(Topic ID: 127023)
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Grand Lizard
Williams, 1986-
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Bally, 1980
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Pyongyang
Balking at bidding at pinball auctions in the past (like 10-20 yrs ago)
Where i could have easily acquired a WMS Banzai run several times for under $800,
before the game skyrocketed in demand recently.
Not bidding more on a GTB Spirit at Gene Cunningham's first auction years ago.
Nice working Fathom for $500 back in the mid 90's
TAF IPB playfield for $250 I think, sometime around 2000
CPR EBD playfield
CPR limited edition white Centaur playfield
Genesis $400 about 3 years ago
Nice Stern Dragonfist project for $350. At least I directed it to a good home
I regret not checking CL everyday and missing a project Star Gazer for $450 by a couple of days
Complete BK head with backglass for $10. I bought his playfield to use for coffee table. Found an empty cabinet years later, so I could have had a complete machine for less than $100
TX Sector in France for $1200 a couple years ago. Haven't found one available since, although others somehow have 
My late barber had a Gotlieb Orbit he said I could have for $100. This was in 1993. I passed because I was really into this girl and I had limited funds. I bought her ear rings instead. Shoulda bought the pinball!!
Sana'a
Quoted from KingDaddy:In retrospect, what are the best deals you passed on?
About 2 years ago, a nicely shopped out fully working, no fade, Attack From Mars, $2,100. It was right there in front of me. I played it and it was excellent. I had the money in my pocket and a vehicle with me to transport it. I called back 24 hours later (after I came to my senses) and it was gone. I have no excuses. Well, maybe stupidity?
Joe (joemagiera at ameritech dot net)
[email protected]
Back in college (1998) got a call from my dad that NGG and CV were being closed out. Price to him was $800 each NIB. He passed, then asked if I wanted a couple of games for the apartment at school.
"Nah, too expensive"
I ended up buying a whirlwind that year (my first game) for $475 from the local operator, but not before having my dad call Pat Lawlor to make sure that was an ok price.
Quoted from joemagiera:About 2 years ago, a nicely shopped out fully working, no fade, Attack From Mars, $2,100. It was right there in front of me. I played it and it was excellent. I had the money in my pocket and a vehicle with me to transport it. I called back 24 hours later (after I came to my senses) and it was gone. I have no excuses. Well, maybe stupidity?
Joe (joemagiera at ameritech dot net)
[email protected]
Ouch...
I passed on a Joust maybe 12 years ago because I had no easy way to get it out (of a basement).
Now I can move just about anything, but of course can't find a Joust for twice that price. 
Last year there was a beautiful Gottlieb Magic Carpet for sale on Craigslist about 10 miles from my house. The seller wanted $100 more than I had budgeted for a new machine and wouldn't come down. I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing it.
But a few months later, I was able to use that money to buy my Jet Spin - a game I adore just as much, if not more.
BK2K in excellent condition - $1500 - Xmas 2012.
Idiot = me
Quoted from jfh:NIB Cactus Canyon $1800.
Decided that I'd rather buy RFM instead... which I did.
Kind of like when I bought TiVo stock instead of Netflix when they were both $6.
OOOUUUCCHHHHHH!
Now that hurts!
Upper Hutt
Almost anything during the Super Auction days...they seemed like expensive projects at the time, but in retrospect...games like WCS94 for $650, WH2O for $800, Dr. Who for $450, GnR for $1450, etc. I've bought my fair share of 'cheap' games...but back then they were so common it didn't feel like a big deal to miss out on a good price - there was always another around the corner.
Brampton, ON
Quoted from OTTOgd:Several years ago, I passed on a Robo-War for around 400.
Cool game, got to play one for the first time recently.
Judge Dredd for $850 a few years ago. Fully working. Biggest knock was no topper. I even went to look at it, I was right there and passed. I didn't have room and didn't want to hear about it from the wife, so I let it go. I don't know why I let that stop me, I haven't since then.
Q
Quoted from PjM:4 years ago on a MB for $4k - biggest plunder to date.
Same here. My three biggest regrets. An op had one that he pulled off route after only a couple months to put in his house. It was still mint. Wanted around 4k also. Turned that down. Same year a guy called me had a CV, EATPM and SS needed cash to buy a car. Offered all three for $3500. Why did I pass? Because seeing all the junker late model games at auctions I said I would never own one. Even sold my Transporter the rescue because I liked the early SS pins better.
I may have a winner here (only because I've been around longer than a lot of collectors). I passed on a four TZ package deal for $2K back in '96. Way back in '73, I could get any EM I wanted for around $25 to $50 and passed on a lot of them. There were also maybe 5 collectors that I knew of in the SFBA and that was it for competition so I had a lot of time to decide whether to buy or not. Now you have to snap it up and decide what to do with it later.
Steve
Here's a few:
$400 Fathom project in Ohio -- would have had to ship and passed stupidly. Playfield did have some terrible touch ups at least, but even with a CPR that would have been worth it...
Beautiful Family Guy, No Good Goffers and player BOP (all working) for $6k a couple years ago
$4700 Tron HUO about a year ago
$3400 Williams IJ about two years ago, faded and needed love but still
Biggest regret -- not getting into the hobby about 6 years earlier
Quoted from PW79:Were-the-Millers-No-Ragrets-Tattoo.jpg
Twenty years from now: perhaps, some "ragrets". Or is it "regrets"?
Quoted from PINBELL:Mint condition Safecracker with wings and tokens last year. $4500!
Brad
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