Amusement Auctions- do you go, and what kind of stuff ends up there?

[Well Fed Games]

Ok, so there is a amusement auction within driving distance of where I live in a few weeks (http://www.americanamusementauctions.com/images/aaa_adnov2011lr.pdf -pdf flyer). The folks who post over at KLOV (primarily collectors) get pretty hot and bothered over these things, but I was wondering if any of my fellow BYOAC folks check out the auction scene, and what kind of stuff ends up there. I mean, I don't really need another project right now, but I would love to find a beat up old cocktail to MAME, or the seat from a racing cab (just the seat). Do those kinds of things show up, or is it mostly restored/like new cabinets? Are auctions the place for killer deals (like, $50 games or whatever) or are they where collectors pay top dollar for things? They don't seem to come up around me (midwest) very often, so I would love to check it out if it is worthwhile. The extent of my auction experience is Police vehicle impound auctions, and that was a long time ago!

[Nephasth]

Here's a California Speed seat for about $60 shipped: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=186878

[CheffoJeffo]

In my experience, it is hit and miss -- I've had auctions where I had to make three trips to haul my stuff back and (many more) auctions when I didn't find anything interesting enough to hang around after the preview period.

The funny thing is that there are auctions local to me every few months and the only reason I find to go to them any more is to catch up with the locals (including a few BYOACers) and pick up items that I have bought from them (we commandeer a parking lot next door to the auction and delivery of all of the best deals go down there).

To answer one of your specific questions, I have NEVER seen a restored/like new cabinet at auction.

[Well Fed Games]

In my experience, it is hit and miss -- I've had auctions where I had to make three trips to haul my stuff back and (many more) auctions when I didn't find anything interesting enough to hang around after the preview period.

The funny thing is that there are auctions local to me every few months and the only reason I find to go to them any more is to catch up with the locals (including a few BYOACers) and pick up items that I have bought from them (we commandeer a parking lot next door to the auction and delivery of all of the best deals go down there).

To answer one of your specific questions, I have NEVER seen a restored/like new cabinet at auction.

Hmm. So it sounds like an auction might be entertaining enough to justify the trip. Thanks for the insights.

Nephasth- thanks for the heads up!

[fredster]

Went to the auction in Kingsport TN last week.  It was awesome, because I love arcade auctions.

At the end, they were giving away machines.  I picked up a timekillers with a 25" monitor for $10 and a Rockin' bowl-o-rama for $25 that wasn't working at the time, but simply had a lose video card in the computer.

My buddy picked up a Jurassic park for $50.  I turned down a dual driving game for $20 bucks.  If you want parts, go. 

The multigames have dominated the auctions now.

[Well Fed Games]

The multigames have dominated the auctions now.

Interesting. Like cabs with the 96-in-1 boards in them?

[fredster]

No, most were 60-in-1's.  Only one williams multigame. 

They got them all from Hollandcomputers.com.  I see them everywhere on the net now.

Some of them were brand new, with a really cool sideart.  They went from $600 to $1100 depending on level on the condition.  I was surprised.  Even the really crappy conversions were going $450.

[Well Fed Games]

Are auctions generally a pretty fun atmosphere?

I wouldn't have expected conversions to be so popular, but I guess I basically made one for myself with MAME instead of a board... I suppose that is where the "classic" market is going.

[fredster]

Are auctions a "fun" atmosphere?  Depends on who you bring with you I guess.  The main providers of the games are usually old guys with a big truck, so they are not impressed with the history, only the prices.

If you want to see a bunch of games, usually more games than you will ever see in one place, it's great.  The arcade auction usually has different types of people;  Home buyers, game distributors, pinball fanatics, and ebay scouts.

Pinball guys kill me.  They pay up to $4K for a old pinball I wouldn't pay $5 for, but I don't know jack about pinball machines.

If you want to get a collection of machines, auctions are the only place to go.  Ebay is for people that have game they are trying to fix.  Auctions are for people with big garages and strong backs.

I used to buy broken down games for $10-$50 and fix them or convert them.  Take them back and sell them for $300 - $1000.  It's a hobby for me, and I have the "junk gene" so I love all kinds of auctions.  I would buy some games and strip them, like Golden tee and Gauntlet, etc.  I did buy some old games like pacman and ms pac and restore them.  I have a #@@!#$ Joust I'm working on now.  I picked it up for $100 and I have had it working twice, but it keeps shorting those #@!@!@# ram switches.

I restored a Wizard of Wor I picked up for $50 and sold it for $400.  That funds me.  I bought some of those midway games with good monitors just for parts.   I seldom buy parts off ebay unless I can't salvage them.  (Like T molding, etc). 

Most of what I learned came from Randy Fromm's arcade school and this forum. 

[TopJimmyCooks]

Been to a couple.  if it's a current money making game i.e. time crisis, nascar driver, any redemption game, 2000's era pinball, etc. they will go to the ops for what they're worth, i.e. too much for the hobbyist.  The ops will avoid the old/junky broken stuff and you can often get it for a steal if they have anything like that.  I went to one where one of those massive flight simulators (2 seater clamshell, goes completely upside down, all the computers, power supply etc.) went for $11K.  They had the original invoice for $130K.  Somebody is hopefully making bank with that one.

It's worth it to go to one or two and see if you are into it.  I like to go just for interest even if I'm not looking to buy anything major.  Agree with the previous comment that they are hit or miss.  If you go, write down the prices you see paid and post them up here.  Good to know what the market is up to. 

[Well Fed Games]

Thanks all for the replies. Not sure if I have room for another cabinet (would suck to go and not be able to buy), but I might be able to make room...  so we will see what happens. At least now I know a bit more of what to expect! It seems very few auctions happen in driving distance of NW Indiana (at least last long as I have been paying attention).

[BadMouth]

The ones around here require a $100 deposit in order to get your bidding card.
Use a credit card for this if they allow it. 
Then you can just leave when you want instead of waiting in line to get your deposit back.
(they just don't process the payment)

Also keep the "buyers premium" in mind when deciding what to bid.
It's a % that's added on to the final bid just to make you pay more. 

That being said, things sold real cheap at the last auction I went to. 

The best part is that all the games are plugged in, so you can play them. 

[Gray_Area]

If it's close, and there's no entry fee (or it's like Badmouth talked of), check it out. It's kind of like going to the swap meet.

[Mario]

See my post here for lots of useful info on auctions.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=15207.0

I plan on being at the auction, too.

Mario

[Well Fed Games]

See my post here for lots of useful info on auctions.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=15207.0

I plan on being at the auction, too.

Mario

Thanks for the link, hadn't seen that thread.

edit: let me rephrase that: thanks for writing an exhaustive guide to auctions and linking me to it!!!  Looks like I will be going, too- if you see a befuddled guy in glasses and a brown Pac-Man hoodie, feel free to say hi!

[Mario]

Thanks for the link, hadn't seen that thread.

edit: let me rephrase that: thanks for writing an exhaustive guide to auctions and linking me to it!!!  Looks like I will be going, too- if you see a befuddled guy in glasses and a brown Pac-Man hoodie, feel free to say hi!

You're welcome. If I remember how to recognize you, I will indeed say hello.

Mario

[Well Fed Games]

Well, the auction in Wisconsin was interesting, at least! I thought overall the condition of things were kind of poor, but there were some good deals to be had, especially on slightly older fighting games. I ended up with a pretty torn up (but working, at least when I bid on it) Raiden DX... which will be my first "restoration" (well, since it is just a beat up cut corner cab, I will probably be a bit creative with it) for $115 after tax and stuff, so we will see if it was a good buy in the long run. Thanks again to Mario (nice meeting you) and the rest for the auction advice.

[Mario]

Well, the auction in Wisconsin was interesting, at least! I thought overall the condition of things were kind of poor, but there were some good deals to be had, especially on slightly older fighting games. I ended up with a pretty torn up (but working, at least when I bid on it) Raiden DX... which will be my first "restoration" (well, since it is just a beat up cut corner cab, I will probably be a bit creative with it) for $115 after tax and stuff, so we will see if it was a good buy in the long run. Thanks again to Mario (nice meeting you) and the rest for the auction advice.

Nice meeting you, too. There were indeed lots of cheap prices, but I'm sure many of those were just buybacks as people just weren't bidding. There probably won't be another auction in Milwaukee for a long time, as I'm sure those operators will be unlikely to want to drag out their stuff again just to buy it back. Time will tell.

Mario

[Well Fed Games]

There probably won't be another auction in Milwaukee for a long time, as I'm sure those operators will be unlikely to want to drag out their stuff again just to buy it back. Time will tell.

Mario

Yeah, the auction guys had no problem expressing their dislike of how the auction went (the check-out guy was a downright jerk, even), so I think you are right about that. They kept saying "in Texas" things would have gone for so much more. I was able to get one of my (in KLOV terms) "grail" cabinet out of it, so I think it was worth the experience, and the crowd was generally very cool/helpful.

I ended up with a pretty torn up (but working, at least when I bid on it) Raiden DX...

They've been a complete waste of time in my experience unless you want some piece of junk JAMMA conversion or want to pay Ebay+ prices for pinball machines.

Told ya so.   

And you were right! 

[jrivelli]

I went to one of the auctions in anaheim in October. Drove 16 hours down from Portland, OR

Picked up a Tales of the arabian Nights for 2,650. Put $300 into and sold for $4800 no sweat on craigslist up here.

Also snagged an Austin Powers for 1,000 and Simpsons pinball party for 2,200. Sold Austin Powers all cleaned up for 1,900 and simpsons for 3,400$.

Not a bad haul. I'm bringing a bigger truck next time to get my monies worth.


If only there were closer auctions...

[Lormax]

Wow, the one near me (Anaheim) is literally a block away from where I work!  Will definitely have to check the next one out.

[alfonzotan]

I haven't been in a while... since the Lakewood facility in Atlanta was changed from an events facility to a movie studio, Super Auctions hasn't been anywhere near the metro area.  Last one I went to was a good 9 years ago. 

I did score a working, good shape Missile Command cocktail for $200, and I'd picked up a gutted Crystal Castles for $20 before that.  The selection was pretty cool back then, couple hundred arcades at least.  There was a Space Wars that I heard sold for cheap, but I didn't stick around for that one.  But things have changed since, obviously...

[HaRuMaN]

I went to last one they had in my area (Phoenix, AZ) back in 2007. 

There was a lot there...  a lot of dedicated, some conversions, good mix of EM and SS pins.

I ended up picking up:

Capcom Impress with Bucky O'Hare pcb ($275)
Popeye cocktail ($250)
"Island Song" Pachislo ($125)
Spanish Eyes EM Pin ($300)

All were working.  If I had more space at the time, I would have picked up more.  Near the end of the auction, working games (including an R-Type) were going for $25 - $50.  Still kicking myself over the R-Type...   

[yotsuya]

All were working.  If I had more space at the time, I would have picked up more.  Near the end of the auction, working games (including an R-Type) were going for $25 - $50.  Still kicking myself over the R-Type...   

I need to kick you for that as well!

[Neostalker]

I can't wait to go one. Don't care if it sucks as long as it is somewhere in the midwest. I've never been to an auction and just want to experience it. Being an arcade auction would just be an added bonus.