A distributor's work does not end when a machine ships. A client needs a model that fits the site, a clear handover, a way to record operating results, and a route to the right replacement parts. This playbook focuses on those decisions, not a promised monthly return.
1. Match the Machine to the Client's Location
Before recommending a cabinet, ask where it will go, who will play, how much floor and service clearance is available, what power and payment options the site supports, and who will handle daily checks. Compare the cabinet's actual dimensions and the space needed to open doors, refill prizes, and service the equipment. Prize size and weight should suit the claw and prize field of the chosen model.
For multi-machine clients, note each model and its board, power supply, payment setup, and spare-part requirements. A part that fits one machine should not be assumed to fit another.
Compare complete claw machines.
2. Handover Settings With a Test Record
Do not assume a factory setting is either profitable or suitable for the client's prizes. Show the operator how to verify coin or payment input, joystick and drop button, X/Y/Z movement, claw grab and hold behavior, prize delivery, and return position. Record the board model and original settings before changing anything.
Test with the actual prizes and record paid plays, prize deliveries, and any jams or failed cycles. A setting described as a win rate or payout ratio on a board is not a guaranteed result in a small test, and different boards implement settings differently. There is no universal recommendation of one win per 8–12 plays, a fixed grip strength for a prize weight, or one standard play duration. Use the specific board manual, site feedback, prize cost, and local rules when adjusting settings; change one variable at a time and retest.
Classic mainboard parameter guide (use only for the corresponding board).
3. Give the Operator a Maintenance Checklist
A useful handover includes the model number, board information, setting record, contact details, and a short checklist. At opening, check that the payment input works, the prize chute is clear, prizes are stocked appropriately, and the machine completes a test cycle. During regular service, inspect the claw and travel path, look for loose connections or worn drive parts, and clean the cabinet and payment mechanism using that component's instructions. After any repair or setting change, run and record test cycles.
Set inspection and replacement intervals based on usage, part condition, and the manufacturer's instructions. Do not automatically replace claw strings every three months or recalibrate a coin acceptor on a calendar schedule when no fault or service requirement calls for it.
4. Stock Parts That Match the Installed Machines
Start with a list of the models in your client base and the parts they actually use: payment components, joystick switches or buttons, claw consumables, belts and sensors, and board or motor assemblies where serviceable. Check voltage, connector, mounting dimensions, board version, and part number before promising compatibility. Decide stock quantities from installed-machine counts, failure and usage records, supplier lead times, and clients' tolerance for downtime, not a universal rule such as one mainboard per 20 machines.
Some accessories are sold in full packs rather than as individual pieces; check the product listing's pack quantity and quote accordingly. See arcade spare parts, and confirm the exact part with the client before ordering.
5. Follow Up With Questions That Help
After installation, confirm the machine is accepting payment, moving and returning correctly, and dispensing prizes as intended. At later check-ins, ask for the operator's play counts, prize purchases and inventory, repairs, downtime, and customer feedback. If results change, compare these records with previous periods before suggesting new settings, parts, or another machine. A follow-up schedule is a service habit, not evidence that every client will reorder or expand.
How to Discuss Costs and Payback Honestly
Do not pitch a universal monthly profit or a three-to-five-month payback. Help the operator build a site-specific worksheet: paid plays × actual price per play, minus prize costs, location fees or revenue share, payment fees, electricity, repairs, shipping, labor, taxes, and other applicable costs. Track the same figures over time. Divide the total upfront investment by a measured positive monthly net cash flow only when the underlying data supports such an estimate; if net cash flow is zero or negative, a payback period cannot be calculated that way.
Foot traffic alone does not establish play volume, and play volume alone does not establish profit. Share assumptions and actual records separately so a prospective client can judge the risk.
When a Client Reports a Problem
- Prizes are rarely delivered: confirm the prize mix, actual play and delivery records, claw action, board settings, and sensor behavior before changing a payout setting.
- Coins are rejected: check coin type and acceptor setup, obstruction or dirt, wiring, and the relevant payment input before replacing a part.
- The claw drops prizes: inspect grip and hold settings, prize size and surface, claw condition, and the model's mechanics; do not assume worn tips or springs are always the cause.
- Play or revenue has fallen: separate payment faults and downtime from traffic, price, prize, and placement changes before drawing conclusions.
Buying and Support
Hiclawcrane complete machines and DIY kits can be ordered from one unit; wholesale pricing starts from six units, and customization starts from twenty units. Parts have their own pack quantities and quotation terms. For model selection, compatibility checks, and distributor terms, see the Distributor Center.