What Are The Top 10 Questions You Ask When Buying a Pinball Machine Sight Unseen

[freeplayer]

Okay so I have had some gut wrenching experience, purchasing several
90's B/W 9+ condition titles across the country sight unseen. I would
love to hear from other group members who have taken the same plunge.
What specific questions do you ask the seller before pulling the
trigger. I'll go first:

1. How long have you owned the Pin?

2. When was the last time you had the pin serviced and shopped?

3. Does the pin play error free without reset issues?

4. Does the playfield have any cracked ramps, edge wear, insert wear,
other cosmetic damage to the artwork?

5. Does the upper and lower cabinet have any chunks of wood missing,
scrapes, multiple prior touch up to the Artwork, Artwork colors
faded?

6. What's the Voltage read on the MFG Label?

7. Any problems with the DMD display such as lines out or distortion.

8. Any burns, hacks, prior repairs done to the main Power Board, all
boards in the back box match?

9. Do you have all the keys, coin box and an original owners manual?

10. Any sign of water stains or water damage underneath or inside the
main cabinet?

I may also ask for better pictures or close ups on certain areas, and
if the cabinet has drill holes next to the coin door.

[DiscoDuck]

I think the questions are more fluid for me based on the price I am
paying for a pin.
For example, if I was paying 4k for a spiderman the questions would be
the same as yours above, including.
Do you have the original receipts and purchase documents for the game?
and
List in detail, anything that would cause this pinball to not be
absolutly mint.

If I was buying a 2k spiderman the only question would be:
Is the game complete?
and maybe
Do you take cash?:)

[so]

On Mar 23, 11:49 am, freeplayer <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Okay so I have had some gut wrenching experience, purchasing several
> 90's B/W 9+ condition titles across the country sight unseen.  I would
> love to hear from other group members who have taken the same plunge.
> What specific questions do you ask the seller before pulling the
> trigger.  I'll go first:
>
> 1. How long have you owned the Pin?
>
> 2. When was the last time you had the pin serviced and shopped?
>
> 3. Does the pin play error free without reset issues?
>
> 4. Does the playfield have any cracked ramps, edge wear, insert wear,
> other cosmetic damage to the artwork?
>
> 5. Does the upper and lower cabinet have any chunks of wood missing,
> scrapes, multiple prior touch up to the Artwork, Artwork colors
> faded?
>
> 6. What's the Voltage read on the MFG Label?
>
> 7.  Any problems with the DMD display such as lines out or distortion.
>
> 8. Any burns, hacks, prior repairs done to the main Power Board, all
> boards in the back box match?
>
> 9. Do you have all the keys, coin box and an original owners manual?
>
> 10. Any sign of water stains or water damage underneath or inside the
> main cabinet?
>
> I may also ask for better pictures or close ups on certain areas, and
> if the cabinet has drill holes next to the coin door.

The number and type of question(s) you ask depends on the price of the
game.

[John In WI]

#1 (ask to myself):

"Why the hell am I considering buying another pin, sight unseen?"

[Rick Swanson]

On Mar 23, 3:49 pm, freeplayer <***@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> 10. Any sign of water stains or water damage underneath or inside the
> main cabinet?
>

11. What's the name and number of your parole officer? ;-)


Rick Swanson

[jar155]

On Mar 23, 1:49 pm, freeplayer <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Okay so I have had some gut wrenching experience, purchasing several
> 90's B/W 9+ condition titles across the country sight unseen.  I would
> love to hear from other group members who have taken the same plunge.
> What specific questions do you ask the seller before pulling the
> trigger.  I'll go first:
>
> 1. How long have you owned the Pin?
>
> 2. When was the last time you had the pin serviced and shopped?
>
> 3. Does the pin play error free without reset issues?
>
> 4. Does the playfield have any cracked ramps, edge wear, insert wear,
> other cosmetic damage to the artwork?
>
> 5. Does the upper and lower cabinet have any chunks of wood missing,
> scrapes, multiple prior touch up to the Artwork, Artwork colors
> faded?
>
> 6. What's the Voltage read on the MFG Label?
>
> 7.  Any problems with the DMD display such as lines out or distortion.
>
> 8. Any burns, hacks, prior repairs done to the main Power Board, all
> boards in the back box match?
>
> 9. Do you have all the keys, coin box and an original owners manual?
>
> 10. Any sign of water stains or water damage underneath or inside the
> main cabinet?
>
> I may also ask for better pictures or close ups on certain areas, and
> if the cabinet has drill holes next to the coin door.

1. How is the playfield? Any signs of wear or damage?
2. Does the game function 100% without any weird hangups or issues?
3. Do the boards look clean? Have they been hacked?
4. Why are you selling it and how long have you had it?
5. Is the cabinet damaged anywhere?
6. How are the ramps, plastics, and inserts?
7, Does it come with the keys and manual? Any extras?
8. Have you had any issues with it that you've need to have repaired?
If so, what happened?
9. Where did you get the machine?
10. Do the DMD and speakers look/sound clear?

[Captain Neo]

I wouldn't buy a pin sight unseen unless it was a screaming deal, at
which time, i'd only care if it was complete.

[brokenvette]

On Mar 23, 3:08 pm, Captain Neo <***@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I wouldn't buy a pin sight unseen unless it was a screaming deal, at
> which time, i'd only care if it was complete.

Because, in my case high end pins are very few and far between.

[John Wart, jr]

The kind of games I buy are often not those that you want to ask 20
questions about.

I *do* ask if the game is complete, and if it works. Only because if
something is missing, I want to adjust the price a little, knowing i'm going
to have to chase parts down.

I polish turds. If I decide I like a title, I set out to find a complete
game at a good price that I can refurbish to bring it back to 'like new'
condition. I get my enjoyment doing that, not looking at them, or discussing
how 'collectible' they are, or how much better they are than everyone elses.
Mine don't need pedigrees, and I like having 3 slot coin doors and 230 volt
stickers on the back of the cab. I think it's absolutely hilarious that
people get uptight about that sort of thing, so when I restore them, I leave
them as original. Granted, when I do work for others, they call the shots -
but when I do work for *me*, that's the way I do it.

I guess I could say my 1st question would be how many Ls are in Williams,
but that reminds me of my first unpolished turd game, a blown out
rollergames from Italy. The 'MAGNET' insert had 'MANGNET' on it with
dry-transfer letters. Having never owned a game before, I still noticed
this, but it didn't bother me, considering the amount of wear on the
playfield and around the magnet pole.



"freeplayer" <***@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:7845f32c-1950-4a03-9c8a-***@z11g2000yqz.googlegroups.com...
> Okay so I have had some gut wrenching experience, purchasing several
> 90's B/W 9+ condition titles across the country sight unseen. I would
> love to hear from other group members who have taken the same plunge.
> What specific questions do you ask the seller before pulling the
> trigger. I'll go first:
>
> 1. How long have you owned the Pin?
>
> 2. When was the last time you had the pin serviced and shopped?
>
> 3. Does the pin play error free without reset issues?
>
> 4. Does the playfield have any cracked ramps, edge wear, insert wear,
> other cosmetic damage to the artwork?
>
> 5. Does the upper and lower cabinet have any chunks of wood missing,
> scrapes, multiple prior touch up to the Artwork, Artwork colors
> faded?
>
> 6. What's the Voltage read on the MFG Label?
>
> 7. Any problems with the DMD display such as lines out or distortion.
>
> 8. Any burns, hacks, prior repairs done to the main Power Board, all
> boards in the back box match?
>
> 9. Do you have all the keys, coin box and an original owners manual?
>
> 10. Any sign of water stains or water damage underneath or inside the
> main cabinet?
>
> I may also ask for better pictures or close ups on certain areas, and
> if the cabinet has drill holes next to the coin door.
>

[Joe Grenuk]

I would ask how many "L"s it had in "Williams"

[freeplayer]

On Mar 23, 4:39 pm, Joe Grenuk <***@aol.com> wrote:
> I would ask how many "L"s it had in "Williams"

Note to self. Create question #11 How Many "L"s in Williams, credit to
Joe Grenuk. Question #12 Is your game a Turd? credit to John Wart,
jr, ask John Wart, jr for Turd polishing instructions. lol

[Kyle Wren]

In article <7845f32c-1950-4a03-9c8a-***@z11g2000yqz.googlegroups.com>,
freeplayer says...

11) Have you, or any other form of animal life form, ever resided inside of the
cabinet of this game? If so, did said thing come to think of it as having it's
own bathroom in there?


--
Kyle Wren - CARGPB #27

[ldnayman]

On Mar 23, 3:49�pm, freeplayer <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Okay so I have had some gut wrenching experience, purchasing several
> 90's B/W 9+ condition titles across the country sight unseen. �I would
> love to hear from other group members who have taken the same plunge.
> What specific questions do you ask the seller before pulling the
> trigger. �I'll go first:
>
> 1. How long have you owned the Pin?

Could care less

>
> 2. When was the last time you had the pin serviced and shopped?

Could care less

>
> 3. Does the pin play error free without reset issues?

Yup

>
> 4. Does the playfield have any cracked ramps, edge wear, insert wear,
> other cosmetic damage to the artwork?
>

Yup

> 5. Does the upper and lower cabinet have any chunks of wood missing,
> scrapes, multiple prior touch up to the Artwork, Artwork colors
> faded?
>

nah pics tell the story


> 6. What's the Voltage read on the MFG Label?>

never thought to ask

> 7. �Any problems with the DMD display such as lines out or distortion.

yup - that's a $130 part

>
> 8. Any burns, hacks, prior repairs done to the main Power Board, all
> boards in the back box match?

Could care less. If it works it works. If I have to redo a GI
connector or two that comes with the territory.

I'm personally insulted when someone asks me if the boards match, what
a non-issue.


>
> 9. Do you have all the keys, coin box and an original owners manual?

I ask about keys, could care less about the rest

>
> 10. Any sign of water stains or water damage underneath or inside the
> main cabinet?
>

Nah

> I may also ask for better pictures or close ups on certain areas, and
> if the cabinet has drill holes next to the coin door.

Nah

I'd add another one-

For WPC slide out playfield style games - are the rails messed up at
all? Does it slide out, lock, and lift without any problems? I hate
when those things are screwed up/mangled.

[Lloyd Olson]

1- The saw dust below it - were you cutting wood on it or is that from
termites ?
2- The poop on the playfield, you know if it's from a dog or raccoon ?
3- That backglass, you paint it yourself or did you pay drug crazed hippies
to do it ?
4- Mouse nests in it, new or old ?
5- How long has it been stored outside ?
6- You stash porn and drugs in it or is it a gift from the previous owner ?
7- No serial numbers, how HOT is this game ?
8- Used to work, any guess as to how many years ago ?
9- The outside of the cabinet, did you sand the paint off or did it fall off
on it's own ?
10- Do you always use TOP DVD's under the leg to level your pins ?

LTG :)

[WestCoastSS]

Making sure the seller isnt wayne gillard, after you know its not,
then your prolly ok.

[z***@hotmail.com]

Is it just a fuse?

How much did they want on pawn stars?

Does the chick come with it?

Got any more pins/games around here.

Is that your best price?

want to trade for a really nice lethal weapon 3?

[1st]

#1 Are all the boards in the backbox?

1st