Buying guides
Read one of these before you buy. They cover picking a first pin, reading playfield wear, the battery leaks that ruin old CPU boards, the red flags in a pinball listing, and how a modern Stern compares with a 90s Bally or Williams. Buying your first? Start with the first-pin guide.
Your first 90s Bally or Williams pinball machine: how to pick one
Picking a first 90s Bally or Williams pinball machine comes down to how many were built, what moves on the playfield, and which board sits in the backbox.
Read the guide →Pinball playfield condition: how to read wear, mylar and inserts
Worn playfield paint mostly stays worn. Reading wear, sunken inserts, lifting mylar, clearcoat and touch-ups in a used pinball listing's photos.
Read the guide →Pinball CPU battery leaks: what to check on each board system
Leaky batteries are the top killer of pinball boards. Spotting damage in listing photos, which board systems are most at risk, and the fixes after you buy.
Read the guide →Used pinball listings: red flags and what to ask the seller
The photos, videos and answers to get before you buy a used pinball machine online, from backbox shots and storage to remake tells, keys and freight.
Read the guide →Modern Stern or 90s Bally/Williams: how they differ for a buyer
A used Stern and a 90s Bally or Williams game differ most in the backbox: boards, batteries, code updates and displays, plus models, parts and remakes.
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