New York, NY
Quoted from o-din:So, the question is when the next crash hits, which could happen any day now, as history shows ten years of solid economic growth is usually the limit before something like this happens, will the pinball industry survive or be thriving like we haven't seen since the 1970s, or will it vanish into the night like so many over inflated 401k accounts? My guess is it will be somewhat close to the latter.
Excellent question! You never let me down.
I'd say that the next economic crash, which is sure to happen in the next 2-6 years for obvious but I-swear-not-political-reasons - ALL of the 40 or so current pinball companies will disappear with the exception of Stern. They are the only ones positioned to survive a lengthy economic downturn before they simply run out of cash or their rich and bored benefactors look for another hobby or have to tighten the purse strings as they transition from being super rich to merely rich.
Outside shot Spooky could survive, but I just don't know that a recession won't prune away enough buyers that boutique pinball is no longer feasible.
And don't get excited people, pinball prices won't drop, and people won't dump their $8,000 games for pennies on the dollar. Didn't happen last time around, won't happen this time. people just held on to their stuff and asking prices didn't budge.
But a full-on depression? Now you are talking!!!
