I didn't notice earlier that you were new, so
Welcome to NLG !Shipping cost and hassle is sometimes one of the harder things when you buy a slot machine. I see in your profile page that you are in Pennsylvania, there are some slot machine resellers not far from you, including Ohio and other places. Look in the central column of the NLG homepage for some of the slot dealers and sponsors. And there are good machines from other trusted individuals and home-based businesses, so keep an eye on that classifieds forum.
NLG homepage:
http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.phpDo you have an idea of what you are interested in? Sometimes a good-working IGT S+ machine can be bought for as low as $200-$300, maybe less, depending on the game and overall condition. Those places that you mentioned like ebay and craigslist can sometimes be another way to get a machine. But be careful when buying from a stranger that won't be interested in helping with any problems after the sale. It's like buying a used car, look it over as best you can before paying, unless you are dealing with someone that has a good reputation. Otherwise, after the sale you are probably on your own if there are any problems with the machine.