Rack-A-Ball
Gottlieb, 1962I am planning an order for rebuild kits for flippers, slingshots and bumpers for my Rack A Ball as well as a slew of other parts to freshen up my pin. What is the best way to communicate an order to PBR? I see an email address but I also have some questions to ask to make sure I am ordering the right switch or coil.
Any help would be appreciated.
Tim
I sent an email this morning but haven't heard back about anything yet. I just want to make sure I am ordering correctly and how to pay them. I'm used to online ordering with a shopping cart to keep up with what I need.
Quoted from Slickfam99:I am planning an order for rebuild kits for flippers, slingshots and bumpers for my Rack A Ball as well as a slew of other parts to freshen up my pin. What is the best way to communicate an order to PBR? I see an email address but I also have some questions to ask to make sure I am ordering the right switch or coil.
Any help would be appreciated.
Tim
Call, Jimmy is helpful. They will walk you through your first order and how to pay them.
I like to talk directly with Steve. He has saved me many times from ordering the wrong parts especially if you tell him what game you are working on. Have your customer number handy and do you best to dig up as many PBR part numbers as possible. If you don't have the factory manuals (both game specific and general parts) this would be a good time to pick those up too.
No reason not to call, especially if you have questions like I do with EVERY order. Steve teaches me something on every call.
I have always just sent an email. They usually respond in a few hours. They are very fast very good at answering questions even though it seems their ordering process is antiquated. They are my favorite vendor for misc. items.
Thanks all for the good advice. I will call and ask for help so I can get the correct parts. I've looked up a lot of them but when it comes to the electrical parts-I'm a newb! thanks again
I love this forum-very helpful.
Tim
Quoted from Slickfam99:Thanks all for the good advice. I will call and ask for help so I can get the correct parts. I've looked up a lot of them but when it comes to the electrical parts-I'm a newb! thanks again
Did you see this page?
http://www.pbresource.com/how2ordr.html
"We ask that you don't mix communication methods within the same order/inquiry to avoid a possible duplicate shipment and eliminate duplicate work needing to be done here."
Quoted from Spyderturbo007:I just email Jimmy. He's always really helpful.
Been dealing with Jimmy via e-mail exclusively for years, most of my orders take place before they are open or after they close. I'm not adverse to calling and talking to Steve, did so today as a matter of fact but the timing is usually not good.
Quoted from jeffc:No reason not to call,
Only problem with calling is getting thru. It's frequently busy. I always go the email route.
I typically email. But most of the time I know exactly what parts I need and their part numbers.
On a few rare occasions, I've had a quick call about something specific if it saved a half dozen back-and-forth email messages.
Quoted from currieddog:Only problem with calling is getting thru. It's frequently busy. I always go the email route.
Ditto... I used to call orders in, but had to try a few times before I got through. I've emailed my last few orders and Jimmy has been great.
Quoted from GSones:I like to talk directly with Steve. He has saved me many times from ordering the wrong parts especially if you tell him what game you are working on. Have your customer number handy and do you best to dig up as many PBR part numbers as possible. If you don't have the factory manuals (both game specific and general parts) this would be a good time to pick those up too.
How do I get a customer number for PBR?
I was very intimidated after all the talk on how difficult Steve is.
I have only positive things to say excellent service and smooth delivery. And they have all the hard to find parts I need.
The first transaction was pain though. Money order is never used in Norway, so it was hard to find a place that could do it. Expensive as well.
With the new payment service now, everything is smooth.
Quoted from GSones:I like to talk directly with Steve. He has saved me many times from ordering the wrong parts especially if you tell him what game you are working on.
Right on
I talked to him last Monday for my first order from him. Super great and knowledgeable. I see through USPS, package is scheduled for Monday delivery.
Quoted from MikeO:I emailed an order yesterday and got a bounce back email announcing they are New York State non essential personnel and as such by edict can not go to work (for at least 2 weeks?) = not taking email orders at this time.
I got that too. Hopefully, though, I can call and place an order? Or are they totally closed?
Quoted from MikeO:I emailed an order yesterday and got a bounce back email announcing they are New York State non essential personnel and as such by edict can not go to work (for at least 2 weeks?) = not taking email orders at this time.
Quoted from goldenboy232:I got that too. Hopefully, though, I can call and place an order? Or are they totally closed?
The NY governor issued an order for all non-essential businesses to send all their workers home. Until that order changes, PBR will probably have to remain closed.
Quoted from ForceFlow:The NY governor issued an order for all non-essential businesses to send all their workers home. Until that order changes, PBR will probably have to remain closed.
Stinks -- but I get it. I need two 1.5" opaque red tent-style lane guides to finish up my Spin Out. Maybe I'll post in the parts thread....
Quoted from goldenboy232:Stinks -- but I get it. I need two 1.5" opaque red tent-style lane guides to finish up my Spin Out. Maybe I'll post in the parts thread....
I had some new ones at one time in my stash, I'll look today.
Quoted from goldenboy232:Stinks -- but I get it. I need two 1.5" opaque red tent-style lane guides to finish up my Spin Out. Maybe I'll post in the parts thread....
I have a single brand new one left over from Spirit of 76 EM, yours for cost of shipping.
Quoted from gdonovan:I have a single brand new one left over from Spirit of 76 EM, yours for cost of shipping.
I’ll take it! PM sent — thank you!
I just CALLED a order in a hour ago. Steve answered as usual and took my order. As of now he is staying open, but is way understaffed. My suggestion is to call with your customer # and order with all parts #s ready.
Quoted from DaMoib:Do/did they have other onsite staff to pick and ship orders, or do Steve and Jimmy do it all?
there are several pinsiders that work behind the scenes (I know of 2) at pbr. Occasionally I get a little love note in the package!
Quoted from jsf24:I just CALLED a order in a hour ago. Steve answered as usual and took my order. As of now he is staying open, but is way understaffed. My suggestion is to call with your customer # and order with all parts #s ready.
And dont allow Steve to talk your ear off 
Share the Steve!
Jimmy emailed me back today from last week's email where I placed a small order. Thanks to the generosity of a couple of pinsiders, though, I am getting the lane guides I need and told Jimmy I didn't need the order after all. But it's good to know they are responding to email.
I find it surprising they were staying home because manufacturing and shipping was exempt from the Governor’s order. I know because I’m involved with the industry and many non-essential companies that aren’t retail remain open. A lot of construction companies are getting around the order too, somehow.
Got the email today with tracking number, should receive my order by Friday afternoon. Too bad I will be locked up with Physical inventory at work all weekend. Short staff but still working hard.
Thanks for all the great advice.
Tim
I exchanged a couple emails with Steve over this past weekend after offering to do some sort of fund-raising thing to help get PBR through the enforced closure that was in the works. He didn't like that idea, saying he didn't want to depend on the pinball community in that way, but what would help would be if people ordered stuff from him.
Obviously, he has decided to try to stay open, albeit with reduced staff - so if you value what PBR and Steve do for the community, (and who here who's ever restored a Gottlieb doesn't?), and you've been meaning to place an order - this might be a good time to do it. I'm going to stock up on some spare parts that I'll use eventually.
Quoted from paulace:I exchanged a couple emails with Steve over this past weekend after offering to do some sort of fund-raising thing to help get PBR through the enforced closure that was in the works. He didn't like that idea, saying he didn't want to depend on the pinball community in that way, but what would help would be if people ordered stuff from him.
Obviously, he has decided to try to stay open, albeit with reduced staff - so if you value what PBR and Steve do for the community, (and who here who's ever restored a Gottlieb doesn't?), and you've been meaning to place an order - this might be a good time to do it. I'm going to stock up on some spare parts that I'll use eventually.
Great post and I did just that. I'm currently restoring a "Surfer" but just received on Monday my very large order from Steve for my future restore, "Card Whiz".
Quoted from paulace:I exchanged a couple emails with Steve over this past weekend after offering to do some sort of fund-raising thing to help get PBR through the enforced closure that was in the works. He didn't like that idea, saying he didn't want to depend on the pinball community in that way, but what would help would be if people ordered stuff from him.
Obviously, he has decided to try to stay open, albeit with reduced staff - so if you value what PBR and Steve do for the community, (and who here who's ever restored a Gottlieb doesn't?), and you've been meaning to place an order - this might be a good time to do it. I'm going to stock up on some spare parts that I'll use eventually.
I'll get a Jacks Open order in to him this weekend -- plastics, rubbers, and a few odds and ends.
Call and talk to Steve. It's a rite of passage in the pinball world.
Make sure when you call you don't have part numbers ready. 
All I can picture is Elaine on Seinfeld tapping her hands on the counter trying to figure out what kind of soup to get.
Hmm...should I go with the 44s or the 47s...
Quoted from gjm:Great post and I did just that. I'm currently restoring a "Surfer" but just received on Monday my very large order from Steve for my future restore, "Card Whiz".
You've got a couple of great games there!
I'm doing a "Far Out" for the Olympia Pinball Museum right now. It's going to need a new coin door for sure.
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Greenville, SC