Hi everyone.  I had a firm offer to buy my Starship Troopers tonight however the person wants it delivered and set up because he's in a wheelchair.  I usually ask people to drive up and have a look.  If they are 100% sure they want it then the drive is just a formality but atleast it gives them the opportunity to back out if they see something they don't like.  I then ask for a small deposit to deliver the machine.  But in this case its different and very inconvenient for the individual to come and look at it.  My concern is doing the delivery and set up to have them change their mind.  I believe the individual is a lawyer.  Thoughts?  Any good or bad experiences to draw from on this?

Thanks, Mike

How far away are they?

Ask him if he'll do an email money transfer.

Send him lots of pictures and ask him if he wants to have a picture of anything in particular. If he does take those and send them. Basically he has the option to see every aspect of what he's buying. It will save you the headache when you get there about the possibility of him saying "I didn't know about that".

Make the deposit non refundable for an amount that will compensate you for the transport if he doesnt accept the machine. Email Interac is best.

Quoted from ancientgames

My concern is doing the delivery and set up to have them change their mind.  I believe the individual is a lawyer.  Thoughts?  Any good or bad experiences to draw from on this?

Don't do it !    I would NEVER sell a machine to a lawyer !!!


I would take someone with you, just in case it's Mr. Anderson posing as someone in a wheelchair.  He's not above it.

If Mr Anderson is not in a wheelchair, I am sure someone could arrange for him to be!

Well, I think he was honest in his offer to buy it.  But my email to him earlier this evening explaining what regular maintenance and issues crop up has made him reconsider.  And rightfully so.  Personally i would just be out my time and some gas money but if he can't do the basic repairs when they crop up he would loose alot more.  Its not easy finding someone to do service work locally.  Last I heard most places like Starburst won't do service for machines other than 1 complimentary service if they sold the machine.  After that its big bucks.  If he was 15 minutes away I would have offered some time and service to get him started but 1 hour is a bit far to get a ball unstuck, or solder a coil wire.  Its too bad really.  Being in a wheelchair would pretty much make it impossible to repair  most things on a pinball or would it?   It would be harder to get a setup that would make it possible than it would be to do the actual repair.  I'm actually a little bummed for the guy.  I asked him to Join Maaca anyway so he can learn more about the community and hobby.  It is a good place to be.  Even if people stir the pot...the ODD time    (talking about myself)

Maybe he needs to get into the vids instead.  I don't think there's a pin made that'll work problem-free for a straight 12 months.   You did him a solid by being forthcoming about the whole arrangement.  Bravo.  Brava.

Ditto, man.

Tell him to get a cocktail pin. Caribbean Cruise isn't a bad game and it's a Gottlieb System 3, so troubleshooting isn't too difficult.

Quoted from mrniceguy

Maybe he needs to get into the vids instead.  I don't think there's a pin made that'll work problem-free for a straight 12 months.   You did him a solid by being forthcoming about the whole arrangement.  Bravo.  Brava.

A nice mame, with PinMame?

Although this is a forgone conclusion, the best approach that has worked well when I've bought pins sight unseen (and I have bought many), is when someone takes photos of the "worst" things about it and doesn't try to hide anything.  Then there are no surprises on pick-up and everything actually seems "better" than in the photos.  Otherwise I've always put my offer at what I could live with "sight unseen" to cover any surprises.  If the price is right, then there is no quibble.

Someone in this Lawyer's position is likely buying because they liked the movie, otherwise they should be advised to purchase a new one from Starburst where they will be hand-held through the initial sale, set-up, etc. and have ready access to a service facility (at an appropriate cost).

Quoted from mrniceguy

I don't think there's a pin made that'll work problem-free for a straight 12 months.  

When I was young, we had an EM Playmatic Fairy. We used it day after day for 3-4 years without maintenance before anything went wrong. At that day and age, we didn't have internet or any pinball affecionado group; when a friend burnt one of its bumper, we never could find someone for maintenance as everyone we contacted was out of EM and we couldn't get parts.

The machine has been dismantled. I whish we had internet back then, I'd still be playing it!

Quoted from websherpa

Someone in this Lawyer's position is likely buying because they liked the movie, otherwise they should be advised to purchase a new one from Starburst where they will be hand-held through the initial sale, set-up, etc. and have ready access to a service facility (at an appropriate cost).

Even buying new doesn't guarantee anything. I bought a NIB Spiderman. I opened it up and found tiny scratches on the playfield. Easy fix -- they buffed out with Novus, but not so easy if you are in a wheel chair. Also, with NIB, it is common to spend a bit of time tweaking it.

I think the best solution for the gentleman would be to install pin Mame and enjoy a bunch of tables.

If he really likes the real thing, then an EM is an another option. If they are properly tweaked and played on a regular basis they seem to run forever without an issue.

Duane

Quoted from Marsupial

When I was young, we had an EM Playmatic Fairy. We used it day after day for 3-4 years without maintenance

Yep, what he said EMs are really, really reliable if properly set up initially and then played on a regular basis.

Heck, you can even pull them out of storage after a number of years -- just ask Medvet -- and they will still run pretty good.

Duane

I sold a juke "sight unseen" (pics were sent) to a guy near Ptbo... biggest mistake ever.  Spoke to him on the phone, he said he'd "take it!!!" didn't even haggle on the price.  I show up, he took one look at it and said.. "Hmm.. it's not what I was expecting."     Said he'd give me "$20 for my trouble" (ie. 4 hours of driving in a borrowed pickup truck).  I told him I didn't have room to take it back as I was picking up another machine on my way home (Magic).  So he basically got the thing for less than what I paid, and I was out about $80 in gas money.

Horrible experience.

Not saying don't do it.. I've had good "sight-unseen" experiences too (HAL-9000 on here, for example).  But .. ya kinda takes yer chances.

  So he basically got the thing for less than what I paid, and I was out about $80 in gas money. machineslave and his stories




I'll bet.....

Quoted from hardkor

  So he basically got the thing for less than what I paid, and I was out about $80 in gas money. machineslave and his stories

I'll bet.....

Unlike most of yours though, mine is true.  

Why am I always dealing with *ssholes in pairs?  Keyboard commandos man.. there's too many of them!

there is alot keyboard commandos out east,


you guys see mr.anderson buying a stern at To auction. and....... nothing, except keyboard bs. i ask why would you not show him the back door. with a few people waiting to say hi. but no lets run home to our keyboard.

what no cheeseburgers around because sparky would have taken care of it.



and machineslave don't cry when bs comes back to you . what you can dish it but not take, ahhhhh hurry up someone get machineslave a tissue

Next time you're in TO, give me a ring.. I'll buy you a beer.  I believe you / Jebsen have my number.  

Quoted from hardkor

and machineslave don't cry when bs comes back to you . what you can dish it but not take, ahhhhh hurry up someone get machineslave a tissue

what would you bring your mom to hold your hand? don't act all tough because one day we will meet and i'am sure you tone will change. because you won't have your keyboard with you.

you, anderson and jebsen can go and fuk each other. nothing but scammers

Quoted from hardkor

you, anderson and jebsen can go and fuk each other. nothing but scammers

I wasn't going to get involved in this because really what's the point, hardkor is a tool, we all know he is a tool so just let him continue being a tool and leave it at that.

But Brock is not a scammer, period.  Brock has done more for this hobby and this community then you ever have.  If Brock wasn't around his presence would be a loss to everyone.  Taking one for the team by taking on Waynus, creating his custom shooter rods, and helping out his fellow collectors whenever he can.  

You offer nothing but BS and some crappy hot tubs.  No one would miss you if you went away you offer nothing to his hobby and this community you are nothing more then a pimple on the a** of this hobby.  

Take your BS and your hot tubs somewhere else, no one is buying here.  

So yeah, back to the thread.  As I was sayin', Mike.. it's your call.  But it also depends on how far the guy is too, right?

i know no one is buying here, bunch of tire kicking low ballers .  

but i rather be a tool then a sissy.  

Quoted from hardkor

but i rather be a tool then a sissy.  

This is pure class right here folks...  pure class.

Quoted from hardkor

...you guys see mr.anderson buying a stern at To auction. and....... nothing, except keyboard bs. i ask why would you not show him the back door. with a few people waiting to say hi. but no lets run home to our keyboard.

what no cheeseburgers around because sparky would have taken care of it.

Problem was that no one knew for sure it was him. I walked right passed him and said "Hey Mark" and he didn't even flinch. So could have been a case of mistaken identity.

If someone had proven to me it was him, he would have had a hard time finding his car in the parking lot.

Quoted from hardkor

i know no one is buying here, bunch of tire kicking low ballers.

That's not true at all. My guess is people just don't like the cut of your jib.