Video Arcade Game Buyers Guide | FAQ 
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions in regards to purchasing a brand new
or refurbished coin-operated video arcade game. If you have a question that isn't answered here completely, please contact us and we would be happy to answer any additional questions you
may have about purchasing a brand new or refurbished video game, or if you have a specific
game in mind, please call us or use our Sales Inquiry Form for fastest service.
What type or kind of video game should I buy?
Although we provide our customers with guidance in this area when asked (which is quite
often; we frequently are requested to suggest 3 to 5 game titles to fully stock a home or
office gameroom), sometimes this question is best answered by you!
As far as the style of game, we suggest that you buy the one that you like the best, judged
on the game's looks, theme, colors, rules, number of games (for multi-game video games) and
by what kinds of people (kids, teens, adults, mixed) will be using the video game. Some people
buy games based on a "theme" (movies, sports, celebrities, etc) and others to recapture
their youth by purchasing a game they remember playing when young. Some people buy a
game strictly because it is brand new or highly-collectable (a game that grows in value), or
because the game closely matches a certain color or decor in a given room.
When looking for a video arcade game, consider the following:
How much money are you willing to spend on your video game purchase?
Will your game be used by family and children or teens and adults? Will it be in
situated in a business or retail establishment or just be used by yourself and friends?
If for family and children, what are the ages of the children who will be using it?
Will the game be easy enough to play? We have many game titles specifically
geared to, and appealing to, most kids (and usually to most adults as well!)
Where will the game be located? A centerpiece for your home or your garage?
What is the cost of a typical video arcade game?
Video arcade games vary considerably in price, from a low of around $1400-$2400 for a older,
fully restored classic video game title, to over $150,000 for brand new, large and complex video
arcade games, and depends on a number of different factors such as:
New or pre-owned game
Number of simultaneous players
Type of game cabinet - Standup (Upright) Large/Sitdown or Cocktail table)
Monitor (screen) size, Type (LCD, CRT or Plasma) and number of monitors used.
Current market value (preowned games)
The cosmetic and mechanical condition of the game (for preowned games)
Current game popularity, game rarity and / or game collectability factors
Current supply and demand of the specific video game you are looking to purchase
The majority of games range from one thousand to about ten thousand dollars, depending on
the game title and its condition. Prices within the same game title may vary by several hundred
dollars from dealer to dealer or through auctions on the web of less-desirable video games.
The current market price of the game and most importantly the video game condition affect the
actual price of a game. You may obtain a lower price by purchasing a less expensive unit, but
then the chance that it is a sub-standard game that will fail to operate, breakdown or not play
will increase dramatically. And what happens when your video game need service? Who will you
turn to? Make sure you know exactly who you are dealing with before buying your video game.
Who or where should I buy my video game from?
When you first start looking to purchase a video game, the thing you do is to see if there is a reputable national gaming distributor firm that is willing to sell you a top-quality video game, and here is what to
look for: First, do they have a physical address? A showroom? How about a toll-free or even a regular phone number? Are they an actual business dealing in quality games or just some part-timer looking
to unload substandard video games on the web or eBay quickly?
35% of our service calls were from people who used either eBay or offline "dealers" to buy their game
(We no longer offer repair services to the general public, but just to BMI Gaming customers)
Do they provide in-home repair if your game breaks down? Do they offer in-home delivery? What
about a Warranty? Do they offer a return policy if you are not happy with your purchase? If you live
out of state, can they find someone qualified to fix your game in your home or help you with the
repair over the phone free of charge?
How come I there is such a difference in price between video games?
Video games can vary considerably in price, mostly due to their size, overall condition, popularity and rarity. Just like a pre-owned car, a reconditioned video game that has been completely overhauled and serviced properly will be worth much more than one that has not been taken care of. The video games
we sell are in absolutely the best condition possible and have gone through our video game reconditioning process, so they have a higher value than games that have not undergone restoration.
The cheaper games you may see online are priced lower because either they are older or abused video games that are prone to breakdowns and can be very costly to repair, or the game may have several defects the seller may or may not disclose to you, or is not completely refurbished.
I don't live near you, so how much will it cost to pack and ship a video game?
If you are buying a game from us out-of-town then you will most likely have it shipped to you.
The average base shipping cost for in-home delivery (most dealers quote shipping with just
curbside delivery, which you then have to figure out a way to get a very heavy 300+ Lbs game
into your home) in the continental USA is between is $275 to $375 depending on your location,
and where it is being moved to (ground floor, basement, upstairs or high-rise building)
Please consult our shipping page for more information about game shipments.
Do I need to use coins or tokens to play my video game?
No. Most modern video games have a "free play" function that allows the game to be played
without the use of any coins or tokens! Almost all of our video games have this function. For
games that come with fully functional coin doors (and some with dollar bill acceptors), you
you can set either for free play or you may charge for playing, in varying amounts (0.25, 0.75,
3 games for $1, etc). Some of our more "enterprising" customers have actually paid for their
game in just a year or less or so by charging friends and family members to play it!
How often will I need to have my video game serviced or repaired ?
That depends if the game is new or refurbished, and on how often you use plan to use your
game. A video game has few moving parts, so there is little need for repairs other than some
minor maintenance or adjustments. Generally speaking, most "home-use" video games in
good condition or better that are played a few times per week can go for years without
needing any sort of service. All our games, new or pre-owned, come with a game warranty
Just how big is video game? Will it fit through a my doorway?
Most "upright" video games were designed to fit through most modern "standard" width
doorways (approx 32"). Some larger video games and "sitdown" type driving video games
can also be fitted through standard doorways as they come in two sections. However, there
are a few larger games that cannot fit through a standard doorway - So always be sure to
double check the game dimensions with us before ordering to be sure your game will fit!
){kind=small}
