Quoted from Jason_Jehosaphat:

Regional Pinheads: How Are You Weathering the Pinball Market?
Just wondering what those of you here who haven't got bottomless pockets are doing that is helping you keep your spirits up.
It seems more and more I am complaining to my various friends about being priced out of the hobby. I used to be excited because there were always real possibilities around every corner. Now HUO games are bringing 20-40% more than they did just two years ago and NIB pins are backordered for months/years. I s'pose you're fine if you have a collection and you want to rotate one out. You sell your pin for a fortune and then spend that fortune to get another. Easy. But if you have a habit of taking a bath on the pins you sell (as I have), how can you possibly buy another pin with the proceeds?
To tide me over, I bought a "project" pin - my first. It's a WMS System-7 from '81. Yeah, it's OLD. I had it shipped here. It was misrepresented a bit, but when you describe a sale pin as a "project," you sort of indemnify yourself to the buyer. As in, well, what did you expect?! It's a project! So yeah, I have a lot of work in front of me before I can even plug it in. (Sent the boards off for rehab'ing today; six weeks turnaround.) I recently shopped a TZ and that was a serious grind. I said I wouldn't do it again, so I bought a Spooky pin afterward. That game disappointed in various ways, too, and I find myself yearning for a Stern again. But can I buy a NIB? Yes and no. Yes if I want to spend $7K for a PRO and get on a list and wait six months, but who wants to do that? I root around for new distributors and ask them for inventory lists, hoping to find a fresh source of worthwhile games. Right now I'm finding Beatles, STh, Beatles, Mando, Beatles, LZ, and Turtles. I will keep looking! And I will keep resurrecting this '81 System-7!

Quoted from Vitty:

My sentiment is to buy them, enjoy the heck out of them, and don’t fret losing 10% on occasion. If you play and enjoy them the cost per game is actually super low if you end up losing money.

Quoted from Tallon:

Or better yet, stop listening to a certain now silent podcaster and just buy games you like. Stop buying just to get the newest or speculating on profit later. The term investment should never be used with pinball in my opinion. Ruins the fun

Quoted from Tallon:

There is no miss representing a “project pin”.

Quoted from Tallon:

The trick is to understand that a 40 year old machine might just be a good “players” game

Quoted from Tallon:

Since I do my own board work and find the old bally and Williams system 3-7 board set to be pretty easy to work on, I have no problem getting them up and running.

Quoted from Tallon:

There is no shortage of projects, just grab them when they come along.

Quoted from Tallon:

In times like this either be happy with your collection and play more then you fix or work on the backlog of stuff you have sitting.

Quoted from Jason_Jehosaphat:

Regional Pinheads: How Are You Weathering the Pinball Market?
Just wondering what those of you here who haven't got bottomless pockets are doing that is helping you keep your spirits up.
It seems more and more I am complaining to my various friends about being priced out of the hobby. I used to be excited because there were always real possibilities around every corner. Now HUO games are bringing 20-40% more than they did just two years ago and NIB pins are backordered for months/years. I s'pose you're fine if you have a collection and you want to rotate one out. You sell your pin for a fortune and then spend that fortune to get another. Easy. But if you have a habit of taking a bath on the pins you sell (as I have), how can you possibly buy another pin with the proceeds?
To tide me over, I bought a "project" pin - my first. It's a WMS System-7 from '81. Yeah, it's OLD. I had it shipped here. It was misrepresented a bit, but when you describe a sale pin as a "project," you sort of indemnify yourself to the buyer. As in, well, what did you expect?! It's a project! So yeah, I have a lot of work in front of me before I can even plug it in. (Sent the boards off for rehab'ing today; six weeks turnaround.) I recently shopped a TZ and that was a serious grind. I said I wouldn't do it again, so I bought a Spooky pin afterward. That game disappointed in various ways, too, and I find myself yearning for a Stern again. But can I buy a NIB? Yes and no. Yes if I want to spend $7K for a PRO and get on a list and wait six months, but who wants to do that? I root around for new distributors and ask them for inventory lists, hoping to find a fresh source of worthwhile games. Right now I'm finding Beatles, STh, Beatles, Mando, Beatles, LZ, and Turtles. I will keep looking! And I will keep resurrecting this '81 System-7!

Quoted from ruralcollector:

This. I remember after I had been collecting for a couple years and a buddy was talking about how much his collection was worth. It had never occurred to me to put a price tag on what I had. I had lost some money on almost every game I bought/sold at that point. I figured that was just part of the hobby and was happy to get anything after I was done enjoying it. Things have changed man!

Quoted from pinballplusMN:

Had a fyre sale on this title and it's going to a pinsider.

Quoted from Pinzap:

Also looking into possibly doing some "buddy storage" with a friend that lives close by to temporarily expand my available space, so maybe i'll end up getting rid of none. .

Quoted from Jason_Jehosaphat:

Regional Pinheads: How Are You Weathering the Pinball Market?
Just wondering what those of you here who haven't got bottomless pockets are doing that is helping you keep your spirits up.
It seems more and more I am complaining to my various friends about being priced out of the hobby. I used to be excited because there were always real possibilities around every corner. Now HUO games are bringing 20-40% more than they did just two years ago and NIB pins are backordered for months/years. I s'pose you're fine if you have a collection and you want to rotate one out. You sell your pin for a fortune and then spend that fortune to get another. Easy. But if you have a habit of taking a bath on the pins you sell (as I have), how can you possibly buy another pin with the proceeds?
To tide me over, I bought a "project" pin - my first. It's a WMS System-7 from '81. Yeah, it's OLD. I had it shipped here. It was misrepresented a bit, but when you describe a sale pin as a "project," you sort of indemnify yourself to the buyer. As in, well, what did you expect?! It's a project! So yeah, I have a lot of work in front of me before I can even plug it in. (Sent the boards off for rehab'ing today; six weeks turnaround.) I recently shopped a TZ and that was a serious grind. I said I wouldn't do it again, so I bought a Spooky pin afterward. That game disappointed in various ways, too, and I find myself yearning for a Stern again. But can I buy a NIB? Yes and no. Yes if I want to spend $7K for a PRO and get on a list and wait six months, but who wants to do that? I root around for new distributors and ask them for inventory lists, hoping to find a fresh source of worthwhile games. Right now I'm finding Beatles, STh, Beatles, Mando, Beatles, LZ, and Turtles. I will keep looking! And I will keep resurrecting this '81 System-7!

Quoted from Jediturtle:

Yeah, I'm going to take some crap for this from my friends, but anyone looking to move a Stern Star Wars pro (original or comic)? Might consider a premium depending on price.

Quoted from FatPanda:

Eh, you're good. No criticism on anyone for what games they like. Just don't pay 10k for a pro

Quoted from Jediturtle:

It's more the fact that I just bought my third Spiderman and this would be my third SW, LOL!
Pinball is a disease.

Quoted from FatPanda:

Just tells ya you're selling your games too soon! It's all good though. As long as it keeps things fresh for you.

Quoted from Jediturtle:

It's more the fact that I just bought my third Spiderman and this would be my third SW, LOL!
Pinball is a disease.

Quoted from Jediturtle:

Pinball is a disease.

Quoted from Vitty:

Anyone got a Godzilla Prem/LE available?

Quoted from northvibe:

Superior, WI @ average joes pub
Godzilla pro
Rush pro
Soon Munster pro
Woot woot!

Quoted from LesManley:

I posted it in your Duluth thread, but it bears repeating, take that scoop protector off RUSH if you haven't already.

Quoted from northvibe:

F me. I was talking about that before I left. I should of remembered to check pinside. I’m home now but I’ll go remove tomorrow. Does it damage the pf? They didn’t clip it to hold itself down. And it’s thinner than a cliffy iirc

Quoted from Fezmid:

Selling my IMDN if anyone is interested.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/for-sale-iron-maiden-legacy-of-the-beast-pro-104

Quoted from Jediturtle:

Still looking for a Star Wars pro or TWD premium.