Action Pinball Logo Game Sales Information

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Phone: (801) 272-0221 - Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Game Packing & Shipping Info

NOTE: As of January 1, 2012, we are no longer making or handling any actual shipping arrangements with freight carriers.

You can still get a game shipped to you from our shop, but we ourselves are no longer making or handling the shipping arrangements directly with the freight carrier.

The only difference is that you will have to select a freight carrier on your own, and make arrangements directly with them for pickup of the game from our shop, and transportation/delivery to your location. This is actually a very simple process, and is explained in detail below.

"Why don't you make shipping arrangements anymore?"

We are pinball people- not freight handlers- and while we have had tremendous success shipping games to our customers for many years (mostly due to our professional game packaging methods), we have decided to no longer deal with the process of game shipping due to all the logistics and common issues typically associated with freight handling and delivery.

While we haven't had any major issues with shipping over the years, the business of making arrangements with freight companies for pickup/delivery, tracking shipments for customers on a daily basis, managing occasional issues between customers and freight companies, and basically playing the part of "middle man" between freight company and customer, have proven to simply be too time-consuming and too much of a draw on our resources to continue to do so.

Again, we are pinball people- not freight handlers- and have made the difficult decision to simply remove ourselves from the equation of game shipping, and continue to focus on what we do, which is pinball, pinball, pinball.

We don't expect this to be any major inconvenience to our customers- in fact, it may actually prove to be a benefit, as our customers can now have a choice between multiple shippers, call-around to get different price quotes, and work directly with the freight company one-on-one regarding delivery and any specific transportation details.


The overall process of shipping a pinball machine or video game is actually very simple, and requires only a few steps. Each of these is explained in detail below:
  1. Choose Your Packaging
  2. Choose Your Shipper
  3. Contact Us
Other Important Shipping Info

Step 1: Choose Your Packaging

We can professionally prepare and package your game before it is turned over to your freight company for the actual shipping. Packaging is the most important part of shipping a game, and determines how safely your game will be while it is in transit with your freight company.

There is an additional charge for game packaging, which covers our time, labor, and cost of materials to prepare your game for shipment. Costs listed below are charged in addition to the game purchase price.

Our Available Packaging Services:
  1. No Packaging: $0
    This option is available only if you are having an agent/friend/relative/etc. pick up your unpackaged game in person at our shop and handle the packaging and shipping for you. No preparation or packaging will be done to the game- it is picked up "as is" at our shop. Packaging and care of the game are your responsibility once it leaves our shop.

  2. Standard Game Packaging Service: $100
    This option is the bare minimum that we recommend for packaging when shipping a game. Depending on the overall value, condition, and collectibility of the game you are buying, you may want to consider our Premier Packaging Service (below) for additional protection.

    Standard Game Packaging Includes:
    • Full game breakdown & any other necessary disassembly.
    • Packaging of game parts/accessories and spare parts & supplies.
    • Stretch-wrapping of game to help protect against dust, dirt, and moisture.
    • Extra stretch-wrapping to help prevent "cardboard burn" to the game during transit.
    • Game sealed in factory shipping carton, including internal carton padding/packing.
    • Custom-made pallet built to size. Gets the game up off the floor avoiding damage by forklifts and hand-trucks.
    • 4-point band-strapping of packaged game to pallet for added security.
    • Game Setup & Assembly Guide.
    		 

    NOTE: On brand new games that are purchased as-is ("NIB", or sealed and unopened from factory), no packaging will normally be added inside the carton, as this would require opening/unsealing the box to access the game. Contact us if you are buying a game in this manner and have any questions or concerns.

    Our Standard Game Packaging is the minimum that we feel necessary to properly and safely package a game for shipping. When it comes to packaging, most other dealers will do far less- anything from no packaging at all, to maybe a couple of layers of old cardboard boxes wrapped around the game and left sitting on the bare ground. Simply put, anything less than our Standard service is just "cheap"- something that there is no room for when it comes to properly protecting your game for shipping. When spending a few thousand dollars on a good quality pinball or arcade game, the cost for our Standard packaging service should be the minimum you'd want to invest to help protect your game- it's just good common sense.

  3. Premier Game Packaging Service: $200 and up
    This option is recommended for best protection during shipping. It includes most of the features of our Standard Game Packaging service (above), but features the added protection of custom wood crating around the packaged game for superior protection.

    Premier Game Packaging Includes:
    • Full game breakdown & any other necessary disassembly.
    • Packaging of game parts/accessories and spare parts & supplies.
    • Stretch-wrapping of game to help protect against dust, dirt, and moisture.
    • Extra stretch-wrapping to help prevent "cardboard burn" to the game during transit.
    • Edges of packaged game covered by multiple layers of corrugated cardboard to protect against damage and wear/tear during transit.
    • Additional layer of stretch-wrap to secure cardboard protective pieces.
    • Custom-made pallet built to size. Gets the game up off the floor avoiding damage by forklifts and hand-trucks.
    • Band-strapping of packaged game to pallet for added security.
    • Additional custom-made reinforced wood crating around your packaged game.
    • Game Setup & Assembly Guide.

    The addition of custom-built wood-crating around your packaged game adds yet another level of protection during transit. Note that the wood crating will add approximately 100 pounds to the overall shipment weight, which will mean a slight increase in the actual freight cost (see weights and dimensions listed below in the Choose Your Shipper section.)

    For larger or odd-sized games, or games that must be shipped horizontally (required for air transit), rates for our Premier service may be higher, due to additional materials and time required for the special-sized packaging and wood-crating.

    If you are interested in our Premier service, please contact us and we can provide an exact cost, which varies depending on the game's size and weight, and shipping destination.

Step 2: Choose Your Shipper

For the actual shipping of your game, you can contact any one of several different freight companies and get a shipping quote. It's probably a good idea to call a few different companies and get several different quotes, as prices can vary considerably from one carrier to the next.

We do not specifically recommend any particular freight carrier, but some are more suited for dealing with the general public than others. Others may deal more with commercial accounts only. See listing below for more details.

Actual freight costs to ship a game can vary from carrier to carrier, and on a few variables:
  • Size and weight of shipment.
  • Destination (where, or how far, the shipment is going)
  • Shipping method (how fast? Ground, air, sea?)
  • Delivery method (see below)
  • How fast (ground, air, overnight, etc.)
  • Insurance (where/when available)
Shipping & Delivery Methods:
Some carriers have several options available for shipping & delivery, depending on the carrier, the area/destination, and other variables. Some of these may not be available through all carriers or in all areas. Be sure to ask about your preferred method with the carrier you are working with:
  • Shipping Method: How fast do you want it delivered? Many freight companies offer Economy Service (ground- by truck), Air (expedited), Sea (overseas customers). Prices vary depending on which option you choose, or how fast you want it delivered.

  • "Hold For Pickup": This is usually the least-expensive method for delivery of your shipment. Shipment goes to the company's freight dock nearest your area, where you pick up in person. Most packaged games will fit in a pickup truck, minivan, or large SUV.

  • "Commercial- No Liftgate" (Commercial Customers) Shipment goes to your location and is dropped off at your freight dock. This option is usually for businesses or buildings that have a standard elevated truck freight dock, or a forklift at their disposal.

  • Residential- With Liftgate: (Residential Customers) Shipment goes to your location and is dropped off "curbside", from a truck with a lift gate. This option is usually for most homes or locations in residential areas.

  • In-Home Delivery: Shipment is transported to your location, taken off truck, unpackaged, and brought inside your home or building. Many carriers offering this service will also take away the packing materials for you. This is the most expensive shipping option, and costs vary considerably based on game size/weight and other variables.
Please note that the process of Game Assembly & Setup is up to you, and most freight carriers are not able or allowed to do any work with your actual merchandise. We do include game setup instructions with all games we ship, and this process can often be done easily by 1 or 2 persons, and a few simple hand-tools. For full details on what is involved in setting up your game after you have received it, see our Game Setup & Assembly guides.


Choosing a Freight Carrier:
If you do not have a particular freight carrier in mind, you can select from one of the following commercial carriers listed below, or search the internet for others, and contact them for more information. We do not specifically endorse, or recommend, any particular shipper- the select shippers listed below are provided simply for your own use and reference, and are listed in alphabetical order. You can find others on the internet as well.

When contacting a shipper to get a shipping quote, you will need to provide them the following information:
  1. Your shipping address for delivery, including city, state/province, zip/postal code, and country.

  2. Our address for pickup, which is:
    Action Pinball
    2248 E. Laney Ave, Suite #6
    Holladay, Utah 84117
    USA

  3. Packaged game measurements and weight. Averages are given below, but may vary slightly depending on the exact game:

    For games packaged with our Standard Game Packaging Service:
    • Weight: 300 lbs.
    • Dimensions (inches): 32 wide x 32 deep x 63 high

    For games packaged with our Premier Game Packaging Service:
    • Weight: 400 lbs.
    • Dimensions (inches): 33 wide x 33 deep x 64 high

    NOTE: Games requiring shipping by air freight (expedited, or going overseas) will require different packaging due to air cargo size restrictions, and will have different measurements than the above. Contact us if you need measurements for a game that is going to be shipped by air freight.

  4. Shipping Method: Most shippers provide shipping by Economy (ground), Air (expedited and/or overseas), Sea (overseas customers). Prices vary depending on the service.

  5. Delivery Method: As described above, delivery methods typically consist of your choice of "Hold for Pickup", "Commercial- No Liftgate", "Residential- With Liftgate", or "In-Home Delivery". See above descriptions of these services for more details.

  6. Shipping Insurance: Optional, but strongly recommended to protect the value of your shipment during transit against damage or loss.

  7. Pickup Time/Date: NO SOONER THAN 3 BUSINESS DAYS and no later than 14 business days. Please allow us at least 3 business days to get your game prepared and packaged for pickup by your shipper.

Any freight carrier should be able to give you a shipping quote based on the above information.

--- IMPORTANT NOTICE: ---

ONCE YOU HAVE SELECTED A FREIGHT CARRIER be sure to give them our phone number (below) and HAVE THEM CALL US BY PHONE BEFORE COMING TO PICK UP YOUR GAME!!! This is most important and you may have to tell them two or three times and also verify that our phone number is on the bill of lading for pickup and/or with the truck driver so that they can call us by phone.

We can almost guarantee you that any freight company will "forget" or overlook this important point, so be sure to tell them multiple times, and verify that they have given instructions to the driver to call us before arriving. If this is not done, they may charge you an additional fee if we are not in the shop when they arrive to pick up the game.

"Why does the freight company have to call your shop?"

We do not keep regular hours at our shop, so we are not always in- we are occasionally out on local repair & service calls during the daytime hours, so we do not always have someone at the shop. Your freight carrier must call us first to arrange a pick up time so that we will not miss them!!!

Our phone number is: 801-272-0221


Another important note on game pick-up: When making your shipping arrangements, make sure to allow 3 business days before pickup, so that we can get your game packaged and prepared for shipping. Also make sure that the shipper you choose can pick the game up from our shop within 14 days (2 weeks) after that time. We do not hold games for longer than 2 weeks, unless they are sent to storage, where additional charges will apply (see our Storage Policy for more info).


Common Freight Carriers / Shippers:
You can contact any of the shippers listed below to get a shipping quote, using the above information. We do not specifically recommend any particular shipper- the listings below are for your reference/convenience only, and are listed in alphabetical order. You can also find others by searching on the internet.

Carrier: Phone: Web: Notes:
ABF Freight 1-800-610-5544 www.abfs.com  
FedEx Freight 1-800-463-3399 www.fedexfreight.com Good with general public.
Forward Air Freight 1-800-726-6654 www.forwardair.com  
Midwest Motor Express 701-223-1880 www.mmeinc.com Based in Bismarck, ND
North American Van Lines 1-800-823-0392 www.navl.com Good with general public.
Old Dominion Freight Line 1-800-235-5569 www.odfl.com  
Pilot Air Freight 1-800-447-4568 www.pilotair.com Good with general public.
R & L Carriers 1-800-543-5589 www.gorlc.com  
Roadway Carriers 1-800-610-6500 (US)
1-877-330-3321 (Canada)		 www.yrc.com Roadway and Yellow are now the same company- YRC
UPS Freight 1-800-333-7400 www.upsfreight.com Good with general public.
USF Reddaway 1-800-395-1360 www.yrcregional.com  
Yellow Freight 1-800-610-6500 (US)
1-877-330-3321 (Canada)		 www.yrc.com Roadway and Yellow are now the same company- YRC
YRC Carriers 1-800-610-6500 (US)
1-877-330-3321 (Canada)		 www.yrc.com  


PLEASE NOTE that we are not responsible for any issues dealing with freight carriers after your game has left our shop. Again, we are pinball people- not freight handlers- and we do not have any control over anything that happens with, or to, your game, after it leaves our shop and is turned over to the freight company. You will be responsible for dealing with the freight company directly for any arrangements/issues regarding your shipment. Our liability ends when the game leaves our shop. Customers should be aware that commercial shippers simply move freight from one location to another, and the amount of care, or safety, that any shipped item receives, is mostly dependant on how well it is packaged before it is turned over to any freight company. Beyond that, the best choice for the actual shipping is any company that serves your area, and your needs, in a timeframe and at a price that are acceptable to you. In all our years in this business, we have never found any shipping company that gives "better service" than any other. So go with the shipper that works best for your particular needs.

When using your own shipper, you will be solely and completely responsible for making the pickup and shipping arrangements, and for the care and safety of the game after it leaves our shop. We will not be responsible for any damage, loss, delays, or any other problems with shipping in any way, if you are making your own arrangements. Our liability ends when the game leaves our shop. Our game warranty does not cover any damage resulting from shipping problems.

Step 3: Contact Us

Once you have selected your packaging method, shipper, and made your arrangements for shipping, contact us to let us know so we can finalize any purchase arrangements, and get your game prepared and ready for pickup. Again, you must have your shipper call us by phone ahead of time to arrange a pickup time. If not, we may not be in the shop when they arrive, which may result in additional costs/fees to you from your freight company.


Other Important Shipping Info:

  • Games Going Outside the U.S.:
    • Import Taxes/Tariffs/Fees:
      Goods that are manufactured in the U.S. and imported into your country from the U.S. may be subject to additional import taxes, tariffs, and fees. Fees charged for goods imported from the U.S. may vary and may depend on the sales price of the equipment and type of equipment. We have no information on what fees might be charged on goods imported into your country from the U.S., and rates and restrictions typically change frequently, so we recommend contacting your local post office or customs service office, to get more information on what additional charges you may be responsible for, when importing merchandise from the U.S.

    • Customs Inspections:
      In addition to import taxes/tariffs/fees (as mentioned above), your customs office may perform a random or mandatory inspection of your goods being imported in from the U.S. Customs inspections can take time, and may delay the delivery of your game for some time. We have heard of delays of a few days up to 2 months in some cases.

      Be aware that if your customs office delays the delivery of your game, they may charge you a storage fee for the time that the game is in their posession. We have only heard of this happening once- in Australia- but it may be a good idea to check with your customs service before making your purchase, to see if there may be any possible delays or extra charges. Such issues are completely out of our control, so please check with your local customs service regarding any questions or concerns you may have, before making your purchase.

    • Game Conversion For Use in Non-U.S. Country:
      Some electrical conversion/modification of the game may be required for use with the electrical power in your country. We do not do any conversion of games for use in countries outside the U.S. All games we sell are set up for use in the U.S. only, and sold as such. Customers outside the U.S. are responsible for any conversion required to operate the game in their country, including electrical conversions, coin door (coin acceptor/rejector) conversion, game adjustments, language settings, etc.

    • Special Packaging Material Requirements:
      Be aware that customs services in some countries may have restrictions on what types of materials can be used for packaging/crating, and some materials may not be allowed in your country. When making shipping arrangements, you should find out if there are any restrictions on packaging materials coming in to your country from the U.S. If there are any specific requirements in your country, let us know, and we may be able to assist with special packaging needs. Some additional costs may be required for special materials for packaging.

    • Game Warranty & Service:
      Games sold outside the U.S. will obviously have some limitations in regard to warranty and service that we are able to provide. Please see our Warranty page for more details.

  • Shipping Time Estimates:
    Most games that ship by ground within the continental U.S. take approximately 1 to 2 weeks to arrive, depending on destination. We recommend allowing a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks for delivery during the busy Holiday Season and for delays that may be possible due to inclement weather. Expedited shipping is also often available (air freight) through most carriers, at additional cost, which can be quicker. Most shippers, however, will not guarantee a delivery time, so please check with your shipper before making your purchase if you have a deadline and need a game delivered by a certain date/time.

  • Shipment Tracking:
    Most shippers can provide tracking information for you while your shipment is on the way. Check with your shipper for details.

  • Game Setup & Assembly:
    Setting up most games after they have been shipped is usually a rather simple process, and requires 1 or 2 people, and a few simple hand tools. We include setup instructions with all games shipped from our shop, and you can also find instructions online (with pictures) on our Game Setup & Assembly page.

    Please note that most shippers are not able or allowed to do any work with your actual merchandise, after they have delivered it. Please do not count on shippers to help you set up and get your game going.

    If you'd prefer to have someone move and/or set the game up for you, you may find someone in your local area that can do the job. Check your local Yellow Pages phone directory under "Amusement Devices" or "Pinball" to see if anyone can assist you. Additionally, you may find someone in the business, or hobby, in the Mr. Pinball Collector Register which is an online listing of pinball collectors, repair persons, and enthusiasts all around the world.

    Feel free to contact us for any further information or if you have any questions.

  • Shipping Damage & Claims:
    If your shipment arrives with apparent damage to the shipping carton (visible exterior damage), we recommend the following steps:
    1. Before signing the shipping bill (for receipt of the shipment), have the shipper note on the shipping bill, the exact details of the observed damage to the carton and/or game (from what is visible from outside the carton, and through any openings in the packaging) before the carton is opened. And that these observations are made before you have taken receipt of the shipment and before the shipment has been opened/unpacked. And always in the presence of the shipping company representative. Be sure that both you, and the shipper, have a copy of the shipping bill, as noted.

      (Most shippers will not allow you to open the carton/packaging until the shipment has been signed for, so make as many possible notations on the shipping bill before signing the bill. And be sure to note that these notations were made before signing for the shipment, and in the presence of the shipping company representative.)

    2. Have the shipper stay with you while you open and inspect the contents of the container for any additional damage that was not visible before opening. Have the shipper note any further damage on the shipping bill, and indicate that it was discovered after signing for shipment, and opening the carton, and that it was done so in the presence of the shipping company representative.
    Again, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that might occur if you are having a packaged game shipped to you- our control over the game, and liability, end when the game leaves our shop.

    If you wish to inquire with us about repairs for a game that was damaged in shipping, let us know, and we can determine if we can help, or possibly help you find someone in your local area who may be able to help in-person.

  • Game Warranty:
    Most games we sell include a warranty. Some do not. Warranty is limited on warranted games sold to out-of-town customers. See our Game Warranty page for details. Damage or misadjustments to the game that may occur during shipping are not covered under game warranty, and must be handled separately. Damage that may occur in shipping may be covered under your shipping insurance, if you purchase insurance for your shipment through your freight carrier.

  • Cold Weather:
    With shipping an electronic game (or any electronic device) in cold weather, the game should be allowed to warm up to room temperature (65 degrees Fahrenheit or more) before power is applied. Not doing so may risk unnecessary damage to the game. We recommend 1 to 2 hours warm up time.

  • Adjustments/Repair Following Shipping:
    Buyer is aware that game may require some adjustment upon delivery due to normal effects of transportation such as vibration, shifting, or handling. Buyer is responsible for any adjustments or repair to the game after shipping, and any costs involved. Such adjustments or repair are NOT covered under game warranty. They may be covered under shipping insurance if you purchased insurance through your freight carrier.

  • Storage Charges:
    We charge a storage fee for any games that are waiting to be picked up by customers, or picked up by freight carriers for shipping to out-of-town customers. Any applicable storage fees must be paid in full before game can leave our shop. See our page on Game Storage Policy for exact details. We are not responsible for any storage fees incurred if your game is not picked up on time, or if a shipment is missed due to storage fees not being paid.


    • If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!
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