Should I buy this Galaga and Donkey Kong 3

[swolgam]

Have an opportunity to buy a Galaga and Donkey Kong 3.  Owner states in great condition however his wife painted the sides and kick panels on both machines.  Haven't seen them in person.  What is a good price on project cabs of this nature.  He wants them both gone.

Thanks,
Steve

[javeryh]

There are way too many unknowns.  I'd get a detailed description of the condition of the cabs with pictures if possible and then ask again.  Do they work?  Are they original cabinets?  Is there burn-in on the monitors?  Do they come with coin doors?  How are the marquees?  Any chips/dents/scrapes to the cabinets?   Etc.

[leapinlew]

For starters your in the project announcement.

With the information you've provided - I wouldn't pay more than 1 million dollars.

[swolgam]

Sorry this was intended for general forums and not project announcements....I did another one as well that's in this forum.  I apologize.  Can a moderator switch this to the general forum as well as the Killer Instinct thread i just started.

[swolgam]

There are way too many unknowns.  I'd get a detailed description of the condition of the cabs with pictures if possible and then ask again.  Do they work?  Are they original cabinets?  Is there burn-in on the monitors?  Do they come with coin doors?  How are the marquees?  Any chips/dents/scrapes to the cabinets?   Etc.

Ok the cab looks good on the pictures i have received.  They are in their original cabs but the sideart and kick panels were painted beige.  He claims they work with no burn in and the coin doors are intact.  The marquees look great via pictures and the only issue he claims is a darkening of the plexiglass on the galaga machine.  He said they are very playable but the cabs need restored with the stripping of paint and adding the new sideart.  THe CP's look great as well.  I know there are alot of constants but comparing these to some i have seen on here these cabs are in excellent condition minus the paint issue.  Tmolding will need to be replaced as well since he ran a florescent green on both cabs
RI

[Kaytrim]

DK3 was not that popular of a game, you will need to get new side art and T-molding.  Even they are in working condition I'd offer around $100 for both and see what he says.

[swolgam]

DK3 was not that popular of a game, you will need to get new side art and T-molding.  Even they are in working condition I'd offer around $100 for both and see what he says.

I offered $250 for both but he countered stating he had offer for $325 and said that he could load up machines in truck and meet me for exchange after work tomorrow if i could meet the offer.  I feel that's more of a "ficticious" offer that he received for them to up my offering price.  I also stated i wanted to come see them first

[Jeff AMN]

Tell him that you want to see them first and that if you like them you'll pay $300. It sounds like he's eager to deal and I'm sure he'll take the offer. The Donkey Kong 3 could make a great 48 in 1 project. You could also make the Galaga a  great restoration project.

At $300, I'd buy them both.

[ChadTower]

If he's willing to load the games up and bring them someplace, don't quibble about $25 and lose out.  Show up, inspect the games, power them up and see them work, and if it's all good $325 is a strong deal.

You don't always have to go as cheap as possible and risk the deal going elsewhere.

[Raleigh]

The higher offer is not ficticious by the way as I made Ed the offer yesterday.  I've got to get back to Chicago though so with the cabs being at his cabin it looks like I may have to pass up on them.

[swolgam]

Thank you for all the great advice.  Again this is helping me gain all the knowledge that I can on the arcade restoration subject.  If he delivers ill pay him the $325 as long as they power up and look good.  My wife thinks im on crack cocaine now though because every day i tell her of a potential new cab.  I bought my first on sunday which was a NBA JAM project restoration cab.  Now i want more!!!

Here is link to the NBA Jam that i picked up on Sunday.  May have overpaid for it however i was itching and i love NBA JAM

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=67659.0

[ChadTower]

Uh, dude, that's not a restoration project, that's better than most you'd find on an auction floor as ready to go. 

[swolgam]

The higher offer is not ficticious by the way as I made Ed the offer yesterday.  I've got to get back to Chicago though so with the cabs being at his cabin it looks like I may have to pass up on them.

Thanks for response.  His reply to me sounded that way because it was like if i matched the offer then the cabs were mine???   Anyways what is your opinion on these.  When you say they are in his cabin what do you mean?

[swolgam]

Uh, dude, that's not a restoration project, that's better than most you'd find on an auction floor as ready to go. 

Talking about the NBA JAM game?   Yea it's in great condition vs what ive heard about arcade auctions however it definately needs touched up.  Looking at pics, what would you say the value is?  im looking for opinions so i can learn by the way

[ChadTower]

No idea, I don't have any real interest in that title.  Anywhere from $250-400 would be my guess depending on monitor size.

[Raleigh]

If everything he says is correct about the conditions of the games, I made my offer based on getting Galaga at a good price and DK3 for free.  I was ready to give him cash on pickup yesterday but he has been slow on emails to me.  The email I got this morning from him was that he stated that the Cabs are in S/E Ohio at his cabin so he would have to go pick up and them and meet for exchange, I was still trying to work out an option to get them but am now reconsidering due to his slow responses, him willing to sell to someone else if they match my offer and also I need to get back to Illinois today or tomorrow.  At this point I am not going to pursue getting the cabs so you may be able to get him back down to what you wanted to offer unless he has found others to commit to that price.

[ChadTower]

Rule #1 in this hobby:

When dealing with an unknown party, a cab is *not sold* until money exchanges hands.

Being present with a truck and cash in hand is everything.

[Raleigh]

Oh I fully understand that, but my actual offer was a little higher than $325 so if he is telling someone else he will take $325 it is pretty clear that he would prefer to sell to someone else for whatever reason.

[ChadTower]

Reason being that you aren't present with cash in your hand.  It's probably that simple.

[swolgam]

Rule #1 in this hobby:

When dealing with an unknown party, a cab is *not sold* until money exchanges hands.

Being present with a truck and cash in hand is everything.

I agree with this one.  Not necessarily issues with buyer but the seller was a complete --cream-filled twinkie-- that kept myself and another ACer on here hanging on who was buying and when.  The seller was a complete moron and I hope he gets robbed of the money that he made off these cabinets!   I mean come on, who lets their wife paint orig cabs beige???

Gotta vent because I did all the right things to aquire these as in being first to ask about them, I offered him some money and would've countered easily.  Guy gave me a false sense of hope that I was getting these as late as 9pm last night and then POW, another person got them.  Oh well.  Theres always another day!

[shardian]

  I mean come on, who lets their wife paint orig cabs beige???

If my wife said "You can get two more cabinets honey, but I get to paint them". I would respond with "Bring on the paint baby!".

[shorthair]

I think he was jerkin ya along the whole time. Firm boundaries, folks. Having something would be nice, but have it your way. Don't be swooned by your lust for sugar.

[BobA]

When buying cabs money talks.  Usually the first guy with a pickup and and hand full of cash will win.  If you have what is perceived as a good deal you  can ask for opinions or email all day but the guy that acts usually wins.

If you have a deal and most working cabs in the 150 to 200 range that you have heard of go see the guy.  If they are dogs you don't have to buy.  If they are as described you have the upper hand with cash and a way to take them away.