No. That's called spending money. Losing money I equate to dropping my wallet somewhere.

I compare my playcounts*the costs but it usually takes me a decade to make back the cost of the game

not in my opinion, if I buy a TV set or a DVD player or a hot tub, I don't expect to get my money back. Heck I have to haul my old TVs sets to the dump to get rid of them and my old DVD, VCRs etc.. just get thrown in the trash.

I think pinball machines are pretty unique in keeping their value.

I think I lost the most theoretical value on XMLE but have probably made that back on my other pins (if I sold them that is). But even losing $1500 on XMLE is not that bad maybe $10/week so far but will be less as time goes on.

Buying NIB and remakes for $8K a pop have made it hard for collectors to make a profit, when it comes time to sell.

We have seen examples of this already.

Too often people selectively forget how $400+ of their NIB price was shipping

You have $4.5K into something. Sell it for $4K. And wonder if you lost money.

You a government official ? Congressman ?

LTG : )

And many of the older overrated pins are losing value every day because of the "new NIB's and remakes for $8k a pop" because THOSE are the pins that people want.

Not so much the old "collectibles". But good luck with that.

Depends on how much entertainment value the game provided.

The only way depreciation counts is if you can write it off on your taxes. Any other way, not so good.

If you play your pins, enjoy them, and then sell them later for a reasonable amount later then my suggestion is move on and let it go.

There is no "loss" here.

If you are worried about it then you shouldn't be buying any pinball machines. Invest in the stock market today

If I sold my TZ for $2K, I will still make double what I paid for it.

If I sell my MM for $6K, I will still make double what I paid for it.

If I sell my BBB for $8K, I will still make double what I paid for it.

Try doing that with your $8K NIB or remake.

Yes, you are going to lose money. Good luck with that.

Congrats

Nobody cares

Relics

But I do agree, you and another guy are good at math 2+2=4

I'm constantly surprised when I see Big Buck Hunters and Shreks in the 4500-5000 range. I could buy a brand new game for that. Am I wrong for thinking that? I wouldn't mind trying BBH and Shrek but not for NIB price.

It's a hobby - hobbies cost money

I'm not sure the logic of games played on it = saving money from playing out in the wild holds up. It's like saying every movie you watch on your TV is saving you from spending $40 at the local AMC Theater. The logic holds true for operators who sell games for less than they paid NIB, but they made money every day on it.

No wonder you were upset with the MMr. Now your double instead of quadruple your money.

If you enjoyed restoring the game beyond what you played it, no.
A pinball hobbyist never gets a major return on his involvement based on hours of restoration.
If I restore a game for another the base rate is between $45-50/hour which is fairly common in this region.
This encompasses every aspect including parts. Specialized work can be higher, including building new cabinets or painting.
If you put a game in storage, versus selling it outright in a year, eventually you will recoup your costs if you properly protect it in a climate controlled environment.
That is what some do, when they wish to rotate their lineup.
Some collectors have had machines in storage for decades.

Just wait until Gamestop starts buying and selling retro pins.

That sounds more like how you treat wine vs pinball.

Did you buy the game as an investment? (Do not do this!)
Then yes, you lost money on your investment.

Did you buy the game as a toy?
Then no, you paid for entertainment.

I'm not sure. I've never sold a game for less than what I have into it...

Since I bought my games well under market value at the time, I can call them an investment since IF I were to ever sell them, I'd most likely make a profit.

But in reality, I could care less. I'm just curious how long it'll take me to "play them until they're free"(like the op was alluding to). I know for a fact if the games I have were in an arcade somewhere and played as nice as mine do, I'd be there two or three times a week, if not more, dropping quarters in them. Once I hit that break even point, it's all gravy!

This is what I do. But I'm not kidding myself: climate-controlled storage is costing me about $120 annually per stored game. That plus inflation eats away at any profit I might get from keeping them. I just like having games that I've already restored. Which reminds me, it's time to put Black Knight back in the gameroom.

Since I have some of my games set to take money instead of free play, I can call them an investment too. In fact that is what the makers of these games called them.

Those that say pinball machines are not meant to be an investment are full of BS. All coin operated machines are meant to be an investment.

That sounds like the difference between a speculative investment and a commercial investment.

Not at all. I don't expect to sell for a profit, I sell to rotate the lineup.

Since I have bought pins that I enjoy of course it stands you sell for less that you paid. The enjoyment of owning and playing is priceless.

I've been trying to find a way to spin mine as a business expense. My accountant won't let me.

These are commercial machines, designed to take and make commercial money.