Who are these regular people you speak of?

Buy from Pinsiders - problem solved.

I've had the exact opposite experience. Every time I've purchased a pin from someone they ended up being nice people and the pin was in the condition they said it was in. Maybe I just got lucky, but I'm buying pins pretty regularly.

Pinsiders do it too. All the time.

Just assume EVERY game you buy, regardless of from whom, is gonna need work, and factor that into your offer.

If it's not someone I know personally or know is a collector I take it for granted that something will need fixed. The last "working all the way" game I picked up off Craigslist had 2 locked on pop bumpers and drop targets that didn't drop. Just set the bar as low as possible with non-hobbyists and you'll be fine ha.

This, every time. Far worse are the sellers who turn their sale into some sort of auction. I’d much rather fix something or identify an issue and then negotiate down. If the seller isn’t knowledgeable, they’ll usually come down a bit if their price is reasonable - and they are too. If they’re a psycho, figure that out before you make the trip.

Yep, can’t always tell on the phone. I should have said “try to...”

This right here...

I've been doing this for over 30 years now and had all kinds of experience with sellers
and buyers. Some are blatently dishonest and think their junky, non-working
pin is worth a fortune. Don't even bother with them anymore. Most folks have
been realistic and if a machine that was described as working but isn't upon arrival, I'll
often make an offer (much lower depending on the pin) and if its accepted, great.
if not I'll leave my number an often get a call later.

The thing is, when dealing with people, try to be respectful. If they don't
treat you the same way, walk. The worst are people that piss and moan.
Pinheads are as guilty of this as anyone else.

Not a flipper, just buy machines, fix them up, play them then sell them.

For me the first three parts are easy, the last part not so much.

This does beg the question of how long one needs to keep the machine to not be considered a flipper. One month, 3 months or 48 hours?

Welcome to the world of pinball. I don't care how much the person tell's me that it's working I know it wont be when I get there, I always expect issue's and there always is. Sometimes it's worth mentioning and sometimes not, just depends. Dont' sweat it.

John

You chose to get into a hobby that involves buying, trading, collecting and maintaining items that are known for almost always being broken in some capacity, or another. Yet, it bothers you that they are? Look, you can't keep walking into a Chinese restaurant and complaining that it always smells like dumplings. That's just how it is. Love it or leave it.

Here are just a few ways (that I can recall, it's been a while) I coach myself before starting a new "hunt"...

* Assume people are gonna put *their* needs first: "I just want this 300 pound block of wood and steel out of my house -- ASAP." -- they may talk nice on the phone, yet sell it to someone who called AFTER you and offered $50 more -- are you still surprised when this happens? You don't matter to them, period. Practice setting your expectations closer to probability.

* Ask the *best set* of questions up front to learn whether the person is in more of the "inheritance-victim bucket": "it was my grandpa's in our basement and it worked fine for years" or if they are an actual pinhead -- to better qualify what their answers really mean (to them). "It works" means something different coming from an inheritance-victim than it does coming from a pinhead. Build your list of questions ahead of time. With each interrogation, refine it even further.

* on older pins, I like to assume I will still be in it for another $200-$500 even if everything works, so I must drop my purchase price a lil to make up for that difference, (since I like to spend no more overall than I think I can sell it for)...

* and finally, sample size. If you've done 100 pinball transactions, you'll have much more perspective on the range of people and outcomes than if you've done 5. I try my best to not make big life judgments on things/situations where I have a small sample size.

-mof

fair enough. thanks for your service! you deserve to vent.

I understand your frustrations. The only thing I can add is this.

People have different levels of project to pristine.

Everytime I buy a game I feel I'm getting burned. Everytime I sell a game I feel they're getting a deal.

be prepared to walk away

There's always something not right when buying a game
All part of the buying and selling experience

I'd try to network and make friends with the local pinball community. I bet 80% of the games I buy and sell are with fellow pinball friends. That usually eliminates any surprises and you know and trust the people you're dealing with.

Vic Camp from NJ, is on Pinside “campgames”. He will know of someone that can help you. Vic is a great guy, owns a bunch of pins and Bingos as well.

In the EM section there's a sub section for bingos. Post your questions there. Good luck!