eBay Pinball manuals

[Strangeways]

One of these days I'm going to collate a "Top 10 list" of really annoying things pinball / parts sellers do to make money. I think it started (for me) around 15 years ago, when a "well known" (for all the wrong reasons) Pinball seller stole a manual out of my friends KISS pinball that was in their workshop (again) for repairs. They stole the manual which came with the game (my mate's game), and displayed it in their little sales window for $60.

Every now and again, importers / dealers / etc list countless pinball manuals on eBay. They basically REMOVE the game's manual and list it separately. If I was a buyer of a game, I'd demand the manual. Why don't they just remove the plastics, or topper ?

Three pages of eBay pinball manuals. Obviously taken from recently imported games. I think this has a detrimental affect as it warns buyers that something that came with the game and something that belongs with that game, was removed from the game. International suppliers do this as well. It has to be my #1 "Pet hate" for pinball..

[Homepin]

I agree and my pet hate #2 is Gottlieb pinball manuals - they ALL came in a machine and they 'should' (IMO) be made available for FREE download for this reason alone - but no, if you want one you have to purchase it and I think that STINKS!!!

[Strangeways]

I agree and my pet hate #2 is Gottlieb pinball manuals - they ALL came in a machine and they 'should' (IMO) be made available for FREE download for this reason alone - but no, if you want one you have to purchase it and I think that STINKS!!!

Catch #22 - PBR are the main suppliers of GTB parts. when you order, you need to specify "Part number" and "Game". That's a bit hard to do if you didn't get the manual with the game ! I ended up buying all the parts manuals for GTB, Bally and Williams. But the game manuals should be freely available.

[pinnies4me]

Yeah, I was wondered about the sudden influx of manuals by some retailers. I wonder how the buyers of the game feel when they see an original manual on Ebay from the same seller? Maybe isn't noticed I suppose? They probably tell you they are free on line, so doesn't get a thought.

Guess its OK, retailers have to eat too.......

[v8racefan]

Original manuals should remain in the game especially at the prices some retailers are asking 

[pinball god]

Yeah, I was wondered about the sudden influx of manuals by some retailers. I wonder how the buyers of the game feel when they see an original manual on Ebay from the same seller? Maybe isn't noticed I suppose? They probably tell you they are free on line, so doesn't get a thought.

Guess its OK, retailers have to eat too.......

I have been told exactly this when enquiring about a game

[Marty Machine]

Guess its OK, retailers have to eat too.......

They can eat our fists !!

[pinball god]

Forgot to mention my other pet hate tha I have only experienced when buying from dealers,

MISSING KNOCKER ASSEMBLIES 

I've had to buy two to date and am missing one. Seems an easy target to rob out of a game and the buyer usually won't score a credit when test playing, so you easily missed during appraisal.

Anyone else experience this or am I the only sucker?

[Homepin]

They could be removed by operators just like we used to pull chime assemblies from EMs 'cause they were just too noisy for some sites.....

Forgot to mention my other pet hate tha I have only experienced when buying from dealers,

MISSING KNOCKER ASSEMBLIES 

I've had to buy two to date and am missing one. Seems an easy target to rob out of a game and the buyer usually won't score a credit when test playing, so you easily missed during appraisal.

Anyone else experience this or am I the only sucker?

[Strangeways]

They could be removed by operators just like we used to pull chime assemblies from EMs 'cause they were just too noisy for some sites.....

Forgot to mention my other pet hate tha I have only experienced when buying from dealers,

MISSING KNOCKER ASSEMBLIES 

I've had to buy two to date and am missing one. Seems an easy target to rob out of a game and the buyer usually won't score a credit when test playing, so you easily missed during appraisal.

Anyone else experience this or am I the only sucker?

+ 1

Chimes are usually removed. Especially in Germany. It is because of the noise they create. I have found many Bally EMs without chimes - the wiring loom is there, but terminated - suggesting the chimes were never installed in the factory.