Prob beat up playfields as that is hardest to fix. For me the side cabinet dings etc.. isnt the worst since i have a few machines sitting next to each other so that usually hides that, but does hinder when reselling.

Playfield is the most important to me. I don't care too much about the cabinet, especially parts I can't see.

Hacky hack jobs - like in free play crime

Dirty lock down bars drive me crazy. If i see a pin for sale thats the first thing i check for

Being out of my price range.

Agree, most important. I will consider pins in lesser condition as long as the price is lesser too. In fact I would rather not find a "collector quality" whatever that means, I would much rather find a solid "player" machine any day. And I hope that any day is real soon

Cosmetic stuff that can't be fixed like badly damaged painted backglasses.

Just the general idea that someone doesn't give a shit.
There's a Stern SM in a pub near me that looks 20 years old, simply because the people who work there don't see it as something that "needs looking after". So it gets badly cleaned, used as a drinks stand, sat on, abrasively polished etc.

Frankly, makes you wanna break in and steal it.

Mould. Had a couple I had to massively clean, sand, strip out PF’s and boards and everything else, and freshen up. Now, when looking at a game I’m buying, sticking my head in and taking a whiff is one of the first things.

Anything indicating mould or even a good musty smell, and I’m out.

Liquids on older playfields. Tried to repair a Super Straight that had been sitting in my in-laws basement for 35 years. Something had shattered the glass and liquid (probably beer) had sat on the PF for years. Was not possible and most of the electronics below were shot as well. All I have of it now is the backglass. DSC_0331.jpg

The playfield is the main driver of price for me.
but I agree - its annoying to get a game that has rusty legs, levelers that are shot, and glass so scratched you can't see anything

My top 3 list of things I look at -

1. Damaged backglass - scratches, chips, flaking.

2. Worn down playfield- I'm talking about so badly worn that there's no paint in areas like
straight down the middle, and near the slingshots.

3. Cabinet - hate to see large scratches in the paint where it's very noticeable, and extreme
wear around the flippers.

Playfield - water damage, paint damage and just worn doesn't do it for me.

Cabinet - After having a beauty of a Fish Tales cabinet and mega faded No Fear...
I like the money saved on the faded cabinet, but FT needed a good cabinet.

Mechanical probs - Its a gamble if it doesn't work like the No Fear I just bought,
but if you can do it or have a good tech, then they are no big deal, just more cash.

Backglass > Translite - All of mine have a backglass and I don't ever want just a translite,
that has to cut down the price to me.

Hardcore, have one of those socialist brats who have been rioting because
their allowances have run dry there help ya out
or... just hostile bid buy the thing!

If all you have is FT and NF, then neither of your games have backglasses. They have translites. Translites are pieces of paper, but they have glass in front of them. Backglasses are pieces of glass that the artwork is screeened directly on. Sometimes they will also have a mirror finish. For instance, Earthshaker uses a real backglass.

Worn playfield for sure.

Pet peeve of mine is when incorrect screws are used. Especially into the playfield.

Normal wear and tear doesnt bother me that much. it does determine the price I'm winning to pay, if I'm even willing to buy it, but not a big gripe.

My biggest gripe would be someone that thought they knew what they were doing and tried to fix a simple and cheap problem, causing more damage in the process. Rascal named one of them, someone trying to fix a stripped screw by sticking a larger one in it's place (I've seen screws popping up through the playfield before) when a simple toothpick and glue will fix the issue.

Another would be wrapping fuses in tin foil or soldering on a jumper wire to replace a blown fuse... Or worse yet, doing the same thing to "fix" a fuse from blowing instead of finding out why it's blowing in the first place.

I agree, these are an easy fix