Bank wires are fine. Just have to make sure it clears before the game exchanges hands. They usually clear same day if done during the week.

I'm still cash on glass. Paypal is not seller friendly and there are just too many scammers running around to trust checks or deposits

Pretty much, yep. The last game I bought was $9k (almost 2 years ago mind you) and that was 100% cash.

Cash is KING......

Yup, paying with cash. I will say there is more of a pucker factor walking into a situation with 10k in cash these days. But I've spoken with the sellers enough, through here, to feel comfortable showing up to their house. Well, as comfortable as I can.

I worked at MasterCard headquarters for many years as a freelance person. One day I walk up and a huge banner greeted me. "War on Cash"
Soon after I bought a bagel and coffee at the commissary. I handed the cashier a 20. No go. I got my breakfast for free that day.

Straight cash homie.

When I walk in asking for cash they just look at me and say "new pinball machine?"

Precisely! With prices these days that's why I now pay with gold doubloons.

So glad I'm not buying games that expensive.

Just before the pandemic our cc processor offered us $10k to go card only. I asked if anyone else was stupid enough to fall for it.

Although I never sell games in that price range, I've had buyers reluctant to carry $1500 in cash. Had others that 4K wasn't an issue. Either you bring cash or game isn't leaving.

Unfortunately no layaway program in pinball.

Cash. Most I ever carried to a pinball purchase was 13k when I bought Lord of the Rings and Twilight Zone together.

But my bank is funny, if I ask for more than 12k they want me to sign a document that if I get mugged once I leave the bank that it’s not their problem.

If you refuse to sign do they refuse to give you the cash?

Good question! It is my money. I should be able to get it regardless. Hmmmmmmmmm
I’ll refuse next time and see what happens

Picked this up with cash recently, in person, from an estate sale..

Tipped off by a friend that it was for sale. Dang what a stack of bills, over 200 benjamins.

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$20K at an estate sale?

Ug...

Over 20 machines were already sold the week before. I bought one of the last ones left. It was posted on Facebook marketplace. This was earlier this spring before the prices went even higher, but still was a decent deal. They had no keys and I took a chance it even worked since there was no balls in it.

Everything I’ve sold over $10k has been a wire transfer.

Wire transfer seems to work well forvshipped games, not sure how it works for games picked up .. I guess you just wait for it to clear and hope the seller doesn’t run .. same as getting it shipped I suppose.

Just did it for a game picked up from my home. I had the funds before they got here and the transfer was initiated the day before they arrived. It actually cleared the same day it was initiated.

Cash if picked up in person.

Wire Transfer if shipping.

In Sweden we have Swish, immediate digital transfer between bank accounts, non-reversible so zero risk as long as you see the money arrived in your account. Very convenient, used it for buying pins, cars and other expensive things.

20K and you got a decent deal. No keys. Maybe it works, maybe not since there's no balls in it. I don't know why I even read this forum anymore. If anyone wants to know the problem with current pin prices here is a prime example.

** Sadly waves goodbye to the best playing STH on the planet...

Took $7k out of the bank today for pinball deals and the bank just wanted to know if I was under duress and was I aware that scammers were prevalent. Maybe feeling the need to show some due diligence. Still cash deals for me outside of the regular circle.

I pay up to 25k cash , cash is king.

Funny stuff…. Teeth on the curb

This game plays flawless, have played it in New location.

this is a good thing !

Yay! Glad it got there safe and it’s playing well. It was a pleasure meeting Rillo and Neo.

Why would you even tell them? None of the banks business why you need to withdraw your own funds. Just tell them you want to burn a pile of cash for fun.

Cash is still king, just show up like this.

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Cash, cash cash!!!

Destroying money is actually illegal. Tell em that and you might not actually get it ha ha

I was told by my bank that any cash transaction that exceeds $10,000 in a single day is reported to the feds. Part of an anti-organized crime law. Doesn’t mean anything is wrong with it, but it puts you on the radar. They said if you don’t want that to happen just take out smaller amounts over multiple days before you know a big purchase is needed.

I use a local bank, so if I go in and ask for large sums of cash they ask if I’m buying a pinball machine.

FYI. They watch that too. They know if you are gaming the system by breaking it up into smaller deposits or withdrawals. Really no concern at all reporting the larger than 10k amount. It’s a money laundering thing to stop terrorism.

LOL! I really miss the small banks that actually know you... Even my credit union that I've used for decades has grown to the point where you're not "known"...

Jaz

Years ago at the Pheasant Run Lodge that held the Chicagoland Jukebox Show , the over seas juke buyers would literally have a group of people walk around with brief cases of money paying for and loading up jukes in containers on site...

This is mostly true . I've been in baking risk basically my whole career. They are required to report cash deposits of $10K or greater. They can (and are obligated to) file a SAR for any activity they deem suspicious, including withdrawals and withdrawal patterns.

I always tell people if you don't want these questions or reporting on your financial activity, don't keep your money in the bank.

cakes pies cupcakes?

I use wire transfers for games sold/bought via shipping. Has worked well.

I bought mine in cash. It was a little weird taking it out at the bank but surprisingly they let me have it all at once. The guy was really confused when I told him what I was buying with it though lol.

And it's absolutely hilarious that someone's bank told them to obfuscate deposits via structuring. That's gotten a lot of people in trouble even if the money is legally yours and not related to a crime.

Exactly. Doesn't anybody keep some money around for a last minute pinball buy? If you typically buy and sell pinball machines as a hobby, just hang onto the cash from your last sale and use it for your next purchase.
This question comes up over and over again, with each side having their adherents. As for me, I pay in cash and I only take cash, unless you are personally known to me. Then I will take anything including a handshake promise if I know and have dealt with you before. Although I now use a counterfeit pen detector based on a friend's recent experience.

Yes. I keep a sizable cash slush fund in the safe so I can grab a good deal if it comes up.

That works for used games, but new ones are more difficult to buy with cash, especially if it's being shipped.

First of all, I would never pay $20k for a pinball machine, but if I did, there is no way in hell I'd be walking around with that much cash on me. A wire transfer is definitely the way to go when you are talking that kind of money.

wire transfer?