Pin*Bot value?

[nostrebor]

I am currently attempting to chase down the owner of a fairly rough Pin*Bot here in town. It is sitting unplugged in a laundromat and looks to need a shop job plus repair. paint and playfield is fairly rough, backglass appears to be good.  It is complete from the red-light topper down. Ramps are intact. It is PLENTY dirty!

I'm just looking for a good first pinball to repair, play, and piddle with. I don't mind the rough art, I just want a fun machine without sinking in big bucks up-front. If I have to sink in some bucks slowly along the way, well thats OK.

Anybody (Chad) have any feelings about what this might be worth?

[ChadTower]

Depends on HOW broken it is, really... I wouldn't offer more than $300 if it's a random first pin or $400 if you want that one specifically.

Definitely power it up and try it out before buying it.

[RayB]

BUT in working order, that's a sought-after pin, no?

[ChadTower]

Well, reasonably sought after.  It's not a high end pin by any means, but it is a good game, and worth having if you're into the preDMD SS pins.  I would like a Pinbot.

Most of the value, though, is in the playfield, backglass, and cabinet.  The playfield is most important and you've already said it is trashed.  If the bg is okay, that's cool, but the cabinet is probably trashed too... so now you're looking at a low end pin that needs work.  Without knowing if you have to replace all the PCBs, too, it just isn't prudent to offer all that much for it.

[KevSteele]

A Williams PinBot in "very good" condition is worth about $1,100, according to the 2006 Mr. Pinball Price Guide.

Modify the price downward from there depending on condition.

[ClubNinja]

I try to like the Mr Pinball Price Guide, and really, it's not a bad guide.

[D_Zoot]

Pinbot used a translight instead of a painted backglass, so that shouldn't be an issue.

It was a pre-Diamond Plate (clearcoated playfield) game and they often suffered from playfield wear, lots of it.

[nostrebor]

Thanks guys for the great answers.

I have settled on a Williams, system 11 platform, for my first pin for the exact reasons that D_Zoot stated. Well documented and reliable. It also represents the group of pinballs that I played as a teen. Plus I love the Williams tables.

My thoughts on this pin were to put $200-$300 max in it, get it working, then play for a bit. Save some dough, then shop it, and do cosmetics. If I'm careful I should be able to make a bit of $$ on it at some point if I get bored with it.

I am having some trouble in getting in contact with the owner, so this may fall through. If I get the chance to test drive it, I'll be sure to post back with results/pics.

Thanks again!

[ChadTower]

Don't bother trying to make money, this isn't the pin for that.

Once you start collecting ANYTHING by a price guide, the fun gets sucked right out of it.

BOOYAH, best point made.

[nostrebor]

Don't bother trying to make money, this isn't the pin for that.

Once you start collecting ANYTHING by a price guide, the fun gets sucked right out of it.

BOOYAH, best point made.

Well perhaps I should just settle for not lossing my *** at the point of sale.

[ClubNinja]

Once you start collecting ANYTHING by a price guide, the fun gets sucked right out of it.

BOOYAH, best point made.

Why, thank you.

[nostrebor]

A bit of an update...

The owner is a small operator who believes that his pin is constructed of solid gold with titanium fasteners. His bottom dollar would buy a fuly shopped nice Pinbot from a reputable dealer. Other than that, he was very nice to talk to

meanwhile, the Pinbot remains abandoned at a pissed off laundromat owners location, unplugged and untouched for over a year.

I have found a Grand Lizard in much better shape... it's too much money, but this guy seems much more workable. I shall start chipping away at him until he crumbles and sells it to me for pennies!

[ChadTower]

Perhaps you could talk to the laundromat owner, make him lean on the op to get that pin out of his laundromat.  When the op needs a place to put the Pinbot he may be a bit more willing to sell.

[ClubNinja]

I have found a Grand Lizard in much better shape...

I like Grand Lizard more than Pin-Bot.  Get that one.

[ChadTower]

Never seen one, but the pics of the playfield look pretty cool.

[2PacMan]

Just remember this...it's only worth what someone will pay for it.

[nostrebor]

Perhaps you could talk to the laundromat owner, make him lean on the op to get that pin out of his laundromat.  When the op needs a place to put the Pinbot he may be a bit more willing to sell.

I have been doing just that. I stop by once in a while to see if the OP has been by. We talk shop, and I say see ya. He actually did the legwork to get the op to call me back, because he WANTS the games in his laundromat to either work or be gone. The op seems to just be using the location for free storage I really want a Pinbot, but I'm in no hurry. I'll stay "friendly" with the laundry and maybe it will drop in price.

Meanwhile the GL guy has been dropping his prices on 2 pins. GL and a D&D from Bally. The GL has a few problems with displays and such, but cosmetics are real decent. The D&D is working nice, but I don't care for it. He has had both of these forever... I'm thinking that another 6 months or so will get them within striking distance. Time will tell. They are still way too high for condition at this point, but he is starting to see the light.

[menace]

The owner is a small operator who believes that his pin is constructed of solid gold with titanium fasteners

Sounds like every OP i've talked to    but i guess from their side of the coin you could be that  sucker they were looking for.  I find that after they realize you aren't going to pay them what they paid for the machine 10-20 yrs ago, they'll either lower the price to a reasonable level or move on trying to find the next sucker.  Either way make your offer and move on--let them do whatever they're going to do and don't waste your time on him--if he wants to sell he'll contact you.

[SirPeale]

The op seems to just be using the location for free storage

That happens a lot with equipment that doens't bring in a lot of money, but it would be more trouble getting it off a location than it's worth.

We have a location just up the road from me.  I had to go put records on the jukebox there.  When I got there, *nothing* was on.  I asked if it was out of order, and the location told me "no, we only turn it on if someone wants to play."  HE-LO-OH!  95% of this industry (unless you actually go to a place to play) is spontaneous.  If the equipment is *off* people will assume it doesn't work, and therefore not even bother!

So I ask the boss about this, say "why don't you pull it?  It sure doesn't earn much, esp since the location doesn't seem to care".  He shrugs, smiles, and says "it's free warm storage that brings me money every few months."  He's right.  The equipment is paid for, and then some.  It would cost a heap in gas money to pick it up, so it's best where it is.

As for the non-working pin, keep leaning on the location guy, as well as the op.  Offer him a price.  Tell him you'll just haul it away, he doesn't have to worry about it any more.  Every time you see him, lower your price by just a little bit.

[GalaxyForce]

Sounds like every OP i've talked to    but i guess from their side of the coin you could be that  sucker they were looking for.  I find that after they realize you aren't going to pay them what they paid for the machine 10-20 yrs ago, they'll either lower the price to a reasonable level or move on trying to find the next sucker.  Either way make your offer and move on--let them do whatever they're going to do and don't waste your time on him--if he wants to sell he'll contact you.

Isnt that the truth