True that!

Edit-although I had access to buying pro's way less than 5k

Just to give you another perspective TP...
My Hobbit still hasn't shipped and it was purchased around the time you started collecting machines.
Before that, WOZ almost hit the three year mark before I got it.
I slept like a baby (full of fresh, warm, delicious breast milk ) the whole time and managed to start zero threads about all the delays.
When I got the first call out of the blue, it was like Atari Christmas warm fuzzies all over again; I'm guessing when I get the second call, it will be slightly less amazing.

It doesn't seem like you are content waiting patiently (like me) for new games TP.
I'd suggest you get your $$$ back as quickly as possible so it will only be a few short (long?) days to get your Starfleet on.

Your distributor deals with this type of scenario on a daily basis so don't feel like you need to stay in if they aren't doing the legwork for you.
Flipside to that statement...
If you happened to get a screamin' deal on the machine, by all means stay loyal to __, say THANK YOU, and chill the f*<k out.

Otherwise, (like Schlockdoc eluded to,) there are about six other good vendors to choose from that will probably have the machine in stock.

Now where did I put that breast milk...

Sorry, I drank all the breast milk plaid boy, arm wrasslin 4 Eva!

So that's the secret to your strength!
LION'S milk!

Don't worry Flankster,
I've got your precious dual buttoned Hardbody training my arms for Stallone wrasslin' excellence!
Rachel McLish (the dish) is a diabolical mistress/trainer when triple waxed and she takes NO prisoners.
I must admit, last year I was Stay Puft soft when I drunkenly challenged you on that tiny table.
Totally outclassed by the reigning "Tronville Titan."
This year though, I put foot-to-ass and now have a lifetime pass to the Spa of the Future!
I guess I can put down my lazerbar for a second to come serve you up some plaid payback for drinking all that delicious milk, sideburns.

You can even bring your so called "Four Horsemen" to the party!
We can rumble 'till the lightning kitties come home!

They walk into the office, pay for their games in cash, walk out with receipts that say "Counter Sale".

It's been that way for 70 years.

yep thats right. Then we tell the Brinks truck to stop by every week with a wheelbarrow to empty the cashbox. Pins usually paid for in 2 to 3 weeks tops. No need to write off the depreciation because we are making so much of that moolah. Cant wait for that next truckload of pins to get in. Not the last 23 of the 70 years I remember.

Your pins depreciate?

We sell them for almost what we bought them for; sometimes more.

How do you sell routed games for what you paid for them when collectors often have a hard time recouping their money on HUO games?

Walk in, and pay with cash for max discount.

Always buy 6+ of each title for max discount.

(edited)

Never waste money on crappy mods or toppers.

Always first day wax and Mylar, especially the shooter lane.

Quickly turn over games that don't earn but are in collector demand (i.e. WOZ).

Flatten/save box and don't open goodie bag (collectors go crazy for stupid stuff like that).

And dont drill lockdown clasp into the cabinet.

You mylar the shooter lane? Or are you saying you just wax it?

Remind me to tell you some amazing bingo operator stories someday.

yes

You paid a year ago, have not received it, and other distros have it in stock. Hmmm Your distributor sucks. Get your money back and buy from another.

You guys do understand there is a paper trial still right? Especially if you buy enough. No worries, keep it going like that

Yep, a trail of Franklins going into their floor safe.

Attention Stern!! Attention Stern!! The paycheck that I was supposed to receive from my company to buy GBLE did not arrive on Friday. What are you going to do about it!!

For me, I worked for a large route operator from 1979 to 1985. This was pre-camera everywhere days and cash transactions were the norm.
Besides the local distributors, we would drive to Cleveland COiN before they opened up a branch in Detroit so we took the bags of cash with us. Two of us in the truck with the stipulation that one of us stayed in the truck with the cash if we stopped for food, fuel or using the facilities.

Also, we had Cleveland Coin deliver to us. The drivers came to us with the games and we counted out the cash and shook hands and all was well. This was in the days of "protected territories" so the distributors did not want to show they were selling in another distributor's territory. We had to do this for hot games as the local ones ran out and we needed the money-makers when they were hot....

Those poor guys; how did they survive and all drive Cadillacs, have seCONd homes, go to Las Vegas many times a year?

This whole situation comes down to supply issues of parts that Stern gets from outside vendors. Stern doesn't manufacture every part on a game. Many of these parts are outsourced. Not Stern's fault, not the distributors fault. Just something that happens in the manufacturing world.

That is a very interesting observation. Given local regs on registration of cash input devices and a desire to depreciate assets on the books I would have figured this issue moot in the modern era.

The underground eCONomy is a wonderful thing. Keep in mind there are customers who buy equipment with Purchase Orders and pay invoices by check. Also credit card customers and Home purchase hobbyists who want a receipt with their name & address.

Wow that is awesome!!

Wow that's awesome!!

No freaking way!!! Amazing if true. Are you being serious because April 1 has passed?

So, OP says in the above quote it didn't really happen. Because of how he used quote it doesn't appear it is him saying it but he confirmed this didn't happen.

Yanking us around is supposed to be funny?

You're making it hard to sympathize.

How do you not understand by now that Stern simply fills distro orders in the order they came in?

Now we know the problem....ordered from a restaurant.....