Their innocuous presentation of radiant light grabs our attention and their saturated colors allure us before we even realize our ears have become accustomed to their addictive tune, persuading us to befriend the claw machines.
They are at the mall, food courts, restaurants, theaters and theme parks, pretty much everywhere. Claw machines will always be in existence as long as you are satisfied, but the truth of the matter is they are more after your money than you’re after those cute plush toys that are worth unscrupulously less than your pocket change.
Their connivance has been revealed with shocking exposés by reporters, aficionados, fanatics and even by an owner of these notorious claw machines — can you believe some of those electronic boxes were stuffed with bricks! Claw machines made their public debut during the great depression to mollify the somber mood, but soon these claw machines were deemed illegal as gambling devices in 1951 until the law relaxed with the Federal gambling regulations in 1974.
But amusingly humans appear prone to accepting the fraudulent system of these rigged machines where prizes are anticipated on luck with few little skills. To a rigged machine your luck and skills are irrelevant, but thankfully some states have regulated the system of the claw and some owners have refused to concert with the electrical malpractice. Although there are stratagems with the claw machines, nothing is guaranteed, but who is to prevent someone from clawing? Therefore here are some helpful tips when clawing your way into the prize pit before clawing into your wallet.
1. Price – Profit – Practicality
Most of the times the prizes look absolutely stunning, neatly arranged and positioned, and depending on the type of prize, it really is impossible not to acknowledge. However the first thing before being drawn into the prize is to estimate the price behind the targeted prize. An example: many of the claw machine owners order the plush toys, headsets, electronics and jewelries in bulk. This of course is blatantly obvious and for business minded individuals, ordering in bulk is relatively cheaper than buying individually.
This website that distributes plush toys shows most are less than 2 dollars each (the generic kinds). One owner revealed his prizes are worth .25 cents to .50 cents each. Additionally the machine can range up to $1K to $5K, and to cover the cost of maintenance and make profit it would require your dedicated, mindless cooperation to pop in those quarters. The bigger the value of the prizes, the more attempts the owners prefer from the hapless customers.
This leads to being practical. Next time you see an iPad, think twice before you even reach for your change. If you were the owner, would you make it practical for someone else to win?
Quick note, some plush toys are licensed, meaning those are the non-generic kinds with commercial brands. The licensed plush toys are more costly therefore beware, they may be packed tightly or even at times they are prevented from even being lifted by dishonest owners.
2. Figure Out The Machine
This is bit tricky, but not impossible. This is the most important information you should know before using up your allowance. There are two different types of claw machines that are rife in our world. The “Fixed Strength” machine and the “Payout” machine.
A fixed strength claw machine is adjusted to a constant strength. This is the preferred machine only if the strength of the claw is set to an appropriate level. If set at a low power, then move on, it is pointless to even try, but savor the visual delight of the prizes.
Other than observing the strength of the claw, some machines have what is known as a prize detector and these are the payout machines. Payout machines are engineered to strengthen the claw a certain time. This “time” consists of multiple factors: amount of dollar or coins inserted, if a prize has been awarded through sensors or just plainly from the amount of attempts. Some states have regulated the payout machines, for example California is 1/12 tries, meaning one out of every twelve attempts the claw increases its strength, but that doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to win. You only have a chance to win.
But even if you have calculated the payout equation, some machines are randomly engineered to strengthen or weaken the claw regardless of any factor. Also some claw machines are now able to be operated through smartphones by the owners.
3. In The World of Claw Machines, Be last In Line
It’s always in your favor to watch other players. Pick a straw dog and display your sincere gratitude to offer your position. Watch the claw, the speed, the rotation of the claw as it goes down, the grip of the claw and any apparent weak grip or the intentional drop of the prize up in mid air. Importantly, observe any payouts or the fixed strength. You raise the probability of winning or saving your hard earned quarters by watching others making the dive to the pit.
4. It Takes Time To Set Up A Prize
Never assume the first try is your lucky break and don’t rush. Many people use the claw to just align and grab whatever is accessible, but you can also use the claw to set up the prize that are packed tightly. Theoretically, the more you attempt the more likely you will be given a chance, so take the time to set up the prize. Use the claw to move other prizes or loosen up some tightly arranged prizes.
Skilled “clawers” stack toys on top of each other that are close to the prize hatch and instead of winning a prize the conventional way, they intentionally knock over the prizes into the hatch.
5. Walk Away When Appropriate
Experienced clawers know some machines are not worth attempting if it’s ridiculously rigged. After all you are paying to have fun with a reward and if all odds are against you, it’s best to not feed the machine that has an owner that indulges on cheating young kids and customers.
Bonus:
Speaking of claw machines, check out this human claw machine in a shopping mall in China. It may sound bizarre, yet it seems like you have a better chance to win a prize.
Featured photo credit: Ken Teegardin via flickr.com
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