Welcome to Fear and Greed, summer investing series brought to you by Vanter, specialists in compliance led growth. I'm sure Aylmer, something very different for you today. We've covered all kinds of alternative investments on Fear and Greed, but we've never talked about pinball machines. As always, this is general information only and you should seek independent advice before making investment decisions. Stefan von Immov is the co founder of alternative investing community fund alts dot Co. That's alt S dot Co. Stefan, welcome back to Fear and Greed.

Welcome to Fear and Greed, summer investing series brought to you by Vanter, specialists in compliance led growth. I'm sure Aylmer, something very different for you today. We've covered all kinds of alternative investments on Fear and Greed, but we've never talked about pinball machines. As always, this is general information only and you should seek independent advice before making investment decisions. Stefan von Immov is the co founder of alternative investing community fund alts dot Co. That's alt S dot Co. Stefan, welcome back to Fear and Greed.

Thanks for having me.

Thanks for having me.

Well, pinball machines that you're talking my era? Why are they suddenly collectible? I just like to kick them.

Well, pinball machines that you're talking my era? Why are they suddenly collectible? I just like to kick them.

Well, let's be clear when we're talking about pinball machines as an alternative investment, this is more of a collectible than any serious investment, right. This is kind of on the quirk ear, more esoteric side of alternative investing. But that's okay, especially if you're a fan of pinball. So during COVID, you know, people stuck at home, the value of pinball machines, along with many other collectibles, started to rise. It has since come down in the wake of COVID, but it's still is you know, as far as collectibles go, you know, it's kind of you can you can do worse. It's the interesting thing I think with this market is that it's really this is a very practical collectible. So what I mean by that is a lot of collectibles, let's let's say baseball cards, for example, you really can't do much with them other than you know, store them, display them, and that's about it. But you can't really like touch them, you can't really feel them, right, But pinball's not like that.

Well, let's be clear when we're talking about pinball machines as an alternative investment, this is more of a collectible than any serious investment, right. This is kind of on the quirk ear, more esoteric side of alternative investing. But that's okay, especially if you're a fan of pinball. So during COVID, you know, people stuck at home, the value of pinball machines, along with many other collectibles, started to rise. It has since come down in the wake of COVID, but it's still is you know, as far as collectibles go, you know, it's kind of you can you can do worse. It's the interesting thing I think with this market is that it's really this is a very practical collectible. So what I mean by that is a lot of collectibles, let's let's say baseball cards, for example, you really can't do much with them other than you know, store them, display them, and that's about it. But you can't really like touch them, you can't really feel them, right, But pinball's not like that.

No one cares.

No one cares.

About new inbox pinball machines like this market is an active playing market, right, so it's expected that these are used and you know, you want to make sure they're in good condition. But it's okay to play these things and then resell them. So yeah, it's definitely, you know, it's on the quirkier side of alternative investing, more of a collectible, but it's definitely a fun one.

About new inbox pinball machines like this market is an active playing market, right, so it's expected that these are used and you know, you want to make sure they're in good condition. But it's okay to play these things and then resell them. So yeah, it's definitely, you know, it's on the quirkier side of alternative investing, more of a collectible, but it's definitely a fun one.

Is there a much of a market for them?

Is there a much of a market for them?

In twenty twenty three, there were twenty six thousand pinball machines that changed hands, So yeah, it's bigger than you think, you know, it's it's you know, I was surprised because there's actually in Australia between Melbourne and Adelaide, on a dusty road in nil there's a place called the Australian Pinball Museum. And so on a recent trip from Melbourne to Adelaide actually dropped by and stopped in and said hi to the owner of Lindon and he was you know, he's got all sorts of stuff in there. He's got stuff from going back to nineteen thirty one, some of the first pinball machines ever made, even before they have you know, flippers, and he's got all the modern stuff and everything. And this guy's a walking, talking, you know, encyclopedia of pinball knowledge. So yeah, he's got a lot of the stats. He understands this market very well. And yeah, it's bigger than you think it has. You know, if you're not into the if you're not into pinball, you may not you may think it's kind of niche, and maybe it is, but there's a lot of fans and in fact, one of the biggest fans in the world is it is actually Slash from Guns n' Roses. Oh really, Yeah, So Slash is a huge pinball fan, and Linden was telling me a funny story where the Guns N' Roses pinball machine is one of many rock and roll pinball machines which have come up in recent years, and the manufacturer was having trouble securing the music rights actually for Live and Let Die, which they wanted to use in the game, and so they called Slash and Slack, knowing he was of such a big pinball fan, and Slash says, hang on, let me make a few calls. He calls Paul McCartney. Ten minutes later, apparently it's in the game now. You can see it on YouTube. It's really cool.

In twenty twenty three, there were twenty six thousand pinball machines that changed hands, So yeah, it's bigger than you think, you know, it's it's you know, I was surprised because there's actually in Australia between Melbourne and Adelaide, on a dusty road in nil there's a place called the Australian Pinball Museum. And so on a recent trip from Melbourne to Adelaide actually dropped by and stopped in and said hi to the owner of Lindon and he was you know, he's got all sorts of stuff in there. He's got stuff from going back to nineteen thirty one, some of the first pinball machines ever made, even before they have you know, flippers, and he's got all the modern stuff and everything. And this guy's a walking, talking, you know, encyclopedia of pinball knowledge. So yeah, he's got a lot of the stats. He understands this market very well. And yeah, it's bigger than you think it has. You know, if you're not into the if you're not into pinball, you may not you may think it's kind of niche, and maybe it is, but there's a lot of fans and in fact, one of the biggest fans in the world is it is actually Slash from Guns n' Roses. Oh really, Yeah, So Slash is a huge pinball fan, and Linden was telling me a funny story where the Guns N' Roses pinball machine is one of many rock and roll pinball machines which have come up in recent years, and the manufacturer was having trouble securing the music rights actually for Live and Let Die, which they wanted to use in the game, and so they called Slash and Slack, knowing he was of such a big pinball fan, and Slash says, hang on, let me make a few calls. He calls Paul McCartney. Ten minutes later, apparently it's in the game now. You can see it on YouTube. It's really cool.

Are there particular pinball machines that are more popular than others? These are a holy grial of pinball machines.

Are there particular pinball machines that are more popular than others? These are a holy grial of pinball machines.

Yeah. So, unfortunately, this is a market where vintage does not mean value generally speaking. So the old stuff, the kids just don't want to play that stuff. They don't really It's cool for a museum, it's cool for serious collectors, but it doesn't really appreciate the biggest selling game of all time is the Adams Family Family Game, and really it's the nineties and up. What they call the dot Matrix display era, and those are the ones that really matter. It's really this market is really again it's all about playing. So it really what matters is how fun is the game to play? That's what really matters. Wow, So how do you invest in them? You just go and buy I want you to go down to nil and pick one up, or they don't sell them in Nil. Unfortunately, there's a lot of you know, Facebook groups and stuff like that. The best place to go, aside from like Facebook groups, classified auctions and stuff like that, is basically just go to a state sale, right, so, like it's not uncommon, you know, to go to a state sale and there's one or two pins and you know they're just sitting around collecting dust in the basement. And that's how you get them for a song. You know's that's the best way to acquire.

Yeah. So, unfortunately, this is a market where vintage does not mean value generally speaking. So the old stuff, the kids just don't want to play that stuff. They don't really It's cool for a museum, it's cool for serious collectors, but it doesn't really appreciate the biggest selling game of all time is the Adams Family Family Game, and really it's the nineties and up. What they call the dot Matrix display era, and those are the ones that really matter. It's really this market is really again it's all about playing. So it really what matters is how fun is the game to play? That's what really matters. Wow, So how do you invest in them? You just go and buy I want you to go down to nil and pick one up, or they don't sell them in Nil. Unfortunately, there's a lot of you know, Facebook groups and stuff like that. The best place to go, aside from like Facebook groups, classified auctions and stuff like that, is basically just go to a state sale, right, so, like it's not uncommon, you know, to go to a state sale and there's one or two pins and you know they're just sitting around collecting dust in the basement. And that's how you get them for a song. You know's that's the best way to acquire.

And can they be fixed? I mean it's a really dumb question right now. It's a collectible not an investment, so there's lots of risks, but it's about being collectible, not investing. So I get that, But can you fix a pinball machine?

And can they be fixed? I mean it's a really dumb question right now. It's a collectible not an investment, so there's lots of risks, but it's about being collectible, not investing. So I get that, But can you fix a pinball machine?

There's a whole ecosystem for pinball maintenance. Absolutely, you know, they a lot of the proceeds from the nonprofit Australian Pinball Museum. They go towards acquisition, but they also got to maintenance. They do break they have moving parts and yeah, there's definitely there's definitely pinball maintenance folks out there.

There's a whole ecosystem for pinball maintenance. Absolutely, you know, they a lot of the proceeds from the nonprofit Australian Pinball Museum. They go towards acquisition, but they also got to maintenance. They do break they have moving parts and yeah, there's definitely there's definitely pinball maintenance folks out there.

For sure. No one takes me down rabbit holes like you, Stefan, And all my interviews I do, however many I do every year I talk about the weirdest stuff with you. That's a compliment. Thank you, thanks for being part of today, Jess. There was Stefan von Imoff from Alternative Investing Community fund alts dot co. Remember to get your own independent advice before making decisions. This is Fear and Greeds Summer Investing series, brought to you by Vantera van To automates compliance for frameworks like ISO twenty seven one, SoC two, CPS two three four and Essential eight, saving time and money while building trust. Join over eight thousand companies like at Lassian, Dovetail and fire Ant managing real time risk. Get one thousand dollars off Advanta dot com. Slash Fear and Greed. I'm Sean Elmer, enjoying your day

For sure. No one takes me down rabbit holes like you, Stefan, And all my interviews I do, however many I do every year I talk about the weirdest stuff with you. That's a compliment. Thank you, thanks for being part of today, Jess. There was Stefan von Imoff from Alternative Investing Community fund alts dot co. Remember to get your own independent advice before making decisions. This is Fear and Greeds Summer Investing series, brought to you by Vantera van To automates compliance for frameworks like ISO twenty seven one, SoC two, CPS two three four and Essential eight, saving time and money while building trust. Join over eight thousand companies like at Lassian, Dovetail and fire Ant managing real time risk. Get one thousand dollars off Advanta dot com. Slash Fear and Greed. I'm Sean Elmer, enjoying your day