I sold a woman a Spy Hunter through Craigs List about 4 months ago. We agreed on a price of $950.

She was a newbie- at last to pin ownership, so I held her hand and visited her house a few times showing her how to put games on (other than feeding coins through the slot) um, twice before I created this diagram and emailed it to her. Didn't have a problem after that. Except about 2 weeks after I sold it to her, the relay that enables the flippers stopped working, so I came, diagnosed, and got one of those for her. She paid me for the part and I think $20 for gas.

Finally she was good. She texts me to tell me how much fun she and her friends are having playing it. Then, maybe 3 weeks, or a month go by, and she texts me she needs to talk to me. So I call her and she again tells me how much fun she's having and everybody, but- Finally that the game needs to go. She has to get rid of it.

After all this I don't know what to say. I don't ever recall anyone being quite this helpful to me when I buy pinballs from them!

Regardless of whether I was too nice to this lady in the beginning, I guess I don't want to screw her, or do I want to come out of the deal feeling like I've been screwed either.

I read this thing the other day taling about Pinball rentals, $150 setup, and $150 a day? Okay.. Maybe that's not a good comparison. Maybe something like a restocking fee? Truth is I really don't even have ROOM for that pin in my collection, nor the money to buy it back. Maybe I sell it for her and collect some sort of fee? 10%?

-Brian

Did I share my artwork?

IMG_4100 (resized).JPG

Well, I guess there has to be a happy medium. I think 3 times for the same thing, that if she had paid attention to the first (or SECOND) time I showed her how to put credits on the game, she wouldn't have had to ask 3 times!

But I guess I have a conscience, I don't like it when I'm a newbie at something and someone takes advantage of me - as happened when I tried to get into the hobby last time. I'd like to be someone who helps people get into the hobby, as I remember how much fun I had when I first got into the hobby -- before I learned the Joys of the System 7 interconnect. Maybe I am not getting enough for the extra attention I'm paying to clients that I spend at their house.

@Pinballlou earlier on asked me if It was outside the 30 day guarantee. HAHA! There was no guarantee, she just called and I said I'd help her. I've had people ask me about that ahead of time, and maybe if they agreed to a fee for such a maintenance plan, theSomeonen I wouldn't feel so bad about it. But I guess like anything, if you guarantee it - uhh, you guarantee it. Maybe something like- If you have something non-board related happen - Flipper stuck, can't get credits on the game, or a switch, or pop bumper not working correctly, I can help you with. I know there is a retail place in the mall that builds this type of thing into their prices so it seems like. I suppose it'd be better to get any questions about what is, or isn't covered before I sell a game to someone, that way there is no question about it, and if I agree to help them later on, I can get that set out up front what the compensation would be, if there is any complimentary visits, delivery, etc. Maybe agreeing to deliver it to her house was my first problem. After I met her dog..