Pop Quiz: Your grail comes up, but the timing isn't right.

SP005

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2008
Messages
173
Reaction score
0
Location
New Jersey
Pop Quiz: Your grail comes up, but the timing isn't right.

Your grail comes up, but the timing isn't right. Do you pass or decide to jump on it anyway?

One of the pins that has been on my must buy list looks to be available locally in better than great condition. I was ideally looking for a project to keep the cost down, but then this one rears its head. I don't even know the price yet, and while I know I will have other opportunities to buy this title in the future, I am realistic that one in this condition might take some time to find again, especially locally. That alone is probably worth paying a premium on.

Timing isn't perfect in that we just had child #2, will be down one income for a few months and then I dropped $1.5k on new tires/brakes on both our cars today. The expected purchase price still would not affect the household finances any, I'd just feel a little guilty about it. If this were any other week I think I would jump at it.

Now I am trying to justify/rationalize the purchase to myself by saying I can sell X, Y, and Z to fund the purchase. (I like to try and make my hobbies self funding when possible.) I think I am just going to go for it, but it is taxing me a little more in light of all the other recent expenses. What would you do?
 
Your grail comes up, but the timing isn't right. Do you pass or decide to jump on it anyway?

One of the pins that has been on my must buy list looks to be available locally in better than great condition. I was ideally looking for a project to keep the cost down, but then this one rears its head. I don't even know the price yet, and while I know I will have other opportunities to buy this title in the future, I am realistic that one in this condition might take some time to find again, especially locally. That alone is probably worth paying a premium on.

Timing isn't perfect in that we just had child #2, will be down one income for a few months and then I dropped $1.5k on new tires/brakes on both our cars today. The expected purchase price still would not affect the household finances any, I'd just feel a little guilty about it. If this were any other week I think I would jump at it.

Now I am trying to justify/rationalize the purchase to myself by saying I can sell X, Y, and Z to fund the purchase. (I like to try and make my hobbies self funding when possible.) I think I am just going to go for it, but it is taxing me a little more in light of all the other recent expenses. What would you do?

Responsibilities come before the Hobby. It does take some will power at times (I passed on a $75 game today!), but you have to do it.
 
Well, there are grails, and then there are GRAILS.....

Price, likewise, can skew the "grailness".

I can't really own anything too nice until the kids get a bit older, though.
 
It's important to be responsible, but if you can quickly scrape together the funds without taking a hit on your savings I'd go for it. If it is a grail, not just a game you'd really like, I'm sure you can sell a thing or two in order to get the cash, right? Just don't spend irresponsibly! I repeat, in this economy, just don't spend irresponsibly!
 
Well, I'd be interesting to know the game and likely price.....if you can wing it and the only downfall is "guilt", put it in this perspective: If worse comes to worse, can you sell the game and break even (or even make a few bucks)? If so, go for it! If you got in a pinch and needed to sell it, but would lose money on it...maybe pass.
 
Life is short. Nobody ever was on their death bed and said "Gee I wish I had spent more time paying my bills, and less time doing the things I love".

Buy it.
 
Life is short. Nobody ever was on their death bed and said "Gee I wish I had spent more time paying my bills, and less time doing the things I love".

Buy it.

That logic is stupid. I hate when people pull the "it's only money - ya can't take it with ya" argument.


How about this then:

When on my deathbed, I am sure to think: Boy, I wish I had spent more time and money on pinballs instead of spending time and money on my family.


If you can't afford it, you can't afford it. If can quickly sell something else to pay for it, then make it happen. For those of us in this hobby on a family budget, every potential purchase is an internal struggle. That's why I try my hardest to make this hobby budget neutral.
 
I'm sure you are loads of fun, and your family doesn't think you are a douch when you tell them that you can't afford christmas presents this year. I'm sure they are glad you were responsible and turned off the heater, fed them stale bread instead of cake, and whined about them leaving the lights on.

The world needs balance. Fun people, then you. Good job keeping the universe balanced.
 
It's quite evident who's responsible in this thread and who's not. My guess is the irresponsible party (A) has no kids and (B) is likely a teeny bopper or sub-25 year old young adult... at least that's how it sounds.

Personal responsibility... look it up.
 
Really depends on what game it is, and how rare it is. If you are going to put yourself in a pinch over a Pinbot (or any other machine that can be had easily) then DON'T do it. But if it TRULY is a grail, and very hard to find I would consider ways to obtain it.
-Mark
 
I would move heaven and earth to get my true grails but I would burn them all for my family.

If you can afford it then buy it. Even if you have to sacrifice your personal comfort for a while. But... if your family is going to suffer then it's not worth it.

It's that simple. No reason for people to get all pissy about it.
 
Last edited:
I had zero impression OP was forsaking his family's well being for a game. He said it's not affecting the finances in anyway.

Yeah, if it's just "guilt," it sounds like you'll likely get over it. :) If the bills are paid (maybe you've already got a college fund setup for the kids?), do what you want.
 
I had zero impression OP was forsaking his family's well being for a game. He said it's not affecting the finances in anyway.

Yeah, if it's just "guilt," it sounds like you'll likely get over it. :) If the bills are paid (maybe you've already got a college fund setup for the kids?), do what you want.

I agree. If no one is going to suffer and you don't get it, then you'll likely regret it for a very long time.
 
If it doesn't have a big impact on family, necessity's, etc I'd say buy it. There are games I regret not buying (including my grail), but no games I regret buying. Sure there are some I could have done without, or didn't work out as well as I would have liked, but the only regrets are for ones I didn't buy.


Jerry
 
I would move heaven and earth to get my true grails but I would burn them all for my family.


Best sentence I have ever read. I hope that I can be as good a father if I ever have a family.
 
I had zero impression OP was forsaking his family's well being for a game. He said it's not affecting the finances in anyway.

I'm glad someone actually took time to read the post. This purchase will have absolutely ZERO impact on my family finances.

I just get this nagging feeling that I should pass on it, only because of all the expenses in the past few weeks, and everything else that is going on. I'm usually very meticulous in my searches and purchases, this one is being driven more by emotion. What is pushing me towards it, is that I passed last year on a machine I wanted due to timing and then it took another 6 months of active looking before I came across another at a suitable price and distance and the condition was much less. The machine I am pursuing this time is not super rare but is in awesome condition, and was in a home for most if not all of its life. For a 15 year old pin, I know that it is going to take me a while to find another this good, especially one that is local and doesn't require shipping it in or an extended road trip.

Lindsey said:
I would move heaven and earth to get my true grails but I would burn them all for my family.

As would I, and this statement is very prophetic. Family is what it is all about. I would never buy a toy if it meant forsaking something for them.
 
I struggle with the same thing....guilt. I try as well to have this hobby be self-funded, and I usually am selling something to fund a purchase AFTER I've bought something I wanted. I say, if it's a great deal on something you've wanted for awhile, then go for it. It won't affect your family's finances, and as Rare said, if worse came to worse and you can sell it for what you put into it then no harm, no foul.
 
For pins because of their prices, I discuss it with my wife and if it fits the budget - I'll buy it. One thing I have found that even if you pass on one of your grails another usually surfaces. You just have to be patient. I jumped on one of my grails and about six months later another one became available at 2/3 the price in similar condition. No buyers remorse though, I got what I wanted when I wanted it.

Remembering this experience, my other grail pin became available and I passed on it as the price was OK but on the higher side of what I wanted to pay. It killed me a little but about 9 months later I found an even better condition one for a little more than half of what I would have paid for the other.

The moral? IMHO, if the deal "feels right" on all fronts then move on it. Any ill feelings, stop. Another will come, it's just a matter of time.

Bill
 
Back
Top Bottom