Buying guide —
Used virtual pinball: 2026 prices and a checklist before you buy
A used pincab is a digital pinball machine, also called virtual pinball or a simulator, that has already had one owner: a pinball cabinet, a screen laid flat under the glass and a PC running the tables. On 12 October 2026, across 17 private listings on Leboncoin, a French classified ads site, asking prices ran from €700 to €8,000, with a median of €3,000. This is a survey of the French market. Here's how to read those prices, what to test before you pay and which guarantees protect you.
What a used pincab costs in 2026
On 12 October 2026 we noted every complete machine sold by a private seller on the first Leboncoin results page for "flipper pincab". No spare parts, no mini pincabs, no professional sellers. These are asking prices, not final sale prices: that's where haggling starts.
| Price band | Listings | Asking prices | What the listings say |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under €2,000 | 6 of 17 | €700 to €1,900 | full size, good to very good condition, few technical details |
| €2,000 to €5,000 | 8 of 17 | €2,800 to €4,900 | 43 inches, several screens, often "very good condition" |
| €5,000 and up | 3 of 17 | €6,500 to €8,000 | 4K, large formats, almost new machines |
Three takeaways. One: the median is €3,000, and half the listings sit between €1,550 and €4,875. Two: 6 of 17 listings claim "as new": some machines get resold soon after purchase, so ask why. Three: above €5,000, used meets new. On the same results page, a professional sells new pincabs at €5,900.
For comparison: a used mechanical pinball machine goes for €1,000 to €8,000 depending on era and title, and a premium simulator like the Bump Pro costs €9,990 incl. VAT. Every price, source and date is in our article on pinball prices in 2026.
What you're really buying: a screen, a PC and a cabinet
A used pincab isn't a cabinet with a screen inside. It's the reverse: a screen and a PC, protected by a cabinet. The cabinet ages well. The screen and the graphics card age at the pace of computing. Two machines at the same price can be years apart on what matters.
The first question isn't "how much?" but "which panel and which graphics card?". A listing that says "gaming PC" with no model isn't an answer. To see what separates a good pincab from a disappointing one, read what sets a high-end pincab apart.
The checklist: 12 things to check before you pay
Never pay for a pincab without playing it for at least 15 minutes. Take this list with you.
| Check | How to check | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Playfield screen | launch a dark table, then a bright one | dead pixels, blotches, burn-in |
| 2. Smoothness | play an effects-heavy table for 15 minutes | stutter, fans racing |
| 3. Graphics card | ask for the exact model, and the invoice | "gaming PC" with no reference |
| 4. Button response | save the ball at the last moment | lag between your press and the flipper |
| 5. Plunger | pull gently, then hard | same power whatever the pull |
| 6. Nudge and tilt | shake the cabinet like a real machine | no reaction on screen |
| 7. Sound and vibration | listen at normal volume, rest a hand on the cabinet | crackling, no vibration |
| 8. Cabinet and glass | inspect legs, hinges, corners and underside | damp marks, cracked glass, bent legs |
| 9. Tables | ask for the list, the software and the account they're tied to | vague catalogue, tables tied to the seller's personal account |
| 10. System and updates | check the system and software still update | machine "frozen" so everything keeps working |
| 11. Invoice and origin | ask for the original purchase invoice | no invoice, unknown maker |
| 12. Transport | ask who dismantles, packs and delivers | "collection only", no help, no protection |
Point 9 deserves a closer look. A catalogue advertised as hundreds of tables should prompt one simple question: where do they come from, and are they yours once the machine is at your place? Official, licensed tables tied to your own account mean you control the catalogue. To understand how a pincab and its software work, read what is a pincab.
Private seller or professional: different protections
This section describes French law, which applies to purchases made in France. Bought from a private seller, a pincab is only covered by the guarantee against hidden defects. You have 2 years from discovering the defect to act, within 20 years of the sale, and it's up to you to prove the defect was hidden, existed at purchase and makes the machine unusable or nearly so (economie.gouv.fr). A screen that burns in after six months of play will be hard to fit into that frame.
Bought from a professional, the same used pincab also gets the legal guarantee of conformity: 2 years from delivery. During the first year, a defect is presumed to have existed at purchase; after that, the burden of proof is back on you (same source). Details on hidden defects are on service-public.fr. These pointers don't replace a lawyer's advice in a dispute.
Where to look? Leboncoin and enthusiast forums for private sales. To buy from a professional, ExtraBall, BUMP's partner distributor, sells new and used pinball machines and pincabs.
Used or new: the real maths
With a €2,000 budget, used is the right way into digital pinball, and we'll say it plainly. Pick a recent machine, tested on site, with its invoice.
Above €5,000, the maths changes. You pay almost the price of a new pincab, with no maker's warranty, no after-sales service and no idea how the machine was treated. Compare with new, line by line. Our guide to the best digital pinball machine covers the criteria that count.
The Bump Pro costs €9,990 incl. VAT: 4K OLED panel, RTX 5070, hand-assembled in France, maker's warranty and after-sales service. 140 official tables available, chosen and bought individually, from €2 to €10 per table, with €100 of tables on us to start your catalogue. For bars, hotels and companies, it's available on long-term rental for professionals only, at €299 excl. VAT per month. If ten thousand euros sounds like a lot for a pinball machine, we answered that criticism in digital pinball: too expensive, not a real pinball machine?.
FAQ
How much does a used pincab cost?
Between €700 and €8,000 based on 17 private listings on Leboncoin, a French classified ads site, surveyed on 12 October 2026, with a median of €3,000. Half the listings sit between €1,550 and €4,875. These are asking prices on the French market, before haggling.
Where can I buy a used pincab in France?
From private sellers, on Leboncoin and enthusiast forums. From a professional, at a distributor such as ExtraBall, BUMP's partner, which sells new and used. Buying from a professional adds the legal guarantee of conformity.
What should I check before buying a used pincab?
The screen, smoothness, the exact graphics card model, button response, the plunger, nudge, sound, the state of the cabinet and glass, where the tables come from, updates, the invoice and transport. Play for at least 15 minutes before you pay.
Do the tables come with the machine?
It depends on the machine and the software. Ask for the list of tables, the software used and the account they're tied to. Tables linked to the seller's personal account aren't necessarily yours once the machine is at your place.
Is a used pincab covered by a guarantee?
Under French law, bought from a private seller, it's only covered by the guarantee against hidden defects: 2 years from discovering the defect, with the burden of proof on you. Bought from a professional, it also gets the 2-year legal guarantee of conformity, with a defect presumed during the first year.
Is a used pincab better than a used mechanical pinball machine?
The budgets overlap: €1,000 to €8,000 for a used mechanical machine, €700 to €8,000 for a pincab according to our survey. A mechanical machine gives you one table, with its maintenance. A pincab gives you a catalogue, with a screen and a PC that age.
Is a used pincab worth it compared with a new one?
Below €2,000, yes, if the machine is recent and tested. Above €5,000, compare with new: new pincabs sell from €5,900 at professionals, with a warranty.
In short
A used pincab goes for around €3,000 on the French market in 2026, from €700 to €8,000 depending on age and hardware. Buy a screen and a graphics card, not a cabinet. Play before you pay, demand the invoice, and above €5,000, compare with new.
Before buying used, play a new machine. It's the best benchmark. Try a Bump