Pinballs on craigslist

playpin35

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Donor 2011
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Have most of you gave up on searching CL for machines? It seems not much shows up on our local section, but even in other regions, it seems the same way. I'm still trying to figure out how some get the idea that an EM pinball is worth $2500. It's either that or they are selling a HUO stern for a loss at $5500 because they bought it at a retailer for $7000. Have all of the collectors and the retailers finally hoarded up all of the decent machines to where there's nothing left?
 
Have most of you gave up on searching CL for machines? It seems not much shows up on our local section, but even in other regions, it seems the same way. I'm still trying to figure out how some get the idea that an EM pinball is worth $2500. It's either that or they are selling a HUO stern for a loss at $5500 because they bought it at a retailer for $7000. Have all of the collectors and the retailers finally hoarded up all of the decent machines to where there's nothing left?

I say the collectors have. There's a local pinball retailer by me, that has bought 5 projects for me this year. He took out most of his routed stuff to sell on his floor. They don't have to much left either, a lot of mid 80's machines, but dmd games there are scarce.
 
its been very scarce near me......i am down to relying on operators to call me with unshopped games they cant put out on route.....and even then thats not always a bargain

the best 2 deals i saw in the last year was a working black knight 2000 for $400 that some college kids left behind in a dorm.....i was second caller and i missed it

and a gottlieb woodrail grand slam in fantastic shape working for $250 which that one i did manage to get.....

just yesterday i could have had...but turned down a 1973 gottlieb pro football for $200 non working but pretty good shape.....the guy said i could have first chance if i would drive 2 hours that night and get there at 10 oclock pm (after working 10 hours at my normal job).....then drive 2 hours home.......if not someone was coming the next day and that guy DID buy it

but there is never good deals on dot matrix games......and if theres anything remotely fun to play all we see are junk titles like RAVEN, or GOLD WINGS, ETC.......
 
Dallas, last month or so, listings that are still there...

TSPP - 3200 (Been up almost a month at that price...assuming already sold.)
Chicago Cubs Triple Play - 2500 (LMFAO)
Jurassic Park - 2250
Austin Powers - 2000
Twister - 2100 (Faded cabinet)
Firepower 2 - 1500
Mr/Ms Pac - 1250 (Says it has a new MPU?)
Jungle Lord - 1000 (Looks clean...red cabinet? IPDB says early run about 100 made?!)
Cue Ball Wizard - 1000
Target Alpha - 1000 (No playfield pics. Gee. Dude been trying to sell this for months.)
Jungle Lord - 600 (Flaking playfield and backglass)
Seawitch - 500 (Would love to buy this myself but I'm 99% sure the asshole selling it bought it for 300-ish a few weeks ago...makes me wonder what all is wrong with it. Relisted at almost twice the price with better pics.)

Lucky Ace (EM?) - 500
Beat Time - 425 (EM)
Alien Poker - 350 (Uber dirty, missing a plastic, untested)
Eros One Cocktail - 150 (Emailed the guy, trough switches likely not working)
 
It's tough going in my area as well. Good deals have tailed off to next to never and over priced pins are becoming more common.

I'm also finding that trying to trade a pin is also a mute point. People just aren't letting their decent titles go. But I sure get cash offers and there's nothing around to buy so I keep trying to trade it.

So I guess we either suck it up and pay retailer prices and end up beyond upside down when we go to sell it or we painfully bide our time and wait for that good deal or desriable machine accurately priced to pop up.
 
Its been funny lately. I have been looking for some common games (T2, JP) and get one sentence responses when asking for details - like "Yes, its here, its nice". Almost seems like no one wants to sell what they have! On top of it they are listing at high prices.

Recently a JP showed up at a great price - 1k. I responded, spoke to them, they said wait in line. Next thing i know they get back to me (with NO description given) saying its 2250.

BUT - the deals are still there. Last month an AFM went for 2500 out of GA. Its just the frequency of these deals decreased.
 
I picked up TAF last week off CL for a great price, seller was pretty miffed at all the low ball offers, I was happy to give her the asking price ;-)
 
They're still out there, but you definitely see dry spells, and periods of inflated prices (especially around the holidays).

Project/non-working stuff has still been relatively cheap in my area. Saw a "Jacks to Open" (Gottlieb, System 80a) sell for $50 a few days ago - single picture looked decent; non-working.

Patience, and luck - all comes down to that in my experience. That, and friends who also keep their eyes open on your behalf...
 
Patience, and luck - all comes down to that in my experience. That, and friends who also keep their eyes open on your behalf...


I'm screwed then. I don't have much patience or luck(except bad)and no friends(besides members here) to help look for them.
 
all the people who needed the fire sale price took it already. All thats left is people who want top end prices, so the machines just sit at those high prices.

Not saying theres no other deals left, but they are drying up it seems. In my ares there are several pinheads that snatch everything and anything up as soon as it pops up at damn near retail, i dont think i will ever find another affordable local pin
 
Dallas, last month or so, listings that are still there...
Alien Poker - 350 (Uber dirty, missing a plastic, untested)
I've emailed about that Alien Poker and all I got back was a cryptic email. As a buyer this raises red flags. Also I believe the seller is a vender too and he is purposely hiding something about that pin by acting as someone who knows very little about pins.

Another one on Dallas Craigslist is a Baby Pac-Man. http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/clt/2548099536.html
I've had my eye on it for a while and even email the seller (Jeremiah aka Abelsfire.com) on two separate occasions. The first time he responded to me that it was sold. A few weeks later I noticed that it was put back on Craigslist and emailed him that I wanted to purchase it. Never got a response. I see that it's still posted but I ended up buying another pin from someone else. I guess he really didn't want to sell it to me…

Mr/Ms Pac - 1250 (Says it has a new MPU?)
This one caught my eye too. Seems to be a good deal. I wished the seller would have posted real pics instead of the general google search pic.
 
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Have most of you gave up on searching CL for machines? It seems not much shows up on our local section, but even in other regions, it seems the same way. I'm still trying to figure out how some get the idea that an EM pinball is worth $2500. It's either that or they are selling a HUO stern for a loss at $5500 because they bought it at a retailer for $7000. Have all of the collectors and the retailers finally hoarded up all of the decent machines to where there's nothing left?

Let me know if your looking for something or if you have a price range. Theres people other than me in the St. Louis area buying up most any pin thats around $1000. If theres something you want I will let you know and leave it alone.

Theres some decent deals on our CL though. Just check throughout the day, also check out Columbia, and KC area. Kc has alot of bitching but sometimes theres a few things. The lake of the Ozarks has the occasional machine as well.

Im thinking about buying the Judge Dredd and Motordome on CL for $1500 today along with the 2 Mortal Kombats.
 
I want a Baby Pac but it's going to have to wait. And I'm not paying 750$ for a Baby Pac with a bum monitor like that one has. You can look at it and see that likely one of the color guns is gone or near gone....or very poorly adjusted if that's not the case.

That machine just ain't worth that to me. I'm wanting Space Station *bad*. :)
 
Im thinking about buying the Judge Dredd and Motordome on CL for $1500

Not really that great of a deal considering Motordome is a low budget Bally 6803 title.
 
I want a Baby Pac but it's going to have to wait. And I'm not paying 750$ for a Baby Pac with a bum monitor like that one has. You can look at it and see that likely one of the color guns is gone or near gone....or very poorly adjusted if that's not the case.

That machine just ain't worth that to me. I'm wanting Space Station *bad*. :)



Especially since Baby Pacs are so fickle. Someone had a project for $350 a few weeks ago. If I had the cash I would have jumped on it.

Any news on that Space Station?
 
Nope. Had some stuff come up and don't have the money for it anyways. Life as normal, you know...every time you think you're making headway some other turd gets stepped on and makes a huge mess. I did finally make a deal with someone to take my Vs. Unisystem off my hands so have a bit more space to play with and make room for a second machine now though!

I can't believe it, you know? I had the Shuttle working beautifully as a game with a playfield that worn can work with 30 year old switches...and last night, a freakin' mini-post snapped clean off the playfield! Ridiculous! Now I'm ordering another 50$ worth of parts (Mostly stupid stuff because I'm still playing with the color scheme. :) ) to get some mini posts.

Pinball Life wanted 6.50 to ship ONE TWO DOLLAR MINI POST!!! OMG! :|
 
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