Appraisals are free and come with no obligation to sell. Whether you’re insuring a collection, settling an estate, or just curious what’s sitting in the basement, we give you a real valuation based on the current market, not a guess.
Appraisals are free and come with no obligation to sell. Whether you're insuring a collection, settling an estate, or just curious what's sitting in the basement, we give you a real valuation based on the current market, not a guess.
You don't have to be ready to sell. You don't have to commit to anything. You just send photos and we tell you what you've got.
Not everyone calling for an appraisal is ready to sell. Plenty of people just want a real number, and that's a totally legitimate reason to call. No pressure either way.
Adding a machine to your homeowners or collector's insurance policy and need a current valuation for the rider.
Valuing a collection for probate, divorce settlement, or figuring out what to leave to which kid.
On the fence about selling and want a real offer before making the decision. Get a number, sleep on it, decide later.
You inherited it, you found it, you've owned it for 30 years. You just want to know what it's worth.
A pinball machine's value comes down to six main factors. Each one carries different weight depending on the machine and the market. Here's how we think about each one.
The specific title matters more than any other single factor. Popular and licensed themes command different prices than obscure titles from the same era, regardless of condition.
Fully working, partially working, or completely dead all affect value. Working machines sell faster and for more, but non-working machines still have clear value, especially for collectors or restoration projects.
Wear patterns, planking, scratches, and any touched-up areas on the playfield factor heavily. A clean playfield on a middle-tier title can be worth more than a worn playfield on a popular one.
Cracked backglass, flaking artwork, water-damaged cabinets, or heavy cigarette staining all pull value down. Original unrestored artwork in good shape holds premium value.
Electromechanical, early solid-state, late solid-state, dot matrix, and modern LCD machines all price differently. Certain eras are more collectible than others at any given moment.
All-original parts add value. Machines with aftermarket replacements, missing pieces, or frankensteined from multiple donors price differently. We identify this during the appraisal.
A lot of callers have already been told a value by someone else. An estate appraiser, an auction house, a pawn shop, an antique dealer. Those numbers are often way off. Here's why.
Most appraisals happen remotely via photos. For higher-value collections or when you need more detail, we can come to you. Pick what fits.
Send photos by text or email. We send back a fair cash offer and condition notes within a day or two. Best for most single-machine sellers.
We come to you for in-person inspection. Hands-on assessment of playfield, electronics, cabinet, and originality. Best for collections or premium machines where accuracy matters.
A formatted written valuation suitable for insurance policies, estate inventories, or probate documentation. Available after an in-home or photo appraisal is complete.
The most common questions people ask before requesting a pinball machine appraisal.
Free. No catch. You're under zero obligation to sell to us afterward. A lot of callers get a number, thank us, and keep their machine. That's a fine outcome. We'd rather build trust and have you call us down the road than charge a fee upfront.
That's a normal request. We'll appraise the machine with no pressure to sell. If you need a written valuation document for your insurance carrier, ask for one and we'll put it together in a format that works for your policy.
For photo appraisals, usually within a few days. For in-home appraisals, we schedule based on your availability and appraise during the visit. Written appraisals for insurance or estate purposes take a little longer because of the documentation.
Front shot of the backglass, full playfield with the glass removed if possible, each side of the cabinet, and any obvious damage or wear. The backglass photo should be clear enough to read the title. More photos help, but these basics usually get us a solid appraisal.
Non-working machines get appraised too. They still have value, sometimes significantly more than people expect. We assess parts, cabinet, and restoration potential. See our Non-Working Machines page for more.
Because asking prices and closing prices are very different things. Online listings often show wishful numbers that never actually close. A real appraisal reflects what machines actually sell for in today's market, not what sellers hope they'll get.
Pinball is our primary focus and where our expertise is strongest. We'll appraise arcade machines and can point you in the right direction on jukeboxes if it's outside our specialty. Tell us what you have and we'll be straight with you about fit.
Easy. The appraisal number is the offer. Accept it and we schedule pickup. Our full selling process is laid out on the Sell My Machine page, and pickup details are on the Pickup Service page.
Free, fast, and no obligation to sell. Whether you're insuring, planning, or just curious, we'll give you a real valuation based on what pinball machines actually sell for.
631-652-9911Send photos and a few quick details about your machine. We'll come back with a valuation and no pressure to sell.