Do any of you guys build these cab's to sell?

[SlikStik-Christian]

FYI,

   (Just a reply to the original question (Do any of you guys build these cab's to sell?))

We will be releasing a SlikStik arcade machine very soon. Some of the features are:

Classic arcade design.
Intergraded Cam Outrigger locking system.
Custom flush mount hid-away keyboard tray.
Made to fit the Wells Gardner D9200 monitor.
Custom made angle brackets for that monitor.

Things that will be included, Happ Over/Under coin door with working mechs, Happ Monitor bezel, top and bottom Marquee holder.

The SlikStik Cab will be covered in and out with black finish. Also, it will fit new and existing SlikStiks in addition to any control panel.

The pricing has not been set yet, but will be inline with what the market is calling for.

[spectre]

That doesn't sound like anything special compared to what everyone else is offering...then you have to buy a slickstick and are pretty much forced to get the specific monitor...IMO you lock yourself into using slickstick products and the specific monitor... just my opinion tho...

[SlikStik-Christian]

Not true, you can buy the cab kit and build your own panel if you like, or use one that you have already, the cab has a shelf where the SlikStik sits, any panel can sit on the shelf. If you want to put in a shelf and put a PC monitor or a television on it you can do that too, would probably cost you about $15 in parts to do it. We just can't anticipate every possible situation and build a cab to fit every single possibility so we designed towards the D9200, it a rockin monitor.

The cab kit is designed for people that would not normally build their own, or don't have the time, space, or skills to build one. Just like the SlikStik, its not for everyone, but there are people that would rather just order it and once they get it spend an hour or two putting it together and be done and playing games.

[StLouisRod]

Todd:

Good decision... you'll like the finished product  .  Plus you can customize it with marquee, side-art, control panel graphics, plexi, etc. very easily.  Though construction is fairly straightforward, you'll need lots of extra materials that Greg doesn't include -- screws, piano hinge, wood glue, power switch, power cords, monitor, bezel, key lock and cam, T-molding, hinges for coin door, marquee retainers, control panel items (joysticks, buttons, spinner, track ball, etc.), leg levelers and plates, carriage screws, washers, light assembly, etc. etc. etc.  Hope you got plenty of tools as well  Count on several long weekends to finish one.

Keep in mind Greg will charge you $75.00 to pack the material, then $125.00 to ship it.  If you leave near Portland, OR.  then you can pick it up yourself of course.  He'll give you a cash discount if you pay up front (you can trust him).

Here's a pic of the finished product:



Good luck!

[Wade]

StLouisRod,

    Honestly, I'm surprised that it could be profitable to build/sell cabinets they way you do.  It seems to me that there is very little money to be made considering the time involved, especially if you are paying someone else to cut the cabinet, and paying someone else to assemble the parts per your specification.  And then allowing the buyer open access to the software, which seems like a recipe for disaster to me (as I talked about earlier in this thread - support issues).

    I've thought a lot about building Mame's to sell, in two ways.

    1) I think I could make them one at a time, as a hobby, and sell them and make a little money.  Most likely converting an existing cab with a monitor.  This would take the least amount of money upfront, and very little risk, but the payoff would be just a few hundred dollars for lots of work.  This would be more akin to restoring a classic game (more of a hobby, with the side effect of having something more valuable at the end - but not really a "profitable" business).

    2) Build a half dozen (or more) of them at once.  All with the same hardware, cabs, software, etc.  This would take FAR less time per unit, and each cabinet could be a full featured unit, all new, and would fetch more money.  I might even make decent pay if figured up hourly.  But, I'm not sure I could even sell a half dozen of them.  If I knew lots of rich guys I might be able to, but I'm not even sure I could sell ONE, much less a dozen of them.

    So it is unlikely I would ever build them to sell.  If I ever did, it would be more for fun than for the money.  One thing is for certain, if I ever do sell one, it will be running DOS and won't come with a keyboard.

----------

    If people are really that interested in ArcadeShopper's cab's, let me know.  I have considered making a run of brand new, empty or disassembled cabinets.  He seems to be willing to sell them for about $400-450 at times, but with shipping included the price is still a bit too high for most people to justify.  I'm certain I could have a professional shop cut the cabs for me for less than that.  I would likely do a similar style cabinet (see pictures of my Mame at www.wvinter.net/~flanham/wlanham/arcade ).  "Mostly finished" pictures are near the very bottom.  If a handful of people want to buy cabinets like this, and are in my general area (Charleston, WV - near Columbus, Cincinatti, DC, Pittsburg, etc.) then I might go forward with this.  It'd be a great way for me to get a few more empty cabs to use later.

Wade

[spectre]

i c so the cab is set up for that but it is built in a way to let you make adjustments through making your own monitor shelf ect... to use what you want. so it's really a matter of convieniance...sounds pretty good now