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Where to buy a NIB?

S

Schyzophrenic

Registered
Joined
Sep 22, 2021
Messages
42
Location
London
Hi all,
I am considering making the crazy move of buying a NIB, but I wonder where I should get it.
I moved to the UK a few years ago so I am not up to speed on the market...
Form what I understand we have 4 big companies but living in London it seems Liberty Games and Games Room Company are closer than Pinball Heaven or Home Leisure Direct.

Before I engage with any of them, should I pay special attention when dealing with them? It seems their prices are quite similar as well as their level of service detailed on the website (2 years warranty and free delivery).

Thanks for the advice. That's a huge amount of money so I want to make sure I won't regret.

Finally, do you think these NIB prices will somehow hold on the second hand market or do I need to accept I will loose 25% once opened?

PS: this will be my second pin. I also own a Tales from the Crypt but I had to leave it in my home country as the UK wants to charge me custom taxes for it :(
 
Oh wow, is there really such a big difference in service that would trigger such an overwhelming plebiscite ?
I further checked some prices and found that Games Company room is around 1,500£ cheaper on this pin (again NIB so wouldn't expect a difference in condition). With this in mind are there any red flags?

Thanks again for the help!
 
Schyzophrenic said:
Oh wow, is there really such a big difference in service that would trigger such an overwhelming plebiscite ?
I further checked some prices and found that Games Company room is around 1,500£ cheaper on this pin (again NIB so wouldn't expect a difference in condition). With this in mind are there any red flags?

Thanks again for the help!
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I think it's because the other companies sell older games they've 'restored' but for a huge markup compared to what you'd get in the community, or even on ebay. For NIB Pinball Heaven has all you'd want, or can get hold of them and is really trusted in this community.
 
Everyone I know that purchased NIB has gone to Pinball Heaven… if I was buying my first new pin definitely Pinball Heaven.

good luck
 
Phil at Pinball heaven is a little more expensive, but with his NIB games you get a 2yr warranty on parts.
Stern guarantee on parts I think is 3 months!

Not sure what the other companies are offering but when you take into account boards range from £120-£600 to replace .
 
Dave Bishop said:
Phil at Pinball heaven is a little more expensive, but with his NIB games you get a 2yr warranty on parts.
Stern guarantee on parts I think is 3 months!
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You are correct and warranty is so important here. It seems that the warranty is also 2 years for the other vendors (but we know the devil's in the small prints I could not have access to).
My other issue is that Pinball Heaven is quite far from London so I assume they would delegate any kind of post sale work to other companies in London anyway so I would not necessarily enjoy the premium experience (and please let me know if I am wrong here!)
 
Schyzophrenic said:
You are correct and warranty is so important here. It seems that the warranty is also 2 years for the other vendors (but we know the devil's in the small prints I could not have access to).
My other issue is that Pinball Heaven is quite far from London so I assume they would delegate any kind of post sale work to other companies in London anyway so I would not necessarily enjoy the premium experience (and please let me know if I am wrong here!)
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The after care service you will receive from Pinball Heaven is better than anybody else you may buy a machine from - regardless of where you are in the country.
 
If you're not sure just give Phil a call. He's a is a nice guy and I'm sure he'll answer any questions you may have.

Out of curiosity what are you thinking of buying?
 
Slimetime said:
If you're not sure just give Phil a call. He's a is a nice guy and I'm sure he'll answer any questions you may have.

Out of curiosity what are you thinking of buying?
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I have been completely hyped by the recent Godzilla announcement and was considering getting a premium version. I mean 1,500£ difference is quite a lot though so I am still puzzled to what the next move should be. I honestly was not expecting such an overwhelming good review of Pinball Heaven!
 
Schyzophrenic said:
Oh wow, is there really such a big difference in service that would trigger such an overwhelming plebiscite ?
I further checked some prices and found that Games Company room is around 1,500£ cheaper on this pin (again NIB so wouldn't expect a difference in condition). With this in mind are there any red flags?

Thanks again for the help!
Click to expand...
I would be very surprised if Games Room Company has a pin £1500 cheaper than Pinball Heaven, are sure you're not comparing Pro with Premium edition prices?
 
AlanJ said:
I cant believe you have found the same machine £1500 cheaper- can you post the link so we can check it for you.
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I had an email from the company directly (a gentleman called Malcolm as the Game Room Company) as they haven't listed the game yet on their website.
I wished to clarify that I am not trying to imply anything like someone is too expensive or whatnot; just wished to get the best deal :) Because I don't know the resellers well enough, that's why I asked for help (I really want a worry free purchase, but if I can save 1,000+ I would obviously be happy to do so! :))
 
I would be amazed if you got it for that price. They're selling a TMNT Premium for £9,295 (more expensive than Phil) which is over a year old now. With Stern hiking up their prices since then, I doubt that they will selling a NIB Premium for less than they did 12-18 months later.
 
Because of the price difference, I am inclined to give them a try. I will keep you guys posted! Anything in particular I should ask or confirm with them?
 
I’d be really careful, they either don’t know about the price increases and will charge you more later or it’s a scam. I’m not saying Games Room Company is a scam or not, I havent heard of them before but check where that email is coming from etc
 
Schyzophrenic said:
Because of the price difference, I am inclined to give them a try. I will keep you guys posted! Anything in particular I should ask or confirm with them?
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1. Exactly what the warranty covers, and over what period of time....
2. Who do they use for servicing in your area..

It seems very suspicious that they are selling a TAF for £13.5k, a MM for £15k, however the NIB prices are £300 cheaper than Phil on the site...
 
Jib said:
I’d be really careful, they either don’t know about the price increases and will charge you more later or it’s a scam. I’m not saying Games Room Company is a scam or not, I havent heard of them before but check where that email is coming from etc
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So I actually got 4 company names when I originally reached out to electrocoin who told me they do not deal with home users (Liberty, Pinball Heaven, Home Leisure Direct and Games Room Company).
 
Also in terms of Liberty Games and Home Leisure they have been known to say things are in stock when they’re not. I’ve seen people say they’ve been told a date numerous times for delivery and it just keeps getting pushed back. They have refunded people though when asked. From reading their sites Home Leisure’s 2year warranty is parts only, Liberty Games is 1 year parts and labour, 1 year just parts. Pinball Heaven has the best warranty with 2 years parts and labour.
Also Phil at Pinball Heaven was great at answering all my questions when buying my first NIB.
 
Doesn't seem to be any logic to why they would sell Avengers Infinity Quest for £9300 yet reduce the price on Godzilla to £8500.
 
Hmm the old saying about things being too good to be true seems relevant here.

If the op goes ahead with them then please proceed with caution before any money is handed over.

personally I wouldn’t use anyone else than Phil at PH
 
I agree with what you are all saying. I definitely don't want to chase my pin (or money) or battle for any kind of warranty service. I am surprised by how much Phil and PH are liked. We definitely didn't have a vendor of choice in France!!
 
Schyzophrenic said:
Because of the price difference, I am inclined to give them a try. I will keep you guys posted!
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Clearly, you're free to purchase from who you want - but having come on here and asked the specific question as to who you should deal with, and being given only Pinball Heaven I don't know why you would entertain anybody else.

If GZ Prem is really for sale at 8.5k delivered to your door good luck, but I think it more likely that Man Utd will win the Carling cup this year.
 
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