it's not unusual to see a briefcase handcuffed to someones wrist. Sometimes two.

I went to MGC with cash in my pocket in case there was a game I wanted. It was my first show. I noticed most games are set up for free play. If they are for sale there is a price on the machine and a contact phone number. I noticed that prices were dropping on the last day of the show. Looks like people want to get rid of the games at the show and not haul them home. Nothing really grabbed me so I didn't buy a game. I'm sure you just call, meet the seller, make a deal, and hand over the cash.

Cash talks.

I know of one of the larger train shows out east that it isn't uncommon to have people there with well over $20K on them. Funniest thing I heard ever was an announcement over the PA that somebody lost $26K and did anybody find it ? A roar of laughter swept through the halls. Somebody did find it and turned it in.

Use common sense so you aren't a target. You go in a bar or restaurant, just have enough cash to cover the bill. And if you leave the show, leave convention badges in your hotel room. Don't carry a big flashing sign that says I have cash, I'm from out of town, and I can't come back to testify.

As far as pinball shows, often the game has a card on it with seller's name and phone number. Or they might be by the machine. Some deals are made before a show. Some during. Some out in the parking lot.

LTG : )

For some vendors the use of a credit card forces them to charge sales tax.

+1 to that. If you buy a beer at the bar, pull out your wallet with $40, and not your wad of $100s.

Ca$h is king for used pin purchases and sales. I showed my son how it's done several times. Carry cash and carry protection.

Yes! Cash is always best! It saves credit card fees and often tax.

4k cash money in my pocket last show

Yes, money talks. Be smart, set a budget and stick with it.

Otherwise, you will end up with a costly impulse purchase.

roll of $100s....fur coat,pimp hat and cane.....and your pin-pimp'in all day

Hotel safe. Or just be aware of a nearby bank.

Without saying exactly how I do it all...

Get cash and set a budget for what you are willing to spend. Once you have done that, take out a certain part of it and put it in your pocket or where ever so you can have some handy for parts, a down payment on a game, or whatever. Leave the rest elsewhere.

If you find something you really want, give them what you have and then go get the rest. Sellers will be totally find with that. If you don't, you're not carrying around a ton of money that you can drop or whatever as you go.

I also like to break it up something like this - I'll put the money that I want for a potential new game and keep that "off site" of the show, and put what I'm willing to spend for parts in my pocket. I find that if I put too much in my pocket, I go around and randomly buy stuff that I absolutely don't need just because it looks cool (like I got a sub playfield for a Black Hole a few years ago... don't own a Black Hole nor even a Gottlieb of that era, but had the extra cash burning a hole, so why not? Yarg. It was neat though).

Don't walk around with a ton of cash and flash it around though. Everyone is pretty awesome at shows, but in life it just generally isn't the best idea.

Take your cash. I leave it locked in my glove box in the car.

Bring cash. $7 - $12k. Hotel safe works fine.

I would recommend carrying at least $50000, and then call me when you get there!!! I'll be the guy with the baseball bat!

Remember Ozzie a great thing about pinball shows is the amount of games available to be played,
even if you dont buy a game you should have a good idea what you like and dont like.
With all the noise and distractions it may be tough to remember the ones you dugg most after playing 50-80 pins - take notes & photos .
good luck with the hunt

If you're a buyer, yes. Hand over cash, load up the game.

I bought two games at the MGC and that is how I did it. Cash and Carry baby!!! $100 bills!!!

And then yank the plugs out of the wall....

Ya'll are much braver than me. I'm uncomfortable having more than a couple hundred on me at any time. I've never bought a game at a show but have prepared for it with hopes to. My plan was that I would give the owner a deposit and then go to the bank to get the rest at that moment a deal was made. If the owner was not OK with this then I walk on the deal. Maybe I'll be braver when I get my concealed handgun license but as it stands now I'd be a nervous wreck having the kind of cash these machines go for these days on me.

I bring cash then if I can't find anything to buy I make it rain all up in here!

pacman-jones-making-it-rain-then-shoot.jpg

I use the Steve Martin method:

I put about $5000 in my left shoe and a slice of baloney in my right. It makes me feel tall and rich, but also uncomfortable at the same time.

This uneasy feeling heightens my Spider Sense and raises my blood pressure to an unhealthy level, which in turn allows me to make rapid nonsensical decisions that I will ( of course ) regret later.

It does make for memorable pinball shows though...

I went to TPF for the first time. Took cash and my HK 357sig. Never felt unsafe at all. Bought two machines literally as the show was ending (prices dropped at the end of the show) and am happy with the purchases. I will probably take some to sell next year and buy some more while there. It's pretty convenient.