Why would a bubble effect you wanting to have a collection? that seems like a straw man argument.

Can't you just keep the pins you like? also if there is a bubble can't you just sell/trade the same way you do now with other pins also devaluated it's a wash.

The only thing this effects is new pins (high price) while pins in circulation low price.

Just don't buy new pins what the problem?

This thread reminds me of people who need safe zones or who can't hear bad words because it'll hurt their feelings IMO.

Where's Houseofpins when you need him?

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IMHO while I was selling XMLE I had a hard time, not just getting the price I wanted, but I was not getting any interest at all.

I think it may have been a combo of things with that title but the timing also was not optional

- people can get a Met or TWD for similar money or less
- people may have already owned that title (the target buyers might already have it or had it in the past)
- people may not like that title (although it's a good pin IMO, it's kind of polarizing)
- people may have just got GB, TH or were gearing up for the new titles
- the market seems to be softer throughout, I know people trying to sell tspp, RBION, WoZ for a good price but no interest

I think there *is* a softening in the market but not a crash, when prices go down, people tend to expect more reductions when prices go up people expect it to continue. IM was hot 2 years ago before the VE and people couldn't get one, used IM were selling for bank because people thought it was on the way up and so they said pay now before its higher tomorrow, the opposite happens too when one XM sells for less they think the more they wait the lower it'll be tomorrow.

Excellent post.

I'm an avid collector as you guys probably know. I'm not a Jonny come lately but my collection (5 pins) was stagnant and not being played a lot. I had TOTAN TZ IJ CFTBL and PotC in my collection in 2012. But I was not in to the hobby as much any more.

At that time I was thinking of exiting the hobby or scaling back to just 1-2 pins.

BUT at this time when I got *more* interested there had been an upswing in the hobby that past few years, IM and Tron had been out just shortly before. XM (was just coming out and had a lot of buzz) ACDC had just come out and WoZ already had its following although we didn't know how long it was going to be delayed.

Followed by good pins like Met, TWD, ST, MM, TH, and a dozen other pins in the last 4 years.

My collection added in this order

XMLE
Tron
ACDC premium
SM
STLE
IMVE
TSPP
MET
TWD
LOTR

So I was partly responsible for the surge but at the same time cost, space, and time (ability to play 9+ pins) is working against me. I'll still get a few more pins maybe one a year but not like 3 every year.

Not saying I'm less into the hobby but my limit is getting closer so I'm less likely to buy anything new. 4 years ago I was prime and ready for a surge. Now I'm more in a slow burn as far as new pins.

Could be other collectors are in my predicament too.

Yes unless something odd happens like say China (Vast middle class and upper class too) if they somehow got into the hobby and wanted to import pins from US. That's a big if.

But I'm just saying the market for 30-50 something guys that are into pinball doesn't seem to be growing that much. Sure some new guys especially if JJP kind of kicked the same old same old pinball into a different level. But even that really might have a limited effect unless an untapped market like China comes out.

I'm sure there will be the hipsters like Kenada come in, but he had a grand total of one pin contrary to all his wind bag noise. Guys like Houseofpins burn brite for a minute but also burn out just as quickly.

Cigarettes too (I'd bet)

You are correct as with my example I could have some money in the bank but after buying 12 pins in 4 years (selling 6) the point is the room/desire gets lessened as the basement is filled with nice pins. I'm not out of the hobby but I'm slowing down my purchases and I think this 2012-16 period has been similar with other collectors. Where there was an upswing in interest the pin makers stepped up but as more makers are now involved and less need/want by the collectors than there was 4 years ago.

It's a supply-demand mismatch.

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I'd be interested in your thoughts regarding home theatre spending.

Does HT go through surges and pullbacks or is it fairly constant? Once a person has a nice set up is that it or do they keep acquiring more stuff like pinheads?

HT is also an expensive hobby with *large* outlays of money.

Is there an expectation of the equipment lasting decades (I suppose speakers) or is replacement every so many years the norm? And what happens to the pre-owned equipment does it devaluate or are older (quality) components still worth a pretty penny?

A lot depends on

-people's space / room (wife's allowance) going forward
-new people entering the hobby vs people leaving

As we've seen over these past 5 years new pinball choices are getting better. However a lot of people now have got Woz, Tron, Met (etc...) there have been probably 5-10 big games in the past 5 years and another 10-15 lesser pins.

I expect this to continue in the next 5 years.

Will people get rid of past winners (keepers) to make room for the new ones?

Myself I just traded a pin I was on the fence about to get a better/different pin. While I'm happy with the new pin I miss the one I sold.

I know people who switch all the time a keeper for them means 2 years. But others like me hang on longer and might balk at trading a keeper even to get another great pin.