VE's and the prospect of VE's are killing the secondary market. When the secondary market goes, the NIB market goes too. The only reason people are willing to spend 5K on a pin is if they don't think they will lose half when they sell. Well, that's exactly where things are going. So, while the rest of you are cheering Stern on with regard to VE's, you are doing so at your own peril.

And you don't have to see pinball as an investment to see where I'm coming from. Everyone expects a new pin to lose value, but when the value becomes "excessive" (don't know exactly what that number is), people will stop buying NIB.

I've got to tell you. I've brought it up several times in the past too and have gotten reamed. People say, "Stern should make all the money they can." Sure that's fine. But do they want to make a load of money short-term, or sustain themselves over the long term? Instant gratification is not a business plan. (See Amazon.com). On the other hand, if pinball is on its last legs with this last resurgence that many have discussed, and I kind of a agree with, maybe it makes the most sense to strike while the iron is hot because you just don't know how long interest in pinball will be piqued as it is now. So, maybe they see the writing on the wall, and they're just like F it-- haha.

I beg to differ. It does make sense. You can get a brand new one shipped to your door for $4700. This is a decent local deal at $4100. That's the difference. 2 mos. ago, there were a limited amount of IM's floating around. Now, they're easy to get.

Good point, but perhaps I should mention that the distributor who quoted me $4700 shipped was going to throw in mirror blades, under cab lighting, and led flipper buttons. This is not to mention the the fact the game would be brand new, with a warranty, and the other neat little upgrades of the VE's. Like I said, this is a decent local deal, but I would still go new at this price. I was not a fan of the VE concept to begin with. But VE's along with the threat of VE's has killed the used Stern market, and will eventually kill the NIB market as both markets are definitely co-dependent. Short-term happiness for Stern will mean long-term pain in my opinion.

PM sent.