Keeping your coin-op estate fresh with quality used equipment
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Essential Guide to...
Second-hand machines
A viable option |
Just the ticket |
A key link in the chain |
Full service |
With machine financing being notoriously difficult to obtain, professionally refurbished second hand machines remain a cost-effective way of refreshing an amusement or gaming location. |
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AMG Leisure has noted an upswing in interest for used ticket redemption pieces. According to the company, second hand ticket equipment is the ideal solution for operators new to the sector. |
Second hand machine sales play a key role in the movement of new product, as many of the UK’ s leading distributors maintain comprehensive part-exchange programmes. |
With operators increasingly demanding first-rate refurbished equipment, many distributors and suppliers have been upscaling their workshop operations to satisfy the demand. |
VIEWPOINT
Admit it- we all love a bargain
We all know about the way things have gone in terms of economics and commerce since the Gambling Act and the smoke ban, but regardless of trading conditions, bargain hunting remains intrinsic to human nature. So, is it any wonder that the refurb business continues to thrive?
alex lee viewpoint
O perators are always on the lookout for quality second hand stock- of all sizes, genres and product categories. There’ s always a market for refurbs, especially in the seaside sector. For example, conversions from Cat C to Cat D machines have been important to many operations for years. The machine starts out as a brand, spanking new Cat C piece then it comes down the food chain in its new guise as a 10p /£ 5 Cat D offering.
Second hand hi-tech Cat Cs, for example, give operators an entry point into that sector without the initial expense of a new piece of equipment. Some, for example, buy older‘ pub machines’ to keep their AGC fresh, then further down the line they’ ll become Cat D machines. It’ s a nonstop conveyor belt. From an AGC operator’ s perspective, a new B3 machine costs in the region of £ 8,000, so it’ s inevitable that from time to time the value lies in previously-owned ones.
Swapping, changing and bringing in reconditioned machines keeps premises looking fresh. The redemption sector is a particular strand of UK coin-op that needs its refurbs. There are proven cashbox takers which will last a decade or more, so these are generally trusted if they become available second hand as they’ re known for their longevity.
Dealing in refurbished equipment keeps everyone on their toes. If an arcade owner is on the look-out for a deal, the staff are stimulated by getting to know the workings of a steady flow of games and customers get to see and play machines that weren’ t there the last time they visited.
The UK coin-op industry thrives on a deal- and it also survives on the quality of equipment available. Not every AGC or FEC owner can afford newly-manufactured products all the time. Furthermore, deals can be done at any time of the year and the industry has always traded in such a way.
Even the staple diet of the seaside operation- the pusher- can push the boundaries of a tight budget, so that’ s where second hand deals come in. Let’ s face it, suppliers and distributors thrive on repeat business. The last thing they want to do is to sell something that’ s substandard as competition for business is at an all-time high.
One of the great features of UK coin-op is that there’ s always a deal to be done and this stimulates the business brains of distributors, suppliers and operators alike. Ultimately, someone always ends up with something that they want and that’ s down to both parties’ willingness to do a deal as much as it is the quality of the machine on offer.
TRADING
Keeping your coin-op estate fresh with quality used equipment
The trade in second-hand gaming machines and amusement equipment has existed almost as long as the industry itself, as operators offload unwanted or unneeded items to other venue owners or suppliers with an interest in the refurbish-to-resell market.
hile in an ideal world the coin-oper- amusements industry would,
Wated perhaps, be focused 100 per cent on the installation of new machines, the continued demand for older products is something that is reflected in many other business sectors, from white goods and heavy machinery to automobiles and even clothes.
First and foremost, of course, secondhand products generally come in at a lower price point than equivalent, factory-new items. And, as such, the sector is considered by many to be the lifeblood of smaller operators with limited budgets.
It is important to note that the new and used coin-op product categories are not mutually exclusive. All venue owners- no matter how large or small their operation- are acutely aware of the unrivalled returns brought about through the installation of new gaming and amusement machines, and most strive to ensure that at least one or two new models are integrated into their estate on a yearly basis. However, due to the simple fact that smaller independents will not necessarily have the financial wherewithal to purchase an entire fleet of new products in one fell swoop, their key annual purchases are often padded out with quality second-hand machines. And,
as they look to make space on the amusement floor for these products, they in turn offload their own existing ones. Thus the process continues.
Whether a product is refurbished or upgraded, the consensus is that there is no room for inferior workmanship in the second-hand machine sector. Operators work tirelessly to satisfy their increasingly discerning customers, and know full well that a battered old machine in dire need of a paint job is far from likely to attract any leisure spend.
Interestingly, while operators need to strike a careful balance between the old and new product segments, the secondhand sector continues to provide an important service to the industry in general. The most successful used products are, of course, the classic crowd pleasers: the evergreen models known and loved by all.
Popular products are played often, and this results in them aging more quickly than less attractive pieces. Ultimately, the journey these classic, trustworthy machines take during the refurb-to-resell process brings them back to their former glory and sees that they are re-housed in a new venue, ready to excite and entertain the next generation of players.
Coinslot JUNE 14- JUNE 20, 2013