Went to a GiGo today, don’t usually put in more than 2-400 yen, but got way too invested too quickly in a 100 yen machine that I’d downed near 2000 yen in before I asked one of the guys to make it easier. He made it lean against the plastic, but 10 attempts later, I’d pushed the little Wooper all over the place. Again requested another lady working there that I’d spent 2500 yen on it, could you do something about it, hands to my face. She made it so I could just push it over the edge, which I failed at, lol. She gave me another chance with the guy literally over the edge and finally got it. Sorry for the ramble, I suck at story telling.
So my main question is what’s the right way to ask them? I felt I was a little crude mentioning how much I’d spent already and silly for making a pity face. Some unwritten but well known etiquette I should follow so I’m not just another baka gaijin, thanks!
9 comments
Just ask them what the best way to do it is, it differs depending on the plush / weight balance. Then the scenario will play out exactly as it did already for you.
Now, if these were 100 per play then I’d say you waited way too late to ask.
Deff ask how to play them.
There’s different tricks to different setups.
Usually a sumimasen is sufficient. Most of the times they’ll pity you and come offer to adjust it if they see you are doing too poorly.
Idk if there’s much etiquette other than don’t ask after the 1st attempt.
Most of these machines are literally programmed to have weak claws and eat your money so you should feel no remorse in asking them to move the thing.
I’m far from a claw machine expert, having only played exactly twice xD. The staff helped me both times by doing the same thing they did for you (basically making it impossible for me to *not* get the item lol). For further reassurance, there’s a big name YouTuber who plays the claw machines and he has absolutely no qualms about “sumimasen”ing to get the difficulty lowered.
Just go to the store and buy the exact same toy for 1/10th of the money you wasted trying to “win” it
I’ve put thousands into claw machines and have won over thousands of prizes.
Take it from me, don’t ever play at the big companies. Absolute waste of money. Go to 倉庫系 warehouse places. The settings there are actually set to “実力” for bar games, and anything resembling a traditional claw game will usually have a reasonable pay out rate.
GiGo is well known to be at the absolute bottom of the barrel for arcades among the community lol
It’s fine to be shamelessly ask for help (to make it easier) multiple times if you spent enough money to it.
Though usually the stuff I really want in GIGO, tends to also exists in mercari after a while, in much cheaper price.
You don’t need to feel bad. A lot of people do it. I would ask them at first what’s the best way to play. Some people will tell the staff “I’ve tried this and that but it hasn’t moved much” and the staff will give them advice / show them. As for making it easier, you can ask but this heavily depends on the staff and Game Center. Sometimes they will make it easier (I’ve had staff that just made it so it’s a guaranteed win but this usually after I’ve called them over numerous times to reposition because it’s in an unmoveable position) and other times they just flat out tell you know. It never hurts to ask especially if you’ve been trying for a while.
It depends on the place but everywhere I’ve gone, if the staff sees us struggling, they offer to help. After spending like ¥2000 for a plushy my oldest really wanted, the staff practically put it over the edge and we had to barely tap it to fall in. My wife and I were embarrassed a little because the staff had repositioned it like 5 times before making it dead easy lol
We just assumed the staff felt bad for us because we sucked so hard