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Essential Guide to ... Second-hand machines
Market Analysis Products
DISTRIBUTORS
Used gaming equipment to suit all budgets
Operators expect high standards when it comes to used gaming equipment , according to Tony Glanville , sales director of RLMS Sales .
“
Used equipment is extremely important to RLMS Sales . It is a sector in its own right and is also a by-product of selling new machines through the part exchange process .
It is a continual balancing act . Operators expect high standards and want to procure good money earning games that look great from an aesthetic point of view and are technically reliable .
In these tough economic times they are also looking to purchase the product at a competitive price . As a distributor we have a number of costs to take into consideration , including transport from the original owner , parts , workshopping , transport to the purchaser then supporting the product with a warranty that gives the operator peace of mind . All these factors are involved in the pricing equation .
We are delighted at RLMS Sales with the amount of repeat business we receive from customers , which is testament to the excellent service and quality product we supply and of course all at a competitive price . There are sometimes cheaper prices available in the market but as my mother always use to say ‘ buy cheap , buy twice ’.
Each operator ’ s specific circumstances will determine what mix of new and used equipment is right for their business or premises . For single-site operators , the age profile of purchases is largely dictated by the rental profiles and income earning potential of the sites they are operating in . For arcades and bingo halls product mix is determined by the player profile both in terms of age and gender .
Another key determining factor is what product the competition are offering and the operators desire to either match or surpass their competitors offering . Our job at RLMS Sales is to be able to offer sound advice and have product available that complements the operator ’ s range - whether that product be new or used - and at varying price points to suit the customer ’ s budget .”
TONY GLANVILLE
LEEDS LEISURE
Keeping quality products flowing through the market
Leeds Leisure has adapted to the changes that the industry has seen over the decades , but at the same time the company has stuck to the basic principles of providing predominantly used , good quality amusement equipment .
hirty years on from its formation ,
TLeeds Leisure continues to provide the same high quality service to its customers as it always has .
Managing director Tim Stanhope commented :“ It has been just over a year now since my Dad , Barry Stanhope , the founder of Leeds Leisure , died from cancer , and I couldn ’ t help but think about the changes and differences he would have faced were he still around in the industry .
“ I ’ m not sure he would he would have believed we could have an industry that was so dominated by just a few ‘ pubcos ’. Their rent lists and the dreaded nominated supplier lists , where providing a good service to the site , giving the landlord the machines they require and having a good onsite relationship count for nothing . I ’ m not sure what he would make of gaming machines that turn themselves off after a year if you don ’ t pay the manufacturer its annual ‘ dongle ’ fee . Hopefully cars and washing machines won ’ t go the same way or the world could get very expensive .
“ He would shake his head at amusement arcades facing ever more stringent rules regarding little stickers and machine positioning , with very little regulatory help , while LBOs ( bookies to him ) have taken over the high street with their ‘ crack cocaine ’ of gaming terminals . They weren ’ t allowed so much as a basic fruit machine 15 years ago , and as for young adults being able to rack up huge debts on credit cards while on the bus on their mobile phone would maybe have been all too much for Barry .
Stanhope added :“ At Leeds Leisure we have adapted to the changes that the industry has seen over the decades , but at the same time have stuck to the basic principles of providing new but predominantly used , good quality amusement equipment in a friendly and knowledgeable fashion . This week alone , I have been quoted £ 1,000 for an advance replacement main board ; have been told that three-year old machines are obsolete by unavailable replacement glass ; and technical support withdrawn on arcade products that continue to out-
TIM STANHOPE
perform their new , expensive replacements .
“ Machine Gaming Duty has been a relatively positive change for most of our arcade and single-site customers this year , offering them more opportunities to experiment in order to get the right on site balance for the player and for the profitability and viability of the particular site without being taxed and punished in the process of getting there . Machine takes , while mixed at the moment , have shown some positives with greater acceptance of the 50p and £ 1 stakes - especially when the percentage has been set high enough to reward the player .
“ Despite the challenging times we have probably had our busiest couple of years for a long time . We have successfully completed an arduous move to bigger and better premises with minimum disruption to our customers and have expanded and shuffled our team to get the perfect workshop , technical , administrative and sales balance to the company .
“ The most recent challenge has been keeping a good flow to our used £ 70 and club stock and we are always looking for more supply avenues , so ask operators to please contact us now if you have any off site stock under five years old for sale with payment on collection options available .”
Coinslot JUNE 14 - JUNE 20 , 2013