I'm considering buying a used Spider-man from the Playdium Store. Apparently, the one I would buy is currently on route (I don't know where). I would put $500 down and they would bring it in, and 'shop it'. Does anyone have any experience buying from them this way? How good is their 'shopping'?

i would shop it yourself as i bought a indy which they shopped and would say they don't do as good a job as a collector would do.

i would have no issue in buying a machine from them after their tech goes thru it

dave

Quoted from jonny_eh

I'm considering buying a used Spider-man from the Playdium Store. Apparently, the one I would buy is currently on route (I don't know where). I would put $500 down and they would bring it in, and 'shop it'. Does anyone have any experience buying from them this way? How good is their 'shopping'?

Starburst Shopping = Wiping it down with a dirty rag in the easily accessible areas, making sure it generally plays, and changing the easy to access rubbers.

Don't expect to get a shopped machine to collectors standards, you going to need to tear it down once you get it.  

From what I've seen, their shop jobs are decent.. but keep in mind, they're operators and not collectors (like Dave said)

I wonder if they'd swing a better deal if you bought it AS-IS?

Brock has a good point, you are going to have to shop it anyway, I'd see if you can get them to knock off some of the costs and shop it yourself.  That way it gets done properly.  

Quoted from machine.slave

From what I've seen, their shop jobs are decent.. but keep in mind, they're operators and not collectors (like Dave said)

I wonder if they'd swing a better deal if you bought it AS-IS?

Ya, I'm considering that, but if their shop job truly is just a wipe down (like I expected) then I doubt they'd care all that much.

Has anyone been able to get them to take pics of the machine? Buying a routed machine sight unseen makes me nervous.

Quoted from jonny_eh

Ya, I'm considering that, but if their shop job truly is just a wipe down (like I expected) then I doubt they'd care all that much.

Has anyone been able to get them to take pics of the machine? Buying a routed machine sight unseen makes me nervous.

Doubtful they will get you pics, but you could always get one of us locals to go and take a look at it for you and get pics.  

Drive to TO and see it - best way with Starburst. It's not that far for that kind of investment.

Quoted from medvet

Drive to TO and see it - best way with Starburst. It's not that far for that kind of investment.

It's a good point, but that would mean two trips That's a bit of gas to spend.

I like Adam's idea, I trust my fellow maacar's opinions on machines. I'll try to find out it's location.

Their shop job has little/no value added to a machine IMHO.

Make sure they include the coin mech's & coin box.  Many operators like to keep these.

Quoted from Vengeance

Brock has a good point

I'm printing this off and hanging it on my wall..

Starburst is practically on my way home from work, I can check it out for you if you like.. but by the sounds of it, they might want some sort of commitment before they pull it off route.

I used SB when I bought my Elvis last year. It was on location (London, I think) and they asked for a $500 deposit. Once they brought the machine in house, I had the opportunity to inspect it and could back out with a full refund. The deposit seems to be their way to keep out the tire kickers.

The machine was clean and played well. One switch went very quickly and SB got me a new one, free of charge. A few lights were out at the back of the playfield - the ones you can't see unless you're only 4 foot 2.

All in all, I was pleased with the service and the machine.

Quoted from TommyV

I used SB when I bought my Elvis last year. It was on location (London, I think) and they asked for a $500 deposit. Once they brought the machine in house, I had the opportunity to inspect it and could back out with a full refund. The deposit seems to be their way to keep out the tire kickers.

The machine was clean and played well. One switch went very quickly and SB got me a new one, free of charge. A few lights were out at the back of the playfield - the ones you can't see unless you're only 4 foot 2.

All in all, I was pleased with the service and the machine.

hey a returnable deposit    

Good idea as you say to get rid of tire kickers.

Elvis would have sold either way, so no big deal returning deposit.

The down side with Starburst is you are paying full retail.

My experience with buying a machine from them wasnt too bad. I bought my Tommy there years ago when it was just off route from them. Their idea of a shop job certainly seemed like they wiped it with a rag and maybe changed a bulb or two and those had to be only the easy bulbs to get it. I took it home and shopped it properly and there must have been around a dozen dead hard to reach bulbs I changed.

On the positive side...their price isnt written in stone and I haggled a few hundred bucks off their inflated aksing price.

Stan

As stated their shop jobs are worth nothing, a quick wipe. I bought a few games from them AS-IS, and shopped it myself, no issues. But I checked them first to make sure there were no major issues. Get someone to check the major stuff like DMD and other expensive parts.

I just heard back from them. They won't tell me the location but mentioned the returnable deposit which sounds like a fair deal. They even mentioned sending me pics. I'm guessing they don't earn much on route anyways so if I pass on it they'll find someone else. Thanks for the advice guys (and gal)!

Quoted from jonny_eh

I just heard back from them. They won't tell me the location but mentioned the returnable deposit which sounds like a fair deal. They even mentioned sending me pics. I'm guessing they don't earn much on route anyways so if I pass on it they'll find someone else. Thanks for the advice guys (and gal)!

Me thinks that you will really enjoy Spidey .. great transition from LOTR both great but totally different feel to both games.

Actually, I'm starting to consider holding onto LOTR (and just adding SM to the collection). I played it a bit yesterday and had a really fun game
I also just found out that my LOTR is missing an important plastic! There's apparently supposed to be a plastic behind the ring ramp that sends the ball to the bumpers when it doesn't make it into the ring. My machine is missing that, hence why the game is constantly sending the ball to the fraking PoTD.

Quoted from jonny_eh

Actually, I'm starting to consider holding onto LOTR (and just adding SM to the collection). I played it a bit yesterday and had a really fun game
I also just found out that my LOTR is missing an important plastic! There's apparently supposed to be a plastic behind the ring ramp that sends the ball to the bumpers when it doesn't make it into the ring. My machine is missing that, hence why the game is constantly sending the ball to the fraking PoTD.

Wouldn't blame you .. neither is leaving my setup for a long while

Just bought it. W00t! They moved on the price but I'm getting it as-is.

Shipping to Ottawa is $150. If they shipped, the deposit would still be refundable if I reject the pin, but I'd swallow the shipping. They'll send me pics first, but I'll probably drive into TO to pick it up anyways (unless the pics make it clear the pin's a lemon).

Quoted from jonny_eh

Just bought it. W00t! They moved on the price but I'm getting it as-is.

Shipping to Ottawa is $150. If they shipped, the deposit would still be refundable if I reject the pin, but I'd swallow the shipping. They'll send me pics first, but I'll probably drive into TO to pick it up anyways (unless the pics make it clear the pin's a lemon).

Our lineups are starting to mirror each other ... at some point I want a TZ but after the RFM I need to take a break for a bit.

Quoted from jonny_eh

Just bought it. W00t! They moved on the price but I'm getting it as-is.

Shipping to Ottawa is $150. If they shipped, the deposit would still be refundable if I reject the pin, but I'd swallow the shipping. They'll send me pics first, but I'll probably drive into TO to pick it up anyways (unless the pics make it clear the pin's a lemon).

If you Drive up on the weekend of April 11th you can play in the TOPL Playoffs if you like.  

Quoted from Vengeance

If you Drive up on the weekend of April 11th you can play in the TOPL Playoffs if you like.  

oooh, tempting!!

DIBS on SM when/if you're done with it  

Congrats!

Quoted from machine.slave

DIBS on SM when/if you're done with it  

Congrats!

Get in line! (seriously, you're the second to call dibs)

But don't hold your breath too long, I'm not Hippochrome.

I'm thinking (hoping?) that SM may hold its value quite well.

Wow, that was a pretty fast transition from "considering" to "bought".  If you don't mind sharing, what did you end up getting it for?  I'm just curious what they sell used machines for-they had a SM on the floor last time I stopped by, but it was priced at $5100.  

Quoted from Chris Bardon

Wow, that was a pretty fast transition from "considering" to "bought".  If you don't mind sharing, what did you end up getting it for?  I'm just curious what they sell used machines for-they had a SM on the floor last time I stopped by, but it was priced at $5100.  

As i also want a new or fairly modern PIN, i have also thought about asking them about their prices etc.

Quoted from jonny_eh

But don't hold your breath too long, I'm not Hippochrome.

All this talk of buying and selling new Sterns is making me want to sell WCS94 and join the club...and I've had that pin for about 3mos. now...
that's pretty long for me to keep a "keeper" pin

Quoted from Chris Bardon

Wow, that was a pretty fast transition from "considering" to "bought".  If you don't mind sharing, what did you end up getting it for?  I'm just curious what they sell used machines for-they had a SM on the floor last time I stopped by, but it was priced at $5100.  

They priced their used machines at $3990. NIB is $5090

Quoted from jonny_eh

They priced their used machines at $3990. NIB is $5090

I think it does depend on which used stern but A titles .. yup that's the price that they quoted at the hobby show in the fall

Quoted from jonny_eh

They priced their used machines at $3990. NIB is $5090

+ tax?

I'm sure with any haggling situation, YMMV  

Quoted from Vengeance

+ tax?

Of course.

Quoted from Vengeance

+ tax?

Yup but there is haggle room .. when I was looking at one of their SM's there was some wiggle room

That's always the kicker for me, I'd pay $4K for a Stern like POTC or SM or something like that, but I don't want to pay the tax which will bring the costs around $4500, if it weren't for the tax I'd buy one as well.