Recently I mentioned something here about having a Funko Pop Claw Machine in the shop and 
The claw machine itself is a basic Treasure Chest model...just designed to be the ultimate Funko machine. It’s made by National Entertainment Network which if I remember correctly, is based out of Colorado.
It is one of only 3 of these Authentic Funko Claw Machines in the world. One belongs to Funko and sits at Everett Washington, one is floating around Colorado somewhere and is owned by NEN, and the other belongs to us and currently sits in our shop Conquest Comics in Bayville NJ.
We first saw this machine one year at the San Diego Comic Con while in line to buy Funko’s exclusives. There was a line to play it and I thought, “what a gold mine”!!! So upon returning, I did a bit of research on this specific machine which led me to NEN. A quick call revealed the story that they initially struck a deal with Funko to have a fleet of these all over. They made 3 “prototypes” to show Funko and somewhere along the lines, the deal fell through. I offered to purchase one...we negotiated a number...and voila!
For the first couple of years, we would just keep it in the shop and then I’d pack it and take it with me to the conventions I exhibited at. It was an instant draw and a huge success as it definitely separated me from the other vendors. In recent years, it’s seemed the novelty has worn off a tad and we actually no longer take it to shows so it just sits in the shop doing its work there. Still performs well but nowhere near the level it did years prior.
We would put expensive items it there...towards the back or in areas that would be difficult to get to. Still possible, but definitely difficult. The reason I know it’s still possible is because of “claw kid”...that’s what we called him. He used to go to the Lucky Sleo’s on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk and play the claws there. He would win Visa Gift Cards and then bring them to us. I would give him 90% of the GC value in claw play. Then he would go to town. There was one specific day where he brought me 2 x $100 GC’s and another one. Not sure...maybe a $25 or a $50?!? I can’t remember. I gave him 90% in play. Had to go back and broth the money bin a couple times as I didn’t have enough $1’s and $5’s
Claw Kid
These are some of the random pieces he’s fleeced me for. I think he got 2 Lukes from me. That Deadite is now a couple hundred now as well. Fucker...
Anyway, he sat and played and used up slightly over $200 bucks worth in claw play and he butt fucked me royally. He obtained a ton of the blind box Mystery Mini’s and a handful of common Pops. The real gems were the following pieces. Luke & Han as Stormtroopers, White Phoenix, & Metallic Doctor Doom.
Now this was several years back, so at the time the White Phoenix (which is our exclusive) was going for around $100...today they go $175-$200. The Metallic Doctor Doom was fetching around $75 while today they fetch around $350. The Luke & Han Stormtroopers were averaging around $250 each whole now it’s about $450. So with all his prizes, he nabbed me for around $800 bucks worth of product if ya include all the random other commons and Mini’s. Quite the score. I believe he said he won those initial GC’s with less than $50 bucks.
His secret was that he would use tons of turns, basically as a sacrifice to clear paths to the better stuff. He would use the claw itself to repeatedly knock/shift/move certain pieces that were walling in the ones he wanted. Smart move. I remember feeling extremely defeated that specific day. He had other nice scores but none compared to that day. I stated limiting how many expensive pieces I put in there at one time after that day.
One thing that always agrivated me having this machine is seeing the entitlement of people and the “sore loser” that lives with them, front and center. It’s usually at the conventions. Dude walks up to play. Wastes $6 bucks and then starts cursing and complaining how nobody can ever win. That it can’t pick anything up. I’ve had people argue & curse at me and several people...yes...several, punch my machine. I tell them to get the fuck out of my booth when that happens and it usually turns into them acting like a tough guy while their smarter friends or girlfiriend drag them away. Nothing makes me happier than when some dickhole is barking at me how nobody can win and blah blah blah...while someone else plays and wins. It usually just shuts them up but I’ve had people tell me that they won because “I hit the button”. When I ask for more clarity, I’ve been told that I have a remote with a button that allows the win. I just laugh and tell them “yup”. Usually enrages them further. It’s a shame that I have a couple of shitty experiences at each convention for a claw machine. I try not to focus on those losers as it’s the minority...they just stick out like a sore thumb.
The best part is we had signs plastered all over directing them to our Instagram page. That was where we would post pics of our winners for years. We still do it (when we remember) but during its heyday, I would have like 30-60 pics per convention. At the shop sometimes there would be weeks where I’d have 10-15 winners. Ahhhh...the glory days. Oh, one last thing...everything we put into the machine CAN be won. Even the bigger pieces.
Here are a smattering of some of the winners of this glorious game!!!! Hope you enjoyed hearing about this beauty.
Blewitt