Strangeways hit the nail on the head. 2008 wasn't really a year that could be claimed as having either peak prices or peak imports as generally speaking prices on used 90s machines are rising year on year across the board for most of the popular titles.

Traditional "A list" titles for example are continuing to rise gradually in price year by year but typically only sell for absolute top dollar when they are properly restored to a relatively limited buyer pool.

The biggest bounce in asking prices over the last few years post 2008 have been the B list and lower Bally Williams titles - the Getaways, the Fish Tales, the Judge Dredds et al.

What we did have back in 2008 that we are lacking now was reasonably priced NIB full featured Stern machines. Stern's pricing on ACDC Pro was a great way to reinvigorate a flagging market, but like the dealers they saw the sales that resulted and got greedy. Now Stern have continually raised the price bar nudging 8k for what is a basic entry level machine with initial 70% code on release for any newbie looking to add a single machine (or two) to their mancave.

Little wonder then that those people subsequently turn to the tried and tested fully coded alternatives at a better price point and thus those who bought at 2000-2500 price points on Bally Williams stock and have been sitting on those machines are all too keen to cash in now on the current boom.

A 4k Bally Williams B list title doesn't sound all that bad when a buyer's primary basis for comparison is an 8k Stern Pro.