How to Ship Arcade Machines
Despite the age and relatively poor graphics of arcade machines compared to today's graphics, there remains an active market for their purchase and exchange. While the era of the video arcade has passed and the industry is now dominated by the home console, many gamers prefer the tactile experience and nostalgia of using a stand-up arcade machine, which can bring back sweet memories of days spent as a child playing Pac-Man.
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Instructions
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Stand the machine up. It is always preferable to send an arcade machines in its upright position rather than on its side.
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Take photographs of the state of the machine prior to wrapping it. Doing so provides you with evidence of the machine's condition before it shipped, making it easier to receive reimbursement should it be damaged during shipping.
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Secure any moving parts of the arcade machine, such as external joysticks or paddles. You should anticipate lots of movement and rattling during shipment, and any loose parts may be damaged.
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Tuck the power cord into your arcade machine if it has a slot for this function. Otherwise, wrap the power cord around the machine using rope or a tie. Power cords are especially prone to damage during shipment, particularly if they're left to dangle out of the machine's back.
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Tape down the coin door. It can easily swing open and allow for damage to the arcade machine's internal system.
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Wrap the arcade machine in many layers of bubble wrap. Don't do just a few layers; the machine is likely to take many bumps during shipment. In addition, having an internal layer of bubble wrap will prevent damage to the arcade machine's art and design. You can purchase bubble wrap at most home supply stores.
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Add a layer of cardboard. The thicker the cardboard that you use, the less likely the machine will suffer damage.
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Secure the layers with thick wrapping tape. You'll know that you've used enough tape once the cardboard feels entirely stable; you should sense zero movement or shifting. Take a photo of the wrapped arcade machine to verify how it was packed if needed.
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Contact a transportation company. One important factor in deciding on a company is whether or not it is willing to pick up your shipment; many expect you to transport the heavy machine from your home to their shipment centers. Secondly, make sure that the company provides some sort of insurance in case of damage during shipment.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit game image by Svetlana Kashkina from Fotolia.com
