I did, 2006, sold them all.

Got back in the hobby 2016 and now I realize it was probably one of the few things in my life I’d choose differently....

after buying every classic stern out there ! oh my are you ok ? lol some days i fell the pain too , just think i got a down payment for another house in my basement .

48 machines in 5 years? And perhaps another 50 that you've owned and sold in that span?

I think you overloaded yourself and burned yourself out.

Plus, if you aren't putting on tournaments or events, what's the point of just having them? Are you fixing any up to make it more interesting?

Just theorizing over here...

Absolutely! I was dealing with a NIB purchase that was a raging POS and at the same time I was dealing with a restoration project that the pf was absolute shit and getting no resolve. Then I had a guy try scamming me out of an arcade purchase. My stress level was off the charts. I almost threw in the towel. But I do know I would regret it and you'll likely never have the money again to go back and do it again. (At least for us poor folk).

Yes that's my objective... oh wait I'm a distributor... : )

Personally never... but I've seen people do it and they always come back and buy back in later and regret it.

Felt that way a few times but never acted upon those thoughts.

Hey Mitch, yeah a couple years back just downsized, now that I'm combfortable with a 2 or 3 pin line up its more relaxed. Plus for me that 20K would get spent on terrible and fantastic nights of joy but no tangible assets. U have too many I think. I went through that. Might be time to downsize.

Sold all mine last year, paying extra on mortgage waiting for recession

The more pins you own, the more anxiety you have, at least for me.

Something breaks or isn't working correctly, it has to be fixed NOW. My anxiety goes through the roof.

But yes, I think we all go through phases of wanting out. I did, and sold off everything. Then missed it after awhile.

It's normal. (not so sure you are though )

For me moderation is key. At one point I had 15 games in my lineup and it stressed me out because there were always broken machines and projects and it felt like a battle just keeping everything working and playing well. I cut down to 9 games including some newer Stern's and it just feels more manageable and I can pretty much just worry about playing them. My life feels a bit more balanced vs. always being consumed with pinball and pinball projects.

Yeah the feeling comes and goes. Someday we'll sell it all and just travel in a motorhome......, someday.

John

I have indeed. But If I were to go back in, be broke quicker as the cost of games has increased dramatically...

I recently sold off almost my whole collection. I had a few expenses come up and have no regrets. I can play most new pins and lots of classics on location so it’s kind of hard to justify having thousands of dollars in machines that you don’t use. I will definitely buy another pin

Sell high, buy low. Right now the pin stock market is High!

I have had that feeling a few times. Normally I just take a break from it.

I only have 2 pins now and never more than 3 ever and I just can't see how anyone can keep up with more. I have all the maintenance I can handle with 2 or 3.

John,
I can’t imagine you selling that entire beautiful collection!

Pins or kids?

Sometimes you have to remember what got you into pinball. What as the attraction ? What was fun ? What made you happy ?

If the hobby turned away from that, maybe time to get back to what you do enjoy about pinball.

I know I've been giving it a lot of thought today.

LTG : )

Beat me too it!

no
i have found that if i collect the games i like, rather than 'the top 10', i am more content

I think for some it becomes a disease . When you have pins in every nook and cranny of your house, something is wrong. I can picture fiddling it down a bunch in the next few years. Possibly 5 or so pins and some vids. Pricing is way out of control, its a turn off.

I sold everything 2 years ago and only regret not keeping a couple of them. I was sitting around a couple months ago and decided I wanted some more pins. Picked up 6 over the last month and realized how much I missed it. All I am buying now are bang for your buck pins and if a killer deal pops up. No More $8,000 to $12,000 pins for me any longer. My wife dug it, she got to remodel the entire house, interior and exterior. I have a few to tinker with now and if I want to play the new expensive stuff Nashville is loaded with places to play now and when Music City Pinball gets their place open it will be one of the nicest arcades in the country.

Never
I must have separation anxiety .
When I get back from vacation can’t wait to start playing.

dead on, when pricing went nuts is when I bailed. It just got dumb quickly.

I sold 15 of my 17 in 2017. I fully intended to sell them all. I got down to my SS and MM and I couldn't do it. I kept those two and I am very glad I did. I since bought back a couple I truly missed CP and CV. I got lucky and got much nicer ones than I had. I am sticking with WPC-95 games now. On the hunt for a NGG (miss that one bad)

Never!
I do sometimes stop playing for a while as I'm a sore loser

If play horrible for weeks on end, I need to take a break as I get sooo mad at myself and sometimes the machine too

Everytime STI delivers a game to me they talk about the mentally ill collectors. The ones who have filled every inch of space in their homes with pins and their wife and children have left them. It is a serious problem for some, but sure makes for some interesting conversation when STI shows up.

Nope never have had that feeling.

Hi Mitch, here 's some medicine for your condition.
Watch it and report back.

Get well soon man!

I dove in too deep, and have too many pins and not enough space. Occasionally, I will get the impulse to sell off a few I've lost interest in and/or projects I don't think I'll get around to working on anytime soon.

I actually haven't brought any new pins home in over 6 months. I must be ill!

Although, I did bring home a midway space invaders vid about a month ago. Plus I've been dealing in movie/tv props lately. And prepping games for pinball shows, including the show I'm hosting in August. I've been keeping myself mighty busy, lol

Every summer in Minnesota. Every winter, I change my mind.

You had to say recession.

5yrs must be the mark as I've heard others note that things took a turn at that point in time.
Happened to me as well.
Haven't been playing nearly as much as days past but definitely not willing to part with any either.
If I didn't have any pins oh
man, what then!?!

I collected for 15 years then sold everything.
I missed it too much and I feel that I've matured
a bit with my Hunter Gatherer urges so now I'm buying again.

It just sounds like you are "pinballed out" at the moment. Have a rest and see how you feel then.

My wife and I often say "lets sell a few games". This does not normally work so we now have a one in one out policy. This forces us to sell when we want a new or different game. Also helps control the bank balance.

Nah.

I've been slowly selling off my collection. I never hit crazy town levels, maxed out at 11. Now I'm down to 4. I think I need to move at least one more out to make space for other interests, but it's been challenging to commit. The last 4 I have are more emotionally attached for me I guess.

The truth is I'm just not playing right now. They take up a lot of space to not get played ...

It's funny how dynamic life is. Just a month or so ago, I wanted them all. My appetite for pinball was insatiable. Then, not to get too personal, my fiancé decided to end our relationship of 10 years just a few weeks ago. She had lost the spark. I'm crushed, devastated, and feeling more or less hopeless. Normally, my place of solitude was in my basement with my pinball machines. I'd take out my worry and frustration by playing them, or take my mind off of things by working on them.

Not anymore. It's weird. I haven't played a single game in nearly a month now. They just aren't doing it for me anymore. Maybe I used my collection of games to hide my insecurities? Probably. But what I thought would make me happy, isn't. And things that have never made me happy in the past, are.

So, I'm slowly selling my collection. Piece by piece. Not sure how long it'll take. Maybe I'll get the spark back, but I've been happier cooking at home, going to the gym, or riding my bike until my legs fall off.

Honestly, I haven’t had that feeling.

I enjoy turning them all on and just watching the light show.

Mitch, what would be the first 5 games you’d pull out of your house if there was a fire? Keep those and sell the rest

Paragon! Leave it for the flames! Lol

The thought of having to get them out of the basement alone should be enough to squash any thoughts you have about getting rid of them all.