Need some advice...How much is to much? (help me not get jipped)

[barrel_hopper]

I am going to go to a guys house tomorrow that has quite a few arcade games for sale.

I asked him about some of the games he had and he told me he had a Donky Kong JR. When I asked him how much something like that cost he said about $600 or $700. I am probably willing to pay $600 for the DK JR if it is not to torn up.

Last night I thought to myself hey if this guy has a Popeye I can probably get that alot cheaper and convert it to a DK cabinet. So I called the guy back today to set up a time to come over tomorrow and towards the end of our conversation I asked him if he had a Popeye. He said yes. When I asked him how much that would cost I got the standard "don't hold me to it but probably about $600 or $700" I figured a frigging Popeye would be much cheaper than that.

No I have no idea what kind of condition these games are in besides the fact that they are in working order. I just cant speak for paint or cabinet condition ect.

Can you guys give me any tips for dealing with someone that just wants to much for a machine? How do I let the guy know I think a price is "BS" without being rude. This is my first time trying to buy one of these things so I really need some tips. I tipped my hand a little bit with my apparent excitement but I am not going to let that do me in. I could take some ebay print outs showing Popeye machines netting about $400 or so but that might not help.

I guess it is a case of supply and demand. He has the supply and I got the demand. There are not alot of choices here in Central Virginia.

I am not sure I mind $600 for DK JR but but no way for a Popeye cabinet. Is there a cult following around Popeye cabinets I don't know about?

Thanks guys,

Adam S.

[TelcoLou]

Question is, why would you buy a popeye cab just to convert it to a DK cab? 

[shardian]

The best you can do is see the stuff in person and then say "I could pay up xxx dollars for this". If they are serious about selling, they'll deal. If they are just throwing a number to the wind hoping to cash in, then they'll politely decline. You only get deals with motivated buyers.

[More Cowbell]

In nice condition, DJ Jr. is generally a $500 game and Popeye is more like $400.

[barrel_hopper]

Question is, why would you buy a popeye cab just to convert it to a DK cab? 

Because the cabinet would be cheaper to purchase in theory and I figured Popeye was perhaps a lame game?

If it would be wrong to kill a popeye please let me know.

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

They were both nintendo games right?  At least you'd be "keepin' it in the family."

[TelcoLou]

Question is, why would you buy a popeye cab just to convert it to a DK cab? 

Because the cabinet would be cheaper to purchase in theory and I figured Popeye was perhaps a lame game?

If it would be wrong to kill a popeye please let me know.

... do you have the DK PCB, power supply, etc? or are you planning to MAME it? if so, try searching around for a cheap gutted cab, I managed to pick one up for $50 .. just trying to save you some $$ 

[johnperkins21]

Technically it's worth whatever you're willing to pay for it. If you're willing to pay $600 for a DK cab, but only $300 for a Popeye then that's what it's worth. If you see a good DK cab later on for $400 it doesn't mean you got ripped off, just that you were willing to pay more.

One issue with pricing these things is that it's not only subjective, but the condition of each cab can vary wildly. Before buying a cab, I like to look at the recent auction prices but that's only going to give you a general idea, which may be enough for you. Here's a couple websites that have some auction results:
http://www.gct21.net/~johns594/arcade/auction/auc.php?nam=donkey+kong&mat=e&evnt=&qty=100
http://www.basementarcade.com/arcade/auction/

[barrel_hopper]

If I could find a cheep gutted cab that would be awesome. I really want a Nintendo cabinet but I am open to the idea of buying an original in decent shape and keeping it that way. If I end up getting the DK JR I will probably but a donkey kong PCB and throw it in there when I want play DK and restore the DK JR Cabinet. This would be my first game and I am hoping this guy will have some kind of hidden treasure I can score for a decent price.

What other games used that DK, DK JR, Popeye style cabinet that might not be desirable. The guy sounded like he had a space invaders with a bad board he would sell at a decent price. But I dont really want that right now.

I just hope I can get this guy to be reasonable because I would like to do more business with him in the future. He sounds like a decent guy over the phone. I think he is just trying to feel me out and see what kind of person I am.

Please keep the wheelin and dealin tips coming I need all the info I can get.

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

You could always use jakobud's plans and build yourself a nintendo cab...

[barrel_hopper]

Yea I have been trying to do that but it seems I suck to tracing out the measurements. I would need a printable template.

Its something I would love to do. I would rather build one but I don't have anyone to help me out with that.

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

You just gotta dive in, dude!  Practice on cardboard (big fridge boxes, etc)!

[barrel_hopper]

I have been trying to but without anyone to help or correct me I just seem to keep making the same mistakes

[shardian]

Hunt down an AutoCAD plan of the nintendo cabinet and I could plot you out a set of 1:1 templates.

[javeryh]

Hunt down an AutoCAD plan of the nintendo cabinet and I could plot you out a set of 1:1 templates.

That would be sweet.  A giant template would save a lot of people a lot of time with prep work and stuff.

barrel_hopper:  What kinds of mistakes are you making?  If you have a t-square and a compass you should be able to lay out just about anything assuming you have all the measurements on paper.  Also Popeye is AWESOME.  It's definitely one of the classics.  Great music, varied levels, memorable characters, great powerups - it has just about everything. 

[shardian]

Hunt down an AutoCAD plan of the nintendo cabinet and I could plot you out a set of 1:1 templates.

That would be sweet.  A giant template would save a lot of people a lot of time with prep work and stuff.

I have no problem doing that for anyone. I can plot a simple CAD line drawing of a side panel on up to 36" wide paper. Then you just cut it out, tape it down and trace. Flush cut the other panel and you are done quick.

[Ginsu Victim]

Because the cabinet would be cheaper to purchase in theory and I figured Popeye was perhaps a lame game?

If it would be wrong to kill a popeye please let me know.

Not a lame game at all. It was always one of my favorites back in the day.

Would it be wrong to kill it? YES. They are not as easy to find as they used to be and you should keep it a Popeye if you buy it.

[CrazyKongFan]

Another thing to consider, you'll have to do some work on the monitor. Popeye is a horizontal game, and DK/DK Jr are vertical. Seems like DK (and possibly DK Jr) had inverted video, not sure if Popeye had that. So it wouldn't be just a simple board swap and you'd be ready to go.

[javeryh]

Another thing to consider, you'll have to do some work on the monitor. Popeye is a horizontal game, and DK/DK Jr are vertical. Seems like DK (and possibly DK Jr) had inverted video, not sure if Popeye had that. So it wouldn't be just a simple board swap and you'd be ready to go.

Good point.  I totally forgot about that!

[barrel_hopper]

Hey guys, I went and looked the the DK JR machine today and the thing was MINT. Not perfect but it does not need paint at all and it needs the side art on the left side. But other than that it looks and plays just like 1982 all over again. I offered the guy $550 for it and he said sure. The dealer had his "guy" do a cap kit on the monitor and put in a new power supply

He told me he had the game on location and it only made about $10 in two weeks so he just wants to sell it for the cash and be done with it. As far as he is concerned it is just taking up valuable space.

I am pretty stoked. I expected this machine to be a ragged out POS. Instead it was a dream.

I will post pics when I get it.

BTW I am going to leave this machine as is...the only thing I want to do with it is maybe have a DK board around to swap in when I want to play regular DK.

is the DK board a straight swap in?

[Ginsu Victim]

How about getting a Double Donkey board? (Both games, one board)

[barrel_hopper]

That is an option for sure anyone know who sells them and how much they typically run?

[barrel_hopper]

Donkey Kong JR is in the Dodge Caravan in my driveway I am trying to locate help to get it inside before it rains today. Wish me luck and I will have a thread with pics of my new project later on...I am soooo excited.

[damdai]

Donkey Kong JR is in the Dodge Caravan in my driveway I am trying to locate help to get it inside before it rains today. Wish me luck and I will have a thread with pics of my new project later on...I am soooo excited.

And you just can't hide it.

[javeryh]

Donkey Kong JR is in the Dodge Caravan in my driveway I am trying to locate help to get it inside before it rains today. Wish me luck and I will have a thread with pics of my new project later on...I am soooo excited.

Post those pics!!!