8/11/07 Mesquite Super Auction

[Q*Bert_OP]

Anyone from here going or bringing anything?

I will be bringing a double game cabinet, a Solar Fox, a Space Encounters cabaret, a Die Hard, maybe a Robotron...

[csa3d]

I'm planning on heading over.  Not bringing anything, and not *planning* on bringing anything back.  That being said, I would have liked to have scooped up the asteroids deluxe cabaret machine the last time I went.  Guess we'll see what's there.

-csa

[mcfreak]

Going but don't have anything to bring.  This will be my first auction...

[mleraas]

I've lurked these forums for ages, but it has taken my first scheduled auction romp to generate a post.  I plan to check it out on Saturday.  Any advice from you auction "old pros"? 

Mark

[Chemixtry]

Any advice from you auction "old pros"? 

Beware of the phantom bidding. I saw a guy pay $2200 for a mint import space invaders at the last auction. I overheard later that the auctioneer owned the machine and only payed $300 for it. The collector who bought it was bidding against no one.  From RGVAC
"can I get a 100, getter down, getter down, 200 getter down, getter
down 300, getter down 400....
...pause


......who will give me $50 dollars?"

I dont plan on buying anything but if there is a nice price on a cabaret I might have to snatch it

[mleraas]

Interesting...  Thanks for the heads-up. 

My intentions are to browse only, but you know how that tends to go.

Mark

[Stobe]

Interesting...  Thanks for the heads-up. 

My intentions are to browse only, but you know how that tends to go.

Mark

My advice:

If you offer someone :  "I'll help you load yours if you help me load mine", find out first what he is driving.     I helped somone load a 27-foot Ryder truck so that he could help me load my minivan.

-Stobe

[Jeff AMN]

Dang. This is the closest to me I've ever seen an auction and I probably can't make it. I REALLY want to be there...

Anybody from Utah planning on heading down there?

[chrisindfw]

Ok stupid question. What time does everything start? Browsing and then the auction? I couldnt find it on the superauction website.

[soslo]

I'm not brining anything, but I've been to a few of the SuperAuctions in CA. Just moved out to TX so I need some new cabs for MAME'ing 

Like was posted earlier- watch out for phantom bidding. The auctioneers can be shady sometimes. When it comes time for you to bid on a cab you want, make sure you can see who is bidding against you to make sure they aren't just pointing. The caller will be pointing here and there, but that doesn't mean anyone is bidding. The first 20-30 cabs go this way, same for the pinball machines. Wait until the guy stops doing the random increase before you start bidding. I like to stay near the back of the pack so I can see who bids on what and observe the crowd.

If you have a nice cab in mind that will probably fetch good money, it might be useful for you to hang around near it during the preview to see if you can locate the seller. That way you know what he looks like when you start bidding and you'll know if he is just bidding you up.

I haven't been to a TX auction before - I hope the prices are better than they are in CA!

[Chemixtry]

Ok stupid question. What time does everything start? Browsing and then the auction? I couldnt find it on the superauction website.

Usually preview is from 8am-10am with the auction starting at 10am. A few times Ive seen them start a little later because they were disorganized.  The prices have been pretty good at the last few auctions but it always depends on the amount of stuff for sale and the turnout. Another piece of advice dont bid on anything on the first row. People are overly excited and tend to bid higher then they should. Also watch for people walking around behind the games. Some people like to sabotouge stuff to get it cheaper.

Since it looks like there might be a few of us BYOACers there anybody interested in getting together? Maybe grab lunch while they are on the pinballs or something?

[mcfreak]

Well how did everyone do?  It seemed like there were a lot of cabs at this one.  I heard the Fire Marshal wouldn't let them bring anymore in the building.

[chrisindfw]

Well there were tons of machines there! And most were in great condition. I went there just browsing around. I think the next one will be around October. Not to mention the fact that it was 100 degrees today.

I am curious what prices people paid for some of the machines if they care to share. I did not stay for the auction. Next time I will!!! And soon I will have the gonads to actually buy something.

There were an abnormal number of sit down cabs there. Last time I went (a year or so ago) they had a few. I think I counted about 8 green chair atari driving games. I forget what they are called.

[csa3d]

I went for the preview, but did not stay for the auction as well.  There was a LOT more volume of machines this time around then the last time I went.  They even were piling stuff outside the warehouse!  My opinion is that there was a lot more junk over all, and the machines that were put together and working were just so so.  Tons of project machines.

There were also a bunch of Mame machines being sold.  Particularly, one had "MAME" written all across the bezzel of the monitor.  One dude was flaunting his "mame" cab to everyone walking buy and I called him out asking how this is legal.  He told me "it's running a custom front end".  Well ok, I see GameEx and WinJuke (or something i've seen on these boards).  Nothing "custom" to me.  That pisses me off to be frank.  Seems like any old joe is brining their homemade crap to the action and pawning it off for a pretty penny.  Oh - and they look like crap by the way, total lack of care and workmanship.

I saw a Galaxian there which glossy printed artwork just taped or glued poorly onto the side of a cab. LOL.  It was all peeling off and bubbling on the places with actual contact.  Oh well.  I guess that's why we have this board, so people who care can spot these snakes ahead of time.

Anyone else leave with a bad taste like me?

-csa

[JimmyU]

There were an abnormal number of sit down cabs there. Last time I went (a year or so ago) they had a few. I think I counted about 8 green chair atari driving games. I forget what they are called.

San Francisco Rush?
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=9427

[mcfreak]

One dude was flaunting his "mame" cab to everyone walking buy and I called him out asking how this is legal.  He told me "it's running a custom front end".  Well ok, I see GameEx and WinJuke (or something i've seen on these boards).  Nothing "custom" to me.  That pisses me off to be frank. 

-csa

And it went for $3100...  I got really tired of the "OHHHHH this is a Multi-Cab, 48-1"  I dont see how those go for $1000 each. 

[chrisindfw]

How much did the average machines go for. Working or not. I am curious how much some of the driving cabs went for.

Yeah I saw some machines there that just didnt look right. Now I am not an expert by any means but even if I could tell something was off then I am sure you expert guys could.

Time to save up money for the next one

[mcfreak]

Somewhere between 300 and 400 for fully working classics.  anywhere from 20 to 300 for non working. 

I didn't make it to the driving part as we got what we needed before the pinball's started.

We took away:
$50  Rollin Thunder Vid Issues/ working (some vid issues which actually cleared up on the drive home, so it looks like the monitor just needs to be adjusted a bit)

$100 Asteroids Stand up (Wouldn't power on, got home and checked it out, power switch was rusted and busted off, one Cap on the Asteroids board was snapped off.  Haven't has time to look at it yet, oh and I can't forget the animal turd in it...  That was a nice surprise...  )

[csa3d]

I talked with someone about an asteroids machine who mentioned they had previously restored a sit down version.. was that you?

[mcfreak]

Not sure, I am working on a cocktail version that is almost finished.  Not sure what I am going to do with the cocktail version... 

After a few adjustments on the Rolling Thunder, it is perfect.  Just needs a nice cleaning now.

Good times though...

See everyone again in October...

[Q*Bert_OP]

I'll have some photos from this past auction up soon...

[torez]

Haven't has time to look at it yet, oh and I can't forget the animal turd in it...  That was a nice surprise...  )

Hey, that's for good luck. 

[mcfreak]

Anyone get a full list of sales?  I am getting a lot of inquiries at work...

[Q*Bert_OP]

Here are the pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8544754@N05/