"We won’t pay retail, but you can!"

Just imagine if JJP announced Harry Potter.

Could also ask distributors why they would continue to sell products with these issues. Not suggesting folks should burn their distros with chargebacks, but if you're going to blame JJP and buyers, the middle man must also assume some responsibility. Distros know as much (or more) than buyers. Why are they exempt?

Is it more or less absurd than selling $10k+ games with chipping playfields? At some point distros might conclude that the juice is no longer worth the squeeze. There are more fish (manufacturers) in the sea.

JJP already backstabbed distros by selling some of the highest profit margin games of all time direct from the factory. Be careful what you wish for. Let JJP sell 'em all direct, make all the profit, and deal with all the hassle.

I know. You're defending the distros. I'm asking, why are they exempt from blame and/or financial responsibility?

Because the distro knowingly sold a product fraught with issues? And not all buyers know beforehand. Many are blissfully unaware of pinside until their playfield starts falling apart.

"It makes money" is not a blanket license to do as you please without repercussion. Well, it usually is, but it shouldn't be.

Wut?

Fake news! He said JJP games are less fun than a Zizzle. I had to upvote him for going balls deep.

This is all you need to know about pinball in 2021.

Levi can smell a cargument like trash day in August.

Yes.

Wouldn't hold my breath for a 3rd Getaway after the lukewarm reception of DI and BK3. I think both JJP and Steve learned their lesson about straying from the current pinball maxim: licensed theme.

(Yeah I know BK is technically a license but you know what I mean.)

Doesn't matter. If that game was BTTF or Harry Potter or whatever, massive hit.

Even "pin people" are theme junkies. My best collector friend buys every single Marvel, Star Wars, movie, TV show pin. He did not for a second consider buying Iron Maiden, BK3, GnR, or LZ. It doesn't matter that by most accounts Maiden crushes Munsters, he wanted a Munsters game. Theme matters. A lot. If there is a BTTF or Harry Potter game, he will order it, before any reveal. "Looks fun" is irrelevant.

No way in hell I'm waking up early enough on a Saturday to be at Expo by 9 AM, but I look forward to hearing that a couple dozen dissatisfied customers heckled him off the stage. Or more likely a bunch of keyboard commandos silently crossed their arms and posted very angry comments afterward.