Hi all
I have been speaking to a few collecotrs and ressellers.
They are tired of the hobby.

For many reasons sick of tire kickers
Sick of the hobby.
Not a challenge anymore.
To dam expensive.
To many hobbies

Just curious where you are at.

None of those categories really suit me...

I'd vote for :
" After, Family, health, and work, I still enjoy spending a little time of this hobby.  
All things in moderation... "

--

I think where people get burned-out is with buying and selling
(...which, I'll admit, is a BIG part for many ...)

In 6 years, I've "only" bought about 15 games,
most of them were local opportunities I wasn't even looking for.

As for selling, I've only sold 5 about games
(...and only one had to shipped ), so it hasn't been a big issue.

If I were buying and selling all the time.
then yes, I'm sure I'd get frustrated at time too...

I still enjoy the hobby it after 6+ years,
and my only pet peeve really, is my lack of space.


Cheers,

Steph

Me, I rather just fix and restore than own.... seriously. Nothing beter for me than spending an Saturday evening in my workshop with a cold beer, ''That 80's Show'' on CHOM 97.7, and polishing a part or fixing another.

Pure bliss. Peace and quiet.

That being said, I still play every night. Expensive? Yes. Backbreaking? Absolutely. But I still love it.

Quoted from Sparky

Nothing beter for me than spending an Saturday evening in my workshop with a cold beer,

Pure bliss. Peace and quiet.

Will someone remind Sparky that he's now got a new baby in the house... !  

Steph

Quoted from Steph

Will someone remind Sparky that he's now got a new baby in the house... !  

Steph

Marie and I each get some "quiet time" to ourselves every weekend. I get Saturday nights. She takes all of Sunday sometimes.

...Besides, I am home for 5 weeks now. Plenty of time for myself.

Anything worth doing is difficult. I could see getting tired of this after a while though.

your polling results might be biased, people who are burnt out won't be on maaca to vote!

No this is just about current people on maaca.

Quoted from jonny_eh

Anything worth doing is difficult. I could see getting tired of this after a while though.

your polling results might be biased, people who are burnt out won't be on maaca to vote!

Not me. I'm still loving it in spite of folding and carefully packing 16 of these beasts for my move! I'm a little over half done. I can only complete 2 a night -- they are wrapped in cardboard and plastic. I cann't wait to move and open them all again. It will be like Christmas -- best Christmas ever!!! Of course, they might not get unwrapped for a couple of months as I want to paint the game room first before setting them up

Tired of the hobby? Hell no! Tired of packing....you bet!

Duane

Starting to be tired of the hunting... it's a drug! I don't want to buy new pins until I finish my project, but each days I watch for the classifieds... just here, I see many projects I would like to work on...
Hockey have a saying: "The better trade are often the one you don't made" so I tell to myself the same thing for each pins I don't buy

What's hard it's when all your pins have a little something (like now for me), give me a break!

But wheh I bring one back  to life, I forget all this and I think for the next one

Nope. Not in the slightest.

Too many machines to own..... too little space.

Over 30 years of owning a machine. I answered just getting started.

Nope, not in the slightest, I feed on competition and I'm just getting started in the tournament scene, still so much to accomplish.  

I entered Just Getting started, even though I've come close to burn out because of either money pressure from buying too many pins at a time, or selling at a loss (but that's my own fault for selling to collectors).

I didn't enter the Poll as there is no "I am not tired of it" answer, There are 6 tired of it and 1 just started. I think the poll is not a fair question. I have been at it a looooong time, and I am not sick of it, I haven't been sick of it and I am not just getting started. This is a good hobby, pressure is caused by your self, if selling is an issue, just buy what you want, if space is an issue, don't over buy, if money is an issue, don't buy it, call me!  

Dave

Quoted from pins only

I didn't enter the Poll as there is no "I am not tired of it" answer

Ditto.

I'm not tired of playing/fixing/cleaning at all..

What i'm really tired of, are the dramas started by the stressed people for every possible reasons stated by Pins Only and Websherba.

People feeling attacked by any comments, rough sellers replying to potential buyers like they were cheap/poor assholes and thinking they own a game made of gold, etc...

Thanks god, for every one of these guys, there are 3 helpfull ones. And for the gold owners, well just like we discussed in the TOM thread earlier, local market will teach you how much your game is really worth.

I'm tired of not having the time necessary to work on the machines I have.  I have now gone from a collector to a reseller which was not the original intention.  Having machines that have been sitting for upwards of two years without the proper attention, and with no relief in sight, I feel it's time to reduce the numbers and treat the remainder properly.  I had originally hoped for the time and space to keep a healthy number of machines, but that just isn't working out.  I'll reduce it back to the basics, and hopefully this summer get those machines into the shape I want them in, and then just go from there.  Repairing certainly is a major portion of the appeal for me, and without the time for that, the enjoyment of having these machines isn't what it should be.......

To tell the truth, I have more fun and satisfaction reconditioning and repairing machines than playing them, so I do not think I will ever tire of pinball. To me, it is the challenge of taking a dirty, poorly maintained machine and making it nice, restoring it to its original condition. I get bored watching TV, to me it is stress relief to go in my basement and work on my next project. I have gone through many pins in the last five years and the only thing that makes me curse is bringing into my basement. I have to buy a house with a walkout basement!   Bigger house = more pins.

I think what makes people tire is lack of knowledge and ability in servicing the pins, or they think they can make money at this. Hobbies are supposed to be fun and when you want to make a hobby a business, that is where it ceases to be a hobby.    

Quoted from pins only

I didn't enter the Poll as there is no "I am not tired of it" answer, There are 6 tired of it and 1 just started. I think the poll is not a fair question. I have been at it a looooong time, and I am not sick of it, I haven't been sick of it and I am not just getting started. This is a good hobby...

Well put.

I also have not answered the poll because I think the options are pretty lame and mostly negative. Sorry, Ethous.

These things are factors:

1) Online communication lacks greatly in emotional character, and it feels too anonymous, so things can easily spiral out of control using email/ebay/RGP/e-whatever,

2) This has always been a rough business, it's only JUST becoming more of a gentleman's pursuit.  The pinball business has ALWAYS been a little on the shady side, that's why it hailed out of Chicago.  Distibutors are master hucksters, and routing pinballs attracts crooks because it's a cash business (same often with selling used goods, and refurbishing pinballs).  I say this from a voice of experience,, a distributor I knew, was reportedly tied in with the mob as part of the business. He retired wealthy.

3) Retail purchasers have sometimes paid big bucks for their machines, but don't like being told they're worth $400.  On the other hand, sour grapes (late) buyers have a tendency to try to sour a previous sale by saying "oh I would have paid more", and simple sellers don't care about the buyer, they care about the money.

4) Descriptions and valuations of used "as is" or collectible goods are very, very subjective.  

Quoted from cooke

Well put.

I also have not answered the poll because I think the options are pretty lame and mostly negative. Sorry, Ethous.

None Taken I was not trying to make it negative sort of ended that way oops.
but I added a new category to make it less negative.

I'm just starting out so I'm not tired of it, but my wife is!

Not tired, i collect games for 8 years now. 20 physical games for now and i will stop collecting when i reach 25, i will have all my absolute best games, it's my goal. After that i will make a mame machine for all the other games i like very much ( more than hundred )  

Quoted from HAL-9OOO

N...and i will stop collecting when i reach 25

Quoted from Mrhide

This is the physical and financial limits for now but if i win the million i will make an entire 80's arcade with LOTS of video games just for you !!  

ps: I take donation too !

I am in this hoby for two years now and I enjoy it more today because I learned the value and market of pinballs at the begining I was dominated by quantity for cheap, now I searh for quality and value at the same time, I have beter title more fun and more valuable now than in the begining. This iis why I love more and more this hoby, but it is like drugs even with no space and no money I still want moore   that is the insane part of the hoby  

Quoted from ALJO

Now I see that Poolman made a comment 1 hour ago, why can't I find this post?????????? Is there something wrong on the site??????

When people vote it counts as a comment.  There's nothing wrong with the site

Mike

I am perplexed....  I really do enjoy the hobby but it was a means to an end.....

I restored/sold a ton of machines last year, I thought I would keep some, but it turned out there was always a better machine on the horizon..... Well, finally I am VERY happy with my collection, and have a couple interesting projects to work on over the summer... but they are all keepers in my opinion.  

So yes, I am a little bored of what I use to do... get Junkers, restore them to as best original as possible (perhaps even put some customs on them), then sell them for a little profit or break even.....however

I am looking forward to restoring the few projects I have, and pimping out the machines I have.... so in this regard, I am not bored of my collection, just the drama, driving, explanations to my wife why I need yet another PIN - as the many I have was not good enough, and when you get that lemon machine that really isn't worth fixing, and the rat race of beating others to that bargain machine......  that part I can do without.

As for this board.....  The members are all generally great, with a few exceptions (as I am sure, those exceptions feel the same way about me...).  I enjoy reading the stories and experiences of others who UNDERSTAND Pinball, as well as how-to tips, and custom creations that are posted....

My two cents...

Quoted from TGlover

get Junkers, restore them to as best original as possible (perhaps even put some customs on them), then sell them for a little profit or break even.

"Junkers" is a relative term. When you start buying less than perfect MM's and CC's and calling them junkers then you may be getting closer to being done.

Then you go one step further into the stratosphere of being done and start building "collections". Collections are like buying an era or buying a designer or whatever. Pick a flavour of the week and run with it. Right now I am on early (earlier) Lawlor. It's taken.... pick your own.

You don't sound done to me. Even ToMMy who once said he was done with restorations found a new angle to keep involved with pinball. May be a little bit of a radical angle, but an angle none the less.

Now as to Phil, I think he's running around flying kites, but my money is on him not being able to hold out much longer.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Now as to Phil, I think he's running around flying kites, but my money is on him not being able to hold out much longer.

Don't you want a STTNG?!

Quoted from Mrhide

Don't you want a STTNG?!

What... is that your last machine for you to be out?

What about this? "WTB  Bride of pinbot,, Cyclone, cosmic gunfight, El Dorado/Canada Dry" Huh? "WTB" doesn't sound like your getting out.

ok I'm not saying I want out ... I might be saying I've got too many machines

Quoted from Mrhide

ok I'm not saying I want out ... I might be saying I've got too many machines

Yea you can't got anywhere in this hobby until two things happen!

1) One of us gets to Valinor

2) I get a chance to play you head to head.  

Quoted from Vengeance

Yea you can't got anywhere in this hobby until two things happen!

1) One of us gets to Valinor

2) I get a chance to play you head to head.  

Let me move to another thread. There isn't enough room for me and these two egos in here.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Let me move to another thread. There isn't enough room for me and these two egos in here.

only thing 2-3 things i hate in this hobby ,

.tire kickers
.People looking only to make cash
.people coming here to get help buy the cheap stuff & then re-sale it without beeing a part of discussions , and still acting as a smart a**.


Besides that it's a fun hobby
I really enjoy it
but not as much as i expected , alot of the magic went out with bad experiences , but im sure with all the good ones ill have in the future it will probably make everything worth it.

I am new to this hobby and knew very little of the SS games as I hardly played after high school in the early eighties.  It is a lot of fun but I am anxious to get (or at least try) some of the really good games, especially from the nineties. I now find myself going with my 11 year old to play a couple of newer Stern titles (Batman Dark Knight and Spiderman) on weekends. However as good as so many of the titles sound, I haven had the opportunity to try any and have no idea how/where I will be able to.

And, assuming I do try at my leisure, dont know how I will be able to locate the titles I think I might really want. Did I mention I was impatient? So little time!

I vote that it is as exciting as any new discovery can be...and there is so much to discover...if you can find it.

Quoted from wbradley

However as good as so many of the titles sound, I haven had the opportunity to try any and have no idea how/where I will be able to.

Come out with TOPL on a league night.

Vengeance and I were also discussing holding a local tourney in the near future. I am willing to host.

I recently joined TOPL but the tournament nights conflict with my work schedule frequently. Having a tourney or "event" on a weekend makes things a bit easier if that is something worth exploring. I know that when I get my games room up to 2 more games I would like to hold a "retro" night, 70's EM & SS, no bellbottoms though!

Actually wanted to check out  TOPL if schedule will allow. Their website doesnt appear to have been updated for a long time, so didnt know if it was still active. The Church also sounds interesting, but they too didnt announce their last open evening, which I now know was on Monday.

So where do you get updates? Here??

TOPL is quite active.

Get a hold of Mike the pres (Pinball-Addict on here) to get information about when and where to play.

http://archive.maaca.org/s107351202.onlinehome.us/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?v-memberpanel/a-view/u-425/

Most of the discussions from TOPL are done through Yahoo! Groups and here.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/topl/

Quoted from wbradley

Actually wanted to check out  TOPL if schedule will allow. Their website doesnt appear to have been updated for a long time, so didnt know if it was still active. The Church also sounds interesting, but they too didnt announce their last open evening, which I now know was on Monday.

So where do you get updates? Here??

Actually the TOPL website is being updated more recently that it has been in over the 5 or so years I've been with the league   We've got the scores being updated on a weekly basics now on there.

But anyway, yes the only way to get updates on TOPL locations is through the yahoo group.  We use the yahoo group for all out updates rather then the website is security.  Yahoo allows us to screen every member that tries to join the group so we can make sure they arn't a spam bot or something like that.  Also since we have members address on the list we don't want every Tom, private, and Harry being able to look up address for our locations.  

So jump on the yahoo group and you will be able to be kept aprisied of where the league will be playing next.  Next week we are playing at a new location out in brampton.  Mr Niceguy here on MAACA was nice enough to open his home to the league for the first time and we will be playing there.  

If you need any other information you can contact myself or as Glen mentioned contact PinballAdict here on MAACA as well.  

Quoted from Ricker

I recently joined TOPL but the tournament nights conflict with my work schedule frequently. Having a tourney or "event" on a weekend makes things a bit easier if that is something worth exploring. I know that when I get my games room up to 2 more games I would like to hold a "retro" night, 70's EM & SS, no bellbottoms though!

I guess I haven't put the face to the name with this one, are you Edward or Kevin?

But to answer your question on weekend events, at the end of a season (which is 15 weeks) we hold out playoffs which is always done on a weekend.  Your in luck that the current season is comming to a close in 2 weeks so we currently have our playoffs scheduled for July 12th at a members house out in Carlisle which is right around Hamilton.  This would be a good oppertunity to play BBB if you never have as this member has one in their home alone with I think around 40 - 50 other machines setup and ready to play.  

Also there are cash prizes to be won if you can make it through the double elimination tournament.  The playoffs are inculded in the $30 league fee all members have to pay at the start of the season, if you want to participate in the playoffs you would also have to cover the $30 fee, but with that $30 which includes your participation in the event, it also includes Food and drink for the event.  The event is usualy about 5 - 7 hours long, so lots of fun time just playing some pin.  

Tired ??

Oh NO...... i´m only tired because my day has only 24h

Oh NO....... my head is full with ideas - need a new and larger HD

Oh NO......... that´s such a creative hobby with so many possibilities.......

But YES ......  i´m tired about the high collectors prices!

I started over 8 years ago when i found a star trek , bally '78 , in the garbage . Rough playfield , but else than that , decent and in working condition . Trying to cut down ! Even if i ' m a non smoker , i guess i can use the smoking habit as a comparison . Ended up at one point , not too long ago , with 2 pins in the livingroom and one in the dinningroom . Lucky my wife is patient and likes it too . Managed to sell 4 , but bought 2 others . At least , i ' m down from 8 to 6 games and only one ' s remaining upstairs . Already have plans to hunt for a title i want , but in order to do so , i ' ll have to sell 2 games i own , price wise and space wise . Tough decision since i like 'em all .

I ' m also only good at cleaning and having fun with them . So , it ' s costy when comes an issue and we all know it does , especially that i ' m into the bally SS 1977 / 1985 era . I ' d say in my case , the most damaging part of the hobby , or should i say , the habit , is the fact that i ' m home (mister mom) and the computer ' s on at 7 AM with MAACA as the wall paper and boy , do i ever loose time on polls and all ...   And the answer is ; no i ' m not tired of it !!!

Cheers , Claude

Yes.




No.




Yes.



No...



Depends on the day. I hate it until I finish up a cabinet or playfield, and then I find it frickin sweet.

Yup, this time of year is the worst.  I'd rather be playing in the mud or building something outside.  Soon for sale Starship Troopers, Apollo 13, F14 and Twister or trade me for a BIG JEEP!

Quoted from ancientgames

Yup, this time of year is the worst.  I'd rather be playing in the mud or building something outside.  Soon for sale Starship Troopers, Apollo 13, F14 and Twister or trade me for a BIG JEEP!

For me it's the opposite...kind of....

I'd rather be doing something outside on a nice day, but I find I have more energy in the summer...maybe it's the result of doing real exercise (cycling)...anyhow I tend to work on the pins in the evenings after the sun goes down alot more in the spring, summer and fall. In the winter, I'm in play mode.

Duane

Quoted from MarkToo

I'm tired of not having the time necessary to work on the machines I have.  I have now gone from a collector to a reseller which was not the original intention.  Having machines that have been sitting for upwards of two years without the proper attention, and with no relief in sight, I feel it's time to reduce the numbers and treat the remainder properly.  I had originally hoped for the time and space to keep a healthy number of machines, but that just isn't working out.  I'll reduce it back to the basics, and hopefully this summer get those machines into the shape I want them in, and then just go from there.  Repairing certainly is a major portion of the appeal for me, and without the time for that, the enjoyment of having these machines isn't what it should be.......

I replied Just Starting and you could sell me your TZ if it is just collecting dust feeling alone and unloved.  I am heading for a 12 hour each way Trek to buy one on Friday if I can't get one closer and prefer in Canada.