from what I believe the prices started going up when JJP came on the scene so Stern started to raise there prices a few hundred almost each new game release, then second hand sterns started to go up to stay $1-2k under a NIB and then overseas container pins followed suit but there is some crazy priced container pin prices now for 20-25 year old games. I could be wrong but pretty sure the AUD has remained similar to the Euro so the price shouldn't have gone up so much for the overseas purchase but more so the Aussie sellers raising prices to stay within reach of second hand sterns.

So you think Stern started the price rises that then flowed through to the classic DMD's? Interesting. Strangeways will probably have a handle on this given he was bringing classic DMDs in through this period. Maybe for another thread as getting off topic, sorry Swinks!