In the past year or so (within the late 2019 to early 2021 timeframe), a number of stand-alone scam game seller websites have popped up, and several discussion threads have been posted about some of them asking "is that website legit?"
More often than not, if you feel you need to ask that question, the answer is usually no.
Most of these sites can be stumbled upon in a google search using search terms related to buying a pinball machine.
That said, there is a list below of some of the known scam sites (this will probably not be comprehensive), some previous threads that have been posted, and some things to look out for.
For lists of legitimate retail game dealers, many of them can be found listed on the distributor pages of pinball manufacturers. Some only sell NIB (New-in-box) games, and some also deal with older refurbished games.
- https://sternpinball.com/buy-a-game/
- https://www.jerseyjackpinball.com/distributors/
- https://www.american-pinball.com/distributors/
- https://www.chicago-gaming.com/distributors/23
- https://www.dutchpinball.com/distributors
- https://www.pinballbrothers.com/alien/
- http://homepin.com/
Note that not every retailer will be listed there (since some dealers might only sell used games, and thus wouldn't be on a NIB distributor list), but those lists are fairly comprehensive, especially if you're looking to purchase a brand new game. Beyond that, there are also many private collectors who sell games. They usually list games here in the Pinside marketplace, in various buying/selling groups on Facebook, various other pinball or arcade discussion forums, Craigslist, and and handful of mailing lists.
Note that all of those platforms do have their own set of scammers present, but this guide will mainly focus on stand-alone scam websites, which have been tricking people who are new to the hobby or inexperienced about buying a new game. This group of individuals are likely the most susceptible to a website scam since they have likely not yet joined any sort of pinball community who might be able to warn them about it and have likely never bough a new game before. They are likely just googling for information on their own about buying a game when they encounter these scam websites.
If you have a question about a dealer or anyone else, don't hesitate to ask. There will likely be someone who can provide feedback on a seller, or be able to help determine if something is a scam.
List of known of scam sites:
- 3d-pinball.com
- 47pins.com
- arcadegamehouse.com
- arcadegamesshop.com
- arcadegamevendor.com
- arcadepinballs.com
- arcadepinballshop.com
- artifexsp.com
- avmpinballmachines.com
- axmpinballmachines.com
- barsandgames.com
- bestpinballmachines.com
- bonzerarcadeshop.com
- buypinballarcardegames.com
- buypinballexpress.com
- buypinballmachine.com
- casinomachinesforsale.com
- classifiedpinball.com
- foosballplanet.com
- gameroomplanet.com
- gameroomshop.com
- gameworldplanet.com
- globalpinballcompany.com
- greatpinballmachines.com
- homeluxurygames.com
- jackgameshub.com
- kaizooperationsbv.com
- kingarupinball.com
- kingarupinballs.com
- livingstreampinballmachines.com
- markwellpinballs.com
- masterpinball.com
- mavpinballmachines.com
- officialpinballmachines.com
- pacificpinballshop.com
- pinbalflippers.com
- pinballandparts.com
- pinballarcadehouse.com
- pinballarcadeshop.com
- pinballavenue.com.au
- pinballballarcardegames.com
- pinballbase.com
- pinballdirect.us
- pinballelite.com
- pinball-entertainment.com
- pinballflipper.com
- pinballftries.com
- pinballftry.com
- pinballhem.com
- pinballhouse.us
- pinballgamegallery.com
- pinballgamesales.com
- pinballgamestore.com
- pinballmachine.bigcartel.com
- pinballmachinecenter.com
- pinballmachineforsale.co
- pinballmachines.online
- pinballmachines.shop
- pinballmachines.us
- pinballmachines.world
- pinballmachines.xyz
- pinballmachinesale.com
- pinballmachinesandparts.com
- pinballmachinescompany.com
- pinballmachinesforsale.shop
- pinballmachinessale.com
- pinballmachineshop.com
- pinballmachinesstore.com
- pinballmaskiner.com
- pinballnations.com
- pinball-nations.com
- pinballonlinestore.com
- pinballpoint.online
- pinballsandmore.com
- pinballsarcadegames.com
- pinballshore.com
- pinballshoreonline.com
- pinballsmachines.com
- pinballsowners.com
- pinballstoreonline.com
- pinballstores.com
- pinballstork.com
- pinballtheatre.com
- pinballtradingllc.com
- pinballworldsupplies.com
- pirateslifepinballstore.com
- portunionpinball.com
- premiumpinballmachinesforsale.com
- premiumpinballs.com
- primepinballmachines.com
- qualitypinballmachine.com
- refinepinballs.com
- rexopinballmachineshop.com
- royalpinballshop.com
- roughbiz.com
- ruvneh.com
- shopzcity.com
- shuffleboardplanet.com
- sportyartsbv.com
- stellarpinballs.com
- tandempinballmachines.com
- thearcadetxas.com (note: cloned the address, about us info, and logo from a legitimate arcade with a similar domain name)
- theepinlab.com (note: this is a fake clone site of a legitimate pinball organization)
- thepinballcompany.us (note: this is a fake clone site of a legitimate pinball retailer)
- thepinballcompanyusa.com (note: this is a fake clone site of a legitimate pinball retailer)
- thepinballgamehouse.com
- thepinballhouse.com
- thepinballmachines.com
- thepinballmachineshop.com
- thepinballmachinessale.com
- thepinballnation.com (note: this is a fake clone site of a legitimate pinball retailer)
- toppinballmachines.com
- usedpinballmachines.shop
- vintagehallgames.com
- worldofpinballarcade.com
- yourpinballshop.com
- zendohyd.com
List of scam social media profiles:
- facebook.com/profile.php?id=100053636733606
- facebook.com/batman66pinball
- facebook.com/Chardliebrown
- facebook.com/Fun-Huz-Arcade-100529362578813
- facebook.com/GameRoomPlanet
- facebook.com/Oswalds-pin-ball-games-108279908499571
- facebook.com/people/Global-Pinball-company/100068366123307
- facebook.com/Johanessstacks
- facebook.com/Pinballballarcardegamescom-107588015376194
- facebook.com/Pinball-Entertainment-100211611938360
- facebook.com/Pinball-Games-Machines-Warehouse-113740494412821
- facebook.com/PinBall-Machinaries-105920815267247
- facebook.com/Pinball-Machines-for-sale-689814164687845
- facebook.com/Premium-Pinball-Machines-For-Sale-Online-105248785440121
- facebook.com/Smith.Alan231
- facebook.com/Sporty-Arts-BV-105730078527744
- facebook.com/thepinballmachines
- instagram.com/Arcade_games22
- instagram.com/arcade_sales
- instagram.com/arcade.house33
- instagram.com/arcadepinball_machines_shop
- instagram.com/arcgames7
- instagram.com/arcademan_6
- instagram.com/awesome_pinball_machines
- instagram.com/gameroomplanet
- instagram.com/george_maso9n
- instagram.com/homearcadecorp
- instagram.com/homearcademania
- instagram.com/Pinball_12
- instagram.com/pinball_arcade_games22
- instagram.com/pinballflipperi
- instagram.com/pinballgamemania
- instagram.com/Pinball_games44
- instagram.com/Pinball_gamesales
- instagram.com/pinballl_space
- instagram.com/pinb.allhomemania
- instagram.com/pin_ballmachine
- instagram.com/Pinball_machines44
- instagram.com/pinballmachines_shop
- instagram.com/pinballmachines_shop1
- instagram.com/pinballshop3
- instagram.coml/Pinballshop6
- instagram.com/pinn_homes
- instagram.com/Pintrade6
- Instagram.com/ppinball_gamez
- instagram.com/ppinbball_gamez
- instagram.com/space_arcaade
- instagram.com/the_arcade_home
- twitter.com/BuyPinball
- twitter.com/pinballflippers
List of scam shipper sites:
- alphacourierservices.com
- glowexpress.net
- External list of fake/scam shipping & freight websites: https://scam.delivery/
List of questionable/unconfirmed sites:
- arcade1up.click
- arcades1up.us
- pinballtrader.us
- zamouse.com
Note that if a suspicious website is reported and they are actually shown to be a legitimate seller/distributor, the posts concerning that site will be removed from this thread so as to not unfairly associate or connect that site with this thread.
Other discussions:
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/buying-advice-from-online-site-seem-shady
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/is-pinballshorecom-a-scam-store-or-legit-shop
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/legit-or-not
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/caution-pinballshorecom
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/has-anyone-heard-of-pinballshore-inc
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/attention-don-t-get-scammed/page/3#post-5940118
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/is-buypinballmachinecom-a-legit-website-
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-base
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/should-i-be-wary-of-sellers-that-wont-let-you-discuss-their-ad#post-5940088
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-theatre
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/scam-too-good-to-be-true
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/beware-pinballmachinecenter-is-a-scammer
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-game-sales-
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/is-pinbalflipperscom-thrustworty
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/is-this-a-scam-it-must-be-
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/anyone-bought-from-arcadegamehousecom
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/question-kansas-thepinballcompanyus-legit
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/anyone-here-ever-buy-a-game-from-pinball-machine-center
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-game-gallery-
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/can-anyone-validate-this-site-as-legit
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/looking-for-feedback-on-seller-possible-scam-1
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinballmachinesstore-ummmmm
- https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stern-godzilla-pro-brand-new-494910-new-in-box-tnt-amusements
If you spot any additional sites or discussions, please feel free to add them to this thread.