I can attest to this - I work At a Chicago mfg plant and we make parts (not for pinball…yet - I’m working on that) labor shortage is a HUGE problem right now. With Amazon offering $18 an hr plus a $3,000 sign on bonus, finding people who are willing to do labor In a plant is extremely difficult. No shock to see Stern raise their prices - add in shortages of pretty much every raw material too - it’s a tough go right now. Demand is just too high for everything - hand to mouth these days that’s for sure. Raising pricing when demand is high is not uncommon. Ride the gravy train when you can and get lean during the eventual downturn.

Painfully clear not many here have a clue on what it takes to survive and profit in MFG. the cost of all raw materials has risen steadily over the past few years. The cost of any outside services needed have risen as well. Not to mention the huge costs of employees - increased wages as well as huge increases in health care. Guarantee they are looking for line workers as well - the worker shortage is a huge problem right now. Times are tough when you now have to compete with Amazon at $18 an hr plus a $3,000 sign on bonus. Tough fight to get someone on an assembly line these days and that’s a fact across Chicagoland MFG. Nothing is cheap these days and you’d have to be completely naive or have your head burried in the sand as to expect pricing to remain the same in a luxury hobby like this during a 2 year pandemic. Sure I’m not thrilled with it but it is what it is. Welcome to reality.
People complaining about a luxury toy price increase while millions are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and their family fed…

Went to McDonald’s yesterday (bad choice I know) Big Mac value combo = $9.80. I remember paying around $7.00 ish a few years back. It’s all relative - life has just gotten more expensive.