Is it just me or are pinballs in higher demand with prices rising?

[Homepin]

Oh dear, I may have to figure out how I can secure that machine I have my name on then before inflation strikes....or am I too late.  

Good point about Clay's guides.  The guy that came to repair my first machine had a full print out of the 'Pinball Bible'. 

I think there was a time when techs kept info to themselves whereas now with the internet and forums, most are happy to share tips and tricks and impart their knowledge onto anyone interested.  This is going to be the saviour of the hobby in many ways I think.  There are still regular comments about the quality of our forum/s and the willingness to help each other out.

You have created your own monster as well Nino with guys asking for quality machines.  Your name stuck in my head many moons ago when I saw the quality of your work on Jacks Open.  Now guys can see what can be achieved and want nice machines which in turn means there is a demand for parts and so the cycle continues.......it's all good.

You are right. I was a pin tech for many years but now make a quid doing electronic design and sourcing/importing. As I no longer repair amusements for a living I no longer have any reason for 'keeping secrets' like I may have done before. There are many more like me as well.

[braddo]

Mmmm I don't know about this one. I thought prices seem to be coming down lately. Expensive pins (I thought) don't seem to be getting sold. There's been a fair few SS's on Ebay lately that i thought were pretty good value, and still no interest (although some weren't in the best nick). Maybe i'm wrong but my reaction lately to pin sales has been 'i guess no-one has money right now, wrong time of year'.

Ebay lataley-

Centaur (GREAT nick) - $2200
Galaxy (very, very decent) - $800
Seawitch - $1000 (looked clean) - (1 bidder!)
Dracula x2 $1000 each (back glasses a bit rough) - no bidders

There's more i can't remember right now.

Also on Ebay some desirable SS's that are coming down in price because no one is buying them. Could be in my head .
PinballShed had some great SS's in VERY good nick and they sold for shit.

[Strangeways]

Oh dear, I may have to figure out how I can secure that machine I have my name on then before inflation strikes....or am I too late.  

Good point about Clay's guides.  The guy that came to repair my first machine had a full print out of the 'Pinball Bible'. 

I think there was a time when techs kept info to themselves whereas now with the internet and forums, most are happy to share tips and tricks and impart their knowledge onto anyone interested.  This is going to be the saviour of the hobby in many ways I think.  There are still regular comments about the quality of our forum/s and the willingness to help each other out.

You have created your own monster as well Nino with guys asking for quality machines.  Your name stuck in my head many moons ago when I saw the quality of your work on Jacks Open.  Now guys can see what can be achieved and want nice machines which in turn means there is a demand for parts and so the cycle continues.......it's all good.

I think the general level and standard of restoration work in Australia has grown significantly during the last five years. We now match the level in the USA - exceptions being only a handful (Christopher Hutchens cannot be equaled). If someone told me five years ago that there would be internet sites specializing in restoration, I would have laughed myself stupid. There so many talented people out there. The hobby is well and truly thriving.

If the reward for restoring every machine to the same level as Jacks Open was possible, I'd do it "full time". Trust me, five years ago, I would have laughed. I'm giving it some SERIOUS thought.

Mmmm I don't know about this one. I thought prices seem to be coming down lately. Expensive pins (I thought) don't seem to be getting sold. There's been a fair few SS's on Ebay lately that i thought were pretty good value, and still no interest (although some weren't in the best nick). Maybe i'm wrong but my reaction lately to pin sales has been 'i guess no-one has money right now, wrong time of year'.

Ebay lataley-

Centaur (GREAT nick) - $2200
Galaxy (very, very decent) - $800
Seawitch - $1000 (looked clean) - (1 bidder!)
Dracula x2 $1000 each (back glasses a bit rough) - no bidders

There's more i can't remember right now.

Also on Ebay some desirable SS's that are coming down in price because no one is buying them. Could be in my head .
PinballShed had some great SS's in VERY good nick and they sold for shit.

You are correct, but you need to "dig" a bit deeper.

Centaur - An absolute crapper sold 4 years ago for $5400 - The next went up quickly for $4500 (I think). Now they sit at their TRUE value - $1800 to $2400 depending on condition.

Galaxy - Was offered $2200 for mine, But I sold it cheaper to Creech. That's not on eBay

Meteor - Was offerred $2400 for mine - Seen them go in working condition for $800

Seawitch - a rarer game and I was surprised

Dracula - Honestly - Not a desirable machine - $1000 - $1300 is it's price range. A machine like Mitch's would EASILY go for $1800 +

With all due respect to Dealers, they would go broke if they tried to price machines AFTER 50 hours of detailed work was done on them. Mark and I have discussed this MANY times before. It is just not possible from their perspective.

Personally - I don't have a requirement to sell on eBay, but if I did - you would see the prices increase as my machines get the "full treatment". If other members put their immaculate machines up on eBay, the same would happen. Owners with machines in great condition are rarely sold on eBay. It is not an indication of the true value.

I could sell my Paragon to a collector tomorrow for $3500 (No - it ain't going to happen. Yet The most I've seen on eBay was Wotto's - $2300)

But I will sell one of my full restorations on eBay maybe this year - just to see if the market still wants to pay for restored machines

[Caveoftreasures]

If you come along to this hobby like i did a year ago, and you contact every dealer in Australia and get the pricing for a range of pins, u get a perspective of what the industry is selling machines for and the level of quality you can expect.

Then, just like buying a car, thru a dealer, or thru a private sale, you get the feel for the difference in pricing. But heres the catch, a top class machine in top condition, whether thru a dealer or thru a private sale, will only vary about 10 to 20 percent maximum.

I feel pin prices are climbing and will continue to do so. In all respect, I think alot of forum members cant let go of the past, and compare the prices they paid 4 or 5 years ago. Example, someone bought a fishtales for $900 4 years ago, and feels it is worth today only 2200. Wrong !
When u see a local professional dealer (with proper commercial premises) up here in QLD, sell 4 or 5 fishtales amonth at $4200, and because the machines are redecalled, new ramps n bits n pieces etc and the machine look as good as u can possibly get a fishtales, u realise that pinball collectors, are more and more competing against new home gamesroom buyers. Mums n dads who know nothing about pinballs or the history etc, just a purchaser who was put onto a new idea, a new big show off type toy for their home gamesroom. These people have money, want a plug n play machine, and dont want to touch a dam thing, except the start button.

These are the people we will be competing with more and more as machines hit peoples gamesrooms. Europe is drying up. Take a trip over and u will see what is left. At the rate, the machines are being imported and sold, its only a matter of time. Anyone who feels pin prices will plummet, to where they were 5 years ago, is going to wish he had of grabbed that machine a year or two ago. Look at monsterbash, medi-evil madness, attack from mars, cactus canyon, totan etc etc, all gone way up. when these machines become like hens teeth to acquire, the next batch of b machines will climb too.

time will tell. importers are buying machines at a high rate cause they sell at a high rate, and for more and more money each year.

just keep buying them, after all, its only money. lol 

[Mr Tilt]

Totally agree!