The reality is, five and seven years ago, there were a minimum of a dozen to probably 2 dozen people Australia wide importing container after container from overseas.
The prices the importers paid were half that of the prices now.
As a container buyer, you could at least double and sometimes triple your money.
Importers were buying A list titles for $1800 to $2500 max landed for the best of the best in mint condition.
Machines like LAHero and Creature and many others could be had for $700 to $900. They were cleaned with Nifti and then sold for $1800. Etc. Some of those titles at the time u could not give away. Now, they are very collectable.
It was about 7 years ago max and there were massive MASSIVE amounts of machines to be had by importers.
I often saw 8 or more of the same title (Twilight Zone, Addams, MM, AFM etc etc coming out of container after container and it was only a few years later the exporters started placing limits on the A titles and started making the Ausdie importers take B and C titles because they realised all the A and B stuff was being ordered and not the cheaper stuff.
At the time I said to many friends to get in now asap because sooner or later the imports will stop due to a glut or importers will have the tax man catch up to them and the cycle of cheap mass imports would slow or dramatically stop like it has. The overseas exporters also got greedy and that didn't help.
At the time I wanted to buy apx 4 dozen plus pins cause the prices were so good and I had access directly to the importers and could save a lot.
Now, if I was to sell my collection, I would triple my money.
Some days it is very tempting but the replacement price is just ridiculous.
The only bargain I have seen on this forum in the last 12 months was PBP buying the Star Trek 25th from Nino.
Most other prices have been crazy.
My advice, is shop around and ask collectors for the titles you are chasing because a lot of people who bought like me 5 or 7 years ago, didn't pay half of what people are asking now. Not all people selling pins will ask stupid money.
But yes, the prices most people are asking are crazy.
I compare prices of 2nd hand DMD machines to brand new in box Sterns.
It's hard to pay 2 grand more for a 1991 or 1993 etc etc model restored pin compared to buying a brand spanking new Stern Pro even at the highest price of $7850. The brand new Sterns play better than the cookie cutter games of the late 90,s as well. But people who paid crazy money for those So called A title Ballys will never agree cause they will never get their $ back.
Shop around big time is my advice, and if u see a bargain, jump on it straight away cause hesitating will cost you as a lot of people now are looking hard for the bargains.
It's also a good idea to visit the various commercial sellers because in private, great cash deals can still be done. I know this from a lot of personal experience. Ignore the prices you see advertised on ebay etc, go in, see the owner with cash and negotiate hard. There are still great deals to be had.
