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Any advice on selling a bartop cab?
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Lilwolf:
I like the idea of selling one that works with standard parts (14" TV you can get at wallmart for $xxx) to save on shipping.

but selling cabinets on ebay is not that easy.  I think bartops are a good way to go... but make sure your design is good looking. 

I would DEFINATELY go with either multiple control panel options... or 8way + 6 buttons. 

I would consider going with a keyboard encoder (21 bucks for a keywiz eco with headers) because the number of frontends that work with it increases considerably.

Vertical or horizontal is a big issue also.

What motherboard (I would sell with one unless it takes a standard board size)

I would definetly consider selling them without mame + roms because they are going after people... but ask mame what it takes to use their name and say you will do whatever they want... usually means that you will only do it with starroms I believe...  they are your friends... don' !@# with them...

Call it an emulation or classic arcade cabinet - not a mame cabinet until you get permission

And last...

The first one should be for yourself.  You want one to play with...

Tahnok:

--- Quote from: Roughy on December 16, 2005, 02:39:26 pm ---[Cut]

Seeing that made me think of something that would have really helped me along the way in my first experience that I'm going through (still).

1)  Can you offer up the CP and monitor separately?  Perhaps be a reseller through "company X" or someone that you can build a relationship with?  People do it all the time when it comes to selling electronics, etc.--a lot of them don't warehouse jack, they just have another place ship with "their name" at the top of the label.

[Cut]

2)  Can you offer up more than one CP design?  Allow ratings and/or feedbacks on each so users get a feel--hell, even if it's just links to threads here, that really helps, while at the same time driving some people to this community, which is where a lot of questions get answered.

3)  Offer up alternatives.  Seriously.  What I mean is that, short of giving away your plans and your workmanship--which I do not think you should do by any stretch--offer alternatives for people who are interested.

"Use this RCA TV from Wal~Mart as a good monitor if high quality isn't your main focus [link]"

(had to edit; browser locked-up)

[Cut]

That should mean a lot.

Not to mention, if you're not selling something or sharing information about something--someone else is.  There's a reason a lot of brands delve into "lower quality" products (ie generics, yet made by the same company) and that's to make sure they're not missing customers.

/soapbox  (hope it helps)

--- End quote ---

Interesting ideas.

1) Offering a monitor is pretty much out of the question. Shipping prices and markup would make it far more expensive than just going to a local shop and buying one. Personally, I would recommend going to a thrift shop and picking one up for a few bucks (that's where the one I'm running on my bartop right now came from). You may want to bring a laptop with you though and make sure the thing works. The CP could be sold separately, except that the cab won't look right without it. The CP isn't an overextending type you find on stand-ups, its integrated into the cab.

2) I considered allowing the buyer to customize the CP, but this would prove to be quite expensive or create a delay between order and shipping. It would require that either I have many CPs on hand and just ship with the one they choose (which would mean a lot of money just sitting in CPs) or ordering the parts custom and building it to specs (which would mean a large delay while I get the parts and build it).

3) That is something I will consider once the plans are a little further along. I'm still working the bugs out of the design. The next step will be to check compatibility with as many monitors and TVs as possible.

Thanks for the recommendations. I will certainly keep what you said in mind. I'm not really looking to start a full business here though. I'm just looking to make a few bucks doing something I love. I will not be mass-producing these cabs; they will be hand manufactured.


--- Quote from: Lilwolf ---I like the idea of selling one that works with standard parts (14" TV you can get at wallmart for $xxx) to save on shipping.

but selling cabinets on ebay is not that easy.  I think bartops are a good way to go... but make sure your design is good looking. 

I would DEFINATELY go with either multiple control panel options... or 8way + 6 buttons. 

I would consider going with a keyboard encoder (21 bucks for a keywiz eco with headers) because the number of frontends that work with it increases considerably.

Vertical or horizontal is a big issue also.

What motherboard (I would sell with one unless it takes a standard board size)

I would definetly consider selling them without mame + roms because they are going after people... but ask mame what it takes to use their name and say you will do whatever they want... usually means that you will only do it with starroms I believe...  they are your friends... don' !@# with them...

Call it an emulation or classic arcade cabinet - not a mame cabinet until you get permission

And last...

The first one should be for yourself.  You want one to play with...

--- End quote ---
The cab is a redesign of the Credit Button cab (link in my post above). I think it is certainly a unique design, whether or not that is a good thing I don
Roughy:
I think you missed some of my points, though...

I'm not saying necessarily to offer a monitor, but you may be able to work deals with people and share the costs--like I said, you COULD point to other monitors that work, additional instructions, etc.  You don't have to offer TV X at Wal~Mart, just point people to something that works to help them out and minimize their own decision-making process.  If I knew of TV X, I could eBay--RIGHT NOW--and say "oh wow, I can get that on a BIN for $45; that's not bad... I'm in" instead of searching like mad and/or trying a few things and not having them necessarily work.  Frustration could be avoided.

I'm also didn't say to allow users to customize the CPs, what I said was to consider offering more than 1 design so users could have a choice.  You'll get suggestions like mad; simply make more than 1 design users can choose from.  It may give you different price points, but it also sways some people who might not buy from you otherwise.  Maybe just start with 1, then start modifying, listing qty left, etc.  I just think more than 1 is a good idea.

And I don't think you're trying to start a full business; these are sound business notions for anyone doing it full time or part time.  I've done more than my share of marketing work and have been involved way too much with these types of things--I'm hoping that this comes across as things that I've seen work for others.

Anyway, I do hope it helps.  Now I need to chase away a hangover.
Tahnok:

--- Quote from: Roughy on December 17, 2005, 09:41:06 am ---I think you missed some of my points, though...

I'm not saying necessarily to offer a monitor, but you may be able to work deals with people and share the costs--like I said, you COULD point to other monitors that work, additional instructions, etc.  You don't have to offer TV X at Wal~Mart, just point people to something that works to help them out and minimize their own decision-making process.  If I knew of TV X, I could eBay--RIGHT NOW--and say "oh wow, I can get that on a BIN for $45; that's not bad... I'm in" instead of searching like mad and/or trying a few things and not having them necessarily work.  Frustration could be avoided.

I'm also didn't say to allow users to customize the CPs, what I said was to consider offering more than 1 design so users could have a choice.  You'll get suggestions like mad; simply make more than 1 design users can choose from.  It may give you different price points, but it also sways some people who might not buy from you otherwise.  Maybe just start with 1, then start modifying, listing qty left, etc.  I just think more than 1 is a good idea.

And I don't think you're trying to start a full business; these are sound business notions for anyone doing it full time or part time.  I've done more than my share of marketing work and have been involved way too much with these types of things--I'm hoping that this comes across as things that I've seen work for others.

Anyway, I do hope it helps.  Now I need to chase away a hangover.

--- End quote ---

OK then, that was pretty much what I was planning on doing in the test phase (though I did misunderstand you). I plan on measuring as many monitors and TVs as possible and make sure they fit.

Yes, but this has the problem the first problem that I mentioned with CPs. Many CPs laying around means lots of money sitting in un-sold merchandise. The CP is going to be the most expensive thing. I will consider it though after I have sold one or two.

Good to know. Too often people come onto forums and try to offer advice on something they know nothing about. Thanks for the taking the time.
Roughy:

--- Quote from: tahnok100 on December 17, 2005, 05:33:05 pm ---Yes, but this has the problem the first problem that I mentioned with CPs. Many CPs laying around means lots of money sitting in un-sold merchandise. The CP is going to be the most expensive thing. I will consider it though after I have sold one or two.

--- End quote ---

And with that, I don't disagree--but you may be able to limit yourself to 1 or 2.

I tell you what else I'd do--as you're building your own (if you haven't already), take a look at Mameroom's Custom CP software.  It's a bit herky-jerky on the usability side, but if you start to play with it, you can get some good ideas.  Test them out on us here--and while you're at it, do what many others have suggested and make 'em out of cardboard to test out.  Seems to be the best approach, to be honest.

Beyond that, you say that the CP will come complete & wired--and I say "why?".  That is, perhaps offer that 1 kit (and if you want to, just offer the 1 CP with it) and then give people the dimensions, etc.--all that they need to know so that they can go and do their own magic on it.  That is, a lot will want to do a lighted button, a lot will want to do this vs. that type of joystick--let them get their own CP parts and do the wiring themselves if they want to.  Seems to me that would save you on those costs--even as a newbie I still have been wanting to upgrade and customize all over the place and I think that most people who find their way here do actually want to get into the guts a bit.

I think this is all a great idea--I'm seriously interested in learning what you do and working my way into this type of a kit.  Seems like it could be really kick-ass to have around.
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