Probably should edit out his phone number

Tell him if he wants to buy it, he is welcome to put in an offer but you will not hold it. Disregard everything else in the story because it's irrelevant. He could genuinely be mistaken, who knows.

Hmmm, lot of specific information and detail...maybe too much for a scam? But who knows. If the obituary checks out it might be worth at least a courtesy phone call?

Maybe a new scam.....call the number.....think you will know fairly quick

I would only give them the option to actually come in person to buy it with cash. Don't fall for the transfer money bs.

I wonder if his story is legit but he is confused in assuming your machine was his fathers. I think there are 3 Wizards for sale in the Wisconsin area on Craigslist currently.

The owner of The House on the Rock is/was a friend of my uncles and fathers. The obituary is from the same area as the museum. They have many antique music machines. The area code is correct for Wi.

Anyway not sure how he'd be able to prove it was the same machine outside a serial number. Even if he did he'd have any recourse. Just sounds like an unfortunate coincidence (potentially).

Sounds legit ! Let him buy it

Text him and tell him it's for sale. Come get it, cash on the glass.

Money Talks.

You can hold it for him once the total sale price funds have been deposited and cleared to your account. He can come and pick it up at his leisure after that. If he is genuine, he will turn up, get someone to turn up, transfer the money or do whatever it takes to get this "must have machine".

Nothing more for anyone to worry about after that.

I’d raise my price. It’s very important to him and he’s determined to get it home.

Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #47 “Knowledge equals profit.”

Have a friend reply too. If he starts trying to buy both machines you know it's 100% scam.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it does seem like a lot of work to try and scam a $950 Wizard pinball machine from somebody.

It would be. But the scammers don't do that. They do a similar scam to dozens or hundreds of potential victims. If they get a few hundred bucks for sending out a couple hundred emails that is easy money. They will never personally possess the merchandise. If they even have it picked up it will be by an unwitting mule who is also a victim of a fake check/advance fee fraud.

Nobody wants to hear either side of that shit here dude. This is our happy place, let’s all just be pinball buddies and save the bickering for the clown puke LED thread. Peace.

Sort of same email 4-5 days ago.
From a pinsider, trying to find the game his father played. Looking to spend 3-400 hundred $.
His account was only a week old.
None of it made sense.
Couple of days later pinside wanted me to verify his account.
I did not.
Said he could not travel due to having a new baby.
I called his #, he answered said he couldn't talk, was getting the baby out of the car.
I could hear the kid crying.
Bizzare.

How can three people carry a machine up stairs at the same time?

No idea if the guy is legit or not, but The House on the Rock is legendary.

We just went there for the first time last month. Awe inspiring. Played some new pins at some bar&grill near there too.

Taken apart,
2 on the cabinet and one one the backabox....

LOL, I love it, just the mere mention of ***************...Too funny..It is all the down votes that truly makes me scared...

I was going to reply, but I sent an abuse notice instead.

I also would have downvoted it if he said something negative about Kavanaugh. It’s tacky to bring up politics here. Don’t worry, Dingleberry agrees with you so you’re probably cool.

I actually know of the Wizard with red touchups that is in WI. More likely that is the game he is looking for?