Not That Contraption Again
Yeah, you know what’s back in a big way? The claw machine.
You know, that rig that always stole your quarters, and if you won—which you rarely did—it was some stuffed goofball prize. This thing has always been a magnet for kids, and I gotta admit, I gave it a shot a few times and didn’t win a damn thing.
Well, claw machines are more popular than ever. No matter where you go—arcades, bars, restaurants, malls, movie theaters—you spot ’em. Sometimes a lot of ’em.
They’ve upgraded the rigs and the prizes, with higher-end goods, and this time operators want you to win once or twice, to lure you in. People can spend hundreds of dollars at a time. Some say they say they do it for the love of the game. Others approach it with the fever of high-stakes gamblers.
A single claw machine can generate $2,000 a month, with profit margins of 50% to 80%. It’s much more lucrative per square foot than a snack vending machine.
Whoa, Jackson!
Next thing you know, you’ll be seeing these things in churches because they’re always looking for a buck. I’ll be seein’ ya. I’m headed to the arcade.
If you know someone who’d like these ditties in their inbox every week, have ‘em shoot us an email at darbyo@darbyobrien.com and we’ll add ‘em to the list.