Wandering down there today, looking for the new Iron Man pinball.  Didn't find it.  But here is a couple of pics of their pin line up (far right is Simpsons Pinball Party).






Made me wonder if anyone else lurks around there, during their lunch breaks?

Do you know who operates that location ? Use to be Unionville Amusements, but that was back in 2002- 2005. It is just nice to see pinball machines on location in that quantity.

In Quebec, it would be unreasonable to put that many machines out in the same location, with the permit costs & the cost of the equipment to boot, tough to make a buck.  

I believe its pinball outlet.  They have a card on the machine but I forget right now.

There was also a Shrek, on the opposite side, in the window area.

http://www.pinballoutlet.com/

Used to be toronto coin exchange or something like that...

Yeah, you are right, Toronto Coin Machine Inc. now it's Andre from SRG - oh me oh my how things change.

Yeah it was Toronto Pinball Exchange in Oakville for the longest time... if they're not doing it any more I wonder how Dallas and crew are staying alive?  They have quite the collection of EMs in their backroom... one day they will come flooding out in an auction.  :P

I was at TOPEC just this afternoon and Dallas is doing fine. Lots of pins in the store and if the price was a bit better, I would be all over some of them.

Quoted from Ricker

I was at TOPEC just this afternoon and Dallas is doing fine. Lots of pins in the store and if the price was a bit better, I would be all over some of them.

She had a Wipe Out and a Genesis for $2495 each once.  LOL!  I've scooped a couple pins off Oakville doctors that wanted them out of their basements.  TOPEC hack jobs that had come undone.  But I hear the repairs are fast and cheap...  ;)

So who runs SRG Entreprises now, and what is their main business ? Operating games or selling ?

Andre runs SRG and he puts cash machines on locations as well as does game rental packages for events. Routing machines is probably the least of his business. He also has the Pinball Outlet and I suppose he has his customers for used machines from his small retail setup.

Would be nice to see something like that in Ottawa.

Quebec should really drop that permit charge....

How much do they charge? is it per location or per machine?

Quoted from b1buwg97

How much do they charge? is it per location or per machine?

I think its 200 for the license and then an additional 300 per machine:  (you also have to pay for pins in storage if you want them registered)

http://www.racj.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/templavoila/documents/formulaires/anglais/RACJ-7010_ang__04_01_.pdf

Quoted from Ricker

I was at TOPEC just this afternoon and Dallas is doing fine. Lots of pins in the store and if the price was a bit better, I would be all over some of them.

Weird I've lived in Oakville for almost 20 yrs and have never been in the place ,, and I used to live right around the corner from the old place near third line

Quoted from Meat Popsicle

I think its 200 for the license and then an additional 300 per machine:  (you also have to pay for pins in storage if you want them registered)

http://www.racj.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/templavoila/documents/formulaires/anglais/RACJ-7010_ang__04_01_.pdf

Yup, every Catergory B machine (pinball or video game) is 300 per year per machine, plus your yearly operator's permit. The worst part of the Regie's limitations is that redemption games are totally prohibitted to operate when dispensing tickets, let alone for exchange against prizes. (Loto-Québec really doesn't want anything at all to rival their Casinos) I strongly believe that allowing redemption games & family entertainment centers with prize counters to operate in Québec would be a good business move for the province. Places like Dave & Buster's, Playdium and especially smaller FEC's in suburban areas would do wonders for what little leeway the Québec goverment has left of the amusement industry.

I presume the permit thing is supposed to cover taxes most likely undeclared from earnings since it is a 100% cash business? It would never pay to put out machines that are mainly "filler" spots on site. Either they earn or they go away.

So, you likely will never see 8+ machines in one location.

Quoted from wbradley

I presume the permit thing is supposed to cover taxes most likely undeclared from earnings since it is a 100% cash business? It would never pay to put out machines that are mainly "filler" spots on site. Either they earn or they go away.

So, you likely will never see 8+ machines in one location.

The whole thing started in the early 80's when the government saw that arcade owners were collecting quarters like crazy and raking in huge amounts of cash. And as most criminals are in government, they wanted a piece of the pie. So they declared that all amusement machines were to be regulated by the government under the Liquor and Lottery board. Soon after, arcades started dropping like flies. within 5 years, 80% of arcades closed their doors. Within ten years, only a handful were left.

And since government officials are as dumb as a doorknob, they didn't know or care that they singlehandedly killed off the market. Believe it or not, to this day, the government STILL believes that arcades are cesspools for drugs and the mob. I went to the Gaming ministry 3 years ago in order to get information on doing EXACTLY like GJD is doing today. They didn't care. The only difference was that my operator yearly fee was lower, but the licence per machine per year stayed.

And yes... it is OK to have those stupid crane machines on which the operators stuff the toys so hard to make it impossible to get anything, but redemption games that give tickets to get a stuffed toy is a no-no.

So basically, instead of reducing their licence fees, thus ensuring them of a revenue, they leave the fees high and get little to no revenue. when I said this to the idiot from the ministry's office, his answer was:

"On s'en fout, notre source de revenu est assuré avec les loteries-vidéos"

Translation: we don't care, our revenue is assured with the video lottery machines.

I am sorry to say, but arcades are pretty much dead in Quebec, and will NEVER come back.

"cesspools for drugs and the mob" or they want a cut of an underground economy cash business?

Quoted from websherpa

"cesspools for drugs and the mob" or they want a cut of an underground economy cash business?

both probably .. the arcades in downtown TO back in the day had very easy access to the drug trade (don't know if they were mob owned) .. pool halls same thing back then (don't know about today)

I cannot understand how any operator in the province of Quebec can make any money with the province licensing agreement. Even if you take $6 a week to cover a $300 license yearly out of the cash box for a video game I'm not convinced that game with make that in a year especially if it's not the latest greatest.

Then don't forget the power supply will probably fail at the rate of $50-$75 or the monitor will go bad and then the location will probably want at least 50% of the net revenue. C'mon it doesn't make sense.

I just sent back some permits back for a partial credit and they told me it will take up to 8 weeks to get my refund. Talk about playing with my money.

The new wave is Digital Jukeboxes and Pool tables that's the way to go if you want to survive.

My .02 cents

I think Toronto pinball exchange still owns the machines, because I called Dallas (1 month ago +/-) about the twilight Zone and she said when it comes off location it is already sold.  So that leads me to think that they are still involved.  Dallas is very nice, but as any retail outlet, they are expensive for the seasoned hobbiest.

Quoted from TGlover

I think Toronto pinball exchange still owns the machines, because I called Dallas (1 month ago +/-) about the twilight Zone and she said when it comes off location it is already sold.  So that leads me to think that they are still involved.  Dallas is very nice, but as any retail outlet, they are expensive for the seasoned hobbiest.

So Toronto Pinball Exchange is a different entity than Toronto Coin, the operator (if they still exist). Am I correct in assuming this ?

I'm pretty sure the Toronto Pinball Exchange and Toronto Coin are the same company, run by Dallas and her family out of Oakville, i'm pretty sure, i did work for them on the weekends when i was in college,

Really nice family

Eric

Quoted from jamie23

I cannot understand how any operator in the province of Quebec can make any money with the province licensing agreement. Even if you take $6 a week to cover a $300 license yearly out of the cash box for a video game I'm not convinced that game with make that in a year especially if it's not the latest greatest.

Then don't forget the power supply will probably fail at the rate of $50-$75 or the monitor will go bad and then the location will probably want at least 50% of the net revenue. C'mon it doesn't make sense.

I just sent back some permits back for a partial credit and they told me it will take up to 8 weeks to get my refund. Talk about playing with my money.

The new wave is Digital Jukeboxes and Pool tables that's the way to go if you want to survive.

My .02 cents

I would guess the $300 was based on trying to guess a percentage of the take roughly equal to taxes.   10% tax would mean a $3,000/year/pinball revenue.   Maybe that is what they made in the 80's and 90's, but its not accurate today.  

I've got half an hour to kill between 5:30-6:00 today. Figured that I'd spend it in the arcade at Union.

I'll report back..

They now have an Iron Man on site.

Must be very recent, still had the factory high scores.

For the first time ever (well, without a pen knife), I was able to leave my initials on a game. My 25 mil probably won't last long, but it felt good.

Played IM at Union, first impression was playfield looked less than exciting but after playing half a dozen game the multiballs are really fun and crazy fast.  I definitely warmed up to it.  

Indiana Jones is now down there with factory scores still on it. I managed to get the second highest score on it, probably the only time I'll ever get to see my name up there.
Twilight Zone didn't want to accept any of my money, which was disappointing.
The change machine doesn't like my money either for some reason (5, 10 and 20).

Quoted from Aron

Indiana Jones is now down there with factory scores still on it. I managed to get the second highest score on it, probably the only time I'll ever get to see my name up there.
Twilight Zone didn't want to accept any of my money, which was disappointing.
The change machine doesn't like my money either for some reason (5, 10 and 20).

I was downtown last week and stopped at Union to play a few games.
I had the same problem with TZ, you have to give the coinbox a tap when you drop your loonie. then it regesters.
i almost walked away from that game also, after trying 10 times to deposit my coins.

How late is it open? 24 hours? that would be great.... any one know?

Pretty sure it's open 24 hours, but I've never put it to the test

Sweeet, I hope so.... If anyone is around in the next few days could you look for a sign or ask someone? Please and thanks... its a 2 hours drive for me... and I will go often if its open late... I can't ever sleep.

Quoted from alonelikeastone

Sweeet, I hope so.... If anyone is around in the next few days could you look for a sign or ask someone? Please and thanks... its a 2 hours drive for me... and I will go often if its open late... I can't ever sleep.

Well if your that nuts that you would drive 2 hours just to play at crappy union station, you should take a look at http://www.topl.org

We play every Monday and on weekends occasionally as well at members houses where there are usually as many if not more games that Union Station has to offer and in, much, much, much, much better shape.

the thing is i work afternoons... so its tuff... and if you seen the falls pins, then union station is like dream.... so I don't mid the drive at all, plus I can go to burrito boys, thats worth the drive alone.

So after work I could drive up there once a week if its 24 hours, plus that time of night i should say, isn't a 2 hour drive... hour and twenty minutes without traffic.

Quoted from alonelikeastone

the thing is i work afternoons... so its tuff... and if you seen the falls pins, then union station is like dream.... so I don't mid the drive at all, plus I can go to burrito boys, thats worth the drive alone.

So after work I could drive up there once a week if its 24 hours, plus that time of night i should say, isn't a 2 hour drive... hour and twenty minutes without traffic.

You work weekends too?

Were playing somewhere on Nov 6th.  Could be as far west as Hamilton so not too bad for you, still waiting to hear about where we will be playing then.

I was just checking out the site there... I am going to join the mailing list and also be lurking on here too... Normally I get 2 weekdays off, friday always and either tues or wed.... I work support work, its a great job but brutal scheduale, burtal.

thanks for the link ... you guys have your mess together!!!

yea that is a pretty crappy schedule.

If you ever get the opportunity were around doing something somewhere for sure

As an example, my place is a location we frequent quite regularly:

http://archive.maaca.org/s107351202.onlinehome.us/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1143681691/s-all/

Burrito Boyz eh.. they opened up a shop in Brampton, I'm thinking of checking them out!  They better be good, or I'm driving to Niagara Falls!  ;D

hahhaha, you won't be bummed... I'm not a vegetarian, but I get the veggie, its a ground up soy... tastes kind of smokey... I only get that and I have had it a hundred times.... the halibut is super popular tho... and the steak... basically you can't go wrong.

oh and yeah, If I can make it out to anything I will for sure.... thanks

had burrito boyz today!!!!

played some machines.... twilight zone would just loose power out of now where... had a great first ball going and the machine shut off and on...

I also seen a guy mistreat a machine more then I ever have before... I mean I nudge a machine, I have had my share of tilts... but I don't treat it like a wheel barrow ... no wonder they are in such bad shape.... bummed me out.

Quoted from alonelikeastone

I also seen a guy mistreat a machine more then I ever have before... I mean I nudge a machine, I have had my share of tilts... but I don't treat it like a wheel barrow ... no wonder they are in such bad shape.... bummed me out.

Take a look (next time) at the floor, where the legs rest.  There are large wear areas from all the years of nudging.

yeah I noticed... took pictures

I still can't seem to find out how late its open? No one around, even workers knew...