I was 50%, then renegotiated after awhile to 80%. The owners know they are not making money off the pins, it's the food and booze. They see the amount of people coming in to play, people who wouldn't normally be in their establishment. Pins go, so do the people, so does the money from food and booze.

50% is not the norm in my town anymore. No OPS would do it, as the money is not there.

I also did away with 3 for $2. The bonus kicks in at 6 for $5.

Mind you, up here, a Pro is $7600 after tax and shipping ...

There is no right answer, every location is different for sure.

I had a cherry WH2O in a line up of 5 games. It averaged $7 a week. The Met Pro beside it is doing $150.

My WoZ was down more than it was up (1st run ECLE), so it was a dog.

Stern will keep the Pro's under $6K is my guess. It's tough to buy a 20 year old machine for the same price as a brand new title.

Yup. I have customers constantly asking for the old B/W classics. They cost roughly what a new Stern does up here.

I bring one in (MM, for example) ... then watch the newer/newish Sterns earn double/triple what MM is doing, with less maintenance.

Within a couple months, I'll have a customer make a good cash offer on the MM. Sold! Rinse, repeat ... except now, those old B/W's are priced out of reach in my area ... MM is 10K plus, TZ's in decent shape are $8K plus ... heck, old SYS11's/WPC's with play field wear and shitty cab's people are asking over $4k. EM's that don't power up are $1500.

It's not 1987 anymore.

Agreed, also why I was out on SMVE.

Stern is not getting rid of the pro model. The next title will have an affordable Pro version for operators.

Yup, this x100.

I just signed another location yesterday, 3 pins, 5% off the top for parts and supplies, 90/10 split after that.

$1 a play, 6 plays for $5 - newer pins
$1 a play, 3 plays for $2 - older pins

Luckily we have a $1 coin and a $2 coin. My kids hate counting quarters.

Side note ... if I open a location, am I still an operator?