IMO

Average price is for average shape 100% working condition.

I think that price is pretty high.

That said there are things that can make it worth a little more.

Not ES but in general. Condition first and foremost if it is like new or HUO expect to pay more for it. If it is loaded with good working mods not always but most of the time more money. Same is true for LED lighting, Toppers etc..

Sometimes Samples or early production units of certain machines can fetch more.
ES sample has a sinking building "earthquake institute" This will fetch closer to 2K in good working order. In great shape maybe more.

If you like the game and it is in great shape I would try to get on it closer to 2K but that is just me.
If it is the sample the belief on prices very greatly.

Best of luck
Welcome to our community and have fun

Pinside prices are often off by large amounts. Go to Boston pinball or buy a price guide.

I bought a really nice Earthshaker that is totally original,no playfield wear,really nice cabinet with no fade,really nice backglass and working 100% for $1700 . The guy wanted 2K at first but went down. It would have to be like brand new I would think to get $2500.

I use the prices as a guide.
If you are buying from a dealer with a warranty, expect to pay more.

It really comes down to what you want to pay.
If the seller won't come down in price, you can walk and hope you find another one in similar condition for a lower price. If it's in really good condition and you really want it, go for it.
Only you can really decide what it's worth to you.

I looked a the same machine with the same amount of work done to it and seller was asking about $3500. I walked. If he was asking $2500 I probably would of walked also.
For $2500 for that machine, I would expect a perfect pf and no cracked plastics with almost a perfect cabinet.

I was looking at NGG on this site and it was saying 3400-4000. Maybe I feel asleep for too long, but I dont think I have even seen a NGG for for that kind of money. Usually 1800-2400 depending on condition. I typically do research on the forums for past sale, and make an evaluation, sometime check out Boston Pinball.

Even with these price references (I use pinside [derived from boston/ebay], boston pin/ebay data, and guide) I've seen the price police blast sellers asking what seemed in-line with these prices.

I generally take all of these as a reference, make my own adjustments, and then just go plus or minus from there based on condition, desirable mods (I don't like mods much, so generally don't pay much for them), etc.

If you're just building up your own collection, ultimately just use the guides as a ball-park reference, and then pay what you feel its worth. If you are looking to flip pins, you have to have a good deal of experience with pricing and market.

Yeah, NGG seems to be quite high on Pinside price for some reason...

I use pinpedia or boston pinball to get a general idea on price. Each area in the US and world vary a decent amount on the price of pinball machines so you need to take that into consideration as well.

And yet shadow is still stuck at 1100 something with the pricing does not seem up to date.
A couple NGGs on ebay went for around 3K. I am use to seeing it like 1800-2200. Just not recently.

Looks great, enjoy!

What I think is it's a great looking ES, that I would not pay $2500 for.
Personally I use the pinside prices for a general idea. Will I pay a couple hundred less or more from time to time; sure. Will I spend 2500 on an ES that lists at 1500; I'm not. But money, time, pride, is different for all people.
Using the pinside price I haggled with a guy for a while over $50 on a LAH, and I wouldn't budge, and I left without it. That is half pride, half I didn't really want the machine that bad
If I found a machine I really liked, was really nice, and I REALLY wanted would I pay a couple hundred more pinside lists it? Sure. What's a $200-300 going to mean to you after a couple months. Probably nothing.

I have to agree, while it is nice $2500 is the top end of the market for it IMO and that is for one in phenomenal shape. This one has some mylar bubbling on playfield. Sure you could cut out each bubble but then you don't have a totally flat surface on the playfield. To properly fix you would have to remove all the mylar on the playfield and that is a tough task that someone paying top price should not have to worry about IMO.

But as thelaw points out if you love it and only want that pin it may be worth it to you and that is all that really matters in the end. Either way you go I hope you are happy with your decision good luck!

I think it was around 1200ish, if I remember correctly. It was a really nice machine besides some magnet wear on the playfield (the ticket), which was my big issue, everything else was perfect. Super super clean, crane worked well. If I could have got it for 1150-1250 I would have done it. At that point I was itching to buy something though.

You can put a 50 cent piece of mylar over the ticket area, and it should be fine, but it will never be fixed. Of course I would act like you're going to have to fix it up and get some money off. and then deduct the price of a Cliffy protector for the scoop which is usually bad (scoops?). Personally i don;t care much about the sides of machines...but you could mention that.

ALSO factor in the West Coast thing which I hear makes things higher. I mean I wouldn;t feel bad if you showed up with 12 $100 bills and said "how about this?" EDIT: But then hey, if you are willing to spend $1200...is $100 more that big of a deal?