I know my distro here asked for more LE's and got them. He originally got 12 or 13, now he's going to get 20 in total. He told me lot's of Distro in europe aren't happy that they got so few. Normally there are 2 le's and they get an X number of both. With Avengers he got only 5 or so Hulks but 12 Blue Le's
With Xmen 12 of each. Now with Metallica only 12, so many distro's gave Stern the earfull about this. So this might explain the more shipping to overseas?

Maybe also the reason, the exact number of LE's is still not released?

ST is going to be interesting....

Got confirmation today an alternate Metallica Premium IS confirmed. It will be announced in the next couple days. It will feature the Dirty Donnie translite with alternate art.

I would guess they will sell quickly once the alternate is announced and people see it. Let me know if you'd like one and you can pick which version you'd like to order. I'm offering the option to choose which version you prefer. They will be the same price.

That isn't the whole story.

I was waiting for all the Pinburgh threads ... As yet I've seen none.

However we did get some new powdercoating threads.

Just saying ....

rd

Google:

LOTR LE: Interesting email from Jack

LOTR LE - "Export" and Canada Coin Mech?

An example of "real integrity" there.... for those who do not know or with failing memories.

PS: I believe this is semi related to this topic as I feel they are both connected to poor communication and possible assumption by distributors on how many games they can get their hands on.

Out of this entire thread, these are the only two posters who claim the games have been taken away from them. One other person said they got in late in the day when the distributor thought he was getting more. Seem odd?

Mark Malmberg (Sparky) - Ceres, California (209)402-3163

Exactly. People havn't even seen a playfield more or less play one, and lining up to preorder. People have lost their minds. History has told us, that Theme alone cannot save a game. And that is all the info these people have and shelling out 7k just on that. Just stupid. This hobby is going down the shitter at an alarming rate.

I think it's a great thing that demand is so strong that LE's have sold out instantly.

It's got to be tough for Stern to set the number: some games, they made too many (Transformers) and some games, they made too few (evidently Metallica).

Strange that Metallica is going back to having only one LE model, which breaks the pattern we've seen since Transformers (1 "Pro", 1 "Premium", 2 "LE" editions). Seems they made a mistake here.

If they promised their customers a limit of 500 "Master Of Puppets" games, then they should stick to that. Since there's obviously a demand for more than 500, though, they should make another LE edition, "Ride The Lightning", as others have said. I think it's a great idea. I'd rather have RTL than MOP. This solution would let Stern stick to their original promise of 500 MOP games, but still provide a window of opportunity for them to collect more money and build more games, which is theoretically what a pinball manufacturer is supposed to do, don't you think?

If only there was someone to tell us this multiple times a day....

The most recent cuts came this morning. Give distributors time to call their customers, and pissed off people time to come visit the site.

I nominated the TMNT / DE SW guy but he appears to have skipped town.

I wonder how many LEs went to the Metallica fan club. The LEs were available for preorder intermittently most of yesterday and today. Now the LE page finally says that they are "out of stock". Not a bad deal ordering from Metclub for those who missed out or got screwed...especially if you're not in California (so as to avoid tax). For those outside of California price would have been right around $7900 to $8k shipped.

Anyone sides me pay for MOP in full already?

TF was 1 Pro, 3 LE (500 Combo, 125 Autobot, 125 Decepticon)
ACDC was 1 Pro, 1 Prem, 2 LE (200 LTBR, 300 BIB)
Xmen was 1 Pro, 2 LE (250 Mag, 300 Wolv)
Avengers was 1 Pro, 1 Prem, 2 LE (250 Blue, 250 Hulk)

No real pattern...it's been different with each release.

I don't think it's the theme thats selling this pin, the playfield looks awesome.

From day one, the split was announced at 240 Europe and 260 USA.

So you have 260 LEs for all those US distributors.

There are now more US distributors than before.

My guess is that some distributors just f**ked up and oversold based on what they thought they would be allocated.

It's very hard to turn down dollar bills when they are being waved in your face. They took the orders and banked on finding stock for the customers. Unfortunately, there was no more stock. All gone!

Switched on guys like JJ knew they were getting X machines and only sold that many.

rd.

I got cut, I was double confirmed on the day stern sold out. Supposed to be sending more LE's overseas to build that market was the story I got.

Blame it all on TronLE and ACDC LEs. People are hoping to get lucky on the next smash hit and take the risk even though TAV, XMEN, TF, TRS, and Avatar LEs all didn't really work out for the flippers. To many people, losing a grand or two isn't that big of a deal and worth the risk. I mean...what's a grand or two in the scheme of things for months if not years of entertainment? For everyone else there is the Premium(s) and PRO that are unlimited. Sounds pretty ok to me. Those not willing to risk it can get the exact same game playfield feature-wise in the Premium AFTER they play it. Or save some money and get the PRO. Win-win-win. What's your problem with other people spending their own money? I don't see any issues.

I had my order with JJ at GEX confirmed mid day on the 11th. We have been back and forth on emails as he is on a boat in the middle of the ocean somewhere (where he should be relaxing instead of responding to my silly emails!) It took until today to firm up the deposit which I subsequently put in with Rich by phone. I was also told by JJ that every order behind mine was getting wait listed, which would make mine one of the last they took. I have not been told that their allotment of LE's has been cut. To the contrary, I put my deposit in after 10am (pacific) which would be noon in CO and at Stern headquarters. I assume that a letter sent out that morning would have been in GEX's hands by the time they took my CC info. The card has already been charged FYI. Not sure if this helps the point along at all, but there it is

the distributors in Europe getting about 50% of there normal limited editions, i check it tomorrow when am in the shop of a distributor

Who was your distributor?

I highly doubt Stern would consider doing another LE version of Metallica. The hype that this fiasco is generating around here is insane. It only means more people will be likely to get their preorders in quicker for the next release or they risk potentially 'missing out'. So glad I have zero interest in Star Trek.

Oh, and you can add me to the list of people who was screwed on the LE. I confirmed my order with my distributor within minutes of pictures being released, sent in my deposit, and learned yesterday that I didn't make the cut.

from what I was told. Dist placed their orders for such and such amounts. Told it was ok and order was good. 4 or 5 days later, Stern calls back and says they cut their order in half. After Dist's have already presold the amount they were told they were getting days earlier.

Stern should just release yet another version LE if the demand is this high. They need to cash in while they can before these guys run out of money.

Again, who is your distributor?

Which distributor?

Fun in Dallas

I am Justin Bieber.

This has to be a joke. Nobody buys from Fun.

Never heard of them.

And now it is back "in stock". If you really want a Metallica LE and are willing to spend approx. $8K. then you should check www.metallica.com. If it says out of stock, keep an eye on the page, because it keeps coming back for the past 24 hours+. Either due to cancellations or further allotments or the way the cart is set up (who knows). Price is $7595 with half due now + shipping (unknown).

If it's the same "Fun" from ebay, anyone that has been around here knows better than to deal with him.

Will they ever just make one version? So lame they don't.

Unfortunately it sounds like more disappointed customers are just around the corner. Wait until these "wait listed" people find out their order status. To me "wait listed" means the chances of getting one of the LEs are between slim and none.

Best thread I have read in a long time!

While upset with the situation, I'm not going to put my distributor on blast here. I've purchased multiple NIB pins from this company before and have had nothing but positive experiences up until this release. I think this release got royally screwed up partly because Metallica is so closely involved and had to have an allotment of LEs available to their fan club. This, coupled with the fact that a large fraction of LEs is going overseas, resulted in less availability for stern distributors.

i agree, but they can't, the LE owners won't be able to trash the premium and pro.

Buying a NIB pin through Fun is not necessarily the same buying experience as buying a "restored" used pin from certain employee(s) at Fun. I'm confident there has been successful purchases of NIB pins from Fun where both the buyer and seller were satisfied imho.

PinballPark did not just get into this hobby last week.

LOL! Don't forget the PRO owners claiming their version is better because it is "faster" and no extra toys are "blocking their view"!

Fun is a GREAT NIB Distributor.

I, along with 8 others, bought our Tron LE from Steve for a great price!

Steve does a great job of supporting the local collectors with NIB Stern product.

Now, I cannot address his eBay reputation, but I can, and will say, that Fun! is a very good NIB Distributor.

I have been around long enough to know that I will buy NIB from Steve at Fun! and so will quite a few of the DFW local collectors.

Marcus

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where do you see it in their store? I couldn't find it listed 'in stock' on their site anywhere. Do you need a met club login?

I REALLY hope they aren't continuing to take more orders that Stern can't fulfill.

Wouldn't consider Fun for his reputation or his taxation

I figured TX guys would steer clear on the tax thing alone.

I got mine from FUN! I have also heard of 2 others that have been cut from his preorder list.

Yes, $45 to join.

That's why the Avengers premium has Iron Man smack dab front and center in the translite.
There's your Iron Man pin !

No joke, many people around here buy from him. I've been a customer for 15 years, I've bought and sold many games with them. But please lets not have this thread take another twist.

Pappy

Angry Birds doesn't amuse me....... Walking Dead......hmmmm

What he said... I don't think I got bumped because of something Fun did, he double confirmed my order last week and I have sold him many games over the years, always smooth. I think there is enough evidence here that Stern is to blame. People bash stern all the time over prices blah blah, buy or don't buy, but you can't confirm an order and yank it to sell to someone else, that is total crap and I will be sure to tell Gary what I think of this next time I see him.

its true my guy at dirt cheap lost 3 off his order wtf