Quoted from gambit3113:

Will MM, AFM, MB, CV, or the other later, lower run number B/W pins experience a crash or correction in their market in the foreseeable future? I am not expecting that to happen. Seasonal variances and 10% market blips one way or the other? Sure. But nothing more than that.

Quoted from CrazyFliprFingrs:

RWH said:the Ops may be forced to fold, and they represent the largest share of profit for either company in what could become a market stretched so thin it won't support even one alone.
Actually, Ops are no longer the main buyers, its Collectors first now, Ops are running second.

Quoted from RWH:

simonakapw said:However my worry is about 2 years from now.......not sure if room for 2 pinball companies making expensive pins but we will see.
I hear what everyone is saying and agree that a "crash" may benefit "us the collectors" as we tend to buy for the pleasure a pin brings us as players. However, I tend to feel this will only be the short term effect and as I said, and as Simonakapw points out, it is the long term effect on an already shrinking market that TWO companies competing will produce that scares me. I can't help but wonder if either will be viable enough after all is said and done to survive in the long run. Think about it clearly, we all agree independant Ops in the wild are already scarce, if prices continue to rise even further through competition for an already thin market, the Ops may be forced to fold, and they represent the largest share of profit for either company in what could become a market stretched so thin it won't support even one alone. I myself search in the wild for pins I'd like to play that for the most part I can't afford to own, and I think that is true for most if not all! Rising prices may mean Ops cannot afford to buy a pin because the profit margin over it's lifetime will not support it which leaves them very little options..... It will take new machines to attract new customers, Ops will not survive unless that happens regularly and when they start to go so will company profit. I'm not trying to pee on anyones parade, I'm just concerned as a pin enthusiast about the future of the the hobby I love.