121 episodes tracked since 2023 about →
Episode 64 - Pinball Buyer's Guide
PodcastAnalysis updated yesterday55 min listen
Highlights
- Pinball machines are not investments and do not reliably appreciate in value; buyers should not expect to recoup costs or profit from purchases.
- Distributors typically offer free or reduced-cost delivery for new game purchases and will provide setup assistance and basic training to first-time buyers.
- Stern Pinball games may be available at discounts below MSRP, particularly for slower-selling titles or overstock inventory.
- Hydraulic lift carts are effective for moving pinball machines but are heavy, space-consuming, and impractical for long-distance transportation or small homes.
- Many vintage pinball machines can fit in standard vehicle types like Honda Fits and station wagons, with Pinside maintaining a community thread documenting vehicle compatibility.
- Used game sellers fall into distinct categories (dusty garage sellers, warehouse/professional resellers) requiring different negotiation and evaluation approaches.
- Games listed as 'working perfect' by non-enthusiast sellers often have undiscovered issues requiring expensive repairs, turning apparent deals into money pits.
- Prospective buyers should be flexible about which specific game they purchase and should not wait indefinitely for a particular title, as opportunities are rare and time-sensitive.
Notable quotes
“pinballs are just expensive toys they're fun but they're definitely not an investment”
“Buy a house without stairs leading to wherever your pinball machines are going. Like, that's the single biggest thing you can do for this hobby.”
“if you know by now, you will fucking get sick of any game you buy”
“You gotta get her mad you gotta have the fighting spirit”
“their definition of working perfect probably means it turns on, it plunges, and it flips. Anything past that is usually lost on people like that”
“It should be something that you could pull directly out of your bank account and pay for. If you don't have the money... Don't finance that. Don't ever.”
Entities
- Stern· company
- Arabian Night· game
- Galaxy· game
- Grand Prix· game
- Hobbit· game
- House of Horrors· game
- John Wick· game
- Tales from the Arabian Nights· game
- Ultraman· game
- Pinside· organization
- Wedgehead Pinball Podcast· organization
- Alan· person
- Alex· person
- Johnny Two Slap· person
- Megan· person
- Roadsy· person
- Ko-fi· platform
- Pentastic· venue
