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