Have you bought a pinball at auction?

Lazerhawk

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I know this is impossible to know or even predict but Ill ask anyway. Im in the market for a pinball and I want to get the best deal possible of course. Right now there's a pinball in my local CL thats a fair price but not a bargain either. In October theres a super auctions close to me where i was going to buy a machine. So now the impossible question. Should I settle on a pretty good price and forget the auction or should I hold out for the auction? Do pinballs/arcades sell for less or more at auction usually?
 
I know this is impossible to know or even predict but Ill ask anyway. Im in the market for a pinball and I want to get the best deal possible of course. Right now there's a pinball in my local CL thats a fair price but not a bargain either. In October theres a super auctions close to me where i was going to buy a machine. So now the impossible question. Should I settle on a pretty good price and forget the auction or should I hold out for the auction? Do pinballs/arcades sell for less or more at auction usually?

They sell for more and are in worse condition typically. Some people have been tricked into buying a pin with nothing under the playfield.

That being said there is nothing wrong with attending and buying a pin, just make sure you get to see the inside of the game, if you can't I'd walk away.
 
They sell for more and are in worse condition typically. Some people have been tricked into buying a pin with nothing under the playfield.

That being said there is nothing wrong with attending and buying a pin, just make sure you get to see the inside of the game, if you can't I'd walk away.

...not to mention the fees associated with the auction - you can easily pay an additional 22% once all is said and done.

Chris
 
I have bought 2 pins from auctions. Both had issues, mainly cosmetic. Was hard to tell at the auction. If I have to buy at an auction, its got to go cheap enough in case I need to repair it. And that doesnt normally happen.

You can plan on either buying one that needs alot of work, or one thats in mint condition and a pay a pretty big premium for it.

I would stick with craigslist.
 
Definitely go with CL if you can - gives you the chance to thoroughly check out the machine, and know *exactly* what you're getting into.

You can get a decent deal at an auction, but it's more of a crap shoot. The fees add up - make VERY sure you know what the fees are going to tack on before bidding.
 
I've bought 1 machine at auction at a fair price and it worked great. Some good deals can be had at auction,but if it's a popular title it will get bid up. As far as checking out the machine just make sure you're there for the preview and look it over good. If it's not on and you can't get inside the machine to look and you still want to bid just assume the worst when you bid.
Glennon
 
Stick with CL - at least you can talk to the previous owner and know if you have some issues to deal with. Unless you are good at repair. I bought a Game Show at the Pinball Expo auction a number of years back and actually got a good deal because one display was out. It was only an open resistor but I installed a new display before I figured out the resistor. Always an education buying a broken machine. And by the way, I sold some at expo and mysteriously, I was the only one that did not get my check sent to me .......
 
I bought one pin at auction and is still to this day the worst purchase i have made in this hobby. Was my first pin and third overall game i bought and got in way over my head. At the time I didn't know what to look for and what issues certain games tend to have problems with. Long story short I ended up selling it and took a big loss on it. I would agree with steering towards Craigslist unless you have the know how, patience, and money to refurbish a likely beat up auction pin. Just my experience not everyone's. We all start somewhere!
 
I picked up a nice pin at auction, but as stated above remember to figure the fees into your price. I won the pin at $800 and by the time I paid for it it was right at $1000.

Of course, Ive also saw several pins bring way more than they were worth (before fees) because some housewives wanted games for thier kids, so you cant let the bidding run away with you
 
I bought my BK2000 at a super auctions in LA. It was in pretty good shape( this was like 15+ years ago). I would say, more buyers at an auction format = higher prices.

I would go see the CL one. Maybe look inside to see if anyone was hacking the wiring. Plus you will get to play it.
 
Bought my TZ pin at super auctions in L.A. about 13+ years ago for $1200 (+FEES AND SALES TAX). It was dirty and was broken and I spent a lot of time and money fixing it up. Was worth it back then, but haven't seen a good deal at auction in quite some time.
 
I got some great deals at auctions (Super Auctions, US Amusements, etc) but it has been a few years to find some great deals. The pin market is crazy on some titles.

Some of the games I remember getting at these auctions:

Theatre of Magic, $1625

Creature From the Black Lagoon, $1750

Getaway, $800
 
I went to one Super Auction in St. Louis and they had about 6 games. All of the game were in mediocre condition. Didn't even stick around for the auction. I was a little bummed by what I saw. Seems like other areas of the country have different results. A guy I bought a LAH off of got a Tommy for $1200 at the auction he was at. Very nice condition. Seems like they can be worth a short trip just to check them out. Just remember you are paying a buyers fee on top of the price and some auctions let the seller bid as well.
 
Tends to be less pins at auction and more people buying. In fact the owners bid against you. It's hard to get a decent deal. Not to mention on cl you get to look it over

Auction=games needing work
Cl=working games an know what you are getting
 
craiglist is a great way to go. but auctions are fun too.....
great deals can be had at auctions that are full of home furnishings and only 1 pinball machine
however if you go to a ALL pinball and coin op auction BEWARE and i mean BEWARE of the buyers premium.
i attended a few coin op auctions and i was happy with the games i purchased and most still work to this day......
FOR EXAMPLE......
the one auction i went to i got a few titles i wanted but i wish i would have gotten each for a few hundred cheaper........
the other auction i went to the coin operated arcade games were going SOOOOOO cheap that the owner told the auctioneer to STOP the auction and the crowd was yelling out and the owner yelled "if im going to take a beating im going to do it to myselF"
now.....i know everyone isnt into these but the auction i mentioned where they stopped had 7 crane machines from the 1980's (yes i know alot of people dont want them) the first one for bid went for $75, the second one went for $35 and every one after that went for $10 each no joke!!!! there just wasnt 7 people at the auction who all wanted crane machines..........now pinballs are different pricewise, people know what they are worth. but auctions are alot of fun.......my advice is check out the auction no matter what......but dont get caught up in bidding
 
I didn't buy the game. I may have placed one of the early bids, then watched some folks bid a well worn Xenon well past its retail value. They gave the seller a thrill anyway.
 
I have been to a few Super Auctions in California...

15% buyers fee + %8+ tax.... Umm.... No deals to be had after tacking on 23%

With all that being said, when I was new to the hobby, I picked up 2 pins from a Super Auctions.

Tales from the Crypt for 1200 and Street Fighter for 800... BUT then add 23%... OUCH!

+ the Tales was missing two boards that I had to replace for another 200
 
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