2k.... Faded cab is a given these days.

With the demand for higher prices for pins in the same bracket that don't challenge your skill level like JM,you can ask for more than 2k.
I've played a lot of different pins and JM has a unique flow and challenge that I don't see in other pins. Mine has LED's, upgraded sub, and powder coating as well as new left ramp and flipper assy. I will want more than 2k in value when I sell or trade.

I played a JM for the first time a few weeks back. Enjoyed it, but I didn't find it terribly challenging as people are mentioning. Lots of basic shots any experienced player should adapt to quickly. Left and right orbits (which mean live catches on either flipper), a straight up the middle shot, two main ramps (the left of which is backhanded easily). Fun game regardless. Doubt I'd want to pay more than $2k though.

I'd say 2K.

Find a cab with better reds, perfect plastics, and a minty playfield.... I think you're looking closer to $2.4.

Everyone likes pins for their own reasons, I think this one is challenging and deep... Presenting quite a few choices as you move through the game. It's a great pin!

LED's doesn't increase the price at all so it's not even part of the equation. I wouldn't pay more than $1200 for a average faded JM. For awhile you couldn't get over $1000 for them. If it's unfaded and nice maybe $1500-1800. the market is going back to normal, you'll be losing a ton of cash in the future if you have or decide to sell down the road. At $1200 your safe for a little while.

JM has always been at the bottom of the bally williams DMD group. Along with DM, BR, Drac, GI, T2 and what not. Sure you have seen nice examples go close to 2 and restored examples even over 2 from time to time, but the normal is still sub $1500.

Aside from the LED's comment, I don't believe that your other comments regarding JM are correct at all. $1200 for an average, faded JM? Where are they? $1500-$1800 for a nice, unfaded JM? Where are those? 2K or slightly over for a restored example? I'm sorry, I just don't see any evidence of this. JM's are at $1800 to start from what I've seen. And compared to the price of other DMD's, JM remains the steal to be had at this price point.

Ebay vs. buying from a Pinsider who plays,upgrades and takes care of their pin?
If you only pay $2000.00,make sure it's one you at least play first. Check the ramps ,Hand mech, etc.
This is a very fast mode based game that when tuned properly is as challenging as any I've played so far in the Portland area.

You guys say the same thing for DM. Where can you find them for $1500? All the low dollar games, you guys act like there isn't such a thing as a sub 2k bally williams. If you've been burned by thinking all B/W games are worth gold, you will know that is not the case.

Tip: when looking to buy, look for sources outside of Pinside and ebay.

I did have a chance to buy a JM for $700 once, at the time you couldn't sell them for $1100. It's always been a bottom feeder.

Their is no market to speak of here in the NW,despite being the Pinball mecca for places to play.
Until I see Pins such as JM,DM,T2,JD, TFTC etc.,on a daily or even weekly basis,this will in fact be a sellers market and a demand for them,unless of course you want to take your chances on EBay.

Im sure everyone has had the opportunity to buy a game at a good deal but to price things accurately you can only go off of accurate data, pinside market, ebay, pinballprice, etc. A quick browse through these and I cannot find a sub 2k example.

Im not questioning that they sat at $1100 years ago, but so did everything else in a down market. The OP asked for a price, someone saying he got one for $700 years ago does not help. Maybe prices are starting to soften, in your opinion, but we are nowhere near 2007 pricing!

2k east coast and 2.5k west coast for a good example IMO.

you don't go by ebay and pinside prices. those are always higher than real actual exchange hand prices.

I'll tell you this. I wouldn't want to be invested $1500 in a JM. Because it would take 6 months or more to dump it to break even if need be. Around here anyway.

So the OP asked for pricing info, not a sit around for a year and wait for a lucky CL seller. If you can't go off ebay or forum pricing PLEASE post your available sub 2k price!

I'd sell mine for $1800

I disagree with this... A few have sold recently just above 2.

JM is an awful themed title, but a great game. Some people don't like it.... Just like some people don't like Fishtales. It's a hardly a bottom feeder.

If the OP is looking for one, and is looking at one that is around 2K, then go for it.

Here ya go OP. How far are you from the OP?

Not really, 2 of my games came from NY and one is being delivered from TX via Chicago on Monday. If you wait to buy local you may never get one.

about 3 hours

I agree but you will probably get a little grief for that comment.

Ok, then, what do you think the bottom feeders of the bally williams DMD's are?

I forgot to add No Fear to the list. That's another one that's fairly easy to find in the $1400 range. If your going over 2. Better look like it came out of the box. The way you guys talk, you think 2k games don't exist. Probably are the same ones that think SF2 will sell for over $800 and not have to sit on it for 6 months to do it.

I was just going to say. About 3 months ago I sold a very nice one. Some fade but lots or red, great PF, very nice game and got $1,850. You're price is right on.

Whoa...JM a bottom feeder game? I'd take it over a slew of titles both Williams and Stern.

Only because you haven't shown us that $1200 JM yet.

I value mine at $1800 at least. Faded cab, everything else super nice. But it doesn't matter because mine isn't going anywhere anytime soon at that price. A great playing 1995 WMS game for under $2k? Still a bargain.

How about a zero fade with new ramps? 2400?

If you want the $1200-1400 JM's, you have to be willing to wait it out. Good deals you sit and wait. Look around your area, not just on craigslist either. Word of mouth with other pinball friends that have been in this hobby for 10+ years are the ones that get the warehouses and groups of games for cheap and looking to flip quick.

Really need to get a long haul truck to just go around the east and get these deals over to the west.
How did 80% of all Pins land in flippin VA and MA in the first place?

It doesn't really matter what I think the bottom feeders are... if you like a game, you like a game. I love playing JM...right along with a ton of other games. There are definitely so called A listers that I've played that bored me to tears. Pins are a personal choice. JM, IMO, is well worth $2K. That's my opinion, tho. You obviously don't value it at that...that's fine by me.

it's not about if you like a game or not, it's what games are on the low end Sub 2k game list. JM isn't a bad game. It's interesting. Doesn't avoid the fact that it's always been at the low end of all the B/W titles. Always has been. How much you like it really doesn't effect the price. You might overpay for one more easily because of how much you like it, and would effect the sale in that area, but over time and the grand scheme of things, it's still a mid to low 1000's game.

Out here in the west, a sub-2k JM is fictional, I think. I just spent about four months shopping for one. There were deals to be had far afield, but by the time shipping was factored in, you ended up paying 2000-2500 anyway. I ended up settling on a mostly-working machine that I could look at in person, in that price range. Seeing it in person first is worth money. Anyone with a really good condition JM will get 2k for it all day long in almost any part of the country, from what I've seen. This is based on completed eBay sales, pinside sales, and national craigslist searches over the past four months. A non-faded cabinet with rebuilt glove is a $2500 game easy.

Also worth noting that almost all "unfaded" Johnnies are repro decals at this point. Genuinely surviving unfaded original cabinets are like Bigfoot these days, which will likely drive prices up on those.

Someone who used logic and DATA to price and find a pin! Congrats on finding your JM blondie, maybe if you sat for a year, and somehow dev'd relationships with local pinheads without owning a pin, you could have found one for $1200...LOL!

yea, in CA and NY prices are higher because people make so much more over those of us in the midwest. I go by Midwest pricing since that's where I live.

This is all true. Where I live there aren't any pinball machines. There are no buddies with secret warehouse stashes. This probably goes for many places in the west. So, your options are to overpay a bit for something you can look at in person, or ship it in. Either way, you're going to pay more for what you want. You did it right, blondie. Being able to examine a pin in person is worth a couple hundred bucks if you're able to do it.

That's an easy day trip and less then $100 in gas.

Cuz day gotts da money hunny.

I would have taken $1500 for mine with led's and everything but the hand working.

Just saw a Batman Forever @ $2400 on Ebay in New York.

I know this is a JM post but I know you'd like one and did mention BF earlier in this thread.

Sorry if I seem of topic.