Ive never rescued any, but man have seen some on location that need it so bad. There is a Dark Knight at our Godfathers pizza here that is just screaming from someone to take care of it.

Throw out a cash offer, you never know!

Throw out an offer he is probably using the bar as storage.

Make him a cash offer he can't refuse. Keep us posted as to what happened...

I inquired about a JD that was in a bar near me that shut down. I emailed them and they said they wanted $1,800.. They probably hadn't been near it before picking it up, and I really doubt that it would demand that kind of price.

Make an offer, it doesn't hurt.

I have tryed but with no success. The op. hadn't serviced the games for years and admitted that to me. Offered to buy and he gave unreasonable numbers. The next day he had them on CL and a the same numbers. Two of the games PF were beyound repair and needed new I do not know if he got what he was asking or not.

Ops tend to have little flexibility in their pricing. They're in it for profit, obviously, so they seem to price their games unreasonably, even though they haven't maintained them for years..

The best thing you can do is offer him what they are worth, once they come back to you with a high price.

My offers are market value minus the value of any parts they need. Every operator I know has seen lowballers in spades. The high price they throw out is often to get rid of the tire kickers, and deadbeats.

Offer a fair price, and explain why you feel it's fair. If they don't want the deal, you shouldn't either.

Firebaall has it right. Don't lowball, it'll just piss him off. Hit him with a good number and an explaination, then wait.

You know all those commercials that show for rescuing animals, with the Sarah McLaughlan sad weeping music playing in the background?

Someone needs to create a video of abused pins in the wild, and make it like a rescue of an abandoned & abused pin that the owner just doesn't care about anymore. I think it would be pretty funny.

The video idea made me laugh thinking about the idea.

Ops with good games tend to get offers on them. Many know what the machine is worth. some don't though so it never hurts to try =P

Check for broken ramps and insert wear - almost nothing else matters as it can be fixed, cleaned and replaced. Insert wear is forever, and not all ramps have been re-made.

I think we need to come up with an internet video for Pinside Rescue. "PM a local Pinsider to sell your dead or dying pin to. We rescue them all"

All my pins came from Ops.

Phone call/email, road trip with cash. Deals get done.

A lot of Ops have made their investment back on older machines, plus profit. So, anything offered is gravy for them.

I keep in touch with all the Ops I have dealt with in the past. Wish them a Happy New Year, etc. Stay in contact, make sure you are on their mind. That's how I scored the MM and WH2O for an excellent price. Initial contact was 8 months prior to the sale.

i think it's all about 'rescueing pins'. if somebody isn't doing this, then we won't have any in great condition in 10 years? or the price of the machine will sky rocket due to lack of good conditions left!! scary, that's why we have hot rod and classic car restoring as well.

Yesterday, 250 mile round trip to pick up a 8 ball deluxe from an op.

My theory is the best way to buy a pin from an op is find out what he has actively for sale, then say

What else have you got?

The hidden gems, I got one, and theres more to be had, nice guy, really.
I would recommend him if any pinsiders in my area want to buy and have money.
he had Black Knight, Genie, Torpedo Alley and a trashed Whitewater. (and more, BSD and TFTC project pins)

Here's my past experiences:

Talk to the Op. Tells you pinball is dead, they don't make money, always breaking, etc.

Ask him if he has any to sell.

Tells you yes and then quotes you $3000 for a P.O.S. system 11 that doesn't work. As you're standing there in shock, he then tells you how much money the game will make if you want to put it on location or that it cost him $6000 new.