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Building cabinets to sell.
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paigeoliver:
It isn't worth it.

I used to do lots of Mame conversions, sold them (and traded them) for prices ranging from $400 to around $1000.

A "new" scratchbuilt cabinet doesn't sell for any more than a used one. I learned that after scratchbuilding a few of them. I got the same money for the "new" ones as I did for the used ones. Sure you can enter the "high end" market for $2000+ cabinets, but realize that you have over 100 competitors.

I stopped doing them, once I started getting under $600 for 21" cabinets at auction. After auction fees I would get $500 of that. They cost me $350 to make, they take 10 to 20 hours, and I still have tools, fuel, and 6 hours of babysitting the machine at the auction to deal with. I'd make more money at Happy Burger, so I don't do them anymore.

Or, you can sell them to individuals, and skip the auctions, but then you get tech support questions. I still get questions on machines I sold 3 and 4 years ago. Thank goodness that none of them have actually broken down.
CheffoJeffo:

--- Quote from: Mr. Bubblehead on September 12, 2005, 03:48:07 pm --- I have had several friends over and so far every one of them has told me the same thing - "dude, this is awesome, you need to sell these!"

My question is this...should I do this? 

--- End quote ---

It depends ... are any of these friends willing to pay you to build a cabinet ?

If not, then no.

I think we've all gotten the "you gotta sell these" / "I would so buy one of these" reactions, but rarely do any of our friends actually pay us to build for them. Occasionally, they will build and we will help, but that is not a solid business model.

When asked by a gawker about costs, I typically explain that the cheapest method is to pick up a working JAMMA cabinet at auction for $125-$250. Then, add a computer with JPac and ArcadeVGA (obviously, there are cheaper options here, but ...) and you're looking at real money with no bells and whistles. As Paige says, you'ld make more money at HappyBurger.

Which leaves the high-end. There is at least one member here who has built BEEYOOTIPHUL cabinets for other people. I have no idea if it is a money-making venture for him.

Cheers.
Crazy Cooter:
Not worth it.
pgifford:
How do you make a small fortune selling cabinets?

First, start with a large fortune...

Lilwolf:
Dont' expect it to be a good money maker.  You could make more money working at mcdonalds.

but there are some advantages....

1) If you loved building your cab more the playing on it... then its great no matter what!  (come on... lots of you have spent more time building then playing... fess up)

2) You can deduct ALL your own cabinets in your taxes!  REALLY Mr taxman... I had to purchase this starwars controller to see if it would work into my design for customers... And the super wide lcd screen that covers my whole marquee that cost 1k... you never know who would want it!  And sure I had to build a from scratch pinball cab with huge LCDs to see if there is a market to go after!

3) You might make some money... but you will probably make a lot of friends who love arcades.

4) Making something thats nice and people appreciate is always a good thing!  Your helping the world be a better place!

But all in all... #2 is really the best part!  One of the reasons I wanted to start professionally selling my hotswap adapters!  (I really need one of each major arcade cabinets products to make sure they hotswap properly.... and I test them on my home machine of course!)
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