My first pinball machine

tmntfreak

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Looking to pick up a pinball machine. Being from the Arcade cabinet side, I'm realizing pinballs aren't A LOT more expensive.

Not looking to spend a grand on a pinball right now.
But I want something fun, and recent. Meaning something with the cool led boards that really add to the fun of a pinball.

I just rekindled my love of pinballs last weekend playing Lord of the Rings at my local bowling alley. Ultimately, I want that game...but the asking price for one of those is ludicrous.

Thoughts?
 
ive scored some really hot titles for cheap...
600 on a space invaders
600 on a gorgar
500 on a comet
425 on a flash
900 on a minty firepower

on the other hand ive also spent...
1k on a black knight
1500 on a really nice jurassic park
1400 on a really nice doctor who
1137 on a tasty looking mousin around.

paid 225 for my darling and its a complete dog...sold it for 300

i think mostly all pins are fun (except darling em 1974, got pretty lame fast!!)
if u show up and play it...its fun, price feels right get it...
i use pinpedia as a guide to start with...but its also location,desire and supply and demand.
i bought that gorgar from nerfblong and then had many offers for 2 times that...
sorry im getting buried in that gorgar lol!!!!

lotr...u will not see it for less than 4k anywhere
i want 1 of those as well
 
Hey pinkpot, please let me know if you should ever decide to sell that Doctor Who. Trying to talk myself into the one on CL right now, but there's just a bit too much fade and I know it'll drive me crazy.
 
Not looking to spend a grand on a pinball right now. But I want something fun, and recent. Meaning something with the cool led boards that really add to the fun of a pinball.

If you want something recent that is under $1000, you're probably going to be looking for a while. If you want something from the 80's, you'll have better luck. I haven't seen any DMD pins under $1000 in my area, but I did just pick up a Sorcerer that is in great shape for under $1000. It's fun too! ;)

EDIT: Pinside's Bang for Buck is a good starting list: http://pinside.com/pinball/top-100/bangforbuck Remember, it's a price guide, so it's subjective.
 
If you want something recent that is under $1000, you're probably going to be looking for a while. If you want something from the 80's, you'll have better luck. I haven't seen any DMD pins under $1000 in my area, but I did just pick up a Sorcerer that is in great shape for under $1000. It's fun too! ;)

EDIT: Pinside's Bang for Buck is a good starting list: http://pinside.com/pinball/top-100/bangforbuck Remember, it's a price guide, so it's subjective.

Awesome! Thanks for the link. I know my price range is pretty low, but I'm cheap. LOL
Ultimately, I'm not really a fan of old pinballs that just ping around hitting bumpers. I like the newer ones with the led board that tell the story, have plenty of modes, and things to do. Like the simpsons, lotr, jurassic park etc.

I'd know I'll likely have to wait and just keep my ear open, but spending 2-4 grand on a pinball is just TOO much for this guy.
 
Hey pinkpot, please let me know if you should ever decide to sell that Doctor Who. Trying to talk myself into the one on CL right now, but there's just a bit too much fade and I know it'll drive me crazy.

You would be hard pressed anymore to find a DW that doesn't have some sort of substantial fade unless its been re-decaled...

I missed out on a beautiful example at MGC some years back - still sulking about it!
 
Thanks for the link, but that pin is far too basic. I want a pin crammed full of cool things to do. LOL

Sounds like you want to hit the pin lottery! Like Schusler says, the more things to do, the higher the price. You're looking at $1000+ for what you want, unless it's beat to piss. Good luck in your search!
 
Sounds like you want to hit the pin lottery! Like Schusler says, the more things to do, the higher the price. You're looking at $1000+ for what you want, unless it's beat to piss. Good luck in your search!

Do the prices go down the older they get?

Meaning...would a LOTR be able to be had cheap say in 3-4 more years?

Or do the prices go up usually?
 
Do the prices go down the older they get?

Meaning...would a LOTR be able to be had cheap say in 3-4 more years?

Or do the prices go up usually?

Sure, some prices will go down eventually and some won't. Take a look at both sides of that Pinside list. See how the one side is "Machines before 1991"? They're 20 or more years old, none of them are DMD machines, and the really fun ones on that list are $800-$900. Also, IMO- most of the prices on both of those lists are low. Who knows, you might eventually find a needle in a haystack but you're expectations are a bit unrealistic.
 
Sure, some prices will go down eventually and some won't. Take a look at both sides of that Pinside list. See how the one side is "Machines before 1991"? They're 20 or more years old, none of them are DMD machines, and the really fun ones on that list are $800-$900. Also, IMO- most of the prices on both of those lists are low. Who knows, you might eventually find a needle in a haystack but you're expectations are a bit unrealistic.

Hmmm. that sucks. No pin for me then!
What types of people buy pins for 3+ thousand dollars anyways?

I mean, sure...some people may not have a mortgage, or bills...but I make plenty of money in the IT field, and I couldn't justify that much cash on a game.
The prices of these machines seem a little unrealistic to me. Some are even 7-9K new!!!

THAT'S unrealistic. LOL
 
LOL- plenty. Just talk to some of the pin guys on here... and this is a very small sample of pin guys. Check RGP and you're head will spin.

I WISH I had the money you guys do! LOL

Maybe some day!

But...in the mean time, I suppose I'll just keep my eyes and ears open for the "Pinball Lottery". =P
 
You be surprised how much fun some of those 80's pins are. I suck at pinball, but I've had a lot of fun with my Sorcerer and it was much less than $1000... and I'm getting better! ;)

eIz7R.jpg
 
Hmmm. that sucks. No pin for me then!
What types of people buy pins for 3+ thousand dollars anyways?

I mean, sure...some people may not have a mortgage, or bills...but I make plenty of money in the IT field, and I couldn't justify that much cash on a game.
The prices of these machines seem a little unrealistic to me. Some are even 7-9K new!!!

THAT'S unrealistic. LOL

"I'm that type of guy", bought multiple pins for 3000+,Something u cant believe,either your gonna have to lower your desires,or watch CL day and night.your biggest problem is where you live,ny,ct,NJ,ri,mass the noreast in general is a hotbed for collectors.if you can't justify spending 1000 or more on a pin don't bother,because you not done there, when you need parts it costs even more.good luck with your search.BTW I don't live with my mommy and have a mortgage,wife going to college and 2 kids one with braces.
 
If you're searching your a particular pin, you're going to pay way more. You have buy pins that others want to sell to get a deal. That means settling with something that wasn't your first choice.
 
If you do buy a pin, and if you happen to have a smidgen of addictive behavior, you might be surprised how quickly your mind changes to justify the cost. And the number of pins you suddenly ache to own.

At this point in the close-to-3-years-of collecting, I can't afford or justify paying $3000-$4000 for a single pin ... except Stern Spider-man. Thankfully, I appreciate all eras of pinball and not just higher priced DMDs. I just dropped $1500 on a Gottlieb Stargate and $400 on a Flash Gordon and they're both great games, imho.

Good luck!
 
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