I think it the lack quality that is being imported now.Just piles of crap for the first buyer to get burned on.
Agreed.
But the eBay dealers only want profit and even average machines can be recovered. All comes down to skill and cutting corners to make the most amount of profit possible.
Absolutely correct Marty !
The quality has not changed that much, just the "A" list game prices have gone through the roof - especially to Australia. This is mainly because there are so many importers. Demand is high, so suppliers increase their prices. A container pin is still a container pin. The skill of the tech or restorer determines the end product. It is a fact that some importers have a "cap" on what they are prepared to spend on parts and more importantly - a "cap" on the amount of hours spent. This should not be a predetermined figure. No two games are in exactly the same condition. Anyone who claims that they spend 20-25 hours on a "reconditioned" game is simply cutting corners. This is a deliberate ploy to ensure service calls in the immediate future. As I previously mentioned, profits are protected as the expense of the customer. Newbies have targets on the foreheads, and the first place newbies look is eBay.
how much has come down to the fact the quality of pins from over seas is starting to dry up and is a case of supply and demand?
Pins overseas are not drying up. Just think back to the mercy dash a dealer made 6-7 years ago to secure the last remaining pinballs in the world. I think in the last 3 weeks I've been offered over 100 machines.
