Never. Dont even OWN a credit card at all. Having cash on hand at any given moment is the way to go, you never know when your gonna need to close a deal and the seller wont wait for you to get a loan......

John P. Dayhuff
Battle Creek, Mi.
269-979-3836

I had a local operator give me the option to make payments to him on a pin. Pay as much as you can now them 100 a month till paid off. He actually said he would come service it for free and clean it every few months.

Do not buy a pin on a CC.

Cash only...tax refund actually. I do ok but I'm not made of money. It helps that I don't have a family to support, if I did I would/could not be in this game.

Build credit?
Buying 5-10k pins is not the best way to build credit.
Best advice is buy what you can afford to pay for in full.
On a used pin cash and NiB I prefer a credit card which I pay off in full.

cash only...if I cant scrape up cash to pay in full then I cant afford the pin.

I have Predator on a credit card. I have 0% on my card and it makes sense for a preorder, because if we do have to cancel then a refund is much easier to ensure than if I had sent cash. If I am buying outright from someone local, then I am paying with cash. For the 3 we had shipped in sight unseen, we payed with a credit card to protect the buyer/seller, then just paid off the card immediately. I wouldn't put one on a card if I couldn't pay off the card immediately or had 0% like on the pre-order so I can then pay it off once it is in my house.

No

Yes

Yes

It depends. I typically have used cash or check, but prefer to use a credit card (Amex with cash back) if possible but do pay off the balance immediately. I have also borrowed cash from a friend who was happy to take my check when the seller only wanted cash and I had an empty back account until payday.

Cash is king. I've never borrowed or bought by credit card in my 30+ years of collecting.

I have a second mortgage on my house to support the addiction. It is all good.

Amex is evil

Credit hasn't been good to me. If I want something, I find a way to buy it with cash or trade. Pins are a luxury item.

Hobbies should be credit free. If you cant pay for it then you cant afford it

I would be willing to bet more people buy on credit than are willing to admit. When I want a new pin usually something else has to go to afford it.

^^^ this ^^^

I sold a kidney on the black market and loan my kids out for medical testing.

These are toys - not shelter, food, or clothing.

I tried to rationalize using a CC on MetPro. Then, I realized "no....cash only...."

Sperm banks are also a great way to raise cash. Plus, if you ever encounter your new children, you can do as Zippy (see above)

I think buying a pinball machine before the house is paid off is just as bad.

At least cards offer 0% money however.

My real name is King. Cashis King.

My feeling is this. If you can't afford it, the world does not owe you it. Work smart (working dumb just doesn't cut it) and you can get what you want.

Cash money always.

I bought my JP with a credit card that has 0% interest for a year. I paid off the purchase before any interest accrued. I don't see any issues with this approach. Sometimes it's easier to make a monthly payment.

Cash
If I don't have the cash then Icannot aafford it

Pins are a better investment as of late than paying off a 3% mortgage.

Credit card for extra protection and cash back, and immediately pay off.

I paid off a $55K 2nd mortgage (80/20 purchase money on a possible flip) with a few 0% credit cards once

MEGA amortization progress was made lol

I think of a paid off house as an annuity. Except it stays in the family when you die & your own lifestyle choices determine its value instead of an underwriter forecasting your demise.

Disclaimer: I don't know shit

Make a poll and you'll get a better result. Also, im guessing this is more asking about buying NIB or games from retailers

So we millennials who are fortunate enough to have a job with enough income to afford a mortage can't also buy pinball machines? I'm not going to live a life without entertainment just so I can pay my house off a few years earlier. Geeze, I'd be in my late 50's before I'd ever get to do anything fun! I view the mortgage as a cheaper alternative to renting with the benefit of equity, and if I stay in the same place for long enough, the benefit of the mortgage being paid off at some point and my cost of living going down a bit.

Nope. Haven't bought anything on credit for years, including my new car. Paid 100% with money in the bank for all pins and other large purchases.

I think there are very few people who are able to completely pay off their house, even in a hobby like this where there are a lot of guys who make a very good living.

I'd be curious what the average age of your typical collector is. I'm 36...that might be for a different thread though...

Bottom line, don't go broke for a pin

The key is to build your collection. I built mine over years of buying, fixing, selling and keeping the pins I couldn't let go.

Sure I spent a good chunk of coin along with some blood sweat and tears to build what I have but I've also met many good friends along the way.

It's way more rewarding to build instead of to buy.

My $0.02

Where do people get these 0% APR cards at?

Matter of preference, but taking out a low interest loan such as an auto loan, is a good financial decision.

I'm 35

Am I millennial?

Edit: my house isn't paid off yet.. That's why I only have 3 pins lol

Cash only, if you don't have the money for it you're in the wrong hobby. Are you going to buy a Tron LE or start another worthless WTB thread?

Steve

Eh, been there done that. Financed my share of cars. Came to a realization that I don't need credit. A buddy of mine put down a half a mil on an 875,000K house a few years back.. it can be done without credit (he almost did). It's the power of limits as well.

If I can't pay cash for the game then I shouldn't be buying it, I would never take a loan to buy a pin. Credit card for nib is ok buy the distributors will charge you their fee or split it with you. Just my 2 cents

Wow. 50's. You'd be SO OLD

You'll get there... some of us are just about there

As long as you work hard and smart, you can get to the point where you earn more than you spend.

Cash only no credit.

I've used cash. I've used credit. I've taken out a loan.

I don't live beyond my means, though some might say any loan is technically living beyond your means.

I learned three years ago that the time we have on this hunk of rock isn't guaranteed, no matter your age, so I intend to live life and enjoy it. Every day.

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

I almost never use cash. Everything that can goes on the CC and gets paid off at the end of each month. I don't pay a dime in interest and have a rewards card that gives me 2% back on everything. Also for most purchases the manufacture warranty gets doubled....if you remember to save the receipt.

My house was paid off a few years ago, cars paid off and pins paid for in cash only. Also have two kids in college and another going in a few years. Just turned 50.

Cars and pins paid in cash. If I don't have the cash then I don't buy it. Screw the banking industry.

What card is that?

Capitol One

Exactly. There's nothing wrong with buying with a credit card, paying off that month, and getting all the rewards points. Not to mention the extended warranty and other perks a credit card can provide when used for purchasing. Just don't carry a balance with a high APR.

I've used a credit card to do a NIB purchase with a dealer, but just as an easy way to do it over the phone, my card is paid in full every month, always, I never make payments on it. If you're going to pay it off immediately then whatever, it's just a way to shuffle money, but if you can't afford to throw the cash at the card when the statement is due then don't buy the game.

Grew up on Ninja Turtles = not a Millennial
Grew up on Power Rangers = Millennial

There you go, cut and dry.

Steve

They didn't let us watch TV in rehab