There are a few factors that must be taken into consideration when buying a pinball machine. As with any purchase that involves a sizable amount of money it pays to do a bit of research first. This is certainly the case here but, exactly what should you do before you buy your new pinball machine?
Firstly, make sure you're going for a machine from a big name manufacturer. The reason I say this is because you will inevitably have maintenance needs for your pinball machine. A bumper may wear out and need replacing, you may need the rubber changed. If you go with one of the big names (Bally, Gottlieb, Williams, Stern, Sega or Data East) you will have fewer problems finding parts.
If you're buying a pinball machine over the internet, one would expect that you've decided on exactly which machine you're going to buy. You may have fallen in love with the Meteor or Kiss machine you played as a kid and want one for your own games room. Make sure, if you're bidding for one on-line, that you see as many photos of the machine as possible.
Some of these machines will have been well-used and it's possible that the body of the machine will be scratched or beginning to wear out, particularly the more popular names. However, the more popular the machine, the more likely that parts will be available for them.
Find out, if you can, how new the flippers and coils on the machine are. If anything is going to wear and affect the playability of the machine it's going to be these parts. Also, try to get a look at the pinball ball(s) in the machine. A less than shining ball could damage the surface of the table and affect the quality of the game you get.
Whether you're determined to buy a pinball that you remembered playing as a kid or are looking to add another valuable asset to your pinball collection, there is a wide range of machines out there and some of them are at bargain basement prices. Just remember to do your research.