Elk Grove Village, IL
Quoted from beelzeboob:Just north of that, depending on who you talk to.
Let's be clear: I don't think ANY pinball machine is really worth what we pay for them these days. But here's the way I think, and how I've gotten (brainwashed) my wife to think...
If I buy an LE for 9k and play it for 2 years before I get tired of it, even if it's a game that tanks in value I'd still be able to get 7k (or even more) when I sell it. Let's assume the worst and I get 7...the game cost me 2k for 24 months, or about $83 bucks a month for what amounts to a rental of the machine. For the amount of joy the game brings me during that time, I think it's a steal.
If I keep the game until I croak, it's still worth the money I paid because it's clearly one of my favorites so it's worth every penny.
It's all in how you look at it.
I'd also add: compare pinball to almost any other hobby. It's expensive, but as you mentioned, it's really the depreciation which matters in the long run. And pinball is going to be better than the vast majority of hobbies.
If you get good games and keep them awhile, you can sometimes even sell them for more than you paid. That has never happened with my other hobbies, like snowmobiling or rc cars.
