Warehouse!

[bleargh]

Ok, I've been sitting on this one for a while but I finally got a bit more info from the guy tonight which has prompted me to make a post.

Story goes like this...

Like many of us, I've got a running spot in the local "want ads" each week saying that I'm interested in old vids/pinballs.  Back in November of last year I got the call.  You know, THE call.  Guy has a warehouse full of vids that he's been sitting on for ages and he's finally decided to get around to selling them, but its been so long since he's done anything with them he's now completely out of the loop and doesn't know where to begin.

Call went like...

"I'm calling about your ad in the paper; you're looking for video games?"

"Yup, what kind of machines do you have?"

"Actually, the better question is 'what are you looking for?', I've got ~200 games sitting in a warehouse."

Like anyone else who's received the call, I just about wet my pants on the spot.  Then, after composing myself I got some more info from him, grabbed his name+number, and wondered if it was all just a dream.  Or hoax.  Over the next few days I did a bit of calling around and managed to confirm everything he'd told me.  I even went so far as to call the Chamber of Commerce in his town to verify that his arcade was real and that he was a real person.  "Oh yeah, everyone in town knows him; he's the nicest guy."

Ok.  Now, I'm interested.

But, he's not in any huge rush to get rid of these things; he's lazy, and they've already sat in his warehouse for ~10+ yrs and its just easier to do nothing than to actually get out there and try to sell them.  I'm also at a loss as he's several hours drive from here I haven't yet been able to convince my wife to drive us and the kids out there to go look at them (she drives, I've never had my license).

So, I've been ringing him back periodically to make sure that (a) he's still got the machines, (b) he knows that I'm still interested in helping him fix them up and get rid of them, and (c) to try to convince him to bring some with him on his next trip my way.  And finally... tonight he tells me that he'll get one brought down this weekend.  I'm to ring him back on Friday night and he'll pop one in the truck and bring it with him.

When he first phoned I'd had my doubts, but after calling around town and verifying his story/background with people and the repeated talks I've had with him and his wife, I'm convinced he's legit (so, no going and stealing my source).

While on the phone with him tonight, I got a bit of info on some of the games that he's got in his warehouse.  I asked him for some photos or a list of what he's got and he managed to find one of the pages of his list that he did up when he was thinking of selling everything off.  List went like this (alphabetically):

• Area 51
• Bubble Bobble
• Cyber Police
• Double Dragon
• Golden Axe
• Indiana Jones (Atari)
• Killer Instinct
• Klax
• Marble Madness
• Mortal Kombat 2
• Offroad (dedicated)
• Pole Position (dedicated)
• Police Trainer
• Road Blasters
• Samurai Shodown (Neo-Geo)
• San Francisco Rush
• Street Fighter
• Street Fighter 2
• Super Sprint
• Twin Cobra
• Virtua Fighter
• Virtua Racing

This isn't a complete list of what he's got, but was just one page of his list.  From my other chats with him, it sounds like his warehouse has machines that span quite a range of years; he's told me about a Gauntlet and an Asteroids he's got hiding away in there somewhere too.

So.....

Wanted to make a post to go Woo-hoo!, and to find out if there was anyone up in the Vancouver Island area that might be interested in any of the above, or that'd like to make a request (and we'll see if he's got one).

I'm making NO guarantees to anyone at this point (I haven't seen my first game off his truck yet), but he sounds legit.  He also doesn't sound like he's in a huge rush, so there isn't any burning time pressure.  In fact, its quite the opposite; he'll probably be more open to having things take their slow time.  I have pipe dreams of a serious group buy, but this is Vancouver Island; there just aren't enough of us up here to put one together.

If you're in the area and have interest in any of the above or want to make a request, PM me and we'll see what comes out of this...

[RayB]

Well this is a great story and I'm happy for you, but the next thing you're going to find out is this guy thinks they are worth like $1000 each or something.   

[BASS!]

Or he adopts you as his only son, and gives them all to you in his will. I had a neighbor lady who died and gave her house to the person who mowed her lawn. 

[bleargh]

Well this is a great story and I'm happy for you, but the next thing you're going to find out is this guy thinks they are worth like $1000 each or something.   

Fortunately, he doesn't.  When I'd spoken to him about his "broken" cabs (which he defined as "Someone called and said it didn't work so I went and picked it up.  Put it in the back of the shop saying 'one day I'll fire it up and see whats wrong with it'.  Never did"), he said he was looking for ~$150-250 CDN per cab, depending on what they were.

Over here on the island, you can't even find a dead, battle-scarred, beat-up, piece of junk stripped down cabinet with nothing in it for under $400.  Every now and then some interesting stuff comes up in Vancouver, but it'd cost me a couple of hundred bucks to get there and back, never mind what I'd be spending on the game itself.

But, we'll see... I'm trying to hold my breath until he actually brings a cabinet to my door.  Hopefully, that'll be this weekend. 

[fa001]

I am in the Seattle area so Vancouver Island is not close but within reach. However I would like to know what issues there would be bringing cabs back into the states.

- Fred

[Ummon]

I suggest taking up Fozzy's advice to AFAC: take a loan and make some money while keeping what you want.

[BrentRadio]

Good luck with this, but I wouldn't be spreading the news around until you actually have a done deal. Deals like this have a way of getting around and before you know it someone has bought them all out from under you. Heard that happen many times.

[smac666]

Well its certainly a good deal if the machinea are in reasonably good shape.
I'm in Edmonton Alberta which is a bit of a drive but I would definetely be up for a multi-buy if we can organsie something.

[WhiteComet]

any chance you could get a complete list and maybe some pictures

[ark_ader]

Can you find out if the OP has any laserdisc games like Dragon's Lair?

Thanks

[BCThunder]

Sounds like a good find.  I'm in the Vancouver area, but I have family on the Island.  I'm interested in seeing a list of what he's got. 

[bleargh]

Oooh... interest.

Short answers...

1. I'll see what else I can find out about whats in the warehouse.  I should be speaking with him again this weekend and will see if he's managed to find more of the pages of his list of stuff.

2. No, he doesn't have any laser disc games.  I'd asked him about this myself and he said that he got rid of them years ago; he had regular problems with the LD players and found it a pain to get replacement parts when they were needed.

3. He doesn't have any photos of the warehouse.  I'm trying to get him to take a few as it'll be quicker than doing a run through the warehouse and writing it all down.

As I get more info on whats available and at what price I'll update the thread...

[LangdonAlger]

Hello,

I live in Victoria and am extremely interested in this as well. I've got a truck and a whole garage of unused space. I'm actually working on my mame cab today on a snowy (malahat) day off. PM me or reply in this thread maybe we can get something going.

[rrcade]

I don't get the "help him fix them up and get rid of them", I think I would buy what I could asap and not keep calling him and asking him questions, soon he'll get sick of it and tell you he's changed his mind. Ops can get sick of new collectors coming around to buy a single game or asking if they have this part or that part, it's not worth their time, if your goal is to make money or keep some games-buy in BULK before he tells you to buzz off.  Maybe I'm way off base about this guy but I wouldn't drag my feet if there's deals to be had.

P.s. Your wife must be a saint to drive you around to feed your Arcade adiction, you're like my brother, he's in his 30 s and still doesn't own a car, I couldn't function without one, let alone get to WORK?

[SirPeale]

Agreed.  Show up with cash and a truck, make a deal and get out.  Then of course you'll be better equipped to do it next time.  If you don't screw it up.

[Paladin]

I live just north of Seattle, and have been watching this thread.  I know several local collectors that would problably help out if there were good deals to be had.  I bet a bulk deal using a rental truck to pick up several games could be arranged, once again if the deal was good.

I also agree that if you keep badgering the guy he's likely to get tired of it and quit working with you.  Let me know if you want me to contact the few 'power collectors' I know that do bulk buys, and I'll link you up.  They may have already stumbled on to this post already and are just watching it like me, but I won't do anything unless it's OK with you.

Tom

[quarterback]

Good luck with this, but I wouldn't be spreading the news around until you actually have a done deal.

Seriously, don't count those chickens just yet.    If I were near Vancouver Island and intersted, it seems like you've already given enough info that I'd be able to find this guy.

- Guy has a warehouse full of vids
- ~200 games
- everyone in town knows him
- his arcade was real

In fact, a member named BCThunder made his very first post in this thread.  You've already aroused interest of people in the area.  And you're waiting for the owner to make a multi hour drive to bring a cab to your door?   Really? 

If I were the owner (lazy, sitting on cabs for 10+ years, not in any hurry to do anything about it) would I (a) go out to my warehouse, drag out a game, load it into a truck, drive it 2 to 3 hours to you and hope you buy it when you see it and then drive multiple hours home or (b) sell a bunch of cabs to BCThunder who showed up at my place with cash in hand?  Seriously, that's a no-brainer.

she drives, I've never had my license).

   

I'm still interested in helping him fix them up

And I don't even know what that means at all?  Is he going to bring cabs, one by one, to your door so you can help fix them?  That seems unlikely.

[RayB]

Vancouver eh? Sign up here:  www.cgcc.ca

 

[ChadTower]

Agreed.  Show up with cash and a truck, make a deal and get out.  Then of course you'll be better equipped to do it next time.  If you don't screw it up.

Definitely.  You've announced it too soon, to too many people, and not moved fast enough.  By now you'll be lucky if someone hasn't backdoored everything in there worth having.

[The Evil Collector]

I just thought I'd let you know, I called the guy last nite and he agreed to let me have the entire lot. I'm heading out in just a few minutes, should be there within a couple hours. I rented a large tractor trailer and I will be able to get them all. Sorry if this upsets anyone but a guy has gotta look out for number one ya know. If anyone wants to buy some of these off of me just drop a note and I'll let ya know what I have.

[nen10dough]

^^^^^^^^^^^^OUCH^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[SirPeale]

I just thought I'd let you know, I called the guy last nite and he agreed to let me have the entire lot. I'm heading out in just a few minutes, should be there within a couple hours. I rented a large tractor trailer and I will be able to get them all. Sorry if this upsets anyone but a guy has gotta look out for number one ya know. If anyone wants to buy some of these off of me just drop a note and I'll let ya know what I have.

See?

[quarterback]

you'll be lucky if someone hasn't backdoored everything in there worth having.

That's what she said.

[The Evil Collector]

I just thought I'd let you know, I called the guy last nite and he agreed to let me have the entire lot. I'm heading out in just a few minutes, should be there within a couple hours. I rented a large tractor trailer and I will be able to get them all. Sorry if this upsets anyone but a guy has gotta look out for number one ya know. If anyone wants to buy some of these off of me just drop a note and I'll let ya know what I have.

April Fools! (a little early) 

[Lutus]

 

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

I knew it. 























 




































 

[ChadTower]

That's what she said.

Boy was she surprised when it happened!