I think sellers in this hobby are losing their minds.

vintagegamer

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A seller had a Lunar Lander for sale on the Bay. I asked if they would mind sending me a pic of the serial # (I was going to add it to the Registry here).

They sent me the pic but the SN is hard to read because they took it from the side, and, must have used a Kodak disposable film camera to take the pic. They included this reply:

"Here you go. If you are interested let me know soon I may take it down soon as I don't need the cash as much."

This made me think of Robin Williams saying I AM JOB in Mrs. Doubtfire.

When I asked if they could confirm the # I thought I was seeing, they pulled the auction!
 
A seller had a Lunar Lander for sale on the Bay. I asked if they would mind sending me a pic of the serial # (I was going to add it to the Registry here).

They sent me the pic but the SN is hard to read because they took it from the side, and, must have used a Kodak disposable film camera to take the pic. They included this reply:

"Here you go. If you are interested let me know soon I may take it down soon as I don't need the cash as much."

This made me think of Robin Williams saying I AM JOB in Mrs. Doubtfire.

When I asked if they could confirm the # I thought I was seeing, they pulled the auction!
He probably stole it and thought you were trying to bust him with the serial number.
 
The hobby definitely was better when we were just dealing with OPs.
Strange thing to stay, but it's true. :cool:

Glad I got most of my collection this way BITD. LOL
It was generally easier then too because the seller (OPs) knew the actual value of the game based on how much it makes over a period of time rather than the value of desirability/rarity we have today. Plus we had the old school auctions! Sigh, miss those.

There's an After Burner for sale near me and the price is high, especially for the condition it's in. If I was actually looking for one I doubt I'd get one because my personal "quarter drop" of games played in my house would be low for After Burner so I'd have a hard time justifying the prices most people are asking based on the number of plays. Its a cool looking machine and a fun game, but real estate is limited.

Space issue aside, I can't fool myself and justifying spending a lot on a working game because I'll tell myself I'll sell it later. I probably won't, and if I do, I don't have the confidence most of these games are going to hold their value in 15 years.

However, give me an empty room and I'll find a way to convince myself to bring home every machine I'd come across to get that room filled up!

I guess the best cure (or curse!) for an arcade addiction is square footage. =p
 
Well, anyone who can wait 20 years or so will have their pick at more reasonable prices when all of us who really care are toast and the price floor for most of these things drops to the 9th plane of hell !
;)
 
this hobby used to be affordable and fun...
Still Affordable just keep an eye out. I have bought this year and I'm really not looking that much. Mini Centipede $400, Dedicated POW $200, Final Fight $200. Cocktail Pinball machine $200
2nd Mini Centipede $200 (sold after I fixed it), MS Pac Cocktail $200... and that's just what I remember.
 
I just saw 3 mostly working converted games including a Centipede and Moon Patrol a few miles away for $150 each. I didn't even message the person because I don't need any projects, but there's still deals out there. Cosmetically restore the MP with paint and homemade stencil, add a jamma pcb with MP, buy a little bit of repro art, Moon Patrol for a few hundred bucks.
 
Sounds like you dodged a bullet. Cherish the fact and move on.
 
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