Question for you all... pinball price guide aside...

I was wondering about the added value of a completely refurbished pin... if it is worth the work. I can pick up any classic SS pin for relatively cheap (under 200$), and redo pretty much everything. If I do so, here is a general breakdown:

- cab fix and repaint (200$ if I get stencils, 50$ + labor intensive if I do it myself)
- 150$ for board work
- playfield I redo myself, but labor intensive
- backglass I can retouch, but if bad, I have to buy one (100-300$)

Would you do it? Take any popular title, such as, umm... well, Silverball Mania let's say. How much would a NICE one fetch, with a redone cab, clearcoated playfield, cleaned and 100% mechanicals and beautiful overall?

I know it depends on the title, but I am on the fence with a decision, between collecting or limiting myself to strictly fixing. The problem stems from having no one to come over to play once in a while, and the fact that I cannot have a meeting before making my pins 100%, and even then, I wonder if there is interest since I only have classic SS pins.

Also, because I have found a small stash of beat-up pins for cheap, which would monopolize my time.

Just an idea... so... would you rebuild completely if the titles are good, or just leave as-is, as long as they work?

Unless someone is paying you for your services I think you are going to end up working for free.

The problem with restorations is that unless you are dealing with A titles I think you are going to have a hard time selling them for what they are worth.  

If someone came to you and said I have this silverball mania and I want it resotred, it might be a little more fesible.  But to assume that a restored version is going to sell isn't the best idea espically in todays market.

Keep in mind that the "book prices" are already for "nice, clean and working games"...

So, at least to me, i would expect a nice one to be around that price +/- a certain amount but not necesseraly by much.

In other words, your restored pin would have its full value once restored while it would be worth less in its current bad cosmetics but working state. I dont think it would "add" value to it that much to fully restore it unless its a highly collectible one with hundreds of people ready to buy it.

This is my personnal opinion and by no means a scientifical analysis, so take it for whats its worth. I would fix them for me if i had the space to keep them, restore those you really like but wont hope on making a big return on your labour...

leave as is.  once you get them working.   as long as they are updated with new battery and such.  then just sell them for a profit to buy what you really want.  you can always give them the option of having the cab redone for more money.
  a lot of us just like to buy to play and don't have big hang-ups on the condition of the cab.
  what do you have now sparky?  

I think you'd have to find the "rich doctor" that's willing to pay a premium price for an older SS pin - and appreciates it as art work - and wants something pristine to fit into the homes decor.  

I'd love a fully-restored one - but two things stop me
(1) price - "hey I could buy 2 SS for that price" or "i could get a DMD for that price"; and;
(2) i could restore it myself (although I never would - I would still say it to myself)...

I think you could probably do well getting SS's into university kids hands for their dorms / apartments more easily.   Here you could save on the cosmetics.   They might not stay in good shape, though, ...

I think the theme I'm hearing
(...which is the one I agree with... ) is to
fix them for yourself (for your own collection),
but don't do it solely for profit because you'll probably
never get back the money and effort you put into it
(...especially the labour... )



My 2 cents..    (  <=== copyright Frosken @2004  )

Steph

Quoted from gorydeath

leave as is.  once you get them working.   as long as they are updated with new battery and such.  then just sell them for a profit to buy what you really want.  you can always give them the option of having the cab redone for more money.
  a lot of us just like to buy to play and don't have big hang-ups on the condition of the cab.
  what do you have now sparky?  

Not too much about making a profit... I am just happy to break even.

As for what I have, look in my signature below. I am also looking at a small lot of classic pins, but nothing concrete yet. A few nice early-SS Bally Williams and Stern titles, but most are route-blown and need a lot of love.

Quoted from Tuborg

I think you'd have to find the "rich doctor" that's willing to pay a premium price for an older SS pin - and appreciates it as art work - and wants some prestine to fit into the homes decor.  

I'd love a fully-restored one - but two things stop me
(1) price - "hey I could buy 2 SS for that price" or "i could get a DMD for that price"; and;
(2) i could restore it myself (although I never would - I would still say it to myself)...

I think you could probably do well getting SS's into university kids hands for their dorms / apartments more easily.   Here you could save on the cosmetics.   They might not stay in good shape, though, ...

The thing is I can manage to make money even by selling at book value, even after rebuilding a pin completely... of course, I don't calculate my labor in it.

Quoted from Azatotht

Keep in mind that the "book prices" are already for "nice, clean and working games"...

So, at least to me, i would expect a nice one to be around that price +/- a certain amount but not necesseraly by much.

In other words, your restored pin would have its full value once restored while it would be worth less in its current bad cosmetics but working state. I dont think it would "add" value to it that much to fully restore it unless its a highly collectible one with hundreds of people ready to buy it.

This is my personnal opinion and by no means a scientifical analysis, so take it for whats its worth. I would fix them for me if i had the space to keep them, restore those you really like but wont hope on making a big return on your labour...

Yeah... I have space for 10 pins easy with the gameroom now finished... space is not a problem. Yeah... might just do it for myself, and sell them off if I get tired.

Fix them up and put them on route
You'll make your money back in no time!

Quoted from jonny_eh

Fix them up and put them on route
You'll make your money back in no time!

Welcome to the province of Quebec.. where every route machine needs a 300$/year permit... quite a bubble burster isnt it.

Quoted from Sparky

The thing is I can manage to make money even by selling at book value, even after rebuilding a pin completely... of course, I don't calculate my labor in it.

I'll buy a fully restored seawitch from you at book value   if its anything like your past projects.

I think you undersell your work, though!