Quick scan of eBay and Gumtree reveals two NIB Sterns VS PAGES of used pinball machines. Newbies to the hobby that are targeted by dealers wound not be fooled into buying their first game NIB. You either have to be rich, a fool, or rich and a fan of the NIB title to spend almost $9000 to see if you like the hobby. Like buying a car, I've never heard of an "L" plater buying a new car straight off the dealership and then "learning" to drive. Speaking to industry people all the time, not many would be targetting newbies with NIB pinballs (Stern or otherwise). The "general public" don't buy NIB games - hence minimal advertising. Hobbyists, collectors and fans of titles buy NIB games - and they have already done the hard yards of knowing value for money VS overpriced machines. So advertising is not going to sway them. Their decision is made at the official launch of the game. That's why AC/DC, Metallica and Star Trek where such good sellers - no advertising needed. But if I had a dollar for every customer that has asked me for a NIB pinball, I'd have 2 cents. If I had a dollar for every person that has asked me for a TZ, IJ, AFM, KISS, Playboy, Black Knight etc etc, I would have retired a long time ago.
My point being - there is minimal advertising for NIB pinballs, as they are priced well out of reach for newbies and the target customers are established collectors that decide based on the theme, designer etc.
Funny story - I know a newbie to pinball that had more money than brains, and he unboxed his game only to find out it was DOA. He then discovered it needed the balls on the playfield, rather than in the packing. True story.
