Been out awhile and coming back in. Looking around it seems that prices are currently stagnant. Part of that might be to do with all the new machines currently being made. I do not expect to see prices bottom out, but as someone getting back in I am hesitant to pay a lot of the asking prices. Too many ads are staying up for long periods of time.

Also, another problem is that price points seem screwy. Some pins seem to have gone up while others have not. A good example of this is say Fish Tales vs Shadow. FT used to be a 1500 dollar game. It is fun, but now that it is breathing on the door of shadow it does not seem worth it. The same can be said of a few other games that I have seen.

If that is what the market will bear at the time, then I can see that. Thing is I am seeing these games sit. Another example is the 2200 T2 in the for sale section right now. If people are paying that more power to the seller. It is a fun game, but shallow as all get out. I had a bear of a time getting 1200 for mine a few years ago. At 2200 there are way way too many games that are more entertaining in that price bracket.

I emailed the guy about it as well. Unshopped, newbie pin owner means it most likely had issues. I was in the middle of passing on it when I was told someone had put 100 dollars down via paypal on it.

Prices go up, because people get stupid and want things immediately. Next time one comes up for sale it will be higher because that one sold for 1500 and it wasn't shopped, etc. Vicious cycle.

Then again, as I said before I see a lot of games sitting. Looking up recent price checks they are in the ball park, but the demand is just not there?

*Scratches head*
Pinball machines are huge, expensive, and difficult to maintain. Let's be real here you are spending up to 10k for a 20 year old amusement device. If they were easy to maintain why would there be a section devoted to repairing them on here?

In a lot of ways a 60's car is easier to maintain then a WPC era game. Houses also come with garages and driveways. When have you seen a house with a dedicated pinball room?

Also you are not a car person. Old cars vs new cars are apples and oranges. Very similar how a virtual pin feels compared to a real pin. Modern cars are safer, more reliable, do not smell of oil, handle better, get better gas mileage, and go faster. They also feel much less detached. Mind you my car is a new miata which is about as bare bones as you can buy anymore.

Pissed off, no. Perplexed at your argument, yes.

You live in NY and your entire perspective is different. You opinions are based on daily experiences that are alien to the majority of people living within the US. You are also talking about areas that you do not appear to have first hand knowledge of. If you are a gear head or a jukebox collector then by all means say so, it just does not look that way.

Oh also your 15 pin collection, even at 500 dollars a piece is more than a lot of people have in their car. 7500 dollars can go a long way in an old car.

No, I think you threw out a red herring and started talking about things you knew nothing about. You didn't post a simple question you ranted sir.

The 40's automobiles tanked, jukeboxes tanked, and these too will tank someday. It is not an if, but a when. The when probably being far off short of an economic disaster. That doesn't mean we won't see prices fall here and there which is what appears to be happening now. I do not foresee a 500 dollar MB, but I do see prices dropping by a few hundred for some titles.

You are right it had real gems like.

Your 15 machines require a large amount of space. They require special knowledge to maintain. Oh, and if the average value is 1500 (you lised 500, 1500, and 3500 in another post) then they are worth more then I bought a brand new miata for. That is EXPENSIVE.

Pinball machines are large, difficult to maintain, and have very little practical value.

Thank you for sharing these nuggets of knowledge with the class.

Funnily enough I find the jukebox argument just as silly. The only part that seemed reasonable is the ipod aspect.

The only way to win is not to play.