I think when you look at any SS pin from 1978 up to but not including the "modern" Stern pin, prices will do what they always do. Go up.

Now, the modern Stern stuff, the whole LE vs Premium nonsense, maybe that's different. I feel like that's a different market completely, with people who have enough cash to buy these things new. Just like a new car, those prices will go down until at some magic moment they slip into the "classic" category.

Blood anyway.

I know of very, very few 90s titles that have ever commanded that as an averaged price. Addams and Twilight are still going to be valued highly, because the theme is part of the draw, not just gameplay.

I feel like just addressed the NIB, modern Stern pins here. Or most of that, anyway. The older pins aren't subject to any of the market forces that you've done a great job of outlining. Stern might make more of their recent titles, but they aren't going to make another Cheetah, etc..

I hate that show - ripping people off and being proud of it was never a good look. But never, ever use a television show as your pinball price metric.

My point is that their goal is to always rip people off, and then charge the real value or more when reselling. So if those are the prices you are using, well, I guess that's the sellers responsibility to understand the real value of what they have, and decide from there.

Yes, which is why you don't use it for real world reference, which was my point you just validated.

That's great! I can't wait to see the pins I want to go down....oh wait, they never have. But how much did you pay for the Centaur, and what state was it in? Just curious.

Sherlock? Monk? What is the latest detective reference?

Great, we have to wait for the Ukraine to push out Russia before pin prices move? Gonna be a long wait.

Detective Murdoch

Same. Give me the classics. Personal preference, but I feel the latest pins are too much flash and clutter. Not a purist, but it is nice to see more of the playfield and not have videos you have to watch while playing.

The very business model of pawn shops is to get items for less then they are worth, in order to resell them at or above value. Pawn shops take advantage of desperate people needing money, and rip them off. They very much do, and the show idolizes this behavior as if it's good or normal to take advantage of people.

Mystery's Five. I was an ardent watcher as a child - the first two seasons were the best! Pop quiz, and do not use the internet. What is Shaggy's real name? I'll give his initials as a hint: N.R. Bonus, what was Daphne's last name?

I should be clearer - yes, I agree there is a need and sometimes they can be a resource. But not the television show. And your post demonstrates exactly my initial point - you should never use the show as an accurate pricing guide for pins.

Your wish...

take-my-money-fry (resized).png

He's just pissed she owns all the high scores on his machines.

Yeah, professional artist. I made the mistake of voicing an unpopular opinion! Who knew? I try to keep my artistic opinions to myself as a result. Here for the pins, less for the drama. I did a couple of Centaur girls for a different art project. One is my avatar now.

I don’t see it that way. After our government finally did the right thing in the face of a pandemic, and most people protected each other by wearing masks and working from home, while those who lost their jobs due to COVID were given some relief, yes, pinball was one toy you could play at home. And with newbs, we did see some craziness - that Banning auction will live in infamy. But excluding new machines, which have to go through a cycle of decline before they become part of the not-making-more classics, prices on the older SS pins will continue to go up. Sales may be slower, but since the development of the home market, classic pins have always increased. And for the reason I’ve mentioned - a fixed supply of them that’s only getting smaller over time, coupled with a larger collector base.

The new pins are a different beast altogether for reasons you stated. But only the recent pin releases that cost so much few can afford them with inflation. A Russian war of aggression is the force driving gas prices up, and that also slows the pin market some. But we are in no danger of any price collapse.

Facts are fun things. I'm sure those people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own are appreciative that America helped them survive during the worst. It is what we used to be famous for as Americans. Our generous nature and willingness to help others.

Anyone see any evidence of prices for pins not made in the last decade declining?

How about ever, since the development of the home market? That's what makes these predictions of gloom feel so hollow for me. I'd love it if I could buy a Stargazer, a Centaur, or a T2 for really cheap prices. But it's not going to happen.

The jobs report was released, and as I was reading it, this part seemed relevant to our discussion, the last sentence echoes what others here have said (taken from the NYT):

"The Labor Department reported Friday that employers added 390,000 jobs, the 17th straight monthly gain.

The unemployment rate was 3.6 percent for the third straight month, near a half-century low. Average hourly earnings for employees rose by 10 cents, or 0.3 percent on a monthly basis, and were 5.2 percent higher than a year earlier.

Jobs growth was broad and led by the leisure and hospitality sector, as consumers continued to pivot their spending habits away from goods and toward services like travel, dining and entertainment."

Agreed, but the trend toward hospitality and away from goods certainly would explain a slowdown in pin sales.

It's nice to know the occasional good deal is still out there. it's not a sample size large enough to matter, but like everyone, you always hope to be the first on a good deal.

Understood. But I'm just referencing the facts. I agree with panzerfreak:

That's a risk, but it's not a guarantee. Inflation is the problem, but there's not of tools to tap it down. Another effect from the COVID pandemic. Meanwhile I normally shop at Trader Joes. I went to a normal supermarket on a whim today, really surprised how much more things were there than TJs. Different suppliers, I'm told.

What 10 pins would you think tracking the prices of over time would give us a good representation of the market? It might be useful if, in the future when this thread is revived, we could track the numbers. And right now, we could track the numbers back a few years. My uninformed guess might be something like:

StarGazer, Centaur (I'd say Fathom, but after Haggis...), Black Hole, Whitewater, High Speed, Scared Stiff, T2, ST:TNG, IJ:TPA, Congo.

Something that takes from across different eras, but back far enough to avoid the new car syndrome. What would change, or good range?