How much should a cabinet in good condition cost?

[Nesbroslash]

I mainly wanted to ask this here, because with all the idiots on Ebay and Craigslist charging 1,000 dollars for a broken CRT housed in a crate with an NES Advantage controller, I could probably not get a good average price. So, how much would, say a Crystal Castles unit in good condition cost?

[+save2600]

So, how much would, say a Crystal Castles unit in good condition cost?

$300-$500

[Cebus Capucinis]

I would reasonably expect to pay $200-$300 for a Crystal Castles in good used condition with a clean monitor, intact sideart, working marquee, and responsive trackball.

 

The problem with pricing arcade cabs in general is that it's completely and utterly subjective. Each game may have a certain price range that it fetches, but the condition is the key. Over the years, each individual arcade cabinet is going to differ in terms of problems and condition, and you're going to have to take all of that into consideration when making a purchase.

 

Is there CRT fade on the screen? Are the controls unresponsive? Is the sideart scratched a bit? All things you've got to consider!

 

Buying an arcade cab is a lot like buying a car like this, it can get crazy! But I would generally say a Crystal Castles machine in good shape is the $200-$300 range. It's a fairly well-known game but is still sort of obscure, and it definitely won't command the prices of the big names like Space Invaders, Asteroids, Centipede, Pac-Man, etc. -- with those generally you're looking at $500-$700 neighborhood for one in good shape. (Which even for those is a bit high for me personally but I'm a stingy bastard like that)

 

So, tl;dr, $200-$300 in my opinion if it's "good used", perhaps a little more if it's closer to mint.

 

EDIT: Looks like save2600 got here first! I'd say I agree with him, and even in my range I'm saying closer to $300.

[+save2600]

EDIT: Looks like save2600 got here first! I'd say I agree with him, and even in my range I'm saying closer to $300.

My definition of 'good' condition is most peoples "mint" though. I'd expect a machine for $200-$300 to be pretty rough, need new plexi, new monitor, maybe even a control panel overlay, side art, etc. Someone has a really nice example for $500 on ePay right now and I bet they'd take at least $100 less. Then there are a couple of asshats on crack asking $1500-$1650.

 

On the topic of Smoked Plexi and common sense... people need to STOP wiping those down with glass cleaner and paper towels!

Edited July 9, 2010 by save2600

[Cebus Capucinis]

Good point. My definition of "good" generally implies there's 1-2 of the problems you mentioned. A "good" cabinet to me means generally intact side-art, a completely working monitor, good plexi, but a CPO that might need replaced and possibly T-molding, etc. Monitor is absolutely critical to me, I won't buy for more than $100 if the monitor has issues unless it's my first arcade cabinet ever . I think that just goes to show how subjective arcade buying can be!

 

You're not supposed to do that? Uh oh. J/K

[Crazy Climber]

Crystal Castles would have to be in absolute horse shit condition to only get $200. I made more parting one out last summer. It's not obscure Cebus, you are just too young to remember it's hayday

[Cebus Capucinis]

Crystal Castles would have to be in absolute horse shit condition to only get $200. I made more parting one out last summer. It's not obscure Cebus, you are just too young to remember it's hayday

 

No, I was too busy playing 1942! I chose my words poorly. I meant it's not one of the first cabinets one thinks of when one thinks of arcades. At least I don't. Hell, beats me!

 

I am bad at pricing cabinets apparently! Maybe it is just my "cheap bastard" kicking in or something.

 

Actually you are right! I am too young! It was released in 1983, so I would have been all of 0 years old! But then again I was too busy pumping quarters into 1942, and that was a 1984 release....but still both were after the 'heyday' so you are right!

[Crazy Climber]

One of the only games of it's era that didn't need any attract music, just look at the awesome side art, that was all it needed to draw you in...