Girls with pins on EBay

Alky

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I know everyone brought up the pinballs on Ebay with the girls posing with the machines.

Example....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-Bally-...-KNOCKOUT-/160639849772?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

I forgot to say when I found out, but yes they are over 18 and they are models. The guy owes me a favor and I might have him get her to do something funny for the site.

Im sure someone here can link the original thread or threads.
 
This dude needs to focus more on his prices then his daughter modeling next to them!

I've seen his auction many times. Some of the chics need to go, this one can stay though.

I got no issue with his daughter but some on RGP think it's exploitation. WTH people need to relax and stop stirring the pot!
 
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Seen those as well many times - prices are WAY up there, and they're targeting the general public who just wants to go buy a machine that's been shopped, and will work for years with zero maintenance. Lot of folks successful doing those kinds of sales, and these are the machines that eventually end up on CL years later when the owner doesn't want to pay to have it serviced...

Definitely not targeting the hobby community.

It's family members posing as far as I know - no exploitation as far as I'm concerned...
 
At least this one has good pics of the machine. See these type of listings frequently have someone that looks like they got punched in the face alongside the machine and on top of that not even good pics of the thing being sold.

Disappointment all around. :p
 
Let me clarify one more time, NOT his daughters and they are actual paid models.

Hes a really nice guy though and the machines I have bought from him have been perfect. I just did a service call for him in St. Louis to a guy who just bought an Addams and it looked friggin sweet.
 
Alky, i agree his pins are nice (from what i see - havent seen under the hood). But the prices are horribly bloated.

I am all for paying up for the right machine in good shape, hundreds if not thousands higher. I have paid for high end restorations before.

But i cant justify A Xenon Restore for 4400, A theatre of Magic for 7k+, etc.

Sure, tell me about the time and effort that go into it - i just lined up quotes from 3 restorers for similar games and their time and materials didnt come close to his prices. Much less.
 
Let me clarify one more time, NOT his daughters and they are actual paid models.

Yeah well the last pic in this auction looks like a MOM! The girl in this one looks related to him and the mom not mom, model. And let me claify, I've seen her in other auctions of his too many months ago, hell I've practically seen her age from all the auctions she been in. I won't believe this one is NOT his daughter until I'd have more proof. Possibly he wants you to say this so people don't think he's creepy?

Not related, well then that would exaplain his high prices to pay for the model shoots next to his pins. LOL!!!

Anyway, who cares if one is his daughter and mom, or a paid model? It does not matter...
 
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Yeah, i dont know what it is that troubles me about the high prices.

I mean, it is his business, he can set prices however he wants, can just buy elsewhere (and we do...)

I guess it just screams Greed to me, a bit insulting to the senses.

For example, 18 500 for a MM? Not even 30 percent off will get it to fair!!!
 
Yeah, i dont know what it is that troubles me about the high prices.

I mean, it is his business, he can set prices however he wants, can just buy elsewhere (and we do...)

I guess it just screams Greed to me, a bit insulting to the senses.

For example, 18 500 for a MM? Not even 30 percent off will get it to fair!!!

I agree on the MM

Remember Im a retailer as well with prices most of you would laugh at. Im sure his customers are like mine. Most of my high end customers are people with great incomes and want to buy from a place they feel they can trust.

I have at least half my customers say they see the machine they want to buy somewhere else cheaper but they feel more comfortable buying from me for a little bit more. Remember some pinball guys can be a little weird and arent the easiest to deal with. Id like to think im a people person and talk to just about anyone from a local sports athlete or a CEO of a major company to a homeless guy on the street. I think just the person talking can make a deal happen or not. I am not a pushy salesman and am a service guy by trade. I dont sell in our local store only online. I fix games, handle warehouse duties and sometimes go do a pool table.

That was a long post but in closing I think that people pay whatever for that feeling of security that they might not get with a random person or small time internet company.
 
Yeah, i dont know what it is that troubles me about the high prices.

I mean, it is his business, he can set prices however he wants, can just buy elsewhere (and we do...)

I guess it just screams Greed to me, a bit insulting to the senses.

For example, 18 500 for a MM? Not even 30 percent off will get it to fair!!!

This comes across as a blanket statement - not meant to offend any reatilers like Alky and such:

What personally bothers me the most about retailers (yeah I know call the waaaahmbulance) is that they almost always over price a pin, sell it to a know nothing Joe Blow and then when that person goes to get rid of it, the "in the know"Joe Blows can't buy it because the person is unrealistic in asking price. "Well I paid X amount so it can;t be worth that much less" type of deal.
And of course if the buyer goes back to that retailer, most retailers won't give you anything close to the original sale price. And if the person is foolish enough to do the deal, then the retailer just "double dipped". Took advantage of the buyer twice!

Greed? Always a factor. But in all fairness if a company "needs" to charge that much then they need to a business cost analysis. Do I REALLY need 5000 Sq ft, do I really need that many sales people, is the parts suppliers giving me the best dal or do I need to change suppliers ..... you get the picture.
And let's not forget - it's not the retailers fault the buyer fell for it ;)
 
This comes across as a blanket statement - not meant to offend any reatilers like Alky and such:

What personally bothers me the most about retailers (yeah I know call the waaaahmbulance) is that they almost always over price a pin, sell it to a know nothing Joe Blow and then when that person goes to get rid of it, the "in the know"Joe Blows can't buy it because the person is unrealistic in asking price. "Well I paid X amount so it can;t be worth that much less" type of deal.
And of course if the buyer goes back to that retailer, most retailers won't give you anything close to the original sale price. And if the person is foolish enough to do the deal, then the retailer just "double dipped". Took advantage of the buyer twice!

Greed? Always a factor. But in all fairness if a company "needs" to charge that much then they need to a business cost analysis. Do I REALLY need 5000 Sq ft, do I really need that many sales people, is the parts suppliers giving me the best dal or do I need to change suppliers ..... you get the picture.
And let's not forget - it's not the retailers fault the buyer fell for it ;)


I wouldnt argue your post, I would add though that this can be applied to alot of product other than pinballs.

At least new pinballs online all should be at the same price. They have a price you cant advertise under so that keeps everyone the same.
 

The RPG guys always come off as assholes to me. I avoided that site like the plague until one day I gave it a chance only to get yelled at by like 8 people for offering shipping advise to a guy. That was my one and only post and I left. The google groups posting has people defending him fyi. Unless the RPG posts are just terrible I dont see any major reason to avoid him all together.

The KLOV site I recommend to everyone stating that the people here are more willing to help and get pinball/arcade noobs all the info they possibly can. And you guys havent tarred and feathered me yet.
 
Let's not forget that some retailers really do command a premium because of simple customer service...

They go above and beyond and do things that others don't such as: finding the game and paying for shipping to their shop, really shopping the game (not just rubber rings and Windex), delivery & setup, supporting the customer afterwards - which may or may not include a warranty.

Yes, trade-ins can be low, but when was the last time you got the top dollar for your trade in when buying a new car? Did you *really* get top dollar or did they play funny with the price of the new car or with financing rates, etc... At least with games you know that the retailer needs to make money and you see it up front - it's not like buying a car where all the money is funny and hidden.

RJ
 
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