Which arcade games should I ask to see service logs for?
Ask for service logs on the machines that earn the most, the oldest cabinets, and anything with moving parts, prize mechanisms or heavy use. Those are the games most likely to need costly repairs. Ask for the logs of a few quiet machines too, for comparison.
Begin with the top earners. If three or four machines carry the arcade, you need to know how reliable they are. Ask when they were last repaired, what failed, and whether parts are still available. A star machine that is down often is a bigger concern than a quiet one.
Then check the old cabinets and anything with mechanisms: claw machines, ticket dispensers, racing seats, shooting guns, air hockey tables. These wear out in ways a simple screen does not. Ask whether anything is on a lease or revenue share, because some machines may not be the seller’s to sell.
Last, compare notes with the floor. Ask staff which machines get complaints, which need frequent attention and which they avoid. A technician can tell you how many more years a cabinet may run. Use that to plan replacements when you review the arcade’s cash flow with your accountant. Ask also about the electrical side: power supplies, monitors and coin or card readers. These parts fail without warning, and a spare board in a cupboard can tell you which machines have caused trouble before.
Key takeaways
- Start with the highest earners and the oldest cabinets.
- Check anything with moving parts or prize mechanisms.
- Ask which machines are leased or on a revenue share.
- Ask what spare parts and boards the arcade keeps on hand.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
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