600$ for a broken pinbot? Too risky for the price?

[jehuie]

It does suck to miss out on a really good deal. I just missed one the other day under circumstances that were just as frustrating. I was headed out to pick this thing up and got called back home for an emergency. So I called the guy and he said he'd hold it for me until morning. Well, he didn't.

Moral of the story....go get the thing immediately and don't futz around. But sometimes you can't realistically get there when you would like to. But if it's truly a stellar deal then if you wait (for whatever reason) there's a good chance it will be gone by the time you get there.

But keep it in perspective. Other deals will come along!

 

[Frax]

You know, sometimes people buy a "lot" of games, not neccesarily all they want. Might wanna watch Craiglist, they may be seperated and resold, albeit with a markup, but you know what they originally paid

The guy already had dibs on the MK2 dedicated at 125. The Kangaroo was listed at 25 and the pachinko at 50, and the lady said 600$ for the pin, but then told me in email would let it go for 500. So he paid exactly what it was all listed for.

So the bitch got exactly what she wanted, 700$. She just had to be an asshole to get rid of it all at once, instead of just telling someone to come make a pickup. Grats to the guy that got it, I don't blame him, but that bitch shouldn't have told me she was holding them then sell them. Could've sold the pinbot to the guy and I would've merely chalked it up to not showing enough immediate interest, but the pachinko and the kangaroo pushed it beyond "Well, I guess he wasn't interested." into "Well, I'm an asshole, and a hypocrite, because I complained about CL flakes when I emailed this guy back, so I'm going to be a flake and get my way and to hell with what I already promised someone."

 

[GORDONFAN]

Oh no, another grammar attack! Someone save me from this viscous trolling and attack on my intelligence.

What the fuck ever. At least the FIRST person that made the point did it in a constructive way. You're just being a troll, both because the point was already made, and because if you'd really not sell something because of that...well...what can I say. I guess I could say that I won't have to worry about selling anything to you because you're a NASCAR fan. *roll eyes*

What about the second person who pointed it out? Of course I wouldn't not sell something because of that. Just having a little fun with you get over it. Sometimes this place is real boring. Who said I was a Nascar Fan? Ever heard of Gordon Ramsey?
Glennon

 

[GORDONFAN]

+1. he's just a guy who is lonely and wants to be heard, just looking for attention with little to offer. Sorry you missed out Frax, that really sucked!!

Chris

Come on Chris be nice.

 

[Chris M]

Just messin' man, no worries. we're all good here, right?

Chris

 

[Frax]

Just messin' man, no worries. we're all good here, right?

Chris

If not, there's always an ignore feature on this board, lol. Very handy for extreme asshattery over on the sales portion.

 

[GORDONFAN]

Just messin' man, no worries. we're all good here, right?

Chris

All good!!!

 

[beerorkid]

 

[Frax]

Watched a Fathom come up on CL tonight, then was removed less than 3 hours later...that pin really that popular? The guy wanted 300$, but said the backglass was trashed and it needed some other things as well.

 

[jehuie]

The guy wanted 300$

* Sigh *

-------------------------

 

[dc2010]

Watched a Fathom come up on CL tonight, then was removed less than 3 hours later...that pin really that popular? The guy wanted 300$, but said the backglass was trashed and it needed some other things as well.

fathom is rare and somewhat sought after...

 

[GORDONFAN]

* Sigh *

-------------------------

Oh boy!!!!!!

 

[Frax]

Well.



Shit. Guess i missed the bus on that one. Shouldve known since cpr did the repro backglass. :/

 

[Chris M]

The year 1981 was remarkable for Bally, with no less than three highly sought after games -Eight Ball Deluxe, Centaur, and Fathom. Seeing any of these pins come up on Craigslist will be rare, especially Centaur or Fathom, since they are highly collectable. $300 is a VERY good deal, trashed ones can command $800-$900, and fully restored examples can fetch $3500-$4000.

For better or worse, common shared belief (I agree) is that Fathom is very much a visual delight as opposed to a player's game. It's "sound track" is not as well done as its brethren, the rule set is not very deep, and it's not as interesting, shot-wise, as its brethren.

With repro parts available, the trick is finding a restorable core. I was fortunate to get into the hobby more than ten years ago, I have all three of these titles.

Chris

 

[Frax]

Christ...now I feel almost as bad as the pinbot fiasco, lol. =\

I liked the way it looked, just didn't like the playfield layout that much...looked like there was a lot of custom parts too...was I crazy looking at pictures, or does that thing have unique design star posts?

Pitfall of a noob on this one, for sure..no way I would've ever guessed that one was that good of a deal. Le Sigh.

There's a Centaur up here, but it's like 1200$ and I don't have that to spend...it's also the Centaur 2...I don't like the head unit on that version. =\

 

[examiner]

Christ...now I feel almost as bad as the pinbot fiasco, lol. =\

I liked the way it looked, just didn't like the playfield layout that much...looked like there was a lot of custom parts too...was I crazy looking at pictures, or does that thing have unique design star posts?

You should feel worse about the Fathom, because that's about a 5x better deal than the Pinbot.

Nothing weird about the playfield parts on a Fathom - all standard for the era. If you ever see a deal like that again, grab it!

I don't think Fathom is all eye candy (although it is gorgeous). It's basic of course, with the only real purpose being to achieve multiball. And then once you achieve it, can you maintain it? That's the tough part. The sound package - OK, early 80's annoyance. But beyond that, it's a great pin I think and worthy of it's reputation.

 

[Frax]

Yeah, like I said..chalking this one up to just pure ignorance on my part...

Kind of starting to learn that 300$ for just about any pin that's not an EM, or with big cosmetic damage, seems to be a decent deal, if not something like this...

Totally kicking myself in the pants. :|

 

[Chris M]

You should feel worse about the Fathom, because that's about a 5x better deal than the Pinbot.

Nothing weird about the playfield parts on a Fathom - all standard for the era. If you ever see a deal like that again, grab it!

I don't think Fathom is all eye candy (although it is gorgeous). It's basic of course, with the only real purpose being to achieve multiball. And then once you achieve it, can you maintain it? That's the tough part. The sound package - OK, early 80's annoyance. But beyond that, it's a great pin I think and worthy of it's reputation.

+1 on these notes, pretty much sums it up. Years back (probably 2004 time frame), I bought a really, really, REALLY bad example of one from a damp, cobweb filled, dark warehouse in Oklahoma City - for $300. The cabinet literally fell apart, the backglass was gone, all that was salvageable was the head and the wiring harnesses/playfield. Foolish purchase, but I stripped what I could. Bought another one from Alabama about a year later for $400 and had it shipped.

Salvaged a playfield, stuck a brand new fresh assembled and painted cabinet under it, added an NOS backglass and boards, and it's up and running. Still need to do the repro playfield swap (just never got around to it), and I have repro plastics, caps, drops, etc.

Chris

 

[Frax]

You guys are making me depressed, lol.

Man, I just looked it up on that ebay tracker site and average sell price is 1600$?

Damn. DAMN!

 

[WadeLanham]

Not really concerned with the price. Ultimately longevity is king for me. I can spend 1200 on one with a good playfield but then have to go clearcoat it myself or 600$ and 650 for the repro and colors are bright clear is done.....same money, less work, looks better longer probably.

At any rate. Its not a decision that i can even make now. Fuck.

At this rate im just gonna be pinball SOL while im doing the shuttle pf swap.

If you're not concerned with the price, just find someone with a real nice Pinbot and buy it and get it shipped to you. If you wave some money around you'd be surprised how many people will start offering up their games.

Wade