to build what you need, but a  working StarWars yoke, for example, will always cost you an arm an a leg.

[SNAAAKE]

AWW...good ol days...when I was 9 and trying to play street fighter.Couldn't reach the panel so I used a stool.

As for prices.I am okay with the prices because they are many games to play these days so if you wanna play then pay some money.however $5000 for a 33" cab from hanaho is a total ripoff...the thing cost less then $1500 to built and sell for $5000..BOOO (Bad people!...very bad people).

[SirPoonga]

As for prices.I am okay with the prices because they are many games to play these days so if you wanna play then pay some money.however $5000 for a 33" cab from hanaho is a total ripoff...the thing cost less then $1500 to built and sell for $5000..BOOO (Bad people!...very bad people).

Where can you find a BRAND NEW showcase cabinet with 33" monitor for under $1500?  The monitor itself is $800.  Remember, BRAND NEW, not used.  Also, it isn't that much of a ripoff, though there are cheaper out there.  There isn't a HUGE demand for those cabinets, SO if you take your social studies classes from high school and apply supply and demand.  It is a much rarer item for them to make therefore will cost more because they aren't oing to make them in bulk, AND are not goin to take weeks/months to build it like you probably would end up having to take.

[liche]

"Well.... think about Arcade Operators. Their job basically consists of taking money from children.
I think that takes a "special" kind of person."

>>>>>>>Well, thats a pretty ignorant statement.  That "special" kind of person is probably a parent himself, trying the best he can to make money for his/her family to survive.

"however $5000 for a 33" cab from hanaho is a total ripoff...the thing cost less then $1500 to built and sell for $5000..BOOO (Bad people!...very bad people). "

>>>>>>>>>>>Another ignorant statement.  You have to realize you aren't just paying for a game, you are paying for a game plus its ability to to turn a profit.  Some of these newer games have the ability to earn a few hundred dollars per week if put in the right locations.

Bad people . . . very bad people?  What the hell does that have to do with anything.  These people are just like you and me and have to earn a living as well.  Unfortunately, its our society (including the the buyers) that dictates this.  That is such a hypocritical statement coming from someone who obvious is not going to pay anything for pirated ROMS.
So its okay for them to legitimately sell arcade machines for that price, buts its okay for your to "steal" copyrighted ROMs.

[SNAAAKE]

oh hoo oh..chill out man ...

you won the contest okay?

[Mike]

Cabinets are the only thing I've really seen going up in price. That is because people want to turn them in to mame cabinets. So there are less and less available. If you buy arcade boards they are generally inexpensive unless its a new game that still has a lot of potential to earn money. I think you need to be more resourceful where you look for a cabinet at. If your looking on Ebay your always going to pay prices much higher than normal. And a new cabinet for $5000 isn't ridiculous at all if you figure that most of the people buying them are arcade operators and that cabinet will probably contain 5 or 6 different games in it's lifetime and be in the arcade earning money for 6 years or so. If you go to a coin operated auction or look in your local paper you can always find good deals if you not picky on what kind of cabinet your looking to get. I picked up my cabinet for $20 from an auction and it was brand new empty cabinet. I also got my pinball machine for $90 out of the paper. So there are good deals to be had you just have to find them.

[HeadRusch]

Prices are going up because demand is going up.  What you think are ridiculous prices are only ridiculous when nobodys buying.  If people are buying, the prices are just what the market will support.

Remember, guys like me (31..soon to be 32...*sigh*) are now at the age and probably income-range to be able to go back and afford a few $800 games.
Granted, a few years ago those might have been $200 games, but those that own have found a market.

Its any collectible.......once upon a time people could sell beanie babies for $200 each.........go figure, for a beanbag with a little tag on it.  Same law of idiocy applies..............right now the market is up, people are buying them because they can afford to.

But like everything else, its all timing:  A guy like Snake isn't going to care about a black and white Atari Sprint game, not if his definition of "old skool" is playing...ugh...StreetFighter.  (That game came out when I was in COLLEGE...)
....but I'd take a look at it.

[Sasquatch!]

yeah one thing i remember from Playland ad Barrel of Fun(local arcades) back in the day was were dark, smokey places with a little bit of seediness.  No drug deals or anything, but it wasn't the bright lights of a hotel game room either(remember those?).
I think it added to the atmosphere, myself.  Man those were good times.

I just want to chime in with a "hell yeah".  I think my control panel needs some cigarette burns on it for "authenticity".