Star wars cell scam?

[Shellandjeff]

E-bay item # 6202432387. Seller is listing it as a "portable". looks like its a cell only being sold. Same with a batman cell that hes offering up as the latest innovation from Japan.Looks like a scam to me. Is it just me or is there all of a sudden a huge glut on everything star wars, and the market looks to be getting flooded? Also, I wonder if many of the bidders on those SW machines from Japan have looked at the shipping prices...ouch.

[logicprobe]

It doesn't look like they are selling a cell... just a display.
It's removed from a pachinko cell. Just the LCD and other stuff to make it run.
These are seen often on Yahoo Japan, since space is at a premium in Japanese living quarters.
But no... it's not a pachinko. Scam? Depends if you're aware of what you're really getting. Maybe that's all someone would want. (I have no idea why!)

That's were PachiTalk comes in.

BTW... here's the link, via cut and paste from the address line of the browser (that's how you do it).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6202432387

[azlew]

This will be a fun one to watch Thanks for posting it.

[ocpachinko]

A link to a Japanese company that sells these, as well as the "old-school" (i.e. non-eviscerated) machines: http://pkobo.co.jp/desktype/spec.html
I'm sure that "desktop pachinko" appeals to those who don't have the time and space (or inclination) for more. You get the video and the most impressive part of the playfield design. You don't get the rest of the playfield design, the lighting effects of the case, or the action of the balls. I'm not sure how much of the multi-speaker sound systems they provide in one of these...it may vary.

For those with no love of what pachinko historically was, this could be seen as an improvement. Though I don't think "desktop pachinko" is right; more like "desktop pavido"...the chink sound is gone. "You can play in your apartment without the sound of the ball."

'Spose I can't fault someone in a Japanese microapartment for getting these. I guess it's better than the furnace. Not so much my thing, though...I've been spending some time lately fixing and sprucing up two single ball Sophias with my daughter (what's broken on one usually works on the other so we can fix them both), and I guess this is one step too far for me.

But I think that those Aruze (Mizuho brand) machines could suggest another way for Pachinko's future...(to be continued)...

[Bilko44]

No scam here. It's just another form of collecting art, similar to those who collect movie cell art or pinball game back glass. Just read the ad carefully so you know exactly what is offered.

[shiftdelete]

a word of caution. Some of the verbage in this auction is exactly the same as another highly suspicious seller in Japan who claimed to be a U.S. civilian stationed overseas, and that he can ship from japan for $30 - $50, etc via USPS. He had several negative feedback. This looks like a new name, and the only things he has sold have been a few sets of FAKE cell phones. Be VERY careful with this one.

This is the text that was similar: IT IS IMPORTED FROM <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><ST1JAPAN </ST1</st1:country-region>AND I WILL BE PUTTING ON MORE PACHINKO MACHINES UP FOR AUCTION. I SOON WILL HAVE EVERY NEW AVAILABLE PACHINKO MACHINE FOR YOU TO BID ON. IF YOU HAVE ANY SIAL REQUESTS FOR A MACHINE PLEASE E-MAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU WANT!!!

[shiftdelete]

Ok, I did some more digging. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...193129744&rd=1

That was the seller that claimed he was stationed overseas. The text is the same, even misspelling "Special" as "SIAL". However, it seems the buyer did get his Star Wars machine, and left positive feedback. So, who knows.

[slotter]

I'd be very careful with this guy...

[Bilko44]

I agree with Slotter and Shiftdelete: The feedback of the seller would be of great concern to me.

The seller is not a member of the US military but is employed by a US civilian contractor which has access to military postal services. If the military knew what he was doing, (using military mailing privileges for profit), I am sure they would shut him down in a heartbeat.

[luckydog]

Here's 2 portables on Ebay located in the states

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmasafumikimQQhtZ-1

[RKnarr01]

not a bad price on that star wars

[logicprobe]

It's only the LCD display!!!

[Tulsa]

not a bad price on that star wars

Huh?

What star wars? Oh, you mean that video player someone is trying to snare something unsuspecting soul into thinking it's a game they can play.. I get it now..

[RKnarr01]

thats what im saying 350 just for the LCD, good for seller but the buyer isnt gonna be happy with it

[logicprobe]

The playfield has been cleaned and polished, worn rubber and burnt bulbs replaced and all functions have been checked

WHAT playfield??? :lmao:

[RKnarr01]

THIS IS NOT ONLY A PACHINKO MACINE FOR ENTERTAINMENT BUT ALSO FOR THE STAR WARS FAN COLLECTIBLE. GREAT SLOT MACHINE!!

So they say it's a pachinko machine, which it no longer is and yet they say it's a slot machines which it's not nor was it ever.

[Lazarus]

I checked out that link from ocpachinko for the company that cells just the cells. You can get just the cell of the yellow cab for 25,000 yen. Then I seen a cell that had a naked cartoon lady. I think a mermaid. I did not think any pachinkos had any sort of nudity. I know they come close. Real close! but this is new to me. Although it is a cartoon not real video like in the yellow cab. Is there more machines that have nudity? Not that I would want to see it!

[RKnarr01]

Just the cell on the YC for $250 USD seems over priced to me, you can get the whole machine here for that price.

[arbycoffee]

I think with the market changing in Japan to cells more the price are going to bunce around some from one vendor to the next.