STRATEGIC PARTNERS
ANAHEIM, CA -- Captain's Auction Warehouse has opened the doors to its new showroom here, where customers can test-drive featured equipment coming up for bid and play arcade classics from "the Captain's" personal collection. The Anaheim, CA-based company cut the ribbon on its new showroom with a "soft opening" on Jan. 25, when it hosted the California Entertainment Machine Association's 2019 Spotlight Show and Association Meeting, which featured seminars, lunch and exhibits of new equipment. Its n...
February 21, 2019
ANAHEIM, CA -- Captain's Auction Warehouse has opened the doors to its new showroom here, where customers can test-drive featured equipment coming up for bid and play arcade classics from "the Captain's" personal collection.
The Anaheim, CA-based company cut the ribbon on its new showroom with a "soft opening" on Jan. 25, when it hosted the California Entertainment Machine Association's 2019 Spotlight Show and Association Meeting, which featured seminars, lunch and exhibits of new equipment.
Its next big event at the facility will be its live March Madness Auction on Mar. 9, which will also be open to registered online bidders. On the block, and currently viewable on the company's website, will be a gamut of new, used and refurbished equipment, including pinball, videogames, prize and ticket redemption games and food and beverage and bulk vending machines.
Chris Campbell (a.k.a. The Captain) established Captain's Auction Warehouse in 1999 as a consignment-based, online forum for coin-op enthusiasts like himself and industry professionals alike to buy and sell new and used coin-op amusement and vending equipment.
"When I met people selling arcade games online, I knew the best process for packing and shipping, which had been my background; I knew a better way to do it and my friend called me Captain Chris because I led the way, and the name stuck," he recalled. "I can reach around the country and the world and help people ship me equipment to us to sell. I have the contacts and know all that's needed; I can schedule semi trucks at good rates."
Following its online success, the company moved into a 13,000-sq.ft. brick-and-mortar location in 2008 in Anaheim, CA, to host live auctions and warehouse equipment. Business has boomed ever since and the company still stakes its claim as the only auction warehouse selling coin operated and amusement games on the West Coast.
"The real estate market crash pivoted me into live auctions," Campbell recalled. "People were going out of business or needed cash fast. I saw a void in the used equipment market for auctions and I was a good fit because I had the know-how and contacts and a way for operators to gather and sell and buy equipment."
As the business grew, the building adjacent to Captain's Live Auction Warehouse with a connecting parking lot became available and Campbell took advantage of the opportunity to expand its space to a total 28,000 sq.ft. between the two buildings. The new showroom occupies 4,000 sq.ft. at the front of the new facility.
"It gives people an opportunity to see some of what they can buy at auction, play the games and inquire. Some pieces they can 'buy now,' instead of at auction," Campbell explained. "Pinball is very popular, so we showcase a lot of those machines, including from my own collection for nostalgia and fun."
Just as the recession drove a need for operators to buy and sell equipment at auction, the strong economy has been fueling a new round of business growth for Captain's Auction Warehouse.
"Any activity these days is mostly equipment rotation rather than closures of businesses," Campbell pointed out. "There are lots of grassroots openings of breweries and arcade owners that have created more demand for used equipment. As more people are buying or rotating than closing down, it's getting harder to find good equipment to bring in to sell, which is a good challenge to have."
Campbell takes pride in the standard he sets for the quality of the machines he brings in. "That's a big sell and we've become a big name as an equipment source for FEC owners and operators, not just home players looking for a cheap machine for their garage," he emphasized.
In the early days of Captain's Warehouse Auction's live auctions, participants had to be present to bid, but nowadays, Campbell hosts live events at its facility and online simultaneously, allowing registered participants from anywhere in the world to take part online in real time.
"We make it a point to keep up to make the buyer and seller experience as pleasant as possible," he said.
The self-taught auctioneer typically runs the fast-paced events for 13 hours straight, with only a few 10-minute breaks scattered throughout. He holds around 10 auctions a year – with some online only -- and sells about 650 lots at each one. Accompanying Campbell in the business is his wife Tiffany, who overseas marketing, and a day-to-day staff of five others, that ramps up to 15 people at times of auctions.
"Our online-only auctions on our website are timed for 10 or 30 days, and work like our own private eBay," The Captain explained. "Our live, in-house Saturday auctions draw people from several surrounding states because we're in a convenient, destination area, close to Hollywood and many other attractions, and we make an event out of it for them, with dinner on us and giveaways. It's a lot of fun."
Captain's Auction Warehouse also donates all proceeds from auction event drawings to raise money for scholarships to Spirit League, a local organization that provides opportunities for children and young adults with special needs to play team sports in a positive, self-esteem building environment.
