Thoughts on NIB Pins?

jow

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Was wondering what your guys' thoughts on NIB pins are? Is it really worth buying a pin NIB, or knocking a couple grand off the price and buying used? Since I have no clue about Pins, I am guessing that NIB pins lose value right away much like brand new cars do right when they are driven off the lot. Is it a big waste of $$$ to buy NIB? Seems like its an instant money loser when trying to sell, but maybe you are only supposed to buy pins NIB when you know you would never sell them?

Thoughts?
 
Buying NIB is the best way to get the nicest example of a pinball, but it is the worst investment you can make in the hobby. If you are considering a NIB Stern, you should consider looking for a HUO machine, and save a few bucks.
-Mark
 
NIB is completely stupid. Period. Especially if you plan on opening it up and playing it.

Yeah, plus I would rather spend my loot on one of my fav's from the 90's. Attack from Mars, Twilight Zone, Theatre of Magic...lots of great ones to choose from for less dough.
 
I heard Costco is the best way to buy a Stern pinball. You get free shipping and their prices beat everyone. And... if you have business account or whatever you get 8% back. So, I would look into that if you are considering a new Stern.

Having said that though, I just bought a pretty nice pin for waaaaay less and like it better than those Sterns. But, it took a while to find. So, yeah...

Also, don't just settle for any pin if you are only getting one. Pick one of the good ones by the good designers like Pat Lawlor.
 
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Yeah, plus I would rather spend my loot on one of my fav's from the 90's. Attack from Mars, Twilight Zone, Theatre of Magic...lots of great ones to choose from for less dough.

I don't know. AFM is up there close to NIB stern price unless you find a deal from a friend of a friend who's grandma has never heard of the internet, etc. You get the idea. BTW, I bought my TSPP NIB for 3850 and love it. I don't think I would pay the 5500 that NIB's are going for now. Would have liked to pick up one of those World Poker Tour NIB that were 2499 earlier this year.

Robert
 
I don't know. AFM is up there close to NIB stern price unless you find a deal from a friend of a friend who's grandma has never heard of the internet, etc. You get the idea. BTW, I bought my TSPP NIB for 3850 and love it. I don't think I would pay the 5500 that NIB's are going for now. Would have liked to pick up one of those World Poker Tour NIB that were 2499 earlier this year.

Robert

Attack from Mars is selling for STUPID prices. I want one bad but they are selling for 3k-4k. F' that.
 
Attack from Mars is selling for STUPID prices. I want one bad but they are selling for 3k-4k. F' that.

I'm a tightwad, so I'll never pay that for one. I do want one bad. 2K would be my top on a working machine. I'd expect it to have some fade at that price, but you don't play the cab art.
 
I have bought 2, and don't regret it. I bought mine a few years ago when you could get them for $4k shipped, I wouldn't pay the prices they go for now, close to $5k on some of them. I do want to get a SM but will look for a HUO one, which will still probably cost me close to what I paid for my 2 NIB, I know my HUO LOTR did.

I don't plan on selling any of my pins, but you never know. But as far as investment then yes NIB is not a wise route to take, a slightly routed or HUO is the way to go. There are plenty of HUO Stern's out there as well, you will only really pay high prices on the most popular stern title's like SM, LOTR, and TSPP, and FGY to a lesser extent, but still over $3k.
 
I don't know. AFM is up there close to NIB stern price unless you find a deal from a friend of a friend who's grandma has never heard of the internet, etc. You get the idea. BTW, I bought my TSPP NIB for 3850 and love it. I don't think I would pay the 5500 that NIB's are going for now. Would have liked to pick up one of those World Poker Tour NIB that were 2499 earlier this year.

Robert

Yeah, probably should leave AFM off the list. A local collector sold one not long ago for $3600. It was in really good shape, wish I would have had some $$$. Still lots of good pins from that era can be had for around 2K.
 
Nowadays I agree Stern Nib's are not worth it, investment wise....A huo is just as good especialli if it has been taken care of. Back then thought if you had a Attack from Mars, Twilight Zone, or a Addams Family Nib and had kept it, investment wise, helluva profit. Safecracker nib almost went for 10k!!!!!!
 
If you plan on selling it a few months later - no. If its a keeper - yes/maybe.

Even if it drops in price, pinballs hold their value more than most electronic entertainment devices. Within 5 months, my TV was worth half of what I paid for it ...most recent Stern pinballs stay over $3000 ...so, if you spent $4000 on it, that's not too bad of a 'loss' all things considered.

Anyway - the reason I say 'maybe' w/ a NIB ....even though it's brand-spankin' new...you still don't know what's gonna be in the box! Stern playfields vary in quality...sometimes they're perfect glassy smooth - but sometimes color registration can be off or you can see the woodgrain thru the art. I got lucky w/ most of my Sterns. WOF and FGY were my only NIBs. FGY's playfield is almost perfect, and WoF is perfect. I bought Spidey from a friend and there's a bit of grain but it's pretty tough to see....some of the color registration is a bit off, though. I wasn't as picky when I bought it and didn't notice at the time.

Even if you're lucky enough to find an older NIB....it really is a risk! I was kinda scared opening up my NIB STTNG that had been sitting in storage for 14 years...thankfully it was pretty much all good (a few parts had some corrosion...but the batteries hadn't leaked! Phew!)

So - all that being said - it may be beneficial to buy a nice HUO Stern, as you'll save some money AND be able to look at it first.
 
sorry for the stupid question, but where does one go to find a NIB pin? i'm assuming there's a popular website out there somewhere?


and as for HUO pins, i'm assuming these are machines that just come up every so often on craigslist or ebay? is that right?
 
sorry for the stupid question, but where does one go to find a NIB pin? i'm assuming there's a popular website out there somewhere?


and as for HUO pins, i'm assuming these are machines that just come up every so often on craigslist or ebay? is that right?
There's online retailers like pinballsales.com and now Costco is selling them online. For HUO ones your better off trying to contact other collectors and buy their pins when they are moving them to get another one. I guess you could try CL and you'll find them once in awhile.

It also depends on what pin your looking at or for. Older Bally/Williams games that are HUO are going to cost you considerably more then a HUO Stern, if its a popular sought after title. You actually don't see to many Bally/Williams titles pop up that are HUO, but some of the collectors in the hobby do incredible resto work, so nice pins are out there, you just have to be willing to pay for them.
 
It depends on where you get this "used" pinball from. I recently had a Stern Ripley's Believe It Or Not come into the shop. It's only about 4-5 years old, but the guy bought it from an operator and it was in bad shape. Completely filthy, hand wear around the flippers, wires jumpered with electrical tape holding pop bumper coils in place, etc. I can't imagine what the hell they were doing to rag it out that bad in just 4-5 years.

NIB pins are very beautiful and clean, and you can keep them that way. You also know the entire history on it, can call the factory and get help (even from the President and CEO), have a warranty, etc. I have customers that bought NIB Lord of the Rings or Elvis pinballs that still look as new as when I pulled them out of the box and set them up.

Still, if your only concern is money, then you go used. If your concern is quality, get new if you can....
 
Was wondering what your guys' thoughts on NIB pins are? Is it really worth buying a pin NIB, or knocking a couple grand off the price and buying used? Since I have no clue about Pins, I am guessing that NIB pins lose value right away much like brand new cars do right when they are driven off the lot. Is it a big waste of $$$ to buy NIB? Seems like its an instant money loser when trying to sell, but maybe you are only supposed to buy pins NIB when you know you would never sell them?

Thoughts?

Well, is there a NIB Stern available that you think is the best game ever, and want a really nice example and want the satisfaction of knowing it has only been used by you and your friends? It might be worth the price. Or if you have the money to burn, why not?

That said, all but a few Sterns sell very nice used usually for a lot less money than when they came out. So it is beneficial financially to buy a used, HUO or routed one in pristine condition instead. I have seen some routed Sterns that cleaned up to look as good as HUO but only cost about $2000 to buy instead of $4000.

If your gameroom is full and you just want to switch to more expensive and nicer/cleaner games, it's a good way to do it. If you have several slots for pins and don't have that kind of cash to spend, you can get three really nice late model Williams for the price of one NIB Stern, and many people would argue that those Williams games are higher quality and more fun to plan than the Stern.

Personally... I really like Stern Simpsons, and if I wanted only one REALLY nice/clean pinball machine, I would actually consider buying one NIB. I like the game that much, and you can't get any cleaner than a NIB pin.

Wade
 
Even if you're lucky enough to find an older NIB....it really is a risk! I was kinda scared opening up my NIB STTNG that had been sitting in storage for 14 years...thankfully it was pretty much all good (a few parts had some corrosion...but the batteries hadn't leaked! Phew!)

RareHero, if you don't mind me asking why did the person you purchased the ST:TNG from have it NIB for 14 years? I don't want to know price, it is none of my business and I am not asking that. I am just curious why anyone would buy a pin simply to let it sit on a pallet for a decade and a half. I've never heard of such an old NIB although an oldest NIB would be an interesting thread.
 
RareHero, if you don't mind me asking why did the person you purchased the ST:TNG from have it NIB for 14 years? I don't want to know price, it is none of my business and I am not asking that. I am just curious why anyone would buy a pin simply to let it sit on a pallet for a decade and a half. I've never heard of such an old NIB although an oldest NIB would be an interesting thread.

No prob, I've posted about it before ...I bought it from Gates McFadden, the actress that played Dr. Crusher on STTNG. All the actors that participated in the pinball got a game. She just threw it in storage and forgot about it.
 
No prob, I've posted about it before ...I bought it from Gates McFadden, the actress that played Dr. Crusher on STTNG. All the actors that participated in the pinball got a game. She just threw it in storage and forgot about it.

Damn, Rare....Looking at your sig; you got your own pinball museum! ;)
 
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