Thinking of selling a mostly complete tron control panel

[TheShanMan]

As a few of you probably know, I won an auction not too long ago for a tron control panel, but thinking I had no chance of getting it for what I'd be willing to pay, I stupidly didn't bother asking specific questions about the condition. The only problem with it is the joystick handle is broken (the plastic part) and the plastic trigger is missing. Otherwise as far as I can tell the joystick is perfectly functional (movement is good), the spinner is perfectly functional (spins fine, although probably needs a little lubrication, and the leaf switch buttons are fine. The trigger switch I'm sure is fine too, but again, the plastic part of the button is missing. The overlay isn't in the best of shape but the panel itself is fine.

The real bummer is if the panel had arrived a day earlier, I would have bid on a black plastic handle that sold for $10, and a trigger for $3! The only reason I wanted it was for the stick, and I figured I'd end up selling the rest or even turn around and sell the whole thing if I ran across what I'd like more - a xenophobe stick (extra thumb buttons). At this point, I'm thinking I should have just sprung for a Happ trigger stick and Bender's repro restrictor (which I may just do once I get rid of this).

Oh well. I knew I was taking a chance. So now I'm trying to decide what to do. Do I sell it as a unit? Do I part it out? Do I sell it on ebay? Or do I sell it here? Roughly what is it worth as a unit? What are the individual parts worth (especially the spinner). Ideally I'd like to recoup my loss, which is something like $87 including the shipping I paid. That's why I think maybe I'd be better off parting it out, and perhaps it would be easier to sell that way anyway???

I'd like to hear some feedback on my options from people who have bought or sold original parts such as this, especially if you've bought or sold original tron parts. And while I'm not quite ready to sell it yet, if you're dying to take either part or all of this off my hands, feel free to PM me an offer. I haven't taken pictures of it yet but certainly can do that.

[Hoopz]

I think I paid about $60 or so for my Tron CP a couple of years ago.  I do have a crack in the handle but it functions without any problems.  The spinner is hooked up to my optipac and works well.  I recently sold the CP itself (I think?) for $10 shipped. 

I am not sure what the spinner would be worth by itself.  I replaced the optic board for mine.  I can't think it would get more than $25-$30 considering it's resolution, footprint, etc compared to some of the newer spinners available.

There is/was a Tron CP (empty) in the free thread in B/S/T a couple of months ago so the CP itself may not have much value without the controls.

Good luck.   

[TheShanMan]

Yeah, I wasn't thinking the spinner would really compete against new spinners. I'm thinking more in terms of people restoring actual dedicated Tron cabinets. Of course, I don't know how much of that kind of a market there is vs. the market of people wanting a tron stick for use in mame.

[stan2323]

I bought a Tron control panel not long ago just for the blue handles to put on my Happ trigger stick.   I have the rest of the pieces.  The switches are rusty and bent may work if given some TLC that I am not going to give them.  I plan to get another Happ trigger stick some time and mount that along with a new spinner and new button in the CP to make it a modular control panel for my next project.  The spinner is rusty and I think it is unlikely to wok the way I want it to.  It may work if given much TLC.  I am going to try to get another set of blue handles some time and also keep the spinner knob as maybe I can put it on the next spinner I put in it. 

Long story short I have the little red trigger, and old black handled and will sell em to you for a few of dollars to cover postage.  PM me if interested.

[paigeoliver]

The panel is best sold complete. People wanting Tron sticks for Mame certainly drive up the price, but you will certainly get your best overall price for a complete panel. I have seen them go for $200 in the past.