Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe..

San Jose SA is no different. Your bidding against the owner, the
auction staff, the auctioneer, and some ficticious person who I never
have seen, but he bids quite often.

You just have to know one thing: Bid at SA, and take it in the rear!

Mario
Pinthetic
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe.. 

Let's be fair and go through this from the seller's side...

Folks, these are NON-RESERVE auctions. Do you really expect someone to
bring equipment to an auction and lose money on it just because no one
shows up to bid? How would you like it if you played with your $525
Sega World Series game for a couple of months and took it back to the
auction when you tired of it. The auction has a low turnout and your
game has a high bid of $80. Are YOU going to let it go? I seriously
doubt it. You'll buy it back and take it to the next auction. Many
sellers at the auctions are doing it for a living, not just a HOBBY and
they are NOT going to give their equipment away.

Yes, the fees can seem high, but that is the only way the auction
company makes money. Say there's $100K worth of equipment there. Well
about half of it gets bought back. There is generally a cap on the
commission charged to the sellers. The buyers pay 13%. Tax is tax.
Ok, say they do $75K in sales with about $15K in revenue. Take away
$2K+ for space rental. Super auctions is a fairly decent sized outfit
compared to others. They've got what, 12 employees there, maybe $2K
for wages. Advertising, insurance, fuel, backoffice support, overhead,
hotels, etc $4K+. What did they make? $6K as a company? And that's
with a GOOD auction, let alone the duds.

Try running a travelling auction company. It's a hard way to make a
living.



macaste RemoveThis @juno.com wrote:
> I attended the auction in Dallas TX on may 26 2006. I
> noticed that many of the opposing bidders were the sellers of the very
> arcade game I was bidding on. I bought a sega world series 99 game in
> excellent condition for 525.00. The last legitimate (from a normal
> buyer like me) bid was 375.00. The seller next bid on the item for
> 400.00 and I bid 425.00. I finally got it at 525.00. Not such as good
> deal. The same thing happened with a Teken 4, Teken 3, NBA jam and
> blitz 2000 I was bidding on. I did not play the sellers game and stuck
> one seller with his own teken 3 at 275.00. It was terrible many people
> were complaining and upset that the sellers were allowed to bid on
> their own machines.
> The fees that super auctions charges are outrageous. Super
> actions get 13% of the price of the game, as a buyer I paid 13% extra
> on top of the 525.00. So super auctions got 26% of the 525.00 purchase
> price. They made 136.50 off this one game. In total this 525.00 game
> cost me 525.00 plus (13 % buyers screw fee) 68.25 plus 48.94 Texas
> state sales tax for a grand total of 642.19. Not such a good deal after
> all. At the higher prices things are even worse for example a machine
> costing 2000.00 will cost 2425.00 with buyers fees and taxes. Two last
> things that really pissed me off. There was a person who was bidding
> against me several times. This person looked as if he was just a buyer
> but in fact worked for the auction. He was helping out the auctioneers.
> He just placed several starting and low bids on items and never bought
> anything. I noticed him loading several games for people. The last and
> final problem was the auctioneers would try to lure you in to paying
> just 25.00 more. Several times I reached my limit and the auctioneer
> helpers would tell me just 25 bucks more and it is yours. Also the
> confusion of the price pissed me off. The auctioneer would yell out 225
> but the bid was at 200 or 175. I continually had to ask what the price
> was at. At one point I had to yell out 200.00 to get him at 200.00
> because he keep saying 225.00 when the bid before was 175.00. It was
> very frustrating.
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe.. 

DWGoett wrote:
>not sure where in the Constitution
> it says you have to attend.

Austin 3:16, I think.
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe.. 

The fees are high, but I know that going in; I can always walk away,
but for some the auction may be the only way they have to buy or sell
games easily and quickly.

All the Super Auctions that I have gone to in California, They often
times have games with set reserves, but it is also stated that sellers
can bid and buy back their games. It is a very common and well known to
most & legal practice. Note that usually there is an entry fee per
piece ($10-20) and a max limit buyback fee of about $20, Sellers do not
get charged for (Buyer or Sellers) premiums on own buy backs.
If an auctioneer staff is bidding on a game it is ususally stated at
the start of the auction that the staff is allowed to bid on items on
their own behalf (not for the auction company), but I feel this is a
kinda shady practice myself.
There is no law that says you can not shout out any bid that you are
willing to bid at any given time, if you do not agree with the next bid
increase the auctioneer yells out, counter with your own, they will
usually accept it unless it is ridiculous.

But what I find particuallarly amusing and some times frustrating is
when that mystery bidder, that only the auctioneer sees, is the final
high bidder, then the auctioneer can't find his mystery bidder to hold
up his bidder card, and they have to auction off the piece again.

Thing is about any arcade auction is to look over they machines
carefully, before bidding, knowing that most often, there will be
problems with the Equipment. Take what the auctioneer says about the
game with a grain of salt. Know that "It was working all the way, last
night", means nothing. You are buying it as is where is. Don't get
caught up with auction fever, do not bid on anything you really do not
want or know about, set your bidding limit and stick to it, always
remember about the bidder premium fees, plus sales taxes; then and only
then you may come away with a feeling of not being cheated and might
even find some good deals. Auctions are a risk, but there can sometimes
be rewards. There is no law that you have to buy anything or bid more
than what you feel the item is worth. If you feel your getting ripped,
do not bid.
If the hammer strikes sold, and you bought something you really do not
want or feel you over paid, tell the auctioneer right then and there,
before they go onto the next item, and super auctions will at least let
you back out, Don't wait 5 minutes or 3 games down the line or the next
day, to speak up. We are all Adults and have the power to say NO.

I have bought over a dozen games (pins & vids) at various auctions and
generally pay between $250-600 for a given game, (I buy Pre-1985 era
vintage games) and have yet to feel that I have been hosed or cheated
by an auction deal.
Even gotten some non-working but decent shape games for under $50.
Maybe I am lucky, but I really go the auction more for the social event
of meeting other friends and collectors, and with the hope that maybe
that special game I am looking for will be there and I might get it for
a decent price.

The fees are high, but I know that going in; I can always walk away,
but for some the auction may be the only way they have to buy or sell
games easily and quickly.

pinballtom in africa



macaste DeleteThis @juno.com wrote:
> I attended the auction in Dallas TX on may 26 2006. I
> noticed that many of the opposing bidders were the sellers of the very
> arcade game I was bidding on. I bought a sega world series 99 game in
> excellent condition for 525.00. The last legitimate (from a normal
> buyer like me) bid was 375.00. The seller next bid on the item for
> 400.00 and I bid 425.00. I finally got it at 525.00. Not such as good
> deal. The same thing happened with a Teken 4, Teken 3, NBA jam and
> blitz 2000 I was bidding on. I did not play the sellers game and stuck
> one seller with his own teken 3 at 275.00. It was terrible many people
> were complaining and upset that the sellers were allowed to bid on
> their own machines.
> The fees that super auctions charges are outrageous. Super
> actions get 13% of the price of the game, as a buyer I paid 13% extra
> on top of the 525.00. So super auctions got 26% of the 525.00 purchase
> price. They made 136.50 off this one game. In total this 525.00 game
> cost me 525.00 plus (13 % buyers screw fee) 68.25 plus 48.94 Texas
> state sales tax for a grand total of 642.19. Not such a good deal after
> all. At the higher prices things are even worse for example a machine
> costing 2000.00 will cost 2425.00 with buyers fees and taxes. Two last
> things that really pissed me off. There was a person who was bidding
> against me several times. This person looked as if he was just a buyer
> but in fact worked for the auction. He was helping out the auctioneers.
> He just placed several starting and low bids on items and never bought
> anything. I noticed him loading several games for people. The last and
> final problem was the auctioneers would try to lure you in to paying
> just 25.00 more. Several times I reached my limit and the auctioneer
> helpers would tell me just 25 bucks more and it is yours. Also the
> confusion of the price pissed me off. The auctioneer would yell out 225
> but the bid was at 200 or 175. I continually had to ask what the price
> was at. At one point I had to yell out 200.00 to get him at 200.00
> because he keep saying 225.00 when the bid before was 175.00. It was
> very frustrating.
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe.. 

you were willing to pay $525. if you knew you were bidding against the
owner, you should have stopped.

what ever happened to personal responsibility?

i sold a WW at a super auction and bought it back for $950. i wasn't
willing to let it go for that. what in the hell is wrong with that?

if SA pisses you off so much DON'T GO. not sure where in the Constitution
it says you have to attend.
Dan

<macaste DeleteThis @juno.com> wrote in message
news:1150904018.979797.302730@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> I attended the auction in Dallas TX on may 26 2006. I
> noticed that many of the opposing bidders were the sellers of the very
> arcade game I was bidding on. I bought a sega world series 99 game in
> excellent condition for 525.00. The last legitimate (from a normal
> buyer like me) bid was 375.00. The seller next bid on the item for
> 400.00 and I bid 425.00. I finally got it at 525.00. Not such as good
> deal. The same thing happened with a Teken 4, Teken 3, NBA jam and
> blitz 2000 I was bidding on. I did not play the sellers game and stuck
> one seller with his own teken 3 at 275.00. It was terrible many people
> were complaining and upset that the sellers were allowed to bid on
> their own machines.
> The fees that super auctions charges are outrageous. Super
> actions get 13% of the price of the game, as a buyer I paid 13% extra
> on top of the 525.00. So super auctions got 26% of the 525.00 purchase
> price. They made 136.50 off this one game. In total this 525.00 game
> cost me 525.00 plus (13 % buyers screw fee) 68.25 plus 48.94 Texas
> state sales tax for a grand total of 642.19. Not such a good deal after
> all. At the higher prices things are even worse for example a machine
> costing 2000.00 will cost 2425.00 with buyers fees and taxes. Two last
> things that really pissed me off. There was a person who was bidding
> against me several times. This person looked as if he was just a buyer
> but in fact worked for the auction. He was helping out the auctioneers.
> He just placed several starting and low bids on items and never bought
> anything. I noticed him loading several games for people. The last and
> final problem was the auctioneers would try to lure you in to paying
> just 25.00 more. Several times I reached my limit and the auctioneer
> helpers would tell me just 25 bucks more and it is yours. Also the
> confusion of the price pissed me off. The auctioneer would yell out 225
> but the bid was at 200 or 175. I continually had to ask what the price
> was at. At one point I had to yell out 200.00 to get him at 200.00
> because he keep saying 225.00 when the bid before was 175.00. It was
> very frustrating.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe.. 

This has been going on for quite a while. 10 years or so
ago it was possible to get a good deal and it was an
honest auction. No longer, which is why I no longer
bother to go.


<macaste.DeleteThis@juno.com> wrote in message
news:1150904018.979797.302730@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> I attended the auction in Dallas TX on may 26 2006. I
> noticed that many of the opposing bidders were the sellers of the very
> arcade game I was bidding on. I bought a sega world series 99 game in
> excellent condition for 525.00. The last legitimate (from a normal
> buyer like me) bid was 375.00. The seller next bid on the item for
> 400.00 and I bid 425.00. I finally got it at 525.00. Not such as good
> deal. The same thing happened with a Teken 4, Teken 3, NBA jam and
> blitz 2000 I was bidding on. I did not play the sellers game and stuck
> one seller with his own teken 3 at 275.00. It was terrible many people
> were complaining and upset that the sellers were allowed to bid on
> their own machines.
> The fees that super auctions charges are outrageous. Super
> actions get 13% of the price of the game, as a buyer I paid 13% extra
> on top of the 525.00. So super auctions got 26% of the 525.00 purchase
> price. They made 136.50 off this one game. In total this 525.00 game
> cost me 525.00 plus (13 % buyers screw fee) 68.25 plus 48.94 Texas
> state sales tax for a grand total of 642.19. Not such a good deal after
> all. At the higher prices things are even worse for example a machine
> costing 2000.00 will cost 2425.00 with buyers fees and taxes. Two last
> things that really pissed me off. There was a person who was bidding
> against me several times. This person looked as if he was just a buyer
> but in fact worked for the auction. He was helping out the auctioneers.
> He just placed several starting and low bids on items and never bought
> anything. I noticed him loading several games for people. The last and
> final problem was the auctioneers would try to lure you in to paying
> just 25.00 more. Several times I reached my limit and the auctioneer
> helpers would tell me just 25 bucks more and it is yours. Also the
> confusion of the price pissed me off. The auctioneer would yell out 225
> but the bid was at 200 or 175. I continually had to ask what the price
> was at. At one point I had to yell out 200.00 to get him at 200.00
> because he keep saying 225.00 when the bid before was 175.00. It was
> very frustrating.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe.. 

macaste.DeleteThis@juno.com wrote:
> I attended the auction in Dallas TX on may 26 2006. I
> noticed that many of the opposing bidders were the sellers of the very
> arcade game I was bidding on. I bought a sega world series 99 game in
> excellent condition for 525.00. The last legitimate (from a normal
> buyer like me) bid was 375.00. The seller next bid on the item for
> 400.00 and I bid 425.00. I finally got it at 525.00. Not such as good
> deal. The same thing happened with a Teken 4, Teken 3, NBA jam and
> blitz 2000 I was bidding on. I did not play the sellers game and stuck
> one seller with his own teken 3 at 275.00. It was terrible many people
> were complaining and upset that the sellers were allowed to bid on
> their own machines.
> The fees that super auctions charges are outrageous. Super
> actions get 13% of the price of the game, as a buyer I paid 13% extra
> on top of the 525.00. So super auctions got 26% of the 525.00 purchase
> price. They made 136.50 off this one game. In total this 525.00 game
> cost me 525.00 plus (13 % buyers screw fee) 68.25 plus 48.94 Texas
> state sales tax for a grand total of 642.19. Not such a good deal after
> all. At the higher prices things are even worse for example a machine
> costing 2000.00 will cost 2425.00 with buyers fees and taxes. Two last
> things that really pissed me off. There was a person who was bidding
> against me several times. This person looked as if he was just a buyer
> but in fact worked for the auction. He was helping out the auctioneers.
> He just placed several starting and low bids on items and never bought
> anything. I noticed him loading several games for people. The last and
> final problem was the auctioneers would try to lure you in to paying
> just 25.00 more. Several times I reached my limit and the auctioneer
> helpers would tell me just 25 bucks more and it is yours. Also the
> confusion of the price pissed me off. The auctioneer would yell out 225
> but the bid was at 200 or 175. I continually had to ask what the price
> was at. At one point I had to yell out 200.00 to get him at 200.00
> because he keep saying 225.00 when the bid before was 175.00. It was
> very frustrating.

I like the SA format. I have bought and sold at these auctions with
minimal hassles and have picked up some really nice games and projects
for a decent price. Yes there are issues as with any seller / buying
format but some of the games I have bought and my recent purchase of a
Classic Stern Viper is just amazing.

I really don't understand your complaint because you have a chance to
examine the game and nobody is forcing you to bid on something. There
are books on auctions and what to do and not to do. I recommend you
understand some of the basics because you can both buy and sell at
these auctions. You can gain either way. As a seller you can do as
you explained above...Sweet get in the game..... If you buy, make sure
you understand what you are buying, the others around you and the last
price and bidder. Ask the auctioneer price; look to see there
expression and make sure it is legit before you throw your next bid.
Stop the auctioneer. I don't know if you realize I do that in Dallas
all the time. Also alot of regulars do to.

The fees are high. You have to figure it in and move on. It is the
cost of being able to buy a game but also being able to sell in this
format. It is just the way it is. I add it to what I buy or sell and
bid / sell appropriately.

I am still really confused on your post because you can choose to
participate or not. That is how I see it.

Bill
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe.. 

I wasn't going to reply but I just can stand it when someone starts to
cry for paying a fare price for a game.It seems theirs alot of game
people that think they should get it cheep,but when it's time to sell
the game it is a collectible worth a lot of money.I had 10 games at
the san jose auctions.I spent at least one hour on each game making
sure everything worked,and cleaned them.I can't put 10 games in one
truck so a friend help me truck a load.And of course I thanked him with
a $100.00,it's a lot of work moving 10 games.I didn't go the day of the
Auction so that I would not be tempted to bid on my own games.They
where all 25" games,One game sold for $30. so my take after 13% and
$10. entrance fee was $16.10.Altogether my total was $627.29 from Super
auctions,and that does not include the $100.I payed and my parts and
time for the shop-out.One more thing some of the games that I bought
new for $4,000. never pay for them self.
w-morrison3.DeleteThis@ti.com wrote:
> macaste.DeleteThis@juno.com wrote:
> > I attended the auction in Dallas TX on may 26 2006. I
> > noticed that many of the opposing bidders were the sellers of the very
> > arcade game I was bidding on. I bought a sega world series 99 game in
> > excellent condition for 525.00. The last legitimate (from a normal
> > buyer like me) bid was 375.00. The seller next bid on the item for
> > 400.00 and I bid 425.00. I finally got it at 525.00. Not such as good
> > deal. The same thing happened with a Teken 4, Teken 3, NBA jam and
> > blitz 2000 I was bidding on. I did not play the sellers game and stuck
> > one seller with his own teken 3 at 275.00. It was terrible many people
> > were complaining and upset that the sellers were allowed to bid on
> > their own machines.
> > The fees that super auctions charges are outrageous. Super
> > actions get 13% of the price of the game, as a buyer I paid 13% extra
> > on top of the 525.00. So super auctions got 26% of the 525.00 purchase
> > price. They made 136.50 off this one game. In total this 525.00 game
> > cost me 525.00 plus (13 % buyers screw fee) 68.25 plus 48.94 Texas
> > state sales tax for a grand total of 642.19. Not such a good deal after
> > all. At the higher prices things are even worse for example a machine
> > costing 2000.00 will cost 2425.00 with buyers fees and taxes. Two last
> > things that really pissed me off. There was a person who was bidding
> > against me several times. This person looked as if he was just a buyer
> > but in fact worked for the auction. He was helping out the auctioneers.
> > He just placed several starting and low bids on items and never bought
> > anything. I noticed him loading several games for people. The last and
> > final problem was the auctioneers would try to lure you in to paying
> > just 25.00 more. Several times I reached my limit and the auctioneer
> > helpers would tell me just 25 bucks more and it is yours. Also the
> > confusion of the price pissed me off. The auctioneer would yell out 225
> > but the bid was at 200 or 175. I continually had to ask what the price
> > was at. At one point I had to yell out 200.00 to get him at 200.00
> > because he keep saying 225.00 when the bid before was 175.00. It was
> > very frustrating.
>
> I like the SA format. I have bought and sold at these auctions with
> minimal hassles and have picked up some really nice games and projects
> for a decent price. Yes there are issues as with any seller / buying
> format but some of the games I have bought and my recent purchase of a
> Classic Stern Viper is just amazing.
>
> I really don't understand your complaint because you have a chance to
> examine the game and nobody is forcing you to bid on something. There
> are books on auctions and what to do and not to do. I recommend you
> understand some of the basics because you can both buy and sell at
> these auctions. You can gain either way. As a seller you can do as
> you explained above...Sweet get in the game..... If you buy, make sure
> you understand what you are buying, the others around you and the last
> price and bidder. Ask the auctioneer price; look to see there
> expression and make sure it is legit before you throw your next bid.
> Stop the auctioneer. I don't know if you realize I do that in Dallas
> all the time. Also alot of regulars do to.
>
> The fees are high. You have to figure it in and move on. It is the
> cost of being able to buy a game but also being able to sell in this
> format. It is just the way it is. I add it to what I buy or sell and
> bid / sell appropriately.
>
> I am still really confused on your post because you can choose to
> participate or not. That is how I see it.
>
> Bill
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe.. 

Actually SA DOES allow a reserve but bidders at these auctions frown on
this. I persoanlly put a reserve on one of my games and was NOT allowed
to bid on it. That is how you know it will not be shilled but it will
deter from people actually bidding.

madsygrl wrote:
> This is nothing new, sad but true. They do this instead of allowing a
> reserve. It's called a buyback and is quite common. Many auctioneers
> even reserve the right to bid as was probably stated somehwere in
> writing, either on their site or on some piece of paper they posted at
> the auction. The auctioneer can raise the increments as they see fit.
> Sometimes 100, 50, 25, 10. whatever they can squeeze out.
>
> Welcome to the auction world. Get used to it.
> MAD
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe.. 

I've watched the replies to this post from the start, and I even threw
in my 2 cents earlier. I think one of the real issues is the "carnival
atmosphere" of the whole thing. If a piece had a "reserve" on it, then
everyone would understand what the owner is trying to get out of it. Is
that taking away from the sale? Is that too much to ask?

When you bid, and then the invisible man bids, and then a staff guy
bids, and then the auctioneer claims he has a bid, (by the way that bid
is always behind you if you were the last bidder, and it's slow), you
do feel like your pocket is getting picked. It's like playing slots.
You're gonna lose 90% of the time. Plan on it.

Some get good deals. Yes, I let two pins go cheap because I would not
bid them up. That was the last time I went. I think Bill said he has
had some good luck. This also depends on your tastes. If you snagged
a Gottlieb Dragon for $75, and youre jazzed, then consider it a good
day. But if you wanted a T2, for lack of a better example, but
couldn't get it cheap, you're unhappy. Or you did get it and now feel
you paid too much.

I know some guys actually shop the games for the auction. Most don't.
They just make sure they barely work. Still want top dollar.

The game owner: Me wantum big bucks! So I can buyem new route equip to
makum big bucks!
The game buyer: Me wantum cheap! So I can sell them later at a higher
price!

Looks like a vicious circle to me. I just go for the entertainment
anymore, and to see the old route guys that are still hanging in there,
if I'm bored

Mario
Pinthetic
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe.. 

madsygrl wrote:
> Of course auctions are just as much a social event as anything else. I
> know that's mostly why hub and I go. Chat with people we've met through
> the hobby that we don't see that often. And people-watching too...the
> very best reason to go to ANY auction, pinball or otherwise. (My mother
> was an antiques dealer, so I basically grew up in auction houses, yard
> sales and flea markets)
>
> AND...do enough talking and you can make some nice deals at
> auctions...without placing any bids! We've purchased equipment from
> people we've met at auctions with great success. Just talk it up. You
> never know what you might find out.
>


Nicely said. I completely agree,


--
Rick Swanson

Morristown, Tennessee
CARGPB6
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe.. 

I too have to agree with my bud Bill Morrison on this one.
I too have been attending and participating in Super Auctions for
YEARS now (since 1998). I've bought many pieces and sold a lot too.
You've got to to do your homework before deciding to bid on anything,
and a lot of times if the deal sounds to much like a deal then there
is something probably wrong with it that you didn't notice before hand
(thinking a few posts back about the guys Popeye he bought at the
Orlando auction).

As for myself. Yep, I've bought games back and I've bid on my own
equipment. Sorry I know everyone wants to get a deal (so do I) but I'm
not going to loose my ass on something that I bring to the auction if
I know it's worth the money. I took to the last Super Auction a
beautiful, non-faded Fish Tales Pinball, shopped and working all the
way. It was probably one of the better looking pins at the auction and
it got a lot of play during preview. Was I going to let it go for
$1000 hell no! I could have listed it on Ebay and got well over $1600
for it most likely. So I was in the running until the end. I knew in
my mind I wasn't going to let it go for less than $1400. I had to much
into it and it was a sweet looking machine. We'll It ended at $1425
and someone took it home with them, not me.

Instead of being upset about it from a buyers perspective. Think about
it sometimes from the sellers that are there as well.

NOTE: Not all equipment at the auction is a project, but like so many
operators that bring equipment to the auction it's because they need
different equipment for their locations for one reason or another. My
situation was that I had a pinball that although BEAUTIFUL, didn't get
played much by elementary school age children at the Pizza restaurant.
I knew replacing it with a driving game was going to increase the
revenue the game room made. So with that being said, Fish Tales sold
at Super Auction, I picked up a Rush 2049 at the auction and now after
a little bit of work to the driving game the location is happy with
having a "new" (to them) driving game.

As for some of my good and bad situations at Super Auctions.

Bad Deals (luckily only a few):
Took a not working classic Aero Fighters game. $13 entry fee. Game
sold for $10. It ended up costing me money to bring it. Oh well.

I hear the auctioneer auctioning off a classic Jungle King. "working
all the way" $175, $175...$17555555 I can see the marquee lit and the
monitor on & game working, but couldn't see much else of it through
the crowd. I didn't inspect it earlier. But thought wow for $175
that's a pretty good deal. Stuck my hand up and won the vid. After
they moved away from it I went and looked at my new prize up close.
Yuck...bottom of the cabinet was puffy and looked like the cab spent
some time sitting in an inch of water...Luckily the game worked and I
still was able to turn it for a small profit.

Good Deals:
Purchased a working Outrun for $175, cleaned it up, kept it for a few
months and brought it back to Super Auctions. It sold for $325

Purchased a Taito Ice Cold Beer for $5. Worked, but just needed new
belts and some clean up. Resides in our home gameroom now.

Purchased a Rush 2049 at the last auction for $1875. Looks beautiful!
Just needed a new coindoor as it came from Dave & Busters.

Purchased Smart Candy Crane, working all the way $150

Purchased non working HUO Rocky & Bullwinkle pinball for $700.

Purchased beautiful working all the way Evel Kenieval pin for $700

Purchased several TZ's over the years needing shopout,etc for about
$1700 each...yeah like your going to find a deal like that on Ebay or
on r.g.p.

.....too many other good deals to list!

Don't let it get you down. Super Auctions can be fun! Besides I think
the best part for me is socializing with all the friends I've made
while being a part of this hobby/business over the years each time I
go.

Regards,
Craig Hassell








>
>macaste@juno.com wrote:
>> I attended the auction in Dallas TX on may 26 2006. I
>> noticed that many of the opposing bidders were the sellers of the very
>> arcade game I was bidding on. I bought a sega world series 99 game in
>> excellent condition for 525.00. The last legitimate (from a normal
>> buyer like me) bid was 375.00. The seller next bid on the item for
>> 400.00 and I bid 425.00. I finally got it at 525.00. Not such as good
>> deal. The same thing happened with a Teken 4, Teken 3, NBA jam and
>> blitz 2000 I was bidding on. I did not play the sellers game and stuck
>> one seller with his own teken 3 at 275.00. It was terrible many people
>> were complaining and upset that the sellers were allowed to bid on
>> their own machines.
>> The fees that super auctions charges are outrageous. Super
>> actions get 13% of the price of the game, as a buyer I paid 13% extra
>> on top of the 525.00. So super auctions got 26% of the 525.00 purchase
>> price. They made 136.50 off this one game. In total this 525.00 game
>> cost me 525.00 plus (13 % buyers screw fee) 68.25 plus 48.94 Texas
>> state sales tax for a grand total of 642.19. Not such a good deal after
>> all. At the higher prices things are even worse for example a machine
>> costing 2000.00 will cost 2425.00 with buyers fees and taxes. Two last
>> things that really pissed me off. There was a person who was bidding
>> against me several times. This person looked as if he was just a buyer
>> but in fact worked for the auction. He was helping out the auctioneers.
>> He just placed several starting and low bids on items and never bought
>> anything. I noticed him loading several games for people. The last and
>> final problem was the auctioneers would try to lure you in to paying
>> just 25.00 more. Several times I reached my limit and the auctioneer
>> helpers would tell me just 25 bucks more and it is yours. Also the
>> confusion of the price pissed me off. The auctioneer would yell out 225
>> but the bid was at 200 or 175. I continually had to ask what the price
>> was at. At one point I had to yell out 200.00 to get him at 200.00
>> because he keep saying 225.00 when the bid before was 175.00. It was
>> very frustrating.
>
>I like the SA format. I have bought and sold at these auctions with
>minimal hassles and have picked up some really nice games and projects
>for a decent price. Yes there are issues as with any seller / buying
>format but some of the games I have bought and my recent purchase of a
>Classic Stern Viper is just amazing.
>
>I really don't understand your complaint because you have a chance to
>examine the game and nobody is forcing you to bid on something. There
>are books on auctions and what to do and not to do. I recommend you
>understand some of the basics because you can both buy and sell at
>these auctions. You can gain either way. As a seller you can do as
>you explained above...Sweet get in the game..... If you buy, make sure
>you understand what you are buying, the others around you and the last
>price and bidder. Ask the auctioneer price; look to see there
>expression and make sure it is legit before you throw your next bid.
>Stop the auctioneer. I don't know if you realize I do that in Dallas
>all the time. Also alot of regulars do to.
>
>The fees are high. You have to figure it in and move on. It is the
>cost of being able to buy a game but also being able to sell in this
>format. It is just the way it is. I add it to what I buy or sell and
>bid / sell appropriately.
>
>I am still really confused on your post because you can choose to
>participate or not. That is how I see it.
>
>Bill
 >> Stay informed about: Super auctions bidding against the seller and ridiculus fe..