My advice to you is go pick it up!!...Here's a few figures to consider...I looked at your location and not sure exactly where in NC you are going but if it is about 600 miles, that's 1200 miles round trip...take a mini van (you must know someone if you don't have your own) and gas is only going to cost a little over $100, assuming about 20 mpg and $2 per gallon which is on the high end..now figure a place to stay one night and some food stops and you're still only into the trip for about $200...Only need to take a couple days for a little road trip!..I don't think you're going to get it shipped that cheap,(my shipping consistently costs about $400 per machine shipped legs on, this has been through NAVL/. STI. By picking it up yourself you know how it's going to get handled!. .I've already received a new machine professionally crated etc...with a big hole in the box, and scratch on the side!!..not cool for a $8000 pinball machine!!...If you have the time to do it, NO WAY would I have it shipped!!...But this is my own personal opinion,,,keep in mine I have had several shipped and several I've gone to pick up when as close as you are to the seller..good luck which ever choice you decide....

By the way Travis..You are NOT and idiot for not knowing (idiots guide!)..Great question to ask on how to ship a pinball..once again, hope it all works out,,,I didn't mention also another reason to get the game in person....if you don't really know the seller, you might end up with a real (Tird!)..It's happened to me more than once when I got a pinball shipped and the seller mis-represented the machine..Your idea of a players condition machine, might be his idea of a immaculate quality perfect machine!!..It's a chance you take...