as for my beloved trading post the day telstra bought it and tried to improve it  they lost the plot (you dont mess with the bible) and ebay now reins supreme bad for buyers (hagglers like myself) but great for sellers

Not surprising, as everything Tel$tra get their hands on turns to shit.

As for good prices.  eBay put an end to that a few years before the trading post was bought out.

I've always said it's a double edged sword.  eBay attracted a million newbies to pinball (OMG, i didn't know you could buy these things!) therefor pushing prices up massively.

But on the other hand.  If there wasn't the amount of interest in the hobby that there is now.  Would we be on forums like this?.  Would we be socialising at meets?.  Would there be the same amount of DIY tech info out there?.

Would be nice to turn back the clock 10 or 15 years and pay what were "Normal" prices back then.  But i think we're better off the way it is today.