Scam or dream machine?

[Pajo]

Hi Everyone,

I'm trying to work out how to follow up on a dream Medieval Madness, to me it sounds too good to be true.  I'm sure people here will enjoy the thread anyway!

I replied (to an att.com email address) to a for sale notice  I found on the net for a 'collectors condition' Medieval Madness in the US with an asking price of US$5,500.  I asked the guy for photo's and he replied from his iphone saying he would send some in a couple of days time when he was back home.. he even asked what I would like photo's of. 

I was very suspicious of it and before the couple of days were up, I bought an Aussie MM.  I then emailed the guy to let him know not to bother with the photos.  To my surprise he replied saying thanks for letting him know.  That threw me as I figured if it was a scam why would he bother replying.  As I was still interested I sent back another message to say please go ahead and send some photo's and could he give me the history of the machine.  The photo's are still to come but this was his reply:

"I worked for Midway games, bought it off of the production line. Played it a few times a day for a couple of months. After that a change of jobs kept me away from the game and I turned it on one day and it didn't boot. So, essentially the game sat for years without any play. Since fixing it - which was only a common chip on the CPU board - I have played it twice to make sure it is in working order. Otherwise, it is in collectors condition. No other problems have occurred with the game and everything about it is in great shape. I still have all of the manuals and a set of keys that came with the game. I'm located in Chicago if anyone would like to come out and see it. If you have any more questions, just ask!"

So what do people think.. Scam or Dream Machine?

[pinnies4me]

Sounds too good to be true, but the offer to have someone inspect goes against that. Might be time to ask someone wel known on RGP to look into maybe?

[Caveoftreasures]

Its always a line ball call.

I would have said "I will be visiting friends in the USA and can I have an address to come and see the machine etc".

You know the old rule "IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS A DUD".

Sometimes it pays (no pun intended. lol) it pays to pay a little extra and deal with a local Aussie seller.

You would look and feel real bad if you got scammed out of 6 grand.    

[markc]

easy ask for a picture with today's paper in it
soon find out if its a scam

[Boots]

Could it be stolen?
How do you check the ownership of a Pinball machine?
If someone you don't know offers you a really cheap Plasma TV in the pub its probably stolen.
When someone you don't know offers you a cheap Pinball, you just take it for granted that its theirs.
I know they have serial numbers but who ever checks, its not like a car where you can check the vehicle securties register.

[Pajo]

From my dealings on this forum, I have really appreciated being part of a community that supports, encourages and helps look out for its members.  

After a good think about it and decided to send the guy an email to tell him that if the machine is as he is describing it then a fair price would be a lot more than he is asking for it.  

He replied to me and it turns out it very likely is the real thing but that the price I saw on the Pinball Expo For Sale listing was incorrect.  The owner was thinking of around $9500 which would still be a undervalued.  

UPDATE

LINK REMOVED  

Must be a scam as the 'owner' now has put it back on Pinball Expo Classified for $4,100 OBO. Even a routed one could be sold to a dealer for more than that!