Hi all. I've been lurking at work for awhile now but finally joined the site so I can chat. I'm looking for a Jurassic Park pinball (have put wanted ads here and on Craigslist) but can't seem to find anything local. I am in Chattanooga, TN and we have a local "shop" but it seems they don't want to sell me anything. When I called today and asked if he had one or knew of a place to get one, he literally said "Oh, you don't want that one. It's bad." End of discussion, wouldn't help me anymore, so I hung up. Almost as bad when I went in the shop in May and told him I was looking for an Addams (he has a beat-up one for $9K) or a Tales from the Crypt, Jurassic Park, or Star Wars. I was told then and there that all Data East were crap and I shouldn't buy one, but then he tried to force me into an Austin Powers that I had no interest in whatsoever.
So... I need help. I've searched online and can only find iffy ones on eBay for inflated prices, or I can find them on "professional" website like M&P Amusement which gets bad reviews on this site and others. Does anyone have any suggestions on a reliable place to get a machine, especially a Jurassic Park? I don't want museum quality, I want a nice reliable machine that I can play without having to fix every time, since the local experts literally want nothing to do with it. I'd appreciate any help I can get.

What would be considered overpaying these days? I assume I'll have to pay shipping, and I've seen that run $250-600. (The $600 sounded high but was California.) I am trying to get an idea of what a good deal would be, since right now there's a good chance I'd jump at the first one I could find.

JP was always my favorite when I played in arcades around here when I was younger, but that was in the 90s so it's been about 15 years or so, and I need a refresher. I've been looking at this site, putting up Craigslist ads for machines or places to find machines for play, and literally visiting bowling alleys and bars to attempt to find a single pinball for play anywhere and can't find one. No Jurassic Park for sure, but literally not a single playable pinball of any kind. (Other than at the actual "pinball store" that won't work with me and tells me what I do/don't want instead of trying to be helpful. You'd think for someone with "20+ years of experience and thousands of machines in the warehouse" he'd be a little more helpful or at least listen to me to get my business, but nope.)

Actually, TAF is my actual favorite, but there's no way I'm putting out $9K for a machine with a damaged cabinet down at the local shop. I figure I'll start with JP and work my way up eventually, especially since TZ is hopefully going to be available on my PS3 soon and maybe Addams will follow.

I am in Chattanooga, TN and as far as I know there is no local route operator. I can't find any pins anywhere in this town, except at the local pinball store that literally won't help me because they don't like Data East and want $9K for a used to heck Addams. I am at work and can't see the pics, but will look as soon as I get home. Any idea on what kind of shipping costs that might be?