Pinball machines on EBAY

drwicket

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So I am sitting here at work bored out of my mind so I decided to look up and see what pins were currently on EBAY. Do any of the machines on there actually sell? I see tons of pins listed for what I would consider high prices but I never see a single person bidding on any of them.

Just curious if anyone else has noticed this as well.
 
Some do and some don't. eBay is not the best place to find bargains on pins although it can be done. Most of the prices there are not in touch with reality, especially after shows like Pawn Stars, American Picker and the like have people thinking the machine that has been sitting in their basement for the last 20 years is worth a freaking gold mine.
 
The worst part about pins on eBay is there are lots of people who aren't really serious about selling, and put ridiculously-high prices on the machines, which in turn causes locals who use eBay for comparables, to think their machines are worth 3-10x more than what people are willing to pay.
 
I agree with you 100%!!!! A guy on craigslist in my area has a demolition man posted for $2350 and he refuses to come down on the price. I asked him where he got his number from and he said "that is what they are selling them for on ebay" I just laughed and wished him good luck on getting that much.
 
I agree with you 100%!!!! A guy on craigslist in my area has a demolition man posted for $2350 and he refuses to come down on the price. I asked him where he got his number from and he said "that is what they are selling them for on ebay" I just laughed and wished him good luck on getting that much.

Send him to this eBay priceing data site. He'll find out that the typical DM selling price is just over $1100, and while one sold for $2400 (probably fully restored w/extras), another also sold for $100.

http://www.bostonpinball.biz/eBay112310.htm
 
The best way to deal with the eBay comparison type people "without sounding like a total dickhead" is to educate them properly.
Bostonpinball.biz or pinpedia.com is PROOF what they actually sell for on eBay.
I cannot tell you guys how many times I've emailed someone with something like:
Hello! I am inquiring about your CL ad. I'm always willing to pay fair market value. So what is fair market value of your machine you might ask? (then I provide a DIRECT link to the game via pinpedia)

Closing with:
This is simply an average of what this title sells for. Depending upon the over all condition it may be worth a little more or a little less. I don't believe in tire kicking or low balling someone to death. I would appreciate the opportunity to come see the pin.
Please feel free to give me a call to setup a viewing time.

Now clearly if you want to low ball the hell out of them then this approach won't work for you. Less is more.

You can actually smack someone down and have them thank you for it. You'll be surprised how many people will LISTEN to you because you've been forthright with information that they were attempting to replicate (and failed to do so) :)

Telling a seller they need to put down the crack pipe isn't going to get you anywhere.
 
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The best way to deal with the eBay comparison type people "without sounding like a total dickhead" is to educate them properly.
Bostonpinball.biz or pinpedia.com is PROOF what they actually sell for on eBay.
I cannot tell you guys how many times I've emailed someone with something like:
Hello! I am inquiring about your CL ad. I'm always willing to pay fair market value. So what is fair market value of your machine you might ask? (then I provide a DIRECT link to the game via pinpedia)

Closing with:
This is simply an average of what this title sells for. Depending upon the over all condition it may be worth a little more or a little less. I don't believe in tire kicking or low balling someone to death. I would appreciate the opportunity to come see the pin.
Please feel free to give me a call to setup a viewing time.

Now clearly if you want to low ball the hell out of them then this approach won't work for you. Less is more.

You can actually smack someone down and have them thank you for it. You'll be surprised how many people will LISTEN to you because you've been forthright with information that they were attempting to replicate (and failed to do so) :)

Telling a seller they need to put down the crack pipe isn't going to get you anywhere.


excellent advice!
 
In our area, someone keeps trying to post up a link to pinside to try to inform people - but their posts they keep getting flagged down by some douche with an auto-flagger proggy.
 
I frequently use bostonpinball to educate people on the average price of a pin. This usually works well. If I pay above average, it because it's an above average game.

Jeff
 
So I am sitting here at work bored out of my mind so I decided to look up and see what pins were currently on EBAY. Do any of the machines on there actually sell? I see tons of pins listed for what I would consider high prices but I never see a single person bidding on any of them.

Just curious if anyone else has noticed this as well.

Do an advanced search and check completed listing.

That will show what sold recently if at all and for what.
 
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