Pinball Deal Advice

Phetishboy

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I have an offer on the table to get 2 pinballs for a restored game and $2500 cash.

The game is my Rampage, the cash amount is $2500. The pinballs being offered are an OK Diner and an OK Jurasssic Park. Both machines work, but both have cosmetic issues on the cabs and heads.

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I normally would just make my own decision and make my own deal, but I am kinda needing a little help on this one. Is Diner still holding it's value? Is JP moving up the B list? Recap:

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+

$2500

for

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+

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Any advice would be appreciated. Mostly, I'm wondering what a Diner is worth these days as I would probably turn around and flip it to make back some of the cash I am putting out for the JP.
 
I think if you look hard enough you can probably find those two for around what is being asked in cash.
 
I think if you look hard enough you can probably find those two for around what is being asked in cash.

That's my thought as well. It's like I'd be throwing in the Restored Rampage as a free gift. My original idea was $1900 + The Rampage would be a decent deal.
 
Depending on condition, Diner can get you between $1500 and $2K. But you'd need to find a buyer, it's not (in my eyes) an A list game.

That deal is so-so. The JP is rough, so I'd give it a $1200-1500 value.

Low end you're getting $2700 worth of pins and giving up $2500 and a mint restored Rampage. High end you're getting $3500 worth of pins for same.

Personally I feel your rampage is worth a cool grand to the right buyer, so I don't think this deal is worth pursuing, unless there are mitigating factors.

I think you're trying to free up space, so in my opinion you should just start trying to sell the Rampage outright. Unless you have an undying need to have the JP.
 
My $0.02:

A nice Diner is typically a $1200-$1400 game. A very, very, very nice one can be up to a $2000 game. A routed, worn, dirty, barely-working one used to be a $500-600 game, but in today's crazy pin market, is probably more.

Jurassic Park low end is roughly $800, typical range is $1200 - $1500, extraordinary condition is $1900, and HUO is about $2100.

As with any pin, it all depends upon mechanical/electronic/cosmetic condition as well as rarity/desirability of a particular title...

If you want an idea on local retail pricing levels, call up Pinball Warehouse in Fridley and talk to them.
http://www.pinballwarehouse.com/pinballs.htm
 
My $0.02:

A nice Diner is typically a $1200-$1400 game. A very, very, very nice one can be up to a $2000 game. A routed, worn, dirty, barely-working one used to be a $500-600 game, but in today's crazy pin market, is probably more.

Jurassic Park low end is roughly $800, typical range is $1200 - $1500, extraordinary condition is $1900, and HUO is about $2100.

As with any pin, it all depends upon mechanical/electronic/cosmetic condition as well as rarity/desirability of a particular title...

If you want an idea on local retail pricing levels, call up Pinball Warehouse in Fridley and talk to them.
http://www.pinballwarehouse.com/pinballs.htm

Exactly my thoughts. So put the Diner in it's condition at $1200 and the JP in it's condition at $1500. $2700 in Pinballs for $2500 and a Restored Rampage. I paid that for the machine BEFORE I spent 6 months restoring it.
 
The JP is rough, so I'd give it a $1200-1500 value.

Other than to the truly anal pinball collectors, do a few cabinet blemishes really matter? Yes, we all prefer nicer over crappier, but you don't play the cabinet.

The million-dollar question with pins is playfield condition. Can't judge that from any of the posted pics.
 
Exactly my thoughts. So put the Diner in it's condition at $1200 and the JP in it's condition at $1500. $2700 in Pinballs for $2500 and a Restored Rampage. I paid that for the machine BEFORE I spent 6 months restoring it.

And that's a DAMN nice looking Rampage! One of my favorite games to play at the MN State Fair BITD.
 
Other than to the truly anal pinball collectors, do a few cabinet blemishes really matter? Yes, we all prefer nicer over crappier, but you don't play the cabinet.

The million-dollar question with pins is playfield condition. Can't judge that from any of the posted pics.

I have links to tons of pics, but none of them very good. Mostly close-ups of everything with the flash on. Never get a real idea of the overall condition of either machine. Here are some of the JP:

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The JP actually looks good playfield-wise in the pics. But I'd still put it at being maybe a $1300-1500 game with a so-so cabinet.

If the Diner is anywhere near as nice (which I somehow seriously doubt) I'd think you're looking at $2800-3000 in pins as a liberal maximum.

I'd probably put the Rampage up on the market for $ and put up a solid cash offer for the JP, or wait for another one. But if you're in 'gotta sell one to buy one' or 'no hobby spending that isn't funded by hobby sales' mode, I guess this might seem worthwhile if you're bored with Rampage.

Still seems to me like you'd be cheating yourself. Maybe not 'giving away' the Rampage as a freebie, but considering the condition of your offering I'd still say you're shorting yourself around $300-600.
 
Unfortunately, I don't know what the typical problem areas are on JP. I know that the common questions are whether it has the topper, and whether the T-Rex works properly.

From your pics, I'd say it was in average to slightly-above-average condition. I see: broken slingshot plastics, some cracking around the inserts above the flippers, dirty & cracked rubber rings, and a few light ball trails. On the plus side, I don't see any obvious playfield wear at the scoop or elsewhere in the pics. Probably just needs a good shop-out job, new rings, and some playfield polishing.
 
I have never played either, dinner reminds me a lot of Taxi, which makes sense since Mark Ritchie designed both. Got to love Boris. Jurassic seems to be rated pretty high, although $2500 + Rampage it a pretty high price.

I looked on Mr. Pinball, and according to there it is a deal. go figure.
http://user.xmission.com/~daina/classified/data/machines_for_sale.html

There is a JP and NOMS for $2700 there too, I got to play NOMS at Jeff F's party, it really is very fun, you get to use the upper right flipper quite a bit, plus Freddie's claw ball save it fun when you get it!

Jurassic Park, 1993 Data East: 1800
Playfield 9.7, backglass 9.8, cabinet 9.6, coin door 9.8, with bill accepetor.
Gary Southward, Phone: 651 771 7421
St Paul, Minnesota
Posted: 8 May 2012

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Jurassic Park, 1993 Data East: 2200
This is a very nice Jurassic Park. It is in 100% good working condition. It has the topper with it. It has a full LED kit by Cointaker installed (a $250 value). Every part on the playfield is taken apart, inspected, cleaned and replaced if needed. The playfield is cleaned, waxed and polished to give you the smoothest playing field, the playfield is reassembled with all new lights and rubbers, the cabinet is cleaned inside and out, all diagnostics tests are ran to ensure that the machine is playing correctly, all boards and electronics are tested by our technicians. A complete LED kit is installed to provide maximum lighting action, $319 value. LEDs in the back box, LEDs under the playfield, and LEDs on top of the playfield. All flashers are LED as well. It takes about three hours alone to install the full led kit. Why invest in led's? They use less power, which saves the life and wear and tear on the light board. You do not have to keep replacing the regular bulbs, which often go out. (Many in hard to get to places on the playfield which requires the playfield to be taken apart.) They brighten up the playfield and give the game an exciting new look and feel. 30 day limited warranty is provided. Lifetime tech support for this machine is available by phone.
Dustin, Phone: 303-981-3059
Grand Lake, Colorado
Posted: 29 February 2012

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Jurassic Park & Freddy Nightmare On Elom St, 1990s Data East / Gottlieb: 2700 for Pair
Both are working and require shop jobs and little tweaks jp comes with cliffys and rubbers freddy has original cards still inside cabinet and factory paperwork both are in very decent shapoe for the money have tons of pics can sends to serious buyers with 2 pins I cannot deliver so you must pick up or arrange shipping.
James, Phone: 315-527-9048
Verona, New York, 1 mile off exit 33 NYS thruway
Posted: 20 July 2012

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Diner, 1990 Williams: $ 1,750.00
An excellent example of a diner. Pick up and cash only. Scammers not welcome and will be reported.
Frank, Phone: 732-616-6884
Jackson, New Jersey, 5 miles from Six Flags Great Adventure
Posted: 8 June 2012

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Fishtales, 1992 Williams: $ 2,650.00
An excellent example of a complete fishtales with working fish topper and video mode. Shopped and ready. Scammers will be reported. Pick up for cash only. Also have Dallas, Diner and Tucson available.
Frank, Phone: 732-616-6884
Jackson, New Jersey, 5 miles from Six Flags Great Adventure
Posted: 8 June 2012
 
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