Figuring out the plan to buy a TRON Legacy pin NIB

Mike Valmike

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Donor 2012, 2014
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Hi folks.

My store is ready to get into pins and we want to buy a new one first so we can get used to how it's "supposed" to work before the inevitable avalanche of repairs and then finding aftermarket equipment to fix up. I have teched vids for a while now but never pins, so I assume there will be a learning curve.

We're likely to be in the best position to just buy cash outright in early- to mid-summer. Just as a general estimate, does the supply seem like it will constrain a lot by then? Will I still be ABLE to get a NIB TL pin then? It doesn't have to be the LE (and it looks like I don't have a choice on that count anyhow! haha). It will be operated in public for a few years, and then down the line eventually retired to a nice cleanup and fixup in my garage and an end-of-life in my living room.

I welcome and appreciate your opinions.

EDIT: Oh also. If you're in the east valley of the Phoenix area and you'd like to make some money, we'd love to do a revenue split on a TL, LOTR, Data East Star Wars, or ST:TNG pin placement at our vintage arcade and game store in Gilbert, Desert Sky Games. It will give us a good idea of what to expect in terms of revenue and service frequency. By all means check the place out first but I think you'll find that it's likely to be reasonably safe for your equipment... at least, by comparison to virtually anywhere else you'd operate a pin, such as a pub or pizza joint. Obviously no place is as safe as your home and I don't want to risk someone's LE falling victim to an accident, but still. We picked those titles because they are in-theme for our store and our resident pin fans say the gameplay is good.
 
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They are re-running TRON late Feb early March. All the other runs sold out and I would guess this one will too. I'm sure you'll be able to find one this summer but you'll pay a premium price for it.

Just because it's NIB doesn't mean it will work like it's supposed to. Stern has it's fair share of quality control problems. Chances are it will be fine, but be prepared for minor issues.

I had a chance to buy one from the next run for $4500 shipped but had to pass as I picked up a LOTR instead. Tron is a great game and I hope you get one. - Barry
 
I was told by Stern, distributors have bought them all, so you can still get one per se, but if you wait the cost will climb. Colorado game exchange bought 20 of the new run and they may only have a few left (for an example), the good part is that they will drop ship to your door to avoid taxes, in other words its easier to pick one up now shipped to your door, than to wait and pay another 500+ later. I think their licence runs out after a bit...I could be wrong tho.
 
I suggest buying a fully-shopped pin from a reputable/avid hobbyist. It'll probably be more reliable than NIB. My LOTR LE was fairly problematic and took a lot of tweaking out of the box; many new pins are similar. For what you want, better to get a tested/tweaked/broken-in game than NIB that will need tweaking and may have some problems right away.
 
I don't know about other distributors...but mine sold 10 in one week, had five left when I showed interest. The next day he wrote asking if I was serious because he had just sold another three. So I jumped. Got a good price shipped to my door. I am guessing, from research on pin side, that there is alot of interest in this game because there is currently a pinhead making a fiber optic ramp mod that is gonna rival the LE. A lot of people are getting this pin just because of this mod. I'm sure there are a few left out there...but price nay have already gone up on them. Good luck! Tron is an epic pin!
 
I thought these were sold out and was considering AC/DC for my first pin.
Do you know how much CO exchange were charging? Besides Tron, which distributors bought out, can you buy directly from Stern?

I found a distributor on east coast listing for 4875, I would rather not pay for shipping though.
 
Usually when u buy NIB from a distributor...the price included shipping. So that is actually a good price if it includes it. Mine was 4950 shipped...



I thought these were sold out and was considering AC/DC for my first pin.
Do you know how much CO exchange were charging? Besides Tron, which distributors bought out, can you buy directly from Stern?

I found a distributor on east coast listing for 4875, I would rather not pay for shipping though.
 
I think most people buy from distributors. Don't know anyone who gets straight from stern. You can...but I think its more expensive.
 
I thought these were sold out and was considering AC/DC for my first pin.
Do you know how much CO exchange were charging? Besides Tron, which distributors bought out, can you buy directly from Stern?

I found a distributor on east coast listing for 4875, I would rather not pay for shipping though.

Personally, I think there are many far better games out there for far less than what a new ACDC will cost. Be sure to play it enough first to make sure you like it--it *is* a major purchase! There are always people who don't like certain 'generally popular' games.

Another suggestion for purchasing is Trent at Tilt Amusements. He's one of the largest Stern distributors, lives and breathes pinball, and is a highly-ranked player as well. (Currently ranked #6 in the world, actually.) He has great prices/service and lots of good info/suggestions.

BTW, there's a pin tourney (Fairfax Open) in NoVa next weekend (Feb. 22-23). If Trent is going, you might get cheap/free delivery. He often brings games to pinball events. Also check out the FSPA scene. (fspazone.org) A long-running pinball league in the DC area, with lots of pinball owners. Great people to talk to about buying/owning/maintaining pins!
 
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thanks vader1979 for the info. Sorry for temporarily hijacking your thread Mike.
 
thanks the info Stevenp61. Will check Tilt. I saw the post on fairfax pin tourney and plan on stopping by to play some and meet some people.
 
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