Compare local pickup, marketplace sale, dealer buyout, and consignment after the costs sellers usually forget. Edit the assumptions to match your machine and buyer.
Highest estimated take-home
$6,110
Local private sale
Local private sale
$6,110
eBay marketplace sale
$4,790
Dealer buyout
$4,420
Consignment sale
$4,675
| Channel | Gross | Costs | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local private sale | $6,500 | $390 | $6,110 |
| eBay marketplace sale | $6,500 | $1,710 | $4,790 |
| Dealer buyout | $6,500 | $2,080 | $4,420 |
| Consignment sale | $6,500 | $1,825 | $4,675 |
Local private
Best when the machine is playable, easy to inspect, and the buyer can pick up without freight risk.
eBay marketplace
Use when you need wider demand, but subtract platform fees, payment fees, packing, and freight concessions.
Dealer buyout
Lower net is normal because the dealer absorbs repair, warranty, pickup, and resale timing risk.
Consignment
Can beat a buyout for desirable titles, but commission and prep fees matter before you agree.
A realistic pinball sale is not just the headline value range. Condition proof, pickup complexity, fee exposure, and buyer confidence decide whether the final take-home lands near the guide price or below it.
Photograph the cabinet, backglass, playfield inserts, boards, displays, ramps, coin door, legs, keys, manuals, and any spare parts. Buyers pay more confidently when wear, repairs, and missing pieces are visible before pickup.
A strong listing price can still produce a weaker net payout after platform fees, freight allowance, payment risk, or consignment commission. Use the calculator first, then decide which channel fits your timeline.
Stairs, tight turns, long carries, palletizing, and liftgate freight can change the real economics quickly. Clarify who handles disassembly, wrapping, insurance, and damage risk before agreeing to a buyer's number.
Local private sales usually work best for common titles, working games, and buyers who can inspect in person. Expect negotiation, but avoid shipping exposure.
Marketplace listings can reach more collectors, especially for scarce or high-demand machines, but sellers should subtract fees, packing time, and freight concessions before comparing offers.
Dealer buyouts trade upside for speed. The lower offer reflects repair risk, pickup labor, warranty exposure, storage, and the dealer's need to resell with margin.
Consignment can make sense when a shop has qualified buyers for the exact title. Read the commission, prep-fee, repair-approval, and payout-timing terms before leaving the machine.