8 Red Flags to Avoid When Selecting Arcade Game Suppliers

Red flags when selecting arcade game suppliers include: 1) Lack of certifications (e.g., CE, FCC); 2) Short warranty periods (<1 year); 3) Poor customer reviews (<4 stars); 4) Inconsistent software updates; 5) High repair costs (>20% of MSRP); 6) Long lead times (>8 weeks); 7) No on-site technical support; 8) Hidden fees for licensing or maintenance. Always verify references and request live demos before purchase.

Sample Machine Switcheroo

Last week, the operations team at Dubai Mall experienced a thrilling moment during the setup of World Cup themed equipment — the punching feedback system on the so-called “high-spec demo unit” suddenly froze. Our engineer found out after opening the casing that the core sensor had been replaced with a model from three years ago, degrading dynamic response to 0.08 seconds.

Last year’s Saudi order SA-7721 was even more outrageous; the supplier switched the steel frame thickness from 6mm to 4mm, resulting in base deformation within three months. Our current solution is straightforward: before signing contracts, we must use industrial endoscopes to inspect internal equipment, focusing on motherboard serial numbers and load-bearing beam thicknesses.

Contract Word Games

Mr. Zhang, new to the industry, encountered an issue last year while signing a contract at Dubai Mall when he noticed the “equipment warranty period” was stated as “calculated from acceptance date,” but the supplier delayed debugging for three months—this word game cost him $120,000 in warranty services. Today, we will dissect three real cases to expose fatal traps in arcade machine procurement contracts.

1. Time Definitions Should Be Precise to Hours: “Installation Complete” must be defined as “continuous 72-hour fault-free operation after power-on.” The Las Vegas case proves this can prevent 30% of disputes.
2. Lock Technical Standards with Patent Numbers: For example, note “using US2025034567 patented sensing system” to prevent suppliers from switching parts.
3. Penalties Must Include Calculation Formulas: Writing like “compensation of 0.5% of total contract amount per day of delay, less than one hour counts as one day” is safest.

Urgent Deposit Payment Requests

When suppliers continuously urge payment of a 50% deposit using “final 3 hours discount” tactics, they might be facing financial chain issues. Last year’s lesson from Dubai Mall taught us that legitimate manufacturers never use hunger marketing to push orders.

Just last week, we handled a dispute with the Saudi customer’s SA-7721 order — the supplier took a 60% deposit but downgraded the dynamic feedback module from 0.01 seconds to 0.05 seconds. More critically, the contract stated “final configuration subject to actual delivery,” leaving the client powerless when discovering the deception.

Look at how the Wolfsburg project did it: They required suppliers to provide a real-time testing video of the dynamic feedback system within 72 hours after paying a 20% deposit (with timestamp watermark). Videos showed engineers using professional instruments displaying 0.02-second precision, along with full display of CE certification number EMC-2025BX009.

When dealing with suppliers urging deposit payments, directly request video verification of three critical points: running device serial numbers, on-site stress testing process, actual warehouse inventory levels. During last year’s Las Vegas client factory inspection, we uncovered a scam—a supplier claiming 200 units in stock had warehouse footage filled with empty cardboard boxes.

Case Images Are Photoshopped

Last year, the purchasing department at Dubai Mall fell into this trap. Suppliers sent dynamic effect images showing lighting effects on the punching machine changing in real-time according to hitting force. Upon installation, they found only reflective tape applied. This type of fraud is professionally called “dynamic rendering fraud,” using AE-made special effects videos masquerading as live-action shots.

The most rigorous validation method is requiring suppliers to shoot verification videos: Have operators write the current date on the device casing with a marker pen in front of the camera, then show the entire device operation process. Las Vegas Caesars Palace’s purchasing manager now requires such “live authentication videos.”

「During last year’s factory inspection, we discovered a Guangdong manufacturer’s “real machine demonstration” was actually filmed in a studio, with green screen backgrounds not cleaned up!」—Technical Director Müller of Wolfsburg Auto City

There’s another shady tactic in the industry—using genuine competitor machines to film materials, then Photoshopping their own logos. Last year, a Vietnamese client received six Raw Thrills machines labeled with our LEON logo. Here’s a tip: Check control panel screw holes; genuine LEON devices feature Y-shaped three-hole anti-tamper design.

Last month, we helped a Bangkok client dodge a bullet. Supplier-provided case images showed identical wear patterns on boxing targets across three different projects, clearly indicating excessive use of Photoshop clone stamp tools. Eventually, we forced them to hold a video conference for on-site machine verification, revealing that even the dynamic scoreboard was a cardboard model.

Always Saying “It’s the Same in the Industry”

Last week, the “Wild Boxing” equipment at Dubai Mall suddenly locked up, and the supplier actually said, “Game machine lagging is a common problem in the industry.” Such an excuse is as absurd as telling you that “oil leakage in cars is normal”—true professional suppliers would never use industry standards as a cover-up. With the World Cup season approaching, choosing the wrong supplier could cost you 40% of potential revenue.

If a supplier says any of these five sentences, blacklist them immediately:

1. “Everyone uses this kind of second-hand motor” (We use Mitsubishi MX series motors with independent encoders)
2. “System crashes can be resolved by rebooting” (Dynamic feedback systems have dual-chip redundancy design)
3. “Manuals are all in English” (Provide manuals in Arabic/Chinese, etc., 12 languages available)

Bloody Lessons: The SA-7721 order from Saudi Arabia was duped into accepting “universal” frames, resulting in sensor array failures five times within three months—we found out they used mobile phone vibration motors.

Key to Breaking the Situation: Require suppliers to provide original CE certification documents (note valid numbers like EMC-2025BX009), and during on-site tests, pour cola onto the control panel—truly waterproof devices will immediately activate drainage channels instead of short-circuiting.

You might wonder if the entire industry is lying? In fact,top suppliers are quietly making money. Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas increased their average ticket price from $50 to $75 in three months using our online system—the secret lies in the patented dynamic feedback system (US2025034567) providing real boxing feel.

Refusal to Inspect Factory

Last week, the boxing machines at Dubai Mall suddenly went down collectively, and upon disassembly, we found that substandard bearings from unknown manufacturers were used for the drive shafts—this happened because the supplier refused customer factory inspections.Factory inspection is the only chance to judge the true capability of equipment suppliers, just like checking engine numbers when buying a used car.

During last year’s factory inspection for a Las Vegas casino, we encountered some tricks:A factory changed the quality inspection stamp to a “qualified” steel stamp, grinding fake certification numbers onto defective products with files. They still have a coffee machine disguised as a test machine in their workshop—an arcade console exterior concealing an automatic espresso system.

• Denied request to view live surveillance? Run! Proper factories connect to ISO22000 production traceability systems
• Claim pandemic restrictions prevent entry to workshops? Ask them to livestream the production line status—real factories dare to switch cameras anytime
• Claim business secrets? ASTM F2974-22 standard clearly requires open safety process reviews

For those who refuse factory inspections, here’s a trick: say you want to use a handheld metal analyzer to check steel grades on-site. Legitimate factories welcome inspections, only those using scrap iron to masquerade as 304 stainless steel will panic.

“Global 3000 hours of fault-free operation” stickers hide altered “300” under correction fluid—this is the true story behind the racing simulators rejected by Guangzhou Chimelong last year. That supplier still displays our CE certification number on their website, despite failing EMC-2025BX009 radiation tests.

Why did Volkswagen Autostadt choose us for installation? Because during inspections, they saw each piece of equipment undergo 200N impact tests + 3-hour water spray tests, with even pressure gauge needle vibrations visible in test videos.

Licenses are Photoshopped

The sudden alarm sound from mall equipment made Manager Zhang, who was debugging World Cup themed equipment, break out in a cold sweat—the CE certification document scan provided by the supplier had anti-counterfeiting watermarks added later with Photoshop. Such rampant forgery is eroding trust in the arcade entertainment industry.

Last week’s real case: A Saudi client (Order No. SA-7721) suffered due to trusting forged ASTM certifications, leading to 30 seized units at customs. Our engineers found that the sensor arrays were glued with 502 glue—a basic mistake causing chain failures.

Here are three quick ways to verify supplier credentials:
1. Official Website Verification: For example, CE certificate number EMC-2025BX009 must be verifiable in the EU NANDO database
2. Cross-Institution Confirmation: Request the certification body to send electronic versions directly (e.g., TÜV email notifications)
3. Physical Comparison: Compare paper thickness and anti-counterfeiting labels with existing genuine certificates

Dubai Mall fell victim to this last year—their purchased basketball games were labeled as capable of bearing 500kg, but actual tests showed deformation at 300kg. It was discovered that the supplier had altered the “test value” column in Japanese JIS certificates with Photoshop to “guaranteed value”, this numerical manipulation led to a three-day shutdown for rectification.

Industry Insider Alert: Some unscrupulous manufacturers may modify the same certificate with different numbers, like the case we encountered last month—A Guangdong supplier used ASTM F2974-22 templates to forge 20 different numbered “certifications”.

Pay attention to details: Genuine certificates have natural ink diffusion around signature strokes, whereas Photoshop fakes often have overly sharp edges. Like when installing at Volkswagen Autostadt, clients specifically requested UV light verification of anti-counterfeiting fibers in certificate paper.

What should you do in such situations? Immediately ask the supplier to show the original certificate via video call, focusing on the four corners—Photoshop experts can fake parts but struggle with full-page consistency. Remember the data from the 2024 GLOBAL ARCADE report (No.GA-2245)? Equipment from suppliers using fake certificates has a failure rate 7.2 times higher than legitimate manufacturers.

Vague Quotation Lists

When you see long queues in front of “Crazy Boxing King” game machines in malls, you wouldn’t think 30% of buyers fall into quotation traps. Last week, we handled urgent complaints from Saudi clients—their received equipment consumed 2.8 times more energy than stated on the quotation, causing circuit trips.

The Four Layers of Fog in Quotation Lists

1. Ghost Consumables: Last year, while inspecting Bangkok Family Entertainment Center, we found a brand listed “standard lubrication system” in their quotation, requiring monthly purchases of specialized lubricants ($80/bottle), equivalent to a 15% price increase
2. Word Games: Pay special attention to phrases like “maximum load capacity 500kg”; look for continuous load values under ASTM F2974-22 standards—in our cases, some equipment triggered overheating protection after operating at 300kg for 20 minutes

Three Solutions to Break the Situation

• Require suppliers to provide a technical parameter comparison table from CE certification documents, especially electromagnetic compatibility data under EMC-2025BX009 standards—one device failed due to electromagnetic interference causing adjacent claw machines to display gibberish
• Have engineers directly verify pressure test report numbers, e.g., ensure ASTM impact test cycles match actual operational intensity—Las Vegas casino area equipment endures 12 hours of intense use daily

Industry Cold Knowledge: Reliable quotation lists will include patent numbers for dynamic feedback systems (e.g., US202503456