Hey all,

I find it funny that many stay away from routed machines. The reality is that the EM's and most 70's, 80's and 90's machines were all routed. All it takes is a little TLC to restore and machine to a very high quality. Of course with newer machines if the cabinet or playfield is fk'd then it will cost and the routed machine should likely be passed on but is these are in great shape then... Many people on this site can change out brocken plastics, parts and clean up a machine. I figure if you want a machine go after it and put the time in to make it what you want.

Anyway food for thought.

PS HUO vs routed, of course HUO, however they are not always available.

Quoted from Jester

I find it funny that many stay away from routed machines.

Where are you getting your information from?  Most people her usually prefer to go the cheaper route and buy machines that require work rather then ones that have already been fixed up or are in HUO condition.  

Gotta agree with Adam. What has lead you to your comment? I love HUO, but it's not realistic for older games -- certainly not realistic for my wallet. For newer Sterns, though, HUO are often available for a reasonable premium.

Duane

Everytime I read a comment on routed machines I see "Yuck" like comments. My comments were based on that.

I guess many of us are on the same page. A deal is a deal, even if it requires work and parts or if you are lucky it requires none.

I think you mean 're-import' where quite a few people respond with 'Yuck'.  I've had re-imports before and they're no different than domestic.  Both can be just as good or just as nasty.  

Quoted from Jester

... if you are lucky it requires none.

I have never owned a machine that required absolutely no work. Even my WPT, which was supposedly HUO, needed work done to make it better.

Routed machines are kind of unavoidable in this hobby.

Reimport only means that it was brought from anywhere other that Canada or the US. Theres a hell of a lot of pinballs in other countries (Europe/ Americas) that are in greater demand up here. Hence, they are usually reimported in bulk. Its a business venture.

From what everyone says, in no way does the method that it got it here indicate its final condition.  

I have a Dr Who from France with a really cool single slot multiple coin acceptor (made in UK) and my Mars Trek (which should be gone) has a coin slot accepting Francs as well as another accepting quarters.

The stigma around re-imports is how the are usually re-imported back into North America.  The are usually shipped via sea as opposed to air and the salt water of the open ocean does not play well with the metal components of a pinball machine usually resulting in lots of rust.  

As with anything condition dictates price, some make it back fine others don't.  I don't think anyone would care if it was an import or not as long as it is in decent shape and priced accordingly.  

I only say yuck to routed/reimports that are OVER priced...

If it were not for routed or even re-imorts many of us woudl have no collection at all...

I LOVE routed pins, that are priced accordingly though...

Guess I'm just a Pin-Slut?  I'll take any PIN to play/restore... Not very picky when it arrives (respective of price I paid), but when it leaves, that's when I care and make sure that I did the most I could to improve that game.

Re-Imports, HUO, Route, Bathroom game.... Couldn't care less... it's what you do with it that counts.

My $0.02

Quoted from TGlover

Guess I'm just a Pin-Slut?  I'll take any PIN to flip..

Fixed.  

Quoted Text

  Quoted from TGlover
Guess I'm just a Pin-Slut?  I'll take any PIN to flip..


Fixed.  

Haaaaa ha haaa haa ha! I was just waiting for that one! Just because the guy offers up machines he doesnt yet have or buys and sells in a 1 week period doesnt mean it isnt just circumstance and/or ADD does it?