UPDATE: Roy & Friends Find Used Skeeball Machine
Roy and his friends have from Austin, TX just joined the Brewskeeball skee-ball league and are having trouble locating a used one they to buy so they can practice without stuffing token after token in the ol concentric-ringed bandit. Roy asks, “Do you know of a site where they show various places like Peter Piper Pizza, Chuckie Cheese, or Dave and Busters that are closing down so we can get these antique games on the cheap?” Whaddya say folks, where can Roy can find a used skee-ball machine for the least coin? (Video: believekevin)
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Where is this league? I’d be interested in joining one
@edwardso: I agree! I’m pretty sure I was born for this.
Roy and his friends geographical location would be helpful.
No use it telling him about a Chuckie Cheese closing down in Palm Beach, FL if they are in Las Vegas, NV
@full.tang.halo:
Austin, TX
@full.tang.halo: so you just decided not to read the article, or…?
Go here: [forums.arcade-museum.com]
It’s a forum for KLOV or Killer List of Video Games.
You can post want adds for anything from arcade, pinball, skee-ball, and the like!
Enjoy!
@meatloaf79:
glad to see another klov member on here!
Crazy idea, perhaps call the various establishments and ask if they sell used machines, or have any locations closings?
And what about the google on the intertubes?
Use the search all of craigslist function on google.
Enter the following:
search site:craigslist.org “skee ball”
Looks like there are a few
@HIV 2 Elway Resurrected: Also never underestimate the power of a wanted ad on craigslist.
@HIV 2 Elway Resurrected: George Weber might disagree with you.
@KingBananaHammock_GitEmSteveDave: *wince*
@m4ximusprim3: Sorry. I used to listen to him every morning w/Kuby.
@KingBananaHammock_GitEmSteveDave: Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was funny. It was just an involuntary “Society demands I think this is bad” wince.
Then I chuckled.
US Amusement has auctions now and then, mostly coin operated arcade and video games, pool tables, and such but I’ve seen these type of games before too.
[www.usamusement.com]
@WaywardSoul: Darn you, WaywardSoul…beat me to the punch!
I’ve picked up some old arcade games on the cheap through their auctions in the past. I have noticed SkeeBall at previous ones, but it’s always hit-or-miss, just like any auction.
I don’t know where the OP lives, but there are some coming up in Ohio and Indiana. They also have a link for a contact for New Jersey and Pennsylvania auctions.
[www.usamusement.com]
s ths Th Cnsmrst, Frcycl r Crgslst? cn’t tll?
@Gtmac: Me neither considering your horrendous spelling and lack of vowels.
@Kyle: He was Disemvowelled, actually.
[consumerist.com]
@Gtmac:
Nice job to whomever disemvoweled the guy who actually gave a worthwhile suggestion!
I’ve found Skee-ball machines on both Craigslist and eBay before. Just be sure you know what you’re buying before you buy it (buy locally if possible). Don’t get one of those short skee-ball machines. I think the standard size is 9 feet.
Also look in your yellow pages for a local store that sells pinball machines; they might have skee-ball machines as well. Look under “amusements”
@Gtmac: Shouldn’t the ‘y’ be removed as well?
@natejosiah: Sometimes.
Sorry, Consumerist, this was a great comment for two reasons: He offered some good suggestions on where these things might turn up and he pointed out how far this was from any umbrella Consumerist might try to shove it under. This post just doesn’t belong on this site!
I think we can leave it up to the site on what they want to put on their site.
@StutiCebriones:
It doesn’t really fit the “mission” of this site, but what they want to post is really up to them.
That’s one problem with “big tent” blogs like this, I_am_Awesome (I speak as a magazine editor) — people think like that.
Here’s another company that covers a slightly different geographical region. Just Google amusement auctions or amusment sales and you can find others.
[www.auctiongamesales.com]
@WaywardSoul: I’ve been to their auctions in Winston-Salem NC and have bought many arcade machines, pachislo slots, and even a stand-up bar dartboard. They always have a row of Skee-Ball machines that go for next to nothing since most people don’t have the room for them or a way to get the home themselves. The auctions are tons of fun and they let you play all the games you want all day long while auctioning them off. Just bring your own 25′-50′extension cord to plug in the games you want to check out.
[www.auctiongamesales.com]
@randygbk: That’s an excellent point about the extension cord. Sometimes there are kind hearted souls who’ve brought their own and will let you bum it while they’re testing a machine that’s close, but don’t count on it.
Another thing worth mentioning is that most of these amusement auctions will let you come down the night before to see what’s there. That way you can go home and research prices on ebay or other, then come prepared the next with transportation, money, and a bid plan.
Most places will even sell to you prior to the auction, though you won’t get a deal that way. They’ll try and sell over what they expect to get, but you may be able to negotiate to a price that makes it worth it to you to guarantee you get your game. That’s a plan if the supply is limited or you know your competition.
There’s a local arcade in our mall here that is selling each arcade piece off one by one – you might check craigslist or ebay even.
Starcadia, a closed amusement park in Macon, GA, is auctioning off all of their stuff on April 18. They had numerous skee-ball machines in their arcade: http://www.macon.com/102/story/658798.html
Being somewhat of an arcade enthusiast, I know that Skeeball doesn’t lose it’s allure after time like most other arcade games, and places usually have their machines until they wear out. You could go and ask around to arcade purveyors and see if they have anything, but I’d have to care to venture that ebay and craigslist are going to be your options here, and I don’t think it’ll be very cheap. (Probably $1000-2000).
@mewyn dyner:
Most Skee Ball machines are 9 to 13 feet long and take up tons of space. They are worth next to nothing second-hand.
In Chicago, on Western Ave near Cullom or Berteau ave’s, there is a rickety looking warehouse place. Look through the dusty windows and you will see an entire warehouse packed with arcade machines. I think its called “Midwest amusements”. I talked to someone who worked there once and they said they have almost everything, or could find stuff for you. Give it a shot!
I always check on eBay. I looked into getting a Skeeball machine for my dorm room at college. They usually go for over $1000.
I see them on Amazon, just search for skee-ball.
If you’re near the Philly are, TNT is generally the go-to place.
I can promise you that a skeeball alley in working order is going to cost you at least 4000 quarters not including shipping so I hope you are planning on doing a LOT of practicing and the prize is really unbelievably amazingly awesome.
[www.tntamusements.com]
There is somewhere in the NJ area that has these GAWD AWFUL late night local cable infomercials and they sell arcade games and the such. I remember seeing their infomercial when I was down at my Ex’s college in Glassboro, NJ. I wish I remembered their name. Anyone know of what I speak?
@KingBananaHammock_GitEmSteveDave:
It’s probably TNT Amusements. You can watch it online if you want a blast from the past, complete with rubber hands getting smashed in things.
[www.tntamusements.com]
@Troy F.: That looks like the one. The guy looks about right. I didn’t have time to watch it at work, but if it has like 2-3 girls “dancing” in it somewhere, then it’s the one.
I’d check out the Asbury Park Boardwalk. Just don’t trip over that John Doe Jersey guy.
@White Speed Receiver: I’d watch out for the kids with the sticks, to be honest with ya.
http://www.tntamusements.com sells them. Big place here in PA.
We’ve picked up games from these folks:
[www.superauctions.com]
They are a basic auction deal.
@f86sabre:
I go to this auction quarterly here in Orlando Florida and they usually have a few machines.
Well, I’m from Austin. Yeah I checked craigslist, and found some ok deals. It’s bizarre to me that some of these machines can run close to $4000, since they’re so old. I think there’s only one company who makes them, and the rest are either really old or broken down. Thanks in advance for helping.
If anyone is interested in the league, check out brewskeeball.com
I’d think make a deal with the local arcade manager for heavily discounted tokens during off-hours… should be cheaper and you don’t take the storage costs.
Used Skeeballs:
[www.monkeysarcades.com]
@natejosiah: Sometimes
Namco arcades also sell off their wares quite often. Namco Arcade Used Games – But the games’ conditions will vary.
@I_am_Awesome: Roz got drunk with power again.
/Banned in 3,2,1…
I know Scoot Inn in Austin just got a skee ball game. Perhaps you can just call the owner and ask him where they purchased it from.
@skechada:
That’s where the league plays. They got them from Coney Island since they are New York boys. They were tight lipped when we asked where they got them.
Winners of the regional tournaments get to choose between a large novelty comb and a Chinese finger trap. You have to win the national championship to get the outdated CD stereo. But no matter how far you go, you’ll never win the BMX bike.
I don’t know if it still exists, but the past few times I’ve been home, there’s an arcade-store called Tilt, and they usually have price tags on their machines.
Ok, the website says it’s still there. Maybe they’ll ship, or it will be a fun road trip, if they’re selling one.
Tilt
804.520.7376
Southpark Mall
230 SOUTHPARK CIRCLE,
COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA 23834
@ikimashokie: I was going to suggest Tilt as well.
It’s a national chain, so Roy doesn’t need to arrange shipping from Virginia to Austin, TX. Unfortunately, I think the machine sales are a once-in-a-while thing; maybe leading up to the holidays.
Doesn’t hurt to go down there and check, though. There’s a list of Tilt locations on their horrible, flash-based website: Tilt.com
@Gtmac: Consumerist has an inferiority complex, don’t mess with it or they will disemvowel you!
Oh, Skee-Ball — the only reason I ever went to amusement parks! (I was too acrophobic and dizzy to go on most rides.) I love that game so much.
I shall utter my first one: I do not understand why this is on Consumerist. At the very least I would like to know which avenues Roy and his friends have exhausted first before somehow managing to get a consumer website to post a want ad. He has to be somebody’s buddy. For all I know, lazy Roy is sipping beer and eating cheez-its while his internet minions do all the work.
I worked for these guys while in college. They offer new and re-furbished video game machines, pool tables, and yes skee-ball.
http://www.bradydist.com/
They may still have the old ones made by Bally/Midway in their inventory, so ask!
Good Luck!
William Nash
I had good luck here: [tinyurl.com]
[www.thepinballcompany.com]
I would love to have a skee ball machine at the house. Just don’t have any room. Skee ball is rather therapeutic. Even more so if you throw over hand.
@zjmuse: Esp. since the header is “Ask the Consumerist”.
You should totally check out the KLOV.COM forums. Not only are they one of the best arcade game resources on the web you might actually find someone on the board in a league willing to let you practice! There are also some people on there that sell bulk tokens…i’m sure you can figure out where i’m going with this…
fantomesq suggested: “I’d think make a deal with the local arcade manager for heavily discounted tokens …”
I was thinking the same thing – except I’d take it a step further in the offer to the arcade. Offer to let them be sponsors in return for training time. Wear logo clothes. Have mini-tournaments letting patrons play against the team. Invite the local news in to watch the team practice and have interviews. A smart arcade owner might see this as a great opportunity.
Of course, check the rules of the competition to be sure what you do is allowed.
Try finding a local operator that owns the arcade games on location. They usually leave a card or sticker on machines they own. Maybe they have an old beat up machine that they’re looking to get rid of.
If you’re in Austin, check out. [www.joystixamusements.com]
They’re a Houston arcade, but they buy and sell the games. If anything they’re a hell of a lot closer to you than Jersey and the owner Charles is an amazing guy. We’re having out wedding reception at Joystix in September and he’s been more than accommodating.
Anyway, he can hook you guys up I know it. =)
@undefined: That was valid question.
Chuckie Cheese does not resell their equipment. As a policy, all equipment is demo’ed.
In the WNY area there is a coin-op builder. You might want to check with their distributors. http://www.icegame.com/dealerlocator.aspx
*warning: stupidly loud and obnoxius advert on the main page.