Price check - Apollo 13

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Saw an Apollo 13 in my neighborhood (on the Great Plains, in the neighborhood means "within several hundred miles") for a price that didn't freak me out.

I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone selling a decent one of these for under $2,000, but pinside.com lists the average price at right around $1,000. Am I missing something? Is it that I just never see these machines around and the ones I've seen are just priced higher? Incidentally, it looks like the ball launch handle on this one has been replaced by a regular button.

Ninety-nine percent sure I won't pick it up, as I'm still working on several issues with my BSD (I'm working on it, Count!) but it's one of my wish pins, along with Back To The Future, Earthshaker and Eight Ball Deluxe, so I should probably familiarize myself with it a bit more.
 
I can't imagine paying anywhere near $2000 for one of these, $1000 perhaps. I've played it several times, and sure - it's kinda cool to get that 13-ball multiball, but once you've achieved that? Meh. One trick pony - just not enough to keep me coming back.

Definitely one to play several games on before considering a purchase.
 
It's a nostalgia thing for me. Played one a lot at a burger place in college and always liked it and the theme. I agree, the multiball is gimmicky, but not so much to ruin it, at least for me.

It just always seems machines that come up for sale are close to two bills or more, though that may have to do with where I am and where I look.
 
I have one that I plan to sell during or before the Texas Pin Fest in March. I plan to ask 2K as well, but will provide detiailed photos and description for buyers.
 
I can't imagine paying anywhere near $2000 for one of these, $1000 perhaps. I've played it several times, and sure - it's kinda cool to get that 13-ball multiball, but once you've achieved that? Meh. One trick pony - just not enough to keep me coming back.

Definitely one to play several games on before considering a purchase.

Apollo 13 is not a one trick pony. It's got tons of modes, each with unique shots and rules. Good and challenging orbit and ramp combos.

As for value - since collectors don't like Sega games, you can usually get them cheap. Of course condition and maintenance makes a difference. I picked up a Home-use-since-'98 A13 for $800. It need some electronics fixes and a shop job. I fixed everything, shopped it out and froze off the mylar. It's a minty shiny mint mint game now. What could I get for it? $2000 might be pushing it...but maybe...between $1500-1800 would be more realistic, I think.
 
Oh, I don't hate it - but for $2000, I can think of a lot of other pin's I'd spend the money on first...

No hate for Sega - or any manufacturer; a good pinball is a good pinball regardless of who made it as far as I'm concerned. I've got a Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and a South Park - no problems with Sega.

$800 would have me thinking about it, depending upon condition; my comments were based upon a $2000 valuation, and of course are just my opinion :)
 
Hell, I'd pay 800$ for one right now as long as it was mostly working, no board issues, and cosmetically "decent". Would look fantastic next to Space Shuttle. :p
 
I saw the same CL ad. The T-bar launch handle does appear to be gone on that game. Not uncommon - they often got broken while out on route. That assembly can be found if you're persistent.

I had a very nice A13 for a few years. I sold mine for $1600 about two years ago. The buyer was on the east coast and wanted it badly enough to have it shipped to him.
In fact, I still have all the photos online from when I sold it:
http://www.mn-rocketry.net/misc/arcade/apollo13/

For the typical dirty, unshopped example, I wouldn't pay more than $1k.

It was a neat game. The 13 ball multiball is a gimmick, but a fun one. Guests particularly enjoyed playing it for that reason.

A13 does have a few problematic areas like the moon magnet and the membrane switch in the extra 8-ball trough. The shaker motor adds a nice touch, but I think that it causes more cracked solder joints than would otherwise be typical.

Alan

Saw an Apollo 13 in my neighborhood (on the Great Plains, in the neighborhood means "within several hundred miles") for a price that didn't freak me out.

I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone selling a decent one of these for under $2,000, but pinside.com lists the average price at right around $1,000. Am I missing something? Is it that I just never see these machines around and the ones I've seen are just priced higher? Incidentally, it looks like the ball launch handle on this one has been replaced by a regular button.

Ninety-nine percent sure I won't pick it up, as I'm still working on several issues with my BSD (I'm working on it, Count!) but it's one of my wish pins, along with Back To The Future, Earthshaker and Eight Ball Deluxe, so I should probably familiarize myself with it a bit more.
 
Wow - I'm a bit surprised at the ~$1000 price suggestions for this title. While I don't think it's a 2k game, I consider it closer to a $1500 game (in excellent condition). I'm a space nut, and love the movie, and have played the pin and find it fun - if one of these was available for me at a price anywhere in the 1k-1.5k range, I'd seriously consider it.

While I don't automatically discount any game simply due to its manufacturer, the bigger concern in this case is availability of parts. Picking up a game that's not 100% is a bigger risk in this case, than say, a Bally or Williams.
 
Yeah, it was just a bit too far a drive for me to pull the trigger. And the ad is already down so I'm guessing it went relatively quickly.

Thanks for the feedback, all. An interesting range of responses. It gives me a bit of hope that one might pop back up for something in my price range. Maybe after Christmas :)

I saw the same CL ad. The T-bar launch handle does appear to be gone on that game. Not uncommon - they often got broken while out on route. That assembly can be found if you're persistent.

I had a very nice A13 for a few years. I sold mine for $1600 about two years ago. The buyer was on the east coast and wanted it badly enough to have it shipped to him.
In fact, I still have all the photos online from when I sold it:
http://www.mn-rocketry.net/misc/arcade/apollo13/

For the typical dirty, unshopped example, I wouldn't pay more than $1k.

It was a neat game. The 13 ball multiball is a gimmick, but a fun one. Guests particularly enjoyed playing it for that reason.

A13 does have a few problematic areas like the moon magnet and the membrane switch in the extra 8-ball trough. The shaker motor adds a nice touch, but I think that it causes more cracked solder joints than would otherwise be typical.

Alan
 
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