Need advice on Cabinet

[tribasic]

Hi,

I have been shopping for a Streetfighter2 style machine for a little while. The cheapest prices I have found are:

Marvel vs Capcom
19 inch  - 300 US
25 inch - 400 US

Streetfighter Alpha
19 inch  - 300 US
25 inch - 400 US

Streetfighter Alpha 2
19 inch  - 300 US
25 inch - 400 US

I am new to the Arcade collecting scene and just wanted to know what you guys thought. Personally, if the machines are in okay condition, I think the price isn't bad.

I was at another warehouse, and the guy was trying to sell me a 'The Main Event' machine, which was converted to a streetfighter 2 for 300 bux no monitor, or 600 bux with a monitor. I thought that was much too expensive.

I live in Montreal, but I haven't had good luck finding a machine here. It actually looks like I may go to Toronto to get a decent arcade machine.

Any input you guys can give me is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Jason

[CheffoJeffo]

Starburst here in TO is always an option, but I've seen plenty of machines available in Mtl and Ottawa (though, they are mostly classics, but that is what I am looking for).

Good places to start:


Canadian Classic Gaming CoinOp Forum:

http://www.cgcc.ca/forum/viewforum.php?f=9


Montreal Arcade & Amusement Collectors Association:

http://www.maaca.org


Finally, it almost pains me to say it, but there is a guy here in Toronto who buys recent titles (typically NeoGeos, fighters and shooters) at auction as resells them on eBay. Quite often his prices are reasonable and it appears that he can ship for about $75 via Forward Air (I only heard this on Saturday, so don't quote me).

http://stores.ebay.ca/Jordaniel-Enterprises-Worldwide_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

He doesn't have anything up right now (except that Die HArd that I think he paid $100 for ...), but will often put 6-8 machiens up at a time. I bought a SurfPlanet in a big Capcom cab from him back in April -- he's a nice guy with reasonably priced working machines. Now, he's not that popular with the locals because he buys 20-40 machines at each auction and drives the prices up.

EDIT: Forgot to mention Amusement911 ... he's in Mtl and going out of business at the end of the month. I've never done business with him, his shipping rates are a little high and he once tried to charge $100 pickup fees (so he get the idea that he may not be someone who want to deal with). But, you never know:

http://www.amusement911.com/

EDIT2: Next Starburst Auction is 05NOV2005, same day as the Detroit Auction.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

[tribasic]

Thanks Cheffor Jeffo. You helped a lot. I didn't know aboutt the Montreal Arcade & Amusement Collectors Association. I'm going to take a look.

Thanks for the speedy reply too.

You have brought me one step closer to getting that Streetfighter 2 machine!!

thanks,

Tribasic

[Scott84]

Starburst has offices in montreal i believe.

www.starburstcoin.com

Just look.

[tribasic]

Thanks Scott84,

I'm going to check out the showroom of the Starburst in Montreal. Hopefully they will have something. If I could find a machine in the Montreal area, that would be great. The gas prices now are killing me, so the less I travel need to do, the better!!

So, do you guys think $400 US is a fair price for a working Marvel vs Capcom machine with 25inch monitor? I think it's not too bad, because it will have a monitor, coin doors, wired for jamma+ etc. But I haven't actually seen the cabinet, so I don't know how good of shape it's in.

Thanks for taking the time to help me out!! I appreciate it.

TriBasic

[CheffoJeffo]

According to my notes, Marvel vs Capcom w/ 25" monitor went for C$250 at August's Starburst auction in TO.

Not a fighter fan, so I don't really pay attention to them (in fact missed a SF in an old Williams cab at the last auction, just 'coz it was a fighter), but typically they seem to run in the C$100-$250 range at auction here.

Cheers.

[tribasic]

You guys are awesome! Thanks a lot. I have a much better idea of what to look for now.

I can hardly wait until I get my cabinet!!

This site rocks!

TriBasic

[stratjakt]

All the games you priced, MvC, SFA and SFA2 are all CPS2 systems, pretty much stuff that could still pull in a buck on route, making it worth that much more.. 

Look for an old Street Fighter 2 (not Super Street Fighter 2 - thats CPS2), or even a Street Fighter 1 cabinet and buy a new board for it.  Also keep an eye out for "Fighters History", the clone Data East made which got them sued by Capcom (Capcom lost) - those go cheap.  Also keep an eye out for a mid to late 90s cabinet that'd be easy to convert, (Data East or Konami cabs make good candidates) or a dynamo or other generic cabinet designed for conversions. 

25" monitors always jack up the price.  Good luck at the auction.   Show up early, pick a few that you like, and pick a maximum price to pay - don't be like me and get all competitive.  I'm not allowed at auctions anymore.  If you can throw your voice, try throwing out "I hear that ones cursed!" or "I hear it's full of dead kittens", etc.

Don't make the newbie mistake of being so eager to buy something you wind up with a piece of crap - check for water damage and other signs that it'll take an assload of work to rejuvinate it, and dont be afraid to walk away.  Your 100 dollar cabinet could easily wind up costing more than that 600 dollar main event if you nickel and dime yourself rebuilding it (80 in controls here, 50 bucks for wires there, etc).  There's plenty of cabinets out there, dirt cheap - free sometimes..  You just have to be patient, you'll find them when you aren't looking.

I visited a warehouse a few moths ago, I wasn't looking to buy a cabinet (wanted to scavenge the junk pile for a coin door and some other parts), but ended up walking out with a 25" data east cab for 100 bucks and a really georgeous time pilots cocktail for 65, both in great condition and working (well easy fixes)..  Dude was in the frame of mind of 'the more of these other people move out means the less I have to'.