CoinOpCollectorForum.com

I went to the show today for two reasons. First: to see what all the chatter is about. Being a seasoned antique show attendee and coin op collector, I can safely say that I have seen equal or better coin ops at antique stores and big antique shows. Second: was to meet with a dealer who had been discussing the sale of a specific coin op item, to me. I got there just in time to see the very same item that we had been discussing, being carted out and then having to listen to him brag about how much he already sold the item for, TO SOMEONE ELSE. This is WRONG WRONG WRONG. What a waste of my time away from work, expense to get there, and the bitter after taste of having an item "sold out from under you". I learned the value that he put on his own integrity. To that dealer I say: Thanks for nothing, and a bad image for the rest of us collectors. It will be a while before I return to an overhyped show just to wave goodbye to items that are superficially prized by a few hoytie toytie's. I hope that there were plenty of other people that had a wonderful experiance.

Being a seasoned antique show goer and dealer myself I would really like to know what shows you go to that has more coin op then this one. And overpriced items? A lot of dealers come to this show to buy and keep coming back. Also what time did you get to the show? We're you out in the parking lot at 4 in the morning? I seen a mills furity (sic) with side vendor go for less than 3k. Deals are there you just have to seek them out and...everybody prices items high because they know people will bargin them down. Let's see I bought a piece marked 600 and asked what the best price was and got it for 475. I ve seen past postings from other members of this forum showing off what they got in the parking lot. A lot of this is being there at the right time. Also did you agree with the vendor a time to meet? I told a gentleman that I had a piece for sale in my booth and he said he wanted to see it. He showed up and hour and a half after I opened and wanted to see the machine.....but it sold already.....if you want something get there ASAP unless you gave him a deposit to hold it. I've been burned as a dealer too many times holding stuff and not having someone want it or not show up. Also it has been stated that the spring show is the weakest show of the two. Sorry your experience was not what you thought it would be.....I go into every show with the attitude don't expect a lot and you won't be disappointed. And by the way I bought a lot of "that overpriced junk". And sold a lot of it too.....second best show that I have had.

Bill, I will agree about being where you need to be at the time you need to be there.......the vendors are there to make money, plain and simple, and they have to take the opportunities as they come, so long as they are legit and above board......with that said, I saw plenty of unscrupulous deals in the two days I was there. And yes, I was in the parking lot well before 5 am, although things really didn't get hopping until an hour or so later.

I watched the sale of a reproduction machine, that was portrayed as "all original" and priced at least $500 over retail. When that guy figures out he was taken, he will never be back. I watched another booth transaction where a woman showed her interest in an item, and left to call her husband. She returned 10 minutes later only to find the price marked up considerably. Seems the dealer decided he had it marked too cheap when it got interest first thing Friday. It wasn't a steal on the first round, but priced fair......it was then marked up well past retail. Needless to say, she was plenty mad.....another person gone. I also saw a repro sign passed off in the parking lot as a "barn find" that was overpriced, even if it were real......another person gone. Those were just the ones I personally saw, and I am sure there were many more.

I will agree there' were bargains to be had, but my commentary about "overpriced junk" was more directed at how the show is no longer about anything coin op, or jukeboxes, etc.......it is an antique show and flea market that happens to have a few coin op vendors there. I know they have to fill the space somehow.....but toy vendors and overpriced reproduction signs and such, I can do without. They are not the ones who built thus show and it's reputation.....they are just there for the next buck.

Maybe it's time for a new show, say sometime in the summer and somewhere else, just for coin-op. All items must be related to coin-op. Do you think there are enough vendors and buyers to support a show like that? Kinda like an outdoor swap meet for coin-op. No building, just a parking lot somewhere. From what I hear that's where most of the buying takes place. I have never been to the show so I really don't know.

I attended the show for the first time in a few years, purchased a parking space and delivered a couple presold machines. There were some good deals if you were early enough to find them. I sold a nice trade stimulator for a very resonable price (wholesale) and saw it change hands several times ending up at near double what I sold it for. I had a repro machine that was represented as a repro and priced as a repro and it sold and then resold in less then an hour. Also had two very nice restored originals at a reasonable price, 1/3 less then the indoor booths and didn't even get offers on those.
Overall it was a good show and I plan to return in November.
Keep your heads up!
Bill

At the November 2013 show I bought a very nice Pierce New Deal for $500.00. The colors were not correct but that was an easy fix. This show I was in the parking lot at 6:30. I headed to my spot where I usually get lucky. That's the back row far from the building. I picked up a Groetchen Pok-O-Reel. The one with the name cast on the face. It was complete with original reel strips. The award card had some writing on it so it's going to be replaced. It could use a little cleaning. The seller had it priced for $550.00. I paid $475.00. There was a dealer inside that had the same fro $575.00. with one missing reel strip. It was really dirty. Some of the better prices are in the lot but use your flashlight to get a good look.

Ok now Bill I just wanted to give you a Vegas Chop shop update. Other than one of his usual creations here is something hot off the assembly line. He put a set of shrunken tavern reel strips on a Superior Cigarette Gum Vender. Add a homemade award card to that. Think about why would a "Cigarette Gum Vender" have beer strips. I know the answer. Fred renamed it a "Beer Gum Vender"

Bill,

Thanks for your comments.

To answer a few of your questions: Yes the dealer told me when and where to meet him, I agreed to a predetermined price and came prepared to purchase if it was "as represented". To see him sell it sold out from under me, just put a price on his own integrity. I make no appologies for being a paying customer who shows up when and where I am told, and willing to do business during posted hours. From your comment, it sounds like you would enjoy doing business with customers like me. No matter how fun it might be to meet in a dimly lit parking lot at 4 AM, with large amounts of cash, do business out of the back of a truck, to buy something I don't need from people I don't know, was simply not the arrangements with this dealer (that breached my trust). Please don't mis-interpret me. I stated that I had seen as good or better coin ops at antique stores and big antique shows. I said nothing about quantity. In regards to what shows I have seen, the most recent of course is the Harrah collection, for a opportunity that I am considering. How about those machines? Pretty nice. I am certainly not comparing the show to the Harah collection, but you asked what shows I go to, and I answered your question.

On a separate note, I was talking to a different dealer about a different item. When I was finished, a lady approached me and she said: he quoted me a different price (presumably higher), it seems like we are in a den of theives here. Unfortunately, this is another example of another dealer at the show with no integrity.

Perhaps if we would have met and done business on an item, the show would have been a better experiance for me. Some shows have dealer criteria, and are reviewed by a committee who compares the dealer's display with the criteria of their show. This would avoid the "maxwell street days" image if we want a coin op / trade stimulator show.

In any case, Bill, Happy Trials.

Ok then that dealer screwed you around and that is unfortunate but I ve been there too! Too many times to remember . So I keep a more positive attitudes. I ve had my frustrations at this show bad sales, missed items by seconds and bad customers.....but it is still my favorite show and the butterflies and excitement is still there before every show after 20 years. One other thing I am on friendly terms with the show promoters and tell them about the different concerns that are mentioned here and other places plus my own observations. I was upset that in the main room someone had set up three tables with the any item for 1 dollar and it was complete junk. I ve also keep pushing to have the auction companies removed from the min room. My feeling is that the paying customer wants to see dealers and merchandise not someone who is trying to get their collection....put those guys in the hallway or in the ballroom. I do think the show needs to be cleaned up and made a little better. If you have any suggestions email me or post them and I'll let them know. Or drop them a line on their website. Sorry some of you had a bad experience but that is the ups and downs of collecting and who knows maybe the next show will bring better luck and experiences. The fall show is bigger and crazier I'm already getting ready for it.

The event is called the "Chicagoland Antique Advertising Slot Machine & Juke Box Show". In addition to what Bill said on the south wall were toys. Stuff that children would play with. The dollars table looked like flea market junk. There was an 8 dollar table next to it. This was the high end flea market junk. If the promoter can't sell the floor space enlarge some of the booths. There are some vendors that had neat items in a small cramped booth.

Bill,

Moving forward, to improve the Show, here are some thoughts based on my actual involvement with other "shows" in general.

Taking into consideration: shows are to generate an honest profit; and rules are only as good as enforcement:

Is there criteria for being a dealer / seller at The Show, other than renting booth space? Some shows have criteria to sell, like membership in COCA for coin ops, or NSRA for cars, or NADA for antiques. That sponsoring organization then has show criteria like antiques are considered over XX years old, or true antique areas apart from the "collectables" areas, or, or, or. Those sponsoring organizations also have a committee of 3-5 various people (preferable people like myself who are relatively inconspicuous to the dealers and with basic knowlege of distinguishing between a juke box and a neon sign). The committee reviews the dealers on a critique sheet (some prior to the show and some during the show). This committee reviews booths, and notates any nonconformity. More than X number of offenses and that seller needs to move to a different area, or not invited back for a period of time. Let's say that there is a juke box seller who is set up with two nice juke boxes in the coin ops area, but is also selling dozens of neon retro signs. The non conformity is noted, reviewed by committee and if deemed problematic then seller is warned to stop selling neon sign in the coin op area. If he does not stop selling neon signs in the coin op area, he is either offered a booth in the neon sign area, rent a booth in the appropriate areas: one for neon signs, the other for juke boxes next time; or, not invited back. Also have a few "suggestion" boxes for people to fill out if so inclined. Inform the dealers of comments they might receive. Specifically, HAVE THE PRICE OF ITEMS CLEARLY MARKED ON THE ITEM. That would avoid the long thoughtful pause before a high school aged booth attendant at The Show tells me that the price on an item is: ahhhhh, like $300 . . . . . . . maybe? I replied: yeah ahhh maybe not.

Just some suggestions. If you have any other questions please ask. I would offer to be a reviewer. If the promoter needs specifics administration of the reviewing process, or criteria for review forms then there would be a nominal fee. Otherwise, my free advice is worth just what you paid for it.