Quoted from YeOldPinPlayer:
Texas has a similar law.
http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/taxinfo/sales/faq_use.html.
1. What "purchases" are subject to use tax?
...You used property purchased from an out-of-state retailer. In general, if you purchase a taxable item from an out-of-state retailer without paying Texas tax and use the property in Texas the purchase is subject to use tax and must be reported.

Seems like CA Pinsiders are the ones who've been contacted to pay up....has this happened anywhere else?

#102 7 years ago

ERW

chuckwurt

Pincinnati

10y 193K 31,342 16 13

Quoted from gatordad:
Why would I buy from someone 3 states over when I can buy from a guy in the same state or the next one over at the same cost?

Buying local is a good thing. But I agree, they should've left the old rules in place.

#103 7 years ago

JLH

Hougie

Pinside member

Marysville, IN

11y 103K 3,102 12 34

There's a guy named Choggard. I'll see if I can get you his info.

#104 7 years ago

27dnast

Pinside+ Frequent

11y 140K 8,596

Quoted from Cobray:
Melissa at cointaker, she is awesome to talk to and deal with. One of the nicest persons in pinball that I can think of.

I agree with this 100%... Cointaker all the way...super friendly and reliable

#105 7 years ago

EDH

TigerLaw

Pinside Moderator

Jennings, LA

14y 224K 20,099 24 240

So, is the Stern minimum sales price (plus no bonus items or return customer discount) just on new game releases or would it apply to older titles that are still being made like Metallica? Thanks.

#106 7 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,038 19 30 1

Quoted from TigerLaw:
So, is the Stern minimum sales price (plus no bonus items or return customer discount) just on new game releases or would it apply to older titles that are still being made like Metallica? Thanks.

All games currently in production is what I've heard

#107 7 years ago

27dnast

Pinside+ Frequent

11y 140K 8,596

Quoted from TheLaw:
All games currently in production is what I've heard

That's what I've heard too

#108 7 years ago

JAY

Jaybird815

Pinside member

Manhattan, IL

9y 123K 6,907 2

Quoted from TigerLaw:So, is the Stern minimum sales price (plus no bonus items or return customer discount) just on new game releases or would it apply to older titles that are still being made like Metallica? Thanks.

Yeah, it applies for all games in production. I ordered Met in Feb, and my buddy called around for one and everyone quoted the same price in April. It would have cost me $400 more if I waited a couple more weeks.

#109 7 years ago

POP

Nevus

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 129K 6,681 1

Quoted from Jaybird815:
Yeah, it applies for all games in production. I ordered Met in Feb, and my buddy called around for one and everyone quoted the same price in April. It would have cost me $400 more if I waited a couple more weeks.

I can affirm this. I had a similar experience.

#110 7 years ago

EDH

TigerLaw

Pinside Moderator

Jennings, LA

14y 224K 20,099 24 240

Quoted from Jaybird815:
It would have cost me $400 more if I waited a couple more weeks.

This bums me out pretty bad. I'm in the market for one now but don't feel like taking the extra hit. Is what it is I suppose, either I want one or I don't.

This move seems to help the small volume distributors the most, but all distros should come out pretty good from this. They don't have to have a race to the bottom on price squeezing their margins down.

#111 7 years ago

FJB

Trekkie1978

Pinside member

Shrewsbury, NJ

9y 142K 8,708 21 10 1

When would distributors be allowed to lower the price on WWE?

#112 7 years ago

COS

cosmokramer

Pinside member

11y 120K 8,451

Sounds like the price of a newish HUO stern just went up...

#113 7 years ago

???

Mike_J

Pinside member

13y 99,550 5,399 58

Quoted from Trekkie1978:
When would distributors be allowed to lower the price on WWE?

$1,995 and a free bowl of soup?

#114 7 years ago

JAY

Jaybird815

Pinside member

Manhattan, IL

9y 123K 6,907 2

Quoted from Trekkie1978:
When would distributors be allowed to lower the price on WWE?

You can still get them at old pricing or better these are all WWEs that have been just sitting at a warehouse lol

image_(resized).jpeg

#115 7 years ago

FJB

Trekkie1978

Pinside member

Shrewsbury, NJ

9y 142K 8,708 21 10 1

Quoted from Mike_J:
$1,995 and a free bowl of soup?

I'll pass on the soup.

#116 7 years ago

GEC

Gexchange

Denver, CO

12y 94,650 4,570

Quoted from Trekkie1978:
When would distributors be allowed to lower the price on WWE?

The LE's are no longer Restricted.

#117 7 years ago

POP

SuperPinball

Pinside member

Richmond Hill, ON

9y 96,050 1,686 25 17

I'm not sure if this is a industry wide standard but Starburst in Toronto charges for labor when doing warranty work. A friend of mine just got a Met premium and after a week, one of the coils went. They will pay for the coil part but my friend has to pay for the install which is $250. He only put 30 plays on his NIB purchase.

#118 7 years ago

JPD

Dayhuff

Pinside member

Battle Creek, MI

11y 126K 6,349 79 11

Seems to me like most of this is based on pricing. But WHAT makes a distributor the best? Is it the service before and after the sale or is it pretty much the all mighty all bottom dollar? Personally I'd pay more for a game if the distributor would push Stern to get my game made six months sooner rather then later. Distributers that sit back after the deal has been made and don't get there games shipped to them are not worth doing business with if you ask me. If I was a Distributor I'd be on the phone with Stern everyday pushing them to get my customers there paid for games. Months and months of waiting and nothing to show for it is ridiculous, and in the meantime Stern is off making the next newest title before they can fulfill there prior commitments. Distributors that go the distance for there loyal customers are what I'd be shopping for regardless of the pricing.

John P. Dayhuff
Battle Creek, MI.
269-979-3836

#119 7 years ago

DHF

fosaisu

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 142K 10,340

Quoted from TigerLaw:
Just to discuss this briefly, as it came up yesterday in a F/S thread that closed shortly after the statement was made so we could not address it:
Pinside has no policy on posting prices here. It is entirely a matter between Stern and their distributors about prices being posted. While we reserve the right to edit out a price from a post we certainly do not have a rule in place that mandates we do so.

Whoops, that was me. I thought I'd seen mods step in before to keep people from stating distributor + price in the same post, but thanks for the clarification!

#120 7 years ago

BTC

twenty84

chromecandy.com

10y 134K 1,697

Quoted from SuperPinball:
I'm not sure if this is a industry wide standard but Starburst in Toronto charges for labor when doing warranty work. A friend of mine just got a Met premium and after a week, one of the coils went. They will pay for the coil part but my friend has to pay for the install which is $250. He only put 30 plays on his NIB purchase.

Those are some high labor costs, I'm glad I know how to install my own coils.

#121 7 years ago

JMS

swampfire

Pinside+ Addict

11y 168K 13,597 48

Quoted from swampfire:
A related question: when someone buys a pin NIB and then sells it, does the Distributor continue to support the sale? I'm wondering what others have experienced. In the past I've worked directly with Stern on any problems, but it seems that they want you to work through the Distributor now. I don't blame them, it's not scalable to provide direct support.

Answering my own question. In my case, the distributor ignored my phone call and PM. I've sorted my problem out myself, at my expense. The silver lining is that I saved enough money (vs. buying NIB) to buy more node boards down the road, if necessary.

#122 7 years ago

JMS

swampfire

Pinside+ Addict

11y 168K 13,597 48

Quoted from SuperPinball:
I'm not sure if this is a industry wide standard but Starburst in Toronto charges for labor when doing warranty work. A friend of mine just got a Met premium and after a week, one of the coils went. They will pay for the coil part but my friend has to pay for the install which is $250. He only put 30 plays on his NIB purchase.

That's insane unless they're doing a house call. Is he allowed to install it himself, or will that void the warrenty?

#123 7 years ago

POP

SuperPinball

Pinside member

Richmond Hill, ON

9y 96,050 1,686 25 17

Quoted from swampfire:
Answering my own question. In my case, the distributor ignored my phone call and PM. I've sorted my problem out myself, at my expense. The silver lining is that I saved enough money (vs. buying NIB) to buy more node boards down the road, if necessary.

yup they need to go to his house but he lives 15 mins from them anyway. Not sure he knows how to do the coils himself but he is just too pissed to even think about it.

#124 7 years ago

MVM

markmon

Inactive member

Hillsboro, OR

13y 98,300 13,010 21 81

Quoted from swampfire:
That's insane unless they're doing a house call. Is he allowed to install it himself, or will that void the warrenty?

Installing these things never voids the warranty. These are not TV sets. They're intended to be owner replaceable.

#125 7 years ago

GEC

Gexchange

Denver, CO

12y 94,650 4,570

Quoted from SuperPinball:
yup they need to go to his house but he lives 15 mins from them anyway. Not sure he knows how to do the coils himself but he is just too pissed to even think about it.

He really should talk to Stern about that... Sounds like Starburst knows they got the market locked down so they don't include any labor warranty.

#126 7 years ago

FJB

Trekkie1978

Pinside member

Shrewsbury, NJ

9y 142K 8,708 21 10 1

Quoted from Gexchange:
The LE's are no longer Restricted.
JJ

When the time comes for that, I will be contacting you. Running out of room. KISS LE is going to a friend's house this weekend to make room for Ghostbusters LE.

#127 7 years ago

MRC

gatordad

Pinside member

New Lenox, IL

14y 61,400 823 10 15

Quoted from Dayhuff:
Seems to me like most of this is based on pricing. But WHAT makes a distributor the best? Is it the service before and after the sale or is it pretty much the all mighty all bottom dollar? Personally I'd pay more for a game if the distributor would push Stern to get my game made six months sooner rather then later. Distributers that sit back after the deal has been made and don't get there games shipped to them are not worth doing business with if you ask me. If I was a Distributor I'd be on the phone with Stern everyday pushing them to get my customers there paid for games. Months and months of waiting and nothing to show for it is ridiculous, and in the meantime Stern is off making the next newest title before they can fulfill there prior commitments. Distributors that go the distance for there loyal customers are what I'd be shopping for regardless of the pricing.
John P. Dayhuff
Battle Creek, MI.
269-979-3836

I agree John
Customer service should be an expectation from everyone.
If some distributor is a slacker they would eventually loose repeat business regardless of price.
Now that this fixed price system is in place, that might be accelerated somewhat.

What I don't know is, did Stern raise prices to distributors?
Or is this just a fixed distributor pricing system?

#128 7 years ago

ERW

chuckwurt

Pincinnati

10y 193K 31,342 16 13

Waltons games in Cincinnati of course. Just kidding. Don't call them. EVER.

#129 7 years ago

BIL

badbilly27

Pinside+ Frequent

Prospect Heights, IL

12y 130K 4,573 38 19

Quoted from Gexchange:
Also want to say if you have a local dealer that takes care of his customers and give you good pricing

Haven't been in Chicago lately have you? Unfortunately, always have to buy out of state NIB. I'd insert "sarcasm" emoji but sadly, true statement.

#130 7 years ago

GEC

Gexchange

Denver, CO

12y 94,650 4,570

Quoted from badbilly27:
Haven't been in Chicago lately have you? Unfortunately, always have to buy out of state NIB. I'd insert "sarcasm" emoji but sadly, true statement.

I guess in this case let your dollars speak for them selves? Sad to see poor representation in Sterns own back yard.

1 week later

#131 7 years ago

BRH

Brian541

The Gameworks

Klamath Falls, OR

8y 49,400 204 10

I did a little checking and decided to go with game exchange for my next couple purchases,They seem on the ball,Answered all my questions,Ready to get things going.Appreciate all the discussion!

#132 7 years ago

SKL

Dr-Willy

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 77,050 1,500

OP
Quoted from Brian541:
I did a little checking and decided to go with game exchange for my next couple purchases,They seem on the ball,Answered all my questions,Ready to get things going.Appreciate all the discussion!

You made a great choice

#133 7 years ago

JAY

Fliptastic

Pinside member

14y 56,300 905

I've bought my games from Curly at Little Shop of Games. Great guy!

#134 7 years ago

SCR

Flato

Pinside member

St. Louis, MO

8y 47,300 979 4 8

Seems there are many great distros perhaps we need to weed that bad ones out....

#135 7 years ago

Major-Havoc

Pinside member

9y 46,150 476 1

Well all in all most dealers are on an equal playing field with Sterns regulation of prices. You can't offer free shipping or a free shaker motor. A large group of people will still choose out of state dealers to save on tax. But have to pay shipping. So there is a little bit of savings. They lose out on set-up, we have had to fix quite a few machines out of the box. Frankly if your happy with a dealer you'll stick with them. There are a lot of good dealers out there.

3 months later

#136 7 years ago

JIM

ibjames

Inactive member

San Diego, CA

7y 22,650 149 1

anyone have the website for game exchange?

#137 7 years ago

JAY

Jaybird815

Pinside member

Manhattan, IL

9y 123K 6,907 2

Quoted from ibjames:
anyone have the website for game exchange?

gameexchange.biz

#138 7 years ago

JON

JonH123

Pinside member

9y 65,150 951

Little Shop of Games is the best IMO.

#139 7 years ago

DPM

musketd

Pinside member

Coaldale, PA

12y 111K 4,250 2 34

Cointaker miss is the best at customer service

#142 7 years ago

JIM

ibjames

Inactive member

San Diego, CA

7y 22,650 149 1

Quoted from Jaybird815:
gameexchange.biz

THANKS!

#143 7 years ago

ZIT

Zitt

Pinball-Mods.com

Austin, TX

11y 112K 7,861 15 10

Quoted from Bowlingpin:
Just curious... What is sterns new minimum price point?

Is that "price fixing"?

#144 7 years ago

DHF

fosaisu

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 142K 10,340

Quoted from Zitt:
Is that "price fixing"?

Literally yes, they're "fixing the price" their distributors can sell at > $X. But it's not illegal to do that under current US antitrust law.

#145 7 years ago

BIL

txx3ddq442

Inactive member

Mandeville, LA

10y 39,900 131 9 13

Stern distributors aside, where do we stand on JJP and DP pricing. I know JJP has a limited (compared to Stern) network and DP looks like it's Cointaker (take it or leave it). Any wiggle room off MSRP if you're buying something other than Stern?

Post last edited 7 years ago: “Grammar police”

#146 7 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

Hopkins, MN

12y 191K 56,936 24 7

#147 7 years ago

HAZ

hank527

Pinside+ Addict

13y 128K 5,422 248

Melissa at Cointaker
Chris at Cointaker
Cointaker

All three are very good

#148 7 years ago

JAS

Manimal

Pinside member

8y 71,050 2,015 3

Hopefully they won't rely solely on Stern products, or they will be out of business fast. I'm not necessarily referring to quality, but more the markup they would have to charge to keep the retail space. Most folks are used to purchasing their pins somewhere under MSRP, and parts at decent pricing and neither with sales tax if they play their cards right. Retail space in this industry is hard to support. You pretty much are forced to support multiple lines.

#149 7 years ago

CAH

hassellcastle

FUN! Superstore

Mesquite, TX

12y 82,550 2,075 8

Give us a shout next time you are looking for NIB Stern Pinball Machine.
I'll be happy to quote and hopefully we'll be competitive in the market.

Craig Hassell
FUN!
972-686-7808

#150 7 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

Hopkins, MN

12y 191K 56,936 24 7

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