You can find pinball machines on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or in your neighbors basement for prices from $300 to thousands depending on age, condition, desirability, availability and location. Like buying a car, there will be a wide range of prices but here is a guide to the upper end of the prices:
- $1K to maybe $1.2K for a nice EM (electro-mechanical) restored.
- $2K for a B title early SS (solid-state) in nice shape
- $3K for an A title early SS in great shape
- $4K for a crazy desirable A title with new PF, basically a new game early SS
- Over $4K for a more modern but used title.
- Over $6K for NIB (New in the box) or recent titles.
- Highly desirable older titles like The Adams Family or Twilight Zone can be $7K plus. Even 1980 classic stern Quciksilvers and Stargazers are trading at $7K.
Keep in mind the purchase price will just be the beginning of your expense. Parts can break and there will be wax, rubbers, light bulbs to purchase. Owning a pinball machine is a lot like owning a car, there is maintenance.
You’ll spend more on a machine if you limit your choices to a certain title that you just have to have. Shipping will cost around $400.
If you want a bargain, expand your list of desired titles and expect to find one of the machines outside of the top 50 titles.
They say when purchasing a pinball machine there are three basic conditions – price, condition and location. Pick two.
Like any collectible you are limited to whatever is on the market at any given time. How patient are you? Less patient, expect to spend more.
Those who live in pinball hot zones like PA, NY or IL will have many more pinball deals to choose from than people who live in “pinball deserts”.
Where can you buy a pinball machine? From game room dealers, Ebay, Craigslist, pinball shows, operators getting rid of low performing machines
Keep in mind that prices on places like Ebay are typically the seller’s fantasy price. Buying from other collectors is more likely to net a fair price than buying from Ebay where there are selling fees to recover.
If you are willing to put in the work it takes to bring an classic EM pinball machine from the early 70s back to life, you can purchase a non-working for pinball machine for $100 – $400 depending on how much the homeowner wants to free up basement space.