eBay and Video Game rant

[Strangeways]

I've been selling a few Video game cabinets on eBay of late and some of the people I've been in contact with have been a great bunch of blokes - There is even a couple of you on this forum  - No problems

I have found the Video buyers to be a very hard bunch to understand, and I'm convinced that some of them are just plain stupid, or they are just plain stupid 

I recently had a dedicated "Galaxy" cabinet on eBay - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170490425159&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:AU:1123

Yep - it sold for $300 - but re read the "write up" - does it have the measurements ?

The winning moron turns up to my place at an agreed time on Saturday. He knocks on the door and says hello - and I take him to the garage. He sees the unit and rubs his hands. I show him the game (in working order) and then he plays it. Sweet. So I ask him where his van / truck / ute is.. Nowhere to be seen. He gets into this TINY wagon - some euro piece of crap and I just shake my head - No way will it fit in - (remember the "write up" has the measurements) - So he opens the hatch - and there's a kid sitting the back seat in a booster chair - can you bloody believe it ! So got out the measuring take and it will not fit. He thinks it will. So it does not fit - with this chair in the back seat. So I waste 1 hour with this IDIOT, until he could finally see it would not fit. So he said he would return later that day without the child, or on sunday.

Today he sends me a message via eBay messages - He does not want the cabinet "as it is too big to fit in my car and too big to go inthe house" What a crock of shit ! What a bloody tosser. So I have already offerred it to the next highest bidder - who bought another cab on the weekend - and he "should" buy it. So it is "all good".

eBay has NO rights for the seller - The ONLY way I can report this prick is via a "dispute" - or he has to cancel it at his end (or I don't get credited my seller's fees). I'm just about to lodge a non paying dispute - still "mulling" over it.. So I'm venting here for a moment !

Is it some sort of "culture" within the Video community ? I have sold over 50 Pinballs in my time - NEVER had one single issue - not ONE

I've sold 15 Video cabinets and maybe 5 have been smooth sailing (you know who you are) !

All my cabinets are dedicated and recondition to almost original - so they don't run mutligame etc.

So here are some genuine questions on dedicated cabinets

"Can I rip the guts out of it so I can install an LCD and MAME"
"Does it have a coin thingie that accepts $1.00 per play"
"Is it Jamma? Will you wire it for jamma so I can play mutligame"
"Is the board a genuine Namco - it must be green"

Here's some question on a gutted out cabinet - No monitor or chassis

"Can the screen play horizontal or vertical screen games?"
"Does it work ?"
"Can I plug an LCD in it ?"
"Wots your BIN price" - I kid you not - with 5 minutes to go !!
"If I buy it - Will you rewire jamma for me"
"What game is in it"  ??


I don't know - maybe I'm not CLEAR enough in my descriptions.

I've just found the Video crowd to be VERY different from the average Pinball enthusiast. Lots of tyre kickers. I have no probs moving them, but I've found that most of the "newbies" looking for their first machine seem to think that you can just plug in any game into any cabinet and it "just works" The classic line is - "I read on the web that you can.."

I dunno - Just an observation and a bit of a vent 

Maybe I should just convert everything to a multigame 60 in 1 !

[ajlaird]

Maybe I should just convert everything to a multigame 60 in 1 !

You will probably get an extra $500 per machine!!

[narf]

i have had problems nino

ive had on a auction i can deliver for $50 in fuel allowance. i planned to use my dads work ute so it free for me anyways and you cant get from bunbury to perth in a 4wd for under 80ish easy

i then get questions like you are 2 hrs drive away will you lower the price so i can come down and make it viable FFS. i was selling under the perth market prices to ensure a quick sale

as for my bop auctions dont ask. 

[Extra Ball]

60in1 all the way

[Wotto]

Arrrrr Nino.......the main thing I really like about you is your ability to suffer fools easily 

[Strangeways]

60in1 all the way

That's what I'm thinking. Or at least readily converted to Jamma !

Still think I'll get the "is it original" or some crap like that 

[ddstoys]

In the same boat Nino Pinball no problems arcade always a nightmare

[markc]

all i can say

is thats  ebay , get used to it

most people are really good  but like everything  there are always so morons ....

[beaky]

60in1 all the way

That's what I'm thinking. Or at least readily converted to Jamma !

Still think I'll get the "is it original" or some crap like that 

hey Nino, does it come with extra game cartridges? Does it come with a key so i can reuse the same coins or how often will you come around and empty it so i can get my coins back. does it come with a one or two year warranty? 

[48]

I always seem to get that whats your  BIN price well after the auction has started
Very annoying

[Strangeways]

I always seem to get that whats your  BIN price well after the auction has started
Very annoying

forgot about that one - Because it is a "given". I have come to accept it is normal to ignore the first 5-6 questions - I don't even answer them. I recall the first couple I sold - "do you have a spacies" ?

The non paying bidder (my real problem at the moment), wants me to cancel the transaction - But I will lose my listing credit etc - So I'm going to lodge an unpaid item dispute so he gets a "strike" against his name. I think the bloke does this to a few people, as he sent my a list of URL to the "cancel my auction" page - I ain't canceling - But he is going to get a strike against his name and his account will carry that strike..

[Ric]

idiots are idiots, whether they are buying pinballs, CD's, vids etc

unfortunately as a seller, you will be exposed more to them than a buyer will be.

[Strangeways]

idiots are idiots, whether they are buying pinballs, CD's, vids etc

unfortunately as a seller, you will be exposed more to them than a buyer will be.

True. I sold over 100 arcade and pinball flyers and magazines - not one issue. Soon as I list cabinets the questions I get asked are just damn hilarious !

Case in point - I spent $60 having the chassis and tube repaired and tested as working 100% on the "Zun Zun" cab I have listed on eBay - So it is a really nice machine. The FIRST two questions ;

"Can you rip out the TV and replace it with an LCD? What would be the BIN price ?"
"Nice cab. Can I you sell me the cab without the monitor, chassis and board?"

Laughable.

[Caveoftreasures]

If u do a dispute for non payment, the guy can say he gave u cash and then still leave you NEGATIVE feedback, or just give you NEG feeback anyway,which is not what u want.

Best to send him a cancelled transaction thingy, he agrees to it, and everyone is sort of happy. 

[Strangeways]

If u do a dispute for non payment, the guy can say he gave u cash and then still leave you NEGATIVE feedback, or just give you NEG feeback anyway,which is not what u want.

Best to send him a cancelled transaction thingy, he agrees to it, and everyone is sort of happy. 

Yep - less hassles for me. Looks like I will just add another line to my "condition of sale" - "If your IQ is less than your age, Don't bid" That should cut down questions by 90%