"Despite a few KISS machines being available at the moment, they are becoming increasingly harder to find hence the reason why their values continue to increase. "
There are SIX KISS pins on eBay. They are getting EASIER to find, and thanks to the amount of games, the price is dropping.
Sellers are DREAMING that they are getting $10,000 for them.. Since these "restored" games have appeared on eBay, the game has been devalued. It WAS a $10,000 machine 2 years ago. The market suggests these "mock ups" (not all of them are incorrectly reconditioned) are $6000 at best. But let the sellers pump up each other's tyres. It's a good laugh for a Friday morning.
It has been a problem for importers for years. They are not cheap to source and import, but there is a misconception that KISS games ALWAYS sell for $10,000. There is one I know of that has sold for $10,000, and I've seen tons of these change hands. If you DARE to ask for $10,000 - then you should make sure that it is professionally restored to original condition. Dealers cannot afford the time or money to restore games to factory condition.
It is a similar deal to Gottlieb's Haunted House. One restored machine changed hands for $7000 - but is was absolutely perfect. Demand was high and supply low. So now some dealers think a HH is worth $7000 - but it is not. It struggles to $3000 these days. Supply has met demand - even surpassed it.
The "romance" of $10,000 for a KISS machine is history. I know 2 collectors that will pay that amount for a restored machine. But none of the games on eBay are restored to factory standards. They STILL have 33 year old capacitors in them, connectors are not repinned, targets are incorrect and some have stickers on the playfield.. KISS fans are fussy and know their product. The ONLY buyers of these games are KISS fans.
