Expensive stuff

[Gurndigarn]

As some of you know, I work in coin-operated amusement. There have been a number of games recently that give out expensive prizes. iPods, digital cameras, very high fashion accessories, etc. I can order these things through my company, or they let me purchase and expense them. I've done ordering because until recently, it was easier and cheaper. However, with various corporate changes, it now makes more fiscal sense for me to expense things. It's easier to just order them, but anyway, I'm looking at dipping my toes into the realms of supply purchasing.

Now the problem: most of the stuff that I can order is electronic in nature. And unfortunately, electronics depreciate rapidly. If you don't unload it quickly, you may not unload it at all. Sadly, this means that if most of your prizes are electronic in nature, the new stuff flies out of there, and the older stuff usually stays, leaving you with the quandry of not filling the game up with new prizes or having a few prizes that you know are never going to be won.

So: I'm looking for non-electronic things to purchase. Things that won't lose appeal or value within a year's time. The requirements are:

* Roughly $75-100 ($US) cost, with the value unlikely to drop much over time.
* maximum dimensions roughly 20 x 20 x 30 cm (8 x 8 x 12 inches), maximum weight roughly 3 kg (possibly more, but I'm not interested in testing the limits of these games)
* not so fragile that it can't withstand a 1 meter drop while in its normal packaging
* can be displayed attractively. (Most of the games use hooks, though there are a few exceptions.)
* has wide appeal, so lots of people will want to try for it, OR
** is amazingly cool, so that even if people don't say "Oh, I want to win that one", they at least notice the game and might become interested in the other prizes in it, OR
** is a niche item that will get a specific group of people very interested in the game (the group has to be big enough that someone will eventually win it, of course.)

I'm trying to avoid gift cards because they're boring and in some places might run afoul with gambling laws. Jewelry has challenges in displaying it in some way to indicate it's value when people can't examine it closely (and making sure you're not being scammed by the local jeweler— damn, they have high markups!).

Any other ideas? And thanks, even if you don't come up with anything.

[Wicked_Lexi]

That's a seriously tough call... Not sure i can think of anything... Only thing that occurred to me would be PSP games or the like. But I have no idea how much they would cost US me being in Australia... but those things have a pretty wide interest base with adults and kids though you would have to make sure you get ones that aren't going to get you in trouble for selling games to under age kids..

[Gurndigarn]

That's a seriously tough call...

Yeah, that's why I threw it out to the group. I've been sorta-looking for a long while now, and haven't found anything.

Not sure i can think of anything... Only thing that occurred to me would be PSP games or the like. But I have no idea how much they would cost US me being in Australia.

At the moment our money is fairly near par. Now, that's mostly because of the US$'s rapid depressurization recently, so prices won't have equalized, but still, something in the vicinity would be fine. And we do have PSP games (and units in the more expensive games). Unfortunately, they do age, though not as badly as, say, satellite radio receivers or digital cameras.

[wagegoth]

I haven't thought much about it yet, but would it help to get the limited editions of some of the electronics? Sometimes they come out in a certain color that you can only get through one store or on a special deal.

My kids are into Transformers. Those things go up in value several times over. You might consider buying them now and just before the new movie comes out next year. And a lot of adults who play video games are seriously into Transformers, too.

Trading cards? Several packs or the collectible tins.

Gaming cards? Same as above.

Some of those really cool model cars, I'm totally blanking on the brand, that are really detailed and expensive.

[Gurndigarn]

Trading cards? Several packs or the collectible tins.

Gaming cards? Same as above.

That's a good idea; thanks! Uh, I've been out of the game and trade cards stuff for a while (doing board games-- cheaper to keep up with and doesn't require a lot of finicky deck-tweaking), so what's popular right now (and not likely to die in short order)?

Some of those really cool model cars, I'm totally blanking on the brand, that are really detailed and expensive.

Sounds good, especially if anyone knows the brand. How fragile are they? Can they survive a 1 meter drop?

[wagegoth]

I'm sorry, I don't really know. I just see some of the things at the stores, online and at cons.

The model cars are usually packaged pretty heavily. I see them at Costco at Christmas.

You might check out John's Toys online and Forbidden Planet online. Forbidden Planet is a UK store, but they have piles of collectibles of all kinds, so it's a good site for research. John's Toys is also pretty big. Razor's Edge is another online store. Always check out the clearance sections to see what isn't selling.

[Dreamstalker]

That's a good idea; thanks! Uh, I've been out of the game and trade cards stuff for a while (doing board games-- cheaper to keep up with and doesn't require a lot of finicky deck-tweaking), so what's popular right now (and not likely to die in short order)?

MtG is always good, though it tends to get confusing as to which sets are in/out of the current game climate. Pokemon not sure, Yu Gi Oh maybe.

Along that note, miniatures games (D&D and HeroClix are the only 2 I can think of right now). Sourcing the good rares might be tough though.

[Arcade Man D]

Since I think I know what particular game he's talking about, Minis are particularly *not* a good idea. The item drops from a bar into the prize door. Bad for minis. The electronics prizes the company uses are packaged not to break in that case, but minis are not.

Also, MtG, unless you or someone you know keeps up with the game, be careful. For example, if you put anything from Kamigawa block in there, it will never go. (I loved that block, but it just doesn't see competitive play outside of Block-format, and that block is almost never done for block format.)

My personal reccomendation would be to put something retro on one of the spirals, get some of the older crowd that has more disposable income to look at it. Model cars (since they are packaged well and are assembly required), perhaps just one spiral with a model '68 Mustang on it.

If you do go with card games, go with MtG or Yu-Gi-Oh, though Pokemon may try to make a comeback, don't bet on that one just yet. With MtG or Yu-Gi-Oh, if you don't know them, again, ask your local hobby shop, or find someone you personally know who knows them and can give you a good idea of which set will be best. Unfortunately, card game sets now have a worse shelf life than electronics. If you put a DS in there, it'd be good for still another year or two, an MtG set will cycle out of Type 2 by then.

[Gurndigarn]

Since I think I know what particular game he's talking about, Minis are particularly *not* a good idea. The item drops from a bar into the prize door. Bad for minis. The electronics prizes the company uses are packaged not to break in that case, but minis are not.

Stacker/Pile Up is the primary one, but there are a bunch of others. Everyone seemed to jump on the bandwagon after Lighthouse came out.

IMO, American Idol was the best one of the lot, and Convoy was the worst.

[wolfie]

Don't know if this would fit your "mass appeal" criterion, but have you considered good LED flashlights? These guys (http://www.peakledsolutions.net) make some interesting ones - my "everyday carry" is a Matterhorn HAIII 3 LED (brighter than the cheap keychain lights that take button cells, and a lot cheaper to feed). Stainless or (especially) brass would look fancier, although they're not quite as practical (but that's not your concern). Either the 3 LED Matterhorn or the Kino Bay (single high-power LED, takes AA batteries) would probably be the way to go - Kino Bay is at about the low end of your range, and Matterhorn is about half that.

I'd steer clear of "cluster" flashlights (I know the Matterhorn is a "cluster", but a single AAA cell can't really feed a high-power LED) - the 3 cell "loads of 5mm LEDs" lights are generally poorly made. I've also seen (at truck stops, retail around $20) a "single high-power" 3xAAA light, but it's not one I'd want to use on a regular basis. Also, with Peak, stay away from the CR123 lights - unless you buy in bulk by mail order, the batteries are expensive as hell.