Just started a new project Williams 64 Riverboat and what do I stumble upon inside the machine but this time capsule from 1997.
It's amazing to see that not everything has appreciated in the manner you would expect. EMs about the same.
But dear god a Twilight Zone for $1395 when Lethal Weapon 3 was going for $995 and an Eight Ball (I guess considered classic for 97) was $750 ! Boy times have changed.
Yes but you have to keep in mind that at that time those were the going prices and while they may seem low now they were probably high back then, especially from a full blown retailer like Prestige is. I've got similar lists from other places that I'll try and post as well. Good readings.
John
The most interesting thing to me is how the price of a NIB Stern Pro is pretty much in line with inflation. Attack from Mars was going for $3200 then which equates to ~$5500 now.
Amazon stock has risen over 50,000% in 20 years.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/06/15/1-stock-that-turned-3000-into-over-1-million.aspx
Does't look too much different from today. The newer games are more expensive, the older ones are not.
I would be interested to see a price list from 2008-2009 when the economy was in the crapper and we had gas was $4/gal.
Last I checked, we're still paying for shipping companies' fuel surcharges, even though gas is better now.
Prime Interest rate is 4% currently and has been for 9 years now. Asset inflation. The Prime Interst rate was 8.5% in 1997. That's the difference, cheap money for the past 9 years balloons prices, but it's not inflation according to the Federal Reserve, they've said for 9 years that its not called inflation anymore. 
Quoted from KozMckPinball:Prime Interest rate is 4% currently and has been for 9 years now. Asset inflation. The Prime Interst rate was 8.5% in 1997. That's the difference, cheap money for the past 9 years balloons prices, but it's not inflation according to the Federal Reserve, they've said for 9 years that its not called inflation anymore.
Excellent point. Yeah pinballs are not really a great investment vehicle even though we complain about rising prices. Should have invested in Apple when I had the chance. Hey at least I'm not losing money on this hobby.
What particularly struck me is how some pins have greatly accelerated in price while others have remained almost stationary over 20 years. I paid recently $400 for an Eight Ball whereas it was $750 in 97, as opposed to the Indy. Guess its just like picking the right stocks.
Quoted from brenna98:Does't look too much different from today. The newer games are more expensive, the older ones are not.
I would be interested to see a price list from 2008-2009 when the economy was in the crapper and we had gas was $4/gal.
Last I checked, we're still paying for shipping companies' fuel surcharges, even though gas is better now.
What the heck is going on with gas prices?!
A week ago I saw gas as low as $2.13 and as high as $2.58 on my way to Allentown. Today it was $1.83 locally. That's crazy.
Quoted from pookycade:What particularly struck me is how some pins have greatly accelerated in price while others have remained almost stationary over 20 years. I paid recently $400 for an Eight Ball whereas it was $750 in 97
$750 was a high end Retail price. So, in 1997 a retailer was asking $750 for an Eight Ball. Today - $1995? $2995? more? I'll assume that you didn't buy it from a retailer for $400.
Quoted from BrooklynDrug:Twister $3750, Bally Evira $2000.......
Gameplay...I'd choose Twister. Not even remotely joking.
Quoted from FrankJ:$750 was a high end Retail price. So, in 1997 a retailer was asking $750 for an Eight Ball. Today - $1995? $2995? more? I'll assume that you didn't buy it from a retailer for $400.
Nah, most of my pins are projects with good playfields but not working. I then bash my head against a wall spending 20 hours getting them working again. Somehow I consider that fun, though the expletives uttered would argue otherwise.
Quoted from FrankJ:$750 was a high end Retail price. So, in 1997 a retailer was asking $750 for an Eight Ball. Today - $1995? $2995? more? I'll assume that you didn't buy it from a retailer for $400.
There's a nice one on eBay for $8500 right now.
Quoted from dmbjunky:What the heck is going on with gas prices?!
A week ago I saw gas as low as $2.13 and as high as $2.58 on my way to Allentown. Today it was $1.83 locally. That's crazy.
Some oil company exec needed a new plane... Or it was the weekend. Oh wait they don't raise the prices for the holiday or weekends. That would be wrong...
Made me cry just a little bit 
NOT as much as when a guy i used to work with (one who gave me a Super Hang On machine and a cocktail cab he had sitting under his house), who told me that back in the 80's/90's he used to have many machines in various locations locally. At the end of the arcade boom when most kids were getting into Playstations, etc and there were very few places you could play pins/arcade machines he decided to get out of the business and sell off his machines (about 130 all up, including about 45 pins). He stated that at the time no-one was interested in buying machines in bulk lots and after a year or more he finally offloaded all he had in one sale for the sum of $10,000 Aus. When i quizzed him about what machines he sold in the bulk lot i was stunned, 4 x Addams Family, 5 x Twilight Zone, a couple of Attack From Mars and the list went on, including several Daytona USA Twins. I cried inside for WEEKS 
I'm guessing there would be quite a few people who have experienced something similar......OH for a bloody time machine, cash and the now gained insight.
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Salem, IN
