Is there a pinball sell off?

[gunner007]

Just for conversation.

I don't remember a time recently where I've seen so many pins forsale. Prices are def coming down it looks like on the premiums from what I can see from even 1 or 2 years ago.
I may be wrong, but if you think there is as well why do you think?

I have had up to 7 at one time, but 5 is what fits the best in my spot. I don't plan on having any less than that so trades seem to make the most sense to me. It also seems like the best way to get another pin without feeling the $$ loss. And I get these aren't investments but losing thousands still hurts lol.

 

[AlexRogan84]

Huh, I see the complete opposite. I feel like there is hardly anything for sale right now.

 

[GUARD]

Huh, I see the complete opposite. I feel like there is hardly anything for sale right now.

Exactly....lots of pins for sale, but they are all the same overpriced ones that have been for sale for a long time.

 

[Chris Bardon]

I suppose it comes down to what you like. My home collection is all DMD+ games, and I've owned most of the "classic" 90s games that I wanted over the past 17 years. I've only got room for 10 machines, so once I've been through all the older games, I've gravitated to new stuff. It seems like a lot of people are in the same position, so naturally it ends up with people buying/selling new games. Add to that more new pinball than ever, and it helps explain what we have today. There's nothing wrong with being spoiled for choice on new games.

 

[gunner007]

Huh, I see the complete opposite. I feel like there is hardly anything for sale right now.

just since saturday there is like 15 pins on this site alone forsale?

 

[AlexRogan84]

just since saturday there is like 15 pins on this site alone forsale?

Reread Bruce's comment.

 

[GUARD]

just since saturday there is like 15 pins on this site alone forsale?

And most of those profiles are probably re-buyers.

 

[mwong168]

I suppose it comes down to what you like. My home collection is all DMD+ games, and I've owned most of the "classic" 90s games that I wanted over the past 17 years. I've only got room for 10 machines, so once I've been through all the older games, I've gravitated to new stuff. It seems like a lot of people are in the same position, so naturally it ends up with people buying/selling new games. Add to that more new pinball than ever, and it helps explain what we have today. There's nothing wrong with being spoiled for choice on new games.

I was just like Chris and my motto use to be NO RAMPS, NO DMD, NO THANKS and had up to 15 WPCs in my basement. Slowly I started to cut my WPC loose and rolling that "equity" into these new Stern Premium titles which helped soften the blow so I guess now my new motto is NO RAMPS, NO DMD, NO LCD, NO THANKS Now I've jumped even further down the rabbit hole and got my very first JJP title which was Harry Potter earlier this year.

I see a lot for sale lately and some move quicker then others either based on title or price. If something is priced right it will move and if something is over priced it will sit and hopefully seller gets the hint and lowers it or if they can afford to sit on it stay firm I guess.

 

[kool1]

If something is priced right it will move and if something is over priced it will sit

This is it. People holding on to Covid prices or adding in all their mod costs to the price will sit. People pricing properly see their games sell pretty quickly. Some games I see go same day as listed.

There really isn't that much on the market right now.

 

[GUARD]

Got one leaving Monday that I didnt even need to list.....

 

[MrMikeman]

I think it’s just getting back to “normal”. Games that are not as fun/popular no longer fetch inflated prices. The poor saps that bought those during the covid bump thinking “any pinball is good enough” haven’t figured that out yet and they may never. So those games sit and don’t move.

Normal also means understanding that buying NIB generally means taking a hit in the thousands when selling, with a few exceptions. There’s a reason few people bought NIB a few years ago. Covid skewed reality where you could essentially play a nib for “free” for a few months when selling for full retail. It’s obvious that is was unsustainable. People are still buying NIB though and get upset when they can’t sell for what they paid including tax, shipping, and mods. Welcome to reality!

If you’re buying NIB make sure it’s a game you want. Speculative buyers are still there though so we can expect Spooky and BoF new releases to sell for a markup at first. Distros should make the known flippers wait til the end of the run. Minimises their profit opportunity and may get rid of some of them over time after they get a few losses.

 

[mwong168]

I've been collecting for what feels like a while now and I've help a fair share of newbies break into this great hobby. I tell them whether you buy new or used always be prepared to take a loss or don't expect to get every penny back. Best way to look at this hobby is let's say you bought a pin for $2500 and sold a year later for a loss at $2000. Remember your family and friends got to enjoy this pinball from comfort of your own home for 12 months so if you break it down that's $41.67/month. What sort of entertainment value can you really get for that little? Two adult movie tickets cost about as much as that and add in popcorn+drinks+candy you might as well own two pins at home. If you are not comfortable take a small hit like this then find another hobby is what I tell them.

The best you can do to minimize your losses would be remove your mods and sell those separately otherwise just because you spent $500 in mods doesn't mean you just added $500 value to your game. I've come across a few sellers in the past where sorta factored in their gas, time and even their double/double from Tim's in the price. The only "mods" or work I can say that might add value would be if you redid/replaced the cabinet or a new playfield swap. Again even that I would say buyers might put value on the parts like cost of new playfield, plastics/ramps, etc... but never your time. That's another thing I tell people who get their very first pin and want to make it absolutely mint or pristine. I said make sure it's something you really love or a long term keeper otherwise again be prepared to take a bit of a hit.

Bottom line: The sooner you stop looking at this hobby as an investment, the sooner you'll enjoy it a lot more. Most of my friends know I hardly play my pins but glad to have them over to play and break them for me so it gives me something to do or fix. I'm glad for all the life long friends and close connections I've made over the last 16 years which is priceless to me.

 

[pinballjah]

A lot of premiums have lost some value over the last couple years. Likely as a result of over supply. A lot of newer Stern LEs have gotten killed but its hard to retain their original cost when they sell for $13k USD. Best to buy slightly used as you save the sales tax and can likely find a game a couple grand below the original cost. I find some of the older games haven't really fallen in the last couple years but have likely gone up a little.

 

[MrMikeman]

Stern killed their own LE gravy train by re-running LEs of the same game. The “Anniversary edition” or similar reasoning is marketing bullshit. They broke their word and proved to everyone that money is the only thing that matters to the Stern corporate leadership. FOMO Becomes irrelevant when supply is not limited. Although personally I prefer it this way like JJP did with HP. Buy the model with options you want.

 

[Wildcats50]

I’m ready to buy at 42.00 a month. Who’s selling lol

 

[Fifty]

Honestly, I think it's just the summer. Depending on your point of view there has been nothing for sale or a lot. People are at their cottages, the pins are sitting at home collecting dust. Even I have been toying with the idea of selling 1 of my 2 pins as they pretty much just sit there all summer long. I could sell one of them and purchase something that is guaranteed to go up in value, like a 18ft Bayliner bowrider.

 

[kool1]

Best to buy slightly used as you save the sales tax and can likely find a game a couple grand below the original cost. I find some of the older games haven't really fallen in the last couple years but have likely gone up a little.

Slightly used is great if you can find one. Try and find a slightly used KK, FOTE or JW.

People seem scared to buy NIB now or they are holding on longer. Canadian market is so small but even on Pinside, not many recent releases used at significant discounts anymore.

 

[Smokezz]

just since saturday there is like 15 pins on this site alone forsale?

One guy has been posting a LOT of pins, and selling a lot of them. Then reposting a lot of ones he didn't sell. I'm sure someone that's bored could do an analysis of the last 6 years and find that it's not really much different.