Why don't you just do what that one guy on ebay did, trade a red paper clip up to a pinball machine.

Sure, Junk Yard , Whirlwind , Tommy if you can find one for 3K , Red & TED's Road Show. Data East STAR WARS . Good luck.

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I actually did just that to get my first (and only so far) machine. I sold off most of my action figure collection, some comic books, statues, and all sort of other stuff I'd collected over the years. Made more than enough to get my beautiful HUO RCT that I got for $2,500!

Best decision ever! It's AWESOME to watch the total go up up up as you get closer and closer to the pin you want. I had a blast doing it. I liked all that crap I sold, but I LOVE my pinball machine! I don't miss that stuff at all now, and I play my pin every day.

Good luck!

I've considered this but I get attached to things and don't sell them. I've got a fender blues deluxe amp and a gretsch guitar that I never use anymore, those alone could buy me a new pin. Or I have over $1000 worth of warhammer armies that I haven't used in a few years. I'm too sentimental to sell them even though I should.

The Pinball bug has another victim, ......... Welcome aboard the crazy train

I totally get you, and I was really sentimental about my collections for a long time too. I think for me it was that owning my own pinball machine was basically the coolest thing ever, so I looked at it like I was trading those hobbies for this one. I think budget will factor in too. I couldn't afford a pin without selling stuff off. If I had had the cash for the pin, I wouldn't have sold anything.

Just play games on route. Its a lot cheaper and they switch games around all the time.

Maybe where you live the games on route are in good shape, but around here most pins in the wild are pretty trashed. There are definitely some places to go where they keep pins in good shape, but they are few and far between for sure!

+1 to that, most locations that I can get to regularly are in terrible condition and priced high as well

That is really sad to hear. We have 16 pins in my area and almost all of them work in top shape and all for 50 cents.

You should be able to get any one of those games for less then $3,000.

Shadow!

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Congo!

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I'm with you. Most of my more valuable stuff has some sentimental value to me. I've thought about doing it, but can never really bring myself to pull the trigger. I did sell off one of my pool cues recently. That fetched some nice cash, and I can't say that I miss it.

I did the same thing. I use to be a drummer and hockey goalie... however I had a horrid spinal chord injury exactly a year ago and have been dying to get Tron. I finally got out of (8 months 3x a week for 3 hours) PT and went back on the ice again and told my wife I can't do this anymore, I'm selling everything on ebay and buying a Tron.

Two weeks later I had a NIB Tron and couldn't be happier for my health and for getting this pin.

Dont waste $3,000 on a B Title, save up and get a real pin like an AC/DC Prem or similar. That's just my $0.02

The Getaway: High Speed II is an awesome pin for around $1800.

I tend to agree with this thinking!

I sold a chunk of my sports card collection to fund my last two pins, and it didn't even make a dent. I don't miss any of it. My favorites and sentimental cards I kept.

HS2
Demo Man - flow and ramps! You seem to need a ramp game
Dr. Who
EarthShaker
Whirlwind
Shadow

I'm doing the same thing this week , all my vintage video games are hitting the auction house, funding hopefully 2 more pins!

OR stick to your guns if you really only got $3k to spend and wait around for the $1k b title specials and do a little polishing and repairing. Well worth the effort as you can end up with 2 pins for the price of one restored B title.

WTH? B titles are a waste of money?

Your post made it sound like it is difficult to find a Tommy for $3K.

Is that what you meant ?

Agreed! All good games

I like your idea and believe I will also steal it, not sure what I have around, and the fact that I plan on putting on a new roof this summer will hinder the plan a bit, but hopefully make some good progress. Good luck with your fundraising.

If you haven't played one yet, prepare mind to be blown. Best pin I have ever played, and I have played much of the top 50 in good playing condition most recently.

disagree with this a bit. It's good logic if you find that ACDC is a pin you must have and love (i like acdc), but don't rule out cheaper pins just based on price or others opinions. Play them yourself as there is PLENTY of pins in your price range that are a lot of fun and lot's of people really like. Personally I'd love an ACDC as it's a great pin and I do have access to the money if I wanted one (even if it is more than I want to spend on one pin) but I'd take my RBION and WW over it as they appeal to me more gameplay wise.

Not trying to make an argument so please don't turn it into that, just saying OP shouldn't rule out cheaper games based on other opinions or automatically assume if a pin costs xxx amount it must be great.

WTF. A "real" pin? Ignore that ridiculous advice. If you want an AC/DC and can afford it, then great, but to say that that's the only way to get a "real" pin is utter nonsense.

Dont ignore the Gottlieb SYS 80 ,80A, and 80B's...

I have an ALL gottlieb collection now, and i have NEVER sold on Gottlieb out of my collection...

I have had A titles, NIB and all that jazz, but cant let the Gott's go...they are just too cool and way too much fun...

For 3K you can 3 HIGH QUALITY, excelent condition, gott's..

I am updating my collection in my profile...check it out....

ACDC is a great game, there are many games around the 3k mark that are just as good/fun or better.

I would not recommend dropping new money for your first pin. It is always better to get that second pin as fast as possible, as one will also get boring, no matter what.

I sold my gun collection for my first nib, great plan!

That's just crazy!

No, its just awesome !

I have more fun with these games than I ever had with Stern, or B/W's...

Not saying I didn't enjoy those but these things are a blast....

Look on PAPA's video archives, and watch a Devils Dare kick the shit out of the top A division players...

My DD is a rippin fast widebody, and it takes no prisoners... a buddy of mine came over for my last pin party and he is a solid B div player, and DD beat him into submission.

ball or 3 ball multiball, a timed multi ball mode if you can earn it, and just cool objectives..

Not to mention HARD !

Transformers LE can be found used for prox $4200.It's a fun game with lots of challenges.Something to consider if you can sell more stuff.

Oh don't sell penny Jersey. I still have mine he was favorite player

Will be starting my quest tonight. Also with a jersey collection. Will update soon, good luck with yours.

Good luck! I use this tactic to buy everything that I 'want but don't need' including my first pinball machine. It's a great way to go.

Just go through all your possessions and ask "do I want this more than [x]?"
If the answer is "no" then it goes on eBay. You'll be surprised how quickly you get cash this way

Good plan to thin stuff and generate funds. I agree with the guys above that think you should not spend big money right away. It is harder to justify the cost even in your own mind. If you start with the $2,500 machines and go up from there you will get hooked and stay with it. If you spend big money on something that you do not love, you will grow tired of the hobby fast.

Just my opinion, everybody is different.

I've been doing this for a couple months now, (for the exact same reason.. need. more. pinball. money...) and I've made close to 2.5K.

I would say it's far from easy money, though. Uploading/managing dozens and dozens of auctions, answering questions, and shipping (uggh, shipping) certainly eats up its fair amount of time. Just keep your eye on the prize; you'll get there.

A couple years ago I sold my 300+ piece Death Metal vinyl record collection on ebay for over $7k. All that money went to my wedding... I should have bought pins instead!