<News> - US Amusement Auctions Halts Arcade Auctions!

[saint]

Received this in my email today, short and simple:

U. S. Amusement Auction is out of business and no longer conducting auctions. The amusement industry has diminished to the point that there is not enough equipment available for sale to supply regularly scheduled auctions.

Thank you for the support you have given in the past.

USAA

[Beretta]

im not surprised i have'nt been able to find a decent auction within driving distance in my 3-4 months of looking.

pitty i never been to one, i suspect i never will.

[romshark]

I never got to go to one either.

This probably means more cabs will just be thrown away, that would have been perfect for restorations, conversions, or MAMEing.

[Ummon]

There's still Superauctions....

[Ummon]

As well, USAA still has a bunch of NOS parts that might be what someone is looking for, though I don't know the stuff well enough to gauge the pricing there.

[RayB]

As well, USAA still has a bunch of NOS parts that might be what someone is looking for, though I don't know the stuff well enough to gauge the pricing there.

That was my first concern! What will happen to this NOS stuff...

Ummon: The pricing seems more or less in line with market values (though pushing the upper limit on some pieces)

Crap, I better jump on some of those pieces now then.

[Flake]

There's still Superauctions....

I heard three years ago they were barely breaking even and switching to real estate, guess they missed that bubble...

You guys really aren't missing much unless you wanted generic JAMMA cabs or old redemption stuff.  Pinballs generally sold at Ebay+ prices.

Concur on the pinball statement.  SuperAuctions comes through here (STL area) about 3 times per year and your chances of finding a good deal price wise on a pinball machine is almost non-existent.

I will say however you can still catch a decent deal on a cab. 

This can only mean the beginning of the end for SA though.  I cant see them lasting much longer either.  The amount of machines available over the last 5 auctions has shrunk to the point its not even worth going.  The same number of people show up bidding on 40-50 less machines.  Pretty soon you'll be able to count on two hands how many pinball machines are available. 

[RayB]

I emailed them and they will continue to sell the NOS stuff. (for now)

[SavannahLion]

This can only mean the beginning of the end for SA though.  I cant see them lasting much longer either.  The amount of machines available over the last 5 auctions has shrunk to the point its not even worth going.  The same number of people show up bidding on 40-50 less machines.  Pretty soon you'll be able to count on two hands how many pinball machines are available. 

Would it make more sense that whatever cabs that would have been auctioned off with USAA will now find themselves at SA? In otherwords, SA's potential inventory got a potential boost.

Not that I go to auctions, as much as I want to.

[Flake]

Would it make more sense that whatever cabs that would have been auctioned off with USAA will now find themselves at SA? In otherwords, SA's potential inventory got a potential boost.

I can only hope your right.

[aumameman]

This is a sad moment that has been coming for a while now. I think its a firm reminder for fans of arcade machines and games to do everything they can to help preserve them before they are extinct.

I think its fair to blame its demise on Playstation's and XBOX's.

[MYX]

Here in Ga. there was to be an auction a couple of weeks ago. It snowed like mad here (read 3 inches). So the entire city shut down because the world was somehow going to end (snow has that effect here). Anyway, my son and I were going to go, but the last I heard it wasn't going to happen. I didn't check back in, in the morning because my wife was worried about me going (not sure if it was the weather, or the thought of a few more machines in the house ). But I have to imagine that given the economy, and lame weather, these guys have to be hurting.

[Havok]

Meh - bunch of shill bidders there anyways...

[VibrationsOfDoom]

Hey, I live in Georgia!! Would love to know the details of auctions like this, as I live about 35 miles north of Atlanta. (So I assume it's probably within the city of Atlanta)...

Still looking for the X-Arcade joysticks at a used/cheaper price. None of the stores in this area carry them, the Frye's here doesn't have them either...