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Determine How Much Your Pachinko Machine is Worth
and
How Much Should You Pay for a Pachinko Machine

During the 1960s and 1970s there were tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of pachinko machines imported to the United States, therefore, they are not rare. They were sold at Kmart, Target, Sears, Montgomery Wards and other companies, initially for around $100 but eventually they were discounted down as low as $19.99.

Today you can find vintage pachinko machines at garage sales, estate sales, eBay, Craigslist and even by trash cans and dumpsters. The cost of the machines ranges from free to $100 but generally you can expect to pay $25 to $50 for an un-restored machine in "as-is" condition.

These machines are 30 to 40 years old and may have been stored in garages, attics or basements. Often the plastic parts are dirty or dusty and the metal can be rusty or corroded, and sometimes bugs will make nests inside the machines. All of this can make the mechanical parts and levers stick and not move properly or balls not flow smoothly through the machine.

The vast majority of vintage pachinko machines do not need electricity to operate. They work on gravity alone, however almost all machines had wires, fuses and transformers. These electronics were used to flash light bulbs when you get a jackpot. The lights are optional, however if you would like to get them working we have an electronics manual and new electrical parts.

If you find a machine that is clean and works mechanically, you may consider paying from $75 to $200. However you should always be cautious when buying from an individual. Machines often will look better in pictures then in person. The seller can wipe down the outside of a machine but the insides could still be dirty. Or someone may remember it working fine before they stored the machine years ago but humidity and dust may have changed that fact. Consider our instruction manual DVD where you can watch and learn all about pachinko machines so you will know how to evaluate them. You may also want to consider a supply of pachinko balls to test the machine.

The prices for our restored machines is higher then the prices mentioned above because of the labor (about 40 hours) we put into each pachinko machine we restore. We have taken apart, cleaned, adjusted, repaired and reassembled over 100 pachinko machines. We also offer lifetime support for any of our restored pachinko machines.

If you have a machine you would like to restore yourself, consider one of our restoration manuals. Or if you prefer, let us repair or restore your pachinko machine.

There are other factors that can influence the price of a pachinko machine. While machines from the late 60s and 1970s are fairly common, older machines are less common and may sell for higher prices. Older machines are generically called single ball machines because you have to load a pachinko ball, one-at-a-time, through a hole in the front in order to play. While it is more difficult to determine the value of these machines, you may consider doubling the amounts listed above as a guide.

Machines with a particular theme can also influence the price. If you like card games, you may be willing to pay more for a pachinko machines with a card theme. Also if you remember a game from your youth or another family member you may be willing to pay more for a game like the one you remember.

Unless you are picking up the machine in person, you also need to consider shipping costs, which can often be more than the cost of machine. Having a machine professionally packaged and shipped can cost up to $125 within the United States. If the seller packages the machine themselves, the cost would probably be $40 to $80 depending on weight and box dimensions. Read our tips on shipping pachinko machines.

Sometimes the machine can be damaged in shipment because of poor packaging inside the box. And if the box isn't damaged on the outside by the shipper, then it isn't their fault. So it may be worth it to pay extra to have your machine professionally packaged.