10k is okay? Huh? To anyone speculating on price rises and buying a game for the sole purpose of gouging someone else who actually wanted a given title and loves the theme, I say F U. I hope you ultimately take a 1k loss.

Plus, c'mon, we all know the price increases have gotten absolutely ridiculous and it's time to tell Stern your business is going elsewhere.

Happy New Year!

The F U is for ALL folks out there buying and trying to flip the LE's for more money than they bought them for often without ever even taking them out of the box. Same goes for the numerous RZ LE folks or MMR LE folks trying to sell NIB at a premium to what they actually paid. I hope the days of this happening are coming to an end.

So how does that work exactly? I thought Stern's new pricing model meant all distributors also follow the same pricing guidelines, no?? Yet, this "dealer" is able to wheel and deal and is asking for more than what 99% of folks paid for their own?

Sorry to be blunt LTG but I just don't see how this is a legitimate Stern distributor and not just another pinball scalper.

In general I would agree with your attitude toward price policing. However, this particular FS thread is very different from your typical price policing. This isn't some used game that someone is trying to test the waters on value and starting with a premium. This is a game that has not even shipped! I think it's fair to note that 99% of folks already in on the pre-order paid less. This is simply pinball scalping.

If he's not a distributor but he's selling his pre-order for more than he paid, then WHAT do you call it? It's not about opinion here, it's fact. You sell something limited in number for more than you paid (without ever using it) then you ARE scalping. Take my word for it. Or not.

Because every business on the planet sells a product limited in number before they have ever even received the product or taken possession?? Great point Einstein.

Every Stern distributor plays by the same rules Lloyd and now makes the same amount of profit for promoting, selling, and most often having a shop where customers can come in and test a game out before purchasing!!

I can't even believe you are defending someone scalping a pinball machine. All I have to do is establish an LLC and suddenly I'm legit to scalp pinball machines? Even if it's legal I can't believe anyone who loves pinball would approve of such practices. It's BS this site should have to allow it.

Did you or did you not just post that he is not an official Stern distributor but instead a "dealer" (whatever that means)??

Am I wrong to think every single STERN distributor now has to have the exact same sales price as dictated by Stern? No more dealing? So nobody should need to call around to multiple distributors for Stern games any longer!

If he is not a distributor then I don't care if he's doing this as side work, has an LLC doing it full time, or even has a shop. If you're buying up something of a limited number and selling it within a few weeks (without being an authorized retailer) for more without ever receiving ownership, then you are a scalper. These folks are bottom feeders IMO and I'm sorry, but I don't care if he is a friend of yours. There is nothing respectable about it.

BUT, I think my real point is to propose a Pinside rule to the moderators that NOBOBDY should be allowed to post an FS market ad (or thread) for a game that they are not physically in possession of at a minimum and preferably not even selling a game that has not begun to ship, for a price higher than they paid. Period.

I agree this person should (so far) be allowed to sell (no current rule against it). This is my last post tonight.

LTG, I'm sorry but it's clear you really have no idea how this person makes their living or apparently even what is meant by "dealer". It's just ridiculous IMO to support folks calling themselves "dealer" who have absolutely zero agreement with Stern (or whatever company they apparently represent in flipping games.)

I KNOW what Stern pricing is now. Unless Melissa at CoinTaker is lying (doubtful), every single official Stern retailer must sell their games at the exact same price. NO more dealing. Rock hard bottom price. Thus, I believe this person has zero direct affiliation with Stern and find it a bit ridiculous that you would so strongly support someone I strongly suspect you loosely know at best (even though I realize you are a long-time veteran in the industry and have done more than your own share to help others.)

The official retailers I have talked to regarding BM66 needed only a 2k down payment. Thus, A $400 profit (in this case) per machine (or 20%) is a pretty darn nice profit for a scalper.

I think it would be beneficial to all folks in this community and who care about pinball to have a rule on this site that nobody should be allowed to sell a pre-order for more than they paid from a legitimate retailer. You want to see if someone wants your spot in line for what you paid? Fine. You want to try and profit from it? NO.

Can you please clarify what that means? Dealer? Do you have a signed agreement with Stern and do you know if your agreement is different from other Stern "distributors"? I think that's just some fair information to share in the pinball community.

I guess I'm not much of a business guy but starting up a new business as specifically a Stern dealer I would have thought it would have been a better idea to advertise that you are selling at the lowest possible Stern price as possible? Instead of hey, we are willing to wheel and deal.

I honestly thought all pre-orders agreed to the 9600 with 2k down. My apologies if that was not the case.

LOL. Perfect non-reply. Errrr, no, we can't clarify what the hell 'dealer' means so let's pretend your question didn't exist and we'll announce in a few months who our 'company' is. You are either officially affiliated with Stern Pinball are you are NOT. Why is that such a hard question to answer?

If you think this is a good price then jump on it! Absolutely. I was only stating that I think Pinside should ban FS listings where someone is trying to SCALP, selling a pre-order down payment on a game not even shipping yet, for more than the seller paid. Period. Stop allowing Pinside to be the platform for these "dealers".
6-7 years ago if you read this site the postings were SO different. Today, it's not about helping a friend get a lead on a game they really want at a very fair price, it's simply about the almighty dollar.

But hey, another free bump on your FS thread.

You understand this still changes almost nothing? This whomever, pre-ordered a game with the intention of flipping it even if for a minimal gain of $400. I asked a very simple question I think. Are you an authorized Stern distributor, retailer, whatever. NO response.

I'm not questioning just any FS thread. I'm questioning this practice in particular of hoarding pre-orders of LE games with the sole intention of profiting short term. We have seen this with RZ and others as well. I don't think this site should serve as the platform for doing so. Just my 2 cents, I know. I know I sure as heck don't trust a dealer who acknowledges they aren't giving the Stern defined "lowest price".

Okay. Good luck, not posting again here.