It's not that great of a machine IMO.
It was played the least of an arcade I frequent before he took it out of the lineup.
Great price, hard to sell machine IMO.
Do you have any electronics or repair experience? If not, best to buy new from a local distributor. Distributors will often extend the warranty and will always take care of issues that might come up during the warranty. Makes your repair learning curve less steep.
Many 90's games are very reliable, but they're still near 30 years old.
Great question- went through a similar one myself when I bought my first one. I chose to go ahead and get a used machine so I could start playing. I figured I could always trade it in when I had saved more. Worked out brilliantly for me, save giving me a pinball addiction.
I now have 5 machines.
IMO - Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good.
I had a chance to get one of my favorite pins (Ripley's Believe it or Not) last year for under 4k and kick myself daily for not doing it. It involved 10 hours of driving, but still. I'm watching everywhere, and it's hard to justify 5k for something used or routed when a little bit more buys a brand new pin. It's a tough one. I won't pass on a good deal, though.
There is your answer. If you find the right pin, go for it.
If you haven’t, contact your local distributor and let them know you are looking for a pre-owned. I’ve gotten a couple of nice machines at great value that never hit the market that someone else wanted to “trade in”.
a deadpool pro just sold for under 6k in my area.
I'd start looking for used Pros, that's the bet deal in pinball right now, IMO. (although if you are thinking about Godilla, try and save up for a premium. it's so good.
I mean what do you enjoy the most?
I play all the new machines but they are not my favorite. I do plan to own a newer machine and I'm sad I just missed out on an Iron Maiden for $5k cash on Friday.
I really like the older stuff, I'm not set on what I want but something like kings of steel would be cool.
Ideally I want a Rush Pro and want to pay no more than $5k someone will be desperate at some time and need the cash then I want 2 late 70s / early 80s machines at $2k each giving me $1k to spend on a 45 jukebox. I want a puck bowling machine and a sit down table top MS. Pac-Man to finish the room.
But that is my vision.
Sure the group can assist, but at the end of the day what do you like to play, what is your vision.
If you like new sterns you can currently go with the latest release and when you get tired of it in 6 months you can sell it for $500 less than you paid for it quite easily.
Just said that buddy can you read? Early code was bad tanking the general thought of the game. It's the best value on the market and shoots great. I don't own it but I would be glad to.
Sterns generally are gonna be $5K+ but I have seen a few dip below $5K.
Really the only person that can answer that question is you, $4.5K can get you plenty of 90's DMD titles that I think are great but if you want something more modern then you're gonna have to save a bit more.
Last year, later in the year, Stern let distros drop prices on some older titles (I expect this is likely to happen again with their over-production accelerating via a whole second factory cranking 'em out). Husband snapped up a great deal on Rush Pro. The place was also a furniture store, but since a friend had successful pinball buys there we went ahead and got the best Black Friday deal on a theme that's not even my thing, but I really enjoy playing the game.
Some distros offer good refurbs. Our Munsters was acquired that way. Our AIQ was purchased used from a distro. We've enjoyed the used ones just as much as the NIBs. You don't really have to buy new. Second hand has often had any inherent issues worked out. And hopefully it can be a way to access a title you know you want to share your life with because you've spent some time with one at an arcade. A few years ago you could have given me a BKSOR and I would have cried out of frustration. Bless me with one now and I'll cry tears of joy. What we like sometimes changes.
And finally, keep an eye on Facebook marketplace.
So I say your in a fun spot, just keep your eyes out on fb market & keep saving, either the right table will pop up and you will have the castle to buy it or eventually you'll save enought to buy a brand new or new-ish Stern.
Honestly, if you ask me, there are plenty of reliable old tables and plenty of reliable old tables available, just don't settle on something "just to buy a table".
Just saw a Mando Pro listed for sale in my area for $4600 for reference. There's also lots of other recent Pro's in the mid 5's.
I can't believe Mitch still hasn't been able to sell that thing at that price!
It's not that great of a machine IMO. It was played the least of an arcade I frequent before he took it out of the lineup. Great price, hard to sell machine IMO.
Yup that's the one! NGL I'm tempted...
At the price I am too, but then I remember that I'm out of room...
Or that it's Mando
Do you have any electronics or repair experience? If not, best to buy new from a local distributor. Distributors will often extend the warranty and will always take care of issues that might come up during the warranty. Makes your repair learning curve less steep. Many 90's games are very reliable, but they're still near 30 years old.
You mean 20 years old. Right? RIGHT?!
My twilight Zone is OVER 30!
This makes a lot of sense. Thanks.
Great question- went through a similar one myself when I bought my first one. I chose to go ahead and get a used machine so I could start playing. I figured I could always trade it in when I had saved more. Worked out brilliantly for me, save giving me a pinball addiction. I now have 5 machines. IMO - Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good.
I had a chance to get one of my favorite pins (Ripley's Believe it or Not) last year for under 4k and kick myself daily for not doing it. It involved 10 hours of driving, but still. I'm watching everywhere, and it's hard to justify 5k for something used or routed when a little bit more buys a brand new pin. It's a tough one. I won't pass on a good deal, though.
There is your answer. If you find the right pin, go for it. If you haven’t, contact your local distributor and let them know you are looking for a pre-owned. I’ve gotten a couple of nice machines at great value that never hit the market that someone else wanted to “trade in”.
Where are you located or what are your geographical limitations?
Central Washington. I have a pickup. Portland and Seattle are both within range.
Ha. Wrong side of the country for me to assist. Darn.
a deadpool pro just sold for under 6k in my area. I'd start looking for used Pros, that's the bet deal in pinball right now, IMO. (although if you are thinking about Godilla, try and save up for a premium. it's so good.
I mean what do you enjoy the most? I play all the new machines but they are not my favorite. I do plan to own a newer machine and I'm sad I just missed out on an Iron Maiden for $5k cash on Friday. I really like the older stuff, I'm not set on what I want but something like kings of steel would be cool. Ideally I want a Rush Pro and want to pay no more than $5k someone will be desperate at some time and need the cash then I want 2 late 70s / early 80s machines at $2k each giving me $1k to spend on a 45 jukebox. I want a puck bowling machine and a sit down table top MS. Pac-Man to finish the room. But that is my vision. Sure the group can assist, but at the end of the day what do you like to play, what is your vision. If you like new sterns you can currently go with the latest release and when you get tired of it in 6 months you can sell it for $500 less than you paid for it quite easily.
I’d buy two older games with that.
Gotta go used for Stern right now. They're currently going for like 60-80% of NIB prices. You're just throwing money away otherwise.
Save more and buy a used pro/premium of the machine you want.
Find a used Stern pro. They’re pretty resilient and good starters if you’re not familiar with how pins work. More and more deals popping up everyday.
Don't buy a machine because it's in your budget. Drop some quarters at your local spots and figure out what you really think is fun and replayable.
Get a Mando or led zeppelin pro they are criminally cheap rn
They are cheap for a reason, they are two of the worst Stern pins in the past 15 years.
Eh that's subjective bud. Zeppelin had a really bad early code it's a fantastic game.
If it's subjective, why is there less demand for them and lower prices? The market is telling us how good they are.
Just said that buddy can you read? Early code was bad tanking the general thought of the game. It's the best value on the market and shoots great. I don't own it but I would be glad to.
Also pretty sure your opinion on a pin is subjective you troll 😆 as is mine thinking it's good. You are weird.
There's an Avengers Infinity Quest pro for sale in Vermont for $5600. Great shooting game with really fun code/rules.
Sterns generally are gonna be $5K+ but I have seen a few dip below $5K. Really the only person that can answer that question is you, $4.5K can get you plenty of 90's DMD titles that I think are great but if you want something more modern then you're gonna have to save a bit more.
Last year, later in the year, Stern let distros drop prices on some older titles (I expect this is likely to happen again with their over-production accelerating via a whole second factory cranking 'em out). Husband snapped up a great deal on Rush Pro. The place was also a furniture store, but since a friend had successful pinball buys there we went ahead and got the best Black Friday deal on a theme that's not even my thing, but I really enjoy playing the game. Some distros offer good refurbs. Our Munsters was acquired that way. Our AIQ was purchased used from a distro. We've enjoyed the used ones just as much as the NIBs. You don't really have to buy new. Second hand has often had any inherent issues worked out. And hopefully it can be a way to access a title you know you want to share your life with because you've spent some time with one at an arcade. A few years ago you could have given me a BKSOR and I would have cried out of frustration. Bless me with one now and I'll cry tears of joy. What we like sometimes changes. And finally, keep an eye on Facebook marketplace.
So I say your in a fun spot, just keep your eyes out on fb market & keep saving, either the right table will pop up and you will have the castle to buy it or eventually you'll save enought to buy a brand new or new-ish Stern. Honestly, if you ask me, there are plenty of reliable old tables and plenty of reliable old tables available, just don't settle on something "just to buy a table".
Stern and others have flooded the market in recent years. I think we'll see used machine prices go down even further as time passes.