commercial vending machines (regardless of what it is - arcade games, soda, redemption etc) all cost over $5k typically. Many cost 8k-15k easily. Actually, 8k for a pinball machine, with it's complex design and sheer number of parts is actually a bargain. Not for me personally, as I can't afford them, but that is besides the point. Unless you have actually designed a product before, you wouldn't ever realize how much these things really do cost to make. It has nothing to do if it is intended for the home audience who makes a household income of $150k or not.

Many route operators are out of business because the cost of ALL machines have gone up. Driving games cost sometimes $20k in which to compensate you have to make each game over a $1 to play, or worse yet use swipe cards (which cost 10k to install) to obfuscate the money denomination.

I truly hate these pricing bubble threads. It's painful to read, and often turns me off to pinside for a good couple weeks when I see too much complaining.