The thought of buying your own pinball machine can give you a mix of excitement as well as dread. There are so many questions that will go through your head all at once, and your main concern is how to get the best deal out of your money. Here are some tips on getting the best deals on pinball machines that you should consider so that you won’t be getting one that is just right for you.
Search Thoroughly
Reputable dealers are very hard to find, but that does not mean that you should not consider looking for one. You can ask your friends and relatives if they know of a reputable dealer, browse through your community for a collector’s group in your area, or you can look through the yellow pages for collector contact details. Collectors are your best resource for buying pinball machines because they know about the machines and know how to take care of them.
If in your search you come across a business that specializes in selling pinball machines, check if they are registered with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB is a regulating body that ensures the safety of the consumer, ensuring that you will certainly get something that is not headed for the garbage.
Purchase In-Person Purchase
If you are a first-time pinball buyer, it is to your best interest that you get your pinball from a live dealer instead of from EBay or other online seller. You need to inspect the quality of the machine: check if it’s working, if the parts are attached and functioning properly, and if there are some damages that can either shorten the lifespan of the pinball, or can mar its overall function.
Budget
The date of manufacture and design affects the overall cost of your pinball machine. Machines dated 1990’s and later can be expensive, with most recent games costing way over $2,500-$4,500. You can also get one for less than $1,000, but these machines are of ancient series and can be just your very basic pinball play. Depending on your preferences and budget, you can go around on with these price ranges.
Play, and Play!
When looking at your machine, ask the dealer to give you a test drive. Play the machine like you would on a regular basis, making sure that you pay attention to how the levers feel, and how the machine responds to slightly aggressive movements. Don’t do too many hard moves on it: you break it, you pay for it. Just give it a light bit of a stress test, and see how it goes.
Buying a pinball machine can be a very good investment, as long as you know how to maintain your pinball machine in mint condition. It’s better to start looking for a good one that will last for a long time, rather than just buy a cheap one that will just be a pile of garbage in the end. Just think about these tips, and you are well on your way to getting the best pinball machine for sale that will give you years of endless fun and entertainment.