Star Wars Yoke (new product)

[westcontrols]

WestControls (www.westcontrols.com) is developing a Star Wars Yoke REPRODUCTION that is going to be available in January 2005.
Features of this VERY HIGH QUALITY PRODUCT:
-   Built with arcade parts and materials.
-   Heavy duty construction
-   Fits real arcade cabinets as a replacement part.
-   MAME compatible.
-   USB plug and play.
-   Retail price: much, much, much cheaper than the restored originals !!!!!!!

While this item is under development, we are currently offering a limited number of fully restored original.

[paigeoliver]

$850.00

Are you nuts?

I have seen the cost sheets from Atari themselves, the ENTIRE control panel cost them $110. The WHOLE thing.

http://www.ionpool.net/arcade/atari_docs/starwarscosts.pdf

[westcontrols]

We respect all customers

[paigeoliver]

I feel like I am screwing people over when I sell them for $250.

http://www.ionpool.net/arcade/atari_docs/starwarscosts.pdf

[telengard]

We respect all customers

[RayB]

He must be spending something like 10 hours rebuilding these things and then figuring $50 / hour plus parts.

[usedelectronics]

Unreal! I mean, worst case... You pay 100-200 for a reasonable used yoke.. How much does a can of black paint and some repo art cost anyway?

[SOAPboy]

So.. its made from Solid gold right?

 

sorry, but anyone who would pay that much for a yoke, either has to much money, or has zero idea that the price is beyond high..

[dag2000]

I feel like I am screwing people over when I sell them for $250.

http://www.ionpool.net/arcade/atari_docs/starwarscosts.pdf

Feel free to send some $$ back 

[JustMichael]

Not to rain on anyone's parade but one the one hand we have:

Yoke reproduction ($850 + $40 interface= about $890)

and on the other hand we have:

A working Star Wars cab from Ebay (includes an original, slightly worn yoke).

Now would someone want just a new yoke reproduction and interface or would they rather have a fully working Star Wars cabinet (used original yoke included)?

The world may never know....   

[General Zod]

We respect all customers

[SeaMonkey]

I would not pay it....but if there are people that WILL pay it then the price will not drop.

Supply and demand. Other than initial shock, I am a little lost on the emotion on this issue.

[dag2000]

Come on,
It isn't as if we are talking about the necessities of life: food, clothing, shelter.
If a newbie can't be bothered to do the research before heading out to buy a $900 star wars yoke, or to even check ebay, than they are going to pay a price.

[Sasquatch!]

Hooray, a thread to attract all of the Alan Greenspans of BYOAC !

[General Zod]

Nobody is raping anyone when they offer something for sale.

[pointdablame]

The thing that scares me is westcontrols can sell these new repros for "much, much, much cheaper" and they could still cost $400-500.

Let's hope they are reasonably priced, unlike your restored originals, because I'm sure a ton of people would like to have a good quality repro source..... just not for your current prices.

[paigeoliver]

I doubt the repro's will be cheaper. It is my bet they will be higher or the same price.

[SeaMonkey]

could be alot cheaper. a nice yoke NOS will go for 150 to 250 depending on who sees it and how well they title the auction on ebay. You can make an analog joystick with "pots and pins" for a song and a dance, so they would by nature, be much cheaper for him to get, and thus the 400% markup would bring you to $125 to $200 for a passable repro, which is within reason.

[paigeoliver]

I still stand by my predictions that the repro's will be higher price. There are no NOS yokes, and I have never seen any vendor make a repro that wasn't more expensive than buying the same item used,

[SeaMonkey]

LOL you are right of course. But you do see the description for some of the nice ones, that I think are meant to lead you to BELIEVE they were never installed.
"Ordered as a replacement"
"I don't think this was ever used"
and my favorite "NOS?" AHAHAHAHAHA

I always suspect they have repro art inlay, and fresh paint.

I only ever bought one, and it was a $30 "as is" beat to death, button missing affair.

[pointdablame]

I doubt the repro's will be cheaper. It is my bet they will be higher or the same price.

I was basing that statement on something from the original post in this thread....

-   Retail price: much, much, much cheaper than the restored originals !!!!!!!

I am wondering if you aren't right paige, although I'm of course hoping it will be much cheaper.  We'll have to see what turns up, but the prices on the site now don't ecactly fill me with confidence that these reproductions will be anything that resembles "affordable."