I Appreciate the encouraging words. I'm involved in 2 leagues and if I don't end up with a pin, I'm still meeting some cool pin heads. Going to keep digging

Since all the local machines are being bought up by the duo in Bay City and some dude in Flint area, and I'm not willing to pay 100% premium on pinball machines right now, I've taken some focus off pinballs and decided to purchase some racing arcades to add to my collection.

Picked up (2) linked California Speed machines over the weekend. They are the deluxe model with the 33" WG monitors. One needs a little work but should turn out to be some pretty nice once they are cleaned up (cap kit, flash drive conversion, etc).

I will also be picking up (2) Hydro Thunders, (1) Final Lap 3, (1) single CA Speed and a WCS94 pin soon.

Might be adding Sega Outrun, and a pair of 4WD Offroad Riot's to the list also.

I have an idea, It will be hard for them to keep buying if they cannot sell any. Would it be a bad idea to flag every ridiculous add that comes from them. I have never flagged an add and I don't know if it would be justified but it's an idea. I won't be doing it but it would not kill me never to see one of their poorly written ad's again.

Personally, I strongly recommend PMWolf (Pete Mathis) or Dayhuff (John Dayhuff) if you are planning on buying your first pin. Of course, you are on Pinside so that's a HUGE step in the right direction for getting references. Many Pinsiders will do you well, but no one should be offended if you ask for references here. You plan on spending $1000 or more, you better know what (and how) you are buying.

I would just give it time. Bad business practices can only last so long.

Man...Vids are such a good deal too if you can haul/pick up. There are machines in Chicago on my "dream" list (DDR, Stun Runner) that are so cheap right now. However, I cannot understand why they can't wait until the weather gets a little better. Drivers and gun games never lose their fun-factor at parties!

Before aiming on a specific pin based on what I assumed was in my fixed budget (a clean and working WWFRR, $1500) I reached out to Pete and he was kind enough to give me some options on what he had. I am going to try to be patient and keep looking for the pin I want before settling on something I wasn't looking for.

WWFRR is such a great title! I really didn't realize how much fun it was until I played one at Pete's house. Great pick and I think that price range is very reasonable. Good luck with the hunt (and patience is the key - good work)!

Man I need some vid's. It will have to be after I make an addition I am already out of room. Any Mario Kart GP's around?

There's a couple down by Troy but they're like $2900 each.

Dam..... I always miss the good party invites. Wish i could get more invites like this sent my way, i always love a good scruff.

I stopped going to saginaw craigslist because an overwhelming majority of the ads are from that one seller. In the "good old days" one usually found a pin that was worth investigating...

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Yeah Mario Cart would be sweet, I played one at gameworks in Chicago not too long ago..

Dayhuff by far is the best to deal with as far as picking up projects. Once or twice a year he always seems to get some garage load of beat up pins in. Those are the ones I like to work on. I've never met PM Wolf personally but heard he's top tier and a good guy to go to.

As for the Bay City Spammers (sounds like a 70's rock group), I have seen their ads. Tri City Pinball or something. They've littered the Grand Rapids CL, saw the Saginaw picture above which looks the same as ours. I'm assuming they spam the entirety of Michigan. Apparently they've been flagged so much they have to repost using ridiculous symbols like

**&&^^%%@@@The Who's Tommy Pinball **&&^^ - $3000 (bay city)

I buy project pins, not "shopped" but for the prices the Tri City people have theirs listed at I'd go local here in GR to the Game Room Guys. Brick and mortar, dedicated technicians on staff, delivery trucks, the works...and they don't spam the crap out of CL to bring in buyers.

Hey Michigan Pinheads....

Next "The Arcade" Pinball League Night is coming up THIS FRIDAY Feb 21, 7 PM. If you missed the first night...no problem...you can still play and win.

We had over 40 players for night one and there is room for plenty more.

We will also be collecting T-Shirt sizes at league night so we can order up the new league T-shirts!

More info at http://michiganpinball.com/thearcade

arcade-pinball-league-shirt.jpg

Yep that is where I'm referring too. Some of the games are playable but some are in pretty bad shape.

I can vouch for Dayhuff. Great guy. I bought 3 pins off him.
I haven't bought anything off PMWolf but I met him at Dayhuffs party last year. He seemed like a pretty good guy.

I can vouch for both pmWolf and Dayhuff first class stand up guy's. You will know exactly what you are getting and feel good about the purchase. This is probably why the sell so much

Be careful not to overpay out there. Supply looks really tight. I listed a Judge Dredd yesterday (Sunday), sold it today (Monday) with three other people lined up.

Looks like I might have to part out that SW.

Missing the Death Star wireform ramp and I can not find one anywhere. It's useless without it. On the plus side I shouldn't get hurt parting it out. Bummed though; I really wanted to restore it.

That sucks! I am sure you can find that death star wire form ramp for someone on here.. Just put a want add out.. I have found a lot of stuff with want adds looking for parts. That Steve guy down in Florida has a ton of stuff. GLWYS!

There is a guy on here who is looking for a playfield, if you end up having to go that route. That sucks man..

You get hold of the seller yet? What did he say?

He said "???"

Basically he plaid dumb. Said he would look around for it. He's also the same person that said the ramp from Lethal Weapon might be modifiable to fit??? But of course I can't find one of those either.

Yeah I'm sure I'd have little problem selling the playfield, display, boards, brand new translite, good plastics, working motors.....etc....

Just did that......I'll give it some time.

detroit.craigslist.org link

Today's Michigan Craig List listing that makes you go hrmmmm???
Anyone know this guy?

Sure....and I'd like $100,000,000 for my 1973 Roller Coaster (IT'S RARE!)

Thanks for my big laugh of the day. $25,000 for MM what an Fing nimrod

I sent him a message. I'd like to see what, exactly, is in his crack pipe.

I had to screen shot that ad in fears it might get flagged. I didn't want to lose out on those deals! I was going to offer him less but I thought he was already fair on his pricies.

Placed the ad in Detroit but didn't post it locally brings up a few red flags to me at least. Hope someone scores the collection of a lifetime from the listing.

I got one reply. Pam will accept reasonable offers on the pins. I asked her if she understood what the word reasonable meant. I haven't heard back from Pam.

Reasonable explanations that I can come up with so far:
1) It's all fake and pics are not her own
2) All the machines are HEP
3) Widow who doesn't know much about pins other than vague memories of what her husband once boasted.

If it is "3)" or something similar, you never know - she may honestly not know and could be persuaded to come down to realistic prices.

I also told her that I was pretty sure she was just a troll.

How about the bay city spammers ad today. Selling off one that they are not making a cent on??? I'm surprised are tech didn't fix it for us so we could sell it for 2,000 lmao

By the way can someone please explain to me why a holes put up fake ads? Is that a way they can say to themselves on I got you good didn't I. There was a hh I think last weekend on the for 300 and guy said it sold and I emailed maybe 10 mins after it going up. I sure hope it was fake

A little off topic but the Ann Arbor Pinball Museum show (May 16-18) now has advance tickets available. Remember this is a limited event (not a cattle call), so once they are gone, that's it. This keeps attendance numbers at a workable number so there aren't lines or just too many people.
Show info: http://vfwpinball.com/?p=128
Tickets: http://vfwpinball.com/?page_id=179

Sounds completely on topic to me, Clay. Got my ticket for Saturday. Can't wait.

Got my ticket for Saturday too. Looking forward to spending some time in Ann Arbor!

Thanks guys! we're really trying to make this the best show in the midwest with no over crowding and a guaranteed number of games. the facility is set up for pinball too, so it's not like a transplanted room of games going to a hotel or conference room. and heck we don't have to beg people to bring games. (i always hated dragging games to shows myself, or having to say "no i can't this year" and then having the guilt trip that i wasn't a "good pinball citizen" for not bring a game.) That's the worst thing about pinball shows is dragging/setup/tearing down games. my back hurts just thinking about it! since we're a dedicated venue we don't have to deal with that. also that constant nagging from show promoters really gets old. moving games is the quickest way to lose friends. ha!

Just signed up for Saturday also. Thanks for the reminder Clay!

Looking forward to your show but no need to take shots at other pinball shows/organizers. I've never been nagged to bring games to a show (asked but not nagged) and every show helps to promote pinball! Other shows also have a lot to offer including speakers and presenters giving the latest info on new games and what not. Any commitment from Manufacturers to be at this show? I also hope this show ends up with a lot of vendors because I do love looking through all their parts and swag too!

Will be proudly helping out at the AAPM Showcase. Looking towards meeting up with a lot of new people.

Will also be helping out at MPE and PATZ as well. Possibly bringing "Dealer's Choice" and/or "Toledo" games for freeplay area. Will sell if appropriate offer is made also. PM if interested.

In regards to Craz's post... i'm just pointing out the facts. "Traditional" pinball shows' model is frankly flawed. Depending on people to bring games is a weird situation. Back in the day, when games were plentiful and not that expensive, you saw a lot of machines come to shows. now as games are harder to find, not as many for sale, and frankly very expensive, why would some one bring a Medieval madness to a show? or a cactus canyon? or a big bang bar? or a cirquis voltaire? or a Flipper Cowboy? or a Neptune? or a Mermaid? or a 1950s pitch and bat? or a 20 foot ball bowler? but ALL these games are guaranteed to be at the Ann Arbor pinball festival. In fact, you can go to the web site and see *exactly* what games will be there. There's no "gee i wonder" situations about what will show up. And what the quality of games will be. As we're a museum with a full scale on site restoration and parts department (probably the biggest pinball parts department in the state of michigan, or even the mid west.) http://www.vfwpinball.com/games.php

And frankly most people go to shows for one reason - to play pinball. the other seminars and stuff are nice, but it's not the reason people really go to a show (except for maybe pinball expo in chicago, as they have the best seminars, and no one is going to beat their gig in that arena.)

And yes there will be vendors at the show. There's no charge to be a vendor, it's free. this encourages vendors to come and show their wares.

Also we limit the number of people coming to a set number. So there aren't too many people and lines. again we are trying to come up with a show model that is optimal. something different to provide the best possible show experience.

our venue is dedicated too. meaning it set up for pinball. it's not a hotel, it's a pinball venue, designed for pinball. that means no extension cords. proper power for all the games. and on a scenic treed 10 acres so if you want to go outside for a coke, it's pleasant and casual. it's not in some strange parking lot in a mini mall or hotel concrete lot.

we are trying to present the best possible pinball show. I think after you see it, you'll agree this is a different model, and one that is sustainable and optimal. is it perfect? no, nothing is. but i challenge any show to have a better venue with a better selection and number of games. (and without the public having to haul their own games around, which is just a hassle, dangerous, and expensive.)

I might be looking for someone to trasnsport a game back from MGC to Michigan. If you're going to MGC, and have capacity to haul a game back for me and would like to offset some travel expenses, please let me know.

Thanks!

Tamoore, if I was going to MGC I'd help you out no problem. I used to go to MGC a few years back but it got way to crowded and simply outgrew its space. Hopefully this year they have sorted that problem out and I can return to going in 2015.

I miss the show and the people, but don't miss the overcrowding of the past few years.

I'm in for Sunday. Can't wait.

^^^^^ ?