counterfeit gumball/vending machines?

[buzzojoe]

So there is a lot of talk here about "bogus" trade stimulators and slots machines, but why no talk about the counterfeit gumball, peanut, and vending machines that are on Ebay every day? There are always a BUNCH of bogus themed machines like Coca Cola, Harley Davidson, John Deer, etc. And lately some guy has been making up things like bulk Cracker Jack vending machines and putting them on there. Can you imagine how gummed up and stuck up a machine would get vending "handfuls" of Cracker Jack? Some of the sellers are pretty savvy. They put "VINTAGE" and "RARE" in the title, but in the description small print they put that the machine has been restored and "themed".....
I personally think there machines are HORRIBLE! They remind me of the Dale Earnhart Safes and cash registers and pop machines that guys used to sell at the Chicagoland Show.
But I guess if there is a market for them..................

Thoughts?

[MrCollector]

I am not sure how the ones with decals of current companies can even be on eBay when I would think it would be trademark infringement. it seems some do sell for idiotic prices so we are probably stuck with them being put on.

There was a thread on here where well-known collectors were also putting questionable machines on. It really is sad. A guy puts a machine with the wrong globe on it, puts it on eBay and snags a collector that did not realize it. Eventually that collector will find out and realizes that a more Senior collector nailed them and may leave the hobby.

I remember at a show someone said to me if Bill Enes was around he would address some of these individuals. I kind of thought that was a crazy statement, but lately I think it has a lot of merit.

[buzzojoe]

Well, There seems to be some question regarding things like decals. If you buy "legal" decals for Coke or Harley Davidson and then put them on a gumball machine and sell it, is that legal or not?
Again, most of the sellers seem to be very sneaky about skating the issue of the machines not originally being Coca Cola or JOhn Deere or whatever. I don't think that a lot of people understand what "themed" means when a seller says that the machine is "restored and themed". But does anyone REALLY believe that Northwestern made "Budweiser" or "Texaco" or "Chevrolet" gumball machines?
I guess the only good thing is that unlike "hacked up" slots and trade stimulators, The decals and bad paint schemes can be stripped off the gumball machines so they can be put back to "original".....
I guess what REALLY surprises me is the number of "trademarked" decals that are being made and sold on Ebay. Some of the sellers of Coca Cola decals even say that they make them at home themselves!!!

[SLOT DYNASTY]

I am not sure how the ones with decals of current companies can even be on eBay when I would think it would be trademark infringement. it seems some do sell for idiotic prices so we are probably stuck with them being put on.

There was a thread on here where well-known collectors were also putting questionable machines on. It really is sad. A guy puts a machine with the wrong globe on it, puts it on eBay and snags a collector that did not realize it. Eventually that collector will find out and realizes that a more Senior collector nailed them and may leave the hobby.

I remember at a show someone said to me if Bill Enes was around he would address some of these individuals. I kind of thought that was a crazy statement, but lately I think it has a lot of merit.

1) There is wording in 'GreedyBays' rules & regulations about trademark infringement, but they do not stand behind MOST of their own rules. I have spoke with collectors that have notified them of such rules, but it all 'falls on deaf ears'.
I tried once myself, just to see, and the item ran it's course, and sold.

2) Exactly...........I have personally talked with several collectors that have been burned with the Bogus trade stimulators, and two of them DID leave the hobby, at a point when their feet hadn't even got wet yet. What a shame!
There are just too many people that come into any hobby, and do not do their homework first, before diving in to the Shark-Infested waters. I have always liked all types of coin-op, but I only specialize in a couple. If I seen a great
looking Gumball or Peanut Vender, that I really wanted, I would get ahold of someone that knew more about them than I, to find out if it was correct or not, before buying. But that's just me. Many Newbies DO NOT.

3) I agree with you whole-heartedly about Bill Enes. He would have addressed the Bogus-Builders in a heart-beat. The same thing could be said about our late leader Dick Bueschel. He was very adamant about all of the Repro Slots
early-on. I know exactly what he would be saying about all of the nice original trade stimulator models, that the Vegas Jerk-off has been destroying. I often wonder if he would have even listened to Dick about it. He sure as hell
does not care what I have been ranting about for so long. Then there are his buddies, that think he is the greatest thing since sliced-bread, and don't care about what he is doing to the hobby. If more people would jump down his
throat, maybe he'll think twice some day. The way things are going now, he will only stop, when the supply of machines are no longer available. I just feel sorry for all the people that have been snookered, and try to get rid of their
Bogus machines later, when nobody wants them.

[MrCollector]

Slotdynasty - well said.

I once was told if you do not make a few mistakes in a hobby you are not buying enough. When I got in 30 years ago, I met 2 guys who helped me. I look at the machines I bought from them and the price was fair and the description accurate. One of the 2 pushed me to go to shows, buy books, and guided me to people that can help with parts. He even showed me how to restore machines.

In the last year I saw a collector advertise a globe for a Northern Western JR as the round version? Funny I never heard of a round version. I then see another machine which had the wrong globe on it, but the seller never said it. He just said it Original globe. Yeah original to another machine.

What disturbed me is both of these Sellers push people to join COCA. How are the collectors that buy the 'round version" globe, or the machine with the wrong globe going to feel when they realize knowledgeable collectors duped them? Will they stick around?

In regards to trade simulators. I know of one guy at major shows, would jam a machine, throw a bunch of coins in it, then lock it, and say he lost the key. You run up to his table and he says fresh merchandise and you jump on it, thinking it is an easy fix. When you get it home you find out that a lot of the mechanism is missing. He finally got called on it, and stopped doing it.

I heard in the mechanical bank hobby if you are a member of their club and sell a bank that was restored as original you are banned for life. Not sure if that was true, but if we applied that to our hobby, COCA would have very few members left.

[buzzojoe]

We have discussed this a little bit, but not nearly to the extent of trade stimulators or slots. Right now there is an Atlas Ace machine on Ebay (item number 151032751642) with an incorrect globe. The seller says "Wears an original glass globe with original decal" in the description, which I guess is true by the legal letter of the law. But having a Silver King globe on an Atlas Ace DRAMATICALLY lowers the value of the machine. I'm going to contact the seller and see what he says....
Thoughts?

[buzzojoe]

The seller replied back to me with the following:
"The globe is an original silver king globe
The dimensions are the same
The taper js slightly different".

So no dispute or attempt to hide anything. But I bet he's not going to "fess up" and change his description :^)

UH OH! I'm turning into the "Gumball version" of Bill W!!!! :^)

[MrCollector]

... Rosanne Barr is Jennifer Love Hewitt except for slightly different trim.

[buzzojoe]

HA!
Good one!!!
And SO true!!!

[altort]

I agree that there is not enough information on fake vending machines, I would like to see someone that is knowledgeable put a list of reproductions together and pointers on what to look out for as far as incorrect parts, Dave and Bill have done an excellent job on bogus slots and trade stimulator, would like to see the same on vending machines.
I now wonder if any of my vending machines are all correct?