Our Shipping Process

 

This is a brand new section to our site so eventually will update this with more info and pictures on how we package games.

 

 

At Hemispheres we package our used/restored game's way beyond what most do. We use over $50 just in materials for each game that is sent out. For starters the game is broken down and put on a heavy duty 40x48 pallet on top of cardboard so it will not scratch the back (bottom) of the game. It is then wrapped in a thick layer of shrink wrap. After that is wrapped with thick cardboard and shrink wrapped again. Then 2 more layers of thick cardboard and shrink wrap for a 3rd time. It is then banded to the skid with 2 to 4 bands. As you see the picture to left these games will arrive safer than a brand new in the box game! We also ship brand new games on a 40 X 48 pallet. This way your new pinball machine is sitting on a larger skid that has room around it. Manufacturers and most all other dealers ship new pinballs on a 31 X 31 pallet so they can get three wide in a semi truck. This is literally the same dimensions as the box so this is why new pinball is so susceptible to damage! They're also very susceptible to tipping over on these pallets whereas on a 40x48 they are not! But if you do ship a brand new pinball through us you don't have to worry because this service is provided free of charge with our freight quotes. We also put a tip and tell indicator on the box. This device shows that if anytime during transit your item has fallen over.... you will know! When the carrier sees a tip and tell you can be guaranteed your game will be handled carefully.  Once they see these tip and tells they tend to strap items in the truck and handle the freight much more carefully! We also label all four sides of your game with high dollar item and fragile stickers that don't even come on the box from the manufacturer.

 

Every single game we ship is also fully insured by a third-party insurance policy! We can't stress how important all of this is when you're shipping a game (or anything) on LTL freight carriers. No matter how good the reputation is they all damage product! Summer worse than others. And that's the other thing, we stay off the cheapos so if you're wondering why the rate might be cheaper by $100 or so, well here's your answer. Don't let the seller skimp on shipping when you're spending thousands of dollars!

 

Here's even more good news, when your games our games are brought in from the manufacturers they are brought in on our own Chevy Express Cargo vans that ride much smoother than a semi truck. They only travel about 30 minutes from the factory down one of Chicago's best in brand new concrete highways that's butter smooth . The manufacturing and our facility is off this same expressway. So this means that they are not bounced down the road on a semi truck from the manufacturer to the distributor to be put in a warehouse in wherever USA and then shipped yet again on a semi truck bouncing down the roads back to your house. We truly have some of the least amount of warranty issues out there due to the fact that we are housed right by the manufacturing facilities! This is a huge advantage to you!

 

If you would like a shipping quote please fill out this form.

 

Contact us or Call! (630) 792-8910

Every game is fully insured!

 

 

This is the single most important paragraph you will read on this or any other arcade game/pinball website: 

 

EVERY SINGLE GAME WE SHIP NEW OR USED IS FULLY INSURED BY A 3RD PARTY INSURANCE POLICY! Why is this important? Well, because arcade games go on LTL (Less Than Truckload) semi truck carriers when traveling long distances. They can't go on a UPS or FED EX truck. (Well they can, but that is also LTL just a different division than your local driver in the small trucks) So what all this means is when freight goes LTL it is put into into a freight class category. That category is covered based on the commodity. Most EVERY SINGLE freight carrier ONLY covers $1500.00 on coin operated pinball machines and arcade games. NEW OR USED no matter what you paid for it! This includes the specialized "White Glove" carriers. Our 3rd party policy only adds $30 to your quote if your game does not come with free shipping and is absolutely included even with our free shipping service! We have used this policy multiple times. Although damage is rare, it happens! If it happens we handle every single aspect of this process AND we also pay the deductible for you! The second part of this equation is the actual carrier. There are some great carriers and not so great carriers out there. We have used them all over the past 25 years. The not so great, yeah there cheap but they have extremely high claims for damaged freight. Years ago as a company we made the decision to stay off them. They are just not worth the savings. It's minimal in retrospect of what these games can cost, not to mention replacing a pristine fully restored original game or even a brand new game that is not longer in production! We will ONLY use an above average rated carrier to transport your game. The old saying "you get what you pay for" can not be stressed enough in LTL shipping! For the cost of this high end equipment, don't skimp on the shipping! Trust us on this one, we have learned the hard way! Some of these carriers are paid by the skid. You can stamp, write and scream DO  NOT STACK all over the freight and paperwork but guess what they will do? Stack on top of it to get more pallets on the truck. We have had it happen. Last, EVERY GAME gets a tip and tell affixed to the shipment. This assures you and us that the freight at any time in transit has remained upright and has not fallen over. This is also a huge sign for the carriers to handle with care. Once they see a tip and tell they tend to understand that they are being monitored and that the freight IS in fact fragile! 

 

 

If you would like a shipping quote please fill out this form.

 

Contact us or Call! (630) 792-8910