What Should You Ask a Game Machine Factory Before Your First Commercial Order? A Pre-PO Buyer Checklist

What Should I Ask a Game Machine Factory Before Placing My First Commercial Order?

1. First Question: What Exactly Am I Buying?

The first question to an arcade machine factory should sound almost too basic: “What exact configuration is included in this quotation?”

A product name is not a specification. Two cabinets with the same marketing name can differ in screen configuration, controls, payment hardware, game version, accessories, artwork, voltage, packaging, or internal components. If you are buying several commercial arcade machines, these small differences multiply quickly.

Ask the factory to create one controlled product reference

For every model, request a sheet or order schedule that identifies:

• Factory model name or model code.
• Your buyer SKU, if you use one.
• Quantity.
• Overall machine dimensions.
• Packed dimensions and package count.
• Voltage, frequency, and plug or connection requirement.
• Display and audio configuration where relevant.
• Controls, sensors, steering, pedals, buttons, or other player interfaces.
• Payment configuration.
• Language and software settings where relevant.
• Included accessories.
• Branding or artwork revision.
• Required spare parts.
• Applicable manuals and documents.

Anything not yet confirmed should say “to be confirmed”. Silence is dangerous because the game machine factory may reasonably use its standard configuration while the buyer assumes something else.

2. Which Machines Does the Factory Actually Manufacture or Control?

A broad catalog is useful, but your first commercial order should be tied to manufacturing responsibility. Ask which machines are manufactured or assembled by the seller, which systems are integrated in-house, which specialist components come from external vendors, and who is responsible for the finished machine.

This question is more useful than simply asking, “Are you a factory?” A legitimate arcade machine factory can still use upstream suppliers for displays, controls, PCBs, payment readers, sensors, seats, or other components. What matters is who controls the final configuration, testing, corrective action, and technical support.

Ask these follow-up questions

• Where will my exact models be assembled and tested?
• Who approves component substitutions?
• Which technical questions are handled by engineering rather than sales?
• Can the factory show the selected model during production or testing?
• If one category is supplied by a partner factory, who owns final QC and warranty responsibility?

EPARK's public company profile describes Guangzhou EPARK Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. as integrating R&D, design, production, and sales. That is a useful company-level starting point, but a first-order buyer should still ask for model-level confirmation for the machines being purchased.

3. Which Product Claims Are Verified for My Exact Machine?

Commercial sourcing becomes risky when catalog language is copied into the purchase order without verification. “Heavy duty,” “high quality,” “commercial grade,” “CE certified,” “stable,” and “high traffic” can all sound reassuring while remaining too vague for acceptance.

Ask the game machine factory to separate three types of information:

For commercial arcade machines, the safest procurement language is specific. Instead of “high-quality screen,” record the actual approved display configuration where that detail matters. Instead of “international certification,” request the document that applies to the selected product and destination.

4. Is the Machine Suitable for My Venue and Customer Group?

A first commercial order is often where buyers overbuy. They choose machines because the showroom looks exciting or because the supplier calls a model “popular.” A better question is: “Why does this machine belong in my venue or catalog?”

Tell the arcade machine factory whether you are buying for an FEC, shopping mall game zone, arcade center, indoor playground, cinema lobby, distributor warehouse, or another commercial environment.

For venue buyers, provide

• Measured floor plan.
• Entrances and exits.
• Usable machine area.
• Target age groups.
• Expected customer mix.
• Preferred categories.
• Prize/redemption concept.
• Payment system.
• Local service capability.
• Target opening date.

EPARK's published Design & Process starts project planning with space size, floor plan, entrance and exit locations, target audience, preferred games, and budget range. If you are buying commercial arcade machines for a real venue, use those inputs before locking quantity.

5. What Payment System Will Be Installed and Who Owns the Integration?

Payment is one of the most common areas where a first order can become ambiguous. “Card compatible” or “supports QR” is not a complete specification.

Ask your game machine factory:

• Which payment reader or acceptor is included?
• Who supplies it?
• Who installs it?
• Who configures machine credits?
• Does the machine require a dry-contact, pulse, serial, network, or another interface?
• Who owns the payment account or software?
• Can the payment flow be tested before shipment?
• Which replacement part should be ordered later?

EPARK's website describes support for coins, QR codes, cards, ticket, point, and redemption-system integration. For a first order, convert that general capability into a machine-by-machine configuration schedule.

Test the full operating sequence

For a paid-play machine, acceptance should follow the actual user flow:

A machine can power on perfectly and still fail the commercial payment workflow.

6. Are Voltage, Plug, Language, and Network Requirements Frozen?

International buyers should settle destination-market configuration before production. Corrections are far more expensive after shipment.

Ask the arcade machine factory to confirm the following for every applicable model:

If you are purchasing a mixed order of commercial arcade machines, do not assume one standard applies to the entire shipment. A VR simulator, basketball machine, claw machine, and simple game cabinet can have different installation requirements.

7. Do I Need a Sample, First-Unit Approval, or Trial Order?

The answer depends on risk, not habit.

Ask the game machine factory whether the machine you want is a standard production model, a configured standard model, or a newly customized product. Then choose an approval level that matches the change.

A first commercial order is often valuable as a supplier test. Observe not only whether the machine works, but how the factory responds when you find a legitimate issue. Problem-solving quality is part of supplier quality.

8. What Will Be Tested Before Shipment, and Can I See the Record?

“Every machine is tested” is a useful starting statement, but not enough for a commercial purchase. Ask what is tested, for how long, by whom, and how results are tied to your order.

EPARK's Design & Process states that machines receive a 48-hour full-operation test before shipment, covering gameplay functionality, electrical safety, lighting effects, and mechanical durability. A first-order buyer should ask how that process will apply to the selected models and whether photos, videos, inspection records, or other evidence can be provided for the order.

Build the QC checklist around machine function

Different commercial arcade machines require different acceptance checks:

• Claw/prize machines: claw movement, controls, prize mechanism, doors, locks, lighting, payment.
• Racing machines: steering, pedals, display, audio, seat, controls, linked function where applicable.
• Basketball games: sensors, scoring, ball return, display, structure, lighting.
• Shooting games: controllers, calibration, sensors, display, audio, software operation.
• Redemption games: scoring, sensors, ticket/point output, payment and reward workflow.

Also inspect appearance, labels, accessories, artwork, package identity, and any buyer-specific configuration.

Ask what happens after a failure

The most useful QC question may be: “If one unit fails, what happens next?” The answer should cover corrective action, retest, record update, and how the factory prevents the same issue from being repeated across the batch.

9. Which Compliance Documents Apply to My Exact Model and Market?

Do not ask only, “Do you have CE?” or “Are your machines certified?” Ask for the document-to-product relationship.

EPARK's website displays or references CE, RoHS, ISO, EMC, SGS, UL, and other compliance-related terms across different pages. Because the combinations vary, a buyer should avoid turning those badges into a universal claim for all machines.

Ask the arcade machine factory to identify:

• Document or certificate name.
• Issuing or testing organization.
• Certificate/report number.
• Product or model scope.
• Configuration covered.
• Applicable standard or market.
• Date or validity information where relevant.
• Whether your requested customization changes the scope.

10. What Is the Real MOQ and What Does It Apply To?

MOQ can be more complicated than a single number. A game machine factory may have one minimum for the standard machine, another for a custom cabinet color, another for printed artwork, and another for a special payment component.

Ask separately:

• MOQ per machine model.
• MOQ per color or visual variant.
• MOQ for custom artwork or packaging.
• MOQ for special components.
• Whether sample or trial quantities are accepted.
• Whether mixed-SKU orders are possible.

EPARK's FAQ says buyers can order a sample machine first, but the exact terms still need order-specific confirmation. Do not build your cash-flow plan around a universal MOQ if the selected machines and customization are different.

11. What Does the Quotation Include—and What Is Missing?

Before your first commercial order, force the quotation to become itemized. A low price is meaningless if one supplier includes payment hardware, accessories, packing, and spare parts while another does not.

For commercial arcade machines, compare the cost of an approved, delivered, supportable configuration—not just the factory unit price.

12. What Is the Production Schedule After I Pay the Deposit?

A single “30-day lead time” can hide several separate stages. Ask the game machine factory to map the actual sequence for your order.

A useful schedule can include:

1. Deposit received.
2. Technical configuration frozen.
3. Artwork or branding approved.
4. Components prepared.
5. Production started.
6. First-unit or sample review where required.
7. Bulk assembly completed.
8. QC and running test completed.
9. Corrections and retest completed.
10. Packing completed.
11. Balance-payment evidence supplied where agreed.
12. Goods released for shipment.

EPARK's FAQ publishes general guidance of 7–15 days for small orders and 20–40 days for large or customized orders. Treat those figures as website guidance, not your project schedule. Ask what milestone starts the clock and which buyer approvals can stop it.

13. How Will the Machines Be Packaged and Identified?

Packaging is part of the product because it affects whether the machine that passed QC arrives in the same condition.

EPARK's published process describes bubble wrap, thick foam, wooden frame or crate reinforcement, and waterproof film for sea shipment. Your first order should go further and identify the actual package structure for each model.

Ask the arcade machine factory:

• How many packages per machine?
• What are the final packed dimensions and gross weight?
• Which parts are removed for shipping?
• How are accessories packed?
• Are screens, acrylic, glass, seats, or controls protected separately where needed?
• What package labels identify the model and quantity?
• Will spare parts be in a clearly marked carton?
• What needs to be reassembled at destination?
• Can packing photos be supplied before loading?

This information affects freight quotations, warehouse receiving, unloading equipment, local labor, and commissioning.

14. Who Is Responsible for Freight, Customs, Unloading, Installation, and Commissioning?

“Can you ship to my country?” is not specific enough. Split the post-production process into separate responsibilities.

A professional game machine factory can support some of these tasks, but your PO should not assume all of them are included.

15. What Spare Parts Should I Buy With the First Order?

Spare parts should be planned before the machines leave the factory. The correct starter kit depends on the machine family, installed quantity, local service capability, and replacement lead time.

Ask the arcade machine factory to recommend parts by model, not as one anonymous “spare-parts box.”

For each part, record

• Machine model or compatible family.
• Part name and part code if available.
• Quantity supplied.
• Whether programming, calibration, or special setup is required.
• Replacement instructions.
• Warranty status.
• Future reorder method.

For a mixed order of commercial arcade machines, ask whether several models share common controls, sensors, buttons, payment components, or power-related parts. Component commonality can simplify inventory—but only when compatibility is documented.

16. What Does the Warranty Actually Cover?

“One-year warranty” or “warranty included” is not enough if the process is unclear. Ask what the warranty covers, what it excludes, how claims are opened, who pays freight on replacement parts, whether labor is included, and how software or third-party components are handled.

EPARK's FAQ states that it offers warranty support covering parts and technical support, but it does not provide a universal warranty duration in the public answer. That is exactly why the first-order buyer should request written, order-specific warranty terms.

Ask for a claim workflow

If your local technician will perform the repair, confirm whether the game machine factory can provide wiring information, part references, or remote guidance for the selected model.

17. How Will You Control Changes After I Approve the Order?

This is one of the most important questions for buyers planning future orders.

A supplier may need to change a component because of availability, discontinuation, engineering improvement, or cost. A change is not automatically a problem. An undocumented change is.

Ask the arcade machine factory to tell you which changes require buyer notification. At minimum, discuss major controls, payment hardware, display, power components, software/version where applicable, cabinet structure, artwork, and service-critical parts.

Use a simple change-control process

This makes repeat purchasing more stable and helps the service team know whether parts remain interchangeable between batches.

18. What Should Be Written Into the Purchase Order?

Your PO should be the commercial summary of the approved deal, not a vague instruction to “produce according to our chats.”

For the first order, include or reference:

• Seller and buyer legal names.
• PO number.
• Factory model and buyer SKU.
• Quantity by model.
• Unit price and currency.
• Customization/artwork revision.
• Technical configuration schedule.
• Payment configuration.
• Electrical/language requirements.
• Accessories and spare parts.
• Packaging requirements.
• Required documentation.
• Inspection or test requirements.
• Payment terms.
• Trade/shipping term.
• Production or readiness milestone.
• Warranty/support reference.
• Change-approval requirement.

The purchase order does not need to reproduce every technical detail if it clearly references an approved specification, artwork file, machine schedule, or sample. The important point is that there is one traceable set of documents.

19. What Should I Ask Before Paying the Balance?

The first commercial order has a second decision point: release of the balance payment or shipment, depending on the agreed terms.

Before that stage, request the evidence you agreed on before production. For commercial arcade machines, this may include:

• Final quantity confirmation.
• Machine/model identification.
• Artwork and visible configuration confirmation.
• Functional test evidence.
• Payment-system test where applicable.
• Accessory and spare-parts checklist.
• Correction/retest status for open issues.
• Packing photos or packing data.
• Applicable documents agreed in the PO.
• Final packing list.

If you have agreed to an independent pre-shipment inspection, schedule it before the goods are irreversibly packed or loaded.

20. A First Commercial Order Should Also Test the Supplier Relationship

The first order is not only about the machines. It tests whether the game machine factory communicates clearly, records changes, solves problems, and supports the buyer when something is inconvenient.

During the first order, observe:

• Does the factory answer technical questions directly?
• Does it flag unresolved issues before production?
• Are changes documented?
• Are progress updates consistent with the agreed schedule?
• Does the QC evidence match the ordered configuration?
• Are packing details accurate?
• Does the factory respond constructively when the buyer identifies a problem?

If the first order works, future orders should become easier because the approved model, configuration, packing, parts, and support process have already been defined. If every repeat order starts from zero, the relationship is not yet controlled.

21. How EPARK Fits a First Commercial Arcade Order

EPARK's public website identifies Guangzhou EPARK Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. as a commercial amusement equipment provider integrating R&D, design, production, and sales. Its product directions include arcade machines, claw and prize machines, VR simulators, kiddie rides, racing, basketball, redemption, and other amusement equipment.

For a first-time buyer evaluating EPARK as a game machine factory, the relevant published capabilities include OEM customization, venue layout consulting, branding support, payment/system integration, production testing, export packaging, installation guidance, operation training, spare-parts supply, and after-sales assistance.

These capabilities are useful starting points, but the purchase decision should still be model-specific. The website does not replace your approved quotation, configuration sheet, QC checklist, document list, packing schedule, and warranty terms.

Use EPARK's public pages in this order

1. Review the current product range and shortlist relevant machines.
2. Review EPARK's company profile for manufacturer and service background.
3. Use the Design & Process page to understand the published planning, production, testing, packing, and support workflow.
4. Review the FAQ for buyer-facing information on ordering, delivery, compliance, and after-sales.
5. Send an itemized project brief through Contact Us.

The aim is to turn website-level capability into an order-level commitment.

22. Copy-Ready First Commercial Order RFQ

This RFQ gives an arcade machine factory enough information to identify technical gaps before producing the quotation. It also gives you a consistent basis for comparing different suppliers.

23. Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Before placing your first commercial order with a game machine factory, make the purchase decision about evidence and control—not just price. Confirm the exact machine, destination configuration, payment setup, approval method, QC, documents, packaging, spare parts, schedule, warranty, and change-control process in writing.

For commercial arcade machines, the best first order creates a reusable purchasing standard. If the approved configuration can be inspected, serviced, and reordered without reconstructing old conversations, you have built the foundation for a scalable supplier relationship.