Just steer clear of anything that has a "Mirco" label on the playfield. Problem solved.

The "fix" is likely going to be an added clause to the current warranty sheet stating this condition may exist, doesnt affect game play and doesn't warrant a replacement.
Any new machine I'd lay the box down, cut the box, lift head, and use a flashlight. Any pooling found I'd send that shit back and make em pay for the shipping or pay for someone to install a new fully populated playfield. Gotta start using a credit card guys to ensure a charge back can occur if need be. This community needs to put its foot down and say no more. It'll only make the QC that much better ....both for installation and parts.

Facts dont care about your feelings.
~Ben Shapiro

Seriously, if you (people are over reacting) camp people are content with a defective game then more power to you. Seriously that's OK!

But to sit there.and tell others that actually know the resale value IS going to take a hit to not worry about it .... you're MASSIVELY in the wrong here.

Moral of this story, live and let live and stop telling people how they should feel. You have zero right to do so.

Correct me if I'm misremembering but at some point didn't Mirco (and CPR) both announce they were buying equipment that allowed them to print playfields at anytime thus eliminating the need for quantity runs?
Is that time frame relevant to what we've seen over the last couple of years? Is that the reason Mirco says he's intentionally using soft clear. Is that because the manufacturer of the "printer" is directing him to do so? Apparently Mirco doesn't do stuff for Stern so what if Sterns supplier has the same printer?
I belong to the #neveragainNIB club.

You Wonka owners stop complaining. You have the not so limited "ooey gooey" edition. lol

It was said long ago part of the problem is ink adhesion issues. If they've stopped using ink around posts imagine what VUK holes and kick out holes will have to look like. Imagine the artist designs the playfield artwork and then goes over all impact areas and erases the artwork. YIKES! I believe this is going to become the new norm.

Pack it back up and demand a new machine from the distributor or file a charge back. The folks affected need to hold these people accountable so they hold the manufacturers accountable. So sorry about your luck!

It's business, and why would they offer a playfield to those guys who dont think it's a big deal. Everyone wants something for free and if Stern publicly announced its offering replacements, even those (stop looking at your playfield with a magnifying glass) tools would be right in line with their hands out like everyone else lol

There's some truth in this. I know a few OPs and they had no clue this was happening until I told them and we looked at some of their machines and sure as hell post pooling was present. Silence will always be cheaper

You're supposed to think whatever the other people tell you what you should think. Geez man, I mean you can't possibly think you're entitled to your own opinion!
Btw, fully agree with you.

Knock out blow.
Seriously you cannot argue "fact" and yet, here we are!
PS, discuss.... not attack guys and gals.

These playfields aren't ready to just start slamming parts on. You have to remove clear, you have to drill, you have to T-nut. And talent is required to not chip or crack the clear coat during the removal process. You obviously never had to deal with swapping in a Mirco playfield before. Sorry if this comes across harsh, but its comments like yours that can potentially give people false confidence and when they get into the real world reality sets in. They are in over their heads. It's not brain surgery, but not everyone has the aptitude for it.

I'd bet the farm the only reason any progress on the clear coat debacle is happening is due to everyone on this site and the word spreading. It's a sad day in hell when manufacturers have to take it in the financial keister in order to do the right thing instead of just doing it because it's the right thing to do.

The last two tickets I submitted to JJP weren't answered. The first one was submitted ~ a month ago. The second one was submitted 3 weeks ago.
Nothing. NADA. ZIP. Sales on the other hand has never been a problem.
I've given up on asking for any support from them. I own this machine lock stock and barrel. Pinside is my support channel now for this game.

There's a lovely trade called metal fabrication. Either try to bend it and if you screw up then have them fix/redo it. Either way you're good to go. Obviously JJP isn't going to be of any help here.
I'm never worried to try/do anything. There's always someone to fix what I may break.

Hello Stern support?
Yes
I have playfield issues on my NIB
"Heavy breath exhale heard" what kind of issues?
The clear coat is pooled around the posts.
How many games have you played?
I dont know maybe 15 thus far?
Does it affect your gameplay?
Well no, but I'm concerned as no other game has this occurring.
Tech raises middle finger and rolls his eyes. I'll go ahead and document your concern. Is there anything else I can help you with today?
Uhmm, I guess not?
Great thank you for calling.

Hello Stern support?
Yes
I called in previously here's the case #
OK
Uhmm, the clear is starting to chip around the posts now
How many games have you played?
Around 40?
Does it affect your game play? (flipping you off)
Well, no but I don't think this is normal or acceptable is it?
Yes, wear and tear is normal.
If it's normal why does none of my other machines not exhibit this?
We consider wear and tear to be normal. I've updated your record. Is there anything else I can help you with (grabbing crotch and fingering the phone).
I guess not
Thanks for calling

Hello Visa support?
Yes how may I help you today?
I need to file a charge back.

I cannot stress enough if you're going to roll the dice on a NIB from Stern or JJP the ONLY way to get these companies to fix (what they should whole heartedly own and support) is to use a credit card. Any pooling then demand a populated playfield (distributor or Stern/JJP) and an immediate answer or you're filing a charge back. I do speak from experience. These distributors get enough charge backs it'll force Stern/JJP to start doing the right thing (send a populated pf) or they risk going out of business. It'll also force them to fix the problem causing this. For the love of (insert whatever deity here) just don't accept this as the new normal.

I recommended chargeback because I HAVE filed one on a PINBALL related item. A playfield, a playfield with pooling and chipping and misdrilled holes o be exact. Exactly what this thread has been about no less. Filled the chargeback request, faxed copies of email correspondence with seller/mamifactirer including pictures. It all spoke for itself - I was sold a crap product and given crap service. Money was back in my account in 3 days and "officially" ruled in my favor 3 weeks later.

If it's coming from Ron Kruzman damn straight that's a legit thing!

This is NO joke guys and gals. I have a Kruzman Funhouse and there's not ONE dimple. Anyone that says dimples are "normal" and/or "unavoidable" is flat out wrong.

Jeebus cripes. Look, I don't have an engineering degree but I'm over flowing with common sense which tends to be more useful than an engineering degree.
They can't get this fixed apparently so use the same setup as Stern did all those many years ago. Seriously this is just ludicrous they aren't smart enough to realize they already have a better band aid. Counter sunk t-nut and skinny post.
https://www.ipdb.org/images/4858/image-2.jpg

Oh, and add LED's to the posts so the band aid looks like an intentional design upgrade lol

What needs to happen is to call BOTH of these companies out in a public forum. Pinball shows not internet podcasts and pinside. If that doesn't make them become honest nothing will.

That might be true, but do you have Gary or Jack on your show confronting them and making them answer?

Saying B/W games don't hold up - good lord *sigh*. The spice of life is choices. I get the same joy out of my B/W's that I get out of my Stern and my JJP.

Hear me out before you start throwing rude comments....... back to the actual point of this thread. I think the experience of a NIB is awesome. If you can afford to do it then do it once. BUT ... I recommend if/when possible you go to the supplier and have them crack the box open. It's become so incredibly hit and miss out there when it comes to clear coat issues I would hope any reputable dealer would understand and comply with the wish. In fact they should encourage it and send the garbage back to Stern and JJP and get a refund or at a VERY minimum the distributor is paid a refund and able to warn the customer "Hey the machine has been determined to be a factory second and the price is reduced because of this." Hell they could even SUPER deep discount it. The machine would be logged at the manufacturer as a second and no future support (like the JJPPOTC pf debacle) as an example. I know, I know that's just completely asanine to think these manufacturers actually give two shits about their clients. Pinball seems to be growing so the "vote with your wallet" thing gets defeated when you have one guy step out two more jump in to replace him so they still show growth.

The problem with your argument is 100's of thousands of games before the last 5 years didn't have this issue let alone right out of the box. There's pictures of peoples play fields chipping around posts in reportedly 30 games. IF you're OK with that cool ..... I believe most people aren't. My .02
And the argument of metal against wood - get a Kruzman clear job and I assure you that argument is no longer valid. *shameless plug for Ron!*

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.