Buyer guide
What a first arcade parts order from China actually involves.
Most of the friction in a first order comes from an enquiry that does not carry enough information to quote against. This guide sets out what a supplier needs from you, what to expect back, and where the timeline actually goes.
To quote arcade parts, a Chinese manufacturer needs the model or a clear photo, the quantity per item, the destination country and the electrical specification — lamp voltage for buttons, way count for joysticks, coin or token type for acceptors. Samples usually ship within a few days against courier cost. Production lead time for a stocked catalogue item is commonly two to three weeks after the order is confirmed, longer for custom colours, printed caps or branded packaging.
What to put in the first enquiry
Send the part, the quantity and the destination. For a part you already have, a photo of the front and the back with a ruler in frame answers more questions than a paragraph of description — it shows cutout size, mounting style and terminal type at once. For a part you are specifying fresh, give cutout diameter, panel thickness, lamp voltage and switch terminal type.
Quantity matters because it decides which price break applies and whether a custom colour is viable at all. Destination country matters because it drives shipping mode, certification expectations and, for coin acceptors, which coin set the unit has to handle.
Samples, MOQ and what is negotiable
Sample orders are normal and expected before a first bulk order. For catalogue parts the usual arrangement is a small number of pieces at unit price with the buyer covering courier cost. Confirming tactile feel, lamp brightness and coin behaviour on a real sample is worth the delay; specifications on paper do not tell you how a button feels after a thousand presses.
Minimum order quantity is normally per model and per colour rather than per shipment, so a mixed order across several catalogue items is easier to place than the headline number suggests. Custom work — non-standard colours, printed or engraved caps, branded packaging — carries its own minimum and its own tooling or setup cost, and that is where most of the negotiation actually happens.
Lead time and where it goes
A stocked catalogue item in a standard colour is commonly two to three weeks from confirmed order to ready-to-ship. Custom colours add time for moulding or plating runs; printed caps add artwork approval, which is usually the step that slips, because it waits on the buyer. Build approval time into your own schedule rather than the supplier's.
Shipping is separate again and dominates the total for small orders. Courier is a few days and suits samples and urgent replacements. Air freight suits mid-sized orders. Sea freight is much cheaper per unit but adds several weeks door to door, and only makes sense at volume or when the delivery date is far enough out to absorb it.
Reducing risk on a first order
Order a sample before committing, and test it in the actual panel rather than on the bench — panel thickness and cutout tolerance cause more returns than component quality does. Keep the first production order modest and treat it as a test of the supplier's consistency, packing and paperwork as much as of the parts.
Ask what happens if a batch is wrong before you need the answer. A supplier who will replace a mis-specified batch on the next shipment is worth more than one who is a few percent cheaper, and that conversation is much easier to have at enquiry stage than after a container has landed.
| Item | Send | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Cutout diameter, panel thickness, lamp voltage, terminal type | Fixes size, mounting style and lamp circuit |
| Joysticks | Way count, shaft length, top style, mounting plate pattern | Decides gate, panel fit and drilling |
| Coin acceptors | Coin or token type, supply voltage, mounting position | Decides unit type and programming |
| All items | Quantity per model, destination country | Sets price break and shipping mode |
Frequently asked questions
What information does an arcade parts supplier need to quote?
The model or a clear photo of both sides, quantity per item, destination country, and the electrical specification — lamp voltage for buttons, way count for joysticks, coin type for acceptors.
Can I order samples of arcade buttons before a bulk order?
Yes. For catalogue parts the usual arrangement is a few pieces at unit price with the buyer covering courier cost, shipping within a few days.
How long does an arcade parts order from China take?
A stocked catalogue item in a standard colour is commonly two to three weeks to ready-to-ship. Custom colours and printed caps add time, and shipping is separate — days by courier, weeks by sea.
Is minimum order quantity per item or per shipment?
Normally per model and per colour, so a mixed order across several catalogue items is easier to place than a single headline MOQ figure suggests.
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