I actually prefer to buy firm-priced pins. I don't feel like haggling. Too stressful and makes me feel like a cheap douche. So I go and I look the pin over. If I feel it's a fair price, I hand over the cash. If I don't, I walk. No BS. Both times I bought a machine on firm pricing, I may have paid a few hundred too much. But in retrospect, I'd do it again because they were both turned out to be great machines and worth every penny.

I just put 2k into my Congo and now it looks like a completely different game. No...I don't expect to get my money back. But are you telling me that all the mods I did haven't increased the value of the game? (New powdercoated armor, translite, topper, blinky airplane thingy, LEDs and GI, Gorilla PF and window, FF sound system, PDI glass, superbands, plastics, ramps, shaker motor, mirror blades, recolored cabinet and probably about 10 other things I've forgotten...) If you think this machine is worth the same amount before and after, you're high. Look at the pics (which I posted on another thread, but apply here to the discussion we're having - so please forgive the duplicate!):

Before:
CG1.jpgCG4.jpg

After:
photo 2.JPGphoto 3.JPG

That's a fair response! But there are people who just want a game that plays, and there are people who want it to look amazing as well. (Those are probably people like me who have a wife who says "what the f**k is that THING???" if the machine doesn't go well with the purdy furniture.) It's not easy, man...

I will say this: when I sell one of my games, I'll probably give a price as is, or give the option to remove mods for certain prices each to get the price down. I'm fairly sure I can sell toppers and mods to other pinheads on the second-hand market. But certain things would have to stay with the machine, like the powdercoating, speakers, and shaker. I think a la carte sales are the best way to buy a second hand pin. Don't like it? I'll take it out, charge you less, and just pass the difference on to somebody who wants it.

I wasn't suggesting anyone would. Just listing all the stuff I did. Forgot target decals, too, but I wouldn't charge more for them. I do think the fact that I replaced all the plastic ramps which had significant wear adds to the value. But the mod value argument wasn't the point of this thread, so I apologize if it seems I hijacked it. I was just addressing the side topic that adding to the machine shouldn't add to the value. I just think that's ridiculous IMHO.

And you're exactly the kind of person I'd be looking to sell a machine to. Somebody who knows what went into the machine and can appreciate the love it was shown by the previous owner. Not a machine that was beat to s**t for however many years the guy had it...

That's why I'd just list my machines with a firm price and wait. Eventually you'll find the right guy for your machine if you're not in a rush to sell. I don't think you should sell anyway when you're hard up for some quick cash.