Keep in mind Deez is an operator and some companies do not warranty anything for games on route. If that was a factor in turning down @fatdirk ‘s request (fatdirk is auto corrected as fat dork), JJP should have stated it so that probably wasn’t applicable. The bad clear he didn’t call in should have been addressed with solution in warranty. JJP’s current warranty is a joke, literally. It needs to be greatly expanded in favor of the customer.

Entire game should have a one year bumper-to-bumper warranty and two years on electronics. Further, playfield defects need to be defined and categorized and options for remediation clearly spelled out. That would be a shining example of standing behind your product, and it is the right thing to do, JJP. So now, I will give you a cargument

I leased a new Hyundai and after 30 months I purchased it. It is a Sante Fe and has the turbo- engine, leather seats, 360 degree sight thru windows and it comes with a 10 year bumper-to-bumper or 100k miles warranty. It was perfect for me as I used to drive 10k miles a year. The warranty spells out transmission and electronic issues in great detail and states very few specific exclusions. The warranty was my deciding factor in leasing the vehicle.

When I purchased the car after 30 months, the warranty transferred without hassle. It was spelled out in the lease, whereby the transfer of warranty is encouraged. At month 48 from start of lease, my engine blew and it was really bad. I took it to Hyundai service where they approved my vehicle for a new engine and included all labor and supplemental parts. They also rented me another Hyundai to use until fixed. I didn’t ask them to do anything before it was all set up with no hassle to me. Given that a JJP CE almost costs as much as Hyundai’s low end car note EVEN IT comes with a ten year bumper-to-bumper/100k, transferable warranty.

I think JJP needs to rethink and expand their warranty to become an industry leader and to show they stand behind their products and that they really care about customers. If they defined use as # months and or # lifetime plays. They could encourage operators to participate in the warranty. Pinball is a coin-operated device that is supposed to be played on location.

What if you bought nib from an original buyer on Pinside Market, and who may have bought it from an unlicensed JJP dealer???

I can categorize four issues people are having with JJP. First, JJP playfields are having pooling, chipping and defective clearcoat issues on many games and these remain unresolved at present. Second, JJP doesn’t recognize any of these as being problems, so if there is no problem, there is nothing to be fixed. Third, the warranty on JJP games is worse than piss-poor and it doesn’t protect customers, define issues nor remedies. Fourth, many customers are pissed at the lack of JJP’s attention to fix the aforementioned problems, and JJP has decided not to offer any mitigation.

If JJP switched playfield vendors and had their playfields screened instead of digitally printed, many believe this would solve their current problems. So why not switch as there is nothing to lose and everything to gain?

I’d bet if they switched vendors and that was the only change JJP made to fix the four issues outlined above, people would flock back to the games. In other words, I don’t think that many people would hold grudges and avoid buying JJP products in the future. Some will be lost for good, because you can’t unpiss people off, but 95% of customers would be fine with JJP building quality games again. So we must wait for JJP to blink first. I hope they address and resolve all issues.

^*

Over 200 years of combined, pinball experience. It would have been 300 years, but Lloyd was busy playing pinball.

I don’t think Steve Ritchie joined JJP to be a pinball designer, or it would have been announced as such. Something like ...SR has joined JJP as a new designer, would have been a normal way to mention this. Absent that, my guess he is joining JJP as a favor to Jack. Steve Ritchie can help Pat to provide design support and add oversight for a few years. I could be totally wrong, guess we’ll learn soon.

What we wanted is to hear was that JJP hired a playfield manufacturing fixer. Someone that will find and fix the playfield defects at all cost and a top priority. Someone with quick reflexes but deliberate moves. Someone you can count on to kill and bury the problem for good. Someone that will keep his mouth shut and tow the company line afterwards. JJP please acknowledge and fix the playfield problems, we don’t need to know how, just do it.

Steve Ritchie joining JJP is an odd sounding choice but it may make some sense once we hear his position. Steve will need to rebrand himself to fit in, but won’t relinquish his title of King. Lord Lawlor better watch his back.

CCD28437-53D3-4B74-9983-541D1068305C.jpeg