Best place to buy sticks/buttons, WICO,Happ, Bob Roberts?

[Tritoch84]

Hi, I used to post a bit when I was planing on making a MAME cabinet, but put all the money in a DIY projection setup, and now I need some real arcade controls, and want to know where you guys get your stuff from?

I'm going to use a hacked PlayStation controller (Easy no solder A-Series hack thanks to SpiffyShoes) to make an arcade stick for fighters (I've been using a horrible old namco PS1 stock arcade stick, good for moding, but not to great by itself).

I'm looking at just buying a Comp stick and comp buttons right now, might go sanwa later, but for now, the comp should be fine.

Where should I get sticks/buttons from? Bob Roberts lives in the same state as me, (I live in Shreveport) and his prices are cheap, Happ has a bigger company, and I heard horrible things about WICO's customer service.

Which company should I go for, and who do you use?

[NoBonus]

Don't forget to check out some of the rest of the competition:

Ultimarc (LOTS of folks use these sticks)
www.ultimarc.com

and Groovy Game Gear (A unique offering)
www.groovygamegear.com

[Goz]

Check the Buy/ Sell/ Trade section and look up ponyboy.

Likely your best price.

-Goz

[Tritoch84]

will the Ultimarc J-Stick (bat top) fit easy on a wood CP? I've never used these sticks, but I have used Sanwas and comps, supers, and ultimates, and ultimates diagonals I didn't like, and people who play fighters swear by the comp stick, as far as a US stick goes. Anyone tell me how those J-Sticks feel?

[Goz]

The J-Sticks are Sanwas.

[NoBonus]

The J-stick has a square path so diagnols are EASY as can be.  I REALLY like the J-stick for all sorts of gaming, including fighters.  I guess it is preference though.  Plus, the J-stick is a pain to mount on a wood cp because of the short neck.  There is a review of the sticks floating about somewhere.

[Tritoch84]

I guess I'm just going to go with the Happ Comp stick and buttons, and try to order them from Bob Roberts, I guess I just send him a check in the mail?!?!? 

Theres really no form or anything he says.

[Flinkly]

i feel funny saying this again, but we have a guy in the forum who is a distributer of happs merchandise.

[RayB]

Theres really no form or anything he says.

HEY. Bob has very clear ordering information on his website. Read it!
If you just mail a check, it will be returned to you.

[Tritoch84]

Well, I'm guess I'll hit up PonyBoy, sounds better then trying to order from Bob Roberts.

I was fixing to pay Happ just because it's easier to checkout and pay.

PonyBoy excepts PayPal? Oh man thats great, sorry I didn't pay notice before, thanks, I'll probably be ordering from him soon.

[Tritoch84]

He doesn't carry the comp buttons, guess I'll end up ordering from Happ after all. Unless I can just deal with the ones he sells, but I was stuck on comp stuff all the way around.

[Nocturnaloner]

He doesn't carry the comp buttons, guess I'll end up ordering from Happ after all. Unless I can just deal with the ones he sells, but I was stuck on comp stuff all the way around.

A word of warning about ordering directly from Happ- they WILL hose you on shipping.  I had to call them to get half the shipping charges returned.  They don't like dealing with individuals/hobbyists, and that is how they let you know it.  Others may dispute it, but that was my experience.

[Paul Olson]

Both Ponyboy and Bob are great to deal with.  Ponyboys prices are better, but Bob carries a lot of stuff.  Bob has the Comp buttons for $1.50, and the shipping would be a lot cheaper than ordering from Happs.  You will have to add up totals with shipping, it might be cheaper to get the Comp buttons from Bob and the rest from Ponyboy.  Whatever you decide, let Ponyboy know you are looking for Comps.  He stopped stocking them due to lack of demand, if enough people want them, maybe he will stock them again.

Paul

[SteveJ34]

If  you have a happ item not listed in the ponyboy post, send a PM.

I needed some shallow mount buttons like what sasquatch used in his YDKJ project and didn't wish to make $25 min order at Happs + Shipping.

He was glad to accomodate at a rate of 1.55 vs 1.80 which shaved even more off the total ship cost.

[Tritoch84]

Theres really no form or anything he says.

HEY. Bob has very clear ordering information on his website. Read it!
If you just mail a check, it will be returned to you.

So when he says I can pay by check, he's lying?

Give me some credit, I did read the ordering page.

If at all possible I'll be ordering from PonyBoy. Thanks for letting me know about him guys.

[RayB]

OK maybe I misunderstood your intentions. Or maybe not.

It sounded like you were just going to mail in your order. The thing about Bob is you have to first confirm your order with him by email. Then when he gets back to you with your total, then you send the check.

His ordering FAQ.

[Tritoch84]

Yeah, like I said before, I read that.

I don't think anyone but an idiot would just send a check with a list of what they want!

[paigeoliver]

Yeah, like I said before, I read that.

I don't think anyone but an idiot would just send a check with a list of what they want!

I have ordered from Bob a lot, you email the order, he emails back the price and address, you send the check, if he knows you he will probably ship your stuff on his next trip to the post office, even if he hasn't got your check yet.

[PokerMan]

Stick with Bob or Pony.  I personly use Bob as I found him to be one of the best resources to help me.

I rebuild old arcades (80's) , but now giving that up and going to build a MAME or two.  For rebuilding arcades, Bob's got just the stuff for me. 

If you need electronics he does not have then hit mouser, but Bob's got my vote.  I support him.

He has helped me sovle some nasty issues in the past and has been responsive to my emails. 

Poker

[Ken Layton]

Here is where I order parts from:

Amusements Plus, Inc.
107-H Norris Drive
Rochester, NY 14610
1-800-377-7729 or (585) 244-2420
No website!

Mazzco, Inc.
500 Eastern Ave.
Bensenville, ILL. 60106
1-800-292-4491
www.mazzco.com/catalog/

Penn-Ray International, LLC
6850 Hibbs Lane
Levittown, Pa 19057
1-800-945-0515
www.penn-ray.com

Competitive Productts
www.competitiveproducts.com

And don't forget good old Betson-Imperial www.betson.com