White Glove Arcade Machine Shipping
White glove arcade shipping provides premium inside delivery — two-person crew, blanket-wrap handling, delivery into your room of choice. It costs 3–5× more than freight but offers hands-on placement service. Here's everything you need to know to decide which option is right for you.
What Is White Glove Arcade Shipping?
White glove shipping is a premium delivery service where a two-person crew delivers your machine inside your home or business, places it in the room of your choice, and in some cases removes packaging debris. The machine is transported in a climate-controlled, padded truck — typically blanket-wrapped rather than palletized.
White glove service is used for high-end furniture, art, and specialty items. For arcade machines, it appeals to buyers who want a fully hands-off experience — particularly for very valuable machines being delivered to a specific room in a large home.
That said, the vast majority of arcade machine buyers — including serious collectors shipping machines worth $3,000–$10,000 — use professional freight shipping rather than white glove. Properly palletized freight is extremely safe, significantly cheaper, and delivers in comparable timeframes. For most situations, freight is the smarter choice.
Our Shipping Process
Pickup
Determine Your Needs
Do you need inside placement in a specific room? Is your machine extremely fragile or irreplaceable? Do you have stairs or tight hallways that a freight liftgate can't navigate? These factors favor white glove. If you can move the machine yourself once it's off the truck, standard freight is likely sufficient.
Packing
Request a Quote for Both Options
We'll quote you our standard freight rate and, if requested, a premium inside delivery rate. For most routes, our standard freight runs $150–$500. White glove for the same machine typically runs $500–$1,500+. You'll have both numbers to compare.
Freight Transport
Prep the Machine (Either Option)
For freight, the machine is palletized and wrapped by the seller. For white glove, the machine is typically blanket-wrapped by the delivery crew. We provide packing guidance either way.
Delivery
Premium Delivery & Placement
White glove delivery: two-person crew delivers inside your home, places the machine in your room of choice, and removes packaging. Standard freight liftgate: machine is lowered to the ground at your address — you move it inside.
White Glove vs. Freight: Cost Comparison
For most arcade machine buyers, professional freight shipping offers the best value. Here's an honest comparison of the two options:
- Standard freight shipping: $150–$500 for most domestic routes. Machine delivered to your curb or dock.
- White glove shipping: $500–$1,500+ for the same routes. Inside delivery, room placement included.
- Liftgate + help from one person: $150–$500 freight + liftgate. Machine at ground level — you handle from there.
- $10,000 insurance for $25: available on all our freight shipments — better protection than most white glove carriers offer.
- Transit time: comparable for both options (3–10 days); white glove scheduling windows can be longer.
- Damage rate: properly palletized freight and white glove both produce very low damage rates when done correctly.
Why Choose Coin Machine Shippers?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is white glove shipping worth it for an arcade machine?
For most arcade machine purchases, no — properly palletized freight with a liftgate provides excellent protection at a fraction of white glove cost. White glove makes sense if you need inside placement in a specific room and cannot physically move the machine from your driveway, or if the machine is extraordinarily valuable and fragile.
Can freight shipping be as safe as white glove for arcade machines?
Yes — professional freight with proper palletizing and our $25 $10,000 insurance is the method trusted by serious arcade collectors, dealers, and professionals who ship hundreds of machines per year. White glove is not inherently safer; it's a different service model.
What is inside delivery for arcade machines?
Inside delivery means the carrier brings the machine past the threshold of your home or business — typically to the first room or hallway. Room-of-choice placement (deeper inside the home, up stairs) is white glove territory and requires a two-person crew.
Do you offer white glove arcade machine shipping?
Contact us to discuss premium delivery options. For most buyers, we recommend our standard freight + liftgate service. If your situation specifically benefits from white glove, we'll point you toward the right option and be honest about the cost difference.
Get a Free Quote
$10,000 insurance for just $25
Protect your machine with $10,000 of freight insurance for just $25. Strongly recommended for all vintage, collectible, or high-value equipment.