^ I have electronics and other crap around the house I find with batteries from the 90's in them and they are long dead, but not a bit of leakage.

Basically, I 100% agree. I think batteries leaking is rare and more common in temperature changes. Like, keep pin the "barn" and they will leak.

The problem is that if you make your high bid early, you may outbid somebody who wants the item and who has put in a bid that is lower than their top figure. Or, that person may have second thoughts and increase their top figure now that they've been outbid. So, when you bid early two things happen. You may invite people to keep bidding against you, in which case you may ultimately win but pay more because you've given people time to have second thoughts and increase thier max bid. The other thing that can happen is that person's second thoughts causes them to place a max bid that's greater than yours, in which case you don't get an item that you would have otherwise gotten had you placed your bid at the last second and prevented them from rethinking their max bid.

This happens A LOT of eBay. Some people get very caught up in the emotional aspect of the auction and will constantly readjust their max bid if they are outbid. It even makes some sense becuase the fact that there is a higher bid somewhat justifies the idea that the item is worth more. So, if you bid $3000 thinking that's fair, and then the auction goes up to $3,500 a bidder might say to themselves, "wow, this is worth more than I thought, so I'm willing to pay more now".

Bidding at the last second prevents that type of re-thinking (at least as far as your bidding is concerned).

can you please bid on my items?

I did one of those to see what the reserve was.

ok.....heads up........early on I threw 14.5k at it and didn't hit the reserve (which was 15k). Apparently that fell through and I'm next in line @ $14,100.00 (second chance offer)...he's not budging on # and said he would relist in a couple of months if I didn't want it.....I'm playing my WOZ to death, and could potentially take heat from my wife if I get this...how bad of a hit do I take if it goes from NOB to HUO? Is this too much to start with? Remember, I don't trade or do this for a living, just not sure how many of these are still out there, and would it be worth the grief..(my wife would get over it) to get something like this which might be unobtanium in the future?....thoughts please.....mark

The moment you take it out of the box you are going to take a hit of a couple grand min right now (if you sell it right away). There is HUO on here that was at 11.5k asking price, and appears it's selling. But who knows the actual price. I don't feel like the NIB experience would be worth it, but for others it may be. I wouldn't touch this game at 15k (or likely even 14k), that's just me.

At first I thought this would easily hit 20k, then I thought it over once a few friends started talking about it and thought it over again. Once its out of that box it's only as good as HUO.

I know someone who was offered $13k for their HUO Monster Bash they recently picked up for $6200... its possible with some hunting to find those deals! In this case I'd say you are paying about $2k more because it comes in an open cardboard box.

thanks guys...trying not to whine, but just hoping to get talked off the fence (from fellow pinsiders that may have the same disease I have)...logic is telling me no...my damn fever to this "sport" is tapping me on the other shoulder........

Here I'll help you. Don't buy it, it's f&^$ing stupid. Anyone who buys this has more money than sense, end of story. If you're desperate to spend that much on a MB get a restored one, just because this is NIB doesn't mean it's not gonna have issues.

if you REALLY like the game and want a pristine original game, I say go for it.
If you're not going to hold it for a couple years and cherish it, pass.

A beautiful HUO MB is likely to only increase in price in the future, IMHO.
If you install flipper button protectors, hole protectors, drop switch protectors, etc and keep it looking like new it will likely almost hold what you're paying now and increase in a couple years over what you're paying.

my .02
D

I would pass and buy the one from Treasure Cove or another restored one.

Yes, I agree with this. You need to ask yourself what you want and expect out of paying this kind of money for a NIB item from the 90's. Obviously there are very few people who will get to experience opening a new MB these days. But how much is that worth? It will be in excellent condition for the most part obviously, but I'd say you will lose close to $2000 once you open it.

Still MB is a great pin and very much in demand and always will be, so who knows, you might not lose that much money on it since you get to say that you were the original owner in terms of playing it first.

TC is over rated and overcharge for what they do

If this is your Grail Pin and you're gonna probably keep it forever, then go for it. Losing or making a few grand over the years of enjoyment don't make no nevermind. Just my 2 cents. (what it's worth!)

Depends on what you're looking for. If you want a beautiful MB you can setup and play immediately, skip this one and buy a restored game. With this machine, at a minimum, you'll have to change the batteries, install a Cliffy, or Kerry (preferred for virgin holes) protector, and possibly change playfield rubber. You'll also want to protect the shooter lane with mylar or similar, and the game may need minor repairs or adjustments once set up. Then you'll want to replace the ROM chip... add LEDs if you desire.. If this sounds like a part of the hobby you enjoy, then certainly pull the trigger. Otherwise, go with a restored game.

MB is a fun pin, but needs to be in a collection of ten or more to stay that way, IMO. I got tired of it on location--it's the only DMD pin (aside from Kingpin and other such oddities) I've never owned.

Mark,
You would be better off buying ACDC and saving your cash for another MB later. Do not do it please.
Buddy

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trust.jpg

This from the man who had a HEP Dirty Harry (iirc)!

Aurich...pure common sense, and absolutely the right choice

It's certainly not my Holy Grail Pin, but seems like the title has stood the test of time....if I get it, I'll want to keep it ( like the ones I have now)....a unique opportunity to not impulse buy, but overpay if it doesn't measure up....I like working on these as much as playing them, hobby wise, so getting an old NOB has a certain appeal. Just a lot of cheese.....crap, IDK.....

Buddy....very close to the AC /DC premium....it will be from you if I get one.....

$&@&- empty garage with one pin inside.....I'm not sure this is healthy....

Well threw 12k at him as a take it or leave it, my second chance ends at 3:30 am...so is what it is...I'll live regardless....not doing the $14,1.........done with it....I'll let you know how it turns out....thanks for all the insight......mark

Wise bid 12k you can justify for yourself and your wife

Walking around the carton, stare a bit, opening it, slide it out and now it transformed to a HUO ..... only 1 hour that "special" feeling .... is it worth it ? (that question can only be answered by you)

I know...a pitiful attempt at justification......fairly confident he won't take it....I'm good with it either way at this point......

If it's counting green ... leave it to the Djewsey boys

I'm out.....just can't do it for 14k.....he said he would probably realist when he gets back from the road in the next month or so........good luck to whoever gets the next shot at it.....

And when the evening falls, and the dust settles down, all is well again at the Ok Corral

Well another thing to consider is it *may* have some issues right from the box... I bought one NIB back in the day and the plastic plate that bolts to the back of the PF for decoration had been smashed. Wms sent me a new one but I dunno if these are even available anymore. I only kept it a year or two as I found the gameplay to be only so-so (IMHO). Better than average I suppose but I suspect it's popularity has to do with the classic monsters theme and genuinely pretty package.

Though Wms did take some heat at the time for switching to cab decals... who would think 15 years later they would still be ahead of anything else... resolution-wise Maybe WOZ is the exception (and perhaps MET's cab art?)

I remember back then people thought I was nuts for spending even $3500 or so for a pin... now look at the hobby. Hey at least it's still here lol

Yes....feeling much calmer now....and still have $$$ whew...prob dodged a bullet ( at least that's my story and sticking to it).......

You made the right choice. As someone who is prone to making quick decisions and impulse buys myself, I realize that pinball is a bad hobby for that type of thing. Unless it's a great deal or craigslist, then all bets are off. Or unless you really think you need it. That's ok too.

I no longer have one to sale but its still the best new pin out there in many years especially from Stern.