Episode 16 - So You Wanna Buy a Pinball Machine?

Wedgehead advises first-time buyers: new Stern over classics, expect $7k+ and repairs, play locations first.

Synopsis

Alan and Alex from Wedgehead A Pinball Podcast discuss practical advice for first-time home pinball buyers, covering cost expectations ($7k-$15k+), why ownership differs from location play, the maintenance burden, and recommendations favoring new Stern machines for beginners over used classics or virtual pinball. They emphasize that pinball ownership is fundamentally about fixing machines, not just playing them, and encourage prospective buyers to play at good locations first.

Highlights

• New Stern Pro machines now start at $7,000, Premium models around $9,700+
• Owning a pinball machine requires commitment to fixing/maintaining it; most machines break within first year or show intermittent issues
• Virtual pinball machines are poor investments that depreciate rapidly and don't replicate real pinball physics
• Playing on location is far more affordable than home ownership; reaching break-even on a $7k machine requires 7,000-10,000 plays
• First-time buyers should purchase new Stern machines rather than used classics unless they actively enjoy electronics repair
• Used Stern machines (6-12 months old) can save ~$1,000 from new price with minimal quality difference
• The pinball collecting community is significantly smaller and tighter-knit than the location-playing community due to high costs and space requirements
• Deep ruleset games are not necessary for home enjoyment and may actually be disadvantageous for beginners

Entities

• Stern Pinball· company
• Deadpool· game
• Godzilla· game
• Grand Prix· game
• High Speed Getaway· game
• Lord of the Rings· game
• NASCAR· game
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles· game
• The Hobbit· game
• Portland, Oregon· location
• Craigslist· organization
• Facebook Marketplace· organization
• Pinball Wiki· organization
• PinSide· organization
• Wedgehead Pinball· organization
• Alan· person
• Alex (The Waterboy)· person
• Rodsey· person