You sure about that? There was a very decent original 1981 version like the one you are referencing at the show last year and the guy was getting low ball offers of $800 and $900 for it. IIRC, he wanted $1200. Which was a steal as the cabinet was very good, backglass was an easy 9 and the playfield while it didn't show any wear, was a bit amateurly touched up. Was in the free play area and worked well.
In my experience as a seller at shows, most buyers want a steal price at the Northeast shows.
Quoted from Gatecrasher:That's the truth there. Like I was telling the guy with the nice-looking EBD in an earlier post who doesn't want bring it unless someone buys it in advance. He is asking a decent price and it would almost certainly sell at the show. As was mentioned earlier, the majority of the people who attend the show aren't on Pinside. Those who are on Pinside have already seen his ad and the posts about this machine. Like a used car, most people don't buy $2,300 pinball machines from people they don't know without "kicking a tire". Especially people who aren't on Pinside or know the seller.
I would be willing to bet that this machine sells for the asking price at the show if it is as nice as advertised. The only issue I would foresee would be if the buyer would want to yank it out of the free-play area early.
These shows are a golden opportunity for people who want to sell pinball machines. They can bring the game and put it in the free play area and get free admission while supporting the hobby and then have the machine exposed to the largest group of buyers they will ever have for no charge. If the machine sells there is no "consignment" fee.
Cash sales. No PayPal or eBay fees. It doesn't get any better than that in this world.
Now I can see why someone wouldn't want to bring their HUO $8,000 pin to the show but if they really want to sell quickly it they aren't going have a better opportunity so you have to weigh the options.
Marlborough, MA
