I'll say this, it looks like swapping the pf on a LZ should be easier than doing a swap on a lot of other games.

I wouldn't accept an unpopulated playfield if that game is new and under 6 months old.

That's a ton of time and energy to invest in a product that should function properly new.

I would. I'd take whatever I could get.

I have the same issue with a different Stern game. The game is almost unplayable.

We have been dealing with quality issues on Stern games with no solution for years. Guys have threatened class action suits etc. They have called every person in the business about it etc. I stopped buying Stern games about 7 years ago over these type of issues and lack of code.

I simply did as I am telling you now, and have posted this same solution numerous times....VOTE WITH YOUR WALLETS! Its that simple. I wish all of you with these problems good luck and have given up on Stern ever changing their ways.

That really sucks and I'm sorry that happened.

Instead of Wonka like mini magnets the playfield does the work!Walla monies saved!

Rofl.
It's so badly warped i wouldnt even use that on a wall.

I have a friend that didn't accept anything less than a populated playfield on a Ghoshbusters... He's been into pinball for a very long time and knows alot of people and he never let up. He got the fully populated playfield from Stern.

12 years later....

Because you spent 8 grand on a toy that should not have major defects

So here is my issue. You almost cannot tell the gap because in pics it is hard to see where the playfield touches the straight edge (and that IS a perfectly straight edge). But look at the far left ball guide. It is like 1/5 of an inch dipping! And it keeps dipping more as the side goes on. The balls can literally not be saved from outlane drains! If it wasn't infuriating it would almost be funny.

Unlike many here, I'd be thrilled as hell if Stern could replace this with a playfield. I'd gladly populate it myself, as it would be far better than this!

20210119_083035 (resized).jpg

Normally I don’t pile on to threads like this.... but I service a beatles gold that is on route, and the pooling is so bad on it, that the playfield has actually started to chip away in spots where the art is pooling up. This is a game the location probably paid around $8000 for.

I’ll get pics next time I see it, but it’s.... bad. And unfortunate, really. I’m sure if I yelled loud enough I might be able to get a blank, for a game that’s been owned and sort of played the last 2 years (easily less than 10,000 plays), but instead I held back my LZ money to see what cgc and American offers next. To me, that’s more impactful.

No doubt....the good news for JJP owners is it appears the play field problems on GNR have been addressed.

Hell yes I bet Eric and crew are sleeping better!That playfield shit is a nightmare.

No doubt....I heard from my distributor that JJP now does a post test in an area under the apron prior to assembly....

holy crap!

Did you buy this new this way?
Or did someone pass on?
May be worth a claim to see what they say.

Overall crap.

Yet you own a wonka? A new game no less.

Stern is working with me now to fix it. I was able to stack three quarters, one on top of another and still the straight edge was above it! It was flat at one point and ABOVE thay in another. Dramatic curve.

Here's a pic with only two quarters, and you can see how even that is way below the dip that's in it!

20210119_162443 (resized).jpg

That Wonka would be the reason he has soured on the NIB experience and is surprised people are still buying NIB pins after all the known issues.

wow thats pretty bad!

"thats just next level theme integration" <inset joke about blackhole/warped spacetime in that part of the playfield here>

When was your game made? After 2016?

March 2020

dude just wow. I’ve seen this before but that’s horrible on a brand spanking new game. People have come up w/ some pretty creative braces to straighten stuff like this out, but I don’t have any pics off hand. It won’t fix it, but may make it playable.

Wow!!! That appears to be well over 1/4". Really hope you get a populated playfield for this.

The only brace that I think would work would be a 3/4" x 3/4" 90-degree angle steel attached across the bottom of the PF. Would take an awful lot of 3/8" long screws across the brace too. Might have to relocate some lamps or other objects to shoe-horn it in. Its just tragic that it comes to this.

Even if Stern says they'll replace... Will they? I'm still waiting on a playfield they said they would replace. They told me mid October. Now they don't even respond or just tell me they don't know when they'll have it. Must be nice to have so many sales that you can treat customers like this.

Forgive me, I try not to be negative when at all possible but I m seriously wondering how in the world JJP (and for that matter Stern) stays in business when they are repeat offenders and compensation is either non existent or sub par at best? Rule #1 of raising children is you don't reward for bad behavior - you punish. As a gentleman early on stated - you need to make change with your wallets. I'd have to assume I'm not the only one unwilling to buy new anymore due to the sub par playfields being sent out?
If I was Slash I would have reamed some serious ass over this and demanded new fully populated playfields get shipped to those affected.
It's just beyond sad that this is happening over and over and over and over and over again.

There is high demand for Stern and JJP games. Overall both manufacturers do a fairly good job of resolving their playfield issues. I for one am not going to let a few chips and a little bit of pooling stop me from enjoying some of the best games ever made.

I went through the supposed JJP playfield issues. Most of the photos on Pinside were re posted by Pinsiders that do not own a game and are only really on Pinside to antagonize an already sensitive topic. There are not many actual games that have playfield issues. There are plenty of BS posts and Polls but not much actual fact.

Out of interest how many new games have you bought over the last few years that have had playfield issues? I guarantee you this is not a nice feeling. I can also guarantee you that Stern and JJP have always done their best to resolve our playfield issues. Not always to our liking but they are making an effort. If you stop buying NIB where will that get the hobby?

I vote with my wallet. I will continue to buy NIB. If you go through all the posted photos on Pinside and actually work out how many affected games there are you will find it is not many. Both Stern and JJP have worked hard to resolve as many of the playfield issues as they can. I think they are both doing a good job.

For me? All of them.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice.....

Vote with your wallet! What were your issues and did you follow through with the Distro or manufacturer?

double post

4 out of 5 NIB Sterns in the last 2.75 years. Why do I keep buying them? I have the knowledge and skill to fix them, and I want to play them. I find them quite fun. I'm disappointed in the playfield quality though.

Took 6 months before I got my replacement JP Pro unpopulated playfield (had chipping around a post at roughly 800 total plays, HUO). For what it's worth, I had my distro handle the correspondence with Stern as I figured they would be more likely to get their attention. I think the 6 month wait had to do with the PF not being in production at time of my claim, so had to wait for another round of JPs to be made

Of course it's yours and you can accept whatever you think is ok.. but
I am always surprised at the number of people that overlook and accept manufacturing defects on a $8,000 purchase
Stern/JJP have done a good job of convincing people that these issues are acceptable.
Also the big fear, at least mine, is how will those few chips and little bit of pooling progress as the game ages and the balls roll over them a few 1,000 times

Thats bad luck. I've purchased 13 NIB Sterns starting with Aerosmith and 1 NIB Wonka. Every Stern has been flawless, not one issue mechanically or cosmetically. Wonka had the bad trough issue and it was quickly resolved. Certainly the people with issues are going to be louder than the ones without.

Pooling and chipping. Yes, and yes - both. Spoke directly to Jack on the phone. He offered me an autographed picture. I said no.

After 7 months I received a blank playfield in a box and that's the end of it. Now I have a defective game and a playfield I cannot do anything with.

I'm not buying any more NIB machines, and I'll actively campaign against anyone else who is. I still am to this day.

I'll think of you every time I unbox one, which will be today!

IMG_2706.jpeg

That's fine. You do you. I will not buy any more NIB games. I urge others not to either.

These problems will not go away as long as the sheeple continue to remain bent over the barrel and take their punishment.

Quality seal on my GNR CE playfield. Both of my last JJP NIB playfields have been great. Wonka CE and GNR CE (as well as GNR SE I bought second hand).

B52E250D-8A51-4101-AD91-09227FFFEE22 (resized).jpeg

Is that under the apron? Thats consistent with what I heard from my distributor. JJP is basically testing every play field prior to assembly to make sure theres no pooling or clear coat issues.

What would it take for you to give up this crusade?

He's actually not wrong....although I would say Stern is a far bigger problem than JJP. It appears JJP has been very proactive in solving these issues. Stern not so much.

I have considered offering to do the Wonka PF swap for him to help him feel at peace with his game (and stop torturing us about it.)

I'm still considering it. But he's so abrasive and rude that it discourages me from doing charity for him.

Wow thats a great offer Have u done one before? I'm sure it would be fun, and an educational exercise if one had the time/room/and tools to pull it off

Yup stamp is under the apron near the left hanger.

Awesome....its great that JJP is proactively addressing this issue

Why are you, the way you are? Its very unappealing fyi.

I love pinball I guess?

IMG_2712.jpeg