I only buy LEs - because I enjoy the fun mods that are factory installed. I appreciate the beauty of the games as much as playing them - so custom armor, mirrored backglasses, etc is appealing to me. Having said that, I've never sold an LE so I don't really care what the secondary market is on them (although space is an issue, so it might happen someday).

For the record - I've never bought an extra as an investment - too much hassle/risk.

And this is truth - I paid $1000 over the premium price.

The bad/mediocre LEs may drop dramatically, but the decent/great games typically have a small dip within the first year, then return to at or above NIB pricing - used METLE, ACDCLE, TRONLE, SMLE, LOTRLE, TWDLE, STLE, WoZLE, etc are all at or above NIB pricing. I'm 100% positive GB will be in this category - there may be a *couple* of used LEs that sell under NIB pricing for 6-12 months after release, but then the prices will start to tick upward. And those few that do sell under NIB pricing will be snapped up really quickly...

And both of those were crazy good deals - I'll buy your METLE right now for exactly what you paid for it! Hell, I'll even toss in a few hundred just for taking such good care of it!

Not if it is Aerosmith - even with an LCD, I won't be buying one.

You might check prices on TWD as it is at or above NIB now.

So good LE investments (used is at or above NIB pricing) were: METLE, ACDCLE, TRONLE, SMLE, LOTRLE, TWDLE, STLE, WoZLE, GBLE* (hasn't been a year since release)

Not so good LE investments (used is below NIB pricing): WWE, Mustang, AV, XM, KISS* (hasn't been over a year since release)

2 ratio that you come out ahead. I'll take those odds any day.

Was that in USD? If so - chock that one up to killer deal/uninformed seller. Show me a TWDLE for sale right now for $6500.

Likewise, show me a STLE for sale right now for under $7500. I can show you 10 that are for sale or sold for more than $7500 in the past 6 months.

It's not a theory, it's a fact. But yes, NIB prices were lower in the past...just as they will be higher in the future. The average price paid on a NIB GBLE shot up $500 in fact. Look for another jump when the LCD models come out. Pinflation sucks, but it's a permanent reality and will always aid in supporting past LE prices.

OK - let's just agree to say that pinflation is a historical reality - neither one of us knows what's going to happen in the future. Is there a ceiling? Maybe. Are we on the front or back side of the recent price hikes? Dunno. Will a Chinese company start selling killer games for 1/2 the price? Again, dunno. Will all of the current pinball makers still be around in 5 years...or will there be more? *shrug* Will we all die from the return of Gozer the Gozerian next week? who knows.

I just look at history as it's often the best predictor of what will happen in the future. But in the end - I'm fine either way - I don't buy LEs as an investment.